Asking for prayer.

I'm not the most active blogger.  I don't even know how many people follow my blog on a regular basis, especially with the sparse and irregular posts.  Sometimes weeks pass between one post and the next and occasionally months.  Perhaps there's a small handful of you out there?

Regardless, if you do follow this blog, could I ask for your prayer (if you're a person who prays)?

A few days ago, I started a new blog to begin documenting the "health issues" which I've been going through for the past few years.  I just simply need an outlet to vent about the journey that I've been on.  In the past, I've mentioned a little bit about my problems on this very blog right here but I haven't gone into too much detail about it and certainly haven't "journaled" about it here.  The reason being: I like posting "pretty things" here.  I didn't want to turn this "pretty" blog into something different.

So, on the good days, perhaps I'll continue to post here when I can (and perhaps, it will become my one & only blog again someday once I'm healed).

If you care to follow my "other" journey (which I'll probably be updating very regularly), you can do so here: http://itchyskinjourney.blogspot.com

But, really, no pressure to follow.  It's not the most pleasant of topics.  In all honesty, I probably wouldn't follow it (at least regularly) if I didn't have reason to.  But, at the very least, could you say a quick prayer for me right now, wherever you are?  Could you pray that I make it through this with my faith intact?  That maybe, just maybe, my healing can come sooner rather than later?

I hate to sound so dramatic, but after two years of dealing with this, I just have to tell things how they are.

Thanks so much, everyone.

Love,
Stace

perhaps a bit more energy.

Last month I had some pretty extensive blood testing done and finally learned the results this past Monday.  With all of my skin issues and the intense fatigue that I've been experiencing, I learned that I not only have thyroid & immunity issues, but also severe deficiencies of Vitamin B & D.  I've been starting a new regimen of supplements as they've arrived in the mail this past week--and I'm still waiting on the actual prescriptions to come in--however I'm already noticing a bit more energy.  I'm not jumping through the roof or anything, but I'm starting to feel more like my normal self.

In my last post, I mentioned that I haven't been cooking very much--at all?--recently.  Well, I've found myself making meals for 3 days straight....!  That's breakfast, lunch AND dinner...ALL three days.  Taking this whole year into consideration, I'd say that's erring pretty close to a miracle.

Standing in the kitchen, realizing that I'm actually cooking for once!

Yep, that's me in the tea kettle.

Yep, the meatloaf crumbled apart.

While I cook, her royal highness lounges around.

And finally, I normally don't like (taking or looking at) mirror photos.  But, I'm kind of proud of myself for putting together a new outfit today, so who cares!

Thrift store finds.

For staging purposes, I used my non-thrifted plates (from the previous post), but everything else was found at the Second Mile Thrift Store, just down the street!  I occasionally enjoy buying new things (like those gorgeous plates), but there's something really satisfying about seeing "cheap" purchases come together so beautifully. 

I'm having an amazing day with my skin (see older posts about my awful eczema).  I've barely itched at all today and haven't felt this energized in 6 months or more.  I've been taking advantage of it all day and spent some time doing a little rearranging around the apartment.  It feels wonderful just to feel normal!  I had forgotten what it's like!

wanting to concentrate on other things.

Until recently, I had never experienced any serious complications to my health.  I've always been a fairly healthy person and have been especially healthy these past two years.  The worst issues that I had experienced were some nasty allergies and a bit of acne in high school.  Annoying, yes.  But nothing even close to debilitating.

What I never fully understood before, was that you don't expect difficult health problems like this to happen.  You don't conjure up things like this in your mind.  They just happen.  And then you deal with it.

After living through this and feeling like I've gone to hell and back (in my mind, I'm not exaggerating the pain), I'm kind of tired of it.  It's been so intense....it's taken over my life.....it's not even over yet, but....

I really want to get back to normal.

I really want to concentrate on other things.  Like autumn.  Like family.  Like friends.  Like coffee.  Tea.  Furry animals.  Cleaning our house.  Going out to hear live music.  Taking photos with a real camera again (and not just iPhone pictures).  Experiencing life like a normal adult in their mid-twenties.

For now, here are some shots from around West Philly.  I'm so thankful that I'm getting to enjoy this fall season.  The discomfort will not stop me.  I honestly believed that I was going to miss out on it completely this year.

in due time....

 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7

 



 

a dress for the future.

My mom bought this cute little cotton dress for me a few months ago.
Since my skin's been so bad, I haven't been able to wear it yet.
Somedays, it feels like I'll never be able to look cute again.
But most days--if I'm being positive--I feel like I'm getting closer and closer.

Believe me, a girl has got to have something to look forward to while going through this nightmare!

prayer for healing.

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for you are my praise.

(Jeremiah 17:14)

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the life that you have so graciously given me and for the love that has surrounded me throughout this life.  I stand amazed at your creations and your goodness.  I am grateful for every good thing, big and small.  I am grateful for each hurdle that I've experienced in life because I know that great learning comes from difficult situations.  I am so thankful to know that I am not alone in this time of suffering.  Not only do I have a loving husband, who has taken such wonderful care of me, and family & friends who have reached out to me with such compassion and warmth--but I have a God who also knows suffering firsthand.  I have a God who willingly put himself through hell to save me and everyone who might believe in Him. Truly I am not alone in my suffering.  Truly I can live through the pain and humiliation that are upon me.

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
(Deuteronomy 7:9)

looking forward to......

 

Some things that I'm looking forward to doing once my skin clears up......

• My first cup of coffee (preferably a macchiato) after months of withdrawal
• Taking a long, brisk walk around West Philly with Christopher
• Rearranging/cleaning our bedroom!
• Sinking my teeth into a thick, juicy burger (and perhaps some pommes frites)
• Buying a cute outfit from Anthropologie (or anywhere, really)
• Going out to a nice dinner
• A trip to the Jersey Shore
• Going to hear a chamber concert/orchestra concert/Ars Nova concert
• Going to the Met (to hear Danielle perform?!)
• Going to Kennywood (okay, this will have wait until next summer anyway)
• Eating popcorn!
• Practicing piano again!
• Getting a new pair of glasses (or just new lenses)
• Rubbing my face in my kitties fur!!!!!

eczema diet.

In an effort to help my body heal as quickly as possible from the symptoms of "topical steroid withdrawal" (or "red skin syndrome", or "severe whole body eczema", or whatever you want to call it), I have been following a very strict diet for the past 2 months, with very few exceptions.  This diet is meant to promote "detoxification" and "building up of the immune system" (I'll take both, please).  Though the healing is slow (very, very slow), I do believe that this diet is helping my body to heal more quickly than it would otherwise, because of the nutrient-dense nature of the foods.

The outline for this diet was originally found on the website Eczema Natural Healing (where you can find an explanation of how the digestive system functions + the benefits of each food).


DAILY BREAKFAST (raw):

In the mornings, either a piece of whole fruit or (more likely) a whole fruit smoothie.

The smoothie ingredients often vary according to what we have on hand, but usually they're made up of:

• strawberries
• raspberries
• blackberries
• an apple
• a peach
• lemon juice 
• some kale or spinach 
• (I've been avoiding bananas because I've had some mild allergic reactions to them in the past)

In addition, we have been adding Vitamin C-Complex Powder, Green Super Food Powder, ground flax seeds, chia seeds, coconut oil, and some vanilla and/or almond extract for taste.



LUNCH (cooked):

Lunch is when I get to have a cooked meal (!).

Usually this just means fish and some steamed vegetables, like broccoli, carrots, or red peppers.

A lot of days, the "fish" usually just ends up being sardines in a can (which are surprisingly yummy, just so you know), because they're easy and I can't handle even the most basic cooking in my current condition.  But on happier days, Christopher will make us some salmon or another delicious fish.



DAILY DINNER (raw):

Green juice, green juice, green juice.

After a month of making green smoothies, we finally gave in and bought a juicer, so I could follow this diet more vigorously.  I must say, green juice is waaaayyyy more tasty than green smoothies.  At first, I felt like I was starving at night because all that I had for "dinner" was juice, but my body has gotten used to it for the most part (although I'm still looking forward to the day that I can sink my teeth into a thick, juicy burger again....)

Here are my basic juice ingredients (often with other additions):

• 2 stalks celery
• 2 carrots
• 1/2 bunch of parsley
• 1/4 bunch cilantro
• 2-3 leaves of kale
• a handful of spinach
• a handful of dandelion greens
• 1/2 bell pepper
• 1 beet
• small shoot of ginger
• 1-2 garlic cloves
• an apple (to sweeten)

In addition to food, here is a list of my current vitamins/supplements:

• NOW Foods Eve Multi-vitamin
• Fermented Cod Liver Oil & High Vitamin Butter Oil
• Biokult Probiotic
• Vitamin D3
• Milk Thistle
• Nettle Root Extract
• Quercetin with Bromelain
• Butterbur with Feverfew
• Vitamin C (mixed in smoothies)
• Green Super Food powder (mixed in smoothies)
• Proboost Thymic Protein A
• Lauricidin (Monolaurin supplement)
• Intenzyme Forte enzymes

"Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food." 
-Hippocrates, the "Father of Medicine"

plans to give you a future.

"Be still and know that I am God." -Psalm 46:10

Be still?  It seems like all that I've been able to do is be still.  All I can do is lay on the couch.  Or in the bathtub.  And after a bath, I sit as still as possible next to the shower on the toilet.  Wrapped in a towel.  I just sit there and try not to move.  Because moving hurts.  All that I can do is pray.  All that I can do is hope that this won't last for much longer.  I know that there is learning that can come from this situation and I'm thankful for that.  I'm just really looking forward to the day that this is all behind me.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  -Jeremiah 29:11

This will not last forever.