Sick & Tired of being Sick & Tired

 And then it came. Just about the same time that I had congratulated my immune system on a job well done, and thanked it for saving me from the awful clutches of chikungunya.
  It started small and sneaky. In fact, more like, kinda annoying. That pain in my foot that left me thinking I must have pulled a muscle. Yes, the thought crossed my mind that this could be the beginning of the end, but I was still in the denial stage of the illness, and I managed to push the thought from my mind. However, the pain persisted, with it only getting worse as the day wore on, but that's how strained muscles do. Yup! All I need is a good nights sleep and I'll be fit, fine and healthy till morning. Or not. I got out of bed the next morning and was ever so grateful for that wall to hang on to, or I would have collapsed in a painful heap of aching bones on the floor. And yes, it was that bad. I totally understood now what Chris meant when he thought he had broken his foot. That's where it started but that's not where it ended. It consumed all my joints, turning them into painful, stiff works of art.
 The first day, before fever set in, I coaxed my body out to my sewing machine in a last ditched effort to keep my mind preoccupied. As I tried to maneuver those pieces of fabric with stiff, painful fingers, my heart went out to all the old ladies in the land, struggling to get a grip on those knitting needles, in spite of arthritic hands. I so feel for them now. It IS hard to hold something with fingers that feel like they are only semi attached to your hand, and just don't listen to your commands to open and close.
 As fever set in, I gave up my post and surrendered to my bed. And it felt just pretty good. I normally hate laying around and having watched my family the previous week holding up beds, couches or whatever they could find, for a few days straight, I thought, "How boring and unappealing! Why, I don't know if I could stand such drudgery!"
 But as my temperature climbed and my pain increased, till it felt like someone was holding a flaming torch to my joints, I thought, "Oh, my dear bed! How I love you! I don't care how small and ugly you are, I will never leave you or forsake you!" Seriously, it felt THAT good!
Painkillers did help, especially if you take four times the recommended dosage. I didn't bother to read the label, just figuring it's the normal 2 tablets every 4-6 hours. After three days of faithfully drugging myself with 2 tablets every 4 hours, I decided to read the usage directions. "Do Not exceed more than 2 tablets in a 24 hour period." Oops. Oh well, at least it took the edge off enough that I could hobble on my stiff, wooden legs to the bathroom.
 I had fever for a few days, then a painful rash that brought a weird sensation of a thousand bugs crawling all over me. It's not that I was hallucinating and wildly swatting at imaginary creatures, it was just that itchy, prickly sensation. Insomnia hit big time, one of the glorious side effects of the disease. I would lay in bed, unable to sleep and think...."What if I just THINK it's my rash causing this weird sensation, and it IS actually something crawling on me."
  More times than I care to count, I would throw the sheet back and look, just to reassure myself that there really is nothing there. Other times, I would do my utmost best to ignore the feeling of biting bugs, only to look down as a mosquito prepared for takeoff, heavily laden with my delicious blood.
 Sigh. Enough to drive a person crazy after awhile.
  The mosquitoes are determined and relentless! I thought if I'd give in and take the dreaded disease they are offering me, they would be happy and let me alone. But no, they continue to surround me with fangs bared, just drooling and waiting to sneak them into my raw, painful flesh. We have so many right now, lots of the dreaded, disease carrying kind. Our windows are almost impossible to screen in since they swing outward, so they have free range of our house. Occasionally we spray but it's almost a waste of money because it doesn't take more than an hour before there are more to take their place. We just sorta threw up our hands and surrendered to their antagonizing bites. Either that or drive yourself insane trying to kill them all. At night we sleep with a sheet pulled tight around our neck, not for warmth!:)....but to try to keep them off us. We blow a fan on our heads in an attempt to deter the remaining few.
There were some bright spots in this illness though. I have always loved change of season, with fall being my absolute favorite. There is something about cool evenings and falling leaves that I just love. I was feeling slightly nostalgic, reliving the previous fall seasons and all that goes with it. Pumpkin pie, the farewell honks of the geese as they bid us good bye and headed south, sweaters, the smell of burning leaves, the feeling of satisfaction when bringing in the last produce from my weed-free garden, (ok, that was just wistful thinking), beautiful scenery, the chill in the air that makes curling up in a warm fleece blanket feel heavenly....in fact, there was a soft fleece blanket here that I would gaze at longingly, wishing I could just curl up in it, but knowing I would turn into a puddle of sweat if I would. However, with a fever comes chills...AND the delightful opportunity to wrap myself in its softness. And so, with goosebumps on my arms and a blanket to my neck, I browsed Pinterest and  pored over all the autumn goodies and decorations. Safe in my little cocoon, I pretended the temperature was not over 100* outside and surely, if I would look out my window I would see a kaleidoscope of fall colors instead of palm trees and more mosquitoes.

Back again...2 weeks later...no, I'm not languishing in bed anymore...as much anyway. Unfortunately, I am still not back to "normal." Whatever that is anymore. I almost forget. I am almost used to limping around, having my muscles painfully tighten without a moment's notice and sitting down often, while the world spins crazily around.
 I will forever be more understanding of those dear old folks I used to help get out of bed in the morning at the retirement home where I worked. Oh, they would take sooo long untangling all their arthritic limbs. I would glance anxiously at the clock, ever mindful of my tight schedule and wonder...
 "Do you really need to move THIS slow?"
 Oh my. I totally get them now! And if I ever have the chance to help them again, I will cater to them and let them take till lunch time to get out to the table for breakfast!
 Yes, I move very slowly and painfully in the mornings.

Back AGAIN...most of my posts are written here a little, there alittle, so by the time I get one finished, the beginning is outdated:) But at least this gives me time to add a little update. We are for the most part, recuperated. At least, I think as good as we'll be for awhile anyway. From what I read, arthritic pain can continue for a long time yet...a few months, up to 2 years. With pain meds, it is manageable. Chris still deals with achy joints and sore feet. As he said yesterday," I just feel like this aged me." I would second that. There's something about stiff achy joints that makes you feel 50 years older than you really are. As the saying goes...this too shall pass. Who knows when though. I'll plan on feeling this way till I'm 99, that way if I feel better till I'm 88, I'll be pleasantly surprised.:)
 It has been a great learning experience for me. Other than occasional headaches and common colds, I have not been really sick for over ten years. I tried to not take my health for granted, but I'm afraid, far too often, I did. Through this, I hope I can be be more compassionate and understanding to those that deal with illnesses, especially for some with chronic illnesses and don't know what is causing it. That would be so frustrating!
 Being sick is depressing! There is something about not feeling well that turns me into a self-pitying, me-centered baby. I had to make a conscious effort to count my blessings instead of my aching bones, but far too many times I failed miserably!

And a few pics....

God send this dog to us at a perfect time! The Sunday everyone was sick and laying around, except for me, this puppy followed one of the teachers here and made himself right at home! That's right, HIMself! When God gives gifts, He does it right!:) We had no idea where it came from but it snuggled right up to Christi and just laid with her. It almost seemed like he knew she wasn't feeling well. After asking around and not being able to locate the owner, we named him and welcomed him to our household. About a week later, a neighbor lady, who was never home when we had went searching for the owner, came over. She heard a puppy howling at night, because we put him out overnight, and she thought maybe it was their missing puppy. It was, but she saw how the children loved him and insisted we keep him! So now we have a MALE puppy, one we didn't need to go searching the ends of the island for, but one that God brought right to our door, right when we needed cheering up the most!

I think the mutt saw one too many sick people laying around like this, and thought this is just how it's done around here!

Yea, we just sleep however, wherever...

Hard to believe, but schools in session again! Seems strange only sending three off to
 school. Once again we are so thankful for an amazing group of teachers!

I am thankful he loves God and hates Satan, but we better work on that high self esteem....

And this is Kaylah's classroom. She absolutely loves homeschooling...I guess it helps too if you can have a dog at your feet:) She is doing the Abeka video series and I would highly recommend them. She enjoys the peace and quiet of being the only child at home...she said,"Now I know why you like it so much when we're all in school! It's so quiet and peaceful!" Oops...did I say that out loud? I do enjoy having her around more and having one on one time with her.

Jack of all trades:) The one morning my leg and foot hurt so bad I couldn't walk on it. I told
Chris if only I had crutches I could still get around. A little while later he came in with this
 homemade crutch. I just had to laugh but it worked and I was very thankful for it!

Jared's parents send this down for Chris. This verse was written in Jared's journal. The more I learn
about him, the more I am amazed at what an outstanding young man of God he was!

Our church went to sing at this nursing home one Sunday afternoon

                                                        Singing out on the veranda

         The view from the nursing home...don't be surprised if I spend my golden years in Grenada!:)

                             Another home we sang at...the staff is always so friendly here
                                   and do a super job keeping the place neat and clean!

                      On the way back from singing at the homes, we stopped at Concord Falls

                                           Just a random shot of Christi at Concord Falls

Breathtaking beauty at Concord Falls

                        An Aedes mosquito, the kind that carries dengue fever and chikungunya.
                            They have black and white striped legs and are found in abundance
                                  around here. They love us...the feeling is NOT mutual!!!

 Houston, we have a problem. A dear friend from church gave us a puppy that she had promised us a few weeks ago, before we adopted our male puppy. Now we have two puppies. A male and a female. Why do I forsee trouble in the future? Something called...High's Puppy Farm?? Then again, at our rate, they might not last too long....

                     Euran, a young fellow from Limes, planned a Rook tournament. He took it
                  very seriously and had it all organized, complete with gifts for the winning team:)

                     And the winning team waaaaas....Mr. Christopher High and Logan Weaver,
                    Jim and Joyce's boy...they were awarded with a candle and a coffee mug:)

 September 5, 16 years ago, I was a rosy cheeked young bride. Sixteen years later, I was still rosy cheeked, but this time it was from a rash, thanks to chikungunya. So thankful, he promised in sickness and in health!:) We didn't do all whole lot to celebrate on this day, other than look at each other with bleary eyes and say, "Better days ahead...."

                                                     16 years later...we are so blessed!

                          Photo credits go to Jewel Good...taken when they were down in July

 This pic really has nothing to do with Grenada, except that the news was a bright spot in an otherwise dreary week....Chris's brother and his wife had identical twin boys, which was a real surprise, but what made it even more interesting was the fact they only found out they are having twins about an hour before they were born, BUT what makes it even MORE interesting is that she had a few ultrasounds and they never picked it up! She was even in the week before to try to turn the baby since it was breach. So, to all you pregnant ladies out there, you neeeever know!......:)

So concludes another blog post...not a lot of pictures because we have been extremely housebound these last few weeks. It has been over a month since we started dealing with chikungunya and it seemed to pretty much consume alot of our time and energy. Chris was feeling better but this evening his joints started stiffening up again and feeling painful. It can come and go like this for awhile so I guess we'll just enjoy the good days when they come. Thank you so much for your prayers...they kept us going through a very low time this past month. We want to count our blessings because we really do have so much to be thankful for!