Feelin' Better--Finally

Recently I haven't been able to post as often as I'd like to (or visit and comment on my friend's blogs). Of course I was on vacation, and then catching up from being gone, and we've been in between children's theater shows (I do much of my blogging during their rehearsals, normally). But I've also been sick--since January.

I finally went to the doctor this week. He confirmed that there is a virus going around that causes occasional nausea, stomach ache, and diarrhea over a period of many weeks. It went through our family and eventually everyone seemed okay except me--but I was getting much worse. In fact, I've lost ten pounds since Christmas, and for me, that's not good news.

The doctor thought that since I was on an antibiotic in January when all this started (to prevent infection when I had the foot surgery), it may have wiped out all the good bacteria in my gut, leaving me no protection from this virus. He started me on a probiotic on Tuesday, and I immediately started feeling better. I'm getting some energy back, I'm able to eat vegetables again (I may try fruit today), and for the first time in months, my abdomen isn't all bloated. (Yech!)

I am so grateful to be feeling better. (Thank you, Lord, for answering our prayers with this relief.)

Being sick has made for an interesting Lenten experience. I was looking forward to being able to fast for a few meals this Lent, since in previous years, it seems I've always been pregnant or nursing. And ironically, this Lent I've practically been living on forms of bread and water! I honestly have't had the energy to spiritualize it, though, and do much more than a minimum of prayer and Scripture reading, but I've been forced to depend on God for strength, to fill in where I am weak, to let go of my own agenda and just "be." My ambitions for the past couple months have not extended much beyond getting everyone fed, the laundry done, and staying on top of the children's lessons--or nearly so. (Even during Cinderella, I was so glad to NOT be Makeup Chair, glad to only have a few leading actors to be responsible for.)

The good news is, that's been okay with me. It's not what I would choose, and of course I hate the backlog of stuff that I'm not getting to, but I'm not dwelling on it or getting all frustrated about it, as I know I have done in similar situations in the past. I'm just "being"...and by God's grace, this Lent I'm "doing" that better than usual.