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Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Wrapping up 2016

I haven't written a blog post in a few months.  I haven't felt like I could really write what was on my heart.  I haven't felt very inspired. So now I'm writing a sort of summary of our year.

This year was a year of not much change in David's recovery.  That may be part of the reason I couldn't write.  I've been struggling with this.  The last four years, David has experienced so many "impossible" milestones in his recovery.  Each one gave me this extra kick to keep trundling on, keep pushing barriers.  But now we've been at a long plateau for awhile and it's hard to be in just maintenance mode.  Having experienced the PT world, I am in constant rehab mode.  Physical therapists always have hope that we can help someone improve.  We hate the word "maintenance."  This year, David had his first hospitalization since his accident.  He was very very sick but the Lord chose to, once again, preserve his life.  He reached a goal this summer and was able to climb the steps and walk into the sauna at camp.  He climbed 18 steps at my cousin's house at Thanksgiving and climbed down our basement stairs, walked all the way to the back of the house to the laundry room, loaded the washing machine and walked all the way back to the stairs and up again.  He drove a riding lawn mower successfully this summer and we rode our tandem bike 8 miles.

This year has been a lot of trying medications and finding out that nothing works.  I believe that there is a place for western medicine but it is more about saving lives than healing lives.  We are finding out more and more that God is the great Healer.  And here, on earth, it's not always about the healing; it's about the journey, the relationships, the learning.  David's gut has taken a major hit this year from antibiotics after antibiotics, especially the hardcore ones he received in the hospital and at home.  The infectious disease doctor basically told me that if he got another UTI, he might not respond to the antibiotics anymore.  I decided to do an experiment.  I put David on a very strict diet this month with the exception of Christmas Day.  Around Thanksgiving, David was absolutely miserable.  He was going through horrible withdrawal symptoms from Paxil (an anti-depressant he tried).  He was breaking out and itching all over, not sleeping, very anxious and driving me insane!  He was having severe headaches for almost every day of this year.  Now after being on the diet for almost a month, his rash is gone, he sleeps all night, he's motivated to be independent, he's moving his left arm more, has less tone, and he's only had 3 headaches in 2 weeks!  He is not taking ANY pain meds! I'm so thankful that the Lord has given relief.

The girls are growing and learning to be friends.  We are so thankful for them both.  They are little fireballs of energy and bring so much joy and life to our life together.

We had a lot of firsts this year.  We bought our first house together.  We got our first dog and cat.  Abi learned to walk.  I learned how to use a snow blower (using it a lot this week!).  It was our first Thanksgiving with my side of the family since we got married and the first holiday celebrated without my aunt and grandma.  I voted for the first time and I will be 30 for the first time this year. ;)

This is my sentiments for the end of this year.

Because He Lives by Bill Gaither

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus; 
He came to love, heal and forgive; 
He lived and died to buy my pardon, 
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives! 

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, 
Because He lives, all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future, 
And life is worth the living, 
Just because He lives! 

And then one day, I'll cross the river, 
I'll fight life's final war with pain; 
And then, as death gives way to victory, 
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!