Over the past four years I have been getting gradually better at dealing with migraines. Taking drugs daily has helped keep them at bay but only for so long. I would switch between cycles of migraine free weeks to two - four migraines a week. Not being able to identify a trigger has meant that I have worked hard at being good in lots of areas - I am pretty much caffeine, chocolate, wine and kinda dairy free all to no avail. I am diligent about getting 8 hours sleep, waking and sleeping at the same time each day. Exercise is part of my lifestyle in helping deal with them, and the consumption of water a daily quest (even though it means I am constantly boiling water and it tastes disgusting!)
Last Monday I had two episodes followed by a further one in the early hours of Tuesday morning. I felt it returning mid morning. Getting to work I remembered a friend telling me that her friend drank caffeine to reduce her migraines. So heading home only an hour later and having done everything right I thought I would do something wrong and drank a can of cold coke. Over time the pain subsided without the assistance of my new best friend; maxalt - a lovely, very expensive wafer which seems to be the only thing that helps a migraine.
Thursday I woke with the beginnings of another and made myself a cup of coffee. I got home at the end of a long work day and realised I was pain free.
Today I awoke at 2am with the beginnings of another. I made a cup of coffee and although I was a little jittery heading to work later (my body still doesn't know how to handle caffeine) I made it through until now - not pain free but to be upright itself is a miracle.
So my new theory is caffeine can help, and at least I am saving huge amounts of cash on the drugs I was spending.....still praying for a miracle though!!!!
January 12, 2010
Monday Madness
It's 6:00am and I am slowly waking up to a sunny Tuesday morning. I hope it's a little more sane than yesterday. Mondays are always a bit of a marathon but yesterday seemed completely mad. It was my first day back at college and the addition of a two hour lecture to my busiest day was although light relief a little mad!
Here's how a Monday in Sues life typically looks this semester.....
5:30 wide awake (and no I don't take 2 hours to get up!!)
7:15 Avo on toast - I know I am going to need the energy today!
7:30 Off to College - nice chat with a neighbour in the lift on the way. Your first born being a boy is a big thing in this culture!! Then trying to find my car. Someone parked in my spot on Sunday and it took me a moment to remember where my car was.
8:00 trying to get some emails done (college has broadband) before the latecomers came in
8:15 Lecture finally starts - it's just an introduction to the course (Hermeneutics) including an outline of all the assignments. Ahem!! Muchos grace needed this term what with 5 assignments, a weekly reading reaction journal and not forgetting the online interactive discussion forum. On top of that my second course is Greek - that and all that follows.
8:45 Start watching the clock and madly think about an opening song for the Staff Meeting which I lead on a weekly basis starting in 15!
8:55 Out the door, in the car and speeding down Leopold Takawira. Glad that I have actually prepared this meeting but a little out of breath as I run in. A quick Hi to Tash and cute little Ethan who were visiting, and then a longer welcome to a new arrival on the wider team
8:08 Start staff meeting late. Not impressed with myself for this. I might need to think through a better start plan (like start without me - although tricky when you're taking the lead) A good time of catch up since we last saw each other followed by a time of worship - God broke in and really met with people, and I was a little lost in God to hold the meeting together as we neared our remaining minutes. Some changes afoot - all HR stuff I have been busy with over the last month and some family news communicated. Homework set (surely all good meetings set homework) and into the week we run.
11:00 Scheduled meeting postponed - a little relieved but straight into problem solving with a staff member.
12:00 Meeting with the Elders in Training - worship, service reviews and some strategy stuff.
2:30 Sending out action points from the meetings and responding to a few issues
2:50 Swimming costume on ready for my belated lunch hour
3:55 Jump in the car and speed off to Aqua. Great to see an Indian friend I am getting to know and catch up between drowning and being out of breath. Exercise is a key part of me surviving my days and generally helps keep my migraines at bay.
3:55 Quickly get change - a little sore, and run as fast as I can to the car and head back to work.
4:02 Just late for a meeting with Mbo (Lead Elder and my boss - Best boss I have ever had!!) Non stop talking for nearly two hours on job descriptions, goals, strategy, rest and the coming weeks....still talking as we dash to our cars as he is off for his exercise fix.
6:00 Arrive home to no Zesa and climb the 8 flights of stairs to my flat, a little tired from the day I pause of 7 so close yet so far it seems. I begin to think about the need to eat properly as I only had the toast in the morning, have exercised well and worked hard. Please let the Zesa come soon I pray. No such luck! I connect to the phone line and send and receive mail (this is my main end of day job)
6:15 Head to the kitchen and make marmite on crackers and pour a glass of water....that will have to do for now (still hoping Zesa comes back)
6:30 Light a candle and try fix my head light as the candle is not giving enough light where I am sitting. Open my Greek text book and reread the chapter on Pronunciation and syllabification. Write cards of my vocab and do a quick test from the English and then from the Greek - quite pleased with my progress. Just need to learn those accent and sylab rules - still not got those. A work through of the next chapter and I realise my shocking knowledge of English nouns and pronouns. Fortunately Mounce anticipates this and I am going back to primary school and learning the basics so I can grasp the Greek concepts.
8:00 I think I really need to do the reading exercise (as I have been avoiding it and apparently it is key). Its needs my computer for this and I am not sure I have enough power on my Mac to last the power cut and get me through another day on Tues so off to wash swimming costume for Weds and a bit of a chat with Jesus before settling down just after 9. Early I know but it gets me my 8 hours ;-)
Best dash and see what today holds!
Here's how a Monday in Sues life typically looks this semester.....
5:30 wide awake (and no I don't take 2 hours to get up!!)
7:15 Avo on toast - I know I am going to need the energy today!
7:30 Off to College - nice chat with a neighbour in the lift on the way. Your first born being a boy is a big thing in this culture!! Then trying to find my car. Someone parked in my spot on Sunday and it took me a moment to remember where my car was.
8:00 trying to get some emails done (college has broadband) before the latecomers came in
8:15 Lecture finally starts - it's just an introduction to the course (Hermeneutics) including an outline of all the assignments. Ahem!! Muchos grace needed this term what with 5 assignments, a weekly reading reaction journal and not forgetting the online interactive discussion forum. On top of that my second course is Greek - that and all that follows.
8:45 Start watching the clock and madly think about an opening song for the Staff Meeting which I lead on a weekly basis starting in 15!
8:55 Out the door, in the car and speeding down Leopold Takawira. Glad that I have actually prepared this meeting but a little out of breath as I run in. A quick Hi to Tash and cute little Ethan who were visiting, and then a longer welcome to a new arrival on the wider team
8:08 Start staff meeting late. Not impressed with myself for this. I might need to think through a better start plan (like start without me - although tricky when you're taking the lead) A good time of catch up since we last saw each other followed by a time of worship - God broke in and really met with people, and I was a little lost in God to hold the meeting together as we neared our remaining minutes. Some changes afoot - all HR stuff I have been busy with over the last month and some family news communicated. Homework set (surely all good meetings set homework) and into the week we run.
11:00 Scheduled meeting postponed - a little relieved but straight into problem solving with a staff member.
12:00 Meeting with the Elders in Training - worship, service reviews and some strategy stuff.
2:30 Sending out action points from the meetings and responding to a few issues
2:50 Swimming costume on ready for my belated lunch hour
3:55 Jump in the car and speed off to Aqua. Great to see an Indian friend I am getting to know and catch up between drowning and being out of breath. Exercise is a key part of me surviving my days and generally helps keep my migraines at bay.
3:55 Quickly get change - a little sore, and run as fast as I can to the car and head back to work.
4:02 Just late for a meeting with Mbo (Lead Elder and my boss - Best boss I have ever had!!) Non stop talking for nearly two hours on job descriptions, goals, strategy, rest and the coming weeks....still talking as we dash to our cars as he is off for his exercise fix.
6:00 Arrive home to no Zesa and climb the 8 flights of stairs to my flat, a little tired from the day I pause of 7 so close yet so far it seems. I begin to think about the need to eat properly as I only had the toast in the morning, have exercised well and worked hard. Please let the Zesa come soon I pray. No such luck! I connect to the phone line and send and receive mail (this is my main end of day job)
6:15 Head to the kitchen and make marmite on crackers and pour a glass of water....that will have to do for now (still hoping Zesa comes back)
6:30 Light a candle and try fix my head light as the candle is not giving enough light where I am sitting. Open my Greek text book and reread the chapter on Pronunciation and syllabification. Write cards of my vocab and do a quick test from the English and then from the Greek - quite pleased with my progress. Just need to learn those accent and sylab rules - still not got those. A work through of the next chapter and I realise my shocking knowledge of English nouns and pronouns. Fortunately Mounce anticipates this and I am going back to primary school and learning the basics so I can grasp the Greek concepts.
8:00 I think I really need to do the reading exercise (as I have been avoiding it and apparently it is key). Its needs my computer for this and I am not sure I have enough power on my Mac to last the power cut and get me through another day on Tues so off to wash swimming costume for Weds and a bit of a chat with Jesus before settling down just after 9. Early I know but it gets me my 8 hours ;-)
Best dash and see what today holds!
January 10, 2010
Off to a bang in 2010
What an amazing service we had this morning! I couldn’t quite believe how full the service was, as Mbonisi preached into our vision for this year. We are believing a BIG GOD for BIG things and as we outline the vision to the church it is exciting to see people take hold of the vision and commit themselves to building God’s Glorious Church. It is all about simple strategies – being like David and bringing our small rocks to a big giant like David and seeing God bring amazing breakthrough. In Him all things are possible and believing simple truths are key in us taking ground for the extension of His Kingdom.
Back home in my flat after an interesting month house sitting.
On Wednesday after a month house sitting for some friends I returned home to my little flat. What an amazing month of swimming in a lovely pool and having awesome broadband internet. A definite highlight was being able to video skype with my nephews. Seeing Isaac walk (a first for me) and having Caleb singing Christmas songs made the festive season for me.
Having such a large house meant I could entertain over Christmas and I celebrated the day with 19 friends and waiffs and strays. It felt like Christmas should be with at an hours notice taking in people who would have been on their own. Christmas in Zimbabwe would not be true without a power cut, and true to form as I was trying to expand the food for the extra mouths the power went. It all came together and was such a lovely day. I was so awed by the friendships that God has brought to me over the past 18 months.
With a large house as I am sure all homeowner know there come some challenges and I have to be honest I had not anticipated the challenges that would arise when I agreed to look after the house and its four dogs. Over the four weeks I separated a dog attack amongst the four dogs, had to rescue a cat stuck up a tree (ready meat for my dogs), deal with a dog napping, and on Christmas eve sadly bury one of the dogs. Needless to say I was a little relieved when the owners arrived home on Wednesday and I could say goodbye to the three dogs ;-)
It was truly a festive season. I hope yours was too!!
And now I am home – craving a pool and craving internet but enjoying reconnecting with neighbours – and seeing how God is working in the relationships he is opening for me amongst the community I live in.
Having such a large house meant I could entertain over Christmas and I celebrated the day with 19 friends and waiffs and strays. It felt like Christmas should be with at an hours notice taking in people who would have been on their own. Christmas in Zimbabwe would not be true without a power cut, and true to form as I was trying to expand the food for the extra mouths the power went. It all came together and was such a lovely day. I was so awed by the friendships that God has brought to me over the past 18 months.
With a large house as I am sure all homeowner know there come some challenges and I have to be honest I had not anticipated the challenges that would arise when I agreed to look after the house and its four dogs. Over the four weeks I separated a dog attack amongst the four dogs, had to rescue a cat stuck up a tree (ready meat for my dogs), deal with a dog napping, and on Christmas eve sadly bury one of the dogs. Needless to say I was a little relieved when the owners arrived home on Wednesday and I could say goodbye to the three dogs ;-)
It was truly a festive season. I hope yours was too!!
And now I am home – craving a pool and craving internet but enjoying reconnecting with neighbours – and seeing how God is working in the relationships he is opening for me amongst the community I live in.
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