RLS

I chose this very unflattering picture of myself because it shows how I feel about RLS, Restless Leg Syndrome. It's a long story. It's one that I actually hope to write up someday because it's part of my spiritual journey. Kind of like my very own personal 'thorn in the flesh'!

I remember having the first twinges of RLS at age 7. But they never bothered me at all or were in the least bit significant until I got married. No, I do not blame Gerald for this! Even then all it meant is standing up sometimes or walking it off. One day I returned from my walk and said to Gerald, "It took TWO miles to walk it off this time!" Little did I know...

RLS is a neurological condition in which the brain tells the legs they HAVE to move. The name and the description sounds silly, doesn't it? Apparently once Rush Limbaugh made fun of it on the radio and got a landslide of calls! People describe it in different ways, but for me, it is a deep, burning ache that cannot be stopped unless I exercise. The most significant issue with RLS is that it interferes with sleep and is considered a major sleep disorder.

During pregnancy with Katrina, I had to do up to 200 squats a night before hopping into bed and quickly falling asleep. My dad, who also had RLS, asked me how my legs were doing during my first trimester. "Don't ever get pregnant, Dad" was my answer. He promised me he would not :)

During pregnancy with Kendra, my RLS went off the charts. At the worst point, I had to stand/stretch/exercise for three hours every night before bed. Then I would hop into bed with a heating pad and sleep for 15 minutes. Then my legs would wake me up and I would do 100-200 leg exercises, hop into bed, and maybe fall asleep for another 15 minutes. I easily did over 1000 exercises in one night and slept sometimes not at all and sometimes here and there. Finally the doctor found a medicine that gave me a few hours of sleep.

After delivery, my legs still bothered me so I went on new medication and my legs finally calmed down. But then over the years since then, they got progressively worse again to the point where, this summer, I felt the pain almost 24 hours a day. I could only take the medicine at night so my sleep was OK, but my days were miserable. I never sat through supper and sometimes didn't make it through lunch. I couldn't sit in the evenings at all, and the worst part - I couldn't cuddle my girls or read to them. One day as I ended yet another attempt at a reading session with the girls, Kendra said, "Don't your legs like you?"

So this summer I went off the old medication (which was a bit like detox) and onto a new one.

And wonder, of wonders - I feel as if I don't even have RLS now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sometimes I feel the twinges, but they are never severe and they don't last long. For my birthday this year, I got to sit ALL day and it was lovely! I think I might even get a bell so I can summon people (Gerald) to do things for me so that I stand as little as possible :)

I am amazed and grateful to God and to all those who helped & prayed me through these last long years!

Celebrating while sitting -
yours truly

"Jerry"

When Gerald went off to college, he shocked his mother by introducing himself as "Jerry" to everyone he met. Fascinated by this out-of-the-blue change, I have questioned Gerald about this decision, hoping for new & interesting deep pyschological insights into my husband. But he just shrugs his shoulders and says he really doesn't know why he did this. Sigh. Whatever the case, all Gerald's college buddies call him "Jerry." Since I met him right after college when everyone from years 0-18 were calling him "Gerald" and everyone from college was calling him "Jerry" I asked him what I should call him. "Whatever you want" was his unhelpful reply. So I settled on the name his parents gave him and that has been the right decision since he became Gerald again.

We got to stay with Derek, "Jerry's" roommate in college, and Robynn, Elizabeth & Olyvia. Their warm hospitality (actually, it was downright HOT in MI!), thick southern drawls, and years to catch up on made for a full weekend - and altered accents!

Needed to stay near water in such temps! Here are the John Brown boys - Rob (who joined us for the weekend and does not like pictures but had to deal with it anyway), Jerry, & Derek.

Kansas Summer

It is hard to know where to begin thanking all the wonderful people who let us crash at their homes this summer! It is humbling to receive and receive and receive - cars, meals, homes... Deep thanks to all these and many more for extending your hospitality to us!

Robert & Verla Dick - our Topeka 'parents' - with a highly suspicious character behind them...

Barb & Dennis - the girls' Topeka 'grandparents' in the lovely Shawnee Lake gardens

Grandpa and Grandma sit down for a game of chicken foot dominoes!

Little did we know this would be one of Craig's last pictures - with his classmates at a reunion this summer. We are so thankful that we had several times together with Craig & Charla and will treasure those memories.

Sarah & kids - a college classmate I haven't seen for 20 years

(We were soooo smart that we went to college when we were 9, so that makes us 29, right???)

College friends, Brad, Gina, Chloe & Shelby

Steve - a few days after his father died suddenly. We felt blessed to be there at that time.

"Bacon Explosion" - Troy's specialty made with unbelievable amounts of pork products so that Gerald could meet his "P.I.G" (Pork Intake Goals) for the summer...

Cousin time - before they went off for their first days of school

Ben, Jon, Lucy & Matthew

Buller kids doing I'm-not-sure-what! Liam, Eliana, & Amos

My glowing mother

The visiting Hillsboro crew with Mom, Ron's family, and Daniel's family

(but the silly guy didn't get in the picture!)

Craig Unruh

This morning we got a call from Troy & Emily who told us of the terrible news of Craig's death in a motorcycle accident yesterday. Craig, Gerald, and several others were best buds growing up. Later I met Craig at Tabor and then his soon-to-be-wife, Charla. They have been wonderful family friends and we always love to see them when we go to Meade. Just a month ago, Gerald was playing 3 on 3 basketball with Craig and we all went out together a couple of times. For those of you who didn't know Craig, it just dawned on me today that he was so much like Gerald. Smart, musical, athletic, positive, always smiling, and most of all - loved God & others deeply. It reminds me of my friend, Laura. After her sister died, she said, "We were good sisters. We didn't waste time. We loved each other well." As you can see, he left behind a young family - Charla, Kiana (6), & Jonathan (9). Look at little Kiana draped over her daddy's shoulders.

After we told the girls this morning, Kendra said, "Maybe it will end up like the movie, "The Little Princess." It this movie Sarah hears her daddy is dead but refuses to believe it. Sure enough - at the end of the movie, it turns out he was alive all along. But that is not how the book ends. I told Gerald, "Wouldn't it be nice if we could be like a film maker and just rewrite the ending?" But we cannot. And although the true ending is that someday, this family will be together again in great joy, right now - that reality must seem light years away and they need to be held up in prayer.

Back to Ifrane

I wrote this before we heard the news about Craig.

Hello, all!

We are so happy that Gerald's cousin's son/cousin-once-removed (that's something only a Mennonite would know) is here visiting us from Wisconson! Scott arrived a few days ago and we have enjoyed having him around and showing him the sites.

We are happy to be back in Ifrane, though we got hit with some discouragement almost as soon as we arrived. But this is common and we are back to feeling great about being here.


The weather has been so hot here that we have actually broken into a sweat now and then! Shocking! It is amazing that we can have 100 degree days and not need a fan. We always have fresh, cool air blowing in from whichever side of the house is shady, and that cools the whole house down. We are always impressed!


Gerald started back up first preparing classes, the master's program, etc. His students came last Monday and we are happy that his classes are smaller than normal. The girls started school Thursday. Kendra has a new, sweet, teacher and has adjusted well. Katrina is a little afraid of her teacher, but hopefully that will pass. We are in the process of figuring out how to get her Arabic since she is on a different level than her Moroccan classmates. Both are in split classes (2nd-3rd & 4th-5th). This is the first time we've had problems with this as Katrina's teacher is giving the whole class the same work - which is a grade above Katrina. I am trying not to rush in there being a helicopter parent, but it has been very difficult for Katrina.

We head to the desert tomorrow for the Eid weekend (end of Ramadan) - hooray!