With my last post, I was preparing to preach for my first time this year despite not feeling the best. Fortunately, or unfortunately, they canceled the service about an hour after writing. So I now have a new sermon prepared and ready to go if another church contacts me.
Tuesday was also my last day for the antibiotic and so far at least, everything appears to be back to normal. I get nervous about stomach problems now any time I'm on extra medication, but thankfully I didn't have any issues. I don't really care for cranberry juice, but will start trying to drink it to help decrease further infections.
With no more sermon preparation, I started back on writing my autobiography again. It sounds boring to me, I lived it, but John has read it and says to continue on. I am now up to my senior year of high school. A lot was going on in that time of life with school every day, doing regular senior activities, and working on a plan for college. During that year I also worked for a local newspaper and this week I looked at some of my old articles that grandma kept.
Looking at the time two decades ago of how active I was and today barely getting two hours a day of being able to do anything. Normally in the first week of January, I look up local colleges and email professors of medical related classes to see if I can come speak. It's very rare I get a response, but I do attempt. This year, I haven't mailed any.
I did go ahead and apply for CHAMP Camp this year even though I hadn't planned on it. A family I have been working with for a few years said they were going to finally send their son this year. Therefore, I signed up so I could be there to help him through his first year. Now it looks like he won't be going though. The deadline for applications hasn't even come yet and I'm starting to regret having applied. I don't want all these months, well years, of laying flat so much to be completely undone in just one week.
Every morning, I get an email with quotes from early Christian reformers. Saturday's email was on spending time wisely and quoted several verses. One of them Ephesians 5:16, "Be very careful then how you live...making the best use of the time." It was a good reminder and one I've said on this blog before.
I don't know what time I have left in the quad life, but I do know it's getting shorter by the day, and minute. I praying this week to use it more for whatever God has planned and not wish for what has passed.
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Infectious Week, Again
This winter has been a challenging one. The cold and snow have made it hard to get out and several people around me have been dealing with coughs and stuffy noses. Unless their income is from snow removal, I don't know of many people that aren't looking forward to spring.
A few weeks ago, I was treated for a bladder infection. Unfortunately, the antibiotic my doctor prescribed interacted with another one of my meds, so I was to only take half a pill a day. After I finished the dose, I wasn't real sure it had worked. I gave it another week and sent in another test. On Tuesday, I received the call I expected. I have Staph infection and need to do a week of antibiotics, but a full pill twice a day this round.
I have been working with pressure sores for over 11 years now. Thankfully during all this time, they have not had problems with getting infected. Just before Tuesday's phone call, my day nurse was doing my wound dressings and one of them had a lot of junk in it, likely infection. Thankfully, it appears to have cleared up. On Thursday, my nursing agency's case manager came for her regular 60-day visit.
She agreed everything looked okay and was happy to find that two of the three had again shrunk since her last visit. However, I was sitting in bed with my usual attire of t-shirt and shorts with a temp of 100.6. The same occurred again yesterday with 100.7 I guess I could say I was a hot guy, but that just doesn't sound right.
Before all the snow started, I agreed to preach at a church in town tonight. I've been preparing the last few weeks, but also watched the forecast for snow. I woke up to snow falling again and nearly every church in town canceling, except where I'm preaching. This is why I don't schedule talks in the winter, in order to avoid cold and snow, but thought I would give it a chance. My only conclusion is that I am meant to give tonight's message.
I'm thankful that God has provided ways to treat infections as we live in this fallen world. Three shifts were missed this past week due to weather and illness. These times in the quad life get challenging, but I look forward to better days to come and seeing what is in store.
A few weeks ago, I was treated for a bladder infection. Unfortunately, the antibiotic my doctor prescribed interacted with another one of my meds, so I was to only take half a pill a day. After I finished the dose, I wasn't real sure it had worked. I gave it another week and sent in another test. On Tuesday, I received the call I expected. I have Staph infection and need to do a week of antibiotics, but a full pill twice a day this round.
I have been working with pressure sores for over 11 years now. Thankfully during all this time, they have not had problems with getting infected. Just before Tuesday's phone call, my day nurse was doing my wound dressings and one of them had a lot of junk in it, likely infection. Thankfully, it appears to have cleared up. On Thursday, my nursing agency's case manager came for her regular 60-day visit.
Before all the snow started, I agreed to preach at a church in town tonight. I've been preparing the last few weeks, but also watched the forecast for snow. I woke up to snow falling again and nearly every church in town canceling, except where I'm preaching. This is why I don't schedule talks in the winter, in order to avoid cold and snow, but thought I would give it a chance. My only conclusion is that I am meant to give tonight's message.
I'm thankful that God has provided ways to treat infections as we live in this fallen world. Three shifts were missed this past week due to weather and illness. These times in the quad life get challenging, but I look forward to better days to come and seeing what is in store.
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Valentine's Day
Some weeks, I struggle what on what to write in this blog. Today was one of them, until I remembered Valentine's Day is coming later this week.
February 14 is the day set aside especially to show love to that special someone. That someone could be a spouse, parent, child, and often all of the above. Flower shops and candy companies become busy for the day and greeting cards fly off the shelves.
I've heard some people say that holidays are inventions by greeting card companies in order to increase sales and love should be observed daily. According to my Google search, the celebration started in the United States around 1847. Hallmark began over 60 years later in 1910. Therefore, the main greeting card company does benefit from February 14, I wouldn't say they started it.
It is correct though that someone's care and love for another should be expressed more than one day a year, and daily. I think several wives especially would be expressing another emotion if husbands didn't regularly say "I love you," at the very least.
While human love is a good feeling to have, I think even more of God's love for us. The familiar John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." The Bible speaks of love in multiple places, such as that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
God is love, but a loving God must also see that sin is punished. Continuing on from John 3:16, we read that those who do not believe are condemned. It is a two-way relationship, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15) Even though we as sinful mankind don't keep up our end as we should, God does not depart from us.
As you go through this week, let us remember our love for those around us, but also that which God shows us. I'm thankful for loving parents and caregivers He has given me, but even more for His free gift of salvation.
February 14 is the day set aside especially to show love to that special someone. That someone could be a spouse, parent, child, and often all of the above. Flower shops and candy companies become busy for the day and greeting cards fly off the shelves.
I've heard some people say that holidays are inventions by greeting card companies in order to increase sales and love should be observed daily. According to my Google search, the celebration started in the United States around 1847. Hallmark began over 60 years later in 1910. Therefore, the main greeting card company does benefit from February 14, I wouldn't say they started it.
It is correct though that someone's care and love for another should be expressed more than one day a year, and daily. I think several wives especially would be expressing another emotion if husbands didn't regularly say "I love you," at the very least.
While human love is a good feeling to have, I think even more of God's love for us. The familiar John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." The Bible speaks of love in multiple places, such as that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
God is love, but a loving God must also see that sin is punished. Continuing on from John 3:16, we read that those who do not believe are condemned. It is a two-way relationship, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15) Even though we as sinful mankind don't keep up our end as we should, God does not depart from us.
As you go through this week, let us remember our love for those around us, but also that which God shows us. I'm thankful for loving parents and caregivers He has given me, but even more for His free gift of salvation.
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Sound Check
With only sitting two to three times a day for 45 minutes at a time, it can be challenging to get much accomplished. Some days, with web work, writing, and sermon preparation, I don't know where to begin. Therefore, I added another project. Some might say I'm crazy, but I would agree.
When I go to schools, be it college or elementary, I often use a video or two to help explain something. Most of my videos are getting older though and could use an update. I received a hand-me-down camera for Christmas that takes good pictures, but also does video. I've now used it to do a few episodes of the quad life and I have a few more in mind.
My computer has a program called iMovie that does good video production, but this venture has been my first need to use it. Adding pictures and short clips has been fun to learn and I can do some while I'm flat. The drawback is that I actually have to listen to myself to know where to include different items.
Since changing to the diaphragm pacemaker system in 2010, my primary regret with it has been speech quality. I wasn't used to having to wait for air and could talk clearly when on the vent, pausing when appropriate. With the DPS, I have to stop every four seconds to take a breath. To my thinking, I try to hide my breaks fairly well in regular speech. Watching these videos says otherwise.
Another thing I noticed is how much my shoulders move when I'm talking. I know it's my body trying to take deeper breaths to be able to speak louder. It was something I was aware needed work, but again more than I thought.
I know I'm likely being more particular about it than most people, but it has made me more aware of it. It's part of the quad life that can't be changed, but I can be more understanding when not understood.
Even with faltering voice, I'm thankful I can serve God and be an active member of society. This new venture has shown more areas I need to work on and hopefully become more clear for everyone.
When I go to schools, be it college or elementary, I often use a video or two to help explain something. Most of my videos are getting older though and could use an update. I received a hand-me-down camera for Christmas that takes good pictures, but also does video. I've now used it to do a few episodes of the quad life and I have a few more in mind.
My computer has a program called iMovie that does good video production, but this venture has been my first need to use it. Adding pictures and short clips has been fun to learn and I can do some while I'm flat. The drawback is that I actually have to listen to myself to know where to include different items.
Since changing to the diaphragm pacemaker system in 2010, my primary regret with it has been speech quality. I wasn't used to having to wait for air and could talk clearly when on the vent, pausing when appropriate. With the DPS, I have to stop every four seconds to take a breath. To my thinking, I try to hide my breaks fairly well in regular speech. Watching these videos says otherwise.
Another thing I noticed is how much my shoulders move when I'm talking. I know it's my body trying to take deeper breaths to be able to speak louder. It was something I was aware needed work, but again more than I thought.
I know I'm likely being more particular about it than most people, but it has made me more aware of it. It's part of the quad life that can't be changed, but I can be more understanding when not understood.
Even with faltering voice, I'm thankful I can serve God and be an active member of society. This new venture has shown more areas I need to work on and hopefully become more clear for everyone.
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