busy bee....

well, i guess this will be my last post for 2009, yikes! the year has flown by, not to mention the past six months (hence, the busy bee title).... i've barely been on my laptop and am so exhausted by the end of the day, that i don't even want to check my e-mail (but i have to pace myself because people have been wondering where in cyberspace i have disappeared to)....

since my last entry, i have officially re-entered the driving world (i only drive during the day and haven't drove outside of homestead or on any expressway, but still, woo-hoo for me!) & though it may seem like small potatoes, i've been doing laundry & dishes again (praise God for the ability to perform such menial tasks)....

i've been driving myself to therapy, the grocery store, the bank, the pharmacy.... even the gas station! i feel so liberated (though all the new developments are accomplished with alot of "tweeking" to meet the needs of my physical handicaps)....

the hospital where i go for therapy is less than five minutes away (f.y.i.: my grandma, God bless her, is my chaperone on most of my outings)....

as long as the store i'm going to has electrical shopping carts, i'm good to go.... i just walk (very carefully, it's still a very wobbly world) on in with my walker (after hunting for a handicap parking space because apparently those placards are just handed out like nothing, humph!) and find a cart, put my walker in the basket or behind the seat (sometimes the registers hold it until i'm done shopping) and i buzz along my merry way....

it's a good thing we drive on the left side of vehicles in this country, otherwise i would have a tough time with things because i can only use my left hand.... needless to say, i have to get pretty creative when trying to figure out how i' m going to do certain things.... i might have to go down an aisle twice if something i need is on the right, but it's the way it is.... i can be pretty stubborn so i won't ask for help unless there is no possible way i can figure out how to do it myself (i actually attribute most of my progress to my stubbornness, go figure, not to mention God's awesomeness)....

i think drive-thrus have been the scariest, whether it be the pharmacy or mc d's, they can get pretty tricky (but i've done a good job of maneuvering those especially since driving with my left foot is tricky enough)....

on the home front, as long as i have my trusty little rolling stool, i can do just about anything (except mop the floors [slippery floors are a hazard; i've fallen about seven times in the past two and a half years and broke and bruised a few things along the way] or cook [i still can't feel heat/cold on about eighty percent of my body, which makes that pretty hazardous too]).... i just plop down on the stool in front of the washer/dryer in the garage to get laundry done (i've got a system going).... then it's a dance between my walker and the rolling stool around the house to get things done (i use my handy little swiffer vac/duster)....

in the kitchen, i load the dishwasher, clean out the fridge, fix the pantry (all while sitting on my rolling stool).... mind you, i have to take short breaks every now and then to rest my left arm, but i get things done, my way....

i still long for the days where i could just get up and go and walk and jump and run and skip and dance, but i have hope that maybe one day, i'll get there.... God is GREAT!!!!

so, that was just a little glimpse inside my daily goings on, as they say in books.... tune in next year for more updates....

i wish everyone a very blessed and happy new year! much love to all! :)

m & m's: miracles & mayhem....

i know it's been four long months since my last blog update, but so much has happened since then....

where to begin? the beginning, i guess....

it's been a time of miracles & mountains climbed....

it's been a time of mayhem & pouring rains....

this is why the world needs constant prayer; for both m & m's....

i'll start with the mayhem:

*my bladder stone removal procedure (while recovering from a broken ankle)

*double mastectomy of my dear friend with breast cancer

*my uncle fell off a ladder & fractured his sternum (among other bumps & bruises)

*my shower chair collapsed from under me (that would make my fifth fall since my avm)

*my grandfather fell in the bathroom & has been recently diagnosed with kidney failure

*my brother-in-law's grandfather passed away

*my cousin's boyfriend's dad has been put on a transplant list for a new liver

*a family member had a stroke, a bad fall & a heart attack

*i was diagnosed with chondritis (which made me feel like i was having a heart attack)

(these have been the major things, although many other little things have happened in between)....

now for the miracles:

*my bladder stone removal procedure was a success & my ankle, though still weak, has healed

*my hubby & i celebrated ten wonderful years together (many happy memories from our dating days)

*my breast cancer survivor dear friend is a blessing & a true fighter

*my cousin gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy

*a fellow avm survivor celebrated one year of living since her brain bleed (congrats katherine!)

*my uncle has made a wonderful recovery from his ladder fall

*three very special children of God have recieved the body of Christ (my little sister, my sister's nephew & the daughter of my dear friend; congrats on their communion!)

*my brother-in-law is confirmed in his faith in Christ (his confirmation as an adult was a blessing to witness)

*i'm slowly healing from my shower chair fall (unfortunately, my spine is in constant pain & discomfort, but there are good days)

*my grandfther is doing better, but dialysis is most likely in his future (i take comfort in knowing that this will help him, as hard as it will be)

*my amazing parents celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary

*my sister & my brother-in-law are now joined in holy matrimony under the eyes of God

*my nephew/godson graduated from pre-school :)

*i had my first gardening adventure since my avm

*we celebrated our first new home with our wonderful family & friends

*my friend gave birth to a gorgeous, healthy, bouncing baby boy

*i've begun to pick up therapy cones with my right hand in occupational therapy (with the aide of finger bands that help to cup my hand) & physical therapy is moving along (i even tried jumping on the trampoline the other day, in between the parallel bars)

*my two year avm anniversary came & went like any other day (that's how excited i was about this next miracle)

*my first beach trip since my avm & the first time i walked into a pool (all with help, of course)

(as you can see, the miracles out weigh the mayhem & i didn't even include birthdays, even my own & other anniversaries, which are all blessings)....

it's been a busy four months & now i have shared with you the up's & down's of my rollercoaster life (oh, & i can't forget the major loops in between)....

where i'm uncertain & lacking, He fills the empty spaces with hope (& miracles)....

where there is mayhem, He brings peace....

"Never be afraid to trust an unkown future to a known God." -Corrie Ten Boom

(i hope you enjoy some of the glimpses of the miracles, until the next series of them)....

God bless....

power of prayer....

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things i cannot change, the courage to change the things i can & the wisdom to know the difference"....

i believe in the power of prayer....

without a doubt, when so many voices are lifted in prayer, miracles happen....

my bladder procedure is scheduled for tomorrow at 10:30 a.m.... i must admit that i'm a bit anxious & nervous, but i know that many special people are praying for everything to be well & so it shall be.... thank you all for your kind words of encouragement, they help me tremendously & keep pushing me through the tough times....

we have a home now, our first new home & we couldn't be more grateful & thankful for all our many blessings....

yesterday was a great day.... it was my sister's bridal shower & everything was beautiful.... she was very happy & that made me happy.... it was also great to catch up with family & friends (i loved the fact that i got to see & hold my little nieces & nephews)....

as i take a deep, calming breath, i know that all will be okay....

i will be okay....

skippin' stones....

well, the title encompasses alot of wats been happenin' in my life lately.... 1st off, i skipped the "2 post a month" deal (sorry 'bout that my dear bloggers.... i tried & thought that promisin' @least 2 updates a month seemed reasonable, but i failed).... turns out life can get even crazier just wen u think it's calmin' down (wen it rains, it pores & pores, seemin' endless).... i fell.... down.... down 2 the ground while tryin' 2 walk w/o my walker & right leg brace & got a spiral fracture on my left fibula (it's still healin', which means 2 months of skipped therapy sessions), 1 step forward & 2 steps back, it seems.... my hubby & i have been in the process of buyin' our 1st home (btw, it has 2 storeys, that pic above is part of the new house, empty, not yet home & me sittin' in my wheelchair w/ my broken leg).... it became such an exhaustin' ordeal (God willin', we close on it 2morrow).... i feel bittersweet emotions 'cuz i pictured this particular experience differently (all i get 2 do is watch from the sidelines, not fun @ all).... i'm skippin' the stuff that i should b a part of (movin', paintin, decoratin', etc.).... i recently found out that i have a stone in my bladder (it's been formin' 4 several months & it's huge).... unfortunately, 'cuz of my condition (& abnormal bladder) i'm a poster child 4 this kinda thing.... if the doc can't go in & break up the stone w/ a laser 2 flush it out, then i have 2 get a c-section 2 remove the stone.... i'm scared 'bout the surgery, but like everything else that has happened in my life, i believe "if He brings u 2 it, then He'll bring u thru it".... oh, & did i mention that my sis' is gettin' married in may (i have the pleasure of the bein' her maid of honor, which is gr8, but i feel like i can't b wat a maid of honor should b & that makes me sad).... wat a mess, but there's nothin' else 2 do, but keep prayin' & stay positive (no matter wat life keeps throwin' @ me).... i just have 2 keep countin' my blessings (like my lil' miracle nephews & niece that were just born, i miss bein' able 2 b a "get up & go" auntie).... i feel like all these precious moments r bein' skipped, but i know that my family & friends r there 4 me & that helps me feel better.... my life is the big, bottomless lake, i am the stone & sometimes i get a good skippin' momentum & sometimes i don't.... who knows how far i'll go....

new yr., new me....

hey everybody!

hope your new yr. has been great so far.... i wish u all many blessings.... as u can c by the pic i've posted, i'm walkin' w/o a walker & w/o a brace on my right leg (yay, me!).... this has been 1 of the most excitin' new developments during my recovery (naturally, i'm very proud of myself).... i've been doin' so much more in therapy & have become more independent @ home & let me tell u, it feels great! alleluia! it's still a wobbly world & i still need help 4 certain things, but over all, it's been pretty awesome.... i meant 2 post more updates durin' the holidays, but they got pretty crazy as can b expected, so from now on, i will try 2 post atleast 2 new updates a month.... thanx again 4 all your prayers.... they r definitely workin'! i thank God everyday 4 all my wonderful family & friends....

lots of luv,

me

p.s. my therapist told me 2 get a prescription 4 a drivin' test just 2 test where i'm @ (yikes!).... i think i'll wait a lil' while 4 that adventure, lol....