Little Victories

     It's the little things in life that become the big things.  When you are dealing with a chronic illness where you never feel good even on your best days, you learn to appreciate the little things.  Since starting this long recovery road, there have been lots of little victories along the way.  Two big items for the weekend were the fact that I was able to bathe/shower by myself for the first time in almost two months and I made it to an entire church service today!  I used a shower chair and soaked in the tub for bouts of time in between washing hair etc, but I was able to do it myself.  I felt like singing the pullups jingle, "Mommy wow! I'm a big kid now!" :) 

     I was weak and a bit "tremory" at the end of church but it was nice to actually hear the entire sermon and get to hear some of the worship.  I still have to sit in the cry room as its quieter and the lighting in the sanctuary really messes with my eyes and thus gets my vertigo and nausea going.  I should mention that it took drinking three Ginger Beer's to get through the morning vest treatment, church service, then lunch at Baggins afterwards...and that is non-alcoholic "beer" that is made of ginger and sweetened with honey, pineapple, and lime juice.  Super yummy and has helped me make it through lots of vertigo filled moments.  

     This week I would love prayers for several things.  First, I'm having the neurological tests (EMG of upper and lower extremities and EEG and MRI of head, neck, and knee...the knee is to assess ligament/tendon/meniscus issues in the knees.) and those will stimulate the muscles with electrical impulses which I know will lead to tremors.  When I was maxed with the vestibular test this last week and pushed past the point of tremors the next day I was in bed with my eyes completely covered being so sensitive to light I couldn't even keep my eyes open.  Please pray that the testing gives the doctor the information that is needed for how to proceed but that it doesn't set me back.  

     Secondly, I STILL have not gotten the inhaled antibiotic for my lungs or sinuses...the lung inhaled antibiotic has been in process since the beginning of March so it is beyond frustrating at this point.  I have multiple people helping me make follow up calls to the assistance program and the doctor's office but still to no avail.  I finally was able to talk to the ENT over the phone and figured out a sinus inhaled antibiotic to do late Friday night so pray that comes quickly and doesn't cost too much.  

     Also, please pray that I will be able to lay as still as I need to for the MRI...I'm sound sensitive and loud or unexpected sounds can cause the tremors so for all of you that have had an MRI you know that is going to be a challenge.  I also have a problem laying completely flat due to my lungs so pray I'm able to use the wedge and that I don't have any cough attacks.  

     I think that about sums up the major prayer items for the week.  It's going to go by fast with back to back tests in Phoenix Monday and Tuesday and then the MRI, the home health nurse, and my massage Wednesday.  Then Thursday I have to get ready and Lord willing, I will be flying to Nebraska to be at my niece's high school graduation.  I was cleared by rehab to go so pray extra hard the testing doesn't trigger a response that would cause me to have to cancel the trip.  

     We also got enough t-shirts sold to have them printed so we should all be getting those in the next couple of weeks!  Thank you for all of your continued love and support! 

In the Love of the Lamb,
Rachelle :) 

Me and my brother, Justin, on Thursday :) 

Jordan copying Hunter's "picture"face :) 

Beautiful view of rain on the mountains tonight!