I was recently diagnosed as having Obstructive Sleep Apnea. I have been sleeping with a CPAP machine for three weeks. CPAP IS "CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE". I wear a mask and humidified air is blown into the mask. I breath in this forced air through my nose and it has enough pressure to make sure that my airway stays open. It had been closing off or partially closing off. Some people use a nose mask but I do better with a full mask, even though I do not generally mouth breath.
During the sleep test I had 24-25 times EVERY HOUR where I either stopped breathing for at least ten seconds or else breathed very shallowly for ten seconds or more. Since using my CPAP machine to keep my airway open I now only have about ONE "event" each hour. I am sleeping deeply for 5 or 6 hours, much longer than I had been restlessly sleeping before.
Friday I will be "Leaving on a Jet Plane" from Omaha to Albany, New York. Someone will pick me up there and drive me to Bennington, Vermont where I will be speaker at a half week Mission's Conference. Each week I will be speaker at two different churches, eight total during four weeks in eight cities in three States (Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut). I plan to fly back to Omaha on March 30.
Please pray for preparation for my messages to be given at these conferences, for safe travels and that I not fall on snowy, icy paths. Pray the the Lord will speak to those who attend these conferences. Thanks.
Today's Positives:
1. I got some errands done today which I needed to do before my trip.
2. I have canceled other plans for the next two days so that I can just work at home, getting ready for my trip, and my speaking.
3. The weather in Omaha on Friday, as well as in Albany, New York where I must "land" should be good.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Carolyn's Capers- Valentine's Day
February 14, 2015
Dear Family and Friends,
What am I doing for Valentine's Day? Well, nothing. But last night I met three women from church at Applebee's for dinner and then we went to the Omaha Community Playhouse for an excellent Musical of "Little Women". It was billed as "the ultimate LOVE musical"! What a fun night out.
Success! After many trips to many Goodwills, I found two gently used bookcases to complete my living room furniture. My next project, finding a gently used bedroom dresser that will somewhat match my bed and bedside stand! I enjoy checking out the thrift shops!
My learning curve is high as I try to figure out about Social Security and Medicare. I will officially retire from the Alliance on June 30. At that time I must have health insurance along with Medicare and also must decide when to go on Social Security as my 66th birthday will not be until August. I have seen a Retirement Insurance Adviser and plan to go to a S.S. lecture. More decisions.
Here is a photo of me taken at my Bongolo Hospital Farewell dinner. I'm holding one of the 15 children of Doctors who live on the Bongolo station. Pray for these children, that they come to know Jesus, that they play together well, that they stay healthy.
The first two prayer requests from Gabon came from Barry and Terry Newman. The rest of the requests come from me.
Soon to be Alliance Retiree!
Dear Family and Friends,
What am I doing for Valentine's Day? Well, nothing. But last night I met three women from church at Applebee's for dinner and then we went to the Omaha Community Playhouse for an excellent Musical of "Little Women". It was billed as "the ultimate LOVE musical"! What a fun night out.
Success! After many trips to many Goodwills, I found two gently used bookcases to complete my living room furniture. My next project, finding a gently used bedroom dresser that will somewhat match my bed and bedside stand! I enjoy checking out the thrift shops!
My learning curve is high as I try to figure out about Social Security and Medicare. I will officially retire from the Alliance on June 30. At that time I must have health insurance along with Medicare and also must decide when to go on Social Security as my 66th birthday will not be until August. I have seen a Retirement Insurance Adviser and plan to go to a S.S. lecture. More decisions.
Here is a photo of me taken at my Bongolo Hospital Farewell dinner. I'm holding one of the 15 children of Doctors who live on the Bongolo station. Pray for these children, that they come to know Jesus, that they play together well, that they stay healthy.
The first two prayer requests from Gabon came from Barry and Terry Newman. The rest of the requests come from me.
1) Pray for the village churches as they are small, struggling
fellowships, often without a trained “shepherd” to help them grow
in their spiritual lives.
2) Pray for God’s ongoing work in and through the hospital…that
the staff would be renewed in their Christian walk, and that
through them the Gospel would be powerfully communicated…in word
and deed.
3) Pray for the Bongolo Nursing Students who will take
Comprehensive Exams February 16-20. Pray that all students pass
all exams.
4) Pray for Terry Newman, Wendy Bastin and Sandra Freeman as they prepare for the Nursing School Graduation ceremony for March 1st.
5) Pray that for the 14 new Nurses who graduate on March 1st, that the Lord would guide them as to their future.
6) Pray for the wisdom for the Bongolo Hospital to know how many and which new graduate nurses to hire.
February 27 I am scheduled to fly to New England where I will speak at Mission's Conferences in eight churches during a four week period. These will be in Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The dates and places of these conferences are as follows:
· Feb 28-March 4 Bennington, VT
· March 4-8 Brattleboro, VT
· March 8-11 Amherst, MA
· March 11-15 Manchester, CT
· March 15-18 Southbury, CT
· March 18-22 Stratford, CT
· March 22-25 Milford, CT
· March 25-29 Madison, CT
My flight back to Omaha is scheduled for March 30th. Please pray for me as I prepare for and speak at the above conferences. Pray for the WEATHER in these areas, that conference meetings do not have to be canceled because of SNOW. Pray for safe travels, that I keep warm and that I not FALL on the icy, snowy paths. I have been warned by an orthopedic surgeon to "NEVER FALL".
Other scheduled dates are as follows:
April 21- Christ Community Church (Omaha)- Super Adults
April 27- Christ Community Church (Omaha)- Alliance Women
May 10- Maple Plain Community Church (Maple Plain, MN)- Adult SS class
May 17- Hope Community Church (Cottage Grove, MN)- Sunday morning
May 24-31 Alliance Council (Long Beach, CA)- attending, including Retirement luncheon
June 7-14 Christ Community Church (Omaha) Global Mission's Conference
Thank you for your prayers and your continued support of the Great Commission Fund (https://secure.cmalliance.org/give/). That is the fund that continues to support me.
Have a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!
Carolyn Thorson4) Pray for Terry Newman, Wendy Bastin and Sandra Freeman as they prepare for the Nursing School Graduation ceremony for March 1st.
5) Pray that for the 14 new Nurses who graduate on March 1st, that the Lord would guide them as to their future.
6) Pray for the wisdom for the Bongolo Hospital to know how many and which new graduate nurses to hire.
February 27 I am scheduled to fly to New England where I will speak at Mission's Conferences in eight churches during a four week period. These will be in Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The dates and places of these conferences are as follows:
· Feb 28-March 4 Bennington, VT
· March 4-8 Brattleboro, VT
· March 8-11 Amherst, MA
· March 11-15 Manchester, CT
· March 15-18 Southbury, CT
· March 18-22 Stratford, CT
· March 22-25 Milford, CT
· March 25-29 Madison, CT
My flight back to Omaha is scheduled for March 30th. Please pray for me as I prepare for and speak at the above conferences. Pray for the WEATHER in these areas, that conference meetings do not have to be canceled because of SNOW. Pray for safe travels, that I keep warm and that I not FALL on the icy, snowy paths. I have been warned by an orthopedic surgeon to "NEVER FALL".
Other scheduled dates are as follows:
April 21- Christ Community Church (Omaha)- Super Adults
April 27- Christ Community Church (Omaha)- Alliance Women
May 10- Maple Plain Community Church (Maple Plain, MN)- Adult SS class
May 17- Hope Community Church (Cottage Grove, MN)- Sunday morning
May 24-31 Alliance Council (Long Beach, CA)- attending, including Retirement luncheon
June 7-14 Christ Community Church (Omaha) Global Mission's Conference
Thank you for your prayers and your continued support of the Great Commission Fund (https://secure.cmalliance.org/give/). That is the fund that continues to support me.
Have a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!
Soon to be Alliance Retiree!
Friday, February 13, 2015
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Comprehensive Exams!
I am thinking and praying for the Nursing Students who I left in Africa. February 16-20 they will take Comprehensive Exams of everything they have studied since September 2012. They will then have one week off before their March 1st Graduation from Nursing School. They will be new Nurses. Many will be hired by Bongolo Hospital. A couple will take the Midwifery course. Others will move on, some to return to their families they left in order to get an education.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
SNOWSTORM!
Having lived on the equator most of the last 40 years I have avoided living in SNOW country. I'm now back in Omaha, NE and after a mild beginning of the Winter season, it has shown up this past week!! This past weekend we had a snowstorm which closed down many activities on Sunday and Monday. I watched my church church service online so I did not have to drive the ten miles or so back and forth. I heard that there were 2000 people online for the services.
Here is a photo taken Sunday from my apartment's balcony.
I was able to attend a Bible Study at church on Tuesday morning, and then do some shopping. It was very slushy on most roads but other roads still had lots of snow. Today though, Wednesday, it snowed again. Most if not all the Omaha schools closed for the second day this week. On Wednesday evenings I have been one-on-one teaching English to Internationals but that too was canceled for tonight.
The snow today did not stop a Respiratory Therapist from arriving with my CPAP machine. I was just diagnosed with sleep apnea. Actually, during the Sleep Study I only had 5 times of apnea (lack of breathing for at least 10 seconds), but I had 91 times of hypopnea (very shallow breathing for at least 10 seconds). This Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine will force air into my mouth and nose to keep my airway open so that I will sleep better. Tonight will be my first night on the machine besides several hours I was on it during the Sleep Study.
Since I will be retiring this summer, I am trying to figure out how to continue to communicate with my many friends and prayer partners. Using this blog is one way that I can share photos and let people know what is happening in my life. In the right column you can sign up to get an email when I write a blog entry. That will help us keep in contact.
Thanks for your interest in my blog.
Carolyn
Here is a photo taken Sunday from my apartment's balcony.
I was able to attend a Bible Study at church on Tuesday morning, and then do some shopping. It was very slushy on most roads but other roads still had lots of snow. Today though, Wednesday, it snowed again. Most if not all the Omaha schools closed for the second day this week. On Wednesday evenings I have been one-on-one teaching English to Internationals but that too was canceled for tonight.
The snow today did not stop a Respiratory Therapist from arriving with my CPAP machine. I was just diagnosed with sleep apnea. Actually, during the Sleep Study I only had 5 times of apnea (lack of breathing for at least 10 seconds), but I had 91 times of hypopnea (very shallow breathing for at least 10 seconds). This Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine will force air into my mouth and nose to keep my airway open so that I will sleep better. Tonight will be my first night on the machine besides several hours I was on it during the Sleep Study.
Since I will be retiring this summer, I am trying to figure out how to continue to communicate with my many friends and prayer partners. Using this blog is one way that I can share photos and let people know what is happening in my life. In the right column you can sign up to get an email when I write a blog entry. That will help us keep in contact.
Thanks for your interest in my blog.
Carolyn
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