HHV-6

Many who are diagnosed as having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are testing positive for the above virus. I asked our doctor for us to be tested last year. On our first visit, he did not have the test in his office. He ordered it in, but when we visited him next, he was so sure (because of results from our mold antibody test) that just getting away from our home would help us to get better, that he didn't really encourage us to take the $300/person test.

After all the "to do" about mold in our home, I forgot all about HHV-6 for quite some time. But a couple of months ago, when I was researching the latest news for chronic fatigue sufferers, I was reminded of it.

When we were on the biofeedback machine, I had the technician look for it. Sure enough, all three of us were showing that we had it. The kids' numbers showed a level for concern.

A new piece of the puzzle we'll need to find out more about.

Tuesday News

• We are heading a few hours west tonight for tests and treatments tomorrow. We haven't had these particular tests for a couple of years, so it will be good to see what has or hasn't changed. We'll drive back tomorrow evening.
• Our whole family made it to morning worship this past Sunday! It has been months since that happened. I remember all of us being there on Father's Day last summer, and there might have been one other time. JOY!
• We are hoping to be able to take part in our choir concert, "Messiah," coming up on March 3rd. It is a long concert and even if we could sing the first half of it, we'd be thrilled. We'd appreciate specific prayers that we'd be able to sing some or all of Handel's glorifying and edifying music with the rest of the choristers that evening.

Thanks for reading!

Winter days

How am I spending my winter days? Well, I've visited Wales (the setting above,) Spain, spent quite a bit of time in England, traversed the states; and I've even spent some time in my current home town of long ago, thanks to a wonderful book by an author who grew up here.

I've also been traveling to "not so interesting" places. Doctor's offices. The three of us have ventured off into different treatment realms. One of our doctor's suggested this. We had all been keeping to the same treatments as the other, but now we are off on our own. We'll see if any one of us leaps ahead in terms of good health. This tri-plan method is more work for the nurse (me) and the pharmacist (you know who) and the parents (that's us, too.) It's a lot to get to and keep track of, but hopefully we'll have some noticeable results soon.

Too many voices

One of the disadvantages of getting a second or third opinion, is... well... having two more opinions; more voices running through our heads.

No one can figure out what is wrong with us, but everyone has suggestions about what to take or not to take, what to eat or not to eat.

It's confusing, to say the least.

I'm on a new protocol of medicine and supplements from the Colorado doctor. I'm not noticing any helpful results. In fact, I've caught a cold. This, added to my many pre-existing symptoms, makes me as good as useless.

Even though Christmastime has passed, I need to keep reminding myself of it. "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

Exciting MonDAY!

"I'm thankful that we got this sickness, mom, otherwise I wouldn't have gotten into 3-D art." Brady, (who has actually said this to me a couple of times.)

Today each of the kids' work are featured on web-sites (not their own.) Their work featured is work that came about because of our long-term illness. Daily schoolwork has been an impossibility because of our intense health struggles, but they've redeemed their time and pursued endeavors that help them to feel like they are learning and accomplishing things. Both of their "hobbies" came about because they felt rotten enough to only be able to do things that they enjoyed doing, at a pace that didn't overtax them. They've found out that people need some kind of work to do even when they can hardly move. Yes, they've had to spend lots of time watching movies and playing video games, but even a sick person can't do this all day long, day after day. Thankfully, they've been blessed to be well enough to follow through on these new past-times and even experience some success along the way.

Miss Erin is the featured book reviewer this morning at the Cybil's site for the Review of the Day. Her review is of a book she needed to read as a nominating committee member of the fantasy/sci fic. category. This web-site was established when a group of bloggers decided to start their own book awards for children and young adult books and it all came to fruition (very quickly.) Please check out the site and read the post for today.

Brady has an image featured as Picture of the Day at a content and software web-site. Please check out it out here: The picture that is featured is one he made for me as an advent gift (our family gives advent gifts to one another 12 days before Christmas.) While you're at it, visit his web-site to see lots of other wonderful images.

What a day! Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Doctor help

We didn't plan this. But it's a good thing.

Two doctor's offices are currently reviewing our records and trying to figure out how to help us.

A couple of weeks back I posted that I was going to get some testing done to send to a Health Institute in Colorado. The day I did that, the Intern at our doctor's office in Seattle called to say that they had just received information and samples of a new treatment. They had been discussing our case at the office and called us to see if we'd like to try it. After finding out a little more about it, I told him, "Sure!"

In the meantime, when my results of the tests I took for the Colorado doctor were faxed to me, I immediately sent them to the Seattle doctor. The Intern at his office called again to get a little more information about our current status and said he was going to research things a little more. He wants to make sure the protocol of supplements he's prescribing to go with this new treatment will be what we need. We may just start one or two of us on this regime at first to see if it makes a big enough difference, before everyone takes the treatment. It's taken with a nebulizer and requires some time and effort.

This morning we faxed all of our tests from this spring (that the Seattle doctor had ordered) to Colorado upon their request. I have an appointment to talk to them by phone this coming Tuesday.

It's a great feeling to know that two doctor's offices are studying our case (especially when we thought the Seattle doctor had "given up" on us.) If you think of it, please pray for wisdom for these doctors in the next few days as they decide on the next protocol to help us overcome this chronic illness.