Most of us have been there at one point in our lives or another .... the place of the unhealthy, unwanted overweight woman!!
The day my daughter, Emily, was born I was OVER 300lbs. and felt gross and ugly and disgusting. I vowed to get to a healthy weight! After my recovery from the c-section I hit it hard .... it was "Valerie's Low Carb Diet" and I did GREAT at it! I lost an amazing 145lbs in a matter of less than a yr and a half!!! I can't even really explain "how" I did it because there was virtually no exercise involved (not that I'm proud of that, but the weight melted off without exercise).
Then the unexpected happened ..... 25lbs from my goal I was diagnosed with MS and hospitalized for the 1st time because of it. Every hosptialization (7 in all over 2 1/2 yrs) led to steriod treatments which led to a million different side-effects, one of which being --- weight gain! I was SO ticked ... I was more ticked at the weight gain than the MS itself at times.
Over the course of the 2 1/2 yrs I put back on 80 of the 145lbs I had just rid my body of!
Well, I've been healed of MS now for 15 GLORIOUS months (see a different post on the amazing story behind that) and it's now time to do something about all this extra baggage FOR REAL!!
I actually first started this journey back in Jan 2011 and had lost 19lbs but then sickness, a mission trip and more sickness led me to gaining 10 of that back and before long I lost motivation and drive to lose the weight. So, after taking a 2 month "break" I am now remotivated and my drive to succeed with this adventure is back!!!
And I am not going to make any more excuses .... I don't want to be the fat wife/mother/friend ..... I'm sick of shopping in the plus-size section! I want to wear the cute stuff too dangit!!!
On June 8th, 2011 I started a 12 week challenge and 7 of my friends have joined me ... for 12 weeks we are committed to making healthy choices and losing weight. So far, so good .... we're all doing great and losing ..... of course, there's incentive ..... the person with the lowest % of weight lost each week has to put $5 in the "kitty" and the person with the highest % of weight lost at the end of the 12 weeks get the $60 that accumulted in the "kitty!" =) Enough $$ for at least 1 new outfit.
I lost 4.6lbs the first week, but after gaining 3.4lbs the 2nd week I knew I had to do something different. My body has IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and without getting into too much icky details, my body was literally filled with toxins because I wasn't "going" regularly. So, after researching it I started the IBS diet last Wednesday and this week's weigh-in showed an 8.4lb LOSS!!! WOOHOO!!!
My goal is to be at my ultimate goal by Jan. 1st, 2012 ..... I've lost 9.6lbs in 3 wks and I have 26 wks and 63.6lbs to go!!! But, right now I'm taking it day by day with my short term goals .... in 3 wks I leave for VA on vacation and I want to lose another 13.6lbs by then!
I plan to blog about this journey, its ups and downs from now till the end so follow me as we head to the land of healthy/happier people!!!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
I got to thinking the other day ..... Emily will be 8 in a few short months. That means we are 1 yr from being 1/2 through her school-age years (aside from college). Where did the time go? I blinked and she went from playing with blocks on the living room carpet to making sure her hair is "just right."
You hear it said very often, cherish each day because soon your children will be grown. How many of us actually take that to heart? We lead busy lives filled with appointments, meetings, work, household duties, wife/husband responsiblities, church committments, friends, extended family, illnesses .... the list goes on and on. I often times feel overwhelmed with all the demands placed on me (often demands I place on myself).
Once in a while (more often than that but who has time) it is VERY important to sit back and relax and evaluate just exacting where you are and where you'd like to be. And figure out, if you're not where you want to be, how to get there! This doesn't have to come in the form of having to get away for a wkend or anything .... just take time during naptime one day and SIT .... wait on the Lord .... dive into His word and see what He says about your crazy, busy lifestyle. And if it's not "naptime" for you because your children are older then maybe you need to head off to the peacefulness of the library some Saturday morning or Barnes & Nobles' coffee shop some evening.
To be better for your family you need to make time for YOU!! God can & will help you through all the hussle and bussle of life's chaotic times but you have to have times where you allow yourself to run in low-gear too!!
God bless your day friends!
You hear it said very often, cherish each day because soon your children will be grown. How many of us actually take that to heart? We lead busy lives filled with appointments, meetings, work, household duties, wife/husband responsiblities, church committments, friends, extended family, illnesses .... the list goes on and on. I often times feel overwhelmed with all the demands placed on me (often demands I place on myself).
Once in a while (more often than that but who has time) it is VERY important to sit back and relax and evaluate just exacting where you are and where you'd like to be. And figure out, if you're not where you want to be, how to get there! This doesn't have to come in the form of having to get away for a wkend or anything .... just take time during naptime one day and SIT .... wait on the Lord .... dive into His word and see what He says about your crazy, busy lifestyle. And if it's not "naptime" for you because your children are older then maybe you need to head off to the peacefulness of the library some Saturday morning or Barnes & Nobles' coffee shop some evening.
To be better for your family you need to make time for YOU!! God can & will help you through all the hussle and bussle of life's chaotic times but you have to have times where you allow yourself to run in low-gear too!!
God bless your day friends!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Haiti Trip - Days 9 & 10
March 16th - Day 9
Not really a whole lot to report from this day ...... mostly spent gathering all our stuff and packing and saying goodbyes and such.
We were suppose to be doing to children's program for the kid's of Heather's Home tonight but as we were finishing the balloon animals the electricity went out (as it does quite often in Haiti) so that kinda put a kabosh to that which bummed the kids out something aweful. We all felt bad.
We did have an impromptu church service in the dining room at Heather's Home at 9 PM! =) That was cool.
March 17th - Day 10 - Time To Go Home
We all got up early so we could say goodbye to the children before they went to school which led to pictures and then 4-5 of us from the team actually went with the van to take the kids to school. And that was it for me, as they piled out of the van my waterworks starting. I was a wreck. I didn't want to leave "my" kids.
Around 8 AM we headed to the airport and by 10:30 we were all thru customs and everything and waiting for our plane -- not without "incident" however!
The guy checking my baggage opened one of them to find a Haitian doll and said "your daughter?" Assuming he meant "for my daughter." I said "wee, wee." He then proceeded to pick on me relentlessly .... "she is going to sufficate, your whole family will be very sad!" Oh man, everyone was cracking up! He called the head security guard over and told him I had a baby in my suitcase ..... he thought he was serious! I told him "you're going to get me into trouble. Knock that off!"
So when he opened up my 2nd checked bag he asked "any more babies?" hahahahaha.
The rest of the trip went off without a hitch ...... we left Haiti at 1:30 (an hr later than planned) and arrived at JFK at 7 PM. We got thru immigration and customs and found our next gate just in time to scarf down some food and catch our 9:30 flight out of JFK to Syracuse!!!
Oh my goodness, the minute I saw Don in Syracuse I ran to him. Hugs & kisses and just complete elation that I was finally HOME!!!
Not really a whole lot to report from this day ...... mostly spent gathering all our stuff and packing and saying goodbyes and such.
We were suppose to be doing to children's program for the kid's of Heather's Home tonight but as we were finishing the balloon animals the electricity went out (as it does quite often in Haiti) so that kinda put a kabosh to that which bummed the kids out something aweful. We all felt bad.
We did have an impromptu church service in the dining room at Heather's Home at 9 PM! =) That was cool.
March 17th - Day 10 - Time To Go Home
We all got up early so we could say goodbye to the children before they went to school which led to pictures and then 4-5 of us from the team actually went with the van to take the kids to school. And that was it for me, as they piled out of the van my waterworks starting. I was a wreck. I didn't want to leave "my" kids.
Around 8 AM we headed to the airport and by 10:30 we were all thru customs and everything and waiting for our plane -- not without "incident" however!
The guy checking my baggage opened one of them to find a Haitian doll and said "your daughter?" Assuming he meant "for my daughter." I said "wee, wee." He then proceeded to pick on me relentlessly .... "she is going to sufficate, your whole family will be very sad!" Oh man, everyone was cracking up! He called the head security guard over and told him I had a baby in my suitcase ..... he thought he was serious! I told him "you're going to get me into trouble. Knock that off!"
So when he opened up my 2nd checked bag he asked "any more babies?" hahahahaha.
The rest of the trip went off without a hitch ...... we left Haiti at 1:30 (an hr later than planned) and arrived at JFK at 7 PM. We got thru immigration and customs and found our next gate just in time to scarf down some food and catch our 9:30 flight out of JFK to Syracuse!!!
Oh my goodness, the minute I saw Don in Syracuse I ran to him. Hugs & kisses and just complete elation that I was finally HOME!!!
Haiti Trip - Days 7 & 8
Monday - March 14th
TODAY WAS MY OFFICIAL 1 YR ANNIVERSARY OF BEING SYMPTOM FREE OF MS!!!!! I PRAISE GOD FOR THE MIRACLE OF EACH AND EVERY DAY OF THE LAST YR (and the 30+ yrs prior to that too of course).
The kids from Heather's Home went back to school today from their week off. It made it very quite around the house and there was a lot of time to do "nothing."
I spent a lot of today reflecting .... every time I'd look at the clock I'd think "oh, I was doing .... at this time last March 14th." My mind was anywhere but in Haiti today. All I could think about was March 14th, 2010 and how I will NEVER forget that date!! Thank you, Lord!
Tuesday - March 15th
We decided to go sightseeing today to see the view of Haiti from the top of a very large mountain!!
About 3 hrs into our trip the van we were driving decided it couldn't make it any further up the hill so we had to park it in some lady's driveway and wait for a 2nd rental vehicle to come pick us up and take us the rest of the way up the hill.
TODAY WAS MY OFFICIAL 1 YR ANNIVERSARY OF BEING SYMPTOM FREE OF MS!!!!! I PRAISE GOD FOR THE MIRACLE OF EACH AND EVERY DAY OF THE LAST YR (and the 30+ yrs prior to that too of course).
The kids from Heather's Home went back to school today from their week off. It made it very quite around the house and there was a lot of time to do "nothing."
I spent a lot of today reflecting .... every time I'd look at the clock I'd think "oh, I was doing .... at this time last March 14th." My mind was anywhere but in Haiti today. All I could think about was March 14th, 2010 and how I will NEVER forget that date!! Thank you, Lord!
Tuesday - March 15th
We decided to go sightseeing today to see the view of Haiti from the top of a very large mountain!!
About 3 hrs into our trip the van we were driving decided it couldn't make it any further up the hill so we had to park it in some lady's driveway and wait for a 2nd rental vehicle to come pick us up and take us the rest of the way up the hill.
Our leader, Rev John Earley & our translator, Makin waiting by the "broken down" van.
So, after the new van arrived we all piled in and drove another 1 1/2 hrs to about 1.5 mi from the very top of the mountain. That's as far up as this van could go safetly. So, the men of the group and I all decided to hike up another .25 mi of the mountain to get a view for pictures because where the van stopped was all tree covered and you couldn't see anything.
That .25 mi was VERY steep and rugged terrain!! But, since I was healed a yr. prior to I had no trouble!! =)
So, after 4 hrs we finally made it up here to see this gorgeous view! And I wouldn't trade 1 min in the hot 12 passenger van with 13 OTHER people for anything!
On the way back home we found a rare delicasy in Haiti and stopped for a snack ..... DOMINO'S!!!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Haiti Trip - Day 6
THE BEST DAY FOR ME - HANDS DOWN!!!!
Sunday - March 13th
Today started out with a great chance to sleep in and rest. 1/2 of the team headed out to Pastor Lucien's church to minister while the rest of us stayed back at Heather's Home to rest and get ready for the evening service at Pastor Eladge's church.
We had a great time with the children in the morning and into the early afternoon. We headed out to Pastor Eladge's church around 3 PM .... it takes about 2 hrs to get there.
Sunday - March 13th
Today started out with a great chance to sleep in and rest. 1/2 of the team headed out to Pastor Lucien's church to minister while the rest of us stayed back at Heather's Home to rest and get ready for the evening service at Pastor Eladge's church.
We had a great time with the children in the morning and into the early afternoon. We headed out to Pastor Eladge's church around 3 PM .... it takes about 2 hrs to get there.
Almost immediately I caught the eyes of this beautiful little girl and got a chance to hold her and love on her. She was so cute, even when she spit on me ..... she's only a yr old! =)
WOW! Talk about a worship service!! I have never been in a worship service so spirit-filled and AWEsome!!! Tonight was the eve before my 1 year anniversary of being symptom free of Multiple Sclerosis and what a celebration it was!!
I don't speak (or sing) in creole but worship was so loud that noone there knew I was singng in English and tounges. I just made up words to the tune they were playing!! It was GREAT!! I've never felt so free to just praise God.
This video is the VERY BEGINNING of worship ...... I was too "into" it later on to even think about getting out my camera to video! =/
Monday, March 21, 2011
Haiti Trip - Days 4 & 5
Friday - March 11th --
Today I stayed at Heather's Home with the children while the rest of the team took a 12 hr. trip to visit the YWAM (youth with a mission) facility in Haiti.
I had a GREAT day just loving on all 10 children all by myself. We sang songs, I taught them "chubba" (for those of you who've never seen my "chubba" just ask the next time you see me), I painted their faces, we took pictures ...... it was a blast!! It made me miss Emily something fierce though. I was also able to rest and spend a lot of time with God today. I got ahead in my Old Testament Quest reading and just throughouly enjoyed my day "alone."
Saturday - March 12th --
Today was a great "break" for all of us! We drove to a Haitian Beach Resort and spent the day relaxing in the sun, playing beach volleyball, scubba diving and (some of us) drinking non-alcoholic pina colada's!! =)
I got A LOT of souveniers this day ..... including 2 very large, gorgeous shells. My husband and I kinda of collect them ..... especially the big ones since some are worth a lot of money!!
The best part about today was watching the sunset over the ocean --- absolutely amazing!!
On our way back to Heather's Home we were driving by a huge mountain and all of a sudden we could see that the top of it was on fire! That was a gorgeous sight but also knowing that something was ON FIRE made it scary.
As soon as we got back to Heather's Home we were mobbed by the 10 beautiful brown-haired loves!!! =) That was always the best part about going anywhere ...... the coming home!!
Haiti -- Days 2 & 3
Wednesday - March 9th -
Today we went to the Embassador's for Jesus Children's Home, an orphanage that The Love Church of Horseheads has been supporting for decades.
While we were there we did our children's program which consisted of a skit, balloon animals, making a wordless book bracelet and a short message. We all had a great time loving on the children that attended.
Got my first taste of a Haitian "super"market today too. They are about 1/8th the size of Walmart! =)
Thursday - March 10th -
First experience in "waiting" (which is common on the mission field) this morning!! We were suppose to leave for the Good Shepherd orphanage at 7, instead we left at 8 due to a flat tire.
We performed pretty much the same routine as yesterday only with a different skit.
We were then suppose to head to a 2nd orphanage but while we were there the Pastor got a phone call from a lady in a tent city orphanage that needed help desperately so we felt the call of God to go there instead. If our driver had been "on time" today we wouldn't have been at Good Shepherd when that call came in!! God is good and His timing is PERFECT!
Upon arriving at the tent city orphanage we immediately starting loving on children and doing balloon animals and singing while Rev Earley and another man from the team went to buy them food. The children sang to us, in English, "We're so Happy You're Here!"
Also, I had another great experience at this orphanage ...... I got to pee in a tent city ..... a VERY large concrete above-ground well "hidden" by bed sheets (that were blowing in the wind)!! =) Picture of the tent city "bathroom" is below.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Haiti Trip - Day 1
March 7th -- the itinerary was this ..... head out for Syracuse from Elmira at 2 AM to catch a 6 AM flight to JFK. And then head from JFK to Port Au Prince, Haiti at 8:30.
Well, the good weather of NY state had something different to say about that! We left Elmira at midnight and drove through a blizzard VERY SLOWLY all the way to Syracuse. Upon arriving in SYR at 4:30 our flight was still set to leave at 6 AM. GREAT!!
Around 5:30, when we should have been boarding our plane to leave SYR we find out several things are going wrong with getting the plane ready ..... the maintenance men are stuck somewhere outside in the snow, then when they did get there they decided to get a plane that was set to leave at 6:30 AM ready before our plane. Ahhh!
So, because our 6 AM flight didn't end up leaving till 9:30 we missed our flight out of JFK to PAP and it isn't everyday that you can get to PAP. =( So, the airline rerouted us to MIA and we had to stay in a hotel that night and proceed from MIA to PAP on March 8th.
March 8th --- 4:45 AM - wake up to be ready to go to the airport at 5:30 to catch our 8 AM flight out of MIA to PAP!
Upon arriving at the airport we find out that our reservations were not in the computer ..... can you say "get behind me satan?" So, Christina and I just start singing, right there in the airport ..... "I Walk By Faith!" It wasn't long before they found our reservation (around 7 AM) and finally located our checked bags (that had come in the night before on some plane) so they could board them onto the plane.
FINALLY -- around 10:30 AM we land in Haiti and by 12:30 PM we are greeted by 10 beautiful brown-haired children that were so bummed that we hadn't made it the day before but SO excited to see us when we finally arrived!!!
Well, the good weather of NY state had something different to say about that! We left Elmira at midnight and drove through a blizzard VERY SLOWLY all the way to Syracuse. Upon arriving in SYR at 4:30 our flight was still set to leave at 6 AM. GREAT!!
Around 5:30, when we should have been boarding our plane to leave SYR we find out several things are going wrong with getting the plane ready ..... the maintenance men are stuck somewhere outside in the snow, then when they did get there they decided to get a plane that was set to leave at 6:30 AM ready before our plane. Ahhh!
So, because our 6 AM flight didn't end up leaving till 9:30 we missed our flight out of JFK to PAP and it isn't everyday that you can get to PAP. =( So, the airline rerouted us to MIA and we had to stay in a hotel that night and proceed from MIA to PAP on March 8th.
March 8th --- 4:45 AM - wake up to be ready to go to the airport at 5:30 to catch our 8 AM flight out of MIA to PAP!
Upon arriving at the airport we find out that our reservations were not in the computer ..... can you say "get behind me satan?" So, Christina and I just start singing, right there in the airport ..... "I Walk By Faith!" It wasn't long before they found our reservation (around 7 AM) and finally located our checked bags (that had come in the night before on some plane) so they could board them onto the plane.
FINALLY -- around 10:30 AM we land in Haiti and by 12:30 PM we are greeted by 10 beautiful brown-haired children that were so bummed that we hadn't made it the day before but SO excited to see us when we finally arrived!!!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
1st Mission Trip
Guess what I told God the day I had Emily .... "I will go ANYWHERE if you just make it so that I'm 4 cm dilated and this hospital doesn't send me home!" Well, I was 6 cm and stayed there and had Emily 7 hrs later!!
Well, 7 1/2 yrs later I am fulfilling that promise to God. I'm going on my very 1st mission trip ... to Port Au Price, HAITI!! And I absolutely can not wait! There's a house full of orphans just waiting for me (& the rest of the team) to come and love on them!! That is what we will be doing down there, ministering to the orphans at Heather's Home, an orphange set up by 1 of the families at The Love Church about a yr and half ago.
God is so awesome in His timing for this trip .... the day I called to see about going was the day the organizer had set aside to make arrangements, plans, schedules and such for the trip!! And the funds God has provided in order for me to go is just amazing. 3/4 of the trip my husband and I have paid for ourselves which in the economy is no small task when you're talking $2000+ for a trip and had to come up with that money all in 1 month's time!!
And the fact that God has not allowed me to fear ANYTHING regarding this trip just more solidifies to me the fact that He wants me to go. He has just completely prepared me mentally (with a sound mind), physically (healed from MS & losing weight), spiritually (with years of teaching & instruction in the Bible) and emotionally (as a Mother, I can be a "Mother" to the Motherless). I am also preparing my heart for when I leave Haiti, a piece of me will be left there, I'm sure.
AND - a great thing that will occur while I'm there is that I will celebrate 1 yr of being completely symptom free of Multiple Sclerosis!! What an awesome anniversary gift I'm getting!! =)
So, please pray for the team of 12 that will be headed to Haiti in a few weeks .... we leave on March 7th and return on March 17th. I will have pictures and stories to tell when I get back, I'm sure. However, I have already been warned by Don not to be stuffing any orphans in my suitcase and bringing them home! Darn it, he read my mind! hehehehe.
Well, 7 1/2 yrs later I am fulfilling that promise to God. I'm going on my very 1st mission trip ... to Port Au Price, HAITI!! And I absolutely can not wait! There's a house full of orphans just waiting for me (& the rest of the team) to come and love on them!! That is what we will be doing down there, ministering to the orphans at Heather's Home, an orphange set up by 1 of the families at The Love Church about a yr and half ago.
God is so awesome in His timing for this trip .... the day I called to see about going was the day the organizer had set aside to make arrangements, plans, schedules and such for the trip!! And the funds God has provided in order for me to go is just amazing. 3/4 of the trip my husband and I have paid for ourselves which in the economy is no small task when you're talking $2000+ for a trip and had to come up with that money all in 1 month's time!!
And the fact that God has not allowed me to fear ANYTHING regarding this trip just more solidifies to me the fact that He wants me to go. He has just completely prepared me mentally (with a sound mind), physically (healed from MS & losing weight), spiritually (with years of teaching & instruction in the Bible) and emotionally (as a Mother, I can be a "Mother" to the Motherless). I am also preparing my heart for when I leave Haiti, a piece of me will be left there, I'm sure.
AND - a great thing that will occur while I'm there is that I will celebrate 1 yr of being completely symptom free of Multiple Sclerosis!! What an awesome anniversary gift I'm getting!! =)
So, please pray for the team of 12 that will be headed to Haiti in a few weeks .... we leave on March 7th and return on March 17th. I will have pictures and stories to tell when I get back, I'm sure. However, I have already been warned by Don not to be stuffing any orphans in my suitcase and bringing them home! Darn it, he read my mind! hehehehe.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Skipping Ahead
The last 10 months of my life have been a true miracle and God send.
Unless you've had a part of you taken away and then restored to you then you probably can not fully understand why I'm so elated when I talk about the last 10 months .....
I was lame and now I can walk .... I was (partially) blind and now I can see ..... I couldn't think and now my mind is clear ..... My family lived life without me and now we are enjoying life together .... the pain was unbearable most of the time and now I don't experience pain at all ..... the freedom that I once had I lost but now it has been given back to me!
I am so eternally grateful for what God has done in my life and I enjoy sharing my testimony anytime I can ... just to see the look of amazement on people's faces is priceless. To see them see "God" in all His glory for what He has done is AMAZING and I wouldn't trade 2007-2010 for anything. He has given me the ability to use my disease & healing for HIS glory .... what a marvelous gift!!!
Please read my testimony below ...
"Mrs. Shedden, you have multiple sclerosis." Those are the words my neurologist said to me after a 6 wk. long battle with a migraine. The test results were in but no one could have prepared me for those words.
What was multiple sclerosis and what was the road ahead going to look like for me?
As an autoimmune disease, MS tells your body to attack itself. In my case there was leg pain, general weakness in my entire body, numbness in my legs & arms, pins & needles feelings in my hands, face and feet, migraines, stomach attacks that lasted for weeks with no cause and no remedy that felt like labor pains, and then there's the loss of cognitive functions such as memory loss and loss of concentration ... for me those were extremely frustrating to deal with.
Through it all, my husband, Don, stood by me. He held my hand, providing a shoulder to cry on when needed and was just a constant support. I appreciate him greatly.
Every day of the last 2 1/2 years proved to be something new to overcome with this disease - a new frustration. And I couldn't do things with my family that I wanted to do .... they'd go to the park without me a lot, or just outside to play and I'd be stuck inside because I was too weak to walk or stand or even sit up straight at times.
My daughter and I missed a lot of play time together that we will never get back and I'm sorry for that. At the age of 4,5,6 she did a lot of caring for me when I should have been caring for her.
From Sept. 2007 - Nov. 2009 I spent apx. 30 days in the hospital on 7 different occasions. I would have to go in for IV steroid treatments when my symptoms got too bad.
For 2-3 weeks prior to March 14th, 2010 my symptoms had been getting steadily worse so I knew what was coming and for some reason I was overcome with fear for this hospital stay like I never have been before. So, I kept putting it off hoping my symptoms would improve - knowing deep down that they wouldn't.
That Sunday night my physical body was in no shape to go anywhere but the ER but God was telling me to this healing service that I had been hearing so much about at a local church. So, Don helped me to the car and off we went.
One step at a time, my walker in front of me, I slowly made it into the church - all doped up on pain pills - expecting God to do something GREAT! I sat in the back row, feet propped up on a chair in front of me, while friends prayed over me and spoke words from the Lord to me.
All during worship I just waited - expectantly. Towards the end of the service the pastor called me to the front. So, with the walker, I made my way to the front and sat while people prayed over me.
When they were done the pastor and a laymen helped me up and we started walking together, slowly. It didn't take long after that when I heard God speak to me and say "YOU ARE HEALED, NOW WALK!"
So, I let go of the men's hands, turned around and started WALKING!! Then I started RUNNING .... then JUMPING .... then LEAPING ... then TWIRLING ... it was purely AMAZING!!!
I am still in AWE to this day! I've been doing things since that night that I haven't been able to do, physically AND mentally, in YEARS .....
- play basketball with my family
- go on LOOONNNGGG, fast, exercising-type walks with my family
- I can EXERCISE for hrs a day!!!!!
- take my daughter to the park!!!
- be a multi-tasker again!! - - THIS IS HUGE!!!
- I ran up a hill one day
- STAND FOR AN ENTIRE WORSHIP SERVICE WITH NO PAIN AND NO EXHAUSTION -- again, this one's HUGE!!!
- I chased Emily's t-ball team around the bases last Spring!!
There are a couple of key things that have helped me "keep the faith" during this trial -
1.) The saying - "Stay in the ring, the fight is fixed!" My fight was fixed and we knocked him O-U-T!!!
2.) Matthew 17:19-20 ... referring to disciples asking Jesus why they could not cast out a demon .... 19: "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20: And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
I had the faith as big as a mustard seed (sometimes bigger than a mustard seed) that my healing would happen in God's timing for those 2 1/2 yrs. -- and I have seen it happen!! PRAISE GOD!! I can not quit smiling and praising God and I just fall in love with HIM over and over and over again daily!!!
Unless you've had a part of you taken away and then restored to you then you probably can not fully understand why I'm so elated when I talk about the last 10 months .....
I was lame and now I can walk .... I was (partially) blind and now I can see ..... I couldn't think and now my mind is clear ..... My family lived life without me and now we are enjoying life together .... the pain was unbearable most of the time and now I don't experience pain at all ..... the freedom that I once had I lost but now it has been given back to me!
I am so eternally grateful for what God has done in my life and I enjoy sharing my testimony anytime I can ... just to see the look of amazement on people's faces is priceless. To see them see "God" in all His glory for what He has done is AMAZING and I wouldn't trade 2007-2010 for anything. He has given me the ability to use my disease & healing for HIS glory .... what a marvelous gift!!!
Please read my testimony below ...
"Mrs. Shedden, you have multiple sclerosis." Those are the words my neurologist said to me after a 6 wk. long battle with a migraine. The test results were in but no one could have prepared me for those words.
What was multiple sclerosis and what was the road ahead going to look like for me?
As an autoimmune disease, MS tells your body to attack itself. In my case there was leg pain, general weakness in my entire body, numbness in my legs & arms, pins & needles feelings in my hands, face and feet, migraines, stomach attacks that lasted for weeks with no cause and no remedy that felt like labor pains, and then there's the loss of cognitive functions such as memory loss and loss of concentration ... for me those were extremely frustrating to deal with.
Through it all, my husband, Don, stood by me. He held my hand, providing a shoulder to cry on when needed and was just a constant support. I appreciate him greatly.
Every day of the last 2 1/2 years proved to be something new to overcome with this disease - a new frustration. And I couldn't do things with my family that I wanted to do .... they'd go to the park without me a lot, or just outside to play and I'd be stuck inside because I was too weak to walk or stand or even sit up straight at times.
My daughter and I missed a lot of play time together that we will never get back and I'm sorry for that. At the age of 4,5,6 she did a lot of caring for me when I should have been caring for her.
From Sept. 2007 - Nov. 2009 I spent apx. 30 days in the hospital on 7 different occasions. I would have to go in for IV steroid treatments when my symptoms got too bad.
For 2-3 weeks prior to March 14th, 2010 my symptoms had been getting steadily worse so I knew what was coming and for some reason I was overcome with fear for this hospital stay like I never have been before. So, I kept putting it off hoping my symptoms would improve - knowing deep down that they wouldn't.
That Sunday night my physical body was in no shape to go anywhere but the ER but God was telling me to this healing service that I had been hearing so much about at a local church. So, Don helped me to the car and off we went.
One step at a time, my walker in front of me, I slowly made it into the church - all doped up on pain pills - expecting God to do something GREAT! I sat in the back row, feet propped up on a chair in front of me, while friends prayed over me and spoke words from the Lord to me.
All during worship I just waited - expectantly. Towards the end of the service the pastor called me to the front. So, with the walker, I made my way to the front and sat while people prayed over me.
When they were done the pastor and a laymen helped me up and we started walking together, slowly. It didn't take long after that when I heard God speak to me and say "YOU ARE HEALED, NOW WALK!"
So, I let go of the men's hands, turned around and started WALKING!! Then I started RUNNING .... then JUMPING .... then LEAPING ... then TWIRLING ... it was purely AMAZING!!!
I am still in AWE to this day! I've been doing things since that night that I haven't been able to do, physically AND mentally, in YEARS .....
- play basketball with my family
- go on LOOONNNGGG, fast, exercising-type walks with my family
- I can EXERCISE for hrs a day!!!!!
- take my daughter to the park!!!
- be a multi-tasker again!! - - THIS IS HUGE!!!
- I ran up a hill one day
- STAND FOR AN ENTIRE WORSHIP SERVICE WITH NO PAIN AND NO EXHAUSTION -- again, this one's HUGE!!!
- I chased Emily's t-ball team around the bases last Spring!!
There are a couple of key things that have helped me "keep the faith" during this trial -
1.) The saying - "Stay in the ring, the fight is fixed!" My fight was fixed and we knocked him O-U-T!!!
2.) Matthew 17:19-20 ... referring to disciples asking Jesus why they could not cast out a demon .... 19: "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20: And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
I had the faith as big as a mustard seed (sometimes bigger than a mustard seed) that my healing would happen in God's timing for those 2 1/2 yrs. -- and I have seen it happen!! PRAISE GOD!! I can not quit smiling and praising God and I just fall in love with HIM over and over and over again daily!!!
The First Years .....
Why does time go so fast when you don't want it to and so slow when you wished it flew by? Maybe to make us appreciate each new day a little more and to remind us to "take time!"
That first year FLEW, as anyone with children knows. I cherished each day I had with my newborn daughter .... even the 3 AM feedings!! I was fortunate enough for that 1st year to be able to stay at home and enjoy her and not work. That was a great blessing!
Also, during that 1st yr. (and a few months) I lost 140 lbs!!! I was bound and determined to be a physically fit Mother so I could play with Emily at the park and ride my bike around with her behind me on the baby seat .... little did I know what was to come (more on that in another blog).
A month before her 1st birthday I did go to work ..... 1st at Byrne Dairy (for a yr) then to Green Diamond Tires as their Office Manager (for 6 months) then to Chemung Canal Trust Company (for a yr).
I hated having to put Emily in DayCare .... someone else is going to "raise" my child? Ugh! I fully understand Mothers' issues with leaving their child(ren) with basically a complete stranger and entrusting them not to leave any permanent damage to their child(ren)!
It wasn't till Emily was 2 that she had to go into DayCare because I worked nights at Bryne Dairy so Don would be home by the time I had to leave, thank God!
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not slamming DayCare providers .... afterall I now am one ..... there are some really great programs out there but there are also some really bad ones. To find a really great one you have to do your homework ..... ask around, get referrals!! Or just bring your children to my house!! =)
That first year FLEW, as anyone with children knows. I cherished each day I had with my newborn daughter .... even the 3 AM feedings!! I was fortunate enough for that 1st year to be able to stay at home and enjoy her and not work. That was a great blessing!
Also, during that 1st yr. (and a few months) I lost 140 lbs!!! I was bound and determined to be a physically fit Mother so I could play with Emily at the park and ride my bike around with her behind me on the baby seat .... little did I know what was to come (more on that in another blog).
A month before her 1st birthday I did go to work ..... 1st at Byrne Dairy (for a yr) then to Green Diamond Tires as their Office Manager (for 6 months) then to Chemung Canal Trust Company (for a yr).
I hated having to put Emily in DayCare .... someone else is going to "raise" my child? Ugh! I fully understand Mothers' issues with leaving their child(ren) with basically a complete stranger and entrusting them not to leave any permanent damage to their child(ren)!
It wasn't till Emily was 2 that she had to go into DayCare because I worked nights at Bryne Dairy so Don would be home by the time I had to leave, thank God!
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not slamming DayCare providers .... afterall I now am one ..... there are some really great programs out there but there are also some really bad ones. To find a really great one you have to do your homework ..... ask around, get referrals!! Or just bring your children to my house!! =)
Saturday, January 8, 2011
WOW!
Talk about a whirlwind. After Emily was born Don & I completely forgot everything we used to talk about before she came along .... why does that happen? Our whole world revolved around her, not saying that was a bad thing.
One of my most favorite times with Emily as an infant would be when she fell asleep on my chest. I could stay there for hours, and often times did! It was so surreal to realize that I was now a Mother! Sometimes I still catch myself not believing that I have been given this role by God, to nurture HIS child while I have her here on Earth.
For the first 6 weeks Emily slept in our bed at night. I still remember the very first time she slept all the way through the night ... it was a Saturday night and I woke up around 7 Sunday morning and realized that she hadn't been awake since 10 or 11 the night before. That completely amazed me being as she was still so young, I didn't think that was possible but oh I was so glad!
It was also during those first 6 weeks that Emily experienced colic! However, if I had been told that nursing infants eat whatever Mama eats then I would have kept the pepperonci's off my salads -- as I was eating big salads a couple times a day to lose weight. =/ My poor little pumpkin was eating hot peppers!! Once I realized (after someone told me) what I was doing I 86ed the pepperonci's from my salads .... no more colic .... WOW!
After 6 weeks Emily was also taken out of our DOUBLE bed and made to sleep in her own crib at night. That took several nights of getting her to lay in her crib without crying. The first night she cried for 3-4 hrs with intermitant soothing and calming and then laying her back in there. The second night was a little better and by the third or forth night it was a no longer a problem.
Stayed tuned ......
One of my most favorite times with Emily as an infant would be when she fell asleep on my chest. I could stay there for hours, and often times did! It was so surreal to realize that I was now a Mother! Sometimes I still catch myself not believing that I have been given this role by God, to nurture HIS child while I have her here on Earth.
For the first 6 weeks Emily slept in our bed at night. I still remember the very first time she slept all the way through the night ... it was a Saturday night and I woke up around 7 Sunday morning and realized that she hadn't been awake since 10 or 11 the night before. That completely amazed me being as she was still so young, I didn't think that was possible but oh I was so glad!
It was also during those first 6 weeks that Emily experienced colic! However, if I had been told that nursing infants eat whatever Mama eats then I would have kept the pepperonci's off my salads -- as I was eating big salads a couple times a day to lose weight. =/ My poor little pumpkin was eating hot peppers!! Once I realized (after someone told me) what I was doing I 86ed the pepperonci's from my salads .... no more colic .... WOW!
After 6 weeks Emily was also taken out of our DOUBLE bed and made to sleep in her own crib at night. That took several nights of getting her to lay in her crib without crying. The first night she cried for 3-4 hrs with intermitant soothing and calming and then laying her back in there. The second night was a little better and by the third or forth night it was a no longer a problem.
Stayed tuned ......
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The Second Biggest Day In Our Lives
We spent 2 wks walking the southside of Elmira trying to kickstart labor .... no doin'! Emily wasn't comin' out till she was darn good and ready ...... strong willed from the womb!! =)
August 16th started out as any other Saturday, I'm sure. Although I can not tell you not what I was doing all day ....
I can tell you that at apx. 8 PM I broke one of the rods off our coat tree with the very first contraction!! I will never forget that! However, at the time I didn't know it was a contraction. I thought it was constipation. LOL
I spent that night in the recliner in the living room with pure back labor, unknowing that that was what I was going through. Niave, I know, but this was my first experience with it so how was I to know?
Contractions were painful but spiratic so I just figured the pain would subside, as soon as I was able to go to the bathroom. Again, feel free to LOL. But they never went away .. from 8 PM Sat - 6 AM Sun I tried to sleep in the recliner, pains coming and going.
At 6 Don thinks it's about time to call the hospital, after he'd had a decent night's sleep in our bed. =)
So, we called them, they said to come in and get checked out. So, I walked myself from the car to the elevator, waited for Don and walked myself from the elevator to the nurse's station on the maternity floor.
They were certain since I could walk there was no way I was in labor, but wanted to check my progress since I was a wk. overdue anyway. The nurse said "we'll be sending you home if you're not 4 cm dilated."
So, I prayed "dear God, let me be just 4 cm ... I'll do anything!" And, Don being the comedian that he is and just coming back from Africa said "even go to Africa?" And I screamed "YES! I'll even go to Africa!"
So, the nurse checked and said "we're going to transfer you to labor and delivery, you're 6 cm dilated!"
Okay, Lord .... very funny.
So for the next 5 hrs (by this time it was around 7 am) I was in labor for Little miss Emily Rose .... by noon I was fully dialted and ready for the pushing ... YEAH ..... one small problem with that ..... she didn't wanna come out yet! I tried pushing for 2 hrs and finally my Dr said "we're going to have to do a c-section. Would you like an epideral or anistesia (sp wrong I'm sure)?" My reply ... "Dr .... I've been awake for over 30 hrs, I can see her when I wake up. KNOCK ME OUT!" =)
I told Don before they put me under to make sure she looked like an Emily Rose before they officially named her that!! I was adamit about that!!
No complications, Emily Rose was born via c-section at 2:38 PM on Sunday, Aug 17th, 2003 weighing in at 10lbs 11oz .... I was glad I had the c-section!! We were elated and exhausted!
August 16th started out as any other Saturday, I'm sure. Although I can not tell you not what I was doing all day ....
I can tell you that at apx. 8 PM I broke one of the rods off our coat tree with the very first contraction!! I will never forget that! However, at the time I didn't know it was a contraction. I thought it was constipation. LOL
I spent that night in the recliner in the living room with pure back labor, unknowing that that was what I was going through. Niave, I know, but this was my first experience with it so how was I to know?
Contractions were painful but spiratic so I just figured the pain would subside, as soon as I was able to go to the bathroom. Again, feel free to LOL. But they never went away .. from 8 PM Sat - 6 AM Sun I tried to sleep in the recliner, pains coming and going.
At 6 Don thinks it's about time to call the hospital, after he'd had a decent night's sleep in our bed. =)
So, we called them, they said to come in and get checked out. So, I walked myself from the car to the elevator, waited for Don and walked myself from the elevator to the nurse's station on the maternity floor.
They were certain since I could walk there was no way I was in labor, but wanted to check my progress since I was a wk. overdue anyway. The nurse said "we'll be sending you home if you're not 4 cm dilated."
So, I prayed "dear God, let me be just 4 cm ... I'll do anything!" And, Don being the comedian that he is and just coming back from Africa said "even go to Africa?" And I screamed "YES! I'll even go to Africa!"
So, the nurse checked and said "we're going to transfer you to labor and delivery, you're 6 cm dilated!"
Okay, Lord .... very funny.
So for the next 5 hrs (by this time it was around 7 am) I was in labor for Little miss Emily Rose .... by noon I was fully dialted and ready for the pushing ... YEAH ..... one small problem with that ..... she didn't wanna come out yet! I tried pushing for 2 hrs and finally my Dr said "we're going to have to do a c-section. Would you like an epideral or anistesia (sp wrong I'm sure)?" My reply ... "Dr .... I've been awake for over 30 hrs, I can see her when I wake up. KNOCK ME OUT!" =)
I told Don before they put me under to make sure she looked like an Emily Rose before they officially named her that!! I was adamit about that!!
No complications, Emily Rose was born via c-section at 2:38 PM on Sunday, Aug 17th, 2003 weighing in at 10lbs 11oz .... I was glad I had the c-section!! We were elated and exhausted!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Next Three Years
So, there we were ..... newlyweds. Don worked at Pathways, Inc. as one of their head maintenance men and I was a registered DayCare provider. I cared for 7 children ages 6 wks - 12 yrs inside our little 2 bdrm apt. on Oak St.
Life went along as "normal" life does. We had an adventure living in Tennessee for 14 months ... Don worked with some of his family down there while I mostly stayed home but at one point had a job as a shift manager at an Arby's -- woohoo!!
We came back to NY in March of 2002 and rented my parent's basement apt. while we searched for a home in Elmira where Don was working for another family member.
We had saved up quite a little nest egg in a matter of months and we were ready to buy. God had a different plan, however. We were told to give that money to a ministry in need. So, we did.
A couple weeks after giving God that money we found out that we were expecting our little miracle baby - Emily Rose.
Within a month of giving that money we were in our new house .... with no down payment and no closing costs!!!! GOD WAS GOOD, still is!
We worked tirelessly for the next 7-8 months fixing up the Franklin St. house to make it liveable before Emily arrived!
Don sprang a suprise on me in the Spring of 2003 .... he had decided to go to Africa on a mission's trip from July 17 - Aug 3 ... um, did he forget I was pregnant and due Aug 12th? What was I suppose to do .... stay home and knit? =)
So, off to my Mom's I went for 2 wks. while Don went to Africa. I layed around and did nothing for 2 wks except attend my 2 baby showers, take my nieces to lunch and wait for Emily to show up!! Oh, and email Don -- did you know they had email in Africa? That was a pleasant suprise when I heard from him the first time!!!
On Aug 3rd I went with other people from The Love Church to pick up the Africa team and suprised Don at the airport -- it was great to see him again. We both cried and held each other for what seemed like a lifetime!! He couldn't believe how big my tummy had gotten!
For the next 2 wks. we waited ... and waited .... and waited .....
Life went along as "normal" life does. We had an adventure living in Tennessee for 14 months ... Don worked with some of his family down there while I mostly stayed home but at one point had a job as a shift manager at an Arby's -- woohoo!!
We came back to NY in March of 2002 and rented my parent's basement apt. while we searched for a home in Elmira where Don was working for another family member.
We had saved up quite a little nest egg in a matter of months and we were ready to buy. God had a different plan, however. We were told to give that money to a ministry in need. So, we did.
A couple weeks after giving God that money we found out that we were expecting our little miracle baby - Emily Rose.
Within a month of giving that money we were in our new house .... with no down payment and no closing costs!!!! GOD WAS GOOD, still is!
We worked tirelessly for the next 7-8 months fixing up the Franklin St. house to make it liveable before Emily arrived!
Don sprang a suprise on me in the Spring of 2003 .... he had decided to go to Africa on a mission's trip from July 17 - Aug 3 ... um, did he forget I was pregnant and due Aug 12th? What was I suppose to do .... stay home and knit? =)
So, off to my Mom's I went for 2 wks. while Don went to Africa. I layed around and did nothing for 2 wks except attend my 2 baby showers, take my nieces to lunch and wait for Emily to show up!! Oh, and email Don -- did you know they had email in Africa? That was a pleasant suprise when I heard from him the first time!!!
On Aug 3rd I went with other people from The Love Church to pick up the Africa team and suprised Don at the airport -- it was great to see him again. We both cried and held each other for what seemed like a lifetime!! He couldn't believe how big my tummy had gotten!
For the next 2 wks. we waited ... and waited .... and waited .....
Monday, January 3, 2011
The Start of Our Life
It all started with an instant message on AOL. You remember AOL, don't you? Back then it was "all the rage!" You needed an AOL account back then like you need a FaceBook account now.
Sitting in my parent's house at the computer I sent Don an instant message that read something like this:
"Hi, please don't be alarmed. I know you don't know me. I'm just looking to make new friends in the area and I noticed you live in Elmira. I'm 18 yrs old, 5'7", hazel eyes and brown hair. How are you?"
I have no idea what he responded, but the fact that he did respond is quite evident. And, after "talking" through IM's for about an hour I gave him my phone number -- HIGHLY RISKY AND I DON'T ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO DO THAT!! -- and after talking on the phone for about an hour we made a date to meet in person -- ALSO HIGHLY RISKY AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR OF ANYONE DOING THAT!!
Our 1st date was June 1st, 1998 at Perkins (now Denny's) in Painted Post! I remember it as if it were yesterday.
What followed was a year of high telephone bills and even higher gas bills going back and forth from Savona to Elmira ..... getting to know each other.
June 1st, 1999 it was almost over. We went out for our 1 yr. anniversary to a fancy prime rib dinner and then proceeded to have "the" talk that all couples must go through at some point. While I longed for children, Don didn't know if he was up to it at the age of 43.
It was an extremely difficult break-up for both us, there were days of tears. For two weeks we tried healing, seperately, from the pain that a break up like that would cause. Then, an intervention. My Mother sent us both an email that had these words "no matter who you're with, if God wants you to have children, you'll have children." Within a matter of 48 hrs. we were back together and then on June 20th, 1999 we were engaged to be married.
September 18th, 1999 started the beginning of our married life together. It was the best day of my life, hands down. And now, over 11 years later, we are so much more in love than we were then and I didn't think that was possible.
Sitting in my parent's house at the computer I sent Don an instant message that read something like this:
"Hi, please don't be alarmed. I know you don't know me. I'm just looking to make new friends in the area and I noticed you live in Elmira. I'm 18 yrs old, 5'7", hazel eyes and brown hair. How are you?"
I have no idea what he responded, but the fact that he did respond is quite evident. And, after "talking" through IM's for about an hour I gave him my phone number -- HIGHLY RISKY AND I DON'T ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO DO THAT!! -- and after talking on the phone for about an hour we made a date to meet in person -- ALSO HIGHLY RISKY AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR OF ANYONE DOING THAT!!
Our 1st date was June 1st, 1998 at Perkins (now Denny's) in Painted Post! I remember it as if it were yesterday.
What followed was a year of high telephone bills and even higher gas bills going back and forth from Savona to Elmira ..... getting to know each other.
June 1st, 1999 it was almost over. We went out for our 1 yr. anniversary to a fancy prime rib dinner and then proceeded to have "the" talk that all couples must go through at some point. While I longed for children, Don didn't know if he was up to it at the age of 43.
It was an extremely difficult break-up for both us, there were days of tears. For two weeks we tried healing, seperately, from the pain that a break up like that would cause. Then, an intervention. My Mother sent us both an email that had these words "no matter who you're with, if God wants you to have children, you'll have children." Within a matter of 48 hrs. we were back together and then on June 20th, 1999 we were engaged to be married.
September 18th, 1999 started the beginning of our married life together. It was the best day of my life, hands down. And now, over 11 years later, we are so much more in love than we were then and I didn't think that was possible.
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