choices, choices...

I've been putting off an update, because honestly, I haven't known where this week was going to take me, after having some assumed-to-be gall bladder troubles toward the end of last week. Thankfully, I haven't had any major issues since, but it does mean I'll have some interesting decisions to make in the next few days.

I saw my family doctor yesterday who ordered up an abdominal ultrasound. There's the possiblity of a HIDA scan as well, but my two doctors seem to be in disagreement about how important that would be at this point...  which of course is always a good reminder that everyone is going to have their opinion, but I'm truly the boss here, and am capable of listening to my body. While I have moments of feeling rather overwhelmed at the choices to make-- HIDA scan or not, start meds again on Monday or not, and quite possibly surgery or not-- I'm trying my damndest to go with the flow of how I'm feeling right now, which relatively speaking, is pretty darn good. These last few days,  I've had more energy than I've had in a good long while, and my muscle cramping and achiness has dwindled quite a bit! 

The week really took a turn on Tuesday, when the mailman came and brought me the care-package pictured above. This wasn't from anyone I know very well, mind you...  this was from the AMAZING Rebecca Galavan, a fairly new facebook friend who recently launched a project called Smile Boxes for Lyme (http://www.gofundme.com/smileboxforlyme). PLEASE check it out! This is not your average fund raiser...  Rebecca has lyme herself, and has had many challenges....  but she wanted to turn a sour circumstance into something that is a gift to many. What a gigantic heart she has, as she is raising money to send care-packages such as mine to lyme patients all over the country, to ease them from a little bit of their suffering.  This is not something I was expecting at all, and it brought me to tears as I opened it and saw all of the goodies inside...  pajamas, art supplies, probiotics (to a fellow lymie, these are priceless!), bath stuff, yummies. Let me tell you, to have someone acknowledge you in this way...  I see that you're struggling, and I hope this helps a little bit...  is simply magical. And inspiring. And moving beyond belief. And I intend to pay it forward in some way....  still stewing on what that may look like. 

One way is that my dear friend Terry and I have decided to throw together a Chronic Illness Support Circle!  We will be having our first gathering here in Black Mountain on Sunday, October 4th. If anyone reading this is (semi)local and wishes to join us, just holler at me and I'll send you the details...  and you are welcome to pass this on too, as it's open to anyone. It feels good to have put the plan in place for this...  and I'm excited to see what it will become!

On Wednesday, I went to my first official equine-assisted therapy appointment, and met the horses! I'm fairly certain that this is going to change my life in wonderful ways. I wrote a whole blogpost about it on my other blog (http://www.sacredcirclecreativelife.com/heartstream/choosing/) ...  check it out if you're interested. 

Speaking of which, I'm tossing around the idea of narrowing back down to one blog....  I've been torn about this for some time, worried that the folks who read that one aren't necessarily interested in reading this one, and vice versa, and worried that perhaps I'm sharing TOO much...  but as I slowly regain my inner moxie and turn back to some long-awaited writing projects I have been wanting to work on, I'm reminded that really it's all coming from the same place....  and that consolidating would likely conserve energy for diving deeper.  I'm still sitting with this, but I'm suspecting that another change will soon be upon us, and I will let you know if so. 

In the meantime, I refuse to make any decisions until after we venture off to the zoo tomorrow to visit with the gorillas!!!  Squeeeee!!!!!