At the end of December I had taken Kyla to the doctor because she had been complaining of chest pain. At that time, we were told it was inflammation and told to take aleve for the pain. After trying that for about 3 months with no improvement, I decided to take her back a second time. At this point the doctor was baffled and decided to ‘try’ prilosec for a month. After two weeks of prilosec, the pain intensified and was more frequent. Daily headaches also started, so I called the doctor…again. This time we were referred to a GI specialist at Riley Hospital.
We went this past Monday to Riley and saw Dr. Croffie. He examined her and said he doesn’t think it’s her esophagus, he thinks it’s her heart. He went ahead and took an x-ray and scheduled Kyla for an endoscopy next Thursday. If the results come back okay then he is referring her over to pulmonary to see the heart specialist.
As I have shared before, Satan is attacking in big ways. In my mind I can hear my counselor saying things like “you will not be given more than you can handle” or “you go through these tough times because God is teaching you how to become like Jesus”.
Going to counseling is really helping me put things in perspective. I am reminded every week I’m there that GOD IS IN CONTROL!
"You Never Let Go"- Matt Redman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew6y6COVm6A
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Counseling review
This week’s counseling session seemed to be a “review” of the past two weeks. We kind of jumped around, which is fine with me… that’s the story of my life. Ha. One of my homework assignments is to write a summary of what Jerry discussed in our session, so here it goes:
1 Corinthians 10:13 ‘No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.’
There is no struggle or trial that we go through that has never been gone through before. We may think that our situation is unique and is the worst possible situation anybody could be in, but God tells us in His word that is not the case. He also tells us that He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. We often snap, break, give up and think it’s too much to handle. We know from His word that He will NEVER push us too far. The truth of the matter is that it is US throwing in the towel and not God pushing us beyond our limits.
James 1:2-4 says to ‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.’
Not lacking anything means to be like Christ.
The ultimate goal of the Christian life is to be like Jesus. We go through our struggles, battles, and trials because God wants to change our heart, our mind, and transform us into His likeness. During these difficult times, God is teaching us how to become like Jesus in true righteousness and holiness. Jesus went through many troubles and trials in his life.. We will grow in Christ if we view troubles as opportunities to learn to trust God. If we are going to become like Jesus, the first lesson we need to learn is to trust in God.
It is alright to say, "God I don't like this! Take it away!" But we also need to
be like Christ when He said, "Your will be done.” We need to say to God, “I want whatever
fulfills Your purpose in my life."
Satan has really been attacking this week in all areas of my life. This has probably been one of the hardest weeks I’ve had in a long time. Prayer is definitely welcome! God is good and I will lift up His name! =)
1 Corinthians 10:13 ‘No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.’
There is no struggle or trial that we go through that has never been gone through before. We may think that our situation is unique and is the worst possible situation anybody could be in, but God tells us in His word that is not the case. He also tells us that He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. We often snap, break, give up and think it’s too much to handle. We know from His word that He will NEVER push us too far. The truth of the matter is that it is US throwing in the towel and not God pushing us beyond our limits.
James 1:2-4 says to ‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.’
Not lacking anything means to be like Christ.
The ultimate goal of the Christian life is to be like Jesus. We go through our struggles, battles, and trials because God wants to change our heart, our mind, and transform us into His likeness. During these difficult times, God is teaching us how to become like Jesus in true righteousness and holiness. Jesus went through many troubles and trials in his life.. We will grow in Christ if we view troubles as opportunities to learn to trust God. If we are going to become like Jesus, the first lesson we need to learn is to trust in God.
It is alright to say, "God I don't like this! Take it away!" But we also need to
be like Christ when He said, "Your will be done.” We need to say to God, “I want whatever
fulfills Your purpose in my life."
Satan has really been attacking this week in all areas of my life. This has probably been one of the hardest weeks I’ve had in a long time. Prayer is definitely welcome! God is good and I will lift up His name! =)
Friday, May 8, 2009
mid-week, brain in overdrive...
Let me tell you about another side of me. =)
Okay, so… I have sensory issues. (Yes, Keaton probably got that from me.) Anyway, I have issues with the way certain things “feel”. I do not like the way sand or anything of that texture feels, especially on my hands. I do not like the way ‘rough’ textures feel, such as dry skin. It makes me cringe. I wash my hands more than the normal person each day because of this. I do not like certain textures in my mouth. I do not like smooth foods, such as pudding and applesauce. ACK! Anything I can put in my mouth and squeeze through my teeth really needs to stay as far away from me as possible. Another food texture I do not like is watermelon…AGH! Biting down on watermelon is like fingernails on a chalkboard. Another food I despise because of the texture (and the taste) is tomatoes, it’s just nasty. Blah!
I get over-stimulated very easy, just as my son. The difference though is that I’m an adult and can control it in an appropriate way. I do believe this is the reason that it is often times hard for me to sit and watch tv for an extended period of time. Way too stimulating. The tv show, or movie, really needs to capture my attention within the first few minutes or forget it, my brain goes crazy.
Now let’s talk about the sensory issues I have based on noise and sounds. This is where Keaton and I clash. He seeks repetitiveness, if that’s a word, ha. He bangs his hands repetitively when he’s listening to music, as if he’s playing the drums. He bangs his hands repetitively when he’s in trouble, such as bang bang bang on the wall. He loves to “shoot hoops” as he calls it. I believe this is primarily due to the fact he can repetitively bounce the ball, dribbling. Here is where he and I clash: When he is over-stimulated, I hear the repetitiveness, banging on the wall or floor, along with the screaming, which then over-stimulates me… and I can’t stand it! The sound of the repetitive banging REALLY gets to me.
What I have just described has gotten me labeled as “ADD” and “OCD” and just plain anal.
To me, it’s just sensory, all in the mind, and can be worked through. I have actually come a long way, ha. That’s another story.
Okay, so… I have sensory issues. (Yes, Keaton probably got that from me.) Anyway, I have issues with the way certain things “feel”. I do not like the way sand or anything of that texture feels, especially on my hands. I do not like the way ‘rough’ textures feel, such as dry skin. It makes me cringe. I wash my hands more than the normal person each day because of this. I do not like certain textures in my mouth. I do not like smooth foods, such as pudding and applesauce. ACK! Anything I can put in my mouth and squeeze through my teeth really needs to stay as far away from me as possible. Another food texture I do not like is watermelon…AGH! Biting down on watermelon is like fingernails on a chalkboard. Another food I despise because of the texture (and the taste) is tomatoes, it’s just nasty. Blah!
I get over-stimulated very easy, just as my son. The difference though is that I’m an adult and can control it in an appropriate way. I do believe this is the reason that it is often times hard for me to sit and watch tv for an extended period of time. Way too stimulating. The tv show, or movie, really needs to capture my attention within the first few minutes or forget it, my brain goes crazy.
Now let’s talk about the sensory issues I have based on noise and sounds. This is where Keaton and I clash. He seeks repetitiveness, if that’s a word, ha. He bangs his hands repetitively when he’s listening to music, as if he’s playing the drums. He bangs his hands repetitively when he’s in trouble, such as bang bang bang on the wall. He loves to “shoot hoops” as he calls it. I believe this is primarily due to the fact he can repetitively bounce the ball, dribbling. Here is where he and I clash: When he is over-stimulated, I hear the repetitiveness, banging on the wall or floor, along with the screaming, which then over-stimulates me… and I can’t stand it! The sound of the repetitive banging REALLY gets to me.
What I have just described has gotten me labeled as “ADD” and “OCD” and just plain anal.
To me, it’s just sensory, all in the mind, and can be worked through. I have actually come a long way, ha. That’s another story.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Counseling session #2
Let me first start off by saying how distracted I was during this weeks counseling session. Because I was the only woman in the room, the two doors were left open. Needless to say, it was hard to focus. People would walk by the front door, and I could hear the Faith team rehearsing music out the back door. They were practicing songs that I know and I was trying so hard not to secretly sing them in my head. Ack! I tried to stay focused…really. Ha.
Our discussion this week revolved around Romans 8:28. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose.”
In our lifetime, we go through various trials, temptations, suffering. God allows this to happen so we can learn to trust Him, to call on Him, and to make us stronger in our faith. When we are at the end of our rope, we often times “question” God. Where are you? Why can’t I hear you? Why am I going through this? In the book of Job, we learn from Job that suffering is not a result of sin, rather suffering can test one’s faith. Job’s faith was tested over and over again, he lost it all, and in all this, Job never sinned. When Job “questioned” God, he was not answered as he saw fit. The only answer he got was, “I am God…”
There is power in those three words, I AM GOD. That’s all Job needed to hear and that’s all we should need to hear. We know that God is all-powerful, and all-knowing. In the end, it is for us to remember that God is God, and we are not. He has a plan for our lives and He controls it all. Our job is to simply obey and follow His leading.
Back to Romans 8:28. “And we know that ALL things work together…” all things including the good AND the bad.
Some verses we discussed on suffering: 1Peter 2:21-24 and 1 Peter 3:13-17.
In 1Peter 2:21, it tells us that ‘because Christ suffered for us…we should follow His steps.”
1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…” When we are going through trials and sufferings, wouldn’t it be great if our example, how we handle the situation(s), would back up our word, what we tell people? There is no better witness!
We ended with an encouraging verse, one that I am to memorize by next Monday =D
1 Cor 10:13 “ No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
One last thing, I found this to be the most God-orchestrated thing yet…
Jerry, the counselor, informed me that in about 3-4 weeks, when school let out, his wife was going to tag along to sessions. She is a special ed teacher at an elementary school across town and an expert on special needs children. She knows all about my sons “issues” and is going to help me better understand how I can manage/deal with him at home. I am so excited for this!! Considering he is the major stress supplier in my life, I am very hopeful and thankful for Jerry and his wife. God is good!!
Our discussion this week revolved around Romans 8:28. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose.”
In our lifetime, we go through various trials, temptations, suffering. God allows this to happen so we can learn to trust Him, to call on Him, and to make us stronger in our faith. When we are at the end of our rope, we often times “question” God. Where are you? Why can’t I hear you? Why am I going through this? In the book of Job, we learn from Job that suffering is not a result of sin, rather suffering can test one’s faith. Job’s faith was tested over and over again, he lost it all, and in all this, Job never sinned. When Job “questioned” God, he was not answered as he saw fit. The only answer he got was, “I am God…”
There is power in those three words, I AM GOD. That’s all Job needed to hear and that’s all we should need to hear. We know that God is all-powerful, and all-knowing. In the end, it is for us to remember that God is God, and we are not. He has a plan for our lives and He controls it all. Our job is to simply obey and follow His leading.
Back to Romans 8:28. “And we know that ALL things work together…” all things including the good AND the bad.
Some verses we discussed on suffering: 1Peter 2:21-24 and 1 Peter 3:13-17.
In 1Peter 2:21, it tells us that ‘because Christ suffered for us…we should follow His steps.”
1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…” When we are going through trials and sufferings, wouldn’t it be great if our example, how we handle the situation(s), would back up our word, what we tell people? There is no better witness!
We ended with an encouraging verse, one that I am to memorize by next Monday =D
1 Cor 10:13 “ No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
One last thing, I found this to be the most God-orchestrated thing yet…
Jerry, the counselor, informed me that in about 3-4 weeks, when school let out, his wife was going to tag along to sessions. She is a special ed teacher at an elementary school across town and an expert on special needs children. She knows all about my sons “issues” and is going to help me better understand how I can manage/deal with him at home. I am so excited for this!! Considering he is the major stress supplier in my life, I am very hopeful and thankful for Jerry and his wife. God is good!!
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