random notes and chit chat from the insanity of our life

Peek into our life and see how crazy it can get with 6 kids, homeschooling, sewing, and now farming. We're in our first year on the land, and entertaining the world with what we don't know. By the grace of God, we're learning, day by day, so pull up a chair and laugh with us!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Group B Strep...a different story

I shared this on a group I am on for mamas, for a mama making the decision whether or not to treat for being group B strep positive in pregnancy.  I left a lot out.  So much of the details...they are burned into my memory, but I'm not sure everyone wants them.  Some things...change you.  Forever. But I just wanted to share it publicly, in case it helps someone.

Ok.  here is our GBS story...it's a little different...
I was never GBS+ except with #4, out of 6.  I struggled with it.  Almost fought the test, as I'd never done it before and thought it was silly.  then almost refused the antibiotics.  I'd been with a midwife till midway through and had to switch to a obgyn for financial reasons, and was very unhappy about his rules.  but the abx were NOT optional, and dh wasn't ok with me refusing them, either.  So, I gave in. 
Less than a month later, dh got sick.  Really sick.  We spent a month back and forth to drs 2-3x a week.  Misdiagnosis after misdiagnosis.  it was bad.  He lost 40lbs in a month, was in a wheelchair, a dr accused me of overmedicating him (almost suggested munchausens!)...when they finally caught it, he was going septic.  Turned out, he had a UTI/kidney/prostate infection that had abcessed into his back/hip/SI joint/thigh bone...and it was Group B Strep.  It was bad.  He spend 11 days in the hospital, 3 surgeries, came home with a wound vac and a PICC line.  They almost amputated his right leg.  He was told he'd never walk again, never work again...he did both.  Took him 8 months to get back to work, but he did.  He fought to keep working for 7 years, but a year and a half ago, went on permanent disability. 
Group B Strep scares me.  I am SO GLAD God put me with an OBGYN who would NOT ALLOW me to skip the abx, because I would have.  And if it could do such to my fully grown husband, who was pretty darn healthy (he was diabetic at that time, but completely diet controlled, physical job, active guy...)...what would it have done to my baby.
DS1, that baby, does have Autism Spectrum Disorder...specifically Aspergers.  Did the antibiotics cause that?  I don't know.  I will never know probably.  But would I change the choice I made for the abx?  Never.  Is it the right choice for you?  I don't know.  I really don't.  But really pray about it, and talk to your husband, etc.  Because it CAN be a huge decision.  Dh still has battles with it.  he gets UTIs several times a year, and about half are GBS.  He is just recovering from one now, and was almost in a wheelchair again for a few days. 
Hugs, and praying for your decision.  I don't share this to scare you, but to tell you honestly what a rough bug it is.  If I can prevent one other mama from thinking "Group B Strep?  What?  Oh, no big deal" the way I did...I will.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

One more step



One more step.  Take one more step.  Where?  Wherever.  Wherever God is leading you.  Maybe you know where, maybe you can’t see the path ahead.  Doesn’t matter.  Take that step.  He’s there ahead of you.  He always goes ahead of you. 
We’re moving into a house finally.  Well…sort of.  After 13 months (approx.) in the RV, with 6 kids and numerous animals, we found a house to rent, and started getting ready to move in.  You know, paint and stuff...  And then the toilet broke and flooded the house…so we’re back in the RV for a couple months…with 2 extra kids, because we’re also informally fostering 2 little girls.  So there are now 10 of us in the RV, lol.  And the RV is a huge mess because we moved half out and then back in…and Megans car broke down…and money is tight as always…and Steve is now diagnosed with migraines on top of everything else, and they cause him to vomit frequently…  And people keep saying “I don’t know how you do it” and things of that nature, but you know what?  I don’t do it.  I don’t have to.  Because there are some things I know for certain, and one is that when I get to the end of myself, that is where I find God. 
Every single time.  He’s never failed me.  He’s never been late.  He’s never stopped off to get a coffee on the way.  When I run out of patience, or strength, or energy, or anything else, God is there to lean on, and to fill me up. 
People say “God never gives you more than you can handle”, but that’s not true at all.  He very deliberately does.  He gives you what you can’t handle…alone.  He gives you enough to take you to that breaking point, and then He picks up the pieces and puts you back together better and stronger with Him.  He’s done it for me so many times that I can’t even tell what parts are new and what are old and where the glue begins and I end.  And every time, I’m better, I’m stronger, I’m more like the me He wants me to be.
Honestly, it doesn’t get any better than that.  Than to know that He’ll be there, every time I need Him.  And to that there’s nothing to fear in that next step.  So go on, take the step.  He’s waiting for you.  I promise.  Much more importantly…He promises.