Non-linear
Tuesday January 20th 2009, 4:37 pm
Filed under: Crohn's flare

I managed to eat more last night and this morning, but I’ve been paying for it with lots of bleeding, whereas the bleeding had gone way down. After the 10th time since midnight, I thought, okay, self. All these people are praying for you: tap into that.  And so I asked for your prayers to be working to help my bleeding to at least go way down.

And then it did. So far so good now.  And I’m actually sitting up typing–this was unthinkable earlier, because I’ve been extremely weak today.

The doctor just put me on potassium pills because mine was so low. (Guess which rebellious soul drank zero gatorade yesterday and then got her blood tested in the afternoon?)

I totally missed the Inauguration. Can’t wait for next week’s Newsweek, and when I’m up to it I will look up videos online.  The important thing is, it happened.

And as always, I am very much in your debt for your comments and caring.  Thank you.


39 Comments so far
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Hi Alison,
It’s good to “hear” your voice. I’m glad you feel all the prayers and good thoughts. Before you know it, we’ll be subjected to some of your famous pun and you’ll hear us groaning at them. As for the Inauguration, it was a beautiful thing. Lucky for us we live in the digital age, you can see it over and over again. Get well. Go away blood!
Robin of Yorktown Heights, NY

Comment by Robin 01.20.09 @ 4:48 pm

Hi Alison,
It’s good to “hear” your voice. I’m glad you feel all the prayers and good thoughts. Before you know it, we’ll be subjected to some of your famous puns and you’ll hear us groaning at them. As for the Inauguration, it was a beautiful thing. Lucky for us we live in the digital age, you can see it over and over again. Get well. Go away blood!
Robin of Yorktown Heights, NY

Comment by Robin 01.20.09 @ 4:49 pm

Not another word about debt. You pray for all of us all the time — I just wish I could do more.

Comment by Kristine 01.20.09 @ 4:50 pm

Maybe your lesson in all this (I am big on lessons from things btw) is that you have to be open to letting all those prayers come in – like you did today – maybe you need to feel that you are important enough and loved by us all to have all of us praying and asking for blessings for you. I’m not saying this as a dig or anything but as a person who fights every day to feel I am good enough to (fill in the blank) so maybe you are feeling something like that.

Anyway still having those conversations with God throughout the day and just wish I were nearer to do something or at least have a hug for you..

on the Inauguration – maybe someone taped it – we were at hubbies uncles funeral and I set the DVR up so I can look at it later … I’m sure if someone did they would be more than willing to send it to you so you can see the whole thing.

Hang in there –

sometimes it isn’t day by day or hour by hour or minute by minute but second by second to get thru things — hang onto each second, then minute then hour then day as things get better k?

Comment by rho1640 01.20.09 @ 4:51 pm

Well, of course, my dear. Tap into the strength coming your way. Let us carry the load for awhile. Ask Richard to read you the poem by Elizabeth Alexander presented at the inauguration. It’s amazing. I just googled “Praise Song for the Day” and found it on several sites. I’m still sitting here knitting and praying, waiting for you to pop up with that new design that I absolutely know is floating around in your head.

Comment by Linda W 01.20.09 @ 5:02 pm

Well it is nice to “hear” you. I am still sending thoughts and prayers your way. I have been under the weather and away from the computer so reading the back posts got me worried hon, so I am glad to see you are a little better.

And drink the gatorade!! I know it is not the best tasting stuff. If you can make it cold or slushy the taste is better. Especially the red one. It saves me when I need to drink it. and how come they can not make one taste like dark chocolate?

=)

Comment by Qutecowgirl 01.20.09 @ 5:08 pm

I am prescribing the BRAT diet for you. (Bananas/mashed at first; Rice/baby cereal at first; Applesauce; Toast).
Please please be gentle and caring with yourself just as you would with your own children.
Don’t overdo it, in fact, don’t do anything but sleep, and eat small bites, and have that gatorade.
Laurel’s Kitchen Caring is a great book for you and for your caregivers to have and read. Nice recipes and a lot of love in that book.

I loved Elizabeth Alexander’s poem, too, and maybe someone can find you the piece that Yo Yo Ma, Itzak Perlman, and two others (whose names you will know, I am sure) played.

Please accept our love and caring, receive the many hugs. Prayers continue.

Amaryllis “Minerva” is getting ready for her second blooming. 🙂

Comment by karin 01.20.09 @ 5:20 pm

Tap away! Prayers won’t stop coming in even when you can sit for longer periods of time, at least as far as I’m concerned. Don’t be so rebellious, except in the face of discouragement. *wink*

Comment by Suzanne 01.20.09 @ 5:40 pm

Several times a day, Alison, I pray to God and I ask him to give you some relief.

Now, rebellious soul, drink that Gatorade!!! It takes energy to be rebellious but that does mean you still have that spunk!

Comment by Joansie 01.20.09 @ 5:45 pm

I hope you feel better soon! I haven’t been commenting, but I’ve been thinking about you and wishing you well.

Inauguration was wonderful! I love computers; you can see it all when you feel better!

Comment by Alison 01.20.09 @ 6:21 pm

I finished your socks today. I made a point work on them during the Inauguration so you could be a part of it. I’ll mail them as soon as they dry. All the best!

Comment by Michelle 01.20.09 @ 6:59 pm

Well sweetheart, it’s good to hear from you! I thought of you all day – we wore red white and blue at school and I wore your blue shawl that you made me. So I sat there in the principals office (long story involving a hijacking attempt by a previous principal 🙂 with a woman that was bi-racial, three that are African American and me – the Jewish white girl. (They are all various Christian based religions.) We all cheered and generally had a good time. My point, and I do have one!, is that your shawl had a very good time sitting in a mixed company watching a president for all of us. I did feel old – one of the secretaries asked how the speech went as she had to answer a phone during that time. I told her it was good, no “ask not what your country can do for you” but good. She had no idea what I was talking about. The previous principal (now supervisor) about choked because, she was the only other one in the room that had seen JFK alive!

That’s your bedtime story for the night. Go to bed now and sleep well…

Afton

Comment by afton 01.20.09 @ 7:06 pm

We are in your debt, for all you have given us and for the courage and kindness you continue to give us. Just keep tapping in to the prayers and caring and love that surrounds you.

Comment by Sherry in Idaho 01.20.09 @ 7:24 pm

God is good, and He provides all that we might need. Sometimes, we even get a glimpse of His presence as the gift is given.

I give thanks for you Alison, and pray that God will continue to hold you close and heal you.

Comment by Barbara-Kay 01.20.09 @ 8:18 pm

You almost sound like your old self…Yippeeeeee!
Tap into the wonderousness of all that care about you Alison! We love you Dear Heart.
I was so relieved to know that you had the strength and want to be able to write a bit on your blog.
Steady and Stronger…Progress not Perfection..
Blessings Sweet Friend!

Comment by Sheila E 01.20.09 @ 8:46 pm

<3, <3, and more <3. Of course you should tap into the prayers. It’s what they’re there for! Silly girl…

Comment by Amy 01.20.09 @ 9:07 pm

I agree with all above. Tap into our prayers! Put them where you need them! As for diet, I would recommend gentle, soothing things. Like soft scrambled eggs, custard, puddings, jello, smooth soups, etc. Making myself hungry! :o)

Our reverse mortgage funded today. I’ve been busy paying off bills and shredding credit cards. Nevermore!!! It’s been a good day and hearing from you is such a nice finish. Think I’ll go make some custard to celebrate.

Still praying and kniting.

Love & hugs,
Gretchen

Comment by Gretchen 01.20.09 @ 9:11 pm

I’m so glad to hear your “voice”, and that you’re able to sit up and type. Be open to those healing prayers because you’re getting a lot of them.
Let Richard and your mom take care of you, and focus on resting and healing.
In His love,
Lisa H.

Comment by Lisa H. 01.20.09 @ 9:49 pm

Lots of love and warm wishes to you. I’m so happy to hear you’re sitting up! And it’s your rebellious nature that keeps you fighting and makes you who you are. 🙂 I think you’re pretty awesome. Keep up the healing! xoxoxoxoxoxo!

Comment by Romi 01.20.09 @ 11:24 pm

Yeah! Hooray! Every little bit of progress is good. Sending up prayers is the least I can do, and would gladly do more if I could, and I know there are many others who would echo this.

Do what you would tell your kids to do if they were in your place. Rest, relax, recover. Everything else will wait.

Feel better soon.

Comment by Shelly H 01.20.09 @ 11:48 pm

Hey Alison,
Curious is what is on your “edible” list besides Gatorade? I understand from Richard it is quite limited. Bananas? Toast?
Prayers no matter what it is,
– Krys

Comment by krys 01.21.09 @ 12:00 am

I sent you a BBC link so you can see your relatives, but not sure you’re checking email so I’ll post it here. Scan to the 25 minute mark for your aunt. You can zip around so you don’t have to watch the entire 2 hours. Also can stop and resume.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00h45rz/President_Obama_The_Inauguration/

I agree with so many of the comments, it makes me wonder if “ditto” can be considered a prayer ; )

Comment by LynnM 01.21.09 @ 12:18 am

Aloha Alison,
I heard from the Knitmoregirls that you’re not feeling well. I’m so sorry to hear that. I am putting you on my list of people to send positive thoughts to (why is this list so long right now?). Make sure those Stanford folks take good care of you!
Hugs,
Teri (aka teralina/tink)

Comment by Teri 01.21.09 @ 1:28 am

I’m just glad to see you post knowing that means you must be some better today. 🙂 Thank the Lord!

Comment by Toni Smoky-Mountains 01.21.09 @ 5:49 am

Sitting up is wonderful! Typing is wonderful! Rebellion and a sense of humor are wonderful! YEAH!
(of course you should lean on us – that’s why we’re here..to support one another!)

Comment by Debra 01.21.09 @ 6:32 am

Dear girl, sounds like we need more pinpoint prayers to stop the Crohn’s reaction when you eat a little. So glad you reached out for the power of the prayers lifted in your behalf. I find myself running here to the computer all day checking to see if there is a post from you – then take a minute to remember you in prayer. Keep fighting, your spirit is stronger than this disease! You are special to so, so many of us.

Comment by Rena 01.21.09 @ 6:39 am

We’ll keep sending those healing
thoughts – you keep tapping into
them!!

Comment by Sue H 01.21.09 @ 6:55 am

As much as the Inauguration was important, (and to this Canadian,, it was, and I was glad to be able to watch it), what’s really important is that you are upright and getting better.
Cheers.

Comment by Sandra 01.21.09 @ 8:23 am

Drink. The. Kool… I mean, Gatorade. Glad you ate, sucks about the consequences, glad it toned down. Thinking of you.

Comment by Lene 01.21.09 @ 8:32 am

Upright is wonderful! Yesterday’s events were wonderful to watch, but they’ve been preserved many different places, so that too will wait… You just keep getting better. (Linear would be idea, regardless of what the doctor said.)

Comment by Channon 01.21.09 @ 8:40 am

So so happy to hear that you are up, and feeling a little bit better. You know how you feed babies/toddlers, “take a bite for daddy/grandma/mommy” Take a drink for each of us that are sending you our strength and love.

Comment by sonya 01.21.09 @ 8:55 am

Just think of our prayers as a way of “Alisoning” you when burying you in lace scarves and shawls doesn’t seem practical. 🙂

Glad you’re improving, and remember – bananas have potassium too! Glad you’re improving, even by drips and drops. Or bits and bytes.

Comment by Margo Lynn 01.21.09 @ 9:11 am

My prayers are with you every day.

/hugs
Angie

Comment by Angie A. 01.21.09 @ 9:55 am

Alison, I read your post last night and have been thinking about it. I don’t think, in reference to one of the comments, that it’s a matter of thinking about deserving or not deserving that intervention; I think we get in a spot where we can’t think much beyond just hanging on, and we become unwittingly shuttered. It is not that prayers “change” the mind of God, it is that prayer has the opportunity to connect with the power that He is the biggest part of, and enlarge the blessing. He loves His children and will bless them in any way possible. He sees things we cannot, and sometimes that means that the answers are not what we are looking for, but he desires that his children love each other and realize that He loves them. You are a person of both faith and gratitude, the formula for maximum receiving, and you have the love, hope, faith, and prayers of so very many. Draw it in, hour by hour, and we will yet rejoice with you in many things to come. Get well. So glad Mom is there.
Your big sister.

Comment by Marian 01.21.09 @ 10:07 am

Keep getting better. Sending hugs and prayers.

Comment by LisaK 01.21.09 @ 10:22 am

You’re still on my thank you prayer list, but also your Chrohn’s reaction is on the please help list. Good thing that praying can be done while doing all kinds of other things at the same time! Hope you’re feeling better soon.

Comment by shadylady1216 01.21.09 @ 10:22 am

So glad you are well enough to post. You are as always in my prayers.

Comment by Eileen 01.21.09 @ 11:28 am

I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but sometimes gatorade makes diarrhea worse. It’s the carb load in it. See if you can get one of the sports drinks that has less carb…

glad to hear you are sitting upright! That’s quite an improvment. Take it easy and heal up!

Comment by Carol 01.21.09 @ 12:55 pm

Luckily in this day and age it won’t be hard for you to catch up on the events of yesterday. I very much enjoyed watching it here. 🙂 I like the sitting up and typing – good job! I hope soon the food will stay down and not cause any problems. Sending hugs as always.

Comment by AmyS 01.21.09 @ 1:25 pm



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