Archive | September, 2018

Aug/Sept 2018 Book Reviews

29 Sep

Looking at July’s review, I realized that I ended up reading exactly what I had planned to on my to-read list! That doesn’t normally happen, so I’m a little pleased with myself. My list of books is rather short for two months but most of the novels I’ve been reading have been LONG. The Shadowfell series are about 400 pages each, and the Robert Jordan one I’m currently enjoying is about 700 pages. . . I like the extra story development that is allowed in these longer books though! I’m not sure I could ever write that in-depth though.

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Shadowfell series by Juliet Marillier – separate review coming in the next few weeks

Gifts of the Spirit by FFOZ – as of right now, I’m going to just direct you to First Fruits of Zion’s website that gives great info into this well-written and informative book about the gifts of the Spirit and different perspectives on them.

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson -Two princesses’ lives are thrown into turmoil. While both scramble to learn the ways of their new environments, political upheaval is on the horizon.

~The first time I read this, I wasn’t sure if I would read it again but I decided to give it another shot. (I’m a sucker for Sanderson apparently). The way he weaves together a story is just incredible. The political and personal struggles of the different characters is engrossing. You can read my original review here.

Unspoken by Dee Henderson – Almost twenty years later, Charlotte Graham still hasn’t spoken about her past. A past that includes her being the center of the most famous kidnapping in Chicago’s history. A past that includes such pain and fear that she’s never risked telling anyone. Can she finally take that risk?

~You might notice that another Henderson kick is beginning… This one is ‘connected’ with Full Disclosure and Taken. While there was a lot of detail about coins, I appreciated how much she researched it out – it didn’t take away from the novel for me. As usual, some of the faith struggles of the characters hit a bit too close to home for me – but that is one reason I appreciate Henderson’s books. She writes not only good fiction, she gives real-life faith struggles to her characters. I highly recommend this book!

 

Trouble in Store by Carol Cox – When her prime governess position is abruptly ended, Melanie Ross sees no other choice but to travel to Idaho to the mercantile her cousin left her in his will. But someone else feels he has the same rights to the store, and Caleb Nelson isn’t about to just step aside and give up his new life to her. He sees her as the newest obstacle to the new life he’s carving out for himself, and he’ll try just about anything to get rid of her.

~ I borrowed this book from a friend as it is by a new-to-me author that I just read a book of hers earlier this year – Truth be Told.  I like Cox’s easy-to-read style and how she actually made me dislike Melanie for a little bit! I was so put off by her actions at one point that I had to keep reading to see how Caleb dealt with her. Brilliant move on Cox’s part. Highly recommend as a relaxing, faith-focused novel.

Traces of Guilt – An Evie Blackwell Cold Case by Dee Henderson – Watch for a separate review of this series! (I know, I said that about the Shadowfell books too but bear with me, the wait will be worth it!) 

Currently Reading:

Dear Theo by Irving Stone

Constantine’s Sword by James Carroll

The Eye of the World  book 1 of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

Undetected by Dee Henderson

 

To Read:

The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan (book 2)

Traces of Suspicion by Dee Henderson

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott

 

While covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.

~Laura

~What have you been reading lately? I’d absolutely love to hear about it and add them to my to-read list!

Writing Prompt: Hesitant Fate

20 Sep

Writing Prompt : Pick up the book closest to you. Turn to page 55. Use the second sentence on the page as your prompt for today

” The lower middle classes, and a substantial swath of the more prosperous, did not have the servants to permit them to lie in bed for weeks (or even days).” –This was my first quote option, from the book Inside the Victorian Home, but since I couldn’t come up with anything I grabbed another book for a different quote.

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Photo by Paweł Czerwiński on Unsplash

“She was curled up, drooping and asleep on a cushioned shelf built out from a curved window; and for a moment pity struck him and he hesitated.”

Who was he to change the fate of her life? What right did he have to do this thing to her? But what choice did he have? The fate of those he loved hung in the balance – and was there really any wondering who he would choose in this moment? This stranger or those whom his heart beat for? He hovered over her, taking in everything about her. He wanted to remember this last innocent moment, for they were few and far between these days. He knew that soon her dreams would be haunted, just as his were. He took a deep breath and pulled on his beard, decidedly putting away his doubts. He reached out and woke her. His heart ached at the sudden fear in her eyes.  “Don’t make a sound. Come with me.” Her breath caught in her throat as she took in his threatening appearance. Two sword hilts showing above his right shoulder. The dagger on his belt. The gauntlets covering his forearms. She nodded shakily and he silently thanked her for it. He had no stomach for forcefully threatening such an innocent. They stealthily made their way from room to room, his large hand clamped around her wrist.  Eventually they made it to the relative freedom of the courtyard and he paused in the shadows. Patrols were making their quarter-hour trek around the ground and he pulled the girl close, clamping his hand over her mouth. They stood in the shadows and waited while the oblivious men walked their way. After they had passed, he turned the girl and looked at her. Her eyes were big as she stared back at him, but she remained still. He raised an eyebrow, impressed despite himself. Somehow, he suddenly knew she wouldn’t risk the lives of the men simply to chance an escape. He moved his hand away, feeling oddly ashamed, and continued leading her out of the courtyard. Out of any hope of someone seeing them and rescuing her. Out of any chance of his plan failing. 

~Laura

 

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Health Update: Aug/Sept 2018

14 Sep

Happy Fall! (I know, I’m a bit early, but with the rainstorm we had yesterday and the leaves starting to fall, I feel like I can get away with it.) I am feeling like some of my brain fog is starting to lift a little bit again, so I’m going to aim to get this update written fully! Here we go: fightinglymemigraines

 

Overall Health:  Fatigue, fibromaylgia and back pain are my main struggles this past month odd. After getting my IV with glutathione mid-month in August, everything started calming back down. Which means I’m never going without it again if I have my way.  I have had an upset stomach frequently lately, even with being more strict on my diet.

July 31- a little less fatigue in the am and was able to rest early afternoon, able to get up again mid afternoon. Two clonidine. Upset stomach this evening, the same as a few evenings ago
Started stretching and doing light workouts on Aug 14th
Aug 15- brain fog and tiredness. Ran errands and did some cleaning though. Fibro kicked up in evening again
Aug 16- still decent fatigue but cleaned in am. No clonidine up till 11am
Aug 21 – IV day!
have noticed an increase in energy and some decrease in brain fog from the 24th to 28th. Fibromyalgia still flaring/cramping in feet especially. Jaw still very tender and frequent pain/throbbing/teeth aching. Migraines down some possibly. Trying to pay attention if fatigue increases when I take clonidine. Still some struggling with feelings of being overwhelmed, even at home.

Aug 28 – increased H2PLX to 4/day to see if it helps with fatigue

Aug 29- migraine in am, might be due to pain in neck since yesterday morning. More fatigue today, took 2+ hr nap. Feeling overwhelmed late afternoon. Did work on book a little though 

Sept 4- upset stomach this morning. Two clonidine. Fatigue some today but not awful. Teeth aching, jaw pain.

Sept 6 – started Andrographis

Sept 10- woke up tired but ok. Went to Rosh Hashanah service (almost 2 hrs). napped for 3 hrs. still tired and groggy. 

Sept 11- IV today. didn’t sleep well last night. Decently bad fatigue. did pushes of vitamins and glutathione

20180821_110158  Migraine: On a scale of 1 -10 (10  being debilitating/nuclear) these were an 8 daily, but lately I’ve been hanging out at a 6/7. They do still ratchet up to an 8 come the evenings but they’ve mostly been responding to clonidine and ice.  Speaking of ice…. I have been laying on ice packs/ having them draped over my head for the past 5 odd weeks – it has helped so much to help calm the pain some days.

Sleep:  As long as I’ve got an ice pack – or a heating pad- to lay on, either for my head or my back, I’ve been able to sleep. There have been a few times that I’ve had to move out to the couch. As well as a few times that I had to take melatonin but overall this has stayed good.

Memory/Brain Fog: All Hail Neuroflam!!! I love this product you guys – along with the glutathione, it helps so much in helping clear the fog away so I can think of something other than… well, trying to remember what I was doing or saying. Brain fog is the PITS.

Vision: I might have had one time of sparkles/black spots but I am not sure. And that’s amazing.

TMJ: While it still isn’t popping too much, I would say this has increased lately because it aches SO OFTEN and my teeth just hurt frequently.

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Felt well enough a few weekends ago to go on a 3 mile hike!

Fatigue: As I said, this is still a big struggle for me. I can be feeling halfway decent and then it feels like I get hit by a truck. The other day, while walking in Costco, I got so tired that I could barely remember how to walk. My body just stopped – and forcing it to move was like walking through waist deep mud. Augh.

Fibromyalgia: (how has this not been a category?!)  This is the BIGGEST struggle I’ve been having. Cramping. Aching. Tingling. Joint pain. Driving me crazy, basically. It’s gotten bad enough that I wasn’t able to do anything fine motor-wise a few evenings. Ice helps a lot when it’s in my hip/lower back. My ankles have been popping more when it’s flaring. The best description I can come up with is two levels: 1) it’s a low throb like when your foot falls asleep (before the insanely painful needles) but it’s my whole body. 2) it’s trying to claw it’s way out of my bones. Descriptive enough? Yeah. Fun times.

Weight Loss: I cut starch and corn out of my diet a week and half ago and have been able to lose a smidge of weight. I started working out again earlier this month but fibro and fatigue hit and I couldn’t continue. I’m hoping to start up again soon.

Mood: This has been an issue again, just ask my OH (no, please don’t, actually. I don’t want to know what he says about it.) I did run out of Xiao Chai Hu Tang (warning about this link – I have gotten them before and have been fine, but my doctor said that you have to be careful about where you get chinese herbs from because they can be high in arsenic. So I buy them from my doctor’s office. I shared the link with you because that’s as close to the same ingredients as what I get from my doctor) okay, now that’s out of the way — XCHT is THE thing to take for me for my mood. I know it does a lot of other great things but for me , 4/day is all it takes for me to be my even-keeled self and that is wonderful.

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vitals from before my latest IV

WHEW! It’s been a very rough time lately (which is why it’s been so quiet here on SGL) but I am hoping and praying that I’m entering into a bit of a break, where all my symptoms chill out again.

If you want, follow me on Instagram and Facebook!

~Laura