Pacific Coast Rest-Stop

[Shann]

I have the worst startle reflex in the world! When Chris wakes me to kiss me goodbye I haul off and punch him. Hmmm maybe that's why he sleeps in the other room...

Poor Lyd is having a hard time and is homesick. I have to chuckle a bit cuz a year ago she was saying how she couldn't wait to go to college and she wanted to get as far away from this Podunk town as possible! But she twisted her knee and is in pain. She went to the student health center and they told her she was fine, and to take Motrin and ice it (which she has been doing for 3 days) She was crying so hard I called her sister M who is 15 min away and asked her to take her to urgent care. The doc said she messed up her knee bad and needs to see ortho. She is in a brace and on crutches which really scares me cuz like her momma she is a huge klutz and may end up in worse shape trying to navigate with crutches!

Okay I have just over 10 hours to write my sweet story! Lots of time. I was going to do a cutesy who ate the moon story but I think I'm going with my dark child abuse idea instead. I have such range!

[Sparrow]

Pup, so frustrating about your job. You're pretty good friends with your boss, right? Can you approach them as share your frustrations about not being treated the same as the other employees even though you are working harder?

It was my BOSS that said I would have to wait 'til winter when things slow down.

Yeah, but have you talked to her directly about how you are feeling like other employees are getting treated differently? Never hurts to try bluntness.... Let her (am I right that it's a female?) know that you are thinking about trying to find a different job since you're not appreciated at that one. Praying for you.

Leah, too bad your cousin's back went out but glad you got lots of quality time with them.

Becky, maybe your adrenaline neurotransmitters are running a little high. I hate when I startle so bad like that.

Well, I didn't do anything today except get the conference hotel figured out, probably. Just waiting for confirmation and then we can announce details.

[Rebecky]

Well it was like last night I decided to listen to my iPod before going to bed and hit play without realizing how loud the volume was. It scared me so bad, I got a knot in my stomach and I felt like I could puke and cry all at once.

I guess I just don't get it cause I didn't used to be this way but its been going on for two or three years.

[JesusPuppy]

BOO!!

Sorry.. I couldn't help meself.

(am I right that it's a female?)

Ummm.. no.

But yes, I did talk to HIM ( ) about it. He could have hired a summer temp to cover us on vacations, but as I was told last year that I did get one this year, I didn't even try to schedual one. I think what hurts me most is that Tino, the guy I work with, marked down his second week of vacation time to cover the 17th, which is normally when the conferences have been. But as soon as he heard I wasn't getting one this year he marked that week, so even if I found out there was one, and I could afford it, I still couldn't have gone.

I know, he didn't do it purposely, but it sure looks like it.

[lauralnm]

Laura, I love Bridget! She was in my kids' church class for YEARS! Before I quit and moved to be closer to Ryan, I was doing Junior High with all the girls I had taught in kids' church. Plus, for a time I did some targeted discipleship with her and about five other girls who wanted to really dive in deep together. I still pray for her; she always was much more mature than the others. I can tell she's a real thinker. So awesome that we have that connection!

Obviously the feeling is mutual. You have her pegged as far as being a thinker and being much more mature than others her age (she's 16 now). She's going through some difficult times right now due to some decisions being made by her parents so since you know her, I would ask for prayer for her and her entire family. It is so good to know other people seeing the things I see in Bridget. I love her so much! blessings... laura

Amy, I have been wondering about what illness you suffer from. I see there are times when you struggle so to get through a day. I would like to pray for you, but not having been on the Boards long, I'm not sure what to specifically pray about. I have severe Anemia and of course Lupus and Kidney Disease so I know what it is to have no energy at all at times. But isn't God good when we have those good days?

Shann... I'm so sorry to hear about Lyd. That can be so serious. I took a nasty fall in 1982 and still suffer from the residuals of it. She is so young to be having those kinds of things happening. Maybe she will surprise you with the crutches. I know about being a klutz; people call my sister and I the "Klutz sisters." One morning recently, she took a fall in front of her boss's office. She said she was so embarrassed, but I put a little humor to it and told her she should have looked up and said "Good morning, Dennis." She laughed and that's what we all have to do in life.

Can't remember all the other posts as I'm writing so will close this off so as not to bore anyone. You all have a wonderful day! In His love, laura

[tonguethaid]

Becky, I don't think its that weird for you to experience this more recently. I think when you are in an accident and things like that your subconscious is more on edge?? For instance, my own experience of this, after living for quite some time in a place where giant spiders, snakes, giant grasshoppers and other beetles can come out of nowhere and scare the bageesus out of me, I can be rather on edge in that area. Even if I see something in my peripheral I will jump a bit. Does that make any sense to anyone other than myself? lol

Laura, I understand all too well being klutzy. It can be so embarrassing and painful. I actually have a good story of something I did this summer- but I've forgotten it. I also have a terrible memory. At least you have your sister to commiserate with

Shann, poor Lydia prayers for her. It can't be easy especially at a new place. How are you holding us these days? I really tried to get an entry in this week but I am just been using all my time to get my house sorted.

Amy, good point. I guess I never think about what I "accomplish" in a day because it often feels like I work hard all day and have nothing to show for it. I clean but you wouldnt know it, I cook but its all been eaten, I do laundry but there's already a pile formed at the end of the day. Granted, I dont always do well and doing things in general. Days I spend too long on fw and fb and youtube...kinda like today! haha I guess we all have our own challenges and struggles. I think God is working on my heart as I'm rather prone to envy. I did one of those personality tests and I thought it was funny that it came back telling me my personality struggled mostly with the sin of envy since I was already feeling convicted about it.

Pup, I think this is where my parenting knowledge can come in handy. Tell them to feel free to give you this week off or to find a replacement employee Choices are magical.

Ok I should go do things. first things first: make more coffee.

[srashmi]

Shann, congrats on 19th place overall in the groceries challenge

[JoyAnn]

So

[Sparrow]

Tiara? What was that? Did you get the fixed NaNo cover I made you and the banner? I can't decide whether to put my Voices of the Dark banner back up since that's the book I'm working on, but now that I have a publisher interested it seems weird to advertise it with a cover that won't be the actual cover.

Kara, I get that about how frustrating and never ending and not have much to show for it cooking and cleaning are. But really, I think they are one of the hardest parts of life and requiring the most work. I get the envy thing, too, and then other times I get the opposite when I wonder why I get to be so blessed when others don't. My writing career is falling into place amazingly, and though I have severe health issues, I'm still more functional than many of my other chronically ill friends are. I guess recognizing our blessings is an important part of life, though.

Amy, I have been wondering about what illness you suffer from. I see there are times when you struggle so to get through a day. I would like to pray for you, but not having been on the Boards long, I'm not sure what to specifically pray about. I have severe Anemia and of course Lupus and Kidney Disease so I know what it is to have no energy at all at times. But isn't God good when we have those good days?

Laural, I had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia until just a few weeks ago. I was more and more convinced it was a misdiagnoses and my doctors agreed but couldn't figure out anything else. So finally my parents flew me back east to see a renowned specialist and she was amazing. She confirmed our suspicions and said I have a genetic connective tissue disorder, probably Ehlers-Danlos. It explains ALL my symptoms and why all of my body doesn't work right. Makes so much more sense to have one thing causing everything than that just randomly none of my systems work right.

Basically it means my body doesn't make enough collagen, so it affects pretty much everything: joints, muscles, skin, organs... It can vary in severity like from my Dad, who has very few symptoms, to me who am quite debilitated by the pain and fatigue that comes with it. My joints pop out of place frequently and sprain easily and my muscles are very weak and painful as well. The fatigue probably comes mostly from the sleeping problems (tests show I come awake or into light sleep every few minutes all night) and from the heart issue--my body can't circulate blood well enough so my heart pumps like three times faster than normal to try to compensate. Medication has slowed it down a little, but doesn't seem to help the fatigue that much.

I do have some medicine and physical therapy type treatments that help some, but mostly resting a lot is the only thing that really manages my symptoms. If I am too busy then I get quite severe and not very functional, but if I can rest enough then I have a lot more good days. Right now the editing job that took a lot of hours near the end to finish up, back to back with the four day writing conference, has me crashing so I'm pretty much sleeping or doing nothing much for most of the day. Hopefully I'll pull out of that soon and be able to do more writing again.

From what I know of lupus, it has some similar symptoms. It's a tough disease and scary since it can be progressive, which the type I have of mine supposedly isn't (though the joints can deteriorate). Which type do you have, if you don't mind my asking. Do you have good care and have things managed as well as possible? I know often we have to fight so hard for good care.

Becky, Kara has a good point that your car accident could have put your nerves on edge more. Not just from the fear of the accident, but because of what it would have done to your body. Many people don't realized that a bad accident like that will take years for your body to recover from (and sometimes causes some problems forever). I pray in your case that you'll gradually get better. Hugs.

[Rebecky]

Well the whole car accident thing makes sense too. Sadly, I already have chronic pain from it so I guess this is just one more thing to add to my chronic issues.

[lauralnm]

Good morning all! Had to turn on the heat a bit this morning as I rose for the day at 5:00 a.m. I am sooooo very tired this morning and my husband suggested I go back to bed, but that just completely messes up the rest of my day. I wouldn't get anything done. So, that's that.

[/quote]From what I know of lupus, it has some similar symptoms. It's a tough disease and scary since it can be progressive, which the type I have of mine supposedly isn't (though the joints can deteriorate). Which type do you have, if you don't mind my asking. Do you have good care and have things managed as well as possible? I know often we have to fight so hard for good care.[/quote]

Wow, Amy, you are so fortunate that you could finally get a correct diagnosis and have the disease treated correctly. Yes, I do have several of the same symptoms. I have systemic Lupus with skin Lupus thrown in for good measure. Right now, my doctor is looking into why my Anemia is so bad, but it isn't any wonder. Anemia and Kidney Disease often go hand in hand, although I have had Anemia for a number of years. I've only been diagnosed with Kidney Disease for a little over a year. I have not been able to find a really good Rheumatologist to treat my Lupus for a number of years. If I was willing to travel to Seattle for my appointments to my former Rheumatologist, I would be better off. She is a wonderful Rheumatologist, but I am directionally challenged (I get lost a lot) so to that end, I would rather not put myself through the travel. I would have to work around my husband's work schedule for appointments and that isn't always easy. Right now, other than the extreme fatigue (I most definitely know what you are going through there) and the Anemia, I don't have much problem with my joints, etc. so feel very blessed.

I will pray for you each day, Amy, that you can withstand all that is necessary in your exciting world of publishing. You have come so far, and to be hindered by health is such a shame; however, it would appear that you are learning or already have learned to pace yourself. I know all too well the world of pacing oneself. I don't like it, but it is necessary sometimes. God bless you and again, I will be praying for you on a continual basis.

Shann, how's your daughter doing with the injury and crutches by now?

Again, can't always remember what so many of you write about so by the time I get here to post a reply, I have forgotten half of all the comments. I'm off to my wifely duties which I do enjoy when I am feeling good. Not one of those days, but I want to get things done so my husband can come home to a nice clean and orderly home. Love to all, laura

[Sparrow]

Guess what? I can finally announce for sure that the conference will be in Portland next year!! We're gonna move it around between Oregon, Michigan (or NY), and Florida, so hopefully it will be more near everyone at some point. I've been trying to get this to happen for years, so I'm excited to see it moving and excited to get to show off our beautiful area to everyone.

It'll be in Portland on June 28th and 29th, 2013.

[Sparrow]

Thanks so much for the prayers, Laura. I'm praying for you, too. After I got so nonfunctional and sick when I was trying to do full-time college, I realized I have to pace. Nothing like learning that lesson in a boot camp sort of way.

Fatigue is still pretty strong. Finally dragged myself out of bed at 3 pm today, since I figured I should eat something. I have a mytherapy appointment in a couple hours, so that'll be good.

[Sparrow]

Prayer request: I just saw a post from someone saying that our Laura fell hard on her chest this morning. Will try to find out more information tomorrow. If anyone has her phone number, can you PM it to me? I live in her area so could visit her if she was up to it. Wish I could help with housework and more practical things.

[JesusPuppy]

Praying for Laura. Let us know how she is doing once you find out.

Secondly.. I am TELL my boss I am taking time next summer if they like it or not.

Now.. I have to put on some music and relax. I need, and I mean NEED, some sleep.