Nascar '08

Discovery!

Weekend follows weekend, and I was able to do something on both. My latest escapade was to Natural Bridge Caverns in Texas. I've had a huge problem with caves and caverns for nine years. (The first cave was atop Enchanted Rk. at the State Park in Fredericksburg, Texas.) Anyway, I and my Venture Crew made the long trip there. We bought our tickets in time for the "Discovery" tour. All of the took 75 minutes. We almost didn't make it. We had to descend to the deepest part of the cavern on this tour, which was something such as 300 ft or so feet below the surface, but we saw some some interesting, yet delicate formations. Crawlways, stories, strange formations, broomsticks, a living fern 150 ft. below the surface, a battleship on the wall, even a pillar which reaches from floor to ceiling can all be found on that tour. We crossed the deepest part of the caves on a natural bridge. For us broad guys, we had to turn to the side for path across was narrow. I daresay it was a relief to reach the surface again. Anything is better than 70 degrees and 99% humidity. Yes, I took lots of shots, but I couldn't keep mopping my forehead, watch my footing, while taking pictures at the same time. We took a 75 minute break for lunch, and went back to it with a fesh tour guide. On this tour, (The "Illumination,") we had more crawlways, pigs' ears, cave bacon, an emerald stream, a handrail that had been subject to mineral decay for twenty years, and a total blackout where you couldn't even see your hand in front of your face, even if you tried! All this proves God is indeed the King of Creation and has power over earth and sky. All to often, we see earth as soil and rock only, but think of the mighty caverns that are at least 100 ft. high! Some have yet to be discovered as these were found in the '60s. Angels must have been guarding me on the descent and ascent on each tour, because the steps and ramps were uneven unlighted, and slippery, and in the condition I was in: unsteady at best, it could only be a God thing that got me out of there without injury. You know, I think I'm getting good at this weekend deal. (For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone) Ps 91:11-12

FINALLY!!!!!

I've accomplished two great things this week: Atended and staffed a 19 1/2 hour long home-school bookfair over two days, and I found out the reason for my seizures...finally! Actually, the two kinda' go hand in hand. The seizures are psychological, and I'll tell you how I deduced that. On Thursday, my brothers and I helped set up the booth my mom, dad, and I would be working, only that evening, my parents said I couldn't go due to my seizures. Good thing they said that, for my determination to prove my parents wrong was going to cost me some extra sleep. We had to be at the book fair no later than 7:30am Friday, so I got up at 5:15, and fully ready at 5:45. That happened Saturday too. Veni, vedi, venoseizure. Translation- I came, I saw, I didn't have a seizure. Sure, I had a lot of little wrist flips, but for 19+ hours, I didn't have a trace of anything that resembled a malicious flip- flop on the floor or the ilk except when I got dehydrated. Oh, and a bonus- I discovered that, while browsing in one of the bookstalls, a book that had my mother's maiden name on it. So I went back to our booth, and asked her about the topic at hand, and after affirming that she was a great-great grandaughter of said relative, I just had to tell the vendor and get the look in his face. I got more than that- I got the book on the house! As I've said, God hears all prayers, and the prayers He does answer come in more ways than we could imagine. I had a sneaky suspisicion that my seizures "were all in my head," but there was no way to prove it. Thanks be to God, He exposes dark things to light, and now, hopefully with the Vagus Nerve Stimulator, true excercise, determination, and my faith in Jesus Christ, I can finally move on with God's calling for me!

This Is Who I Am

Chores

You know the old saying: "Everything in moderation?" Apparently I need to observe that law more often when it comes to excercise- which is mainly chores. Exercise for a while, then rest. Repeat. I didn't always do this. I thought getting all my chores done at once. It just got me very tired, and a case of severe seizures. Don't rush when in this situation. Only you know what you feel like what you can do. If you can't do the job, ask for help! It's no shame to be taken out of the game when it comes to chores and such, and for that matter, anything. When you feel good, you tend to push so you can get as much out of your day. See fifth sentence for results. So take my advice: Excercise, then rest.

Freedom!

OK, I don't snore- badly. I recently had a sleep-study done on me, and I rather enjoyed it. Where else can you get your own queen- size bed, flat screen- tv, VCR- DVD combo, and bathroom? Oh, did I mention a good night's sleep away from the regular noise of home. Sure you're wired up worse than a Christmas tree, but I found a way around that, but look at the bright side, there were no needles! My techs were great conversationalists. We had a lot in common, including camping and fishing in several of the same state parks. It was 11:30PM before I turned in. (literally!) My mom was staying with me just in case I had some seizures, and couldn't advocate for myself. There was a mess of cords from mostly my head, and it took the techs about an hour to get me all hooked up. In bed, I had to undergo a communications test for them to watch me. All this is leading up to the fact that I have hypopneas. Hypopnea is a medical term for abnormally shallow breathing or slow respiratory rate. This differs from apneas in that there remains some flow of air. Translation: I don't breathe well at night. A second visit is definitely in the works to try a CPAP Machine to get me to breathe deeper. The end all result is that if I can sleep better, I'll have more energy, more energy helps with excercise, and I'll excercise all day. Hopefully, deeper sleep will evict some of the seizures that come from being tired, and I can finally regain some of my freedom!

Forgetting The Chain

It's nice to get away. You know, two hours out of seven days isn't that much to be asked, is it? I couldn't wait to go Monday evening, because that was when my Venture Crew was going to the movies. Now, I haven't been out with my contemporaries for nearly 2 1/2 years. Going on my own gave me some confidendence, and to forget the medical chain I have to wear around my neck. As the movie was in the late afternoon, and I couldn't get a ride, I called a friend of mine and asked if he could come me up. He said he would. When we got to the church, our meeting spot, we caravaned over to the theatre. We saw the documentary "Expelled" by Ben Stein. It has to do with Evolution being the accepted THEORY everywhere, and that there's no room for any other thought of how we got here. How professors and scientists for even mentioning "intelligent design" get fired. Anyway it was a great movie, and it had you look at specific people in a whole new light, then perhaps you saw them before. After the movie, it was off to the ice cream creamery. Now not being an officianoto of creameries, I thought I could just get a cone there, but no. I could not get one flavor, but had to have it blended. Oh, I guess the guy behind the counter didn't hear that I wanted it in a cone, and gave it me in a cup. Just for the better. Later, I found out that the cone cost more than the cup. I did manage to have a seizure, and that was in the opening of the movie, but the rest of the evening passed just fine. Did, I tell you I had to pay everyone in quarters. Imagine: over $11 in quarters for the ice cream, and the movie ticket. You know, 2 out of 168 hours is fine by me.