Blessings

First, a quick update on my health.  Praise the Lord, my weird bladder symptom is greatly reduced.  I even had a day or two when it didn't bother me at all.  And so far my arthritis hasn't flared up more than mild stiffness in all my joints.  (Although I may need to get used to having sore feet!)

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I've been wanting to do a post about blessings during this last round of health struggles, because there are always blessings with trials.  We can't always see them, but they are there!

A biggie: no side effects!  There were many I'd gotten used to living with, and it's nice not to have them anymore.  This last medication caused a lot of unpleasant problems associated with digestion.  I think both medications affected my eyes, and it's wonderful having sharp vision back, especially for an artistic person.

My optimal mental state is medication free.  I am happier, more relaxed, think more clearly, able to concentrate better, and just . . . more myself!  Recently, I've been responding or reacting in ways that reminded me of my personality before illness.  It's been neat, kinda like getting to know myself again.

I have more compassion for people with food allergies or who need to restrict their diet for health reasons.

I'm discovering new foods from shopping at health stores.  Huckleberries has an incredible chocolate selection!  (Which I can't eat right now but am hoping to down the road.)

The boys are eating healthier by default.  Last night, we had baked halibut, rice pilaf, and a veggie.  I wouldn't normally cook fish at home.

Another big plus is weight loss.  I lost around 10 pounds the first week without any effort.  I'm hoping to be back down to my college weight by the end of the month, which would be another 10-15 pounds.

There are also little details to be thankful for such as having this diet fall mostly during a month-long break from co-op.  I have a chocolate class on the spring schedule, and it would have been pretty annoying if I couldn't sample what I was giving to my students!  The bladder problem has forced me to sit less, which has been good.  With my sore feet, I would have been tempted to sit most of the day.  This way, I know I can still do a lot around the house even with stiff feet.

Thank you to all who have prayed for me and are praying.  :-)