Lemonade anyone?

You probably have thought I was done with blogging, since it's been terribly long since my last post. I wish the answer were that easy, instead we have been handed some lemons within the Gast household. Starting Memorial Day weekend...Brian hasn't been feeling too great. I knew something was wrong when he got up and didn't watch the last few minutes of the Suns vs. Lakers playoff game. I sent him to bed, not knowing what to do for him. That was Saturday night and he slept through until Sunday evening (again, red flag...something isn't right here). Aching all through his body, you couldn't even touch him without him in unbearable pain, fever, cold chills, weak, no appetite...you name it, he probably had it. Monday, (Memorial Day) we spent the entire day in the emergency room to be sent home. Wednesday, I took him to his pcp only to return to the emergency room later that afternoon. He was admitted Wednesday evening and stayed at the hospital through Sunday. Doctors there thought he was experiencing some sort of food poisoning or even E.coli. No diagnosis. Monday, not well and back to his pcp and sent for an ultrasound and MRI. Tuesday, worse and Wednesday back in the emergency room. Pain, unmanageable...sent home after being told there was nothing else that could be done. Thursday, appointment with specialist...told he had NO CLUE what was causing Brian's pain, "but let's start crossing things off the list". REALLY??? Just a little frustrated at this point. After that appointment we hopped in the car and drove to California to attend the funeral services of Grandma Gast. While in California, the Dilaudid that was prescribed (which, by the way, is 8-10 times stronger then morphine) was no longer affecting Brian, he apparently had built up a tolerance and his pain was again out of control. We quickly packed our things and left California Sunday, and I took Brian to the emergency room (a different ER!!) as we pulled into town. Brian was admitted again and subjected to a long, very long list of x-rays, scans and blood tests. Along with upping the pain meds, he received a muscle relaxer, sleeping pills and something to help with the anxiety...to say the least, (and Brian made sure to tell everyone) the world was beautiful at this point. We are now in theory thinking Brian somehow contracted Dengue fever or even the West Nile virus both of which are spread by mosquitos. He was sent home the following Wednesday, not willing, but it was necessary. There was nothing they could do at the hospital that couldn't be done at home with the right prescriptions and care. No diagnosis. Another week goes by and we decide it is time for him to stop taking the pain meds and try to cope with things on his own. The following few days, Brian experienced a mild withdraw, which was not fun for anyone involved! After he made it past that point, he slowly started showing improvement. The following weekend, he drove again for the first time and we had our "big day out" eating lunch at Applebee's and making a trip to Target. The world was beautiful again, and this time, we understood that there never was a point when it wasn't. Although, along with his health in question, and being handed a few more personal and business lemons during this time...you must understand that when it rains it pours and everything happens for a reason. As much as you would like to believe you have control...everything, Everything is in God's hands. Give yourself to him and he will take care of you. He has, He is and He will. With that said, I believe we've squeezed enough juice out of these lemons to quench our thirst through the hot summer!! Give thanks for your health, your family and everyday you are blessed to share!