Update

Want to hear (read?) a funny story?

Last week, I called the NIH because I hadn't been notified that they had received my records, which my doctors had sent a few weeks ago.  After playing phone tag for awhile, I was finally able to contact them and talk to a real human being.  She told me that they actually don't send out a letter to notify people that they've received their records, but that if I didn't hear anything in 8 weeks, I should give them a call.  The first letter that they sent me said they did, so it was all very confusing.  Then, my parents called me the next day and said I had gotten a letter from the NIH saying that they had received my records.

I thought it was funny.  The not-so-funny part of the story is that the letter also said they didn't have everything from Cleveland Clinic that they'd like... and... the 6-10 week wait doesn't start until they have everything.  Sigh.

On a happier note, my 22nd birthday was last Tuesday, so my parents came out on the weekend again to celebrate a few days early with my brother, sister-in-law, and me!  It was really good to be able to get off of campus for a little bit and be with my family.  The past few weeks have been rough because school is really wiping me out.  My bladder is still really good at keeping me up at night.  I started the medicine for overactive bladder over 8 weeks ago, so I'm starting to think that's not the culprit... it's frustrating.  Each day is really hard, and sometimes I start to get discouraged because I start to feel "stuck" in this.  Then, I remember that I serve a God who has more than enough power and love to get anybody "unstuck" anytime He wants.  That's a really, really comforting thought for me when I start to get down.  There has never been a time when God didn't have all of this under control.  And you know how people always say that God won't give you anything that you're not strong enough to get through?  Yeah, I don't think that's true... otherwise we'd never need to ask God to give us strength.

"Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

                                             -Isaiah 40:28-31

Farther Along

Sorry for the lack of posts.  The past few weeks have been rough... and crazy.  I've had some new symptoms pop up that I had to go to the doctor for last week.  It was a terrible, terrible doctor appointment, which I'm still waiting for test results from.  However, that same day, I found out that 3 of my friends and I were offered a room in "Beeson" for next year, which is more "apartment styled living" at Roberts.  I'm really excited to get out of the dorms.  4 years is enough for me!  I was also given an early birthday present that day!  Two of my friends gave me a "Psych" shirt (Psych is my favorite show... if you've never heard of it, you're missing out...).  So, a miserable day ended up not being completely miserable. :)

I was also going through one of me body's "let's lay in bed awake all night" phases for the past couple of weeks.  Fevers, not sleeping, and college are not a good combination.  I've been able to sleep better the past couple of nights though, so I hope that's how things will stay... at least for a little while!

My parents came to visit today, and we met my brother and sister-in-law for lunch and spent the whole day with them!  We went for a walk on the pier because it's abnormally warm out... it was a really, really good break from everything.

We're still waiting to hear from the National Institute of Health.  Waiting is hard, but I'm trying to take one day at a time and to be thankful for what God is doing each day.

This song has been encouraging me a lot lately!  Sorry if I've posted it before... I can't remember if I have or not!

The wait.

Earlier this week I found out that my doctors still hadn't sent my records to the Undiagnosed Diseases Program.  It wouldn't have been that frustrating... if I didn't think they sent it three weeks ago.  Thanks to the ridiculous amount of phone calls from both myself and my dad, they let us know that they had gotten it all together and sent it yesterday.  Now, I try to be patient until I hear from NIH that my records are there... then, I try to be even more patient while I wait 6-8 weeks to hear if I get in.

I've been listening to this song a lot, because it pretty much sums up how I feel.  Whenever I find out that I have to wait even longer, I don't think I'm going to make it that long... at least not without going insane. I was reminded the other day that if I ask God for patience, he'll give it to me... and maybe that's the point of all of this waiting... because it's when we think we can't take it anymore that He can blow us away by giving us everything we need to get through whatever we're going through.  I mean, I've made it this far... and I know I couldn't have done that by myself.