REMISSION?!!!

I have been quiet for a bit.....
You will understand once I explain why.  You see, I am living life again!! I feel like I am permanently smiling - having the ability to live life again is an AMAZING GIFT!!!!
My Lyme Doc tells me I am not technically in remission because I have to be symptom free for 3 months for it to be official.  But I am more than happy with this level of healing, even if I am not quite considered to be in remission.  I think I forgot what it was like to have energy and vitality, to be a part of life rather than just existing and trying to make it to the end of each day.  I have a spring in my step! The character and spunk that I thought was permanently changed is creeping back in.  Haha, some of you may wish me back to my old state - I will try to manage my character a little better this time round, I promise....That is truly what it feels like for me - a new beginning!! Time to CELEBRATE!! Thank-you LORD!!!

PSALM 30

I will exalt you, LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths

 and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

References for Psalms 30:1

• Footnotes

• ¡ 30:1 - In Hebrew texts 30:1-12 is numbered 30:2-13.
• ¢ 30:1 - Title: Or "palace"

LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.                                

You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead;

                           you spared me from going down to the pit.                                

        Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.                                

   For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.                                

                             When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”                                

     LORD, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain^c stand firm;

but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.                       

References for Psalms 30:7

• Footnotes

• £ 30:7 - That is, Mount Zion

To you, LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:                                

      “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you?

Will it proclaim your faithfulness?                                

                             Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me; LORD, be my help.”                                

You turned my wailing into dancing;

                               you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,                                

   that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.

LORD my God, I will praise you forever.

Discovering new, beautiful, serene beaches in Australia

 

I will be working over the next months on building strength particularly in my core/gleuts/shoulders and back where I have lost muscle tone over the past four years.  I am excited that this is possible again as my previous physiotherapy attempts had a negative effect on my body.  I still get muscle and joint pain - although to a far lesser degree, and often have trouble with my ribs and spine misaligning. I am hoping that by strengthening the muscles that are weak, I will be able to stabilize and support the weaker areas of my body.

We are so grateful that I am able to function without support in my role as wife and mother again. I can keep up with my home and even join in supporting my children at school again. You can expect to see me on as many school trips and at every school function I can possibly attend!

I am having trouble with re-occurring bladder infections yet.  I will be seeing a urologist soon to determine the cause of those and what can be done to prevent them.  I will also be undergoing an endoscopy to determine if I have Celiac Disease.  Antibodies to gluten have been found in my saliva, so I am gluten sensitive but this test will determine if I am a true Celiac.  Only problem is that I have to go on gluten for the next six weeks, which I am not keen on.  I have decided to do only sprouted organic wheat and see if my body is less affected by gluten in that form...

I will be finishing off my Lyme medications, including Alinia (which has greatly helped me overcome my neurological Lyme symptoms) within the next month, and switching to an Essential Oil protocol.  I intend to use DoTerra or Young Living Essential Oils to support my immune system and create a healthily hostile environment for Lyme bacteria to return to.

As for the yeast issues that have resulted from the use of long-term antibiotics, I am currently taking Fluconazole, but will be looking into doing a Leaky Gut program from Josh Axe within the next few weeks as well in an attempt to heal and restore my stomach and intestines.

Personally I have found a mostly Vegetarian diet to be suited to my body.  Unfortunately a high vegetable and gluten-free grain diet creates a lot of work as I am hungry every two hours (not sure if this is because of a quick metabolism or a result of malabsorption of nutrients).  I have been introduced to a Thermomix  while in Australia and may be looking into purchasing a similar tool eventually to help make kitchen preparations a lot easier and free up some of my time for other pursuits.

Here are some pics from my recent trip 'home' to Australia.  My friend Tish was especially amazed at my progress as she hasn't seen me for awhile and the last time she saw me I was barely functioning! Thanks for the great memories!!

Tyson running through the sand and surf

 Bodyboarding!! I was not yet strong enough for surfing but this I could do!!

 Spending time with family

 Enjoying the gorgeous sunsets with my bestie and wine and cheese... xox

Night view over Perth city

 Enjoying local food

Catching up with friends

Priorities

Time to Pray

 

I got up early one morning

and rushed right into the day;

I had so much to accomplish

that I didn't have time to pray.

 

Problems just tumbled about me,

and heavier came each task.

"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered.

He answered, "My child, you didn't ask."

 

I wanted to see joy and beauty,

but the day toiled on, gray and bleak;

I wondered why God didn't show me.

He said, "But My child, you didn't seek."

 

I tried to come into God's presence;

I used all my keys at the lock.

God gently and lovingly chided,

"My child, you didn't knock."

 

I woke up early this morning,

and paused before entering the day;

I had so much to accomplish

that I had to take time to pray.

Author unknown

"The Grotto" in Tobermory

 



As soon as my health improves, I quickly begin to lose focus and prioritize my own activities before those of actual importance- time spent teaching my children, time with God, restful time to let my body and mind recover. There is always so much to do, you see and apparently I quickly fall into the trap of thinking I am holding up my corner of the world..... So I continue to yo-yo back and forth between times of relative physical strength and setbacks.  I will continue to do so until I learn to pace myself and prioritize my time well.

Overall I extremely happy with my progress.  God has granted me a measure of health that I no longer dreamed was possible!  I am very much appreciating being able to do the activities of regular life that I formerly took for granted.  I am enjoying the summer immensely and am regaining much of my physical ability and stamina.  I am mostly able to take care of my household and children without assistance (although I am getting somewhat worn out with the demands of having all three children home from school during this long summer break).  I receive Vitamin C IV treatment and ozone therapy at the naturopath once a week and use the afternoon of that day to rest and recover.  I am also intending to try bioresonance therapy - there is a clinic in Montreal that offers bioresonace and I am scheduled for treatment weekly during the month of September.  I intend to use it as a tool to aid in the recovery of my immune system.  I have been experiencing immune flare-ups (coldsores, urinary tract infection, yeast infections, mouth ulcers, allergies).  Now that I have killed off much of the Lyme bacteria, we are shifting our focus to strengthening my weakened immune system to be able to maintain an acceptable level of health that will, Lord willing, allow me to live a relatively normal life.  I am currently awaiting an appointment to have my picc line removed so I am very excited that we are moving into the next stage of recovery!  With my picc line out I will also be able to take up swimming which will help me regain overall physical strength.  Praise God - He has been good to us!
Thank-you all again for your ongoing prayers and support.  May God continue to bless our efforts.

The other day I began to write a list of some of the things I am able to do that I haven't been able to for years.  Here are some of the things on that list to praise God for:
- I can stand to shower
- I can stand for long enough to give my husband a hug
- I rarely need to use my stool to sit on when working in my kitchen
- I can do my own groceries with little assistance
- I rarely need to park in the handicapped parking
- I can wait in line at the store without having to sit on the floor
- I can chat at church without leaning against a wall or perching on my cane
- I can go downstairs to tuck my children in bed at the end of the day
- I can walk to the library or the park with my children
- I have the energy to go on dates again with my husband
- I can prepare my own meals
- I can teach my children how to play cricket
- I can play my guitar again!
- I no longer get night sweats
- I rarely have muscle twitching
- Overall I have less muscle and joint pain
- I have packed my cane and walker away
- I am done IV antibiotics
- My brain fog has cleared - I can THINK again!!
- I can have an occasional glass of wine ;)
THANK-YOU LORD!!

SOME PICS FROM OUR RECENT COTTAGING TRIP

 

 

Falling Asleep in the Sunshine

 

This morning I was encouraged to listen to a message by Alistair Begg regarding the place of trials and suffering in the life of a Christian.  It was one I have heard before but it was good to listen again, to help keep this life in an eternal perspective.  As we know from Paul's letter to the Corinthians, Paul was given a 'thorn in his flesh' which God refused to remove, although Paul begged Him three times.  We are told that this was to keep Paul from becoming conceited, and cause God's power to become more evident through Paul's weakness.  Sometimes, this answer does not feel like enough for the suffering believer.  We are often more concerned with our own comfort and well-being than the glory of God.  Unfortunately, as Alistair Begg pointed out, we are prone to fall asleep in the sunshine but are alert and awake when buffeted by the storms of life. Apparently many of us need hardship to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and admit our reliance on God for absolutely every aspect of our lives.  

Here is a link to the sermon if you are interested:



https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/power-weakness/

 

 Tyson & I fishing

  

I ASKED THE LORD

 

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, His face.

 

‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.

 

I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

 

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

 

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

 

Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
“‘Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

 

These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”

- John Newton

One of our Favourite Songs!

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." 

Phil 4:19

Due to worsening neurological symptoms for me this past week, our children were unable to perform in the John Calvin School fundraiser concert on Saturday.  We recorded the song tonight for our family and friends (note - the pj's and the yawns...)  We have loved this song throughout our journey with Lyme disease and have found it very comforting as it continues to point us upwards for strength each day anew.  The constraints of a disease are no match for our freedom in Christ and it is good for the soul to be reminded of that! Having sung and listened to this song over and over on youtube during the past number of years, it was a natural favourite for our children to perform. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x95Y9Y2KrtQ&feature=youtu.be

My brain fatigues very quickly under stress, in busy or stimulating environments.  I have trouble with my vision and focus.  It feels like a similar type of fatigue that I experienced physically so I am not frightened by it.  I am confident that, with the Lords blessing, these symptoms will also be resolved in due time with treatment.  This week I went to Toronto to Queen's Park for a Lyme rally, attended open house for my children at their school, did an interview for the local paper as well as keeping my regular scheduled health appointments. The affect of these extra activities seemed to accumulate on my brain and I had a constant headache and exhaustion by the end of the week.  With a few days rest and quiet, I have been working on detoxifying my body and have had a better day today.

I was excited about the possibility of being well enough to sing with the children, as this was something I thought would no longer be possible before treatment.  While we are disappointed that we couldn't follow through on performing together, we are excited that the possibility was even entertained, as this is a sign of positive progress.

"Many are the plans of a man's mind, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand" 

Proverbs 19:21

Queen's Park - Lyme Awareness

With a group of wonderful ladies from our Smithville congregation, I attended question period at Queen's Park in Toronto this week.  The purpose of this trip was to show our support in numbers by wearing lime green while sitting in the gallery during question period.  Mike Mantha from the NDP asked the Health Minister, Eric Hoskins, what was being done to fulfill his promise (made 6 months ago) to make changes to the guidelines for testing, diagnosis and treatment of Lyme Disease in Ontario.

After question period, we gathered on the grass to take part in a 'take a bite out of Lyme' challenge (hence the limes in our mouths).

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."  Ephesians 3:20,21

 The group of us with supportive MPP's

Here is a link to the official press release taken the same day for Lyme Awareness

http://www.citynews.ca/…/activists-call-for-provincial-lym…/

 Taking the 'Bite out of Lyme Challenge' with Mike Mantha

Below is a link to the question period. If you would like to jump to the specific questions and answers regarding Lyme Disease: Toby Barrett speaks at 34:50mins, Mike Mantha speaks at 49:40mins. Eric Hoskins is the Health Minister and responds to both questions. He is the one to whom we addressed our patient and caregiver statements. Thank-you everyone for supporting us as we continue to advocate for better testing, diagnosis and treatment of Lyme Disease!

http://tvo.org/…/213040/question-period-wednesday-may-6-2015










Damon helped me tie ribbons in Smithville for Lyme awareness