It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Since there isn't any snow I think the flurry of boxes from Amazon and the completion of my schoolwork have made December feel festive. I do not know if cards will ever get sent out but I plan on celebrating with some chocolate cake and a Christmas movie soon.

Hanging on

It has been a while since I have posted. A lot of it has to do with my classes and not other stresses. We hosted 22 additional people for Thanksgiving and my semester is almost finished. There are 3 more papers, 2 more classes, and a final exam to endure before I can enjoy my break. I have begun a mental 'fun' list to accomplish during that time! We are becoming knowledgable of a new medication called Keppra that seems to be working well for our daughter. She will follow up with a neurologist and see an ENT next week. She may be composing her own fun list as well! ;). All is busy and well at the Lodge. In my frantic pace I am so grateful for those that make life doable....for the meal duty, dishes, laundry, and even Christmas decorating I am blessed with an unbelievable family. I have another week before I can breathe a bit and may not post until then. I am hoping your days of anticipating Christ's birth are merry and bright.

Abundance

In 12 hours my house will match my cupboards...filled! It is now crunch time as Mom and I prepare for 22 people to stay a few days with us. Before the pace of this day overwhelms my mind I am choosing to remember how very blessed we are this year? Hope your preparations go smoothly and you find a moment to reflect as well.

Strep and other common annoyances

On yet another crazy Thursday I find myself with an extra five minutes. As a quick update we are still waiting for test result although we will be adding one more tomorrow night with a schuduled MRI by moonlight! :). I find it amazing that it is scheduled for 8:45 pm. I hope our girl falls asleep. She has had to miss another 3 days of school this week due to a strep infection.

Waiting for another piece to the puzzle

I love this picture I found because it sums up how I feel in regards to a reoccurance of a seizure diagnosis. There is so much known about the brain yet not all.nnthis to me is encouraging and maddening! We do not anticipate having any new information for another week or so in this regard.
We are tuning our attention here at the Lodge for the upcoming Thanksgiving festivities!! We will be hosting outpr family's gathering and having 22 people coming here. This is so exciting to us! I just have 4 more work days, a paper, and 5 chapters to focus on first.

Another Thursday

Whew!! That is about all I can say after these days when my professional and Mom role collide with the student role and make for a very full day.
As you look forward towards your weekend may it be a chance for all of us to catch our breath.
:)

A plan

My day that began 15 hours ago is finally coming to an end. I am at a loss for words tonight as my brain has reached the supersaturated point.
We met with the neurologist today. He seems like a good fit and had some valuable insights for us-specifically lettting us know the differnces between a toddler brain and a second-grade brain. He helped us see the forest and back away from the trees that seemed to cloud our vision right now and that was very helpful for us all. Instead of jumping to medicine, we are going to do a bit more testing and gather some more data to treat most effectively.
After a 2.5 hour doctor visit I got to attend a conference an hour away. I missed the morning session due to the appointment but I loved the real life exposure of observing the role I am studying now.
Now I am home and so grateful to read something fictional-even if I can only stay awake for a few minutes!
Thank you for your prayers for us all today.

MD visits

At a conference....will update soon. We had Avery good visit and have more testing coming up.

The Beauty in Spikes

When are spikes beautiful?  When seen at Bryce Canyon, Utah.  I was able to tour this area as a freshman in high school and vividly remember this unique spot.  In an area of canyons and rock formations the hike that my sisters and I took at this location made you feel like a little child near a Christmas tree.  You just had to touch these rocks and see if they were real!  At the museum in the visitor center we saw a quote by a former farmer in this area that described it as a "helluva place to loose a cow". 
More then just the unusual, this place was beautiful to me by the stunning difference in its geography.  You can almost sense this in this wonderful picture taken by my friend Ryan Bowen above.  The distinct colors of sandstone are usually exhibited in cliff formations in other parts and this particular National Park had spikes in a "ditch" instead. In the backdrop of the normal trees, sandstone, and sun this place summons a sense of wonder.
As I described in yesterday's post, spike formations can be odd and potentially harmful.  I am deliberately choosing today to see spikes from the lens that captures the creative hand of my Creator.  I continue to pray that this place in our family's journey will be a unique location and not become the overall landscape.  I am hopeful as I consider that we have visited this scary place before and now have a 2nd grader at the top of her class.  Friday may hold additional answers for us as we meet with a neurologist.  In the meantime I am going to examine the periphery of the above photo and picture myself on a hike with my sisters in the heat of July wondering why a a farmer would ever pick a spot like this to raise cattle!

spikes

Reflecting today on spikes...
-a rapid deviation and return to baseline
-a sharp spot that can have potential for injury
-a disruption of normal that can have mild to moderate consequences
These are my quick definitions. They are significant to me today as I just received THE call today re: the sleep-deprived EEG from last week. "Spikes were seen on the right occipital lobe and could indicate an increased risk for focal and a secondary risk for generalized seizures". It is odd that although I knew this would most likely be the result I feel as though our family life just spiked. I do not know what this will all entail other then the appointment with the neurologist can now be justifiably moved up from it's original 11/23 schedule. I anticipate a few more of these family spikes as we wait, formulate a treatment plan, and strive to keep our daughter safe and "normal". Thank you for your continued prayers.


- Aunty M.

Kidneys

I have spent a lot of time today considering the kidney. This hasn't been entirely by choice but it has been fascinating. Who knew that you had 2.2 million nephrons in your body? Who was aware that functions such as synthesizing Vitamin D and producing red blood cells have a vital role in a fist-sized object in your body? As I was studying I was trying to consider what occupation most resmebles that of the kidney. A powerhouse, behind the scene, can function alone but much more effcient in a pair, and something that most people dont know think of until there is a problem? What is your idea? I thought of an air traffic controller or a parent!

Confessions

Confessions...
The end of October is traditionally a time for misrepresentations and distortions. I was contemplating this and amused at those that are sometimes exibitied in my life. In this mindset I would like to post a few confessions.
#1 This is the third attempt at posting this entry! Seriously, what happened to my tech skills? If you read this 3 different times I will be at a loss to explain this.
#2 I have consumed more coffee then calories today and only recently decided I should suppliment with a little candy. I could blame this on my weird schedule and flipping to day hours today after a few night shifts but that would not explain the candy. Hmm.
#3 I ran an errand today to purposefully be alone for one hour. It was raining when I left and changed to a sunny Autumn day on the trip home. The sun showcased a magnificent foliage display and reminded me once more of the beauty in this piece of America where I get to live.
#4 I awoke to an odd fealing that my theology was challenged during my nap the other day. I was studying anemia and listened to a sermon on covenents. My pillow conjured up some correlation that I am very grateful I won't fully recall.
#5 I made my daughter's costume beause I couldn't spend $30 on a costume and justify my material stash. I think I may need a fabric intervention at some point...perhaps after I graduate? I learned that hat-making is not really a strong point for me and not to underestimate the power of a canning lid for a belt buckle if nothing else seems to work! ;)
I am going to consume a healthy, nutritious snack and study some more now. I hope your weekend is both enjoyable and reflective as you anticipate welcoming November.

Dress up!

- Aunty M.

Quietly waiting

Every once in a while silence can be loud enough to get your attention. I recall this when the kids were younger! Sometimes the lack of noise meant someone was about to get into trouble. Now I find myself with 10 minutes of quiet in my jam-packed Thursday. I am focusing on surprise interruptions...both good and not so good...and how they have impacted my life this week. I am grateful for this time and yet a bit anxious as I wait for results of testing for my youngest. I am going to take the other 5 minutes now and pray. In the silence I am so grateful for the One who never leaves me alone and loves and cares for my girl even more then I ever could.


- Aunty M.

New again

Being new is so dynamic. It is both exciting and terrifying to begin a new goal. On one hand you know you will learn lots of great stuff but you are also aware that there will be unexpected chanllenges along the way. In the daily grind I have lost sight of the newness of each day- both the excitement and the challenges. This page has that distictive new blog feel to it and echoes my sense of wonder and commitment to what awaits on this new day.
I am catching up on things today as I transition from my work pace to student pace. I am reaquainting myself with my home and wondering how I ever felt that this structure might be too small in the building stage! Cleaning, studying, and communicating are on the agenda.
For those of you following the revisited complexity of the nervous system as shown through mind of a 2nd grader we are awaiting results of a sleep-deprived EEG performed yesterday. While it may be a new problem we wonder if it is a manifestation of an older diagnosis that was cleared 4 years ago. We appreciate your prayers as we wait and watch.