Month: March 2016

After countless doctor visits, diet changes, supplements and hours of research – all of which had to happen during the rare moments when I wasn’t writhing in migraine pain, covering my eyes in a spinning room, or lying on the bathroom floor – I am still just as miserable as ever.  Nothing has made me feel better for more than eight days, and that was a rare week of bliss.  I usually feel bad every second of every day and I’m tired of it!

Hoping Beyond All Hope

Therefore, I’ve made the decision to start the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet.  You can look here for more information.  Lots of research shortened, I will be eating no grains, no refined sugar, very limited other sugar (honey, maple syrup), no dairy, no nuts, no seeds (including coffee and chocolate – GASP!), no eggs, no legumes (i.e. beans), no nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, peppers), no spices made from nightshades or seeds (i.e. pepper or cumin), no thickeners or gums and no NSAIDS for at least 30 days.  The first phase of the diet is meant to calm any inflammation and eliminate most foods that can cause flares.  It is a gut-healing process, since many autoimmune diseases are caused by leaky gut syndrome.  Before you think I’m crazy, please, please read this incredibly informative article about Leaky Gut Syndrome.  Really, this is an amazing, easy-to-understand article by Steve Wright.

The next phases of the diet slowly add back in one food at a time, waiting at least five days before adding back another food and paying very close attention to how it makes your body feel.  If it triggers a response, I will not eat that food again.  It is a long process and huge commitment, but completely worth it if it’s the thing that finally gives me some relief.

I told my husband that I could not cook two dinners so he would either have to cook for himself or at least eat the dinners I cook.  Being the incredibly supportive man that he is, and needing to get healthier himself, he has decided to go on the diet with me.  So here we go, embarking on a difficult journey…

Starting right now, we begin eating to live rather than living to eat.

Here is a picture of our first produce-filled shopping cart:

We are hopeful that eating the way God originally created us to eat will calm whatever evil is inside of me.  To give others on the AIP diet some meal ideas I may be posting a few meals here and there.  This was our first AIP meal.  It was pretty good.  It did not have much flavor but I can play with that.  Cilantro Lime Chicken with Zucchini Noodles:

One of the big problems may be that I get hungry in between meals and there’s not much to snack on in this diet.  I’m going to have to get very creative, and I am not a fan of cooking.  My next AIP meal was Coconut “Yogurt” with Berries and Toasted Cinnamon Coconut:

I did not know where to buy probiotic powder so that I could “grow” my own yogurt so I thought I could leave it out.  I was wrong.  After hours in the fridge it was still soup so I froze it and basically had coconut ice cream for breakfast.  Live and learn.

How I am feeling thus far:  Tremendously Horrible. I’ve only had a few AIP meals so I don’t expect it to be a miracle cure right away.  I have been so dizzy from a bacteria in my mastoids (aka: ear infection) that I can barely stand sometimes.  I am having terrible stomach problems, headaches and awful brain fog.  My parotids (salivary glands) are swollen and I have incredibly itchy patches of skin popping up on my fingers, eyelids and right ear.  I am hoping that this new adventure will set me back on my feet again.  This post has gotten longer than I thought so I will sign off with a request for all of the prayers we can get.  I need to learn to cook new things but I have no energy at all.  I also usually ruin new recipes but we cannot afford to do that because we can’t just go out and get something else to eat.  I don’t want to think about continuing throughout the rest of my life feeling this awful so I am trying to trust.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. – 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (NIV)

Love and blessings to you, friends,

~Karina

Holy Week blessings to all of you!

This is my favorite week of the year.  It is incredibly reflective, meaningful, and usually warmer than Christmas!  I think Resurrection Sunday is my favorite holiday.  But I love the reflection leading up to Sunday during Holy Week.

Today is Maundy Thursday.  Growing up, I had never even heard that term, but it came to mean so much to me as I learned more about it.  Today is the day we reflect on the last moments Jesus spent with his Disciples before being arrested.

It was just before the Passover Feast.  Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. – John 13:1 (NIV)

The full extent of his love.  What a beautiful phrase.  Of course we know that the full extent of Jesus’ love was his willingness to die for us.  But I also think it is purposeful that the phrase “full extent of his love” appears just before Jesus washed the disciples’ feet.  Foot-washing was the task of servants.  How beautiful that the king of kings set the ultimate example of service by humbling himself, kneeling on the ground, and washing dirty feet.  He could have just left it at that – an example.  But he knows how simple and full of excuses we can be, so he specifically tells us what we are to do.  He tells us to follow his example, saying:

“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’, and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” – John 13:13-15 (NIV)

What?!  Jesus, you want me to was HER feet?  She’s so dirty!  And HIS?  Gross, he smells!  Do you know the terrible things he has done?! Let’s face it.  Every single one of us has the filth of this world on us in one way or another.  Jesus lovingly washes it off.  He showed the ultimate humility in the full extent of his love.  How can we dare to think we are ‘above’ serving those we see as dirty or sinful, when Jesus himself washed the feet of sinners?

Tomorrow is Good Friday, the day we remember Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice – his own life.  Good Friday services were also never a part of my childhood.  For whatever reason, they were not commonplace in our area.  During college, some friends and I decided to attend all of the Holy services.  We were so determined that we actually pushed my friend’s car out of its parking spot since none of us knew how to drive a stick shift, but that’s another story!  The Friday service was called the Service of Darkness.  And that it was.  It was very dark, except for a couple candles.  And it was silent.  In the next moment the silence was broken by hand bells softly playing “Were you There when They Crucified My Lord?”  Once again, I was mesmerized by the beauty and the majesty of that quiet moment.  It is times like these during which the holiness is almost tangible.  I’m struggling to put it into words.  But I think that’s the point.  Sometimes the Holy cannot be put into words.  But you cannot help but recognize it.  The Holy is also present during loud Hosannas, which we will hear on Resurrection Sunday, but sometimes we need the silence to connect with God on a level deep within ourselves.

Be still and know that I am God. – Psalm 46:10 (NIV).

This Holy season, be still and reflect on the full extent of Christ’s love.  Remember that he calls us to follow his example.  Be blessed into silence, awe, and wonder.  And sing your loud Hallelujah’s on Sunday!

I’ve had an incredible, note-worthy week.

Most remarkably – Last Thursday, my nutritionist gave me a miracle supplement.  It’s disgusting because I have to suck the coating off of the pills to stimulate bile, but I would suck on those bad boys until the end of forever if they make me feel this good.  My stomach immediately got better and I have had seven straight days with NO TUMMY TROUBLES.  I have gained almost five pounds in one week.  For real.  It’s the birthday cake, friends.  Just goes to show how starved my poor little body has been.  I’m not naive enough to think this blessed bliss will last forever, but I am enjoying every precious second and morsel of food!  Food, glorious food!!

Close second – My sweet friend took pity on my poor, over-sized wardrobe and gave me a birthday gift card.  I cannot tell you the last time I actually bought NEW clothes.  If I start losing my pants due to the weight loss, I will go to a thrift store.  Buying new clothes was a different experience for me.  At first I was sort of intimidated, but by the end I was singing Lorrie Morgan’s, “I’m Looking for Something in Red” at the top of my lungs… or maybe just in my head, but still.  A full belly and clothes that fit.  What more could a girl want?

Setbacks – There have been setbacks, for sure.  If it’s not my stomach, it’s my swollen, painful parotid (salivary) glands.  I woke up Sunday morning with some massive ones and had to go to First Assist for steroids.  I despise medicine and hate how jittery it has made me feel, but I’m not in as much pain.  It’s often a trade-off with me.  Can I tolerate the horrible symptoms of my disease more than I can tolerate potential side-effects of a medication?  Real-life gambling, folks.  Jason probably wants the steroids finished so I quit jabbering so much.  Talking and eating.  That’s what I’ve done this week and it has been magical!

BIG NEWS

Today was not especially fun.  I had two follow-ups from the biopsy I had of my salivary glands last week.  I spent most of my day listening to the doors of doctors’ offices screech like banshees, but I digress.  I swear I will bring them some oil next time.

First of all, my lip is healing fine for the most part.  All of my sutures fell out long before they were supposed to, so I have a gaping hole in my lip.  See, I’m always special. But it’s slowly healing and just feels like a very annoying canker sore. The results of the biopsy definitely support Sjogren’s.  So, there you have it folks.  After years of trying to convince doctors that there is ‘something’ wrong with me, I finally have the official diagnosis of Sjogren’s Syndrome.  

Sjogren’s Syndrome is an Autoimmune Disease. As with most Autoimmune Diseases, the body mistakes its own cells as something to fight off and starts attacking itself.  I love the meme that I will censor slightly that says –

“Autoimmune Disease – Because the Only Thing Tough Enough to Kick My Butt is Me!”

In the case of Sjogren’s Syndrome, the body attacks all of its moisture-producing glands. My eyes are so dry that I can no longer wear my contacts and I am so thirsty ALL THE TIME.  My parotid (salivary) tubes get dry and form little stones and when bacteria gets behind those stones, the glands swell up and become extremely painful.  It also can affect many other areas of the body. I seem to have a fairly rare, but not undocumented connection to the stomach and random food intolerances.  My favorite quote from a fellow ‘Sjogie’ thus far is, “I hate getting invited to anyone’s house for meals because I have no idea what I will be able to eat that day.”  True, that.  It is a gamble putting anything in my mouth at any moment of any day.  The Rheumatologist is not entirely convinced that Sjogren’s is causing my stomach issues.  He says it might be, but it’s very difficult to prove that and fix it.  So, for now he gave me some info to read on a medication that would basically make my glands produce more moisture, but may make my stomach worse.  It really has to do with my comfort level in trying new medicines, and I’m so anti-drug, it scares the daylights out of me.  For now I’m just going with the flow and enjoying my tummy relief while it lasts.

1 Corinthians 13:12-13 (NIV) – “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.”

This week I have experienced faith in the knowledge that God has control of my triumphs and setbacks.  I have experienced some hope in finally receiving a diagnosis.  I have experienced love in a kind friend and outpouring of prayers.  I have really felt ‘known’ this week, by the loved ones who know exactly what I need when I need it, by the doctors who finally recognize a problem, and by the relief of some of my symptoms.  If this is “but a poor reflection”, I truly cannot wait to see God face to face and be FULLY known.  Oh, how glorious!

It’s been pretty rough around here lately.  Most of you know that I’ve been very sick and had to leave my job at the end of last year.  These last few months have been a constant battle between spending money on supplements that may make me feel better for a day or two, or suffering because I have nowhere to go anyway.  That student loan bill that still comes like clockwork each month is a kick in the gut, seeing as how that particular career seems to have gone down the drain, at least for the time being.  But, I digress.

Somebody (namely, me) had a birthday last week and, as birthdays go, there are often special meals, an AMAZING gluten-free, egg-free chocolate cake made my by beloved (I may or may not have had three pieces yesterday), gifts, and the like.  You know, extra expenses.  If I’m going to go all-out with this blog thing, I might as well tell all, right?  Being an open book makes life so much more interesting.  I guess I don’t mind telling you that we goofed on our budget.  Auto-draft for bills is a blessing and a curse all wrapped up in one.  Praise God for overdraft coverage, anyone?

I’m fairly certain that Jason’s plan for this week was just to not eat at all, while I was frantically entering ingredients into myfridgefood.com, attempting to come up with creative meals involving ground beef, rice, half-rotten veggies, and five cans of coconut milk.  I woke up this morning armed with birthday money and a bag of change that would cover our overdraft and headed to the bank.  On a whim I decided to close the individual savings account they forced me to open when I first took out the mortgage and haven’t touched since.  I thought it might give us a few extra dollars in the joint account.

ENTER, GOD. That savings account, that I swear I have not touched in years, had $812 in it.  EIGHT HUNDRED AND TWELVE DOLLARS.  They almost had to pick me up off the floor of the bank. I have a slightly vague memory of possibly putting a little tax return money in there from a previous year because I used to be so much smarter with money, but no account builds that much interest.  I’m going to stick with GOD PROVIDES.

How else can I explain the fact that last month the bank told us we had gotten a month ahead on our mortgage, or that this month there is an unbelievable amount of money in an account I haven’t touched in years?  Yes, I used to be much more frugal and intelligent with money. My college friends called me a “miser”, but those days are gone.  This was my lesson that those days need to return!  This was God’s way of teaching me that he is still with us.  He is also teaching me not to squander his provision, and PAY MORE ATTENTION, ALREADY!!

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” – Matthew 6:26 ESV

No worries, Karina.  God’s got this.  It may not be in the way you expect, and you may need to pay more attention, but he’s on it.  And there’s no one else you’d rather be in control. In the meantime, go have some cake!

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Hallelujah.

The second thing you need to know about me is that I have been very sick for a very long time.  I regularly stumped doctors and felt completely insane when they all told me there was nothing wrong with me.  This post was originally written when I finally got a lead on my health issues on January 15, 2016.  Updated today, March 7, 2016.

Besides the fact that I rely on God for the very next breath I breathe, you need to know a few more things about me to understand this blog.  I will be discussing these things in the next few posts, as I update for your reading pleasure (I hope!)

The first thing you need to know is that music is prayer to me.  It has always been a massive part of my life.  I have been singing since I could talk.  I started playing piano when I was in second grade and it became my first love.  I picked up the guitar in college.  After college I was living with my dear friend, Mary.  I would often listen as she made up beautiful songs on the piano and one day I expressed that I would love to be able to write songs.  She said something I will never forget.  She said, “I bet if you wanted to write a song, God would let you.”  Light bulb!!  As soon as I quit trying to write songs myself and opened up to God writing HIS songs through me, the music flowed.  The music has not been there very often lately with all of the craziness that has been going on in my life (more on that later), but I know it will return when God feels I am ready to sing his songs again. In the meantime, I continue in awe of the ones he has already given me.

Photo Credit: JND Photography

There are certain songs that simply amaze me when finished, because I know there is absolutely no way that I could have written them. This is one of those songs that just came to me when I sat down and started playing. It is during these Heaven-filled moments that God makes it very obvious to me that the song is all his. It starts out by saying I don’t know what to pray for, which is often very true for me. But God knows what I need to pray and gives me the words, or groans when the words will not come. Sometimes – quite often – it is difficult for me to express myself, and this song gives voice to that issue. It speaks of conflicting emotions and holding back something, whatever that ‘something’ may be, from God. In this storm of emotions, we cry out for calm seas and safe arms. As always, his safe arms reach out to hold us and keep us safe.  I cannot tell you how much I have needed this song in the last few years.  Stick around for the next post to find out why.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” – Romans 8:26 NIV

As a special treat for reading, you can listen to I Cry Out HERE.  Feel free to explore my music page if you like.

I Cry Out

“Lord, I don’t know what to pray for
My heart cannot be put into words
And sometimes it seems the tears fall so easily
And sometimes there are no tears at all
And I long for a way to tell you
But I can’t express my overflowing heart

Chorus:
So I cry out to you, let my praises be true
I’m tired of falling back into the storm
I need you to calm the seas and bring your perfect peace
As I fall into your open, loving arms

Lord, you deserve more than I ever give you
I’m ashamed at how I treat the Lord of all
And I wish my heart would always be near you
But I take it farther from you than I should
But when I let you in my joy is overwhelming
So I can’t explain what’s holding me back

Chorus

For you are the Lord of everything and my blessings overflow
I don’t deserve the gifts you bring but you’re giving even more
And I’m humbled by your unfailing love

Chorus

And I cry out to you, let my praises be true
As I fall into your open, loving arms
Oh Lord please catch me in your open, loving arms.”

“Brick by brick, I was building up my cold, hard walls.
Brick by brick, you chipped away and watched them fall.
Now I’m standing here in the beautiful rubble.”

This quote is from a song I wrote called Brick by Brick.  I write from the beautiful rubble of my walls, torn down by God.  This is me – sometimes serious, sometimes silly, but always honest.  I write from the broken places of humanity, dreams, and my own soul, as God continues to build me up from my rubble.