I know it's been awhile since I posted, but I've been working at regaining my health. After emergency surgery and losing Treasure, I was physically unable to care for myself and my family. I couldn't even walk to the bathroom without someone there to steady me!
Today, after 3 1/2 months of working on regaining my strength, I am delighted to share that I'm back to normal. No, better than normal! I actually feel good. I was telling my husband last night as we were out on a date that the last time I remember feeling THIS good was before I got pregnant with our firstborn. I feel like I have energy, even after nights when I don't sleep so well. The children are becoming a joy again, instead of just trouble makers. Housework is actually getting done. Well, more or less! Sometimes reading a story or pulling a sled takes precedence over how the house happens to look... In addition, I'm running up and down stairs all day to fire the furnace or put something away, something I never had to do before while living in a mobile home. I do drop into bed dead tired at night, but I'm so grateful to finally be feeling myself again! My real self, not the droopy worn out woman I'd become.
And I have some thanks to offer different ones. First, to my husband and the way he's stood by me even when things weren't so good and I wasn't the wife he needed. He is an awesome, caring man who's helped picked up the pieces when I just couldn't go one more step more times than I like to admit.
Second, I feel I must thank my many friends who have supported us emotionally, physically, and prayerfully over this tremendously difficult winter. To the ones who told me to take Chlorophyll again and again and again. To my sister who sent a care package all the way from Alaska with some wonderful treats (thanks Meg!). To my sister-in-law who prayed and wrote notes in the darkest hours. And to all the many, many folks for everything. Meals were brought in, volunteers helped us move, and so many, many prayers held us up.
Third, thanks to the Trim Healthy Mama writers and all the encouragers on their FaceBook page! I wasn't able to stay "on plan" totally over the last number of months, but I believe this is where the feeling of having energy is coming from. A healthier diet, less weight to haul around, and for once, not pregnant or nursing so my body can actually use the good things to build back up. I feel very strongly that cutting out most sugar and refined flours (I still do have "cheats", so am not 100% on plan with some of that) and eating LOTS more protein, good fats, and veggies is helping my body to gain strength. Plus, I have been doing some fairly light exercising regularly that I wasn't doing before and I feel that's also helping my strength to come back even more than before.
Most of all, the glory goes to God Who spared my life, and has made our bodies to practically heal themselves in many ways when supplied with the proper building blocks. He has so patiently and kindly led me on, even through the darkest valleys--and now, the sunshine just feels SO good!
Showing posts with label my family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label my family. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
The aftermath
Having an emergency surgery is scary. And it's not easy to recover when you've lost a good half of your blood volume. Trying to recuperate with three small children, remodeling and moving all at the same time is daunting. But losing a baby in the middle of it all... that is the hardest of all.
We named our baby. We felt like he was a boy, and so he is not an "it". He was a person, real, living, ours... even though we never met him. His name is Treasure. Gone to be with Jesus November 4, 2013. And our hearts ache. Well, more than ache. They are pierced. And I've discovered that the ones who have been through it before can really understand. They know the feeling of a sword in the soul. They know about the tears that come out of nowhere and flood that stinging wound. And they, too, have found the mercy of God bringing sweet balm in the night when the tears won't stop. Now, I know it too.
I remember one night especially. I was laying in my easy chair, looking out into the vast expanse of the dark heavens. Because of residual pain from surgery, I hadn't really been able to let myself cry yet. But the tears started flowing. The emotional pain radiated more excruciating than the physical pain had earlier. I looked at the twinkling stars, and thought of my God. He was big enough to make all that, ALL that amazing expanse, with a word or two. Surely, a God that big could have intervened, could have put Treasure where he belonged, could have stopped this tragedy before it started. But, He didn't. He chose to allow us to walk the path of loss, pain, and anguish. He chose to take Treasure before our precious baby had to discover pain and heartache and sin. He chose to allow Treasure the joys of heaven without the tears of earth. He set our son free. Could I want to bring him back from that, even while my soul yearned against the bonds holding me to earth? I couldn't even question why. I just had a peace flood over me that yes, there was a reason, even though I can't see it now. God was in control, and in His love for Treasure AND for us, He chose to give us the gift of grief.
Knowing I had come so close to joining Treasure in heaven was a little startling for us all, I believe. But, even though I had thought of it as I was being prepped for surgery, I found I was not afraid. I had no apologies to make. Lots to regret, but nothing that hadn't been forgiven. And when it was evident I was going to make it, I found my heart saying with Paul in Philippians "Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better." Yet too, the heart-groan when you realize that you work on earth is not done! "Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you (meaning, for me, my young family)."
Physically, recovery has been long and hard. After losing so much blood I have been very, very weak. Now it's been more than 6 weeks, and I have gained a little strength back but not a whole lot of stamina. Washing the laundry takes all the strength I have for one day. If I tackle too much, I end up having to rest the entire next day, or two, or three. I have been taking iron tablets to attempt to build my blood up. But my strength is so limited that the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle has kind of fallen by the wayside. Along with a lot of other things. We have been grateful for much help from church friends and family, bringing meals, helping us move, and helping out with things like laundry and cleaning. I've been told it will probably take around 3 months for me to regain my stamina, so it still seems like a long journey ahead of me.
And the memory of Treasure will remain even after my strength is back and we look like, from the outside, like we always did. But our hearts have been broken, and I trust that God will bring a fragrance from this heart rending that will bring Him honor and glory, and allow us to be a greater blessing to those whom we might chance to meet.
We named our baby. We felt like he was a boy, and so he is not an "it". He was a person, real, living, ours... even though we never met him. His name is Treasure. Gone to be with Jesus November 4, 2013. And our hearts ache. Well, more than ache. They are pierced. And I've discovered that the ones who have been through it before can really understand. They know the feeling of a sword in the soul. They know about the tears that come out of nowhere and flood that stinging wound. And they, too, have found the mercy of God bringing sweet balm in the night when the tears won't stop. Now, I know it too.
I remember one night especially. I was laying in my easy chair, looking out into the vast expanse of the dark heavens. Because of residual pain from surgery, I hadn't really been able to let myself cry yet. But the tears started flowing. The emotional pain radiated more excruciating than the physical pain had earlier. I looked at the twinkling stars, and thought of my God. He was big enough to make all that, ALL that amazing expanse, with a word or two. Surely, a God that big could have intervened, could have put Treasure where he belonged, could have stopped this tragedy before it started. But, He didn't. He chose to allow us to walk the path of loss, pain, and anguish. He chose to take Treasure before our precious baby had to discover pain and heartache and sin. He chose to allow Treasure the joys of heaven without the tears of earth. He set our son free. Could I want to bring him back from that, even while my soul yearned against the bonds holding me to earth? I couldn't even question why. I just had a peace flood over me that yes, there was a reason, even though I can't see it now. God was in control, and in His love for Treasure AND for us, He chose to give us the gift of grief.
Knowing I had come so close to joining Treasure in heaven was a little startling for us all, I believe. But, even though I had thought of it as I was being prepped for surgery, I found I was not afraid. I had no apologies to make. Lots to regret, but nothing that hadn't been forgiven. And when it was evident I was going to make it, I found my heart saying with Paul in Philippians "Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better." Yet too, the heart-groan when you realize that you work on earth is not done! "Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you (meaning, for me, my young family)."
Physically, recovery has been long and hard. After losing so much blood I have been very, very weak. Now it's been more than 6 weeks, and I have gained a little strength back but not a whole lot of stamina. Washing the laundry takes all the strength I have for one day. If I tackle too much, I end up having to rest the entire next day, or two, or three. I have been taking iron tablets to attempt to build my blood up. But my strength is so limited that the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle has kind of fallen by the wayside. Along with a lot of other things. We have been grateful for much help from church friends and family, bringing meals, helping us move, and helping out with things like laundry and cleaning. I've been told it will probably take around 3 months for me to regain my stamina, so it still seems like a long journey ahead of me.
And the memory of Treasure will remain even after my strength is back and we look like, from the outside, like we always did. But our hearts have been broken, and I trust that God will bring a fragrance from this heart rending that will bring Him honor and glory, and allow us to be a greater blessing to those whom we might chance to meet.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Apology
I'm sorry I've been so negligent with updating this blog! I know it's no fun to check out a blog and then find they STILL haven't added anything.
In June we had an old farmhouse moved on to our property, and we have since spend about every spare minute possible on remodeling it so we can move in. It's a very exciting process, but it's also taking up all our time and energy right now, and will continue to do for a couple more months yet. So, check back in October, and hopefully I'll have more news for you again!
In June we had an old farmhouse moved on to our property, and we have since spend about every spare minute possible on remodeling it so we can move in. It's a very exciting process, but it's also taking up all our time and energy right now, and will continue to do for a couple more months yet. So, check back in October, and hopefully I'll have more news for you again!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Welcome!
Welcome to "The Healthy Family" page!!
I am a stay at home mom of three precious children:
Sweet Pea is 5, and is a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia survivor! A real, living, miracle. He is doing K5 this year. (We school at home)
Li'l Man is 2. He's a shy, but an articulate speaker for a two year old.
Little Miss just turned 1! She's the happiest baby I've EVER had the pleasure of meeting!
We live on a small acreage in the country, in Wisconsin. We raise Alaskan Malamutes (due to have our second litter of puppies next week!), and have a beef cow and calf, and a couple of cats. My husband, Jere, has a small sawmill where he does a lot of neat stuff with the local white pine grown around here! Jere and I both volunteer with the local ambulance squad, and really enjoy that.
And I am in a quest for better health, for me AND my family! I desire to be healthy enough, and to teach my children to be healthy enough, to have all of the strength needed to follow the Lord in whatever He may ask of us. Turning to traditional medicine has its place in emergencies, yes, but it's purpose is not to create and promote health, but to cure disease. Let's learn together how to promote health, and a happy, healthy, lifestyle!
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