June 4, 2016

Greetings My Friend, Having disabilities means the need to constantly do a mental check of what is happening inside the body. For me right now Chiari Malformation and Ataxia are in the back of my mind as I attempt to stay on top of my asthma. Until this week I had forgotten how summer weather although a wonderful time of the year as far as weather, it is a difficult time in regards to allergies. The days on end with rain has meant the mold is up, when the rain stopped I thought the allergens would have been lower but instead they are high and humidity brings other problems. Right now I feel like I am fighting hard to keep from having my symptoms turn into bronchitis. I am using my as needed inhaler more, my breathe essential oils more and I am taking a lot more vitamin C, with all of this attention so far bronchitis has been kept at bay. Added to making sure I am on top of medications I find I am needing to stop and take a nap more frequently. No matter how hard I push myself I have to nap. I am calling these extra naps my rest in God time. If I allow myself to take these naps I find I can wake up with enough energy to do a few things and by working around the house as I am able I have that sense of accomplishment. When I sit and can not do things I get discouraged and eventually I am depressed so I am grateful I am able to work even if it is a little bit. For the time being I am grateful that I have worked until I understand how to cope with Chiari and Ataxia. I can go on auto pilot while I cope with asthma which means most of the summer. Last summer asthma took me by surprise and in the fall I realized I had struggled most of the summer. This summer I am more aware of what to expect so I am hoping I am able to deal more effectively with my symptoms. I see that Junior has learned his weak areas and knows how to work around them which after 40 some years are well ingrained into his lifestyle. With this as my example I hope within a few years all of my limitations will be 2nd nature too. I know too that traveling and major distances should be done in early spring or in the fall. This way I can enjoy the visits and sightseeing much more. The heat of summer is to be enjoyed at home on the porch more in the evenings maybe some in the mornings as the pollen settles down. God has worked with me teaching me to be comfortable at home and the need to run no longer consumes me. I fill my days doing things at home and enjoy myself. Learning to do this has also taught me to enjoy a simpler life that does not need to be filled with some sort of excitement or drama anymore. I find the more I enter into a quiet life the more I love life. I am grateful that Junior was comfortable with the quiet life when I met him. I knew I would like it, I had desired it and at first it was hard for me to enter into it. I did not realize how addicted to drama I had become so letting go was hard work. It has been worth all the hard work though. The simple life also allows me time to work slower and at to take time outs as I need them. I find that the work gets done, sometimes it takes longer to get it all done but it gets done and next week is another chance to do better. I have loosened my strict self standards and in that process I enjoy day to day life so much more. May God bless you and keep you, make His face shine on you. Love Janet