Life as we NOW know it

A year ago we were concerned about Malachi not being able to hold anything down wondering if he was going to have to have stomach surgery. Pleading with doctors to listen to us that something was wrong with our baby and driving back and forth to multiple doctors' appointments every week. Now, he's perfectly healthy and is the absolute LIGHT of our lives.

This year, it's a new challenge. Last Thursday I had a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) - Otherwise known as...a mini-stroke. Yes, you read that right. I am a 27 year old female who woke up last Thursday morning and had a stroke. Obviously I'm okay now, but it was, by far, the 2nd scariest thing I've experienced in my life. (The first was waking up when I was pregnant with Malachi bleeding and thinking I was miscarrying him like I did his twin.)

I woke up Thursday morning to the immediate thought of "Okay self, let's get busy, we've got 4 meetings today and it's going to be a crazy day!" After my shower I got a little dizzy so I sat down then I started to feel a headache coming on so I popped 4 Ibuprofen. Obviously with 4 meetings, it was NOT the day to have a headache. Then, I walked into the living room to tell Malachi to take another bite of breakfast (like I often have to do...you know, Curious George is pretty intriguing) and, when I spoke to him, all that came out was a bunch of gibberish. I'm sure it sounded something like "Id po fe mey alaighe aeoifjqpdj" - or at least that's what Malachi's blank stare told me. I immediately went back into the bathroom to see if my face was drooping or anything like that. It wasn't, thank goodness. And, it lasted about 3 minutes or so until Thomas got out of the shower. As soon as he did I tried to talk to him and about every 3rd word just wouldn't come out. It was SPOOKY. But, after that, it was over other than being tired and having a headache. Thankfully my mom HAPPENED (I don't really think it was coincidence, I think it was God's directing) to come over to show me her new haircut and she noticed immediately that I didn't look good. She and Thomas convinced me to go to the Dr. and, as it turns out, it was a good thing I did.

After TONS of bloodwork, an EKG and a CT scan, it turns out that my Thyroid level is high. Not ridiculously high, but high enough to warrant a Thyroid Scan and ultrasound which has been scheduled for the 29th. I'm also taking 2 baby aspirin every day and have been taken off all of my birth control just in case. (That's a whole NUTHER story. No, we're not ready to have #2 quite yet, so we're going to pray that the Lord will allow us 6 or so more months before anything happens in that department)

So, last year it was Malachi and this year it's me. I will tell you, it has completely taken me aback and given me more perspective. It's SO cliche to say that, but, it's true. Lots of things don't really matter like I used to think they did. And, lots of things really DO matter that I used to take for granted.

I covet your prayers at this time while my doctors try to figure out if my Thyroid is what caused this and throughout the next few weeks when, apparently, my risk of having a major stroke is quite a bit elevated! I'll close with this verse that I read Thursday night (actually Friday morning around 1:30) while I couldn't sleep for fear that something might happen and I wouldn't be there to take care of my husband and son. No, it doesn't COMPLETELY apply to this situation, but, it spoke to me. And, for anyone that reads their Bible, you know that the Lord can speak to you and apply ANY verse he chooses in ANY situation.

It's from my favorite book of the Bible...any guesses? Well, I don't know if it's my favorite book, but it is definitely my favorite name from the Bible...

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

How awesome that our Lord promises us these blessings and CHALLENGES us to prove Him!

And, by the way...it's MALACHI 3:10