A New Day

I'm back. It's October 1, 2014 and I've got a lot on my mind. 

So yesterday began much like every other day. Got up, readied for the day, sat outside with Dexter for a little while, kissed Jim goodbye and went to my interim position with the OKC Philharmonic. Love them! Go see a concert, you'll love them,too. www.OKCPhilharmonic.org.

But I digress.

About 11:00 am, between phone calls, ad insertions, brochure approvals, sweet Janie asking about lunch, fabulous Stephen helping me with another project, etc...I felt like my foot fell asleep.

But then the sensation began moving up my leg, to my hip, waist and then my shoulder. I was writing an address on an envelope and my arm went numb along with my hand. Couldn't control the pen and as it moved up to my face, I drooled a little, felt my tongue numb, my smile droop and had a hard time talking on the phone that just rang. My thoughts were a little garbled as I couldn't put them together easily. So I sat for a moment, drank some water, and waited. The numbness passed, I went to the bathroom, tried to talk to Liz and fumbled it slightly, returned to my office and waited.

The symptoms disappeared, I felt stronger, and I decided to go home. I tend to be a little independent and a little strong-willed, so I drove myself home. I know but ya know....

I called Jim, told him what happened and he encouraged me to phone my doctor. I did and his nurse recommended a trip to the ER. So of course I got home and in the most prudent of manners, I kind of dismissed her. Adrian gets home not too long later and suggest I text Kayci. Of all the doctors in the world, I love Kayci. I've watched her grow from the age of 13 and she is a wise woman. I trust her and so I told her what was going on and she encouraged me to also go to the ER. God knows my determined streak and deep down, I knew I needed to go. Cause this was just weird and like any good Googlefile, I'd googled my symptoms and it was a little alarming. Word to the wise , information is fantastic, do it after you have a doctor to help interpret. Or it can curl your toes!

So you probably know the drill, got to ER, fill out a paper, wait, Talk to nurse about symptoms, wait. Go to room, talk about symptoms, wait. See doctor, talk about symptoms, wait. Doctor orders CT scan, wait. CT scan happens, wait.

And wait. And then...

The doctor comes in and says something to the effect of he has gotten the results of the CT scan, there is a lot of swelling in the right side of my brain, there is an unidentified mass and he's so sorry. He'd been thinking I'd had a TIA due to how bright eyed and bushy tailed I was, but we'd need to do more testing and he was admitting me. Who knew having a mild stroke might have been the good news portion of the good news/bad news game? So off we go to the second CT with contrast added and the MRI with contrast as well. I'm an artist, I understand contrast, it brings out foreground and makes things pop. It's necessary for depth. Woohoo. 

So I'm wheeled to my room with my warm blanket, I see Sam & Ann, my delightful, dedicated pastors. They journey with me hugging me and encouraging me. Best people ever. As we round the corner, I see my sweet brother-in-love who I thought was in Tulsa at a volleyball game, he hugged me too. Surprised, I hug him and he tells me they had "car trouble," whipped a Uie and raced back to me. Which means my sister is near by and they lied to my niece. All forgiven, God knows they are the most supportive people in the world and I needed them here, too. My nephew and my new niece were here and I'm love them for that. 

So I get in the room, get settled and am surrounded by my rock, my husband , my bald guy. My daughter, my joy, my Adrian. I soon talk to my daughter, my faith, my Andrea. And my mom, my constant, my cheerleader.

Then my church elders, my dearest life friends and the Holy Spirit cause they are here to PRAY!

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. (The Apostles Creed)

With all my heart.

I also believe this was not a surprise to God and my life verse is Jeremiah 29:11-14. He has a good plan for me and I will see it fulfilled.  

For now, there are unknowns to us but I'm surrounded by prayers and faithful people and this is all I need to know. The battle is God's and He is faithful. 

God is good, all the time and all the time, God is good.

Peace.