Taking Care

An unusual incident happened yesterday after church. A woman (member) fell down the back stairs.

The hubby and I have been members at this church for just over 6 years. D was a member there at that time, and I don’t know how long she had been a member there before we met her. She occasionally came to our “advanced” Bible Study that the hubby and I led. A few years ago, another member invited a few of us over for lunch one day, and D was among the guests. It was nice to get to know her better.

But a few years ago, she stopped attending, and I didn’t really follow up on the reasons. Not having a lot of energy or health, there were many things I just didn’t do. She told me yesterday she went through several hard things in her life, and she felt she needed to attend with her sister at the Pentecostal church for a time. She wandered away from God for a bit too, she said. But it was her son who invited her to come back to our church for Christmas Eve. She has been coming regularly ever since – and I, for one, have been happy to see her in our midst again.

Yesterday, after church, a bunch of us were standing around gabbing. The numbers thinned, and the hubby was working with the Choir Director on a few upcoming choir pieces. I didn’t know how long he would be, and I had basically spoken to everyone I wanted to. D had just headed down the hallway to the back door toward the parking lot. I decided I would sit in the lounge to wait for the hubby, so also walked down the hallway. I heard someone falling down the stairs, and wondered who it could be, but hurried to see if I could help. It was D.

My grandparents were members of the St. John’s Ambulance for a very long time, so when I was young, they taught me CPR, and made sure I had taken a couple of courses early in my life. There is a picture of me in the Stratford Beacon Herald from when I was 8, giving mouth-to-mouth to the training dummy. My grandparents had set up the session with my school. They volunteered regularly at the theatre and were well known for their work with the St. John’s Ambulance, and my relationship to them was mentioned in this article.

I think I’ve only taken one other course since then. But when I saw D on the floor at the bottom of the stairs, it all just seemed natural what I was to do. When we finally determined she was ready to sit up, I noticed she was bleeding. I found the spot and got it to stop. By this time, others came back to see what was going on, since I had told one person about it while I was running for paper towels. I asked another to phone 911, which he did and the EMS came very quickly.

While I was tending to D, she kept insisting (not very vigorously) that she was OK, and she would just drive home. I asked (although I was pretty sure of the answer) if she lived alone, and when she said yes, I said, you’ve hit your head. You might be fine now, but what happens if it gets more serious once your home and you can’t get help. I firmly but gently insisted she go to the hospital. Once there, she told me later, a nurse was very firm in telling her that if anything like this ever happened again, she MUST go to the hospital.

Once D got home from the hospital, she called to thank me for all I did for her. Particularly, she thanked me for insisting she go to the hospital and not drive home. I appreciated that. I didn’t need to hear it, but it’s nice to be appreciated. And it made me think about some things. Many people are so insistent for their “rights,” there is no telling them or doing for them what is best when their judgment may not be at its best. If I had let D have her way, she would have gone home and not had the two staples to close the wound. Everything turned out well, but it could have been very bad. She could have continued to bleed, or had a concussion and fallen into a coma. This is where her “rights” would have gotten her. But in “caring” for her, I could not let her take that chance. I had to impose my will on her for her own safety and well-being.

Our country leans pretty far into socialist territory – government paying for many things. However, I wish some things could be a little different. For instance, those who need psychiatric care do not always find such care. If they are admitted by someone else, like an attending physician, they can be kept indefinitely. However, if they admit themselves, they can leave at any time, whether they are well or not. Many get feeling better with medication, so they leave, and then stop the medication. And this is where the trouble begins. Politicians have wrestled with the balance between protecting these people from themselves and their flawed decisions, and tramping on their rights.

One of our former pastors shared with us some Canadian history. Apparently, in the early days, it was the church that started hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and prisons. It was the church as part of its ministry and caring for people that made sure people were well before releasing them from these institutions. There was a love factor in this, and a caring for those weaker members of society. At some point, the government took over these functions, and with the increased demands for individual rights, this loving, caring administration fell by the wayside. So now, whether sick or healthy, we all just fend for ourselves, and reap whatever consequences come our way.

D and I chatted about how we could see God’s hand in this event. Had I continued standing with the others, I would not have heard her fall. Even if I had been in the lounge, I probably would not have heard. The EMTs said the timing of our call was perfect. The station is just a few doors up the street, and they had just come back from another call. These things helped to keep D from making a bad decision and just getting into her car and driving home. And through this event, she said she felt very loved.

Until next time, take very good care of each other…

Self Esteem?

Today was not the day to call me “sir.”

I went to the mall and bought a card today, and as I approached the checkout counter, the young woman said, “hello, sir. I can serve you at the next cash register.” She walked around behind me to take her place behind the counter. I moved to the other register and asked her if she had called me “sir.” She answered that she had, and then I waited for her to recognize her mistake. I paid for the card and she said, “have a great day.” I couldn’t resist. I said, “well, it would go better if I weren’t called ‘sir’” and then I walked away. I turned back once to see her looking at me quizzically. I would have thought the purse and longish hair would have been a giveaway. I guess not.

I haven’t actually been called “sir” in quite a while, but that’s probably because I haven’t been in public much for the past several years. I’ve grown my hair longer than I used to have it, and yet it seems to make no difference to some people. I have even been mistaken for a man while wearing a skirt. With that one, I looked down at my skirt, looked back at the woman, and I asked, “seriously?” She didn’t blink an eye but said, “can I help you, ma’am?” Most people realize their mistake right away and apologize. They just weren’t paying attention when they greeted me, and out of the corner of their eye, my height made them assume I was a man. Those mistakes are OK, although they still irk me somewhat. But today’s young woman just didn’t have a clue.

I have often pondered and questioned others as to what makes people mistake me for a man. I have gotten no definitive answers. Yes, I am tall – actually, I’m slightly taller than the average North American man. Yes, my “curves” are subtle – well, pretty much non-existent. Can I help that? Even when I weight 200 lbs, I didn’t have much in the way of curves. I just became a thicker stick. There have been times I was wearing a fuchsia jacket, and someone still mistook me for a man! Wow! REALLY not paying attention.

Today, even before I went to the store, I was feeling down. The weather didn’t help. I’ve been thinking about some stuff, and second guessing some of my decisions. Some things in my life are hanging, stuck in neutral, and I don’t have any clear direction as to how to proceed. And then I think about some of the things I have done and wonder if that is why I am in the neutral position now. So my “self” esteem was low. And then someone thinks I’m a man. Bottomed out.

Thankfully, it doesn’t matter what I think of myself. For a long time, I have not really been concerned about what others think of me. This started way back in public school. Families gossipped about my family, and the kids relayed it all back to me in taunting form. They said things about my character and how I would turn out in life based on the actions of my mother, and the gossip exaggeration of my mother’s actions. Well, I knew who I was, and that I was not my mother, and I was equally as disturbed by what she had done – in fact, they had no idea of the majority of what she had done. So, I learned early that they had no clue, so it didn’t matter a whit what they thought of me or said about me. I knew who I was, and how I had been taught, and what I didn’t want to become.

What truly matters in my life is what God thinks of me. He has told me I am a sinner, and I deserve to be punished for my sin – of thought, word, and deed; what I have done, and what I have left undone. I deserve death for my sin because He cannot tolerate it. AND, He has told me that I am precious to Him. I am the apple of His eye. I am carved in the palms of His hands. He sent His own perfect, sinless Son to die for me so He and I could spend eternity together. He’s building me a house there, and it will be my forever home.

While I’m here on earth, with sin around me and through me, life will be a struggle. I will second-guess my decisions. I will do the wrong thing. I will hurt people. I will feel bad about myself, and sometimes, people will mistake me for a man. But none of that matters in the long run. It only matters that God loves me more than anyone else will ever love me, and has provided a way out of my mistakes.

Until next time, remember what God really thinks of you…

Health, Pets, and Serving

It’s coming up to eight weeks since the birds left our house. And I must say, I am thrilled with the improvement to my health. My energy levels have been so much better, even though I now need to rebuild muscle that has wasted during my inactive 18 or so months. But, even at that, I can work at something, be tired, and the next morning, have recovered my energy levels. It is wonderful!

I was having breathing problems and constant sinus problems too. Both of those are gone. I had a cold just after Christmas that lasted quite a while, but now that it is gone, the sinuses are in great shape again. I’ve been testing my breathing each Sunday with my singing at church. Yesterday was the best my voice and breathing have been in a very long time. Yipee! I had planned to rejoin choir early in February, and I think that’s a reasonable target. I’d like to be able to sing for Easter – my favourite Christian celebration.

My target health now is for the LWMLC convention in Kelowna, BC in early July. The drive will be just over 4,000 kms (just over 2,500 mi), and considering we will be going through the mountains, drive time will likely be 6 days. That’s going to be tough, I think. However, if I am in much better physical condition, I think I can do it. We will be driving to Florida in early March – two days each way – so that will be a good indication of how far I have to go. I intend to start walking in my neighbourhood again as a means to building up some muscle. In cleaning up my office the other day, I found some light weights, so once I’ve established a good walking routine, I will start using those weights for better upper body strength too. I don’t want to overdo things, but I REALLY want to go to this convention!

One thing the improved health has meant is a greater ability to serve again. For so long, I have just done a bare minimum. Basically, I was writing for the Tapestry quarterly magazine, and praying. Last week, I finally was able to attend the women’s meeting for the first time since September, 2010. I was so happy! Our new pastor is urging us to be praying people. So, I asked him if he would treat me as his personal prayer assistant. I had done that with our vicar, even after he became a pastor. Our pastor gave me an enthusiastic “yes!” which pleased me. I also contacted the vicar turned pastor (PK) and he was happy also to have me restart my prayer visits with him. Yay! I am so happy to be able to serve again in these ways. I also want to attend the Tuesday morning Bible Studies. And there is certainly more I could be doing for the LWMLC committee on which I serve. I have not liked going back on my “promises” to serve in specific ways. And now, God has given me good enough health again to be able to pick up some of those tasks. He knows my heart and how much it has pained me to not serve.

The woman who took the birds has only talked to me once since the end of November. I have spoken to her sister in mid-December and she gave me an update on how the birds were doing. I would like to be able to visit them once, at least, but not sure if bird woman only said I could to be polite. I have mourned their loss from my life, so if I don’t get to visit, that’s OK too. That giving them away has so dramatically improved my health has helped assuage my grief at losing them. I’m not sure if Cookie misses them or not. I don’t really think so. He used to leave my office when Jazzy would scream, and now he will lie on the floor for long hours, purring loudly. This tells me maybe he doesn’t miss them. I’ve changed the furniture in my office, which I think has bothered him more than the birds leaving. Oh well. I have given him lots of attention in the hopes he wouldn’t miss them too much.

I am slowing reoganizing my life, sorting through old stacks of “stuff” all around the house, but mostly in my office. I’m working on some mental and emotional clutter too – that will take longer, I think. But being able to return to at least one more normal activity in my life – serving His Kingdom – has done much to help my disposition, returning me to a better level of thankfulness, for one thing.

Until next time, serve the Lord with gladness…

Loving Families

There are two families in our church who, I think, are loving above and beyond the average. Actually, they love like some people in my early life have loved me.

There is a couple, J & M, I have gotten to know pretty well. J’s bday is the day after mine, with me being 11 years older. AND, J & M’s anniversary is also on May 4, and they were married 11 years after we were. So, there was an immediate connection when we discovered this. For J, this is her first marriage, and M’s second and he has a son, JJ, from his first marriage. As a substitute teen Bible class teacher, I had several occasions to teach JJ. At that time, he was a troubled but bright kid. He acted up somewhat, but whenever I taught, I tried to provide an atmosphere where he felt safe and didn’t need to act out.

JJ had been living with his mother who had her own issues, and wasn’t really watching her 14-year-old. So, J & M took him to live with them, which was the best thing they could have done. His grades and behaviour improved under their loving and disciplined care. In the past 4 years, he has turned into quite a responsible and nice young man with career aspirations and a dedication to hard work. But their love did not end there. After all, this was still M’s son. JJ had a friend MM. MM had a very bad family situation, and was on the verge of getting into some serious trouble. J & M felt all he needed was a stable home, to know he was loved, and that he was worth something. After 6 short months, his grades improved dramatically, and he was no longer running with the same crowd that almost got him into trouble. M told me their greatest joy was to hear JJ and MM in the rec room laughing and joking with one another. Just before Christmas, MM won a scholastic award at school for Math!

There is a young man who sits in front of me in church. He and his wife used to come with their two young children. Then after a while, only the young man came with the children. He loves those children, and they are very well behaved. He makes sure during the course of the worship service that he holds one or the other on his lap and he hugs them tightly. It’s really nice to see. There is no competition between them because they each know they will get their turn.

Around Christmas time, I asked about his wife as I hadn’t seen her for a while. He said they were separated, and said she had a “medical situation” and added something like “and the children are safe now.” Hmm. Wow! I found that to express true love for his children; that the most important thing to him was that they were protected. Wonderful! And very courageous. And even with all this upheaval in their lives, the children are still well-behaved.

My mother left when I was 6, which was a good thing. We were not safe with her around. And dad stayed with us to raise us. It wasn’t long before he enlisted the help of his uncle and aunt, and they moved into the house with us to take care of us. Our great-aunt was an extremely loving woman, and after a while, we started to call her “mom” because, even though she was not a blood relative, she cared much more about us than our own mother.

The influence of these loving people in my life showed me the true nature of love. And I hope over the years, I have reflected that love to others. It just seemed to me to be a natural way to live. But the harshness of this world has “beaten it out of me” to a degree. I still love people the way I always have. But I’ve come up against such selfish and unloving people in my life, especially lately. These people have used my kindness for their own gain without thought of learning from my expressed love and reflecting it to others. It has worn me out. However, God is good. He knew I needed encouragement, and showed me these two loving families in my own church family. It moved me strongly to find out these things about these people. It reminded me too, that not everyone is selfish. Yes, my early situation was unique. And yet, it was a rich and fertile ground to grow the kind of loving behaviour that reflects the love of Jesus.

Until next time, love the way Christ loved…

Weird Winter

I think it was January 12 the first time this winter I actually had to wear my boots. This is unprecedented! We have had the occasional day of snow but for the most part, it has been much warmer than usual. Two days ago, it was 9 C, however, today it is -3 and we’re getting a bit of a snowstorm. There’s about an inch of snow on the driveway by mid-afternoon, and it looks like there is more to come. Last week, we got heavy rain. Weird.

By this time in a typical winter, we would have had quite a bit of snow, starting any time after mid-November. At this time of year, we have our “January thaw” – that warm spell that gives us hope in the middle of seemingly unending -25/-30 temperatures. Not this year. It has been very different, although I am certainly not complaining about the warmer temperatures.

And it has been unusual in other parts of Canada too. Right now in the Prairies, they are getting bitterly cold weather – temperatures in the -35 to -55 range! An Arctic air mass has moved down to freeze this region. What we are told, however, is that it won’t last long before the temperatures are more reasonable again. Vancouver and Vancouver Island rarely get much snow. But apparently, they have received about as much snow as we have here. Strange.

I’m sure at present, those who live in Saskatchewan are not convinced the world is undergoing global warming. And given the change in weather all over the world, I think most informed people now understand it to be “climate change” rather than “global warming.” Some areas of the world are getting snow where they didn’t for many years – Britain comes to mind. Even at that, however, there is evidence this is just another go-round through a cycle that has happened before. Although Britain hasn’t had snow for a long time, apparently in the 1500s or so, it was quite usual to see snow.

It came to my attention shortly after we moved into this house almost 10 years ago that the typical Canadian winter can be brutal for new arrivals. Our neighbours moved right in the middle of January – and a particularly cold one at that. I asked how they survived, and she said it was very tough that first year. But they were glad, in hindsight, to have come at that time because it has not been so bitterly cold since, and they feel they can handle anything now that they’ve seen the worst.

A young Moroccan man I used to talk to told me of some of his friends who came to Canada in the summer and thought it was wonderful. One had moved to Edmonton, as he eventually did, and another to Calgary. A third moved to somewhere in British Columbia (BC). The one in Calgary got lost in a snowstorm his first winter and, not realizing the grave risk, died in that snowstorm. The one who moved to BC died in an avalanche. How sad! They came to Canada for a better life and yet somewhere along the way, no one told them the risk the cold presented. Or, if someone told them, they didn’t take it seriously. My friend still wanted to come to Canada, but he was well aware of the dangers of the cold. And he has done well.

I would like eventually to move to a warmer year-round climate. My joints don’t appreciate this cold weather any more. I know there are risks in those climates too. I would not be at all impressed with very large spiders, and scorpions or the like don’t really thrill me either! We’ll see. For now, visiting my dad and step-mom while they winter in Florida seems like a good idea. Just 6 more weeks.

Until next time, take care of one another…

Birdie Saga

On the last day of November, my pet cockatiels, Jazzy and Ella, went to their new home.

September, 2010, my health started to deteriorate. I was tired all the time, and I had many colds through the winter. I gave up choir last November because I didn’t have the breath any more, and I was too tired to go out in the evenings. I also gave up the LWML group meetings because of tiredness. At some point, I was unable to do the grocery shopping by myself because carrying the bags in from the car taxed my energy for a couple of days. I’d shop on the weekend so the hubby could carry the bags. I stopped my usual habit of a daily walk, again because it wore me out. I didn’t garden in 2010 or 2011 from lack of energy. By early this year, I was pretty much housebound, and just happy to make it to church regularly.

In February, I started going to another naturopath to see why I was so tired. He worked with my regular naturopath to help us figure out what was going on. He said I had a pretty heavy intestinal infection (that would explain the pain) and a fungal infection in my sinuses. I started on some supplements and immune boosters, changed my diet, and finally the infections cleared up. My energy levels never did recover the way he thought they should, and wondered if there was something else “weighing me down.”

Then in August of this year, I caught a cold that just didn’t seem to go away. It wasn’t very severe, but just kept nagging me. In discussing it with my regular naturopath she suggested I increase the immune boosters to help the body fight it off. It was later that day in bending down to tie my shoes that I felt the familiar sinus infection pain. In increasing the immune boosters, the infection went away, but the congestion and sneezing, etc., never did go away. I wondered one day if it could be an allergy to the birds. I looked it up on the internet and realized all my symptoms fit what is called “breeders lung.” I was in shock! I would have to get rid of the birds!

I had been feeling a bit overwhelmed for a while with the birds. I was always so tired, and cockatiels need outside entertainment, unlike other parrots who can entertain themselves. And, although I wasn’t neglecting them, I had not been paying them as much attention as when I got Jazzy. A year ago, Jazzy turned two and started screaming, as I have mentioned in other posts. Given my overly sensitive “music-industry” ears, his screams pierced through any attempts to ignore it, or get used to it. And when they got less than optimal attention, the screaming was more frequent. It just all made me sad and, even before I knew of the allergy, I wondered if I should, for their sakes, consider giving them up.

I phoned H from the pet store, knowing either she or K, the assistant manager, would know someone who could take the birds, and who would care for Ella in particular, given her health situation that had not completely resolved. H asked her sister and she said she was willing to look at them. The sisters came over that evening. H took Jazzy and he started blowing her kisses. He has always recognized her, even when we just mention her name. He only has “kisses” for her – other sounds for other people at the pet store, but only one particular sound for H. I held Ella for a bit, and then passed her to H sister. I liked how the birds reacted to her, and how she reacted to the birds. They stayed quite a while, and then the H sister said she would take them. We agreed to a price for the cage, playcentre and toys, a date to come and pick them up, and then they left.

And I cried for the week until they returned. It had all come about so quickly, it was shocking. Even though they (mostly Jazzy) had annoyed me with the screaming regularly, I just loved the little things and was heartbroken to let them go. I knew it was for the best for my health, and in my current condition, was not providing the ideal home for them.

The day the birds left, I held it together while the sisters were at our house, but after they left, I lost it again. I posted on Facebook that my birds had gone to their new home. I friended H sister and she has posted pictures and updated me. H sister had 5 other birds before taking my two, and several cats, one of which she renamed Cookie, because I told her Jazzy would call all her cats Cookie anyway.

Most people understood how for the sake of my health, I felt it necessary to give the birds away. But the tone I got from one of my friends, N, was a bit accusatory. She has been allergic to cats for the almost 30 years I have known her, and she still has cats. Her thought was – and I know others who hold the same view – once you get a pet, you’re morally responsible for keeping them, no matter what, until they die. To a point, I understand her reasoning. A pet is not just a designer lifestyle choice that you can change because it no longer suits you. But this was a matter of health. I just want to do the usual things of life again. Is it too much to ask to be able to go for a walk again, or even, dare I hope, to rejoin the choir? I reminded her that she was healthy in the first place – I am not. A “simple allergy” has a greater impact for me because of my compromised immune system.

Jazzy and Ella are bonding with their new flock – people and pets. The one bird H sister already had has bonded with both of them. Jazzy has bonded with H sister’s roommate, and Ella is bonding with H sister. I’m very happy to hear that. Even without people in the house, they have plenty of birds to entertain them and keep them happy. And, I am starting to notice a difference in my allergy symptoms. The “smoker’s cough” I was developing is starting to subside. The itchy numbness around my nose and mouth is diminishing. The nasal congestion is improving, although I still sneeze and blow my nose a lot. I think the eyes are going to take a while to clear. However, it’s progress, and I’m glad for it.

I miss the little things a lot. I miss the “hello’s” I heard so frequently through the day, or the "I'll be right back" when I got out of my chair. I miss playing with them and the routine of having them sit on me and preen first thing in the morning. I miss feeding them people food off my plate. I miss the singing and whistling, and the wing exercises. I miss Jazzy chattering away to my feet. I miss their unique personalities. I don’t know if Cookie misses them yet or not. He’s enjoying the extra attention I’m giving him, but every so often he’s somewhat grumpy too – so I’m sure he misses them somewhat. But, for me, especially after the heavy wheezing attack I had while dusting the day after they left, I know I did the best thing for them, and for me. I will get over my mourning, and it is made easier knowing they have an excellent home.

Until next time, enjoy your pets…

Migraines!

I hate migraines! Before migraines became part of my life in my mid-twenties, I rarely had even headaches. I suffered a severe sunstroke when I was eight and after that for about 10 years, whenever I stayed in the sun too much, I would get a headache. As long as I wore a hat, I very rarely had headaches.

And then I got married and my true headache experience began! Teehee. It seems my system was leading up to having migraines anyway, but going on the pill tipped it over the edge. Going off the pill did not stop the migraines. In those days, there were times I had to go to the emergency room to get a shot of something to stop the vomiting. Thankfully, that doesn’t happen any more. But I still have nausea with a migraine and sometimes, I still throw up.

I’ve changed what I do when I get a migraine. I have recognized that it’s like my digestive system just shuts off when the pain comes, so I just don’t eat. If there is nothing in there, there’s nothing to throw back. Sometimes, the nausea is so extreme, I can’t even drink tea. However, usually, I drink lots of green tea until I feel like eating, and then eat as much as I dare until the head pain passes. My digestion is usually delicate for at least one day after that, and sometimes up to a week later. There are certain foods that seem to be hard for me to digest on a good day, so I avoid them until the digestion is completely happy again. It keeps me from regaining the weight I lost a couple of years ago with the parasite infection, but at least I don’t throw up. I hate that almost as much as migraines.

There are times when I awaken in an exhausted state. This means there will be a doozy of a migraine coming within an hour or so. Usually, I just sleep for hours until I’m able to stay awake. There is then no thought of food or drink during those times. These migraines, although not always, are often when I have eaten corn in some form and not known about it. I have had corn migraines that have lasted 10 days, but not sleeping the entire time. I’m usually begging the Lord to take me from this earth by the 5th or 7th day – selfish crybaby that I am.

Over the past four months, I have had a higher number of migraines than usual. I’ve become quite the detective with my health over the years. It has been necessary to determine what causes pain and migraines. It gets frustrating when it takes some time to figure out a health issue, including migraines. In February, I started going to a second naturopath to help with the extremely low energy. He changed many of my supplements, and they seemed to work for a time. But the migraines that started 4 months ago were caused by some of the herbs in first one supplement, and then a second. I stopped taking them, and replaced one but haven’t replaced the second. I’m not sure how that will affect my long-term health.

Most recently, I have discovered there are a number of organic meats that are causing migraines. About 7 years ago, I did extensive research to find a supplier of organic meat that didn’t cause reactions. One would think just eating organic meat would be enough, but no – I’m weird that way. At first, I thought it was corn-fed meat causing the problem, but that is not the case. The clue was that I could eat out – chicken or beef – at a restaurant with no ill-effects. Non-organically raised chicken is most definitely corn-fed because it’s the cheapest feed. Instead, I discovered it is soy-fed meat that causes trouble, as well as grass-fed beef.

So, the meat market where I bought all my meat is now a problem. They’ve switched their beef source to grass-fed, even though the owner promised me they wouldn’t. Now the only meat I can buy there is lamb because this lamb producer feeds them peas instead. I’m glad! I eat a LOT of meat! Vegetables, and legumes can cause me problems, but I can almost always eat meat. Especially when I’m “rebuilding” after a migraine, I will eat meat for lunch and dinner. I eat a lot of nuts too, but usually reserve that for breakfast with fruit.

Now I have to research and test all over again to find another “safe” source of a variety of meat. This means the migraines will likely continue for a while as I test new sources. I have been eating non-organic meat for about two weeks, and at first didn’t notice any difference. However, I’ve started just feeling a bit “unwell” and I have a constant pain in my lower abdomen for the past few days. Don’t know if it’s caused by this meat, but think it will only complicate matters to continue over the long haul. It would be nice because it is cheaper and easily available, and it doesn’t cause migraines!

Until next time, wait patiently upon the Lord…