Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome is so much fun!

            I wanted to share this in case anyone else is dealing with it and is wondering what’s going on.

            A couple years ago, I began dealing with something called Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome.  It’s a mysterious “we don’t know what’s causing this or what to do about it” kind of thing. 

            For me, it presented itself as getting a severe stomach cramp (which felt like incredible hunger) and then needing to throw up the rest of the night.  Also, lights and sounds and smells would bother me and make me feel sicker, so I would have to hide in a dark room whenever I wasn't hugging the toilet and crying.  But in the morning, I would be fine.

            The thing is … it always happened right before my period.

            The first couple times it happened, it was the night before my period.  But eventually it shifted to the week before.  And this happened for a year.

            As I researched what could be causing this once-a-month vomiting spell, I ran across Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome on-line.  Apparently, it’s like an “abdominal migraine,” which would explain the sensitivity to lights and sounds and smells.  But they have no idea what causes it.

            And while they didn’t have any real answers for me, a couple people recommended taking vitamins for it.  I believe it was Vitamins D and B.

            I figured buying some high-quality vitamins was the cheapest and least invasive option to start with.  Easier than a doctor’s visit and the follow-up tests they would perform to figure out what was going on. 

            So I went out and bought the best vitamins I could find – Vitamin Code’s Women’s Multi Vitamins and their Raw-B Complex.  Since they are really expensive, I decided to start by taking a full dose for a couple weeks and then go to half-doses.  And I would evaluate how I felt after a month.

            But I didn’t have to wait a month to see any effects.  I had a nearly immediate reaction within a day or two of taking these vitamins: I felt a major cramp in my stomach and I spent the night throwing up.  The second time within a week. 

            But then … I never threw up again.

            I still have no idea what vitamin deficiency makes you throw up rhythmically, according to your hormonal cycle, but I make sure to take my vitamins regularly (half-doses).

            I’m sharing this in case anyone else is experiencing it.

            Take your vitamins!  High-quality vitamins!  It’s worth a try if you find yourself throwing up inexplicably once a month.  It worked for me.      

Goodbye, Cassini

Okay, now I know that stress is getting the best of me … I found myself wanting to sob this morning about Cassini’s dying mission, plunging into Saturn’s atmosphere in its final moments, sending back a final picture of that beautiful giant planet.  I had to wipe the tears away and wave at my eyes to dry them so my husband wouldn’t catch me crying about a spacecraft. 
 

Goodbye, Cassini! Thank you for two decades of service.

 
 

So what kinds of crazy things have made you cry when you’re emotional or overwhelmed?

Thank You, Lord

Thank You, Lord, that my family in Florida is all safe and that there is minimal property damage (unless more storm surge comes in). 

I bet we could all use a break from the natural disasters (and civil strife and nuclear threats and terrorist concerns and wildfires and economic concerns, etc.) for awhile.  Let's pray that the worst is behind us this year.  

In fact, let's just pray.  Let's pray that God would have mercy on us and put a hedge of protection around us.  Let's pray that the hearts of the people would be turned back to Him before it's too late.  

            2 Chronicles 7:14-15:  “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.”  

 

            1 Peter 3:12:  “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

  


(Okay, back to the more light-hearted stuff on this blog and the more faithy stuff on the other blog.  At least for now.)

Kicking God Out

Regarding all the natural disasters ...

Pray about Irma

My mother and two brothers live on the west coast of Florida, about three-fourths of the way down.  Virtually right by the ocean, surrounded by tons of channels of water.  She jumps on planes all the time, pretty much at a moment's notice, to travel all over the place for fun.

I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE IS NOT EVACUATING BEFORE IRMA HITS!

They have decided to ride it out.  One of the biggest hurricanes in history - wider than the state of Florida - and they are going to RIDE IT OUT!

I just had to say that out loud.  'Cuz I can't believe it.

The storm is set to arrive in a day or two.  And so all I can do now - all we who are not in Irma's path can do now - is pray for those down there.  Pray for protection, for God's mercy, and for the victims.  And donate money to help them rebuild, those hit by Harvey and Irma.  It could be us someday.

Does anyone else feel like the end of the world is breathing down our necks?  With the hurricanes and the earthquakes and the threat of nuclear war and the internal strife in our country? 

If it is the end of the world (or if North Korea sends a "gift") are you ready to meet your Maker?  Do you know where you are going after this life? 

I do. 

My faith is in Jesus Christ, the one who paid for our sins on the cross and "bought us a ticket to heaven."  And all we have to do is accept it.  And if we don't, then we choose to pay for our sins ourselves, remaining separated from God for all of eternity (i.e. hell).

I know this takes a turn from the light-hearted fluff on this blog.  But none of that fluff will matter when eternity comes for you.  

Do you know where you are going?

Getting older ...

Six Dollars and Thirty-Three Cents

 

            Six dollars and thirty-three cents.
 

            It’s all the money that my 8-year old and 11-year-old have right now … and they have asked me to donate it to those affected by Harvey.

 

            We were watching some coverage of the aftermath of the storm, and we saw the story of “Mattress Mack,” the man who opened up his high-end furniture store as a shelter.  And my 11-year-old turned to me, almost with tears in his eyes, and said, “It’s so incredible that someone would risk their business like that to help other people.”  He immediately went to his room and scraped up all the coins he could find (getting his 8-year-old brother to do the same) and they gave it to me to give to the Harvey victims.

 

            Six dollars and thirty-three cents. 

 

            “But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. 

            Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.’”  (Mark 12:42-44)         
 

            Six dollars and thirty-three cents.  It might not be much in the world’s eyes, but it’s an incredible sacrifice in God’s eyes.  Because it comes from a heart that wants to love and help … a heart that sees the hurt and needs of other people and refuses to do nothing … a heart that knows it doesn’t have much to give but that gives it anyway.

 

            ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”  (Matthew 25:40)

 

            What if we all gave at least a mere six dollars and thirty-three cents to help those in need? 

 

            What if we all gave with our whole heart, with a desire to help, to heal, to not sit there and do nothing while others are hurting? 

 

            What if we all lived with the knowledge that it could be our family in extreme need someday, that we could be the ones who lose everything, the ones who are broken and lost and afraid, the “least of these”? 

 

           What if we all saw the “least of these” as brothers and sisters, as friends, as family, as ourselves? 

 

            What if we realized that when we give to them, we give to the Lord, that even our smallest sacrifices matter when they're given out of a heart overflowing with love? 

 

            What if?

 

            I put the boys’ money in a baggie with a note to donate to the relief efforts. 

 

 

            And then we went out and bought $140 worth of necessary items to donate along with the money.  And we are bringing it to the donation drop-off tomorrow.  I want my boys to be a part of this, to feel what it feels like to physically, financially, and emotionally reach out and be a part of the helping efforts, to understand that we all have to do our parts to help those who need it because we are all in need in one way or another.  I want them to remember that $6.33, even though it might seem small, is nothing short of huge, of beautiful, of “worth it.” 

 

            I know that the little bit we donate won’t make much difference in the grand scheme of things and that none of the victims will really see that $6.33.  But – if anything – I am writing this post so that the victims of Harvey know that they are not alone, that they are in our hearts and prayers, that we are standing alongside them in this time of tragedy, and that even two small children care enough about them to give them all that they have, . 

 

            God bless you all!  God keep you in His comforting hands and may He help you find healing – physical, spiritual, financial, relational.  And may a tragedy like bring us together as a nation, helping us rise above the differences that are tearing our country apart.    

 

            “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ … ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”  (Mark 12:30-31)

 

            “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”  (Hebrews 13:16)

 

            “Do to others as you would  have them do to you … Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  (Matthew 6:31, 38)

A Question for God

There's a question I would love to ask God when I meet Him ...

Where do all the pens in my house go!?!

I mean, seriously, it's almost magical, almost supernatural how fast they disappear, never to be seen again!

Where do all the pens go?

And why, oh why, can't ALL the members of my family like at least three meals that I make?  Why does there always have to be at least one whiner-baby?

Why I Don't Smoke!