Living In Grace

What I'd Like You to Know: Living w/Chronic Illness

This is an old post, a guest post that I wrote for a sweet friend Shannon from Rocks in my Dryer for her series  entitles "What I'd Like You to Know". This entire series covers everything from bing a Single Adult, an American Mom Living Overseas to Living with Alzheimer's in the Family. I encourage everyone to go over and read these articles in her archives.

The link to them all is here. at the bottom of the page, you can finish the series by clicking "More Posts". 

I hope this answers questions, encourage you if you or someone you know is living with Chroinc Illness. If you would like to contact me privately, simply send an email to jkbach(at)comcst.net. We are all in this thing together....

What I'd Like You to Know: Living with Chronic Illness

 

Because We're Worth It! (especially when there is a GIVEAWAY involved!)

 

Tomorrow I embark on an adventure, a Hair Odyssey of sorts. 

About 2.5 years ago, I started hemodialysis for 3 months and lost the majorit of my hair in that time. No bald spots, just handfuls and handfuls evenly in the shower or during brushing.

Many of you may remember how utterly devastated I was.

"I may be sick, but I will always have my hair!" had been my mantra from the beginning of Stage 4 Kidney failure. Within 90 days, my long, thick beautiful hair was thin, wiry and turning grey. 

For all this time I have been praying it would grow back, refused to cut it at all, or to go short, determined no matter how much my family thought of my craziness. I believed it was coming back.

(Can I get an Amen?)

By now, my hair reached about the middle of my back and has not been colored in a year. (Yikes!) The salt and pepper has tried to take over, but some of the auburn has clung around. 

I have tried everything on the market to bring it to health.

Even talk to it, like a plant.

Last night while John was on his way back from the other side of the mtns, I had about 7hours to myself Never a good thing. That tens to be when Mr. Impulsive comes to play? Anyone else know that feeling?

Well, I watched some youtube videos on Self Haircusts on Long Hair (I mean, who doesn't turn to youtube in moments like this, anyway), put my hair in two ponytails, and cut off about 3" on each side. Granted, it was supposed to be about 2", but one side was alittle shorter, then vice versa and ... well, you get the picture. We ended up at about 3-4" when all was said and done.

But, it was all the dead, frizzy stuff. And, it looks thicker, healthier.

Really.

Tomorrow I am starting on a regime of Wen Hair Care products.  I have researched hair products. To. death. And so tomorrow we begin.

It feels like about 80% or so of my original thickness now. Not 100%, but considering I was at about 20%? I will gladly take 80%. 

Now. I want healthy.

And I. have. haircolor. I am chomping at the bit to use it, let me tell you!

As my sweet friend Sophie would say, "My hair needs some spiritual healing! A ComeToJesusMoment!" And ladies, we all know that invoves L'oreal. The good stuff, right?

So, Wen for a week. Lots of conditioning.

And then.

♫' I'm gonna wash that (grey) right outta my hair" ♫

More to follow.

Hallelujah! Amen.

_______________________________________________________________________

The Fun Part! 

So, help a Sister out, Ladies! What is your hair nightmare story? Any bad moments with cut (like bangs?), or color (think SunIn)...

Do share.  ☺

The best story wins some super swesome, not found in stors Wen ReMoist HepCatDaddy-O conditioner.

Extra entries for Tweeting, FB'ing, Yodeling- just let me know in a separate comment each way you shared this post! 

No duplicate entries, please\

____________________________________________________________________________

(This is an unpaid, unsolicited mention of the Wen Hair Care and L'oreal haircare products. Just me yammerin' on. As usual).

 

A Pillowcase Can Change the Destiny of a Little Girl? Who Knew...

Well, my sweet friend Linda does- and she wants to tell you how you can chage a little girl's destiny for a couple bucks worth of pillowcases....

Promies, it will worth your time. And your pillowcases.

How You Can Change A Little Girl's Destiny With a Pillowcase

Are You Smarter Than A ...

Being raised in Christian schcools, I became quite proficient at The Bible Drill- a fun exercise where the teacher stands in front of a group of eager beavers holding their Bibles up in the air. With no notice, a bible verse is yelled out, with everyone in the crowd frantically looking through their Bible then jumping to their feet and yelling it out.

First one to find it, WINS!

 http://youtu.be/zAjrvNfZZZI

I was the Bible Drill Queen. Competative, ruthless, unyielding.

But without the cool Scottish accent, of course ☺

In Jr. High, this gift metastisized into The Bible Bowl. Eight of us were placed on a two teams, then we answered questions from the Bible. After slamming our hhands down on a bell.

Like War. Only Biblical.

Our team became so proficient, that we were invited to the studios of TBN (think Paul and Jan Crouch, ohyessiree!) to be on their Satuday morning Bible Bowl competition.

We were thrilled.

Then? We were slaughtered.

It was a Holy War, to ut it mildly. The other team never gave us a chance.

But, it was 7th grade, and it was TV. Need I say more?

A few months ago, I received word from Grace Hill Media that Jeff Foxworthy, yes THAT Jeff Foxworthy, had signed on to do a new show called The American Bible Challenge.

The Bible Bowl is back. And better than ever.

 About THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE

Thursdays at 8 pm ET/PT (premiere episode debuts on August 23, 2012)


Comedian and author Jeff Foxworthy hosts this studio-based game in which contestants compete based on their knowledge of the Bible. Utilizing current as well as historical references, questions will be drawn from the rich, dense narrative found in the world's best-selling book. The contestants will share their compelling back-stories and each team will be playing for a charitable organization. THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE is produced by RelativityREAL for GSN, with RelativityREAL’s Tom Forman (“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”) and Embassy Row’s Michael Davies ("The Newlywed Game," "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire") serving as Executive Producers on the project. Nick Stuart and Maura Dunbar of Odyssey Networks are Consulting Producers. Odyssey Networks is the country’s largest multi-faith coalition dedicated to producing and distributing media that creates understanding among people of different beliefs and perspectives. Jeff Foxworthy also serves as Producer with J.P. Williams and Jennifer Novak as Executive Producers.

So set your DVR, VCR or whathaveyou... But get ready to find out, are you really smarter than a ....?