Help wanted (Score so far related)

[Jersey Girl]

Back to the situation at hand. I started a food journal yesterday on the computer so if someone asks what my diet looks like, I'll have it ready. Also made a command decision last night that today and tomorrow I would try eating nothing but soft foods from what I have on hand as follows: oatmeal, protein pancakes, applesauce, mushed up blueberries, eggs, english muffin, protein powder smoothie with blueberries/bananas, minestrone soup I made with no beans, or whatever I can find that is mushable or soft.

And see if this equals relief.

I looked at suggested diets for gastroparesis. It actually recommends NOT eating high fiber whole grains and eating things like white bread and english muffins. Also not eating fresh fruit and vegs, or beans high in fiber. Basically not eating what I've been eating for maybe 10 years now.

If I could turn back time...

[Jersey Girl]

Back to the situation at hand. I started a food journal yesterday on the computer so if someone asks what my diet looks like, I'll have it ready. Also made a command decision last night that today and tomorrow I would try eating nothing but soft foods from what I have on hand as follows: oatmeal, protein pancakes, applesauce, mushed up blueberries, eggs, english muffin, protein powder smoothie with blueberries/bananas, minestrone soup I made with no beans, or whatever I can find that is mushable or soft.

And see if this equals relief.

I looked at suggested diets for gastroparesis. It actually recommends NOT eating high fiber whole grains and eating things like white bread and english muffins. Also not eating fresh fruit and vegs, or beans high in fiber. Basically not eating what I've been eating for maybe 10 years now.

If I could turn back time...

Putting this here because it is meaningful and matters to me.

I did fine all day long scrounging up soft foods to eat. Did fine right up until I decided that dinner would be 2 eggs and an english muffin.

Let me stop right here and say that I've been eating eggs this whole time, with one slice of thin wheat bread. Usually for a lunch or a dinner. Not every day, just here and there. But it's protein, it works.

I don't know if it was the eggs or the english muffin (which I never eat because and only eat whole grain breads, but we had some in the freezer so I thawed one out) but within about 45 minutes I started feeling a pain in my left side then it went over to the right side as well. And the worst thing was that my stomach swelled like I can't even describe it. I'm talking doubled over in pain here. I'm home alone at the time. I don't know if I should call for an ambulance or call the Boy or what to do. I decide to call God.

I'm praying the whole time Lord, I need help. Please help me!

I get a heat pack and a cup of tea, decide to read my daily Bible devotional because I missed it last night, wanted to catch up and figured that would take my mind off the pain for a few minutes.

I open the online devotional and my eyes go right to two things.

The title: Send Help, Lord

And one sentence: Lord, I begged, please heal and rescue her from this pain.

So naturally, tears start coming. Tears of relief feeling like I was heard. I was seen. I wasn't alone.

My stomach starts making noises and so something is going on. Something that means the end is in sight.

Well, that process went on for a couple of hours before I knew I was getting round to feeling better. It still feels tender at this writing (It's almost 2 a.m.) but no longer in severe pain and abdomen doesn't look like an inflated balloon any more. I can't believe how bad that was or what exactly caused it. But it was BAD.

So I'm at the computer zoning out on online stuff to relax just before writing this (which is why I decided to post it) and look up one of my lovely youtube ladies in Instagram who does home making, that sort of thing and she's got this short reel about her a health and fitness journey she's been on (which includes some mental health struggles). She's been working out and losing weight since January and recently ran her first marathon. So at the end of her comment, I see this...


“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

Maybe that's why I always think I can be better. Glass half full. Never empty.

I almost never share anything like this on the board but like I said...it was meaningful and it matters to me. So I want it on my thread.

So it's here.


by the way, when I say "my lovely youtube ladies" that's exactly what I call them when I thank God for them in prayer. Probably 90% of the ladies I watch are all Christian ladies. I didn't know that about them when I started watching them and I didn't go looking for channels hosted by Christian women or men either. They came to me one by one over time, I loved them, I subbed, and then only later down the road did I discover that they were women of faith. Their channels are quality in content, peaceful, relaxing, informative and inspiring. They never overshare if you know what I mean. They consistently demonstrate self respect and respect for their viewers. Decor, cooking, gardening, thrifting, diy, art, antiquing, minimalism, crafting, home improvement,and just a nice collection of channels that appeal to me. A while ago, three of them met up for a weekend of antiquing. Rented an airbnb together and drove in from different states for the trip. In one of their vlogs, one of the ladies said that she wanted "my channel to serve the Lord."

It was the same lady who posted the Bible verse I posted above on her Instagram account.

(I need to start journaling on my computer, I know.)

[Jersey Girl]

My PIRATE!!!!

You don't know how happy it made me to see your post here! I'm on my way...about to post about it!

<3 awww

You did! You were one of the best things that happened to me that day!

[Jersey Girl]

Awww how wonderful your perspective is. I can't imagine a world without you in it. I often think of you guys, especially you Jersey Girl. You all helped shape me for the better.

You walked into that board without ever seeing it coming! But dang, if you didn't hold your own! How amazing you were!

I think I've had a perspective like that since childhood. I know I did. I never grew out of it to become a fully grown adult.

[IWMP]

Made me smile. Needing a smile today lol. I enjoyed being on the boards lol. Learnt a lot. Kept me relatively sane lol.

It's wonderful, there's a sense of innocence in being able to still enjoy the beauty of the world when it feels like everything else is awful. Nature is beautiful. I love Autumn. The yellow leaves glow when I walk over them. No one else seems to notice.

I'm not feeling so good at the moment so my writing might seem weird. painting skirtings with gloss.

P has built a den just outside the front door. Can hear her. She's a strange kid lol.

[High Spy]

No one else seems to notice.

painting skirtings with gloss.

P has built a den

Painting P

[IWMP]

Huh?

I am painting the skirtings in the hall. Daughter has friends coming over for a party in 3 weeks. So using that as an excuse to pressure myself into finishing all the jobs I impulsively started like a year ago.

P is my daughter's initial.

No one else in my family notices the yellow leaves glow when you walk over them.

[Jersey Girl]

No one else in my family notices the yellow leaves glow when you walk over them.

I notice them.

A couple of years back during the lock downs, I posted a quote in the Paradise forum from Anne of Green Gables. RI suggested that I would love the book. He wasn't wrong! I have it on audio book and listen to it on repeat. So much of it sounds like my own inner dialogue regarding imagination and nature. The way her mind works. It's like listening to myself.

Yesterday I put out my wall quote of this. I also have a wall hanging that is a "book page" of this. I'll bold the part that's on my book page. This is what drew me to the story. When I was a child I had a maple tree growing outside the bedroom window and considered it a familiar friend. So I got the audiobook and just like with Hogwarts, I haven't left Avonlea ever since.

October was a beautiful month at Green Gables, when the birches in the hollow turned as golden as sunshine and the maples behind the orchard were royal crimson and the wild cherry trees along the lane put on the loveliest shades of dark red and bronzy green, while the fields sunned themselves in aftermaths.

Anne reveled in the world of color about her.

“Oh, Marilla,” she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn’t it? Look at these maple branches. Don’t they give you a thrill—several thrills? I’m going to decorate my room with them.”

I probably have the whole first book memorized by now. I love it so much. There's a Netflix series Anne with an "E" but they took liberties with the story, and even though I've watched it a lot, I much prefer the book narrated by Rachel McAdams. She does it perfectly.

[IWMP]

aww

I'll look that book up. I watched anne with an e. I enjoyed it.

I think if I really had to choose a favourite season it would probably be autumn. Summer is too hot for me. I like spring because I'm desperate to get out of the dark. I love snow but we barely get any. But autumn, there's still some warmth, lots of colour, great crafting opportunities. Halloween. I always wonder, every year, if trees live so long because they shed their leaves and grow new ones.

[IWMP]

How are things going with the new Dr?