E+ S= T

Yes, another algebra equation. Having been in said class for six years, and just now getting to the good stuff, makes me think through all the effort I spent over that time, and the fact that I've gotten this far. School is important, but not as much as knowing your limits. For example: Sometimes, I don't feel like doing important things, ie: bathing, eating, and on some days I must have a nap in the mid- morning so in the afternoon I can do a little school. Energy really comes into play. Do you know how much power consuption it takes to sit up? A lot! Take it from a person who has had his share of slumping action, and the charge it takes to have a seizure, albeit a small one, is tremendous to me. On top of that, you've got to manage the clock. Time is not gonna be your friend forever, and as a student I know that all to well. That means you've got to really prioritize your list of things to do for the day. If you 're like me, you know that you only have a certain amount of energy, and in my case, school. So, slow down, prioritize, and make the most of the time God gave you. Oh, and don't forget to solve the puzzle in the title. (Hint: The key is in the last five sentences.) :)

Surprse!

And now for some good news:
Sara's recovering nicely. She'll never be the same dog she was, but the good thing is that she's eating now. We've got her on baby food, and we have to feed her with a big syringe, but now she'll be with us a little longer to chase seizures away.
I'm finally in Biology, after all those years in Physical Science.
Oh, and I've been officially summoned for the first time. I'm quite excited about it.
On Friday, I was a whirling dirvish. I fininshed school in the early afternoon, and I proceeded to give my canoe a few coats of wax. My dad and I are planning to make her a little more stable for me to embark in, using outriggers. We intend to take it to the ocean and bait my families' 10- ft surf rods.

Liberty

As a sufferer of seizures, it goes without saying I have to be supervised when doing almost activity outside. When I reflect on the 2003 Golden Acorn Leadership Training, (BSA) where I was left among strangers for a week. Or, the guts it took for me to do the C.O.P.E. course among the members of my Venture Crew (BSA) in '04, it makes me want to cry aloud for those times. Whenever I think back on those thoughts, I can't help but think of running down a 300 yard hill at a 45 degree angle, on a mountain bike. Thanks be to God that I made it. I must have been pushing 40 m.p.h. That was in '05, the day before my second surgery. Now, I'ts all that I can do is just to get around during the day, do school, and maybe a few of my chores. I've got a canoe that needs to be waxed, but I rarely have the energy anymore to do these activities. God grant me the patience and forbearance to endure this scourge until I am liberated from it. "Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants."- Lev. 25:10 (Hey, that sounds familiar!)

Seizure Bearer

My beleagured pooch, Sara, is doing somewhat better. Now and then, she's showing some signs of class and begging from us. Usually, though, she's camped out on the chair, sofa, bed, or her bed. She comes up and down stairs daily, and gets her meds on a regular basis. It's in the evenings when I usually have the more severest of my seizures. Tuckered out trying to breathe as she is, Sara's not far away, still doing her job and warding away the rest.

Pure Breed

Sara. That's a name I'll never forget. It happens to be the name of my 3- year old Beagle. She was rescued from an animal shelter in Carrollton, Texas, and has lived with us through 3 moves, and 3 cities. She's white with black spots, brown eyes and brown head. She even licks me when I need to shave. But, the best part of all, is that this dog can sense when I'm having a seizure, and sticks by me through it. She likes to take naps with me, when I'm forced to stop my schoolwork for seizures- so that makes her my snugglebuddy. We're very close. Typical boy and dog. A few weeks ago, my family and I used our grill one night. The grill drew the local possum, and Sara was let out to do her business. The dog drove the possum off of the grill, but decided not to give chase. Eventually, though, dogs will be dogs, so she chased it into a low tree. That's when we think she had a mild heart attack. With 2 vet visits in the back window, we know that heart isn't producing enough red blood cells (Anemia), and she has Congenital Heart Disease. She barely has the strength to eat. The vet suggested a few things we could do to help her. We've decided to let her live out the rest of her days, comfortably. It's hard to see her like this, but one day, she'll in her Creator's hands. Don't forget that all dogs go to Heaven, too!

Pill-Bugs

As most of you know, I've been on a triad of anti-seizure meds, and have been so for most of my 5 1/2 year seizure career. Most folks have not tried the amount of epilepsy drugs I've taken, nor all the variations. I must have tried 7 or 8 anti- seizure meds, and combos of each up to three meds three times a day. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. We're not talking little amounts of pills, but but huge amounts of pills in said dosages. I'm tempted not to mention all the variable drug reactions I've had. They range from nausea to and unsteadiness to sleepiness and apathy. I currently take 12 anti- seizure meds a day, and that's not counting all the medicines I still need to take. Oh, did I mention thatI still get seizures that leak through like a sieve? My doctor reassures me that if my seizures haven't stopped by now, they never will. I live in Houston, for crying out loud! This is Medical City U.S.A., or so they tell me! This calls for patience, understanding, and the hand of God. This is quite a difficult task with my Scotch- Irish temper, but it's still a work in progress. Oh, the fortunate majority, who have their seizures under control. I almost forgot what it was like to be free from this "thorn."

I'm Speechless

There's gotta be something said about poor communication. No, I don't mean communication in general, just abut mine. For example: my brain is working at 110% copacity, and yet, the neurosurgeons haven't found a way to keep me from slowing down, enuciating, and things of that of nature. Think of it this way: My brain is a horizontal plane with thousands of ideas running across it. Now picture if you will, a little hole opens in that plane. That is my mouth. In my current condition, out of the thousands of thought and ideas that need be spoken and kept in order, I get, perhaps, 500, out of 1000 words out, and they have hardly anything to do with each other. But, I am stuck with myself, and a few good phrases of advice which I have already shared with you in previous blogs. Topping that, is the Lord God who knows me inside, outside, and through the window. I know that He has a crucial job for me, and I must be bold and fearless in acceppting it.
I am slow of speech and tongue."
The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."

Energy Conservation

What I have to do to any overnight activity any more! It used to be so simple when I was in the Boy Scouts. But now it's like moving a boulder uphill in the Rockies, with a severe avalanche warning! I'm 300 mi. away from the life I knew, I've uncontrollable secondary seizures popping up everywhere that makes it hard for my parents to trust me, even to let me go on a walk, nevermind a one- day campout. Good thing I found a good Venture Crew in Sugar Land. That and school have made up 95% of my life down here. The overnight activity is with said Venture group, and it will be my first with this unit. When I think back on all 123 days of camping I did, I never thought I would run into this problem with the word, "energy." When I get tired and don't notice it, I push harder and faster, making more mistakes along the way. When you rest between activities, you find you have more energy at the end of the day.