Growing a boy: When Seizure Increase

Our Oliver experienced another short seizure today. My heart is breaking, my head is spinning...how can I support this little guy? I am thankful this one was under 1 minute and was pretty mild. Perhaps it is the heat? Maybe it is the fact that he fights naptime and has eliminated his nap altogether. I remember with my other two, I looked forward to "no more naps" because that meant longer outings, different play dates, and in many ways an untendered schedule. No naps and/or a lack of sleep for Oliver can result in seizures.

Life is complex with a child who has physical or mental effects from a medical diagnosis. For example, did you know that heat can be a trigger for seizures? I just learned this today. It is recommended your child take showers, not baths in case they have a seizure--yet you should have a shower seat and handlebar in case they have a seizure while in the shower? Everything-- EVERYTHING seems so much more complex. As his mother, I think and overthink his safety--because I have to.

In many ways, the older he gets the more challenging it is to parent him. Growth causes seizures. Brain development causes seizures. Weight gain can cause seizures. Skipping a meal can cause seizures. Most result in more blood draws to determine the level of medication in the bloodstream. It is heartbreaking to see my kid experience seizures. It is heartbreaking that he has to get "pokeys" (aka blood draws and shots) often. This is his normal. This is my normal. It is tough.

Along with his other medical diagnosis and sensory struggles, every moment of his waking day is "all hands on deck." It is explaining, reexplaining and reexplaining again what we are doing or where we are going. It is creatively talking him "down or out" of a raging fit because something did not go as expected, or was too loud, or something brushed again him in a "wrong" way.

Yet, in all of this, God is good. He provides resources, answers, support and wisdom. In the daily ins and outs it feels lonely and exhausting yet, I know Jesus walks with me. Thank you for reading my words, understanding a bit of our world and for giving me (and Oliver!) grace as we navigate the beautifully complex human God has created him to be.

My love- B

Growing in Life: Remember, it’s only for a season.

 

Remember, it’s only for a season.

 

 

Just getting by in life… and then you have a choice? You can do anything? What freedom we have yet we are afraid to embrace!!

 

We have opportunities those before only dreamt about yet we hide.

 

We have a choice to be great. We have a choice to live a life of greatness, according to our purpose and calling. How often we do not fulfill our purpose because of fear.

 

What is there to fear but fear itself?

 

Embrace change. Embrace the life choices you have.

 

Stop just getting by.

 

Open your eyes to the world around you.

 

You live with blinders on. Who placed those blinders on you but you? Who can remove them but you and Grace above?

 

Release yourself from past. Release your expectations of the future.

 

LIVE!

 

Live life by seizing moments and opportunities.

 

Seek what is good. Seek blessings, not hurts and failures. See each step as a step forward. As a learning experience.

 

LOVE!

 

Love where you are at in life, despite how down, at times you might feel. Love because that is what we are called to do. Let hate be captured. Hate for self, hate for others. What joy comes from holding yourself random over hate?

 

LAUGH!

 

Enjoy time. Even if it may seem boring…find JOY! Laugh. You will not always get what you want in life, but learn to laugh.

 

Remember, it’s only for a season.

 

May 30, 2007

Growing in Faith: What is your "tree" of "the knowledge of good and evil?"

To my fellow believers.

Ok...2022! Goals! Mine (among many)...read the Bible's Old Testament. Last year, I accomplished reading the New Testament, but the OT---now that is a different story.

Diving into Genesis 1-3 this morning, I was made acutely aware of (shhh...I am going to say it) .... TEMPTATION-- but not in the way I have traditionally thought about it. Stick with me okay...I think this may have an impact on you too!

I only got to Genesis 2:9 before God started speaking volumes to me---hence the reason I am typing now instead of reading.

Scene: God just created land, water, sky, fish, animals and THEN man...Adam. The Bible mentions briefly about the world man was put into but then a verse later, God says:

 "Then, the Lord planted a garden in Eden....there he placed the man he had made."               (Gen. 2:8, NLT).

Did you catch that? God PLANTED a special place JUST for man...and PLACED him there. Now, if that is not the highest honor, the best gift, the most profound thought! Out of ALL that God created, he created yet another special place just for man. This got me thinking. Not my main point here, but more of a side thought---

• Where has God PLACED you/me? What specific "garden" has He created JUST for you? Your family? The location of your home? Your job? Friendships? Are we enjoying it? Embracing it? Appreciating it?

• What a BLESSING we easily ignore...not really seeing our "placements" as truly gifts from the Lord! Talk to God about that a bit. I think He will reveal so pretty amazing insights to you!!

 Okay--that was a different tangent, let me get back to my main point.

After God placed man into the garden in Eden, we are told that in that garden, God also planted two specific trees in the middle of the garden: "...the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil." (Gen. 2:9, NLT). ANNNNDDDD....this is where the Lord stopped me! Having read this story many times, I know where this is going but I kept reading...

God continues by telling man of his purpose in the garden. The PURPOSE for man being in the garden was "...to tend and watch over it." (Gen. 2:15, NLT). Ok, question time again: What has God called you/me to "tend" and "watch over?" It seems so simply, doesn't it? But, oh how distracted we can get from our God given purposes! (Pray about this one too!)

Then God put a boundary, a rule, a "do not do" command, "You may eat freely the fruit of every tree in the garden --except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." (Gen. 2:16-17, NLT).

God put one teeny, tiny boundary on man---the TREE! I wonder the thoughts of man in between the time man was placed in the garden and woman was created (Gen. 2:18-23). Where did man's thoughts turn? To the "off-limits" tree or to purely enjoying what and where man was--BEING PRESENT in the moment of time...enjoying the work and purpose for which he was created? Then I think about us--what do we often think about and focus on. Where would your mind go--onw that you could or could not do? (Remember, sin had not yet been introduced to man--yet--I still wonder what man was thinking. Maybe there wasn't even a thought about the tree he was not to touch--until he was given company (a helper, just like him). Shortly after, God made woman from man (Gen. 2:18-23) and the story gets more interesting. 

Cliff Notes version (so I can get to my point): The serpent comes to tempt man, they accept the temptation and are kicked out of the garden. Done. Boom. The rest of history is based on the events played out in chapter 3 of Genesis. 

My bigger point: WHAT IS YOUR FORBIDDEN TREE? That one "thing" that is centered in the middle of your life that is off limits--that God has told you is not good for you---yet- you still want to test it, look at it, hold it, walk around it, entertain it (even just a "little bit")? Are you not able to fully separating yourself from what God says is not good for you!?  Is it social media? Is it a friendship? Maybe it is shopping/overspending or neglecting Bible/prayer time with your Maker. Perhaps it is over eating or ..... the list could go on.

What ever your "tree" is, recognize it for what it is. It is a GOOD boundary, set by God to protect you and give you life and FREEDOM! We don't often think boundaries or "do not do's" create freedom, but I have personally experienced that boundaries really do allow us to live full, purpose filled lives. It takes restraint and discipline but it is worth it.

So, in this new year I encourage you to ask the Lord what "forbidden trees" He was placed in your life (for YOUR benefit!). And when He shows you, resist them!! Choose different than the first man and women (Adam & Eve). Choose to accept God's boundary AND THEN focus on all that is good and life giving "trees" He has given you rather than those things in which God has said are "not for you." God is a God of Grace and Love. His concern and care for you runs deep. Remember your HOPE in Jesus that you are not resisting the evil on on your own but rather with the fully armor of God and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Enjoy this first day of the new year. Know that God walks with you though the power of the Holy Spirit and that He desires you to have a rich, meaningful life by embracing all He has created you for! Enjoy Him and those He has placed around you.

Maranatha.