Questions….

so…

Moriarty is …

smaller?

YES!

so…

he .. shrank?

YES!

How much?

just a little

So… like

THIS MUCH???

no, not that much..

Moriarty never even got that big

He only seems that big

to me

when my head hurts.

you said… Pilates.. 

why ?

Pilates isn't associated with any eastern religious stuff…

It doesn't make MY spirit uncomfortable 

It ISN'T high impact

or cardio

which my body can NOT take

because of the state of my many auto -immune diseases.

In fact,

according to 2 of my doctors, those are just NOT allowed!

They can cause me to crash,

mess up my bodies balance

and make me very very ill..

(gee, wonder what went wrong ALL these years…)

all that to say

I like the basic philosophy behind Pilates…

I feel, I can actually get behind them;

and because, I think

and often people say I think TOO much..

when I think about it,

this philosophy doesn't upset me

I feel I will be able to stick with it for intellectual reasons.

"Develop the body uniformly, 

correct wrong postures, 

restore physical vitality, 

invigorate the mind, 

and elevate the spirit." 

Joseph Pilates

The very point of the theory of the

"extra" work of healing I am doing

is balance,

the restoration  

of health to my body.

This seems to be what Pilates is all about.

I will also be adding walking and swimming

as I am able.

When I get strong enough,

gentle biking with my family

to the mix.

My goal is to be able to dance 

and Zumba 

come this summer

and not collapse for 3 days after.

yay for goals!

you said…

chinese herbs and medicine..

WHAT is THAT all about?

WHICH herb or herbs??

WHO is your CHINESE Doctor???

My Chinese Doctor is Qingcai Zhang

He was the doctor who treated me for Lyme Disease. 

He runs the Sino Med Research Institute.

The herb I will be taking is Artemesia 

is still in early stage of research,

but there is MUCH already done.  Many years of research done on it. 

It is an herb I have taken safely before.  

I have waited till phase two

because we have a nice new MRI to show us a clear picture of 

exactly the size of Moriarty

and we have clear expectations of how much more if anything to expect 

from the GKS that I had in November of 2014.

I will be document the start date of my taking the herbs

and Dr.Zhang will be able to use this for his research

IF he should so desire.

So far the research indicates clearly that this herb helps in the shrinking of tumors

EVEN in the case of cancer.

the research, which I have read

is exciting.. 

YOU said you lost 30 pounds!

HOW did you do that, if you are not exercising???

It's actually a combination of things.

I take supplements, 

probiotics

and hormones

based off a complete work up of MY blood, 

stool samples, urine and hormones 

that my doctor did… 

yes he was THAT detailed..

and he rechecks and rechecks.

He's watching my thyroid and my Hashimoto's disease VERY carefully

and adjusting things accordingly.

I also take a medicine to help me sleep at night,

it helps but I still have trouble sleeping..

And, I am doing the AIP Paleo Diet.

I am very faithful to it,

I do have JUST a few things that I cheat on…

I do drink coffee.

I went off for a couple weeks with no change…

so, now I drink it as I please, or don't.

I also eat eggs.

not allowed on AIP.

 I was off eggs for 3 weeks, and when I reintroduced,

 I experienced no problems so, I am back to enjoying this protein.

The majority of my weight gain took place when my body was in balance.

it is NOT in balance RIGHT now.

There was an ingredient in one of the hormones that my body needs

(progesterone)

and it caused a pretty big reaction.

I had to stop taking it for 1 month.

I have lost NO real weight during this month.

I have remained stable.

My Doctor had to have a progesterone compounded without the use

of soy or peanuts..

As it is not a medicine one takes every day of the month,

I have to wait to take it.

Once I do, my body should return to balance shortly.

who KNOWS, my sleep may even return to normal!

you said you have to see a 

Neuro-opthamologist..

WHAT is that?

It's a complex doctor, who did this UBER cool thing

when in med school.

MERGED

 neurology and ophthalmology, 

so his or her days are often full of  complex systemic diseases

 that have manifestations in the visual system…

basically… I saw my eye doctor… and SHE said..

the visual issues I am having

are NOT because I am over 40..

My actual eyeballs

are beautiful…

and working wonderfully…

something ELSE is going on..

it could be Moriarty..

or brain fatigue from the GKS

or something else entirely..

the what… ?  is beyond her pay grade..

she thinks I need this other dr.

and Dr. Chandler.. agreed.

So… 

why do you want a new Neurologist?

I feel like I want someone who is on the same team.

Someone who won't always presume everything IS Moriarty..

He is after all, so arrogant, narcissistic, and just plain awful..

 I don't like when everyone presumes ALL my symptoms were Lyme Disease either..

sure they MIGHT be related..

we all live INSIDE me..

but it they might NOT be related.…

I also feel like not everything  I say

means I need another drug

or anti-depressant

(which I am not taking)

because..

I AM NOT depressed…

Maybe…

we need further testing.

MAYBE something ELSE is happening..

I am quite fabulous

quite the phenomenon after all..

they always say

when you hear hoofs 

think horses not zebras

unless you're in Africa

and zebras are part of the terrain..

well…

I think we've established

I am not the average terrain!

all that to say..

time for a change

fresh look at me

time to build the team.

How are you…

do you feel fabulous?

I feel… tired.. 

there are some big improvements..

but there are some big sucky things too..

I feel THANKFUL.

I am alive.

It wasn't cancer

It shrunk

I know my people

and my people know me.

We are facing a LOT right now.

IT is NOT an easy season..

MANY Of the people we THOUGHT

would have our backs

have totally bailed on us.

but people we never 

ever thought 

have been there for us.

We are trying to reconnect with 

THOSE relationships.

The seasons BEFORE Spring/Summer…

they are HARSH seasons..

First comes death..

everything beautiful comes falling down around you.

or so it seems..

then 

it all gets trampled and stamped into the ground.

then…

it happens again 

and again.

Then things that seemed …

stable..

like limbs on a tree..

come crashing down..

often breaking things..

Then the winter storms hit

and more crashing..

more breaking..

more trampling.. 

more packing down

it's cold

and harsh

and bitter..

and you get cabin fever

and people get snippy..

and even when the weather gets better..

there is mud

and muck

and rains

and storms

and tornados

and flooding

and it's all pretty awful

if

you want to look at it that way…

but there are the buds

and the green peeps that sprout

out of the ground

and the promise of new life

and hope

and THAT is what

I am aiming for

that 

HOPE that Christ extends to me

What trials are you facing?

are you remembering 

YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made?

It's easy 

to get overwhelmed by the storms of this life..

especially when it's hurricane after hurricane…

and people you thought would be there aren't

and souls you thought would stand with you 

have passed away

and the wind is bitter and cold

and you feel lost and alone

I know..

I often FEEL just this way..

but GOD is with me

and HE is a faithful God.

HE is a promise KEEPING GOD…

HE has NEVER left me,

NEVER bailed,

NEVER abandoned, 

NEVER forsook,

NEVER walked away,

NEVER been too busy,

NEVER died,

and WHEN Jesus did Die

ON a Cross…

HE did that for ME

and then 

set for me

the best example EVER

and OVERCAME Death

even death on a CROSS

and Rose AGAIN on the Third DAY

and lives 

yes Jesus LIVES

and He is seated…

(not running around stressed out..

but seated, because His job is finished)

seated next to the Father

the Father who never NEVER died

and God sent HIS Holy Spirit

to comfort me…

yes 

God has

always always always 

just been with me

giving me the most amazing things..

and HE has them for you too..

and more questions..

If I can..

I will answer them.

Blessings!