HEALTH Archives • Page 12 of 56 • New Nostalgia

Emotional Health/ Kids/Family/ Spiritual

On Fall, Life, Family Dinners, Homeschooling, Health, Husband & Winter

Sometimes I just want to reach across this computer divide and see your faces and touch your hands and say a genuine hello. To this day, I am in awe of the fact that thousands of you visit this little corner of the world-wide web and care to check in a see what I’m up to here at New Nostalgia.

I decided to take a break from the usual posts and just take a day to check in, say Hello, and open up my heart and life.

I sure wish we could have a two-way conversation, but since the closest thing we come to that is on Facebook or Twitter or your words in the comments, I will just blab today and fill you in a bit on life. I sure would love you to blab back in the comments or any of my social media channels. Please do!

Fall Weather Bliss

I live in the Midwest and the fall weather has me in awe everyday! The trees seem especially beautiful this year, the oranges, reds, pinky maroons, yellows and greens. It has been absolutely breathtaking. For me, the beauty of nature is a constant reminder of the Creator & how He just cares for the details and makes all things beautiful in time. Our weather has been amazing and I just can’t get over it! It places this unexplainable joy in my heart every time I’m out and about, and can make the hardest of days beautiful again. Why am I surprised that God’s ever-changing art can do that?

I Live In My Car

Speaking of “out and about” I –as I’m sure many of you– feel like I am in my car more often than not lately. Todd and I have always been very careful to keep balance when it comes to our kids extracurricular activities & involvement in anything away from home. That was much easier to do when they were younger. Our girls are now 15, 13 & 11 and their lives are full! Cross-country running, soccer, youth group, guitar lessons, tutoring & more.

It feels busier than I’d like it to be, but honestly it feels right for this season. I find myself so thankful for their gifts, talents, abilities and the amazing friends God has graciously given to my 3 lovelies. These are the blessings that keep them busy, and for that I am thankful.

A Recommitment To Family Dinners at The Table

Despite the busyness, I have recommitted to family dinners at the table. I find that we are able to eat at the table at least 3 times a week, and that is better than none! Even if there are only 3 of the 5 of us home (many times Todd and my youngest are off at soccer practice right at dinnertime) I still commit to calling them to the table to eat. For awhile we lost this simple but powerful routine. I have a daughter who has been walking through some hard emotional things included a Sensory Processing Disorder (which I will be posting about in the future) and there was a period of time where it was just too hard to even be at the table together. I am so thankful for direction from above in treating our sweet girl and that she is now capable of joining the family at the table in a healthy manner. If you find yourself in a crisis situation with one of your kids, let me encourage you that it will not last forever. Do your best, Momma’s, and fight for your kids. Provide as much support for them as you can, and when you cannot, pray your hearts out. God is there and hears our Momma- heart- prayers for our children.

{photo taken of my Colsie girl by Laurie Cosgrove}

Me? A Homeschool Mom?

This sweet daughter I speak of is now homeschooling. Sitting in a classroom caused much suffering for her before we found treatment for her, and it was a necessity to pull her out. I myself homeschooled during my high school years, and have always said God did not bless me with the abilities it would take to homeschool my children. I wrote it off as something I would never do. Friends, I recommend never saying never!

I do know myself well and after a couple of weeks of trying to do it myself, we recognized we needed more help for our girl. My amazing Mother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law have come to our rescue and committed to teaching my girl. They are both teachers – so honestly we couldn’t be more taken care of. We split her time up between the two 5 mornings a week, and I get her in the afternoons for other things like physical activity, photography class & reading time. It is working beautifully. I cannot tell you how relieved I am. I cannot tell you what a gift it is to have these two amazing women in my Colsie’s daily life. Not only am I not a natural teacher, but adding the dynamics of her disorder just made it feel impossible to school her myself. God is in the business of providing, and even calls himself by that very name –Provider. It has been a long and stressful process of finding the best life for my girl, but God has been there every step of the way. He is very much our faithful Provider.

My Physical Health

The last couple months have brought quite a bit of turmoil when it comes to my health. My cancer is still in remission, but the ongoing treatment I need has proven itself very challenging. 7 months ago I switched cancer meds and honestly it has rocked my world. Just recently I switched again due to unbearable joint pain I was having. These meds mess around with hormones, and if you are a woman you know hormones are never a fun thing to mess around with. Not only did I switch cancer meds, but also at the same time switched mood meds, as they also had side effects of joint pain. Friends, that month and 1/2 of detoxing from meds and slowly getting back on new ones were hard. Excruciatingly hard. Hard on my body, hard on my mental health, and especially hard on my family. I am on my way back up and doing so much better. Joint pain is almost nonexistent, which feels like a miracle! Before, I felt joint pain in joints I didn’t even know I had! My feet, ankles, hip & elbow and shoulders all hurt beyond and affected me much more that I even realized, especially on those rainy days when weather changes made them all double- flare. I am so relieved to be relieved of this pain.

My Mental Health

As far as my mental health, I am due for a post to fill you in, but we are still in the process of figuring out what is best for me right now. What I can tell you is that God Works All Things Out For Our Good, especially the very hardest of things. The last few months have been super humbling to say the least, and so painful that we had to bring my in-laws into the loop to help us get through it. Their gentleness and mercy toward me was the most beautiful picture of how God deals with us. They have seen me at my lowest & instead of running away, they moved towards me with a love that showed me they are for me and willing to walk through the hard. They have been a huge part of keeping our family healthy and whole. They have gently led me in a direction I needed to go and provided the means to get there.

It is still early in this process of discovery and healing when it comes to me…and I cannot wait to share with you how we are finding answers. Sometimes it takes a humbling, a bringing down to our knees, before we can clearly see the direction we need to go. This is what has happened with me recently & though it was painful, I am so THANKFUL. I am finding the best answers for what is needed and I am feeling pretty giddy excited about God’s revelation and provision–given through the help of my sweet in-laws AND with the help of the most gentle and wise psychiatrist. More to come on that in another post.

My Sweet Husband

Oh my sweet Todd. I sit here and tear up when I think of this good, good man and all that he has had to carry. He will be the first to admit he has not always reacted the best in dealing with all of the pain and turmoil in our family..especially that which comes from me. Being an extreme introvert he has a tendency to go inward when life is pressing hard… BUT.. he truly has carried these heavy burdens in a way that is admirable and faithful. He has been through much, has watched both his wife and daughter suffer in different but frightening ways, and his steady faithfulness to me and our family has been a healing gift to me. He has been burden- bearer. He has been provider. He is willing to walk through the hard, admit when he is messing up, and take my hand to try again. It might take him awhile to come out of his inwardness, but he always does. I am forever committed to this good, good man of mine, and I am super excited to be heading upward after being in the valley–hand in hand with my man–for he deserves a dang good view!

My Mentor

I read Titus 2:4,5 years ago. It talks about how the older women in the church should mentor the younger women. I have always loved that concept and idea. I have had a longing and stirring in my heart for a mentor in the form of an older-than-me and wiser-than-me woman for years. I have prayed for this for years. I have even asked a couple of women who I thought might be the perfect match for me, and nothing ever panned out…until recently. My mentors name is Kim and God is so funny how He brings about things. I will fill you in on the fun story in another post, but for now let me just tell you, God can make His purpose come about in strange ways–like elderberry hunting. Yep, forging for elderberries caused my forging for a mentor to be fulfilled.

Needless to say, my Kim has been so perfect for me. She, too, has 3 girls–all beautiful and grown. She has a husband whom she loves dearly, and has walked through much life and gained amazing wisdom in the process. She has taken me straight to God’s Word and I am seeing things in it that I never have before. We. Just. Click. She is one of the most precious gifts I have ever been given. We have only met together 4 times but our hearts are entwined and she has taught me so much already. I can’t help but squeal about it…WEEEEEEE!

If this is a desire of your heart, start asking God for it. He WILL answer in His time. It might be years down the road, but believe me, it will be the most perfect of time.

The Upcoming Winter Season

Usually when one thinks of winter, we think of cold & nature put to sleep. I choose to look toward the winter season ahead with an anticipating excitement. I know God will continue in His faithfulness to our family, and when I think of winter coming, I think of a cozy candlelit home, warm hoodie sweatshirts, and glistening snow. I will use the blanketed snow as a beautiful reminder of how God’s love covers the dead and dying, how seasons come and go, how God promises new mercies everyday, and how He has made and continues to makes us pure-whiter than snow! My prayer is that He would take this hurting, rag-tag- BUT stronger- than- ever family and carry on in His work of refining. It is a scary prayer, to ask to be refined, but I know that His only purpose is to make us ready for the next season, so that we might glisten like snow. A glistening to glorify Him. Only Him.

5 Minute Fridays/ Spiritual

What I Long For

Participating in 5 Minute Friday.

5 minutes to write about one word. Unedited.

Word: LONG

Go:

——

Lord, you and I have walked this path together for a long time. The longer this walk, the more I long for you.

You knit me together while still in the womb, I’ve known of your love even as a child. {Psalm 139:13}

Yes, it has been a long time, yet I still long for you.

You are ever-present, especially in trouble, yet I still long for you. {Psalm 46:1}

You give me your Word. The more I read it, the more I long for you.

You tell me to seek you as one would gold, for your are more precious than diamonds. {Psalm 119:72}

I seek, I find. I long for more of you. {Matthew 7:7}

This thing inside of me, this longing… put there by you, made by You… is for You.

Our hearts yearn for completeness; outside of You it cannot be found.

Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. {Matthew 6:10}

Oh Lord, I ask, “How long?”

Stop.

——-

HEALTH/ Nutrition

Symptoms Of Low Vitamin D Levels + A Vitamin Giveaway

Do you take a vitamin D3 supplement?

If not, you should.

This supplement is so important that it is the only vitamin my Oncologist has strongly urged me to take. She checks my levels a couple of times a year & makes sure she asks me at every visit if I am faithfully taking it. Once I understood why, I am so thankful she does!

A meta-analysis of five studies published in the March 2014 issue of Anticancer Research found that patients diagnosed with breast cancer who had high vitamin D levels were twice as likely to survive compared to women with low levels.

Vitamin D has a number of anticancer effects, including the promotion of cancer cell death, known as apoptosis, and the inhibition of angiogenesis (the growth of blood vessels that feed a tumor).

According to Dr. Garland, Professor at the San Diego School of Medicine:

“As long as vitamin D receptors were present, tumor growth was prevented and kept from expanding its blood supply. Vitamin D receptors are not lost until a tumor is very advanced. This is the reason for better survival in patients whose vitamin D blood levels are high.”

From Dr. Mercola’s site:

The researchers urge physicians to make vitamin D monitoring and optimization part of standard breast cancer care, and recommend that breast cancer patients should restore their vitamin D levels to a normal range of 30-80 ng/ml. According to the featured findings, you need at least 30 ng/ml of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) to prevent cancer from spreading. That said, other research suggests you’d be better off with levels as high as 80 ng/ml.

Um…HELLO! Thank goodness my Oncologist is up on the latest research and takes such good care of me. I finally have my levels up to about 70 ng/ml. It took over a year of taking 10,000 IU’s of Vitamin D3 to get my levels up. Now that I am at a level she is comfortable with, she has me taking 5,000 IU’s a day to maintain my Vitamin D3 level.

So…you don’t have an Oncologist? That is AMAZING news for that means you have not been touched by cancer, but please keep reading as supplementation of vitamin D is important for most of the population!

Did you know 75% of people are deficient in Vitamin D? It is true. Unless you are a sun worshipper with most of your skin regularly exposed to the sun at least 15-20 minutes a day, then you are probably part of that 75%.

Symptoms of Low Vitamin D3 Levels:

What are the symptoms of low Vitamin D levels?

Fatigue & low energy
Trouble sleeping or trouble staying awake
A weak immune system, with more infections and colds
Weak bones
Poor dental health & excess tooth decay
Hypertension

Vitamin D3 almost seems too good to be true, as it is also extremely important for:

Heart Health
Prostate Health
Breast Health
Colon Health

So have I convinced you to take this very important supplement?

If so, I must share with you a brand that is now my favorite.

Why Vita Optimum Vitamin D3 Softgels Rock:

Vita Optimum Vitamin D3 Softgels are by far my new fav. Here is why:

~It comes in 5,000 IU’s. This is the dose I am using to maintain my levels and it is SO convenient to take just one small soft gel. Before finding Vita Optimum, I was taking 5-10 soft gels of 1,000 IU’s and it was a handful!

~The very reasonably priced bottle contains 360 soft gels. That is a years worth of Vitamin D3 in ONE bottle. You all know I’m all about living simply and efficiently, so this makes me very happy. Buy once, ship once. One bottle, less waste.

~It comes nestled in an easy-to-swallow, small soft gel, filled with ORGANIC Extra Virgin Olive oil. This was a huge selling point for me. I’m quite over supplements that come swimming in genetically modified soybean oil! Yep. Over it.

~Speaking of genetically modified, Vita Optimum Vitamin D3 soft gels are GMO Free.

~They are made in the good ol’ USA, in facilities that pass FDA regulations and are 3rd-party tested.

~They DO NOT contain: artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, sweeteners, starch, yeast, peanuts, soy, milk, lactose, egg, wheat, gluten, fish, shellfish, and tree nuts. Whew! What more can we ask for?

~Last but not least, Vita Optimum offers a 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed and a No Questions Asked Refund Policy. There is no expiration on this offer, which means that any time you or I feel the product does not deliver what we expect, we can ask for a refund. I know for me, after trying the product, this will not be necessary…but impressive just the same.

*The information on this blog is not medical advice nor should it be treated as such or used in place of the advice of a physician or other medical professional or specialist. Please always consult with a physician or other qualified health care provider.

5 Minute Fridays/ Counting Gifts/ Spiritual

Does He Care?

{source}

Participating in 5 Minute Friday.

5 minutes to write about one word. Unedited.

Word: CARE

GO:

——-

Does He Care?

Do you find yourself asking this question of our God?

Do you find yourself just in the pit of pain and hardship, wondering when and if it will ever let up?

If you have been there or if you are there now, I shout it loud.

HE CARES.

This fallen world that is not our ultimate home is full of disorder, pain & suffering. This is not how it was meant to be, and someday all will be restored. Until that day, I want to grab on to this:

HE. CARES. FOR. YOU.

God’s got your back, Beloved. He is for you. He sees your struggle, hurt and pain. He sees and promises to bring good out of it all. There will be release. There is hope. It will get better.

In the meantime, join me in looking for His care. It is all around us you know.

The past month or so has been a doozy for me and honestly there were days that were pure suffering for me both physically and mentally. I hated every minute of it, but in the midst of it, I knew God still had me. I knew this because He has brought me through so much already. When I look back, I see it clear that He has used pain and suffering in my life to bring about what matters most. He has used it to change me. He has used it to show me how desperately I needed Him and the hope that the suffering of His Son brought.

So in your pain, I encourage you to hold on. Grasp hard to what is true.

YOU ARE LOVED. YOU ARE SEEN.

Hold on, even if it by that teeny tiny pinkie. Raising your hand in faith, even in the midst of slipping, is obedience. Faith the size of a mustard seed can be miraculous when offered to God. You may feel weak, with only the smallest of fingers left holding on; a lonely, scary feeling of losing grip & falling, but guess what? In your weakness He is strong. He is your strength. His grasp, even in the slipping, is enough. He’s got you. His grip is gentle and thorough and enough.

{source}

Do you not feel it? Do you not see it?

I know. I’ve lost sight too.

Let me encourage you to ask for eyes to see the smallest glimpses of this God who loves us so. Look for the beauty in the pain. It is there. Focus on that bright red leaf that falls, dying yet beautiful, a reminder of seasons and how all things will be made new in time.

Find your thankfulness, even in the pain…especially in the pain. Thank Him for even the smallest of things when you can’t bear to look up for anything bigger.

Count them with me?

1. The taste of coffee in the morning.

2. A smile from a stranger.

3. A soft pillow to lay your hurting head.

4. Music.

5. That shirt you are wearing.

It might seem mundane and not worth your while, but just do it. Start listing the gifts. There are so many. Join me. I’ve stopped counting blessings and I miss the way it changed me and made me see how He cares. It will also change you. Thankfulness in the midst of pain will change you.

This change might not happen right away, but keep at it. Let us count together, claim the promise that He cares for us, hold on with the smallest of fingers & open our eyes even to the smallest of blessings.

Let’s count, change, and see together.

In turn, we will start to feel what we know is true. Sooner rather than later, we will feel His care.

STOP.

———-

Will you join me & list a few gifts right here and now in the comments? I’d love to hear of the things that you see, for they, too, will change me.

Cancer Journey/ HEALTH

Hello & A Health Update

It is October 1st, and I have been gearing up to participate in The Nesters write ’31 Days’ in October. Have you heard of it? Bloggers from all over the world choose one topic to write about for 31 days in the month of October. I have wanted to participate in it and thought I finally would get to this year. Last year I was gearing up for more surgery so I waited patiently for this year, and if you know me, you know patience is not always my best virtue.

I made myself a fun little graphic, outlined my 31 posts, and got pretty excited to share them with you all. The subject I choose was Anti-Procrastination. We were gonna GET THINGS DONE!

Life brought about a different plan for me this morning. I went to bed feeling fine for the most part. I had achy joints from storms that came yesterday but nothing I was not used to. I woke up in pain level 8-9. I was on my side and tried to turn over, and pain shot through my upper spine. It took me a long time to get up this morning and once I was up, any movement brought on shoots of pain.

My Oncologist, Dr. M, has always told me to expect pain from my meds, but it should be an all-over, diffused bone pain. She said if cancer ever came back in the bones, it would be in one specific spot, and would be very painful. I’ll give you one guess where my thoughts went when I woke up this morning.

Todd got my oldest and youngest girls to school. My Mother-In-Law came to pick up my middle girl who home school’s for a day of school-ing at her house, and my sister Julie came to be my driver & hang out for most of the day. My favorite physical therapist, Anya, was able to get me in right away which was a miracle–I was so thankful.

She worked on me for a while and brought some relief. She thinks it is facet joint pain & muscle spasms. She is pretty confident it is not cancer related, but advised me to call Dr. M if pain does not go away in a day or so. I left very relieved. It is funny how even just the thought of cancer can be painful. I know taking that thought away really helped, as did Anya’s skilled hands.

I’ve rested all afternoon. The pain is still at a pretty high level. I am hopeful it will let up, but in the meantime, I had to decide whether I would take part in the 31 Days writing challenge, and I’ve decided it is a no go.

{So sad to put an ‘x’ through that. Boo!}

In order to get things done around here, I need to be able to move. I have no idea how long I’m gonna be hurting, but moving is the LAST thing I want to right now. 31 Days is a high commitment challenge and I would not be able to rest. On top of that, life has gone through many changes around here lately, and honestly I wondered if it was wise to be committing to something for 31 days! I now have my answer. Waa.

I still plan on using the content I have written so far & all the anti-procrastination ideas and motivations that are still in my head. It just won’t be with the 31 Day Challenge community. This is really a bummer because it is such a fun community of people! Regardless, I will be enjoying what others come up with and even share with you my favorites.

Today I’m “Boo’n” & “Waa’n” but it won’t last. There is much too much to be thankful for!

———-

Until today, my physical health has been pretty much the same, except for some aching in my left arm due to very early stage lymphedema. I saw Anya a few days ago and she put me back in my lovely sleeve for the month and took some measurements. It has been feeling better, the aching is not as intense as it was the last couple of weeks. I tell people it feels like a “headache in my arm.” I’m thankful it is feeling better, that we caught it early & that it does not seem to be progressing.

———-

Once again, thanks for coming along with me and caring about these up’s & down’s.

PS–Have any of you ever had facet joint pain/syndrome/disease? I would love to know your experience and what has helped you deal with the pain.

5 Minute Fridays/ Spiritual

Because He Says So

Participating in 5 Minute Friday.

5 minutes to write about one word. Unedited.

Word: BECAUSE

Go.

———

Because He says so, I will.

He says to shine bright, but in the night, my faith dims.

Morning comes, along with light.

“*Hope sweet hope, like a star burning bright.”

I check my inbox, words from a friend point frantically.

I look where she is **pointing– it is to the Light.

“Let there be light.”

I drive out-of-town, a day away, the sun so bright with rays splayed.

His Light and smile shine down for the hour drive.

It is brilliant because He is.

“Let there be light.”

I sit and ponder, a message comes–words from a friend of affirmation.

They know how fast and hard the darkness can come. They have lived it.

They see me shining.

It is not me they see, it’s Him,

This is the because:

His brilliance shines despite weakness.

Because He spoke, I can and will.

“Let there be light.”

—–

**Video sent to my inbox. “Let There Be Light”

*a lyric from Remedy Drive — “Hope”

Spiritual

Relieved. Redeemed. Renewed.

{sign for sale via Dear Lilly}

Inspired by Pastor Clark Sunday Sermon on Ephesians 1, & the hymn “In Christ Alone.”

Happy to be sharing this with ‘Hear It On Sunday, Use It On Monday” with Michelle DeRusha.

————–

When all else fails, it is You who remains.

My Cornerstone, firm through the fiercest drought and storm

Your opinion of me never changes.

Your grace is lavished.

You have given me every spiritual blessing needed.

You have given and will give all I need to be all you have said I am.

Precious. Princess. Bought. Chosen. Grafted. Adopted.

I chew on this truth, sitting in this place–Your house.

The elements are passed, bread broken.

I hesitate to chew, for when I do, I’m reminded of how you broke.

You know what it is to break.

You know rejection, a broken heart.

Your body splintered

Blood poured out, God’s wrath satisfied

I drink, a communion

Remembering what it took to establish this union.

Father, we are one.

Father, make us one

I cry out …make us one.

Lord! Lord! Hear my cry.

Let me feel the release

A precious blood transaction

I reject the lies

Sins grip is loose, an easy slipping through fingers

I am free to let go, grip released

Darkness goes, light comes

I enter the Light room

Yes, I am free, released but held

In Your Hand, never to be plucked out

A God-hand hammock for my heart,

Heart healed with your words, “It is Finished.”

Here I rest, help me find rest

Relieved, Redeemed. Renewed.

You wrap me up

Cacooned in light

I hear your whispers of truth

I am yours, you are mine. We are one.

I remain until released– that day you call me home.

You command my destiny, from my first cry to my last breath.

I will remain.

Lord, help me to remain.

—————

Christina Grimmie is amazing. Here she is singing my favorite hymn, ‘In Christ Alone’ –her voice blew me away.

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