transition...

hello friends.  i am making the transition to wordpress.  yes, it's official.  so, i will, generally, no longer be writing here.  please feel free to join me at http://theunhousewife.wordpress.com.  it will be fun, i promise.  

for those who care, i'm making the transition because i like the way wordpress allows me to compartmentalize my life.  ha.  not in a bad way... but really, i feel like i'm wanting to write about so many different things, and yet give you the option to only really read the stuff you're interested in.  or at least to know what you're getting into before you're in too deep! aaah!  also, i'm hoping to "plop" my posts from here over there for continuity.  hence, we're in a transition.  thanks for coming along for the ride.

Snack Mix

Is there a hidden meaning behind how you eat your snack mix and what it says about you as a person?

To use myself as an example, I thoroughly enjoy the bagel chips. Especially the pumpernickle kind. (Nope, I didn't make up that word.) Beyond that, I eat everything equally, first. Then, I eat all the pumpernickle bagel chips. There is no discrimination between pretzel and sesame seed nugget. No distinction between twisted pretzel and pretzel stick. No difference between mini-breadstick, and chex. But oh, the bagel chips. Crunchy. Salty. Bite-size. Crunchy. Delicious. Crunchy.

What about you? Are you a chex lover? Do you salivate thinking about mini-breadsticks? Do you eat your mix in a particular order - first twisted pretzels, then sesame seed pretzels, then (God forbid you don't eat them last) bagel chips, chex, and pretzel sticks?

Also, any preference on the brand? I find particular delight in Gardetto's Original Recipe Snack Mix. The Gardetto's Italian Mix is pretty good too. This one time, at band camp. Scratch that. This one time, my sister-in-law Janessa found an entire container devoted to just the Gardetto's pumpernickle bagel chips. She was my hero that day.

It's not about you, stupid.

I clearly remember one chapel during my college experience when one of the most well-known, well-respected, and well-liked Bible professors stood in front of the student body and humbly declared, "It's not about you, stupid." You would have to have known Dr. Schnittjer to believe me when I say this man is probably one of the only gentleman in the world who could say that to the student body and have everyone not only believe him, but not feel offended. I can confidently say that, most likely, no one thought twice about what he said. No one thought to themselves, "Wow, Doc. Who are you to say that?" Or "You don't know me." Or "I don't think that." We all knew that he was right. And we knew that he wasn't saying it because he thought he was better.

I've been thinking about this concept quite a bit. I've been trying to push through the pride of others while yanking the log out of my own eye, so to speak. Why is it that we so easily make blanket statements? Declare opinions as fact? Judge an opportunity as the only option? Treat others as a means to an end, instead of a peer in a shared experience?

Usually my next response is to say that we also need to somehow balance serving others with our personal health and well-being so that we don't become sucked-dry robots who live to please others. But I think I'm learning that not only is it not about me, but it's not really about you, either. Maybe if we all really lived in view of eternity, with God in mind, like Jesus lived... not only would we not be so selfish, but we wouldn't become sucked-dry robots either. We would be continually filled with God's love, and serving out the overflow of His heart in us. And I know that seems vague and void of practicals, for those of you who live in reality, but that's all I have for now.

Love wins.

she knows...

the pant - shoe combination i'm wearing today doesn't work. i know it. my pants are too short for the shoe i'm wearing. my shoes don't look right with these pants. i know. and usually, i spend an unfortunate amount of time debating how much self confidence i actually have and how much i care or don't care on mornings like this one. but today i just know. and i probably care a little. and my self confidence is most likely at an all time "whatever."

so, i put on these pants because they were the only clean ones left that aren't memorable (a.k.a. i can wear them twice in one week without anyone noticing). and i put on these shoes because they are relatively warm and also comfortable. i think i'm just hoping that my good hair day will make up for any unfortunate glances downward.

this makes me think of relationships. really, (if you are single) you could be with anyone. you could have a significant relationship with any one person. that doesn't necessarily mean you should, however.

let's say, just for example, that you are a nice clean pair of pants. and he is, just for example, a comfortable and warm pair of shoes. apart, you are who you are. and together, it works. sort of. but it would probably be better if the pants were with a different pair of shoes and the shoes with a different pair of pants. so, it's ok the way it is. but it doesn't necessarily mean it's the best option.

i guess what i'm saying is that i don't believe there is only one person out there for you. yes, i believe God has a plan for your life, and that He knows your future more intimately than you can imagine. and so, I also believe that there is, ultimately, one person you will marry (if that's part of God's plan). at the same time, i believe there exists an oxymoronical truth that there is not just one person. that it could be anyone.

and now that i'm married, reflecting back, the fact that i believe that makes my marriage so much more wonderful. i don't have expectations for my husband to be perfect. and because of my belief that marriage is for life, and my commitment to work every day on bringing 100% of a healthy self to my marriage, i can dive in and love this imperfect man without ever wondering if he really was "the one." because i know he is. because we chose to do this marriage thing. and that's the end of it.

Guaifenesin Day Two

Well, friends, treatment has begun. I took my third pill this morning. Two a day - 300mg each. For one week.

The trick is... if I feel worse at the end of the week, that's a good sign. So we'll see how I feel on saturday. If not significantly worse than usual, I'll double the dose. Four a day.

Here's the scoop (as I understand it, and in normal-people terms):
People with fibromyalgia have weird tubules in their kidneys. Thus, the smooth phosphate molucules do not fit through, and build up in our bodies. Coincidentally, phosphate and calcium work together to create ATP - which is the "energy factor" in your cells. It makes them go! Sooo, because there is an abundance of phosphate, there are no empty parking spaces for calcium to park and rest. In other words, the calcium in my body always has an available phosphate to bond with and make my cells produce energy. So, my cells are always working. This exhausts them, and creates an abundance of wide-spread symptoms that involve much more than fatigue and muscle pain. I've had stomach problems my whole life. Itchy spots pop up on my skin. Some people have numbness and tingling. Others have problems with their hair. The variety of problems just goes on and on.
Dr. St. Amand in his book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia explains that fibromyalgia is not a syndrome as many have called it. Syndromes have no known cause or cure. Through his studies, he has come to call it a disease, and one that can lead (and often does lead) to rheumatoid arthritis.
However, Dr. St. Amand has also discovered that the use of an over-the-counter medication, guaifenesin, can reverse the progression of the disease. This medication allows your body to process phosphate as it should; and further, it flushes all the excess phosphate out of fibromyalgics. This is the reversal process, and it can be very painful. My understanding is that as your body is flushed of excess phosphate, your symptoms all rise back to the surface, and are exagerrated as a result.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. Or scared. Or hesitant. I don't know what I will feel like on a given day. Or how bad I'll feel. Or how long I'll feel bad. Apparently the reversal cycles get shorter and less difficult, eventually leading to an essentially fibromyalgia free lifestyle. And I think that's the part I'm scared about. I've lived this way for as long as I can remember. And as much as it would be wonderful to wake up without any pain, I just don't know if I really want to. I know that probably doesn't make any sense. The best thing I can compare it to is postpartum depression - when a woman gets really depressed after she gives birth. Or like if you were blind for your whole life and suddenly gained your sight. Would you really want to see?

Anyway, that's where I'm at. I'll try to keep this updated regarding the treatment. I might start another blog devoted to that - haven't decided yet. If so, I'll post the link. Thanks for all your support!

The Obvious Question

I got my hairs cut. Last Friday. Kind of as a New Year surprise/change/fun thing. Mostly as a Molly thing. I needed to get my hair cut. Split ends galore. I had it short a while back and loved it. The hubs and I discussed, and decided it was a good plan. I like it. My little textured bob.

Anyway, all of this brings me to another social study of mine. I'd like to propose the theory that whenever physical change happens to a person frequently seen, the other persons around them are more apt to either pose the obvious question or make the obvious statement than to make a comment on the obvious. For example, you can probably guess the question/statement I have heard all day at work today (and pretty much since Friday). "You cut your hair!" "Did you cut your hair?" I wanted to say "Nope." Just to see. Maybe I should try that on the next one.

I mean, I do it too. "You cut your hair!" "Have you lost weight?" "You're married now!" "You bought new jeans!" "Are you pregnant?" (The most risky of questions, it seems.)

This is my favorite:
Suzy was looking for Johnny and couldn't find him anywhere. As she turned the corner to go down another hallway, she saw him. Suzy exclaimed, "There you are!"

Really? There. you. are. Thank you Captain Obvious. I wasn't sure where I was. Next time I'm gonna respond, "Thanks! I couldn't find me anywhere!"

fibromyalgia treatment part deux

So remember how I wrote a post on fibromyalgia a really long time ago?  And how I mentioned that I'm starting a treatment soon.  Well that soon is like really soon now.  As in, I'm probably ordering the medication today, and when it comes in, I'll start taking it.  How's that for soon?

For details, czech it out at www.fibromyalgiatreatment.com.

It seemed appropriate to write this post today because of how my body feels this morning.  And, because I'm going for honesty and reality, I figured I should write about it.  

Basically, I woke up and immediately knew I had been hugging myself all night.  Like, you know when you wrap your arms around yourself when you're cold?  Ok, and then sometimes when you sleep, you curl your arms up in the same position.  I guess it's comfortable.  Or it keeps you warm.  Or some other reason that doesn't make a lot of sense.  Well, imagine doing that all night, only actually squeezing like when you do it because you're cold.  While you're sleeping.   All night.  It just makes for a very uncomfortable morning.  My arms are sore and weak and my shoulders feel out of joint.  Also, I'm wide awake and yet very tired.

I'm looking forward to only hugging myself when I'm actually cold.  And not asleep.  And I'm looking forward to not being tired after I sleep.  That will be nice.