Couldn't ask for better doctors and nurses!

We are working on a detailed post about everything that happened last week. But I want to tell you about the doctors and nurses we had last week. I always talk about the bad doctors that we run into. We had the BEST care at the two different hospitals I was in. When I arrived in the ER on Saturday December 4th at Mercy Hospital, we had a great ER doctor. My dad actually knew him. He was caring and wanted to figure things out. The doctor that told us to go to the hospital was in contact with the ER doctor and they talked back and forth with us about things. Once they decided to admit me, they got it done fast!

I was on the pediatric floor at Mercy Hospital. It was so great because I was 1 of 2 patients on that floor. The other patient was older so I was the only pediatric. The nurses were so wonderful! They were so much fun and would hang out in my room and just talk. We laughed so much! They made us fresh iced tea and went out of their way to do things. I loved them! It was actually not a bad hospital stay. I know part of the reason was because I was on so much pain meds so I was in lala land, but it was also the great care we had. We didn't have any problems at that hospital at all! They all actually said, "yeah if you don't catch Lyme early it's hard to deal with and get rid of". Then they moved on and didn't make a big deal about it!! It was wonderful.

I had surgery at a little hospital that we had never heard of before! But it was also so great. I was the only patient there because my surgery was at 5pm. The nurses were amazing again! They were also fun to be around and just took great care of us. We laughed and talked with them a lot! I love nurses that turn something that is not fun, into something that is enjoyable. After surgery, my surgeon took lots of time to talk to my family. My mom is going to write a post about that.

We are so thankful for all the wonderful nurses and doctors that took care of us at both hospitals!!!! We couldn't have asked for better people.

Landon and I with one of my nurses before surgery

Too many cards to count!

This just looks like an ordinary bag from the outside. A very cute ordinary bag. But it is so much more than what meets the eye.

This is what's inside...hundreds of cards that I've received!

Look at how much support God has given me! I am so blessed!!

Here's some more cards that my brother put on my wall!

All of these note cards are from my youth group. There's so many!

These are cards that I received just on the day of my gallbladder surgery. There is a journal with notes from everyone who came to the hospital!

I've gotten cards from so many different groups of people, from many states. These are from some of the children at church!

I found a card from when I had surgery a year ago to have my port put in. It's from the hospital's nurses. I thought that was really funny that they thanked me for having surgery there. I didn't really have a choice but thanks?

If those cards don't make your day, I don't know what will!

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy "

Philippians 1:3-4

I am thankful...

for this beautiful weather
I'm thankful that I get to go to church tonight
I'm thankful that God never changes
I'm thankful for family
I'm thankful for living where I do
I'm thankful for medicine
I'm thankful for doctors who actually care
I'm thankful for brothers and sisters in Christ who wrap their arms around people who are suffering and constantly pray for and encourage them
I'm thankful that I always have food
I'm thankful for friends
I'm thankful for a God who keeps His promises

Beach in Niteroi, Brazil



God's beautiful creation at Iguazu Falls, Brazil

 Desert Song by Hillsong

"This is my prayer in the desert

And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides
Verse 2:
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames
Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand
Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be empited again
The seed I've recieved I will sow"
What are YOU thankful for?

Completely overwhelmed with love and support!!!!

"I thank my God every time I remember you." -Philippians 1:3

I had a really rough day yesterday with nausea and pain. I was feeling kinda down and then...

I opened up my email this morning and was completely overwhelmed with love and support! Actually, at first I was very, very confused. I wondered why my email was full of names of people I don't even know. I got on my blog and my jaw literally dropped.

When I got up this morning I had 72 comments on my Invisible Illness Awareness Week post. As I've been sitting here at home, the comments keep growing and now there are over 100. I love the new stats feature that tells where the readers are! People are reading from EVERYWHERE around the world. Wow. I really can't believe it.

Thank you SO much for the support and love and comments. It seriously has made my day and has encouraged me so much. I CAN'T stop SMILING!!

I'm so blessed to have so many people that care so much about me and support me.

I can't thank you enough or tell you how much you have blessed me!

I immediately thought of this verse when I started reading all the comments.
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." -1 Thessalonians 5:11

One of the readers made me this blog button! Thank you so much!! I absolutely love it!

A year ago

A year ago if you told me that I would still be sick today, I wouldn't have believed you. I knew there was no way that I could still be sick. But here I am today, still sick. No, I didn't want this. But God has renewed His promises every day. Some days it is easier to act like everything is normal. But then there are those days that reminds me how horrible this disease is and what it has done to my life. I just want to say really?! Is this really happening?

We live in a culture that says we're supposed to always hide our struggles and be fake. If we never talk about our struggles, how can we tell others what God has done in our lives or even realize what God has done in our lives?

The past holidays have been days with lots of food and games. Then there was this year.. Diseases don't take breaks for the holiday's or your birthday or work around your plans.. They are a constant reminder of the reality of sickness.

This year, I didn't have an appetite so eating wasn't something to look forward to, which I hate because I love food! I love all food and before I got sick I ate all the time. It's weird to get nauseous even if someone just mentions food. I'm the oldest of my cousins but I couldn't really play with them because I was in too much pain or too tired. I had to spend today hooked up to an iv pole and I cried because of the pain.

And yet, despite all of this, I am more thankful than I was a year ago. No, none of this is fun or what I asked for, but I am SO blessed. I have hope about something better. I know that one day I won't have to deal with all of this in heaven. I am one of the luckier ones with this disease. I don't have seizures or paralysis which is something to be so thankful for.

I'm very blessed and thankful for everything God has given me. A lot of times I forget what I do have because I focus on what I don't have.

Days like today just remind me of how much my life has changed in the past year. Lot's of bad things have happened and are still happening. But spiritually, more good has come out of it than bad. Yes, there are lots of days when I just say "why?!". But I'm learning to trust God in every situation and remember His promises because He is so faithful and never lets us go.

The days seem so long since I can't sleep. It's 6:15am and I still haven't gone to sleep. I'm so worn out. So please pray that I will be able to get some sleep in the next few days.

Last night I was upset about being sick on Thanksgiving and I looked at the sunset and was reminded of God's awesome power and peace that He gives. I love all the reminders He gives us.

These are some of my cousins! They are great!

When the Tears Fall by Newsboys

"I've had questions, without answers
I've known sorrow, I have known pain
but there's one thing, that I'll cling to
You are faithful, Jesus You're true

when hope is lost, I'll call You Saviour
when pain surrounds, I'll call You healer
when silence falls, You'll be the song within my heart

in the lone hour of my sorrow
through the darkest night of my soul
You surround me and sustain me
my defender, forevermore

when hope is lost, I'll call You Saviour
when pain surrounds, I'll call You healer
when silence falls, You'll be the song within my heart

and I will praise You, I will praise You
when the tears fall, still I will sing to You
and I will praise You, Jesus praise You
through the suffering still I will sing

when hope is lost, I'll call You Saviour
when pain surrounds, I'll call You healer
when silence falls, You'll be the song within my heart

oh yes, You are good to me
You've always been good to me
so trustworthy

when hope is lost, I'll call You Saviour
when pain surrounds, I'll call You healer
when silence falls, You'll be the song within my heart

and I will praise You, and I will praise You
when the tears fall, still I will sing to You
(I will sing to You) I will praise You,
Jesus praise You through the suffering
still I will sing

how faithful and true
sustain me through and through
You are hope and truth
You're my spring of living water
You're my spring of living water

in the lone hour of my sorrow

who springs never fail
be faithful and true
like...
like a spring it never fails
you're my spring never fails"

"For I hold you by your right hand—
I, the Lord your God.
And I say to you,
‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you." Isaiah 41:13
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

Thank you so much for all your prayers.