Guillain Barre Syndrome

Guillian what? Guillian who? Pronounced Gee-an Bar-a. I had never heard about it either until one year ago. One year ago exactly. 

Thought I'd share an expert from my journal:

March 9th 2010:

My Jasmine's 18th birthday. Oh what dreams we had for this day, we were going to be knee deep in wedding plans. It was going to be the best time of her life. Instead here we are...in this hospital. She will go to Nate's grave and then come back to spend the night with her momma who is learning how to walk again. She doesn't even want a birthday. I don't blame her.

I'm still trying to figure out exactly how we got to this place. I had a touch of the flu and started feeling a
little better when all of a sudden my body started shutting down. Guillain Barre or GBS is an auto immune disorder in which your immune system attacks the nerve system. Basically short circuits it, that's what it feels like anyways. The tingling and numbness feels just like a visit to the dentist gone wrong. Feels a lot like Novocaine is wearing off your whole body, except I can hear an electrical sounding buzz in my head that makes me feel crazy.

                  Me a few days in the hospital...not my most glamorous moment, but you get the idea.

Thank the Lord for doctors that thought I had a stroke or MS and ordered every test possible. A spinal tap is the only way to confirm GBS, high protein in the fluid will confirm it. Immediately they got me going on what I call a miracle treatment, IVIg. It's usually a five day treatment, one bag of this blood product given every day. For me it's working. Since half of my body is paralyzed including my face and the other half is weak I need Physical, Speech, and Occupational Therapy.

Although my body feels like it's failing me, my mind is completely normal. Trying to wrap my head around what is going on has been one of the biggest challenges. I've never even thought about the little things we do everyday. I'm hungry, lets eat. Well no longer...we need a soft diet and TURN your head when you swallow. My head remembers how my body used to function and if I could WILL myself to do it again I would. Progress is slow but it's still progress.  I choose to be positive.

March 9th 2011.
Thank you Jesus for your healing power and for giving doctors wisdom. The support we had over the last year was unbelievable. My husband is my rock. My kids are such huge help, my sisters had made a schedule and since there is 7 of them it worked out perfect and someone was here everyday. People from everywhere brought us meals, sent cards, and flowers. I cry when I think about it. The love of God is evident in the body, and YES you ALL blessed us and showed his love. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Life is good. I am pretty much back to normal. Still get tired but maybe that's just old age? Praise God I can walk and do "life" again. Jaz had her birthday in Scotland, where she has been for the last 6 months. She's doing good, pressing into God and he has restored her joy. My kids are still awesome, can't imagine life without them and my babe still makes my heart go boom boom boom. Life is good.

So today....live in the moment. Love your health, love your kids, and love Jesus most of all. :)

Be blessed....
Lorinda

Glorious Mess

The other day I was chilling in my living room.  It was raining and gray outside and felt a little bit dreary.  It didn't help that all 3 of my living room windows were filthy with dust, bird poop, and all kinds of bugs and cob webs.  I suddenly got totally inspired to clean the whole entire room from top to bottom.  (ya my life is a little boring at the moment)! I cranked on Pandora and filled my house with LOUD praise music.  I started by emptying everything out of the room.  I moved all the furniture and vacuumed underneath, dusted, polished, and scrubbed every surface.  Then I tackled the windows which I could not get out of the tracks.  So with sweat pouring down my body I proceeded to hang out the window and stretch as far as I could without falling out.  Man those Norwex cloths work great!!  One purple cloth, one blue cloth and soon the windows sparkled.  Next on to the furniture... I rearranged every piece of furniture hoping it would come together.  After about 4 hours, I stepped back and gave the room the final check.  It looked so fresh, clean, and new.  All of a sudden it hit me that this was a teachable moment.  God began to speak to my heart about how He needs to come in and rearrange our hearts from time to time.  He needs to come in and spend some time rearranging a few things like priorities, intentions, etc.  We might have to sweat a bit as He moves our "stuff" around and exposes the dirt and crusty peelings.  He is so gracious as He finishes the job in us.  He just smiles and pours His love in as He kicks back with us and looks around at the fresh, new, sparkling heart.  He takes our mess and makes it a thing of beauty......Glorious Mess indeed!! Hugs,
Kathy

Let's tell em we love em

Cooking, cleaning and decorating are not what I love. I do them out of necessity and once in awhile can have fun doing it. My passion is people.

Relationship...that's what I'm focusing on right now. Not that I am the expert, but having five kids ages 10-19 and a few extras that call me "mom" I can say this,  When they are all raised and I am old and gray I will tell you what didn't work. So far so good with them, they are great kids. I love kids. Always have. All ages, all stages. Maybe I just love people.

In this unstable economy, relationships are the one thing that does not cost money and the return on the investment far surpasses what a healthy portfolio will bring you. These dividends pay out great. For now and for eternity.

So take the time this week to outwardly express to those around you that you love them. That you are proud of them. That you are thankful God has brought them into your life. One thing we do at our house after praying and Bible reading is tell each person one thing you love about them. My boys wait for this. They love it! Everyone's attitudes change. Try it. If saying out loud is to hard at first, write it down for them. A list for each person, The things I love about you.

See what happens....we rise up to the challenge and become the person they think we are. 

I like this quote:
“Children will not remember you for the material things provided but for the feeling that you cherished them.”
 Richard L. Evans

Be encouraged.
Let's change the world. One heart at a time.


Lorinda