Sews2Reap

When diagnosed with a syndrome, you quickly learn it a a big umbrella with lots of conditions under it. This is how it looks for my son.  We have found excellent care, and a good mix of prescriptions and essential oils to keep him happy and healthy.  He has more issues on the inside where they can't be seen. His external scars are minimal compared to what is going on inside physically. Currently, our favorite essential oil is Cedarwood . It helps him with pain, mood, and sleep. We often combine it with Vetiver , especially during school, when he has trouble concentrating through the pain. Another oil we use daily is Clove . It helps with the neuralgia electric shock pain because of its wonderful natural numbing effect. Parry Romberg kids are some of the toughest you will meet!  They have known chronic pain way too early in life. 

I will praise Him in the storm. The storm front is on my door step lately.  Our house is peaceful, full of love, and kindness and true safe place in this crazy world. But the storm still rages.   Unfortunately, when the weather changes, like a cold front moving through, my son's headaches are barely manageable.  Fall is on the way, we have had a few weather fronts move through and the pain level for my kiddo has been high and difficult.  We had been enjoying a day or two at a time of almost no pain, but now we are thankful for an hour or two with manageable pain.  I know the pain storm will pass, but it is hard to listen to it rage not know how long or intense it will be.  One thing we do is list things we are thankful for, a way to distract from the pain and feel hope in our hearts.  A hard Eucharisteo as Ann Voscamp, author of "1000 Gifts" calls it. My son will list his friends, toys, comic books, puppy, and so on.  Things that give him ...

This is how we do it every morning. I will add our night-time protocol later. Nights are just difficult.  Since doing the 'happy oils' my son copes better with the pain.  He says he even when he still hurts it doesn't bother him as much. He can play, do school, and be a goof.  I'm not a doctor. DO NOT stop medications with out your doctors help. Always check for drug interactions. This helped our family, maybe it will help yours. 

So much has happened since I posted over 2 years ago. My youngest child, now 11, has been actively battling with a rare health condition.  He was diagnosed when 5, but we knew something was up by 2 1/2.  It just took over 2 years to find a doctor who knew what his condition was.   If you meet us, most people would never know anything was going on.  I'm thankful for that and have been pretty quiet about his condition because I don't want him treated differently or stigmatized in some way. However, our last doctors appointment gave me much to think about.  One of the specialists who sees our son recommended I "put myself out there." So what is his condition? Parry Romberg Syndrome.  He won't die from it, but he does have to learn to live with it. Every person with PRS has a different  story.  Some have seizures, others only facial atrophy.  Most will have headaches of some degree and may develop anxiety, or depression.  A ...

When God Changes His Mind When things are ticking, and you feel the favor of God all over your life, you don’t look for the road block.  God is in this. He will carry us through to completion.  When your prayers are answered nearly as they are uttered.  How thankful and amazed we are at His beneficence.  Yet, what if He changes His mind? What happens when smooth sailing becomes rough seas?  How do we discern a test, from a no, from another answer?  Disappointment was my first mortal reaction, then wonder.  God is still in it.  What was He saying?  How do I hear Him correctly?  I am still listening knowing there is an answer.  Maybe I will even know it someday.  Most likely I never will.  I have been told to never ask God why.  Yet I do.  Why did this opportunity so golden and bright just shatter?  Why did you say yes, over and over only to say no and slam the door shut.  I am in the tr...

I am starting two new Bible studies this week, both I am in some way facilitating at least some of the time.  Part of Bible study for me is memory work. Usually I write my memory verses on index cards and post them all over the house, carry one in my purse, crochet bag, and Bible. Today, however, I was inspired to make it beautiful and fun. Like a gift every time I worked on my verse.  This is my Scripture Flower. I made it from scraps of scrapbook paper.  I didn't have any double sided paper to so I glued some together. Try it and the Word will bloom in you!

My hands must be busy. I type away at my computer, scribble in my notebooks, pin, stitch, rip, and crochet! I can face any day shuttling kids to a myriad of activities if my crochet bag is with me.  I cannot enjoy a movie at home without a crochet project.  When the movie is exciting my hands fly and stitches flow. There is comfort in the even rows, beautiful yarns and natural warmth of the project.  I tried to count how many items I had crocheted in my lifetime.  I don't have an accurate count, but I know there are dozens of hats, 20 or so scarves, three sweaters, maybe 30 afghans, plus little amigurumi dolls, bags, purses, potholders, trivets, and on and on...   Above is my current project.  It will be an afghan for my oldest.  She chose the yarn, I the pattern.  When I started it it went with me to the Dr. office, dance classes etc.  Now that it is getting cumberso...