Finding smiles and joy while battling the storm

If a person is determined to be miserable, there is not a whole lot that anybody can do. But, if a person hates being miserable, they will find joy somehow. - Faith Tilley Johnson

We have a lot going on. If you read the last post, you can understand that. Hubby is going through a tough time right now. This past Monday he started physical therapy. If you have ever gone through the rigors of physical therapy then you know that often times you feel worse before you feel better. The muscles and ligaments didn't just get tied up in knots over night, it took time. And it will take time to get them back how they are suppose to be. We are seeing improvement.

We are struggling with the financial aspects. By the time medications and therapy is figured in on top of the doctor visit we are running about $200-$250 a month. That is with insurance. God has and will provide, just focusing on Him through the tough times.

If only hubby was the only one going through these trials.

I didn't cover it in the last post because B3 has his own blog and his trials are usually covered there. However, B3's most recent struggle is not in the physical sense and I haven't posted about it. Benji is on disability with his heart condition and all of the compounding issues. Unfortunately, the cut backs in the government, they are trying to clear the disability roles. We have been fighting for two years and Tuesday is our hearing. I have to find the money to pay our lawyer and pray.

(I will not go into all the ins and outs of B3's disability here. We have followed all the rules and have been truthful and honest from the get go in this situation. We trust in God.)

However! With all this craziness going on. We are blessed to help out my niece and watch her kids while she works. It is a load of joy with everybody playing and enjoying summer. It doesn't matter if we stay home or go off to the splash pad or lake. It is the simple things.

I get to surprise them tomorrow night with a movie night! We will watch the Lego Movie and have some popcorn.

We find joy in the good times. We find peace in the tough times. And we find laughter at all times. We do ask for prayer. Our family can always use some prayer.

Change, seems that is the only given

In the midst of chaos, one's focus turns inward. - Faith Tilley Johnson

We have been going through many changes within our family the last several months. Those changes have brought about a different outlook on life and have pulled us in to God more than ever. (We are not perfect though. We have a lot of work to do.)

Hubby has had the most radical changes. Let me give you some back story.

Hubby has had pain issues off and on since he was a teen due to a moped accident. There have been other accidents that contributed to his pain, but he was always able to heal and move on. Then three years ago we were in a bad wreck where he hit the windshield. Ever since, his pain has been a predominate part of our lives.

The neurologist he has been seeing decided to send him to another doctor after seeing that the pain medication and dietary changes were not relieving his pain. When the neuro sent him, she told us that she believed he had fibromyalgia. So we went to the specialist. Hubby had 12 of the 18 points and he also scored high on the inventory checklist. Without doubt he has fibromyalgia. But the specialist surprised us, he ordered an MRI on hubby's neck, pack, and hips. What we discovered has been both a relief and a shock. Hubby has arthritis in his neck and several bulging disks throughout his spine. One of the discs has a tear and there is mild stenosis on the spinal cord.

Many think that having a diagnosis and tests to prove that the pain is not all in your head would be relieving. To a degree, the information is a relief. Except, we have searched for answers for three years. An MRI had not been preformed until now. The only other tests ran was a head CT and then a spinal x-ray. It is exasperating to know that the pain has a founded structural reason and nobody considered it until now. Please do not misunderstand; I do not fault our doctors. Our doctors were acting on what the hospital told them. The hospital that only did a head CT, the hospital that did not send him to trauma even though he had a head injury, the hospital that left him on a gurney in the hallway with no privacy.

The good thing is that we now know what is wrong. We are holding on to the promise of healing from God. Right now, medication has changed and the specialist is working to relieve the pain. There has been some progress. Next week, hubby will be starting physical therapy.

Hubby needs prayer. After being convinced that the pain was all in his head, this is a huge change. By accepting that there is structural damage, the mind is changed. The manifestation of the level of pain and the ability to function can be overwhelming. Hubby is still working. I wonder how at times when he drags himself in the door and collapses on the recliner in the evenings.

I wish we were only going through one trial but alas, we are not. However, we are holding on to the promises of God.