Saturday, February 10, 2007 7:46 PM CST
Hello Everyone!
Despite the top "date", it is actually 12.14pm on Sunday afternoon here the 11th Feb!
I have had a busy week. Monday, just gone. I had my shoulder ultrasound which showed that I have bursitis and that is why my shoulder is so sore. For those of you who are only just reading up on me now...I had a fall about 12 weeks ago through a deck chair and was holding Isaac so I didn't support myself...I naturally went to protect his head and damaged my shoulder. The bursa in my shoulder which carries the fluid to lubricate the joint of the shoulder has become inflammed from the fall and literally blown up. Whenever I move the joint, the bursa now becomes pinched in the joint. Cortisone injections deep into the shoulder are the usual treatment but my platelet count has been a bit low so we will check with my haematologist as to what he thinks is best. Otherwise, I might just try heat and ultrasound therapy on my shoulder. It will take a bit longer to get better but might be less risky. My shoulder has been very sore. I am glad that I know why now!
That Monday I also had my liver or upper abdominal ultrasound that I was "supposed" to have done a long while ago. My liver enzymes have been all high for years and they know it is related to the oxymethalone I was on for years to help my bloods. Even though I have been off the steroids for at least 4 years now, the enzymes continue to be high and so they keep an eye on my liver via ultrasound. I have not got the results yet. I need to see my specialist.
I had lots of "kindy blues" this week. It has been hard having Isaac start full time kindy. I am not used to being up at a certain time to pick him up! It is too tiring for me to get up to take him early in the morning so my husband does it....or mum helps out. But I have been trying to set a goal to pick him up every day and found myself in tears a lot and getting very tired. I saw my GP on Wednesday and broke into tears in his room. I talked about how I missed Isaac and felt so pressured by everything. I have had tests to do for my health and have some serious tests coming up....so I think I have been overwhelmed. My doctor helped me to put things into perspective and we have made a goal for me that is less stressful. The key is to understand that it is ok if I cannot pick Isaac up and that there are people to help. I tend to get flustered when I think I should be doing something and then I need some help! But hey...my doctor pointed out to me that many families have help these days and there is no "normal"...so to do the best that I can and not to go over and beyond my own boundaries. The talk helped.
On Friday just gone I had an MRI under anaesthetic. They checked on my sinus areas and my face...head and neck screening of cancer for FA.....just routine and then for my ear which is partly deaf and rings constantly...which drives me crazy many times! It went well. Although I was in a panic most of the time at the hospital. I was supposed to have my IVIG infusion after the MRI and no one seemed to know what was going on. The nurses felt like they were being difficult and I did not have confidence that it was all organised! So I had a few tears...not crying...just tears and a little panic at certain times. Alan's mum was with me and helped me to get through. Alan was also there at times. I ended on having my infusion and got home at 8.15pm that night.
I have been tired. Anaesthetic always seems to take a while to wear off for me. Yesterday I went to a wedding and then to Alan's dad's 65th b-day party...which was all enjoyable and I took it as easy as I could...but today I feel very tired. So I have had a shower and am sitting in my "day PJ's"...I never wear them at night. It feels nice to just dag around. Alan and Isaac went to church this morning but we thought it may push me too far if I went and that would have been right. I needed to rest and sleep. Just so you all know...I don't regret going to the wedding and the party. It was fun and I enjoyed being a part of these people's special day!
Ok, now...Alan and Isaac should be home soon. I wanted to read my Bible before Isaac got back!
Bless you all and please pray for me as I go for a bone marrow biopsy/aspiration on the 20th Feb!
Love Charisse
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
January 2007 entries
Sunday, January 21, 2007 5:21 AM CST
Life Goes On.
There is nothing too exciting going on right now. The last couple of weeks have been very hot and then we had some hot, humid days. I do not like humid weather! Yesterday there was a cool change though and so today has been nice. Last night I slept without tossing and turning!
What have I got planned? Before the end of Feb I am due my next bone marrow biopsy/aspirate......see how my blast count is going. I am quite nervous about this. I am having an MRI done on the 9th.....the main reason for this is to check my left ear...which has been half deaf and ringing for so many years. We will see if we can do anything about that.
My back is still hurting me after that fall I had over 8 weeks ago...when I fell through the deck chair...the MRI will also check my back. I have another infusion on the same day...plus I have been slack and not had that liver biopsy yet and ultrasound....plus an ultrasound on my shoulder from the fall! Ahh....so much to do! And I am trying to get this all done before the end of Feb!
Isaac starts full time kindy in a week...when I say full time it is 4 half days a week...and he is home fully on Friday.
Otherwise.....life goes on.
Thinking of you all!
Love Charisse
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Monday, January 1, 2007 11:57 PM CST
Happy New Year Everyone!
It is the 2nd January here. A Tuesday! I hope you all had a good New Year.
We had a good Christmas. I was well for Christmas which is always lovely. Our whole family was well. We had a great time at home in the morning on Christmas Day. Isaac was SO excited to see all the presents under the tree and just started squealing...or more like yelling excitedly! It was funny. We took a little video of him. It is the first time he has really gotten into the presents under the tree thing.
We went to my parents for lunch and there were so many presents under the tree...Isaac was so excited. We had a good time having lunch and opening presents, being with family and our friends. Then it was off to Alan's parents for the evening. Thank you to all who gave Isaac a present. It was so crazy at the Giancaspro house that there are a couple of presents who I am not sure who gave them...hehe.... We left there at 11pm....it was a late night.
New Year's Eve we had our African service at church. The Africans enjoy praying in and dancing in the new year. However, the venue only let us stay until 11pm so it was different. But I enjoyed being with my family when the New Year ticked over. On the way home from our service our family and a couple of friends stopped at a service station that had subway...we had not had dinner...and we ate subway and Isaac fell asleep in his stroller and we saw the New Year in and it was nice to just sit there and relax rather than have all the noise....dancing is fun but sometimes the quieter times are really treasured as well.
I fell asleep quickly when we got home which was a relief. Alan goes back to work next Tuesday so this week has and still will be fun with outings and seeing friends and family and so on. Unfortunately today Alan is not feeling well and has been very flat....but he bounces back quickly and I am sure will feel better tomorrow.
We have a wedding coming up on the weekend and my brother-in-law's birthday coming up early next week.
Well, I think that might be all to report on.
Happy New Year!
I have been very solemly thinking about the people who have gone through loss and serious situations right now. My heart goes out to you all.
Love Charisse
Add on: I learned tonight from my friend Carole Femly that Noah who had FA passed away yesterday on the 1st of January and want to express my love to the family and this very sad situation. Noah was only 3 years old. He was so sweet. I just wanted to make a tribute to him tonight. This wonderful family live in Australia where I am. We have you in prayer and in our thoughts.
Love Charisse
Life Goes On.
There is nothing too exciting going on right now. The last couple of weeks have been very hot and then we had some hot, humid days. I do not like humid weather! Yesterday there was a cool change though and so today has been nice. Last night I slept without tossing and turning!
What have I got planned? Before the end of Feb I am due my next bone marrow biopsy/aspirate......see how my blast count is going. I am quite nervous about this. I am having an MRI done on the 9th.....the main reason for this is to check my left ear...which has been half deaf and ringing for so many years. We will see if we can do anything about that.
My back is still hurting me after that fall I had over 8 weeks ago...when I fell through the deck chair...the MRI will also check my back. I have another infusion on the same day...plus I have been slack and not had that liver biopsy yet and ultrasound....plus an ultrasound on my shoulder from the fall! Ahh....so much to do! And I am trying to get this all done before the end of Feb!
Isaac starts full time kindy in a week...when I say full time it is 4 half days a week...and he is home fully on Friday.
Otherwise.....life goes on.
Thinking of you all!
Love Charisse
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Monday, January 1, 2007 11:57 PM CST
Happy New Year Everyone!
It is the 2nd January here. A Tuesday! I hope you all had a good New Year.
We had a good Christmas. I was well for Christmas which is always lovely. Our whole family was well. We had a great time at home in the morning on Christmas Day. Isaac was SO excited to see all the presents under the tree and just started squealing...or more like yelling excitedly! It was funny. We took a little video of him. It is the first time he has really gotten into the presents under the tree thing.
We went to my parents for lunch and there were so many presents under the tree...Isaac was so excited. We had a good time having lunch and opening presents, being with family and our friends. Then it was off to Alan's parents for the evening. Thank you to all who gave Isaac a present. It was so crazy at the Giancaspro house that there are a couple of presents who I am not sure who gave them...hehe.... We left there at 11pm....it was a late night.
New Year's Eve we had our African service at church. The Africans enjoy praying in and dancing in the new year. However, the venue only let us stay until 11pm so it was different. But I enjoyed being with my family when the New Year ticked over. On the way home from our service our family and a couple of friends stopped at a service station that had subway...we had not had dinner...and we ate subway and Isaac fell asleep in his stroller and we saw the New Year in and it was nice to just sit there and relax rather than have all the noise....dancing is fun but sometimes the quieter times are really treasured as well.
I fell asleep quickly when we got home which was a relief. Alan goes back to work next Tuesday so this week has and still will be fun with outings and seeing friends and family and so on. Unfortunately today Alan is not feeling well and has been very flat....but he bounces back quickly and I am sure will feel better tomorrow.
We have a wedding coming up on the weekend and my brother-in-law's birthday coming up early next week.
Well, I think that might be all to report on.
Happy New Year!
I have been very solemly thinking about the people who have gone through loss and serious situations right now. My heart goes out to you all.
Love Charisse
Add on: I learned tonight from my friend Carole Femly that Noah who had FA passed away yesterday on the 1st of January and want to express my love to the family and this very sad situation. Noah was only 3 years old. He was so sweet. I just wanted to make a tribute to him tonight. This wonderful family live in Australia where I am. We have you in prayer and in our thoughts.
Love Charisse
Sunday, December 31, 2006
December 2006 entries
Saturday, December 23, 2006 2:17 AM CST
My dad is doing much better now thank you.
It is good to be able to be a family again and not worry about people being so sick in the family.
Most of you would know about my sleeping problem. I appreciated all the advice, support and love when I had that really bad bout of sleeping. My sleeping problem is anxiety and stress related and I am on some medication to help that. This issue is a long term thing because it is all related to the stress and anxiety that I deal with in relation to FA. Some weeks it is really, really bad and other weeks it is much better. Unfortunately last weekend it was very bad and I was very stressed and sleep deprived. The doctor says that when I really get anxious the medication becomes over-ridden and so it will not work...unless you have a GA or something like that. That is why I was so distressed...I also had a huge panic attack along with it. Alan told me that it was a very traumatic night. It is amazing because I remember it and then there are some things I don't remember.
However, I have slept better this week and the new medication that the doctor has tried me on is working. I just need to be able to keep doing my cognitive behavioural therapy, my walking and so on along with it!
I want to say again, thank you to all on the FA group who have offered me support and helped me out....it is much appreciated. It really helps my anxiety to just know that there are others out there like me...so thank you. Thank you also to Prayer Bears who are very faithful in supporting me and praying for me. Thank you to my family who faithfully pray for me and go out their way to help me rest. Thank you mostly to my husband, Alan. He is always there with me. When I am the most anxious he helps me deal with it and most times this is not easy. So thank you Alan.
Ok, tomorrow is Christmas Eve here in Australia. Today Alan, Isaac and I went to Alan's dad's for lunch. It was a good day. It was our Christmas gathering with his dad and partner. Oh what wonderful gifts for us all. We enjoyed exchanging gifts and having a scrumptous meal...Isaac LOVED the upside down pineaple cake. It was really nice. We were there from 1230 to 3pm and then we went to Isaac's great nanna Howard-Jones to give her Christmas gift. Isaac's gift from her is with us and we will put it under the tree on Christmas Eve with the rest.
Tomorrow we have church...Christmas Eve service...in the morning....my sister and I are singing an item and Alan and the children's church have some little production thing happening. Then Sunday night at home...put the presents under the Christmas tree and a busy day on Christmas day! We will have the morning to ourselves....just to be a family...and lunch with my parents and family and dinner with Alan's family! (mum's side). Isaac will be exhausted by the end of it all.
I thouroughly enjoyed spending the day with my sister on Friday just gone. It was also nice to have Alan's mum over as well for lunch and a bit of the afternoon. Liesl and I practiced our item for church, Eliana fed, Denise came, we had lunch and then picked Isaac up from child care and then he went to sleep, Denise went shopping, Elian went shopping with her daddy for Liesl and Liesl and I lounged in the lounge and watched the new "Superman"...heehe.......a good day! I hope all that made sense.
Well now I am going to go.....we have to have dinner, Isaac needs a bath and after such a busy day...we need to relax and I need to sleep well tonight!
Please keep Rachel and Tyler and Benjamin....Nina's family in your prayers. Nina passsed away this week and my heart goes out to them. It is a hard time for this to happen...it is hard whenever it happens...but please keep them in prayer. Nina had FA and was the sweetest little girl. I had the pleasure to meet her at FA camp last year and go to the zoo with them and spend some time at their house.
Ok, love you all and I really pray that you have a very good Christmas...the best that you can have in whatever your situation is. Jesus is faithful. I have found Him to be most comforting in the worst situations.
Merry Christmas,
Love Charisse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, December 6, 2006 6:03 AM CST
Hello All,
what a rough couple of weeks our family has had. It feels like it will never end. I mean, it has been a couple of months really. In the bout of Alan having Chicken pox and Isaac....I started having insomnia problems which always affects my mouth and health. I had 3 weeks of constant problems every night and ended up with bad mouth ulcers throughout my whole mouth. The pain has been unbearable. Obviously I am bearing it but with a lot of difficulty. Pain, when going for too long...like this makes me depressed. I am very prone to depression with all the issues of FA. On Monday I didn't think I could put up with anything anymore. I rang Alan at work and felt so cross and had tears...it was a moment of panic. The ulcers have been so bad that no pain relief has been helping and I think this is the problem. I had morphine tablets and it still did not touch the pain...but it made me have a hang over which made me depressed and then I am stuck in this cycle! I have Isaac to care for and it is not a good cycle....in fact it is an unhealthy cycle. So I stopped those tablets and are just taking digesic which is still very strong and has side effects...but still the pain is hardly touched. I am on numerous stuff for these ulcers now...antibiotics and antifungal.....antseptic mouth washers and anaesthetic mouth wash....it just has to heal and for FA it is twice the healing time of a normal persone. Mouth ulcers has always been a problem when I am stressed and run down!
Please pray that they clear up soon. I feel like my cheeks are swollen and I can't talk properly and I feel miserable.
My dad has been very sick! They are not sure what he has had but suggested some liver virus. He has been told he is not allowed near me..nor is my mum in case she is habouring the virus. He gets more test results back soon. It always feels a bit scary and you worry...I love my dad and don't want anything to ever happen to him. He is the Senior Pastor of our church....a big African church with about 400 people in it. He is an amazing person and it is so hard to see him sick. So please pray that he will get well soon. He has been very sick. It looks like he may be getting better but it has been rough going. It is also hard to not have mum around too. I love my mum and have missed her heaps as well. I miss both mum and dad.
Liesl, my sister, is going well with her baby, Eliana. Tim is also good (husband). They came here yesterday because I was feeling so down...just to give me some support. Isaac wanted to help with the baby and watch her have a bath and watch Liesl feed and help Tim with everything. He loves his Uncle Tim and seems to be competeing for attention. He had a fun time in the bath.....Uncle Tim and him (Tim was not in the bath) were squirting water at each other and Isaac was squealing with delight! We had tea together and I got to be an Aunty. I love Eliana. She is sweet and she likes to look at me. I love to cuddle her and help dress her and help Liesl with different things. When Tim goes back to work next week we will probably see more of each other....especially since mum is not allowed near them either. Oh yes, dad is not allowed near the baby and Liesl either. We are all a very tight nitted family and so it is hard when we all have to be separated......due to sickness. We are very close. We are praying that dad is feeling better by Christmas. It has been very unfortunate for us all....especially dad...he has been very sick...we love you dad.
Well, I am going to put new pictures of the baby and Isaac and us all in the photo section.
Please keep praying for our family. Every Thursday night our family and church folk meet for a prayer meeting and target FA and the well being of our family. As I said in my last journal....our roots in Christ go deep down and as long as that happens...we don't need to worry. However, Jesus asks us to pray and keep praying for the sick and for miracles...that is what we do as a family. So please join us in prayer.....prayer for my dad, prayer that I will be healed from FA. Prayer that Isaac and Alan will be well and protected and grow in God. Prayer that Liesl and Tim will love being parents and grow in God and be blessed and that Eliana will be blessed by God too. In this life, it is a battle....a Spiritual battle I believe. Therefore, we cannot stop praying...our passion is prayer.
Hope you didn't mind me sharing that with you guys.
Love you heaps and don't forget to check out the photos....in the process of being put up there so see if they are there yet!
Love Charisse
My dad is doing much better now thank you.
It is good to be able to be a family again and not worry about people being so sick in the family.
Most of you would know about my sleeping problem. I appreciated all the advice, support and love when I had that really bad bout of sleeping. My sleeping problem is anxiety and stress related and I am on some medication to help that. This issue is a long term thing because it is all related to the stress and anxiety that I deal with in relation to FA. Some weeks it is really, really bad and other weeks it is much better. Unfortunately last weekend it was very bad and I was very stressed and sleep deprived. The doctor says that when I really get anxious the medication becomes over-ridden and so it will not work...unless you have a GA or something like that. That is why I was so distressed...I also had a huge panic attack along with it. Alan told me that it was a very traumatic night. It is amazing because I remember it and then there are some things I don't remember.
However, I have slept better this week and the new medication that the doctor has tried me on is working. I just need to be able to keep doing my cognitive behavioural therapy, my walking and so on along with it!
I want to say again, thank you to all on the FA group who have offered me support and helped me out....it is much appreciated. It really helps my anxiety to just know that there are others out there like me...so thank you. Thank you also to Prayer Bears who are very faithful in supporting me and praying for me. Thank you to my family who faithfully pray for me and go out their way to help me rest. Thank you mostly to my husband, Alan. He is always there with me. When I am the most anxious he helps me deal with it and most times this is not easy. So thank you Alan.
Ok, tomorrow is Christmas Eve here in Australia. Today Alan, Isaac and I went to Alan's dad's for lunch. It was a good day. It was our Christmas gathering with his dad and partner. Oh what wonderful gifts for us all. We enjoyed exchanging gifts and having a scrumptous meal...Isaac LOVED the upside down pineaple cake. It was really nice. We were there from 1230 to 3pm and then we went to Isaac's great nanna Howard-Jones to give her Christmas gift. Isaac's gift from her is with us and we will put it under the tree on Christmas Eve with the rest.
Tomorrow we have church...Christmas Eve service...in the morning....my sister and I are singing an item and Alan and the children's church have some little production thing happening. Then Sunday night at home...put the presents under the Christmas tree and a busy day on Christmas day! We will have the morning to ourselves....just to be a family...and lunch with my parents and family and dinner with Alan's family! (mum's side). Isaac will be exhausted by the end of it all.
I thouroughly enjoyed spending the day with my sister on Friday just gone. It was also nice to have Alan's mum over as well for lunch and a bit of the afternoon. Liesl and I practiced our item for church, Eliana fed, Denise came, we had lunch and then picked Isaac up from child care and then he went to sleep, Denise went shopping, Elian went shopping with her daddy for Liesl and Liesl and I lounged in the lounge and watched the new "Superman"...heehe.......a good day! I hope all that made sense.
Well now I am going to go.....we have to have dinner, Isaac needs a bath and after such a busy day...we need to relax and I need to sleep well tonight!
Please keep Rachel and Tyler and Benjamin....Nina's family in your prayers. Nina passsed away this week and my heart goes out to them. It is a hard time for this to happen...it is hard whenever it happens...but please keep them in prayer. Nina had FA and was the sweetest little girl. I had the pleasure to meet her at FA camp last year and go to the zoo with them and spend some time at their house.
Ok, love you all and I really pray that you have a very good Christmas...the best that you can have in whatever your situation is. Jesus is faithful. I have found Him to be most comforting in the worst situations.
Merry Christmas,
Love Charisse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, December 6, 2006 6:03 AM CST
Hello All,
what a rough couple of weeks our family has had. It feels like it will never end. I mean, it has been a couple of months really. In the bout of Alan having Chicken pox and Isaac....I started having insomnia problems which always affects my mouth and health. I had 3 weeks of constant problems every night and ended up with bad mouth ulcers throughout my whole mouth. The pain has been unbearable. Obviously I am bearing it but with a lot of difficulty. Pain, when going for too long...like this makes me depressed. I am very prone to depression with all the issues of FA. On Monday I didn't think I could put up with anything anymore. I rang Alan at work and felt so cross and had tears...it was a moment of panic. The ulcers have been so bad that no pain relief has been helping and I think this is the problem. I had morphine tablets and it still did not touch the pain...but it made me have a hang over which made me depressed and then I am stuck in this cycle! I have Isaac to care for and it is not a good cycle....in fact it is an unhealthy cycle. So I stopped those tablets and are just taking digesic which is still very strong and has side effects...but still the pain is hardly touched. I am on numerous stuff for these ulcers now...antibiotics and antifungal.....antseptic mouth washers and anaesthetic mouth wash....it just has to heal and for FA it is twice the healing time of a normal persone. Mouth ulcers has always been a problem when I am stressed and run down!
Please pray that they clear up soon. I feel like my cheeks are swollen and I can't talk properly and I feel miserable.
My dad has been very sick! They are not sure what he has had but suggested some liver virus. He has been told he is not allowed near me..nor is my mum in case she is habouring the virus. He gets more test results back soon. It always feels a bit scary and you worry...I love my dad and don't want anything to ever happen to him. He is the Senior Pastor of our church....a big African church with about 400 people in it. He is an amazing person and it is so hard to see him sick. So please pray that he will get well soon. He has been very sick. It looks like he may be getting better but it has been rough going. It is also hard to not have mum around too. I love my mum and have missed her heaps as well. I miss both mum and dad.
Liesl, my sister, is going well with her baby, Eliana. Tim is also good (husband). They came here yesterday because I was feeling so down...just to give me some support. Isaac wanted to help with the baby and watch her have a bath and watch Liesl feed and help Tim with everything. He loves his Uncle Tim and seems to be competeing for attention. He had a fun time in the bath.....Uncle Tim and him (Tim was not in the bath) were squirting water at each other and Isaac was squealing with delight! We had tea together and I got to be an Aunty. I love Eliana. She is sweet and she likes to look at me. I love to cuddle her and help dress her and help Liesl with different things. When Tim goes back to work next week we will probably see more of each other....especially since mum is not allowed near them either. Oh yes, dad is not allowed near the baby and Liesl either. We are all a very tight nitted family and so it is hard when we all have to be separated......due to sickness. We are very close. We are praying that dad is feeling better by Christmas. It has been very unfortunate for us all....especially dad...he has been very sick...we love you dad.
Well, I am going to put new pictures of the baby and Isaac and us all in the photo section.
Please keep praying for our family. Every Thursday night our family and church folk meet for a prayer meeting and target FA and the well being of our family. As I said in my last journal....our roots in Christ go deep down and as long as that happens...we don't need to worry. However, Jesus asks us to pray and keep praying for the sick and for miracles...that is what we do as a family. So please join us in prayer.....prayer for my dad, prayer that I will be healed from FA. Prayer that Isaac and Alan will be well and protected and grow in God. Prayer that Liesl and Tim will love being parents and grow in God and be blessed and that Eliana will be blessed by God too. In this life, it is a battle....a Spiritual battle I believe. Therefore, we cannot stop praying...our passion is prayer.
Hope you didn't mind me sharing that with you guys.
Love you heaps and don't forget to check out the photos....in the process of being put up there so see if they are there yet!
Love Charisse
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