Moving Forward....Watching God put things together just the way He wants to

Hi Everyone, hope you're staying warm in these brutal cold temperatures. I know we are staying warm. My husband is a great provider in that he's running our pellet stove to keep us warm and he brought food in unexpected yesterday. I was so glad that he did. I am putting meals together with what he brought. He does so much and tries so hard to provide for our family. We really appreciate all that he does for us. 

Now to get onto what's going on since my last appointment. I had blood work drawn when I was there last. I received the results this morning and I am not pleased to see where the numbers lay. They're low in areas where they need to be higher and those that need to be low are high. I know that after the bone density next Wednesday my doctor will be scheduling the infusions. 

No this doesn't surprise me. I have learned in the years since being diagnosed when I don't feel right, the bone pain is increasing that means one of two things that my calcium is high or that my Vitamin D is bottoming out. In this case, both are down. I know this is not a "snap of the fingers" situation. I know God can do a snap of the fingers and things are fine -- He's choosing a slow path that will draw me to lean harder, press harder into Him. This is His path, not mine. I have to learn to rest with Him and listen, be alert to His direction, how I handle this as the days go, the hiccups that may come along the way.

As I get more updates I will update here. Have a great day everyone!!!

Grace & Peace,

The wait is over! The time has come.....

Good Morning, Everyone! Today is the day we get the results of all the tests. I am praying for the best. I know that God has brought me from mountain to mountain, level to level in my walk with Him. The journey hasn't always been easy, but what comes out of the challenges, the miracles, the amazing things that I have experienced in my life that the Lord has brought me through outweigh the burden, the fear, the tears, the sleepless times, the times with pain by far!

This is how I am going to roll with what's coming at me today. I will be wearing my OI (Osteogenesis Imperfecta) shirt that a bestie gave to me. I love you Jenn, (Goose). She bought me this shirt because she knows my humor and how I roll with things. She has known with this disease that both our son and I face daily hasn't been an easy one especially in the beginning.  She and others know how torn I was. How I was so afraid that our son was going to die, what do I do now? Where do I turn? How do I get information on this disease? Is there information on this? What are the treatments? How harmful are they? These are just a few of the thoughts running through my and my husband's minds at the time of diagnosis. Never did we see that within a few months I too would be diagnosed with Osteogenesis. I was still scared as I was still learning, yet I was now building my knowledge base. I was building my support system. I was gaining friendships that the Lord was putting me in touch with strong Christian friends. 

One of my best friends lives in New Hampshire. Keith and his beautiful wife Lisa have been great inspirations, great information providers, a great support team for our son and I when we'd face infusions, tests, hiccups along the road of OI we'd struggle through. The phone calls that would come and calls I'd make to them they would provide answers if they had them, prayer and most of all encouragement.  When calls would come sometimes that support would be me giving it to Keith through his challenges with the OI. Giving encouragement and guidance on things that he's facing as well. This is how we roll through this day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year. 

I won't lie and say I am fine with the appointment coming today to get results. I am not fine, I am a bit nervous, and not sure I am ready for the words the doctor will express to me today. I know that I have to move forward. I have to be ready for the diagnosis, is it going to be a severe cycle of the current type of OI I have now? Is it going to be a more severe Type of OI? Is it going to be cancer? How strong am I? I am blessed with many caring friends and I am glad they're in my life and I try to be as caring and there for each and every one of my friends even if they're states away from me. One of my great friends gave me this message prior to my leaving for my appointment. "Prayers the results are going to be not what you think, but a way to make improvements. I feel very confident in your results."

I am now home from the appointment. The appointment took much longer than expected. I arrived and was checked in by 1:20 pm had my appointment with my doctor and finished out with going to the lab for more blood work. By the time I arrived home it was after 5 pm. Now an overview of the appointment. My doctor began by thoroughly going over my record with me making certain all the information was correct; any updates or concerns were added in so that proper attention can be given or directed for that specific concern. After this was done we discussed the results of recent testings and bloodwork. I was given the information that I have been waiting for since before Christmas. I must say first off I was told the results do not show cancer. I praise God for that result, AMEN!! The next concern was is this a more severe type of OI (Osteogenesis Imperfecta); the next result says No, this is not a more severe form of OI. I praise God for this result, AMEN! Now for the rest of the results. I was told that between bones and muscle pain I am in pain 97% of my body. That doesn't sound good, but there is a way to help this and we are on that to get the pain reduced and stopped. They did more bloodwork to make certain nothing was missed. The doctor did say that I was in a more severe state with my OI. I was also advised about Reclast infusions and the benefits that they give.  I am now scheduled for a bone density scan for next week. When the bloodwork results return and the scan is done we will set schedule for the Reclast infusions. I am also being scheduled with a Rheumatologist and an Autoimmune Specialist.

The infusions are going to be a hard rough road, BUT I am going forward and will deal with the harsh side effects as they come. They may knock me, but I refuse to let them break me!

I love when friends send me encouraging messages. They have really blessed me with all that I have had coming at me in this. I will leave you with those encouraging words. 

"You may feel defeated. But, you are more than a conqueror! You may feel cast down. But you are victorious in Christ Jesus! You may not understand why so much is happening in your life that you don't understand....BUT, for every struggle, for every disappointment you had, for every time you felt alone, for every friend that left you God has a turnaround for you!" *this is from INSTAGOD MINISTRIES

"God already solved your eternity problem, why wouldn't He solve your temporary problems?"

"Will keep you in my prayers. Wish there was more that I could do."

"Good Luck Kiddo... I hope they don't make you too sick and your bones get strong. Sorry, I hope the treatments work."

"OK. GOOD FOR YOU! Our God has taken care of you. HE has steadied your emotions; HE has saved you from cancer; HE has given the doctors a way for treatment; HE will be with you throughout this difficult time. RED SEA RULES will prevail! Again--has your front, your back, both sides and everything in between -- you are in better hands than Allstate!!!!"

"This is great Leah that it isn't cancer or another form of O.I. I hope your other visits go well and they can help you."

"I was wondering how it went. Will continue to pray."

"I'm so glad it's not cancer Leah. I'm hoping infusions will help you. Keep your chin up Leah <3"

Thanks for hanging out. I hope you've enjoyed your visit. I will post as I go forward with treatments and let you know how things are going. I will now leave you with something fun. This was at my doctor's office. 

Grace & Peace,

Deep In Thought........

Today has been a wet day with the constant rain coming down. I was looking for a picture to fit with how I have been today. Today I spent most of my time deep in thought. I have been thinking about so many things with all that I am dealing with in this journey of healing. I verse that I thought was from the book of Colossians. Colossians 4:2-3 (NLT) "Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about His mysterious plan concerning Christ...." You may ask why this verse...well, I thought of this one because devoting ourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart; God hears us when we pray. He hears us when we pray and spend time with Him; our relationship grows with what He teaches us. Our hearts are more open to receiving what He has for us. I have been finding with this whole injury my spending time in the Word and prayer I have grown in so many ways. I realize that God means for me to be where I am. You think right away I dare to say; how can you say that? I mean seriously! Are you saying that God meant for you to get injured while in that pool for therapy??? No, I am not saying that. I am saying that He may have needed me to slow down and He allowed this.

There are times where God needs us to slow down and hear what He has for us. While getting injured doesn't mean that was the way He wanted me to slow down. It may have taken that because I admit I can be stubborn and push on when I shouldn't. Some circumstances are beyond our control. Sometimes just a card in the mail, a phone call, a knock on the door can throw us for a loop.  We need to be ready for what may come our way.  When we worry about something is us putting question marks where God puts a period. God appreciates when we do His work; what He has planned for us, for you, for me. There are so many ways that God gets our attention to get us to slow down to draw to Him. I am thankful for this time. This has been a long time; we are now five weeks in and I am still not where I need to be physically, but I have grown in so many other ways. 

I have been with four different women from my church. They come certain days of the week to help me at my home, with walking, with making meals for me, for conversation - times of refreshing for them and for me. We talk about things in our lives and share with one another.  They have taught me so much about them and they've said I have taught them so much about me. I have told them some really personal things that I don't share with just anyone. We spent time in prayer; we spent time in tears not always because of sadness, but in times of growth, times of frustration from things of negative anger. There are times that we spend singing our hearts out loudly with the television...hehe so loudly that we rock and roll my husband right out the front door. I hate to admit we laugh when we do that. Is that wrong??? I have to say that it's funny at times watching his reaction when he's going out that door.  In times like these, I have to think of God's glory rather than for my relief.  You may think why wait, how do you do that?? I mean seriously, naturally, we think of questions like these. "How did I get into this mess, and how can I get out?" "How quickly can I solve this problem?" "Why did this have to happen to me?"  That last one is a difficult one, isn't it? I mean when we get hurt, when we get into something that is catastrophic we think how did this happen? Why didn't I stop? Why didn't I see this coming? Sometimes we need to step back. When something comes at us; instead of reacting how we usually do "how can I get out of this mess?". We should change our thinking to "How can God be glorified in this situation. By doing this can change your whole perspective on the situation that you're in. 

When you think about it what comes to your mind? When you think of the enemy what does he do he comes in and bothers us, annoys us. His mission is to seek, kill and destroy. We need to acknowledge when he sneaks in and attacks us...we need to be at the ready and keep our eyes on the Lord. I have kept you here a long time so I will let you go. I thank you for taking the time to read my post. I will have more to write in the days ahead. 

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day,

I am home...

I titled this I am home. Yes, I am home. It has not been an easy journey. This all started from April 11th my first day of Aquatic Therapy. I left feeling a bit sore. I knew that would happen, but thought this is part of healing. I have to deal with some pain before the healing. Glad that the Lord is my strength to get me better. 

This picture I chose, says "Dear Lord, I come to You today, feeling broken, the same pain, and hurt again. I am honestly tired and weak right now. But I will hold on to You, my sweet Jesus because I know that this is just a part of my journey here as your humble servant." I chose this because although there are pain and feelings of discouragement I know the Lord is always there for me, no matter the situation, the circumstances He's always there. 

Saturday Blessings!

Saturday Blessings Everyone! Well, this is a change. I woke up at 4 am for our normal wake up time. I grabbed my medication took that, thought I was going to be up for the day - my body had other plans I was able to fall back to sleep which is unusual for me. I am thankful for the extra rest I don't usually get that due to the pain and discomfort of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta.  Those of us with the disease can attest to the various things that we deal with on a daily basis.

I must say that I am thankful for the friendship that I have made with my "Special Friend." She's great!!! Yes, we may have ups and downs, you know the kind - the bumping of heads on some topics. We have adjusted and learned to get around our "bumps in the road." We are now stronger in our friendship. I thank God for her. We get together and spend time with each other while our children play games together. I am thankful for their friendship as well. They have helped one another with homework as well. I like that they can do that. 

This morning's "dance" was a little easier. I praise God for that. I still loved dancing across the room with my husband. I enjoy our talks. This morning we both were getting up to get our days going. We got down the hall and we were both down the stairs. He did what he needed I got myself ready then our son woke up. We made breakfast.

Yesterday was my first day of physical therapy, but as most of us call it physical torture. Hmm, maybe because we go in with not a lot of pain and walk out with lots of pain. I did experience some pain while there, but when I got home it wasn't that bad until this morning. I guess the work I did, did settle in. I am ok otherwise. I know there will be some discomfort before I get better. I am already working on a plan for after physical therapy.  I want to be the best that I can for my family. I know we can get through this. God blessed me with a therapist that lives close to me. 

I hope you have a great weekend. Spend time with family, friends, and God. 

Blessings,

Time With Friends

Good Evening!! Hope you're having a good night with your families. I have been enjoying my evening with my family we decided to change things up by watching AFV. We are having some good laughs with one another. Not often do we all get the time to enjoy one another in the same room.  We are usually going this direction, and that and back again. Life can pull us away, but when we take the time even for a few minutes to make memories even if just laughing with each other. I love when my husband pays attention to my words even if I don't think he's heard me. That being said he was about to go upstairs but decided to come over to me. He started rubbing my shoulders then that became more like a massage. He rubbed my arms and massaged them. He then rubbed my neck and just talked to me. I loved it because he took the time to do it for one, but just the time to spend with me was special.

Today was filled with so many things... I was surprised with a pleasant call from a dear friend who also has OI. We were able to talk for a few minutes. Hopefully, we will be able to get another phone call in tomorrow or on Friday. I sometimes don't know how to take when my friends pick up my tone and know there's something wrong even if I don't tell them. I am glad that I have so many in my life and I am thankful for each part that they contribute to my life. I spent some time with my special friend today and I was blessed and I was glad that they came over. We had something that came on the news that tied in with what was going on around us as my friend and I said: "This is a God moment." I agree when God does that I thank Him for doing that - we know He's watching over us. I love when He brings someone into our life when we are facing a trial. The person doesn't know what is going on with us yet they say something and wonder sometimes why we give them a look. Sometimes they may take the time to ask or talk to us, other times they may not have the time to talk and walk away. We thank God for those moments because they are the moments that give us that "push" "the confidence to know that we will come out on the other side." 

The reason for the shirt. I was given this shirt from a dear sweet friend who is like a sister to me. She was just surfing the net came across this shirt. She said when she read it first she laughed out loud then said that's my sister to the T!! Ok, pun intended since it is a t-shirt. Aside from the sidetrack; she said that even through the trial of the Osteogenesis you still find the humor, the funny, the light side and this shirt just fits your personality. I read the shirt and said oh look it says "....only cooler" hmm, is that for those moments of snap, crackle..oops! She laughed so hard; we laughed together for a while then continued our conversation. Well, I should get going I have more to get done and write.

Thanks for Stopping by,