12 More Reasons to Love My Husband

Over the Christmas break I watched one of my all time favorite movies: You've Got Mail.  I love the scene when Kathleen Kelly (Shopgirl) and Joe Fox (NY152) are at the outdoor market shooting off  ideas for the meaning of the NY152 email handle...  

He comes up with, " ..He's a hundred and fifty-two years old. He's had one hundred and fifty-two moles removed, so now he's got one hundred fifty-two pock marks on his... on his face... Mr. 152 Felony indictments. "

Her thoughts are, " ...The number of people who think he looks like Clark Gable. Mr. 152 insights into my soul." 

I especially love the ending scene after the two have spent the afternoon together as Joe and Kathleen and she is preparing to meet NY152 for the 'first' time.  It is a struggle because Shopgirl can't imagine wanting to meet anyone other than Joe Fox, with whom she has spent the last week with as a result of NY152's 'Tweeking'. Anyway, there are at least 152 more reasons that I think it is a lovely story.

And thus it brings me to the Sweet ending to the 12-Days of Christmas treasure trove of 2011.  12 Drummers Drumming turned out to be a CD with 12 handpicked songs with the titles beginning with You're the Inspiration, Crazy, Best Was Yet to Come, Somewhere Down the Road, The Cello's song, Will You Still Love Me, Faithfully, Somewhere Somehow, Madrona, Who Needs to Dream, After All these Years, and One More Day.  All meaningful to my journey with my husband over the last 25 years. 

All in all, for me,  it was just 12 more reasons to love my husband.  What an amazing Christmas it has been!

Christmas Baking, Lords of Leaping and Piping Hot Tea....

Every year I set aside a whole day with my best college girlfriend, Deanna, and we bake our heads off.  We start at the crack of dawn and by the end of the day we manage to have pumped out about 10 different delectable naughties.  Most of the concoctions consist of  sinful ingredients such as:  chocolate chips, butter, brown sugar, coconut and peanut butter.  This year, I thought I would store my sealed containers on my back deck.  It's about 35 degrees outside and thankfully the raccoon family that used to live in our backyard has vacated for good, so I didn't see any harm.  Last night I slept restless wondering if any critters would bother the treats and woke to find all well on deck.  Just this afternoon however, I heard munching outside the window and sure enough, a mama squirrel had bitten a whole in the side of the Tupperware box!  Talk about invasion of privacy!  Shees!

That got me thinking about the 12 Days of Christmas Surprise that I have been the recipient of.  My husbands incredible goodwill. Some of these gifts are so tender, so personal.  I am humbled by his kindness and the detail and thought he has put to each days treasure.  Last nights treasure epitomized the whole essence of the activity for me.  His twist on the Lords of Leaping was certainly different than mine.  In fact, I hadn't the foggiest idea of what he would come up with.  So, as I opened up my computer last night, out came the index card and then a packet of papers stapled at the corner. For the next hour, I read through my watery eyes, my husband's thoughts on how his testimony of our Lord "Leaps" in his heart,  through 10 of his favorite scriptures. WOW.  Truly amazing.  I am blessed. 

Now I think I will steep me some Piping Hot Tea from my 11 Pipers Piping treasure of today..... (it was a stretch, but it works.) 
Cheers and Merry Christmas~!

With these Treats comes a Price....

It's the price everyone pays during the holidays...  a little more heft around the waistline.  So, needless to say I have gained 5 pounds this week!  Number eight just added to it.  Number 9- helped take it away.... 

Eight Maids a Milking:  I had to wait all day for this one, but it was worth it.  There is a milkshake that I love from Burgerville that comes around in January/February.  Chocolate Hazelnut.  It's the BEST!  Our family has come up with a close rendition of the milkshake using hazelnut syrup, Ferrero Rocher chocolates, chocolate sauce and ice cream.  (Think:... a billion calories).  So for this surprise, I was treated with a Wallis Hazelnut chocolate shake surrounded by 8 Ferrero Rocher chocolates with toothpicks sticking out the center with little princess head stickers.  They looked like little maids with big skirts!  So clever.  So fattening! So delicious!

Nine Ladies Dancing:  I have to say that this has been one of my favorites so far.  I have been so impressed with these surprises, that I am really speechless when they are presented.  Last night I received the traditional index card that states:  On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me.... 9 ladies dancing.  There was a card underneath the index card and on the front of the card were miniature pictures of nine ladies dancing.  Above each picture there is a small hole punch circle with a number- so 9 numbers... right?  Inside the card it says:  This is no ordinary card; it is a special "Nine Ladies Dancing" card.  It is good for 9 special dances with your True Love.  Only one dance is redeemable each month, so you can enjoy the dancing throughout the coming months.  After each dance, I will hole punch your dance card until you my lovely lady, have had nine dances.  Awwwww. 

I redeemed the first one right then.  We danced to Michael Buble's- 'Everything'.  The End.

Seven Swans a Swimming in My Bathtub

You might think what I thought seeing 7 paper oragami swans  floating on cardboard pedestals in my bathtub. Ooooh, how absoluted beautiful and sweet. There are 7 Swans of Swimming in my Bathtub.  My husband leaned over my shoulder and asked me to pick one up.  As I reached down to grab the paper swan, I noticed that not just one swan, but all of the swans were made out of gift certificates!  There were 7 gift certificates for Lovely Nails nail salon floating on cardboard pedestals in my bathtub!  Now that takes thought. And Love.  Thank you honey for making my day! grin

Christmas Surprises

I love surprises. I love them so much that once on my 30th birthday, my husband surprised me with a weekend Get away.  I was told what to pack, but not where we were going. I thought we might be heading out the Gorge or to the San Juan Islands,  afterall, I knew it wouldn't be too far from home as I had a 6 month old nursing baby at home!  When we turned into the Portland Airport parking garage, my heart skipped a dozen beats and I began panicking all at the same time at the thought of leaving my baby a 2 hour flight behind and praying I'd packed the breast pump! 

Imagine my thrill at receiving a 'love-letter' upon waking on the 14th of December.  Not just any old love letter, but rather an old fashioned love letter with a homemade rendition of the 12-days of Christmas.  This week has been one surprise after another.

Day 1: I received a glass blown partridge with a white flowing feather tail, perched in a miniature white wire tree with paper pears dangling from each branch.
Day 2: A yummy box of Carmel pecan Turtles and a bottle of Dove body wash
Day 3: 3 French Crullers with paper hens poking out of the tops
Day 4:  A phone call from my hubby and a Christmas bouquet with 4 Birds of Paradise
Day 5: Five Gold Presidential $1 coins
Day 6: A 6 egg quiche delivered while laying in bed.

Tomorrow is Day 7.  Any guesses what 7 Swans of swimming will be??

Priceless Pieces and other Valuable Nuggets...

I found an exquisite vase at a garage sale recently.  It was marked $1 and I thought- what the heck?  If I get sick of it, I could always sell it and perhaps make a little profit.  Upon returning home, curiousity got the best of me. I looked at the artists signature at the bottom of the vase. Was it Tillin or Rillin or Nillin?  I couldn't be sure.

Imagine my surprise when my little vase with the lovely dancing ladies popped up on a search.  Turns out it was created by artist Polia Pillin (1909-1992).  Born in Poland, Pillin immigrated to the US and made a successful career as an artist.  Her art today fetches a great deal and the value of my vase neighbors in the market of $1200-1800. 

What a find!

Isn't it interesting the values we place on our stuff?  Moreover, I marvel at how much stuff we actually acquire! There are some things in life that you just can't put a price on however. I've listed my top 3. 

My priceless stuff:
1. My faith
2. My family
3. My Health
...(and down the list somewhere, in some silly way, I might add my little Pillin vase)
 
May you and yours have a joyous Thanksgiving holiday!
To Wellness,
Maryalice


As the holidays sneak upon us, let us all take 5 seconds (or more) to think upon the things we place values on... even the stuff that we value priceless...

Lyme Bites and other Sad Tales and Farewells

• I walked into my doctor's clinic today only to receive the bad news. Johnny died. No Not Johnny, I thought.  So unfair.  I recently wrote about him in my blog- We were IV roommates.  Lyme really bites. When I left the clinic the words that came to my mind were- "Johnny goes marching home."  I know that without a shadow of a doubt that Johnny will be welcomed home and will talk and walk again.  Bless you Johnny.  You will be missed.   

• Other sad news- my sweet friend Sarah passed away on Friday.  A more amazing woman would be hard to find.  She suffered for the last 2 years with Multiple Myeloma. Her wonderful husband and 6 beautiful children will be most at a loss not seeing her smiling face and feeling her daily courage.  I will miss my dear friend and I have a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes just thinking about her. Good bye sweet Sarah.  The Heaven's welcome you and you are now in our Father's arms.

• Even though I am in treatment again, I know it will only be a short time.  I have been blessed.  I thank my Father in Heaven daily for my life, for my family and friends. 

• One of the things I am most thankful for is Max.  It has given me a chance to live again.  Please have the courage to try it for yourself. www.max.com/255092 

  

Blessings to you for a marvelous day.  It's a great day to be alive!
To Wellness,
Maryalice
 

 

Lyme Protocols and Other Daring Adventures.....

     I recently returned from the "happiest place on earth" where smiles are plentiful and high adventure reigns, especially for those of the roller-coaster variety. My own children thrill in multiple turns on a ride entitled "California Screamin". The name says it all, and this ride is definitely not made for the weak in stomach. My high adventure in Disneyland usually begins somewhere between the Carmel apple shop and the ice cream parlor- often twice in the same hour. Whoohoo. 

     My experience as a Lyme patient over the last 4 years might well qualify me as a high adventure type. Those of you in Lyme treatment know what I am talking about. And for those that experience considerable die-off, that might be a weekly, daily event or hourly event. Outlined below are some treatment protocols for Lyme disease. I have starred the ones that have worked for me. I would love to hear what works for you.  Please comment on my post.

 Lyme Protocols- some I have used, currently use, tried or discarded.

1. Salt and C- flooding the body with high doses of vitamin C and sea salt has proven to be one of the most natural and least expensive protocols around, with perhaps the greatest amount of die-off. I have a friend that swears by this method and claims it cured him.  He says the die-off was considerable.
2. Rife machine (device)- many lymies use this device as more of a gage at how they are doing than an actual treatment, although it can both detect supplements which are effective or not for your body as well as send off high frequencies that apparently kill off Lyme spirochete. I have many Lyme friends that use this device religiously. Hey, we do what works.
3. IV and oral antibiotics- Proven to be effective in killing large populations of Lyme over time. Best to be aggressive with treatment but not allowing die-off too rapidly. I have had great success with this form of treatment. It is expensive and destructive on the body. but hey what is worse- having Lyme, or treating for it? I guess that is a trick question.**
4. Bicillin shots- generally speaking, these work quite well for some. Personally speaking and by experience, I would rather hook up to IV daily than be stuck in the butt daily. Just saying. IV tends to be quicker in getting higher doses of antibiotic in and working. I have several friends that use shots eeffectively. Again $$$.**
5. Naet method muscle testing and elimination of Lyme by stimulating the body with a vibration while holding a vial containing spirochetes. Seems a little hokey, but we all have to start somewhere. Have tried this method, similar concept to Rife machine.**
6. Acupuncture- needles and pins. Dare I say more? Tried but wouldn't bet my life savings on it.
7. Hydrotherapy- super effective for toxin release. We all have toxins, but in Lyme treatment this process can be extremely helpful in elimination of large spirochetal toxins during die-off.**
8. Sauna- see above.**
9. Supplements- yeah, we all take them, and some are better than others, but as stand alone treatment. no way. You've got to kill the bugs.**
10. Hydrogen peroxide- super effective detoxifier. Pour in bath, or take in IV. Inexpensive with great results added to any protocol- but not a stand alone.**
11. Epsom salts- pour a couple cups in a hot bath. Follow with hydrotherapy. Effective, inexpensive detoxifier. Not a stand alone.**
12. Essential oils- Much to consider here.  Oregano and Frankincense- must look into this.*
13. Max Gxl- Glutathione Accelerator-This has perhaps been the best product overall for helping in a natural way by enhancing my wellbeing, energy, brain fog, focusing, pain, and deliverance from the evils of LYME.  Please check it out here and order it wholesale from my site:  www.max.com/255092  (and a special nod to Annie for telling me all about it.)

Do you have other ideas?? Let me know!

The Tick Wins

So, I am going back into treatment. I had a feeling it was coming, after the last episode of swallowing,tongue and speech issues. Part of me wants to treat it like taking out the trash, or giving someone a ride to school, you know, no biggee, but deep inside, I know it means so much more, and that's what I am grappling with.
 
Why do I have to analyze every aspect of my life? 
You know, it is what it is. 

Treatment to me means:

• My life is not my own- I will have to go along with the whimsies of the meds
• My children and husband will have a new mommy for a while- which incidentally means a messier house, with less home-cooked meals
• Some people won't GET it- I mean I will hear.. "I thought your were over that thingy- what did you call it...Lyme?"
• Die-off
• Probiotics and stomach aches
• Bloating
• Lots of PJ days- hmm...that might be kinda nice for a change....
• $$$
• Defeat- hmph... defeated by a minuscule little tick
• Can you think of anything else? The list goes on....

That's it for now.  I will fill you in when the fun times begin.
To wellness,
Maryalice

MY LYME FRIENDS

Four years ago I didn't know what Lyme disease was, let alone that I would have Lyme friends, or lymies.  In the world of Lyme disease, I suppose it is much the same as the world of any disease.  Those that you meet within your circle of recovery become your friends. 

On any typical treatment day, I might sit in the IV room with C, S or J one day, or K and E the next. We all had a story.  We all had been bit at one time in our lives and some of us didn't even know it. Most of us had nothing really in common except being bit.  Some of us had IV's with 2 grams of rocephin, some were just getting started with 1 gram.  Some had DMSO mixed in  and smelled of tomato juice or garlic.   Others came for a bit of energy and got a Myers Cocktail. We all knew what we needed and we all wanted out of there and done with Lyme as soon as humanly possible.  None of us had anywhere to go. All of us had been robbed of our lives. 

Some had IV's wrapped in foil to preserve the ingredient.  Others had chelation drips, Vit B or C drips, or Hydrogen Peroxide drips.  Some got stuck 2 or 3 times, if they couldn't find an unused vein, or if they just needed 2 different drips.  Some brought home-movies for the 2-3 hour wait- others music. Many came and hooked up for a much needed nap.  There were lavender and flax seed hot packs, camouflage band aids, rubber tourniquets and plastic surgical tape.  Some lymies had babies at home that in turn were infected with borrelia. Others were business owners, husbands, wives or parents that used to have a life. Some couldn't be understood because their speech was affected.  Others had rashes or couldn't walk.  Some were 16, others 50 but looked 80. 

One of my favorites was J.  He shuffled in, slumped down in a rocker-ankles the size of tree trunks. His knees and hands rattled away. He chatted to me in garbled phonemes. Turns out that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's originally, but his treatment for Parkinson's by another doctor only exaccerbated the Parkinson's. Five years ago he was a regular guy working in a mill.  A simple lab test discovered Lyme Disease, and now it may be too late to turn the ship around.  Progress is slow.  One IV at a time. ((update... Johnny passed away from Lyme...)) 

One day I met the mirror of my new life.  I sat there, hooked up, staring at my Lyme friend that had Lyme induced ALS.  His speech was limited, due to dysphasia- impairment of speech due to neurological brain damage. His gait was slow and shuffled.  He looked at me with his tender eyes, unable to speak and I just wept. ((update... Ernie passed away from Lyme...))

There are lots of Kleenex's in the treatment room. 

I love my Lyme friends.  I know they will always be there if I ever need them again.

AWWW, TO BE A MOM, NOW THAT IS SOMETHING!

" I love my children sir, and the thought of living without them is like living without air." 
Mrs. Doubtfire

When i was a little girl, i knew exactly what i wanted to do when i grew up.  i would travel to far away places, go to college to be smarter, and find a way to be successful.  well, i have traveled here and there, gone to college, and been successful in many things.  the thing that makes most sense to me though is something that i never really put much thought into.  being a mom.  being a mom to me is the most amazing gift.  it is like Christmas every day.  it is better than fame, fortune and even ice cream!  i am so humbled that God would grant me, little ol' me, the blessing to be the Wallis kids' mom.  who knew?  in all of the details that our Father in Heaven orchestrated, how truly humbled i am that he found favor in me, and gave unto me the most incredible children under Heaven.  Amen.