You're putting a needle.. WHERE?!

Whew.

Folks, it's been a strange week. 

A week of constant doctors.

On Monday, the 19th, I had an appointment with my neurologist up in Sioux Falls. 

We talked about how I've been feeling, about what meds were working and what ones weren't, ya know- the norm. She then told me that she wanted to try a new treatment. Injections. And she wanted it started ASAP.

Okay, so when she said 'injections' I didn't think much of it because hey, we've tried some pretty 'out there' treatment so far.

Friends. When my sweet, little neurologist said that this wasn't a big deal I believed her.

Plot twist: it's a big deal. A REALLY BIG STINKIN' DEAL.

On Tuesday while I was at work, I was on the phone constantly with nurses trying to make this appointment for a day I DIDN'T work this week. Let's just say that was next to impossible.

The ONLY time I was able to do it was at 8:00 AM on Wednesday morning. So, I had to take a day off work. Bleh.

So, Wednesday morning, I walked into the hospital still pretty unsure of what was going to go on. By 8:15 I was talking to the woman I like to call, The Magical Needle Lady. She's pretty neat. Real experienced. Super smart.

Here's kind of the run down of what she was going to do.

In the back of people's heads, theres a fancy little thing called the occipital nerve.

Mine has issues. 

Their plan was to put 2 different kinds of steroids into that nerve to, in a way, 'freeze' the nerve so it would stop acting up and causing my such horrific migraines. 

Here's a little visual of where this is-

See that black dot on the back of the head, where the finger is pointing to?? That's where the needle goes in. 

OKAY. So, pretty chill, right? Wrong. 

Right was I was getting ready to lay down for the procedure, she added a little bit more information. Basically, if the needle slipped just the tiniest bit, or if the needle went in just a LITTLE too far, it would hit this big nerve BEHIND the occipital nerve. And if that needle full of steroids even NICKED that super important nerve, my ability to breathe on my own would stop completely and they would have to give me a breathing tube and fly me to Sioux Falls immediately. She said I wouldn't be able to breathe on my own for at least 3 days.

SO, with that, they laid me down on the bed. This was either going to go great, or I was going to wake up in Sioux Falls with a breathing tube. 

If anyone knows the kind of luck I have, you probably know I was planning on the worse of the two happening. 

But, SURPRISE! I'm alive and I am breathing. 

Let me tell you, that sure was a painful procedure, though. Holy buckets.

The rest of the day, I slept and iced the back of my head.

I got a visit from two of my favorite ladies yesterday, plus some pretty flowers. Definitely lifted my spirits. 

So, other than feeling like I got hit in the back of the head with a baseball bat, I'm doing pretty well.

I met with my family doctor again super early this morning to talk about the stomach issues I've been having. We tried going gluten free for a while thinking that was the issue, but we were wrong. Basically, I just can't eat anything without getting super sick. He is referring me to a GI doctor, and hopefully we can figure out what's going on there, too. 

It's just one thing after another, it seems.

As my neurologist keeps saying, 'You have too much going on for an 18 year old. This is not okay.'

Amen, Dr. Jaisani. Amen.

But, I am alive. I am happy. I have an incredible family. I have a sweet, caring boyfriend. I have a never ending support system of friends. My body is just failing me. And that's okay. 

Continually thanking the Lord for His never ending faithfulness to me. He is so great.

xoxo, 

gp

The Sister I Didn't Know I Needed

If you've talked to me in the passed 9 months, you've more than likely heard me refer to 'my sister, Lexi'.
I'm here now to explain what I mean when I say that.

Late August 2013, at the annual Lifelight music festival, a girl named Lexi had showed up at my camper with a few of her friends. We had quite a few mutual friends and she had just gone threw a TEC weekend a few weeks beforehand. Some how over the weekend, we bonded. We just clicked. That was the weekend the Lord gave me something that I didn't know I needed.

We almost immediately started referring to each other as sisters- it just felt right.

Here's the thing about Lexi;
She's funny. Not the 'I'm trying really hard to make you laugh' funny, but just naturally funny.

She's kind & she speaks truth. She sees hurting people and wants to help them, it's instinct; but she's willing to call out who needs to be called out.

She's smart. Pretty sure she has more common sense than most adults.

She's beautiful. She doesn't even have to try, she just is- in her simple little way.

She has a soft heart. She feels so deeply. (sometimes too deeply, lol). But most importantly, she feel's for other people and that's something I admire about her.

I guess what I'm trying to say, is that God gave me something I didn't know I needed- a little sister. Someone to constantly make me watch what I do, watch what I say, because I know she's there looking up to me. She calls me out when I'm out of line and we cry and have pity parties together when we don't feel well. It's great, really.

AND GUESS WHAT TODAY IS.
Today is Lexi's 16th birthday.

Lexi, if you're reading this, I am so proud of you and all that you've accomplished this past year. I've seen you blossom into the most beautiful young woman of God and I can't wait to watch you grow more and more. Thank you for being the sister I didn't know I needed. Happy birthday. I love you.

xoxo,
gp