Beauty from Ashes.

 

What is normal mean anyways? I’ve been watching the series The good doctor on TV and I really like this show a lot. It’s about a young man who has autism and is learning to be a surgeon. His character is very well done. As a young man with autism he lacks the communication skills and the empathy for others. He is a very gifted surgeon but because he is limited in people skills he was told he no longer can be a surgeon. This past week he decided to stick up for himself something that is hard for him to do. His supervisor even had him help on a really tough case, because even though he has autism he has an incredible mind and sees things nobody else can see.  The reason I’m writing about this is in our society today I see so much not accepting people for whom they are.

The little boy I work with is non-verbal and when we are out anywhere he stands out from all the other children. He makes sounds and noises that the other children don’t make. When he’s excited he gets louder or if he’s anxious he will scream.  One day we were at the swimming pool and the boy I work with was being himself and a lady came up to me rudely and said that, this boy should not be in the change room with everyone else and that he should leave. It took me all I could not to yell at her or tell her what I thought about her. I composed myself and said that we had come for lessons at the pool and we had every right to have all our children there and they were happy. She grumbled at me some more and I turned and ignored her. I was angry inside.  How in this day and age can people be so ignorant.  

So much is accepted in our society so why can we not educate ourselves and accept all people for who they are. It’s like people who have some sort of mental illness, do we treat them differently because they don’t fit into the norm of our society. Recently a sub came into my work and anytime she was around the boy I work with she treated him differently. She was extremely uncomfortable and often called me over to come and get the child. If he was anywhere near her she asked him to leave where he was to come and see me. I tried to tell her he’s not annoying her he just wants to be part of what all the other children are involved with. I finally confronted her and told her that she could treat him like all the other children. He is no different just because he can’t talk. I told her when you send him away and tell me to come and get him that is not inclusion. He wants what all the children want. I told her he understands everything you tell him, he just can’t verbalize it. I also told her that everytime you send him away it makes him sad and how would you feel if you were often asked to leave. She hung her head and said terrible. I said he feels the same way and I told her if she spent some time with him she would see what he liked.

I think education is huge in this area, although I can’t imagine treating any child like this no matter who they are. All children need to be treated with care and respect and dignity.  So next time your out and you see something or someone who is different in some way treat them like how you would like to be treated. They have feelings just like we do.       

Lately I have been having a tough time with so many things and now I have developed a bad attitude at work. It makes life so much harder if your attitude is bad. It effects everything I do and it seeps out into all my relationships effecting everyone around me. Life is hard enough to deal with sometimes but this makes it much harder. I’ve been praying about it but I realized everytime I think I’ve let it go it creeps back into my life and I realize that I have NOT let it go at all.  A good friend of mine has reminded me that I have a CHOICE how my days go. It’s not up to anyone else it’s up to me. How is my attitude and how am I acting right now.

In a way it’s me having an adult temper tantrum.  I love how God uses people to bring just what you need in your life to remind you of HIs goodness and His gratitude.  God is probably like Sarah I’ve tried so many times to tell you what to do but you don’t hear me. Today in church a woman I’m getting to know comes over to me and asks me how I am. I say I’m ok. She said only ok. I explain some of the things I’m going through. She was very compassionate and caring and said when she’s having a hard time, she carries this rosary in her pocket but she doesn’t use it as that. The cross reminds her to pray and the bumps are a reminder to her the gratitude she has in her life. When her hand goes in her pocket then she’s grateful for so many things.

I thanked her for telling me about this story. I was in church thinking of what I could put in my pocket as a reminder to me what God has done and is doing in my life. I have a rosary that is my father in laws but looks nothing like this one. I put it out of my mind as church had began. After church the same woman came up to me and laid in my hand the cross with the bumps on it. She told me she wanted me to have it. I thanked her so much and asked her if she was sure. She said yes she felt she was supposed to give it to me. Wow! God used this woman to remind me yes of how much goodness is in my life, despite what other things are going on in my life. Thank you Lord for that reminder that no matter what is going on, no matter how hard life seems there is always a blessing and something to be thankful for.

 

       When I look at this cross I am reminded that I am forgiven for all my sins and God loves me so very much. I’m thankful for my awesome family, my dog Zeke who makes me laugh often, I’m thankful for an incredible church, friends who understand me, sunflowers, horses, a job where I help a little boy make his life easier in this world, I’m thankful for my health, good books that help shape my mind and freedom. There are 10 bumps on the roseary so those are the 10 things I’m grateful for today. Since church today my attitude has changed, because I have now choosen to be grateful instead of poor me attitude. Thank you Lord for bringing Jess to me this morning and she was able to give me the gift of gratitude.

What kinds of things are you grateful for today? How had God used you to help others?

    

There are some things in life that make no sense to us what so ever. As humans we may look at it as something we did or that maybe we just don’t deserve it or GOD ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO US???? Bad things often happen to us and how can we deal with these things.  God allows hardship so He can be glorified through it. He also uses hardships to prepare us for our future. Our life experiences can be used by the glory to help others. How many of us have gone through something so tough and it makes no sense to us and we tell someone else about it and they are glad someone can relate or understand what they went through/going through.

God, in His amazing knowledge, can work all things together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. I don’t know how many times in life I asked God to take something away and He let me know that I needed to work through it.  Would you be willing to take what you are going through right now and say to the Lord ” Lord, I don’t understand this, but I want you to be gloried in this as I go through it.” God may remove your thing or He may allow it to remain for a time. Whatever happens, you will He will be walking beside us in this pain.

When I’m struggling I pray more or journal. I read His word more and I listen to worship music and I lean on Him more. There is where I find comfort in this pain or trial. This is the time God will use our pain to help us grow more. James 1:1-4 tells us when we face trials we can look at it as a positive thing and know that we will grow out of it spiritually speaking. We all are effected differently by pain and trials. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 the bible tells us His grace is sufficient for you, for His power is made perfect in our weakness.

Give what we carry up to the Lord and He will give us the ability to stand up and endure. Allow God to take control of our situations. Acknowledge to God that He needs to bear your burdens because we can’t do it alone.  I reach out to my closest friends and if I really need to talk find yourself a counselor that you trust. You do not have to walk this path alone. You could also talk to your pastor and have them pray for you.

What will you learn from this experience? For me it usually makes me more passionate about whatever is giving me a hard time. Some of my biggest passions in this world are from those very painful experiences that now I stand up against with everything I have. Those who know me, know that I stand in the gap for children who have no voice and need someone to stand up for them. I have had to do this on a few occasions and will do it as many times as I have to. That came out of what happened to me as a child………………when nobody stood up to what I endured. People turned their backs or just chose to ignore.

So as we go through our trials or pain it’s good to think How will God use this in my life for His good?              

Instead of sitting at home wrestling with a bunch of emotions I decided to write about them. Writing I find therapeutic as oppossed to sitting in those emotions and doubts. I hate feeling hard emotions and every person I talk to who has had addiction in their lives will tell you emotions are hard.  One of the reasons I turned to addiction was to block out those horrible feelings. At least these emotions I can control in some way and they are not scary. This past week though I have felt like hopping into bed and never coming out. Good thing I have a job that I cannot hide from but I did retreat to my home this weekend.

I need to trust God with my decisions He is the one who looks after me always.  I feel a lot of doubt and scared and at times overwhelmed.  Change is hard for me that unknown feeling, will I be good enough, will I have what it takes to be good at the job that is expected of me. I sat down this weekend and stared at my resume for a long time and as I was adding things into it a feeling of panic washed over me.  I have the skills to be an EA in the school sysyem but do I have enough or will I be able do what is asked of me. I’m really good at my job now and I love all children but I have limited experience with older children. I did enjoy them when I worked in after school care and I will be helping children that need more in the school.

I know the Early Childhood field so well and loved it but now I’m not challenged in it anymore I want to work with special needs children.  It’s a big change for me, but that’s my fear talking as everyone I know tells me I will be a perfect fit in this new job. I then have to be confident in my interview. I always seem to get tongue tied and waffley. I’m praying that if this is what I’m indeed intended to do that God will help me bold and confident as I go for an interview.  A woman I know who is a principal in the school system has offered to help me with my resume.  

I have a lot of support and I just need to believe in myself. One of the little boy’s theraptist’s told me on Friday that she will miss working with me in the setting I am in. It will be a big change but I need to remember that God will look after me no matter what. I will embrace this change and see where it leads me. I’m not going to worry about my future for today I must think only of today.

   

Everyone who knows me, knows that I grew up in Ireland.  I lived in Ireland for 12 years of my life. I wish I could tell you how awesome it was growing up there. Unfortunately, my life growing up there was a nightmare. Something that still is painful for me to think about today but I do sometimes think about it. Today on facebook one of the girls I grew up with put up photos of her mom and her as a child. One of the photos almost makes my heart stop when I see it and I can so vividly see her mom. Her daughter’s name is Sarah like mine. Her mom Mrs. Brady that’s what I called her. I never knew her name apparently passed away 19 years ago today.

When I found Sarah on facebook I asked about her mom and when she told me she had died my heart sank, because I would never get to thank her for what she did for me so many years ago when I was growing up. She literally saved my life. I thought today I would talk about her on the anniversary of her death.

I knew her as Mrs. Brady she was such a warm generous woman I would dream she was the mom I never had growing up. She never asked me about my home life but she obviously knew in her heart that things were really wrong in my home. I was friends with Sarah and the two of us hung out lots in school. It was during one summer when Mrs. Brady asked my family if she could take Sarah and I on holidays. My family said yes probably thinking oh! good we don’t have to see her for a week. I remember we stayed in a hotel and had so much fun and I remember laughing lots something I rarely did. I trusted this woman so much.  Back in those days I’m sure it was expensive to take me on holidays with them but that’s what she wanted to do. I wished in my heart I did not have to go home.

At the end of the week I begged to stay longer with them but I knew I had to go home again. I did not want to go home ever again. Mrs. Brady told me that I could go on holidays again with them again.  The night before I was to go home I went into the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and swallowed  a lot of white pills. I remember feeling really funny and weird and Mrs Brady rushed me to the hospital where I had to have my stomach pumped out. What an awful feeling and I was so sick. I had to stay in the hospital for a bunch of days. She had called my family to say I was staying with them for another week. Everyday Mrs. Brady came to the hospital to see me and stayed with me.  She cared for me more than my family ever cared for me.

 The top photo of Mrs. Brady with Sarah in the white shirt is how I remember her.  After I got released from the hospital Mrs. Brady brought me hot lunch tickets and Sarah would bring them to school so that I always had lunch at school. The tickets again were not cheap but she brought me lunches for years.  God brought this incredible woman into my life and I owe her so much. Thank you Mrs. Brady for caring about me and treating me like your family and saving my life.

Life is worth living no matter how hard it seems at the time. Suicide at that time seemed like the only option for me, but I was so scared and I did not want to do this. I needed help and this was why I thought this was the only option. I did not want to die I just wanted my pain to stop. My family never knew what had happened and I’m sure they wouldn’t have cared but Mrs. Brady cared for me enough to help me out.  Sarah and her family left St. Andrews College and I lost touch with Sarah and her family. My whole life I never forgot Mrs. Brady and knew one day I would track her down and say thank you.  Now I thank God for putting her in my life when I needed her.  

Suicide is never the answer if you feel like you can’t go on. Reach out to others and get help you do not have to do this alone.  Life is worth living.   

 

I’ve worked in my field of Early Childhood Education for 30 years. I never imagined that I would ever leave it. As Educators we have fought so hard to be reconized as proffessionals and not babysitters. In my career I have worked with many different people in many different settings. I’ve worked with infants/toddlers to preschool and even worked a bit in out of school care. I’ve worked with teen moms in a school setting and even though this was a challenge to me I loved the environment of school.  My most challenging place I did a practicum in at school was when I went to Ottawa and finished my diploma. I went to a head start program and I had to teach these children how to play. I remember my instructor telling me that I needed to make sure that the time the children came was the best time for them.

I had no idea what headstart was all about and the children were rough. The preschool was in the middle of a housing complex and we would go and pick them up on the bus to bring them to school. We hardly ever saw a parent the child would be let out of their home and come on the bus. I was asked to sit and make sure the children stayed in their seats and I needed to control them. I sat by one Boy he never smiled and he was angry I was sitting by him. He hit me and kicked me and tried to bite me. I just talked to them and smiled and when we got to the preschool the children ran off the bus and it was like I did not exist.

The preschool had a breakfast program and some of the children ate and ate and ate, some ate and hid under the table. Others took their hands and threw all the toys on the ground and stepped on them. I realized that they didn’t know how to play. I thought all children at least knew how to do that.  I set up the housekeeping corner with food and plates and put 4 chairs around the table and sat down and invited children to come and have some food and tea. Nobody came so I got dolls and teddybears to sit in the chairs always leaving a chair open. The children who were not eating would watch from a far to see what I was doing. Everyday for 3 days I would set up the same senerio and on the 4th day a little girl came over and pretended to have food. I smiled and kept playing.

The next day I see the children setting up the housekeeping themselves and they all sitting in the chairs pretending to eat food and have tea. I realized that these children did not trust adults and that me giving them a chance opened up great things. Even the boy that had tried to hurt me the first day softened to me and many others. They would run up to me and hug me. I was told that so many of them only ate when they came to preschool. That was the only food they got and that they did not play. Life at home for them was about survival and when you don’t feel safe you don’t play or have fun or laugh. I understood this because of how I had grown up and I knew how each child felt and so I just gave them lots of love and guess what I made their time in that preschool the best it could be, until it was time to go back to the unknown.

 

The places that were the hardest for me ended up being the best places to work.  In another center the parents were the ones that gave me the hardest time but slowly I realized they too did not trust people and when I left they all told me that they were sorry they gave me a hard time but I proved to them that I could care and love their children like they needed.

I feel it’s time to leave my proffession and go and be an EA in the school system. I have discovered working with special needs children is where I want to be and like I  said in a previous blog I’m not being reconized for what I am doing. For the past 2 years I have been working with a child who has a brain injury from an accident.  My contract is 2 and a half years and I’m now getting him ready to go to school in September. The boy I work with is non verbal and where he was 2 years ago is night and day. I’ve worked really hard to get him independent and now he can do what the other children can do. I’m really proud of him for all his hard work.  This boy comes with a team of therapists all of which have taught me so much. I love working with them to make this boy’s life better. I’ve learned sign language and have taught him a I pad program called Touch talk. We slowly have increased his vocabulary on it.

Most of all I have been taught patience and that one day something works and maybe not the next but how to think out of the box and come up with strategies. One thing I have learned over the years is a good sense of himor is a must and I’m lucky the boy I work with has an awesome sense of humor. We often laugh together. I’m excited and nervous about this change in my life but I can’t just do regular daycare anymore. I know God is wanting me to do this as well and you know when your about to do a change in your life your not sure how it will be. Since making this decision I have 3 really good references and a lady I admire a lot has offered to help me with my resume. She knows a lot about schools and teachers. God is bringing in people to help me and I know He will open those doors for me.

I’m starting the process to sub for September. I need to pick up external forms for the school sysyem and I will be working on my resume. I’m applying for the public school system as well as private schools one being a Christian one.  God has this all under His control. I will let you know how it works out. I’m hoping all my experience and knowlege about children will help me.  Change can be hard but change also can be very rewarding and God has given me a huge love for both adults and children. I also relate to those who struggle which is huge in all walks in life.

          

Loneliness is something almost all of us go through at one time or another. As I was sitting here reflecting about it I realized that we are never lonely if we have Christ in our lives. He brings much comfort to our souls yes, but there’s more to this than that. I don’t believe we are meant to be alone as humans. God made people to be in our lives. We just need to have healthy relationships. What happens when one or many of your relationships are not healthy? It’s not always easy to just walk away if it’s your family or your spouse or a good friend.

I’ve been married for eighteen and a half years and the last 9 years or so I’ve felt really lonely in my marriage. I am married yes, but I feel as though my husband is my roomate. We have been to marriage counseling but it’s hard when both people do not want the same thing.  When i’m feeling that loneliness that’s when I sit down with my favorite drink and read the promises and truths of the Lord. My relationship with the Lord has increased so much and then I feel that peace and know that I’m going to be ok.

In Genesis God says it is not good for man to be alone, His solution is a helper or a companion. God designed us to be in community with Him and one another. I also think depression can a big part of this, although in depression it usually makes you withdraw from others which of course makes loneliness much worse. I also listen to worship music or connect with a friend or write or go for a long walk.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me. ( Psalm 23:4 ) 

Be strong and courageous : Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you nor forsake you. ( Deut 31:6 ) 

For I am convinced that neither death or life, neither angels or demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height or depth, nor anything else in all of creation will separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ( Romans 8:38 – 39 )

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. ( 1 Peter 5:7 ) 

Also when I feel lonely I will connect with other believers and go to church. The church I attend is a community church that helps and serves others. When you are out serving others there is no time to be lonely. So I have had to adjust my life and stop expecting things that will never happen. I’m also thankful and so blessed for what I do have. God is walking me through this season in my marriage and I trust that He will get me through whatever it is I do.  I often pray about it and I keep moving forward to what God wants for me in this life.

  

 

The snow is unbelievable here. Our city is usually bearing blossom trees at this time of the year or snowdrops peaking up around the city. Sometimes we get a small amount of snow but not the last few days.  Others in the rest of Canada make fun of us as we struggle through this, but our snow is completely different; it’s heavy and wet and we have lots of hills. The last 2 days I’ve had snow days which is nice and the snow is so beautiful out on the trees.

This morning we woke up to 12 inches of snow. At 7:30 in the morning not a soul out and so quiet. Large amounts of snow hang from the wires and are built up on the bushes in unique patterns. The birds flying around looking for food and the humming birds coming to the feeders. On our back deck we have a bird feeder as I love to watch the birds come. Everything looks much brighter in this snow almost blinding to the eye. As I sit here blogging it’s began snowing here again huge big flakes. I think we are heading to our big snow storm we had in 1996. Seems like more snow in the forecast.

I found snow calming and peaceful. My labradoodle Zeke he loves it, but now it’s deep so when he goes out to go potty I see him searching outside for a good spot. This morning he found a ball and was so happy and of course wanted to play ball. The snow is right up to his belly and he has to leap over the snow to get through it.

 

  The only thing is he comes in with serious ice balls stuck on his fur. He’s so cute in the snow he looks like a giant teddybear.  My husband was just downtown as his family owns an apartment building and so he needs to make sure the sidewalks are clear. He told me this very jovient guy was riding his tricycle in the middle of downtown, not a care in the world. I guess he was out enjoying the snow.  He’s not out checking on his sister he sent me these photos it’s beautiful out there. 

Snow days are awesome so enjoy your and kids love this stuff. I see many out with their toboggans laughing and having fun. We will see what the next days bring. We could have a white Valentine’s Day. Stay safe out there and have fun.   

January was a really tough month for me. It seemed to rain it poured at the same time. I had 3 major things happen one after the other. I’m ready for a rest from it all. The first thing was I slipped in the tub and brusied my whole right side. I’m so lucky and blessed I didn’t break anything.  It took about a week to recover. Then I became extremely tired I thought it was from my fall. Then I got that bad news from work about not getting that  big raise and the back pay because I work with a special needs that was a huge blow to me, not just the money; but that I’m not appreciated at work for the job I do. The tiredness continued and I figured it was stress.

As I continued to ignore what was happening I then got pain which I recongized the symptons and lack of appetite and nausea. I went to the ER and Got checked out and I have elevated white blood cells they were high but not off the chart. I had another attack of diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is bulging pouches in the lining of your colon and they become infected and inflamed. I experienced lower pain in my stomach problems with my stools not having any, loss of appetite, bloating, fever ( I don’t ever get fevers ) nausea and I had really bad vertigo. I remember last year having similar symptons so I was right. They caught it early so I was sent home with 2 really strong antibiotics and had to start on a clear diet for 2-3 days and then a low-fiber diet and then back to normal eating. It took me a week to feel back to myself again. 

I realized that my tiredness was a sign I was not feeling good for about 3 weeks. It really kicked me down this diverticulitis and had to take a whole pile of time off without pay. I did manage 3 half days to come home exhausted. 10 days of antibiotics and 6 days worth of anti-fungal mediction for a huge throat yeast infection. When I get sick, I get really sick. I was glad to put January behind me.

Yesterday, I went back into PTSD symptons with this winter storm. For 4 hours I struggled with many different emotions and I realized I need to work on how to stop those feelings from getting so big that my body starts reacting from so much stress and I feel so immobilized  and I was at work so I had to stay and cope with those feelings. The more I heard about it from others the more I became terrified. I need coping skills before it esculates. That flight mode was huge in me but I was trapped I wanted to go home and feel safe. I phoned my husband on my lunch break and he prayed with me and I remember him telling me that I was safe and it would be ok. I also knew I was safe but when I’m in PTSD all I felt was super vulnerable and fearful. My poor body went through hell and I panicked and then when I drove home it was all right, it took me 4 more hours to calm myself down.

Today I have felt rough from all the stress that happened yesterday. That’s twice in the last few momths my body had gone to PTSD. Geesh I hope this is not happens in menopause. I know the hormones change but I could seriously pass on this. Today I’m back to feeling really tired and just feeling emotionally down. I isolated myself in my home because I didn’t want to go anywhere. These emotions are real and hard.  

Some good news yesterday I celebrated a year and a half of sobriety. I never thought I’d ever feel free of my addiction. IT just seemed to haunt me all the time. I’m very proud of myself. I have many people to thank for this> First of all God I could not do this journey of life without Him. I’m so thankful for my many friends that love and support me, for my pastors and their wives. My counselor who is not afraid to ask me those hard questions. My woman’s addiction group. I love these woman so much. I’m glad I get to do sobriety with each of you.   

Yesterday morning I spent the morning in the emergency room. It’s an intresting place to be but it’s never dull. People come and go but while you wait you have nothing to do but observe others. While I was waiting to check in I noticed a woman sitting in a chair waiting. I assumed she was waiting to get checked in. As I waited a police officer came in and went through the doors and came back and approached the lady sitting near me. He asked her why she was at the hospital. She said she came because her son was there. The police asked her what was her name she seemed confused she was waiting for her son. He asked her who her son was she told him. He asked her where she lived and she gave the area she lived in. He asked her when she was born, her age and her address all of which she had trouble answering. He then asked her if she had drank any alcohol she said no. She was clutching a paper bag by which he asked her what was in it. She replied it was chips and food. He asked if he could look sure enough it had food in it.

The officer left to put in her info and talked to the hospital staff. They had called him to say they were concerned about her and she had showed up before and a police officer had taken her home. They said she seemed very concerned but her son was not at the hospital. Turns out her son is 20 years old, but not at the hospital. I think of this poor mother concerned for her son having no idea where he is and so she’s searching for him. The police officer aid he’s take her home and said maybe your son is there. I’m not sure what happened with her but while I waited before I left that area I saw her walking down the road away from the police and then she came back and was saying something to the police. A woman police officer had joined them as well. I feel sad for this woman, obviously she was worried about her son and she had come looking for him. She was very confused which of course made it worse. To make matters worse the hospital called the police to take her away from them. If she’s that confused maybe she needed help this sounds like a mental issue.

Why is someone like this not treated like people in physical pain? I don’t understand that she needed help just as much as anyone. So does our society just leave her out in the world confused it sounds like she’s been at the hospital a few times searching for her son. So sad. 

As I sat for 5 hours for results etc people come and go. I find it interesting how people cope with pain or discomfort. There was a lady there with an older gentleman, the lady took care of people in the waiting room and offered to get food or drink for a woman waiting.  I was trying to figure out their relationship and the woman would say she’s ok she’s sitting in a chair. I wondered if the woman’s daughter was waiting for a doctor. Turns out the older guy was her dad and it was her mom waiting for tests. They both had a really good sense of humor. At one stage the older guy had his keys in his hand and the daughter says to her dad  Dad put away your keys he grumbled at her and finally put them in his pocket and she said to him I thought maybe you wanted to leave us. He replied Well I could just take off if I want and leave you all here, but I will just stay with you. He said it in a jest of humor. It took me all I could not to laugh. 

A while later a young girl comes into the waiting room and looks rough. Her face looked like she had cigerette burns on them. She sat down almost in defeat. There were 3 guys sitting by her. She looked super uncomfortable but the guys beside her starting talking about smoking and then she pipped up and said she had left her home that day and left her smokes at home. After that her body relaxed more in the chair and she even laughed and joked with the two men. 

Yesterday it seemed like almost everyone talked with one another, well what else is there to do when your there for 5 hours or so. People seemed to have compassion for each other no matter what there circumstance were. I loved that because sometimes strangers will not talk with anyone. Some of my neighbours don’t talk to me after living in my home for 9 years.  Even though I waited so long they did check on me occasionally and I was able to get some pain meds and some anti-nausea medication. 

I had a suspicion I had diverticulitis I had the same symptons as I did last year. I had pain in my stomach and left side and woke up feeling really dizy and nauseous. The pain was more intense. The ER doctor told me that was probably what I had. He did tell me extra stress could have made it worse. I  found the whole blood thing quite humerous if I’m dehydrated then it’s impossible to find my veins so the first lady tried twice and then she called another woman to come because one person is only allowed 2 tries and then they have to call someone else. The only place I seemed to have veins was my hand so this women found it the first time and the other woman was very sorry and felt bad. I did tell her it’s hard to find any veins. 

My blood work came back and I had elevated white blood cells but it was caught early so I was able to go and antibiotics and go home. I have to be on a clear diet for 2 days and then slowly introduce low fiber back into my diet. It’s amazing how clear fluids make you feel better and I’ve not been hungry which is good. I’m really glad I got to come home and not stay at the hospital. Now I know what the symptons are so I can go early for treatment. 

I’m also glad my time at ER was not boring. It’s a good place to people watch but glad that others cared about each other. Hopefully I won’t have to go back for a while. After 24 hours I’m feeling much better so that is good news.