A New Day!

Today is the 29th. My appointment with my Neurosurgeon went great. He was so thrilled with my progress. He jerked my neck around a bit and I about came off the table. Nate's eyes were huge as he watched. I have been so careful with it and then WHAM!!! he slams it from left to right, up and the down and up and down and I saw a few stars and felt some popping, which he said was okay?! Now it is funny. It wasn't at the time. So, because I have been working out, I have great range of motion, he said. He basically said he was 'kicking me out'. So I won't be going back unless I become symptomatic again. Thank God!!!! He gave me No Limitations other than not benching 150lbs tomorrow! lol! So that's it. I have been to the gym tonight. I ran 1 mile and walked 2 at elevated levels. I worked my legs on the machines. Shendi went and is trying to Pump some Iron:) We had the most fun beating the crap out of the punching bag!!!!! I feel a release tonight. What a journey this has been. Now I am going to live the best life I can. I am going to reach goals that I thought were impossible months ago. Until tomorrow, goodnight:)

hey. okay so today it is raining. i could tell you that even if i couldn't see it. i have alot of pressure today in my noggin. i still feel good though. my spirits are high. tomorrow is my neurosurgeon appt. after that's over i will feel better. lela and i watched 'little house on the prairie' this morning. i just cried and cried. i had forgotten how great that show was. i will have more energy after getting home from the gym today.

i read an interesting phrase on a sign riding by a church this morning. it said 'worry is the darkroom where negatives are made'. isn't that so true? no need to worry. it just gets you down and down and down and down....... who cares anyway? life is short, you've all heard it said. but isn't it? chances are we've all had someone taken from us.... they've gone on. i wonder what they would say to us if they could....... maybe they would say... stay focused. keep your eyes on the mark. the mark being Jesus. it is so easy to get pulled away. there is so much to tempt us, our adversary, satan, calls our names. it is soooo easy to get distracted. remember the road is narrow. lets all help each other along. the only things you can take with you to heaven is other people. you might not go at the same time, but you will eventually be there together. don't just enjoy your boat ride..... look for others in the water you can pull in your boat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! there are people drowning and we need to be ready to help them....

i love you all.
pray for a little special girl named Jasmine....i know your prayers will be heard.

......

okay... so i was wrong about the six girls being chosen to compete... there were more than that... i only type what i am told, however, Shendi did exceptionally well, as always. the group she ran with got 2 medals... and the girls team in total got second place and a big trophy to show for it.. it was all exciting!!!



i am doing great still. i am getting back in shape. melissa did my hair today and i feel complete!!! ha ha:) she shared some stories with me about the fundraiser she put together and we just are still amazed. my bestie is the bomb!!! :)



life is great. i am living each day to the best. i



love you all....

kim



a special thanks today to

Melissa

Bethany and all my co-peeps at the shop (can't wait to get back)

Nikki Capps, Tiffany Broughton, Bridget Johnson, Penny Ward, and Jenny Worley and I can't forget Maxine....:)

Connie Pilkington

Lindsay Pilkington

Carolyn Fields

Joan and Paul Shepard and kids

Joanna Chrismon

Hannah Naylor


and all those who I haven't gotten to yet thanks:)

shendi

Good news.. Shendi is on the track team. Their final meet is tomorrow, Thursday. They had to be chosen to compete in the finals. Only six girls, I believe, from her school were chosen to go. Shendi was one of them. I will let you know how she does. We are so Proud of her!!!!!!

Its' been awhile since I have posted. Shendi's birthday is today and we have been partying all weekend!!! I have to say we have enjoyed ourselves with Shendi and her friends.
I seem to be doing well with the recovery. There are still hints that remind me that I'm not in the clear. I seem to be getting stronger by working out and stretching all these sore muscles.
I wish I could say more but I don't have anything to complain about. I am just trying to "get on with it".
You all who need a clip, dip, and/or a strip, give me a buzz. I am booking appointments starting tomorrow. I am not starting to work tomorrow but will be back the second week in May:)
I love you all.
Judy, I stole your line:)
Dana Powell, Happy Birthday yesterday!

320-7537:)

What's Up People!!!!

Its been five weeks and I am feelin' great!!! I really feel great. I bought lots of Thank you notes today. So to all you hard workin' friends and family of mine, you will be receiving one soon!!!

Well we had a funeral for Wormy. He didn't make it. But the kids are excited that he is a Beautiful butterfly in heaven. It is so beautiful here, isn't it? I want to go to the beach so bad...... Shendi's birthday is on Monday. I can't believe she is going to be 13! Where in the world does the time go? She's having a big sleepover this weekend. The little ones are going to Grandma Jean's house. Nate and I get to stay here with 13 year old girls who love to stay up late. We are excited!!!! Lots of birthday cake, man I would love a piece right now....

I go to the surgeon in 2 weeks. I will be glad to be released!!! ha:) I did start driving again yesterday, Maybe that's why I feel so good! People, do not take driving for granted... there is something so invigorating about 'the windows rolled down and the radio up'. I started going to the gym..... I have been doing cardio, but no lifting of any sort until after I am cleared for the world... I can't wait to start living again... I feel as if I have a second chance to make the Best of it!!!!

I miss working.... counting down to getting all dressed up again and having adult conversations. Anyone wanting to book an appointment, go ahead and call. Starting Tuesday I am going to start booking. I love you guys!!!!

I will be seeing ya!
Karla, I hope your caterpillars are doing better than ours did!
Aunt Laney thanks for your sweet message I love you and miss you:)
Melissa, Kisses!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bethany, I sent ya'll a message to your email... i hope you read it.. i can't wait to come and see you peeps.....
Mom, I love the dishes.. Very Beautiful
Kathy, I have clothes for Samuel....
Kristy, those cookies were the bomb!!!

Hello

This is my pasture.....
Beautiful, huh? I am doing well today... a little slow, but good. I love you all:) I am planning to go back to work maybe the 2nd week in May.
Enjoying my family.

Door

I want to thank everyone for your amazing efforts. I will do that after I share something with you.

It all started when Nate and I were riding around neighborhoods looking at trees. You will recall from one of my previous blogs that I wanted a tree to plant in honor of my Mema's life. As we were riding we saw the nicest yard. It had blooming fruit trees, beautiful azaelas and a manicured lawn. The most striking thing was the house. The house was a neutral color of which I can not even remember. But the front door was just amazing. It was a reddish- pink color and didn't match a thing. That was the beauty of it. Just so that if you saw it, your eyes would be immediately directed to the door. It was so charming. I said out loud, "Look at that door!" Where do you think we went next? We went straight to Lowe's for nothing else but a quart of reddish- pink paint. I walked right to the paint selections and picked it out.... Heirloom Red. I took it home and wanted to get right to work. For some reason though, I didn't. The paint can has been sitting on the porch just looking at me.

This moring at church, Pastor Billie's message was from John 10:10. The Holy Spirit led him to talk about "doors". He spoke of the unusual artistry of the doors in Denmark. He had taken a picture of one of the doors and recalled the thickness, the massive hinges, and intricate carvings on the door. He wondered of the famous people who must have walked through the door, their lives behind it. Also their lives as they exited the door, going out into the world. He spoke about the significance of the doors to our homes. Home is where we feel protected and our children feel safe. In John 10: 1-10, Jesus tells us that He is the door. "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep." (v. 7) You see, there is no literal door of lumber, hinges, and nails. Jesus IS the door. "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture." (v.9) Pastor Billie went on to describe these pastures. He said, "Green pastures are communities of love. Loving God, loving one another, and loving the goodness of life itself. Green pastures are giving and recieving love. In this 'banquet of life' there is joy in serving and not sitting comfortably in a pew. We should be making the world thirsty and hungry, because sadly about 90% of people are living in brown pastures." He then went on to John 10:10 which is a familiar passage to most. "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full."

A question that I often ask God, is 'Why?' Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do I have to live with a brain disease called Chiari Malformation? And the answer to that question is we are a part of Humanity. Chances are everyone of us will face sickness, disease, or tragedy. And there are no chances with death. Death is certain. We will all die. But here is the WONDERFUL thing.......... the theif CAN steal, he CAN kill, and he CAN destroy but he CAN NOT steal, kill, or destroy my soul because my shepard is THE door! I CAN NOT be taken from HIS hand! Where will I be? I will be in the Green Pastures. I, in my Savior, and He will be, and I quote Pastor Billie, "watching my every breath as I take it in and let it out." There is Life in the green pastures and Life to the fullest, Life in Jesus.

Through the night and this morning I have pondered all the love and unselfishness of my community, friends, and family. It wasn't until I was sitting in church this morning that I no longer felt "undeserving". Afterall, as I quoted earlier, green pastures are giving AND receiving love. So I receive it. I graciously receive your prayers, your service, your friendship, your donations, your meals, your love. I have amazing friends. Friends for life. To All who did Anything, I Love You. Now, this week when I paint my door Heirloom Red, I will think of the Gate, the Green Pasture, and of Living Life to the Fullest with ALL of you!

At the close of service I knew what I had to do... I had to publish this... and as we closed our eyes and bowed our heads to pray, Pastor Billie prayed, " and Lord, that this message would not to stay in theses 4 walls but would go out," and it has. It has gone out to you and the many people who will ever read this blog....
as soon as I find a suitable picture of my beauiful green pasture I will replace the dark picture in my heading. You see that is me, not really, but that is me standing in what would feel like rising waters, with a stormy sky,..... but do you see the glimmer of sun afar? I am done with that... now I want thick, soft, green grass and a Massive amount of Sunshine:)!

Sunshine today!

Well. Good Morning. It is an absolute beautiful day today. I am going to go for a walk, but before I do I want to tell you how excited I am about tomorrow! I just can't wait!

Good news. I didn't have any narcotics yesterday. I am not saying I won't ever have another one, but for now I am okay. Yesterday was the first day I haven't had one since, wow, like 3 months or more. I am taking Motrin for pain. Anyhow I know you all are praying and I wanted to share so that you know your prayers are effective. Your prayers are what have gotten me through this. Nate and I were talking about the day after surgery. My NSG came in and couldn't believe I was up walking around. This man had performed, I think it was, a thousand of these surgeries. And in my hospital room, he said patients normally stay in the bed that entire first day after surgery. He doesn't know me and he doesn't know All the prayers I have pushing me up! I can't wait to see him on the 29th to show him the Power of Prayer!

Have a Wonderful day, and Remember to make A memory!!
Kim

wormy

Okay. I will post a picture of my head as soon as we get a camera working around here, maybe tomorrow. Today was pretty good. It was a rough start but turned out better. Nate is off tonight so it makes it so much easier on us all.

For all you SpongeBob fans or just parents whose kids are fans, I am sure you have seen the episode with "Wormy", the caterpillar who SpongeBob and Patrick become friends with. They don't realize it is a Caterpillar, of course. One morning they find that "Wormy" is gone and they find a Monster in the jar. In reality the Monster is a beautiful butterfly that the whole town, "Bikini Bottom," become frantically afraid of. At the end of course they find out what metamorphosis is, and that is that. Anyway my kids, (and myself) love this one and we have it recorded on DVR. You'll be happy to know that we have captured a caterpillar, named, you guessed it, "Wormy"! So today with all my spare time, I have researched how to create a suitable home for this caterpillar, what it will eat, and how it will pupate. Fun!!!!!!!!! I just checked on "Wormy" and he is O.K.

Sadly, or gladly (not sure), this is all I have to report today:) My pain is just directed to the surgery. I tried to do some stretching and rehab moves with the band, the other night. I thought I had done great until I got to my feet to walk around. I had a Wave of Nausea came that I hadn't had in some weeks. I am not sure what to make of it and when I go to the Dr. on the 29th I will find out more about it. As for now, I won't be doing that anymore. The walks are fine for now.

Thank you All for Everything!
Kim

Thank you

Hi. Well I want to start off by thanking some folks. Nikki C. came yesterday and brought some home made vegetable soup and brownies! She also brought in dish after dish of frozen meals that her Sunday School class had prepared for us. So a Big Shout Out to Branch Chapel. What is still amazing to me is how total strangers take such good care of our needs. Not strangers anymore, friends! We will never be able to thank everyone for all the generous things you've done.

To all who are planning the fundraiser: I am still processing this. I told Melissa yesterday, that I feel so helpless! Like there is something I need to do to help you all, and of course she is not going to let me do that. And do you know why? Because she (Melissa ) is probably the most wonderful person on Earth.... I am going to tell you I have never seen anything like it. I am still gathering my thoughts about how dear she is and will compile it into a Special Post, just for her. I am not really even sure yet just How much is being done, and I can't wait to be surprised!!! You all are Amazing!!!!!! I love you.

I am feeling better today, not so down!!! How can i be down when I have so much to be thankful for!!!!!
kim

mirrors

Hello. Today is Monday. I had an interesting day yesterday. For starters, I did more yesterday than I have done in a month. I actually got up and had a shower like normal people. I got ready and we went to church. It was so good to get dressed up and see people other than my family. When I got there though I started getting a little nervous. I think a hard part of this is having to talk about it all the time. Its almost embarrassing too. The good thing, is that I dont know a whole lot of people at the new church yet. So most, don't even know i have had this done, because, honestly I look like you. My hair has grown back in a way that I can cover it. The sermon yesterday was a great one. The Spirit always delivers to me and you in way that is personal to both. We went out to eat. Here's where it gets funny. I see people who know me, right. Everyone acts differently. Some come right up and immediately get to the point. Others just stare from far away, whispering with their families. I'm telling you it is hilarious. I try to put myself in their shoes though. I wonder how I might act or what I would do and the truth is I don't know. I thought I would write about it though. Nate and I were able to steal away yesterday to a movie and that was great. We met up with our family at McDonalds and the kids enjoyed their Happy Meals and playing in the playcenter.

Finally we got home to see Extreme Home Makeover at 8. Although I had seen it before, it was from a different perspective. The first time I watched it I hadn't had surgery and didn't know mine was as serious as it was. Now I was able to watch it from the otherside of surgery. It is so hard to listen to it and understand all the things associated with the disease. It is hard to accept. You see I am going to try and explain this the best way I know how. All I know about myself is everything I feel and everything I see. You see I have this perception of myself as you do alike. I wonder how many times in our lifetime we spend in front of a mirror. What you see in the mirror is how you develop a self image. I consider (after spending time looking in a mirror) myself to be normal. An ordinary woman, one I would see out in a store. I look healthy. I look put together. My makeup is just right, my hair is just right. I am not sick. So then there's this constant reminder called pain. Here I will note that his friend Nausea hasn't showed up as much since surgery. Praise God. And here comes the part with a different mirror. There is this mirror that doesnt show me what I am wearing. It doesn't show my lipstick. It shows me the sickness. If the house gets dirty it shows me I am sick. If the kids are out running and playing in the yard, it shows me I am sick. When I see someone going to the gym or jogging on the street, it shows me I am sick. When I see people dancing or performing on television, it shows me I am sick. And then I go to the mirror in the bathroom and go, I am not sick. It is this constant battle, back and forth. My mind is slipping and i find myself needing to learn anything. I am reading books. Tons of books. Crosswords. Scared to death that I am going to wake up and not remember anything, or worse to remember everything and not be able to communicate with the ones I love. I understand everything that you do about faith and worry but it is still very hard.

Well enough of that for now. I want to thank everyone. All the cards. I am seeing all sorts of things happening. I know that this blog has become a popular one and I am trying to keep it up. For some reason this is part of the plan. On Wednesday I am going to post a picture of my head one month post-op. It is really unbelievable how quickly scars are disguised by hair!!!!
love to all

EXTREME MAKEOVER * THE CARTER FAMILY

Make sure to watch EXTREME MAKEOVER on Sunday night. This show is a re-run about a family with Chiari Malformation.

Love you all and I will post tomorrow night:)

3 weeks

It's been three weeks today. I am exhausted today, even though I am slowly getting stronger. My walks are getting longer each day. We had an exciting day. My inlaws bought me a tree in honor of my Mema. So my favorite tree is a Weeping Willow and we got a Corkscrew Weeping Willow. I can't wait to get it planted. It is so beautiful! We got it from a Nursery here in town. Johnathan Raynor owns the Nursery and I must say its the first thing we've purchased from anywhere other than Lowe's or whatever and Man, there Is a Difference! Nate is going to plant it in a couple days. It will soon get to growing!

Everyone has been so helpful. My thanks today are to Charlotte Hoyt who made us some homemade Chicken Salad and homemade Pimento Cheese and some cupcakes which we devoured. Johnathan and Tracy Raynor have been helping take Shendi to church. Mom and Kathy for helping with the kids. Melissa Stearn for helping out. All the phone calls and visits and Wow at the number of cards..... Just Amazing! I love you all. Sometimes I feel like I'm living someone's else's life but it will get better. Surreal.

I just watched Dolly Parton sing about Jesus on Americal Idol!! How bout' that? I am almost positive she did.
Thanks again
lacie thanks for your support:)