Studying at Jordan's

First of all, this marks my 3rd week exactly since my Multiple Oral/Naso surgeries....Praise God for allowing my recovery to go well!!! I got my stint out last week (so I can talk straight ;p), and now just have elastic ligatures to continue movement, with the hopes of being finished with braces in 4-8 months!!!

Sometimes I have the chance to study my EMT Course (or Midwifery) at Jordan's house...the girl I went with to the Philippines, remember?? Today was such a day, as the kids were all at their Classical Conversations (like a co-op), and I was supposed to bring them home, so my parents could have a date night... (Well, that didn't happen, since Rebekah came down with the Stomach Flu mid-morning).

Anyway, I got a LOT of studying in, as well as some fellowship, ;p and finished up my Chapter on Cardiological Emergencies...deep stuff!!
Then Jordan and I went out to feed her brand new Nubian kids....

Boy, did that tear my heart!!! I want my Nubians back!!!!

I SO love their long, floppy ears....and their sweet, rich milk... All in God's good time... :) He had me sell them for a purpose, and there is a time for every season...including one for buying goats...and horses...

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

~ Philippians 4:11 ~

One of my favorite verses that correlates with goats is:

The lamvs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

~ Proverbs 27:26-27 ~

(Kinda looks like milk is REALLY good for girls!! ;p)

Post-Op Life

Today

I write this post, from my spacious new room (our guest room), which is my room for the next few weeks, until company kicks me out, ;p as I sip on a cup of Tomato Soup (yes, I'm actually sipping it, which is a big change from receiving all my nutrition from a 60 ml syringe...which I am still being fed from as well.) :)

Life is good...I am enjoying it with a great big smile (inwardly if not always outwardly), and am growing even closer to my Lord and Saviour....we have had amazing 2 am talks these last few days, and though I like my sleep, it has well been worth it.

For the last 5 days, I have been spoiled rotten by everybody...so many people...a little overwhelming for a girl who is almost NEVER sick!!!  On one hand, it has been kinda humbling to be at the mercy of other people, but on the other (in a maybe partially selfish sort of way??), I am REALLY enjoying it too....  On one hand, I love all the attention, but on the other, something deep down inside of me says: "YOU should be taking care of them!!"  And so I try....at least with good humor.

Post-Op  -   Just home

As I said in my last post, surgery went well.  The only complication I experienced was that my body really likes to bleed (which was not really expected), and so I lost over 1/3 of my blood during surgery, before they were able to get my blood pressure low enough that it eventually stopped. Thus, my primary focus of healing, is getting my energy levels back up. :)

Pre-Op with my Anesthetist 

I woke up from surgery pretty fast, and loved my hospital experience (which I didn't have to leave!!)....and my IV... :O  I had the best nurses... One of the first thing I noticed is that I could actually breathe through my nose without any problems!!

With my Primary Post-Op Nurse-Dayna

Supposedly, the 3rd day is the hardest day, because your body is waking up from surgery. Also, a lot of people experience depression and start second-guessing surgery (which was not a problem for me, because I can breathe!!! That should kick anybody out of 2nd guesses! ;p).  Anyhow, I actually found my 4th day-Thursday to be the hardest. That was the day I was most dizzy, and my brain figured out that the funny sensations (not sharp, aggravating pain, but dull, numbing,  and pins-&-needly like) I was feeling should now be classified as 'pain'.

Home Sweet Home

It's so neat to see how God makes our bodies, because at least with mine, He created this little function that, once it identifies something as "painful", it starts minimizing it as fast as possible... So Friday, I got 'used' to the 'pain' that was identified on Thursday, and so today has been a breeze...

Post-Op Check (Day 2) with my Dr.

Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed this adventure so far...yes, there have been may ups and downs, and my energy level is still very low, which can be frustrating, but God is King over everything, and He is continuing to teach me to be still and know He is God.  Life is a continual refining process, and again, God has proven Himself faithful.

Again, I thank you all for your prayers. This adventure I'm on is not over yet, but it's a start..and a good one at that!! I leave you with these words which have been on my mind a lot lately:

I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger

Just traveling through this world of woe

Yet there's no sickness, toil, nor danger

In that bright land to which I go

I'm goin' there to see my Father

I'm going there no more to roam

I'm just a goin' over Jordan

I'm just a goin' over home

I know dark clouds will gather 'round me

I know my way is rough and steep

Yet golden fields lie just before me

Where God's redeemed their vigil keep

I'm goin' there to meet my siblings

They said they'd meet me when I come

I'm only goin' over Jordan

I'm only goin' over home

I want to wear a crown of glory

When I get home to that good land

I want to shout salvation's story

In concert with the blood-washed band

I'm goin' there to meet my Saviour

To sing His praise forever more

I'm just a goin' over Jordan

I'm just a goin' over home

And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.  Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people His doings.

 ~ Psalms 9:10-11 ~

Home Sweet Home

Quick update...yes, this is me writing (though Rachel took over with me dictating. :D). Surgery took a little over 4 hrs, and went well overall.

Got home around 5pm. Doing pretty good. I'll write more in a week or so.

Before Surgery

Thank you for your prayers!

God has definitely proven to be my Jehovah-Shammah (the Lord is present) more than I even knew.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

~ Psalm 27:1 ~

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth...One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple...When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek...I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

~ Psalm 27:4, 8, 13 & 14 ~

Jehovah-Shammah

Today is the 'big day'. For those who are praying, thank you. I so appreciate it.

Jehovah-Shammah...what does that really mean??
Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord". It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known", which denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly.
Shammah is derived from the Hebrew word sham, which can be translated as "there" or "present".  Jehovah-Shammah is a symbolic name for the earthly Jerusalem. The name indicates that God has not abandoned Jerusalem, leaving it in ruins, but that there will will be a restoration.

The same is true about each one of us. God has not abandoned us here on earth, leaving us to to natural state of corruption and sin. He wants to redeem us and conform us to His image.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

~ Hebrews 13:5 ~

He also wants us to give our bodies - each one a temple of His - to Him, of our own free will.

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?

~ 1 Corinthians 6:15a ~

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

~ 1 Corinthians 3:16 ~

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
~ Romans 12:1 ~

Most people know the song, "This ain't my home, I'm just a-passin' through..." And it is so true! 

A dear friend said: "This is such a great time to learn.....never despise it.... or so want the end goal that you are unable to enjoy the journey."

This is my little saying right now, because these next few months will be a huge journey, and an opportunity for me to grow.  As one of our pastors said yesterday: "You'll learn to lean and trust in God even more through this..because you're going to need Him an awful lot!!"

Busy Valentines

Valentine's Day was filled with many different activities...

First of all, I signed my life away to surgery (consent forms) at my surgeon's office, and had a bunch more pre-op pictures and moulds taken. He did a "model surgery", pictures of which, I hope to post soon.

Second of all, as most Coeur d'Aleneans know, we were honored to have Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum campaign here in Coeur d'Alene, before going on to Boise. We were privileged to listen to him deliver a message to a packed house of 600 people (around 400 people had to be turned away due to lack of space).

Yes, thus far, we are casting our vote with Senator Santorum for President. Out of all the candidates, he seems to be the most balanced in his views and looks to be the best choice to fit our Nation's need for revival. Throughout his service in the Senate, he has shown Conservative views and values, but also has a strong faith (although he is Catholic, he professes to be born again), good character, humility, decency, is down-to-earth, and is a family man.

I encourage you to watch his speech (given here in Cd'A) , and since I doubt most of you will want to sit through all 81 minutes of it, I have included below a time summary of where the important issues start (after allowing it to load, simply click on the moving bar, and drag it to the time you want). Some include sound-bite type stuff, but they all include the depth needed to inform.

A friend of ours said: "Taking just a few minutes focusing on these segments will allow you to be better informed on this candidate than by watching months of TV." Enjoy!

Rick Santorum's Coeur d'Alene Speech

19:10 - Health Care

21:00 - The real reason Health Care is expensive. (Excellent comparison of Health Insurance with Auto Insurance)

37:35 - Energy

65:26 - Defense

68:40 - Entitlements

71:55 - Welfare

74:01 - Healthcare specifics

76:43 to 79:40 - Brilliant Treatise on Social Security

My evening was filled up with our church's Valentine's Banquet, which was put on by the College-age kids in our church.  We all had a wonderful time, serving, eating, and cleaning up. What a special time fellowshipping with other young people while being a blessing to others!!

Most of our group

What Is True Love???

1 John 4:7 says: "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."

Digging deeper, we find John 14:15, 21: "If you love Me, keep my commandments. ... He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him."

Note that every time it says love, the Greek word is "Agape" which means 'unconditional love'...the kind that God had when He sacrificed His only Son for our sins, to redeem us.  This is the word that is used over and over and over again in 1 Corinthians 13, where Paul describes in detail what makes Agape so singular.

So often, we read that chapter, but don't really take it to heart in what it really means. I would encourage all of you to read it again, and really meditate on what he is saying here.  In what ways do you need to grow or are you lacking??
I really like vs. 11, where it says: "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

I think so often, as we become adults, we bring some of that childish immaturity with us, and instead of being able to take care of at least us and 1 other person, we are self-centered and me-focused.  I know this is definitely something God has been working on me about, as I am in this transition phase.

I encourage all of you young people out there, seek God in regards to any areas you may need to grow & mature in. Yes, we should still have fun, and be like little children in our innocence, but not in an immature, selfish way. It should be in a sensitive and responsible way, not hurting others to our own amusement.

They Say I'm Crazy....

December 7th, 2011 was a really good day for me. It was that day that my Orthodontist gave me the go-ahead to get my Orthognathic (jaw) Surgery done anytime after February 1st. On January 9th, I had a meeting with my Oral Surgeon to get a preliminary surgery evaluation done, and on January 16th, I got the Surgery date scheduled for Monday, February 27th, 2012!!!!

Why do I need surgery done? My jaws are not aligned with one another, so that I have an open and cross bite...(only a few of my teeth touch--mostly posterior molars, and my midline is 1 tooth off), making chewing quite difficult (to say the least) and limiting my food/nutrition intake. Also, my sinus passages are all messed up and deformed, so they're going to open them up, as well as some other stuff....

What's going to be done? I'm actually hoping to have 5 surgeries done...crazy, I know... :-/
1) Orthognathic (jaw) Surgery - Basically, they're going to slit me from 'ear to ear', except it'll be horizontal, and inside my mouth, or as my dad says "they're going to take all my upper teeth out and then put them back in. :) Seriously though, they will be cutting above my upper gums, all the way around, and "move" it to the correct position, and then place titanium bolts and plates and sutures to hold everything in place. This link gives a bit of an idea regarding what orthognathic surgery entails, though it focuses more on lower jaw problems/surgery than the upper jaw, which is what mine is.
2) Nasal Sill Osteoplasty - To correct my sinuses
3) Inferior (partial) Turbinectomy - My turbinate bones are abnormally large, which has caused many problems (mostly breathing), so they will be removing around 1/2-2/3rds of them.
4) All 4 Wisdom Teeth removed - And, I guess it's that time of life....I have to have them out anyway, and since my bottom 2 are resting on nerves, I might as well get those taken care of now instead of having them done in 3-6 months...(and have all the pain, limited food, (and fees), limited to one sitting too, right???) I mean, what is a little extra pain?
5) Labial Frenectomy (of the frenulum) - like my older brother's, my frenulum (the skin that attaches my lip to my gum, is too long), and so, following in his footsteps, I'm hoping that they can make the little 'slice' at the same time...  I've helped do Lingual Frenectomies (for tongue-tied infants), so that'll be fun.

Everyone says I'm crazy, because I'm excited...or maybe that is just the way I handle it....I mean, why worry over...well...anything?? (Isn't there something better that you can expend your energies on?) Why not make it  into an 'adventure' and an 'experience'?? Doesn't that make you more qualified to help and understand others even better??

I do have to say though, that the one thing that will be... ....interesting, is potentially getting IM (intramuscular) shots...I have always enjoyed getting my blood drawn...in fact, every time I do, I kind of get a "high" feeling, (if that's allowed), and IV's aren't that bad (helps get me hydrated), and I've given tons of IM shots to others--both people and animals...but, well....I don't want to say I'm nervous...but it will be an experience!! (especially with 'the' locations....)

Recovery Time? So, you're probably wondering what the recoup will be like...here is what I know so far:  Pretty much, I'm supposed to treat my jaw surgery like a fracture-meaning it'll take at least 6 weeks to be kind of healed.
Eating will be very limited for 6-12 weeks, and depending on if my jaws are tied shut, I might have to be fed through a feeding tube (like we use for alpacas and goats) B-|  for the first few days.

Recovery time really depends on the person, in regards to how fast they are able to "spring back". For the first 2 days, I'll be pretty much down for the count, and the worst day - for pain - is Day 3. After that, it'll vary...with how many operations I'll be having done, it might prolong my "springing back" for a bit...we'll see. From Day 10-14, I should be back to kind of normal, except for any strenuous work (like swimming or barn activities/dust), and by the 4th-5th Week, I should be able to do all of the above.

Of course, ideally, I'd like to be able to be downstairs for Bible Study the Wednesday following, and be at church the next week....but that is probably unrealistic...or is it??

As you can probably see, I'm kind of treating this whole thing lightly....but I would sincerely ask for your prayers.

- With any operation and anesthesia, there are dangers, and unexpected aftermaths. I have a lot of appointments in the next few weeks to prepare for the surgery, including physical and heart checks, to make sure my body can handle the trauma.  I am not allergic to any medications, that I know of, but of course, there is always that possibility. Please pray that I would continue trusting God with everything, and that I would survive the operation. (if it is His will of course ;p)

- We have done a lot of research, in regards to finding our Ortho/Surgeon team, and are confident that the job will be done well. Our surgeon is very detailed, and takes each patient individually, instead of lumping them in a 'group', per se.  Please pray though, that as he prepares and performs the surgery, that God would guide his hand and his mind, and that he won't have any "oops!" moments.

- Please pray for my parents and siblings, that there would not be any unnecessary stress, and that as Mom especially will probably take care of me, that God would give her more added grace during this time.

- That as we discern and research our Pain Management Options, that God would give us wisdom

- That above all, I would be a light and witness to all those around me (both in the hospital and here at home), and that I wouldn't get too grumpy or selfish....either (like I would tend to do). I know it will be struggle for me to keep always positive...because sometimes...honestly, it's easier not to!!

Throughout all, please do not think that I am 'fearful' or 'nervous' or need 'condolences' about all of this. It's just not the way I'm wired. I am excited. I am looking forward to it, and am taking everything else in stride.

I am left with these verses:

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

~ Philippians 4:13 ~

For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD.

~ Jeremiah 30:17 ~

....I am the LORD that healeth thee.

~ Exodus 15:26 c~

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

~ Isaiah 40:31 ~