Friends

What a blessing we have with so many friends.  Yesterday, one of these dear people brought Margie food prepared especially without gluten - enough for several meals.  Another sent us valuable information about a very reasonably priced blender in which Margie can make her smoothies - for breakfast. We will be pursuing her suggestion today.  Margie is excited about feeling better with this new method of getting her vitamins and essential supplements. She is beginning to pick up her energy level a bit and this is encouraging.

Smoothie

Margie has just started (yesterday) with a trial run on making smoothies.  The reason for this is to get fruit, supplements and other nourishment into her system in a manner which she can tolerate.  Her appetite is very limited and we were concerned.  Yesterday she was doing better already and we are thankful.  Margie was not able to attend church and we really miss this.  We watched a couple of programs on TV.  Our son was here over the week end and we enjoyed his company.  He was in and out, doing work on the home they are selling.
Lord willing, I will be painting some more today, doing the kitchen cupboards in the Vista house.  It is close to our home so Margie and I keep communication lines open via cell phone, and if she needs me, I can be home in a few moments.

Another day

Margie was not well enough to attend the memorial service for our dear friend Irby Hicks.  I had a part in the service so was gone for awhile.  Rawlie, our son, is up doing some work on the house they are selling.  Margie still fights the nausea and we pray that the modifications in her diet will help alleviate this discomfort. The doctors have indicated no particular reason why this condition exists, so we are still in the dark about it.  Thank you for praying.  We certainly need God's wisdom as we travel this road.

Another try

Margie consulted a nature-path  doctor yesterday with the hopes she could help with nutrition, etc.  She was happy with the counsel given and she will give it a try and see what happens. She experienced periods of nausea during the day and last night also.  We think the papaya fruit which she has eaten for years could have been contaminated with salmonella.  There probably is no way we will ever know if it was that or something else causing this sickness. It was very warm yesterday and the evaporation coolers surely felt good blowing that cool air into the rooms. I put the finishing touches on my part of the Irby Hicks memorial service for today.

Could it be?

Yesterday Margie had another violent attack of nausea.  It was terrible. We didn't know what to do.  We had just been to E.R. prior to this on Tuesday. Should we return?  Well we gave her some medication and she calmed down.  THEN, last night on the radio national news a report of contaminated papaya fruit from Mexico is causing salmonella.  On Margie's fruit diet for breakfast she eats papaya.  She had it yesterday morning. Today's radio report reinforced this announcement.  I went online to check symptoms of this poisoning, and sure enough, Margie has most of them.  Guess where the papaya is today?  Yes, I threw it away.  I feel badly for Margie because it is such an enjoyable fruit and we ate it for years in Brazil.  Of course we are not absolutely sure that is what has been causing Margie's nausea, but it could be.  Please pray.  We will see a doctor this afternoon.

"Washed out"

That's pretty much how Margie felt all day yesterday.  After a painful evening at the E. R. the night before with all the medication given her for the various symptoms she was experiencing, she was tired and sleepy.  In the morning she wanted to go ahead with her physical therapy appointment which I had cancelled the night before.  When I called to reschedule, they had not listened to the phone messages yet, so we could have the regular appointment hour.  That was a blessing.  So we went to Lynden for the appointment. The rest of the day she just took it easy, trying not to sleep, for fear she could not sleep at night.  She has decided that some medications have to be dropped.  The nausea continues, but to a lesser degree and she was given another prescription for this which seems to be working better than the previous one.  On and on it goes, with more medication, more trials and still she feels punk.  Please continue to pray she will get some relief.

Another trip to E.R.

Yesterday went perfectly normal.  Margie worked, prepared lunch, cleaned bathrooms and was in pretty good shape considering all she's been through.  After a short visit to a friend, on the way home instant severe nausea hit her. Dry heaves assailed her.  At home in her easy lift chair, her legs began to go "restless" and involuntary violent uncontrollable jerks.  She was SO sick.  She finally admitted she needed professional help and I called 911. They took her to St. Joseph's hospital Emergency Room, where I met her shortly thereafter.  With medication, her nausea eventually went away.  Her abdominal pains persisted but they too calmed.  The involuntary leg movements were severe, almost lifting her from the bed.  It was not pretty.  Tests were given and they did discover a urinary infection.  They prescribed medication (which I will get this morning) and hopefully things will "mend".  She had a WONDERFUL night.  We are so grateful.  One of the things her last trip to E.R. determined was that she had to diminish the amount of water consumed.  Incidentally her last trip was 6 weeks to the very night (last night) that she was in the E.R. The doctor told her that she HAD to drink more water. She has always drunk a lot of water but reduced it according the doctor's orders.  Now she must resume that and drink more.  Life is interesting.  We put Margie on the church prayer chain and we know MANY were praying and for this we are grateful.  Margie was released last night and I brought her home.