Thanks for praying

Have you been praying for me?  I think you have.  On January 27, eighty-one days ago (but who’s counting?) I took my first dose of the medicine that I take for MS.  The doctor had warned me that the most common side effects of the medicine are swelling at the injection site and fatigue.  He accurately predicted what would happen to me.  Despite using heat pads before the shot and ice packs afterwards, 24-36 hours after a shot I had a swollen, red, hot welt that itched like crazy.  I finally succumbed to using an antihistamine cream just so I didn’t scratch the top layer of skin off.  The fatigue was harder to battle.  Even after a good night’s sleep, when I woke up feeling rested and ready for the day, as soon as I sat up and put my feet on the floor, a wave of exhaustion just washed over me each morning.  Last Saturday, discouraged and defeated, I woke up and just wanted to put my head under the pillow and stay there all day long.  I didn’t want to get up and clean house or work on my new book, the two items on my to do list.  Though I could stay in the house all day long in my pajamas, it just seemed like more than I could handle.   I wondered if the medicine was worth taking and resolved to tell the doctor I had enough.  I figured I would just have to stay in bed the rest of the day.   As I rolled over on my side, the light coming in through a crack in our blinds was so strong that it looked like the sun was making its way into the bedroom.  That light was coming through a pinhole where the strings hold the slats together.  It was enough to remind me that God is on my side and that with His help, I will make it through.  I got up, husband helped me clean the house and I ended up having a very productive day researching and creating a time line for Caroline’s Story.   That day, I also wrote the blog post talking about how tired and discouraged I have been.   On Sunday, I realized I felt so much better.  By mid afternoon, I didn’t need a nap.  The next day and the day after that, my strength gradually began to come back.  And, I was no longer getting the terrible injection site reactions.  A friend reasoned that perhaps my body has finally gotten used to the medicine.  Maybe.  But, I don’t think the timing is a coincidence.  I think that being honest on the blog post generated some prayers on my behalf from my friends in blog land and Facebook.  I think that today, my improved health and disposition is due entirely to God’s intervention and your prayers.  So, thank you.  Keep praying.  This is a long journey that I am on and I can use all the help I can get.