Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7



Thursday, October 30, 2014

Daybook (and a giveaway)



In the garden...
...well, the garden is pretty much dead, except for a few roses. It's chilly out today, and I have a feeling we're finished with warm, sunny days for a while. I could be wrong, but the chill feels real and long-lasting. I don't mind. You know I love weather that keeps me indoors, but I admit I have recently felt the need just to sit outdoors and breathe fresh air. I can always have Doug build me a fire and bundle up well, right?



I'm thinking about...

...my health and not getting answers from doctors. I've decided doctors really don't know the answers to a lot of questions, which is why they "practice" medicine, right? I think I'm going to look for a 70-year-old doctor who has a lot more answers than the young ones. I'm on the second dose of the third antibiotic for this UTI I have had for months (the doses are ten days apart -- it's an antibiotic you mix in water and take once) and I'm tired of being sick. Done. 


I am wearing...
...gray tights, a gray skirt, a plum long-sleeve shirt and my new shawl, which is navy, gray and plum. Black shoes, bronze and plum earrings, an amethyst bracelet and my copper chains. Got the whole picture now? {wink}


I am reading....

...two books, depending on my mood. I have A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute for when I am not feeling anxious, because the characters in the book are having a really difficult time (and I thought my situation was difficult? ha!). And I have Every Last One by Anna Quindlen, in which so far nothing really bad has happened so I can read it any time.









I am creating...
...the gray shawl, as it has become known as in my mind. It's very gray, but then gray is nice and neutral and can be worn with colors. It's the same pattern as the last shawl. I like the rows and rows of nice neat stitches. Nothing complicated at all. I think knitting rows of nice neat stitches is more productive and maybe more efficient than therapy, but then I've never gone through therapy...yet. Never say never.

After a visit to an endocrinologist yesterday, I might be headed there (not really, at least not yet). He told me that low DHEA levels (a hormone made by your adrenal glands and through hormone testing I found out I am in short supply of) don't mean anything and my problems are in my head (he did not say I was crazy, but just that I can tell myself nothing is wrong. He's lucky he didn't get bit.) He went so far as to say DHEA does nothing in our bodies (which I know not to be true). 





At the school table...

...Faith was sick on Monday, so technically (in my head -- it's all in my head) we are a day behind, but we're chugging along, learning math, new things in history and science and we finished Pictures of Hollis Woods, which I highly recommend (I just saw there is a movie -- I had no idea -- gotta get that one). Speaking of movies, have you seen The Trail? Really good movie, and good for the kids to watch (there is a death in the movie -- not graphic, but nevertheless, so kids of a certain age). It faith-filled, and riveting, at least it was for Faith and I.

Plans for the rest of the week...
...I think...nothing. Yay! We will celebrate the feast days on the weekend, and nothing else. 


A few of my favorite things....

...a new cinnamon tea, which I can get at the grocer
...red, orange and yellow leaves falling
...trick-or-treat night, which is tonight and is fun because almost all of our trick-or-treaters are under age 6
...chili on trick-or-treat night -- always


Prayers sent heavenward...

...for my husband and children to do God's will
...for my health, mental and physical (you can join me here and I would be most appreciative)
...for all the priests and religious
...for all the babies whose mothers are contemplating abortion this week, for a change of heart

And last, but not least...
...a giveaway of this knotted rosary with the Our Lady of Sorrows medal at the center. Leave your name and contact information in the comment box (or email me using the address in the sidebar) and I'll draw a name at noon on Monday, November 3.

These knotted rosaries are the best sleeping rosaries. I take mine to bed every night and wake periodically with it wrapped around my hand -- then just pick up where I left off.







18 comments:

  1. The weather guy on 10 TV says that it's going to be warm as we get into November---crazy weather! I sort of wish it would just make up its mind!
    I've almost bitten doctors several times. I have a patented "You are nuts" look that I've given a few. Surprisingly, the "you're crazy" thing almost exclusively happens to Women, in my experience.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not surprised that women get the "you're crazy" story and men get tested. Not surprisingly, he was a male doctor. But as much as I've read about DHEA, for him to say it does nothing was really treating me like a nut.

      Delete
  2. I agree with Emily. Doctors love to pull that nonsense on women. Barbara, UTIs are nothing to fool around with and they can produce other symptoms that seem totally unrelated. Also, are you still weaning off the Neurontin? That can cause a lot of problems too, which hang around for awhile even after you're completely off. They eventually subside, but not always on the doctor's "schedule".

    I'm also a knitter and shawls are wonderful to wrap up in for warmth and comfort! With a nice hot cup of tea and a movie (and a rosary scrunched in your other hand), you're set. Sounds good to me anyway :)

    I'd love the knotted rosary. Was on the verge of ordering the blue one you had in your shop only to discover someone beat me to it! I'll email you my email address. Thanks so much for the giveaway! Please take care of yourself and you remain in my prayers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marie, I am not weaning from the neurontin. I just can't add more anxiety to what I already have.

      Got your email. :-)

      Delete
  3. Antibiotics that long?? You poor thing! I agree with you on the old doctor statement and the "practicing" medicine comment. Completely. My daughter who has scoliosis has a few other issues going on. We have been seeing specialist after specialist since last spring. No one told us it is in our head, thank goodness, but I think we have finally pinpointed it to a couple of autoimmune issues. Where we are not happy it is an autoimmune, we are very relieved to know we have finally found some answers. At any rate, I will be praying more fervently for you, Barbara.

    I think the shawl (and color) is gorgeous! I envy woman who can create such beauty with their fingers.

    Guess what? My husband signed up for a sewing class! He wants to sew his own tarps and hammocks for back packing. We have no sewing machine...another reason why I covet women who sew. At any rate, I came home from the grocery store today to see a brand new Singer sewing machine on our dining room table. He found it at a pawn shop of all places!! Unopened! $70. Eureka! I think I have some ideas forming in my head about what my long winter plans are going to be! (insert eyebrow wiggle!!)

    Have a great night with your trick or treaters!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patty,
      I have had autoimmune issues as well, and IC (interstitial cystitis) is thought by many doctors to be an autoimmune disease. I think there are probably many that no one recognizes.

      I love that your husband bought a sewing machine -- and at a pawn shop. Wouldathunkit? Make plans, dear lady!

      Thanks for the prayers!

      Delete
  4. So sorry to hear the health issues are not resolving! (and you are in my daily prayers) That chronic UTI sounds dreadful. But an endocrinologist who tells you a hormone doesn't do anything?! We have several vintage books with health information from a hundred years ago - we buy them and read them for entertainment. :-) I always keep that in mind when contemplating current medical care. Doctors do the best the are able to (and obviously help us a great deal!) but I believe much in the wonder of God's creation in the human body is not fully understood. Love that grey shawl!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The human body is so very complex (and often I wish it were a lot less so!) but for as long as people have been studying it, you'd think we'd know a little more. Unfortunately today many doctors have stopped practicing and just prescribe!

      Delete
  5. Prayers for your healing. God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love the knotted rosary..a great idea..would like to purchase one too.
    New to your blog...prayers for your health.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will have some more in my Etsy shop (or you can email me for a special order).

      Thank you for your prayers.

      Delete
  7. Still praying for you over here in Germany. I just received my own "it's all in your head" diagnosis. I was not happy.

    The shawl is lovely. Gray is one of my favorite colors to knit with.

    Wishing I could pop over for a cup of tea and a nice afternoon visit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the prayers, Jenny. I wish I could pop over and have tea with you!

      Delete
  8. I'll be praying for your health and healing. Don't let a doctor tell you it's in your head just because he can't (or won't) find the answer - you know your body and how it feels.

    The grey shawl is beautiful - you are my inspiration to learn to knit one day when things "slow down" a bit :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I pray that you find a doctor with answers! He/she is out there somewhere! It is NOT in your heard ... no way! I have been seeing a "functional medicine" specialist. She is a chiropractor, but they can be MDs, too. I am positive she knows more about health and wellness than any doctor I have ever been to! She does more blood work and teaches me how EVERYTHING is intertwined and related. She goes to the root of the problem (no band aids) with supplemental nutrition. Here is a link, if you are interested: https://www.functionalmedicine.org

    Your gray shawl is gorgeous! I like the idea of neat rows, too! They aid in cultivating a spirit of stability, even when other life situations feel chaotic ...

    That Rosary is so lovely, as usual, Barbara! I like the idea of having one to sleep with!

    Hope you and your family have enjoyed these 3 beautiful feasts! Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have to tell you, my foster-second-graders are in awe of your knotted Rosary. Those would be great for students. They can't break. (I had a first-grader break a Rosary a few weeks ago. The crummy glow-in-the-dark plastic kind.)
    Love the shawl, and I'm adding my prayers for better health (and a better endocrinologist) for you!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm not trying to sell anything or anything, but have you ever heard of the Cellerciser?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8sdG6duGTM

    I only mention it, because my good friend bought hers a few years ago and a TON of health issues disappeared. I also bought it and do use it for the Health bounce...I try to do it every day...Just a thought. And besides, it's really good for the kids to jump on it too.

    I also wonder if that UTI is a Kidney infection instead?
    Gosh, I'll pray for you.

    Love the shawl...beautiful.
    The rosary is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate your comments -- sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself!