Prayer Shawl

After a horrible day yesterday.  (In addition to having one of my back teeth break in two (I think I swallowed the half that broke off! And of course it’s a holiday weekend so I can’t see a dentist until Tuesday) I cut my left thumb while cutting up a tomato for a sandwich and it still hurts!)  I decided that making it to church had to be a top priority today.  We started on our summer schedule, which is one service at 9am, which I absolutely love.  I can get up for 9am.  8 not so much, and the 10 service goes on and on and I sometimes don’t leave until noon, so this 9am is great.

Unfortunately the father of our Associate Pastor/Minister of Music had a stroke this week and Pastor Pat is with her family (prayers for the Potter family please.)  So we got a treat today.  Our regular Pastor, Pastor Julie played the organ and her husband, also a Pastor, Pastor Hans filled in as the presiding minister.  Pastor Hans delivered a great sermon on God always being there for us and that we don’t need to worry so much.  I almost started to cry a couple of times, especially when he talked about being sick and worrying about getting better.

After the service, Pastor Julie said that she had something for me.  My mom (who also goes to the same church as I do) and I went to Pastor Julie’s office and Pastor Julie gave me this absolutely beautiful handmade knitted shawl.  We have this wonderful ministry at Immanuel.  Many people get together and knit these prayer shawls for people in the church and the community who are going through tough (and also good like marriage) times.  The church has been praying for me and they wanted to give me something tangible to remind me that I am not alone.  I was so overwhelmed that I started to cry and was at a loss for words (which for me is a shocker!)  Pastor Julie said that each shawl ends up having some special meaning between the knitters and the recipient.  When I unfolded the shawl, I immediately noticed the colors, the two outer panels are gray and the middle panel is red.  The colors of my hometown in Wisconsin.  In high school we were the gray hounds and our colors were red and gray.  I said this to Pastor Julie, and she said she was getting goosebumps, and one of the knitters who had joined us, heard this as well and Sandy got goosebumps.  It’s an incredible link.  No one here in Massachusetts could know the importance of red and gray in my life… except God. 

For those of you who have doubts about the existence of God, this could not be a cosmic coincidence.  Or luck of the draw.  It is God and I am so thankful.

Here is a picture of my prayer shawl.

Here is the prayer that came with it.  By Sandy Mann May 2006

“Prayer for Healing

Guided by God’s love for us, this shawl is knit for you.

Healing, strength and peace, to bless upon your spirit true.

Wrap yourself in warmth and love, entwined in every stitch.

Prayers said to God above, please heal, mend and enrich.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit, intoned throughout the shawl.

Triune blessings knit within it, best wishes from us all.”

How to use an Epipen

Due to the fact that I was going into anaphylactic shock this past weekend, I had to use my Epipen for the first time.  I was surprised at how it worked.  I’ve been carrying an Epipen for years, so I knew to take the pen out of the tube, and then to take the top off and then shoot the pen part into my thigh hard and hold it for 10 seconds.  The part that surprised me was that you take the CAP part off of the Epipen, not the pen part.  I probably wasted 20 seconds figuring this out.  And that was 20 scary seconds of not being able to breathe.  (At least I had called 911 and new the rescue squad was on its way!)

I was also given some very valuable information that you should always have two Epipens available, because if you are at a place where 911 can’t get to you in 1/2 hour after using the first Epipen, you should use your second Epipen.  (Note, this is not official medical advice-always talk to your doctor.)

Hope this helps!

So here are links to how to use the Epipen:

http://www.epipen.com/pdf/ord.fm.pdf for written directions

http://www.epipen.com/howtouse.aspx for a video on how to use an Epipen

Staying on the sofa

Well, I’ve decided never to leave my comfy sofa ever again, because when I do, bad things happen.  Like getting an allergic reaction to something (have NO idea what!!!), and having my face blow up like the Pillsbury Dough-boy (you couldn’t even see my ears, and my chin extended all the way down to my chest.)  After a stay at my local hospital (again…) I’m back at home resting, and I’m never, ever going to leave this room.  (OK, I’m lying, but really, to have an allergic reaction so bad to admit you to the hospital is really scary.)

Here’s the e-mail I sent to family and friends today:

Hi All

Sorry to send out a mass e-mail, but that’s about all I can do right now.  As many of you know I was in the hospital for almost a week for pneumonia, the first week of April.  Well, I was put in the hospital again over this past weekend weekend because I began to go into anaphylactic shock, where my throat began to close up and I couldn’t breathe.  Luckily I had an Epipen, so I shot myself up and called 911 to take me to the hospital.  I had two more episodes of not being able to breathe in the ER, so they decided to admit me.  After some tests, the doctors think that I had an allergic reaction to something, unfortunately we couldn’t pinpoint exactly what triggered the attack.  After careful monitoring, oxygen and drugs, they released me and I’m back at home, although I’m so swollen in my face, hands and feet, it’s really uncomfortable really even to move. 

 So right now, I’m just resting at home, taking my meds and trying to get better.  Nothing too stressful.  (Unfortunately, I missed two parties over the weekend.  Addie turned 8.  I can’t believe she’s that old.  Wow!  And a friend of mine, Loretta, graduated from Rhode Island College, and I missed her graduation party.  Again, I’ve known Loretta since she was about 11, and to see her now is amazing!)

But I just wanted to thank all of you for your prayers and concern during this stressful time.  I really appreciate it!  (Oh and they did discover that the pneumonia has cleared, so that at least is good news.) 

Congratulations Loretta!

Loretta Cimini is graduating from Rhode Island College this Saturday!  I can’t believe that little Loretta (who I’ve known since 1997!) is actually old enough to graduate from college!  I thought I was old when I attended her “Sweet Sixteen” Party (although I think she hated that term!) 

Congrats Old Wise Man!

Allergic Reaction

I woke up this morning not really being able to swallow, thinking that we’ve had such weird weather- from 70’s and sunny to 40’s and rain- that my allergies were acting up, or that the pneumonia infection is acting up, until I looked in the mirror.  Nope, I was having a full blown allergic reaction to something.  My face was huge and swollen like a balloon.  In fact it was so swollen, you couldn’t even see my ears!  My eyes wouldn’t open and I had no neck.  In addition, my fingers looked like I was wearing plastic gloves with air in them and my feet were twice the size as normal.  I called my doctor, who said there was nothing really that could be done, because I was already on the steroids to treat the pneumonia.  I would just have to wait it out (with a little help from Benedryl.)  If things got worse, I was to use my Epipen and call 911.  I called my mom to let her know what was going on, and we tried to figure out what caused the allergic reaction, and you’ll never guess.  Last night I made those pop open biscuits from the refrigerator case.  I’m allergic to the yeast that’s in them (which makes sense, since I have a really severe mold allergy.)  Mom has the same allergy to this yeast, so she identified it right away.  Well, I’m going to have to watch what I eat even more closely now

Wrist Braces

I saw my doctor today and she wants me to start wearing hand/wrist braces on both of my hands when I do things like cook (don’t do that too often,) play sports like tennis (again, not that often) and yes, while I’m on the computer.  Do you know how hard it is to type and move the house with two wrist braces on?  Especially the kind with a metal brace up your palm?  I have to sit like Frankenstein’s monster with my arms in front of me, with my hands on the keyboard.  This stinks.  The purpose is to try and get the hand pain from the Fibromyalgia under control.  Gotta go, (I’m not wearing the braces, and I’d better put them on before the brace police come after me!)

Hooked on Reality TV (ok Reality Internet)

I don’t really like reality TV (okay, I’m lying, I love reality TV.  I’m a huge Big Brother fan, and Dancing With the Stars, and Top Chef, but not really American Idol.)  Anyway, for the third season, I’m hooked on the Internet reality show produced by the soap opera As The World Turns, InTurn.  The premise is that 10 wanna be soap actors compete in acting competitions for a 13 week contract role on As The World Turns.  It’s really interesting.  This past week the “contestants” had to memorize a monologue and as they performed for the judges distractions like silly string, itching powder, dance music and fog were thrown at them to see how 1) they memorize 2) they take the direction of “be prepared” and 3) perform under difficult situations.  This is acting at its best I think.  (I’m also biased, I’ve been watching As The World Turns since I was in utero.  My Great-Grandmother Parrish began watching the show when it FIRST began, and got my mom hooked as a teenager.  Then when my grandmother retired, she began watching the show too, so that makes me a 4th generation ATWT fan.  So now that ATWT has moved into cyberspace, I go too!  

Musings on the Democratic Party

  I really want to get fired up for the November general election in our country.  I want to become passionate about the issues that are important to me.  I want to be able to volunteer for the candidate that I feel will be the best leader for our nation.  But right now, my emotional level is less than zero for any of the candidates or even any of the issues.

First, I want Hillary Clinton to bow out with grace and class from the democratic primary season.  I watch NBC Nightly News.  I saw Tim Russert get out his white board and show us the MATHEMATICAL IMPOSSIBILITY that it is for Senator Clinton to win the Democratic nomination.  I’ve accepted that there will not be a woman in the white house at this time, but it’s been 40 years since Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated for us to get where we are today (which actually isn’t saying much), so I’m hopeful that it won’t take another 40 years to get another strong female candidate to run for president.  Senator Clinton, it’s over.  Please show the young women of this nation, what it means to be a leader who can put what’s best for the nation above what might be best for ones self.  Senator Clinton, I want to be inspired by how you end this process.  I don’t want the process to end in bickering or delegate swapping, I would love you to hold your head high and say to the American people that you ran a good race, but that in the end Senator Obama had the votes and therefore he deserves the party’s UNITED support.  (Ok, that’s just what I think!  Phew!!)

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you mothers out there.  To you new mothers, happy first mother’s day (this is for Patti and Jillian, mommys to little Madaelein; Sarah, mommy to cute little Kaitlyn; Happy day to Krista, the mommy of big boy Torsten.)  I also want to wish a happy day to all of you who have kids already and are an old hat at this celebration thing.  I say this to Jen, the mom of two adorable babies, Veronica and Natalie.  And to my friends LaQuisha and Kristi who are soon to give birth, happy mother’s day early!!

But to all you moms, people that act like moms in our lives, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, friends, godmothers and in general just special friends.  This day is made for you too!

POGO.COM

OKay another shameless plug for some product that I really enjoy.  I found this web web site where you can play basic card, word, table and puzzle games.  What’s great about it is that the site is totally free, if you’re willing to watch 40 seconds of ads.  The site is pogo.com and since I’m still recuperating from the pneumonia, you can pretty much find me there all day!

(Oh I should say that the site requires you to be over 18, due to the fact that there are open chat forums.  There really aren’t ways to close the chats going on,  So kids should do the games with their parents!)