Thanks again everyone for all the encouragment!!! Just so you know just because i dont reply to your comments and emails does NOT mean that i dont appreciate them!!! it all means VERY much!!! We serve an awesome God and i want to especially thank you for praying i feel much more at peace tonight and i know its because of YOUR prayers!:)
~please continue praying that i would feel well enough to go to Shari's wedding on Saturday!
~quote that i read that encouraged me----If Jesus willingly gave His life to save ours, how can we think He would ever keep back from us anything that would truly benefit us? :)

*Hold on my child, Joy comes in the morning, the darkest hour means dawn is just in sight!!!!*
the last few days have been rather rough and my movements have gotten a little worse again! I am just going to ask you to pray that the devil would have to flee! It seems he knows just when to come! I have been so encouraged tho how songs have such a way of lifting my spirits!! :)
one phrase that has been going thru my mind lately----*God likes to work when nothing else will!!!* that definatly seems to be my case. My prayer is that God would give me patience as He works.

Don't measure the size of the mountain-Talk to the one who can move it! Instead of carrying the world on your shoulder-Talk to the one who holds the universe on his!~Max Lucado
Thanks for sharing that quote with me Sharon, its so encouraging!
I had a very drainig day-emotionally and physically! We got to the hospital around 8 and left around 2:30. I feel completely exhausted!!! My body did seem very relaxed for the most part, of course they sedated me somwhat whilewe were waiting to do the MRI. They took me back for the MRI around 11:00. I don't remember much after that cause they put me out.( I don't even think it took 1 minute till I was completely out!):) The MRI took about an hour an a half. I remeber nothing of that and I don't even know what the machines look like!!! The next thing I knew I was in the recovery room! was in the recovery room for little over two hour and believe me I was way past ready to get out of there!!!!
Don't know for sure when we'll get the results back but hopefully soon!
Again, thanks for your prayers and encouragment words cannot describe how much it means!!

Wow what an awesome God we serve!!!! Had a really good day today! Thank you so much for you prayers! My walking is still not the best but my neck and other movements were calmed down very much!!! I was even able to sit up in a chair for a half hour or so! My MRI is scheduled for 10:00 tomorrow. Pray that all would go well for that. Since I would not be able to hold still long enough they are giving me anethesia. I am ready to get it behind me and want to trust God for whatever the outcome of that. It depends what they find tomorrow as to where we will go next with the whole thing.
~Something I read today that blessed me! *Whatever your trial, you can eagerly expect that God is going to display His glory through you!*
Last night as I was laying in bed I was doing a lot of thinking! God seemed so close and I just felt such a peace that God will carry me thru!!!

Thanks for all the comments and encouragment! Seemed like i cried a lot today! I am thankful that the movements were very little today and the pain was almost none! But for some reason it just hit me again today that my friend Shari is getting married in a week an a half and here Iam, laying in bed instead of helping her get ready for her big day!!! I love you so much Shari! I just had to commit it to God again and again today! Sometimes the pain is almost unbearable but it is in those moments that I remember that God is hurting with me and He feels my pain!!! God has His very special ways of showing me how much He cares and today He did that through a boque of flowers, a few cards in the mail, and visitors! I have also found great comfort through song! Here are a few phrases from a song that really spoke to me today......
Blessed Be Your Name
blessed be your name when the suns shining down on me when the worlds all as it should be---blessed be your name
blessed be your name on a road marked with suffering tho there's pain in the offering---blessed be your name
-every blessing you pour out i'll turn back to praise when the darkness closes in Lord still i will say blessed be the name of the Lord blessed be your name----
-you give and take away you give and take away my heart will choose to say Lord blessed be your name.....
I am so thankful that i do not have to fight this battle alone because there is Someone much bigger than me who has it all under control and He will give me courage to face whatever He brings my way!!! :)

"my ways my child are not your ways, my thoughts are higher then thine, let me lead you each day thru this rough weary road let me place thy trembling hand in mine!" Not exactly sure how to desribe my day!the movment were pretty bad this morning again but seemed to calm down a bit again. I had to get a physical done today to make sure my heart and lungs are able to handle the anethesia they need to give in order for them to do the MRI. I felt like that went well and I didn't feel so tensed up like I often do when I have to go somewhere which was a REAL blessing! I want to thank everyone again for praying! I feel such a peace tonight and know it has to be because of prayer!!! I want to continue to trust God and remember He is in control!!

its Crystal here....and yes I am feeling pretty good today!!!! PTL my movements have calmed down a bit!!!:) I had a very relaxing day yesterday and a good night last night!!!! My biggest prayer request right now is that I would be able to be at my friend Shari's wedding in two weeks!!! Yesterday I got a hospital bed and that makes life so much more comfortable!!! :) I get to feel like an elderly lady tonight as my youth group is going to come sing for me!!! :) I am really looking forward to it though!!! :) Thanks so much for all your prayers I really appreciate it!!!

May 22, 2010

Dear Friends and family,

A few lines to let you know how we made out yesterday. We took Crystal to Wilkes Barre Medical Center Yesterday to see another Neurologist. (Dr Condefer is a lady doctor). She seemed more knowledgeable with Crystal's condition. She said Crystal still has a form of Dystonia although it is no longer considered Cervical Dystonia because it extended into more parts of her body. At this point her main goal is to try to discover what type of dystonia she has and then try to find the cause. She took more tests yesterday. I'm assuming to test for other possible diseases. We are scheduled to have an MRI done next Thursday. She said hopefully that will help to discover some things. We had hoped to have an MRI done sooner but because she needs to have anesthesia, it makes it more difficult to schedule. Geisinger Medical Center only does MRI's with anesthesia Tuesdays and Thursdays. Dr Condefer tried to get us in at Wilkes Barre sooner but was not able. In the mean time she put Crystal on a medication to try to relieve the intensity of her involuntary movements. Dr Condefer said there will be no quick and easy fix to her condition. We are trying to do all we can to make Crystal as comfortable as possible, but feel so helpless. We brought a hospital bed in our living room for during the day to try to make her more comfortable.

As a family this has brought a lot of change into our lives. As for Crystal, she is struggling with discouragement at times. Pray that God would give her courage. As parents our hearts are TORN to watch her struggle. Pray that God would help us, together, to see through the eyes of faith and help us see beyond our present struggles.

We thank you all for praying. She does enjoys short visits. It brightens her day. Thanks to the many that have done that.

Dave

May 20, 2010

Dear Friends and family,

A few lines to let you all know how our week is going. This week Crystals involuntary movement has moved to more parts of her body, particularly down to her stomach muscles. It is now to the point where walking is a major chore and in fact needs help at times. We had contact with Dr Friedenburg ( her Neurologist) the last several days. We had another appointment with him today with the intent of doing another Botox treatment. After seeing her condition he decided against giving her more Botox because of the extreme change and progression of her movements. He made arrangements to see another specialist tomorrow at Wilkes Barre Medical Center. He also had us see an Ophthalmologist today to check for several things, particularly for Wilsons disease (a disease in the brain and nervous system). That exam came through clear. To us it seemed, Dr Friedenburg was at lost in knowing what to do.

Crystal has had a rather rough week. She is again having some pain at times and the severity of her movements and the many unanswered questions have caused much frustration; although she still has her very cheerful moments.

Please pray that somehow she could have some relief from her misery and that God would give the Doctors wisdom in knowing what to do.

God does sent sweet little miracles along the way to let us know He is with us. Today while at the ophthalmologist, the question was how will he ever be able to do the exam with her severe movements. Crystal said there is no way the Doctor will be able to get this done today. As prayers ascended to our Heavenly Father on this behalf God performed a miracle right before our eyes. For several minutes straight her head and body held almost perfectly still for the exam. Thank you God for these confirmations.

I would like to share two paragraphs of a long poem sent to us by friends. This well expresses how we felt leaving the hospital today with no further answers.

Wait

Desperately, helplessly, longingly I (we) cried:

Quietly, patiently lovingly God replied.

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate (Crystals fate)

And the Master so gently said,

"Child you must wait"

Wait? You say, wait!" my indignant reply.

"Lord I need answers, I need to know why!

Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?

By faith, I have asked, and am claiming your word.

We want to by faith continue to cling to Gods promises. He does and has sent many blessings already even in the midst of this trial.

May 14, 2010

Dear friends and family,

First of all I want to thank all of you for your prayer support, letters, cards, emails, visits and flowers sent to us and Crystal. Its been very encouraging to us.

As for an update. After a good weekend, especially Sunday, we hoped her condition would continue to improve. It was so good to see her improve, but it seems as though God still has other plans. I must conclude that those several good days were a miracle from God. Thank-You Dear God.

This week her condition seemed to regress again. Her movements have gotten bad again. She's also having some other health issues that concern us. This morning she had ear ache. As the day progressed she got worse so we took her to our family doctor. She has an acute ear infection, something very unusual for her to have. We talked to her neurologist today. We sense that he does not understand why her body is doing some of the things it has been doing. He said he was in contact with several other Neurologists to get some direction. He told us that she should quit taking the medication he prescribed last week. He did schedule her for another Botox treatment next Thursday. So far we have seen very little affects of her other treatment. At this point there are some unanswered questions. Pray that God would give us wisdom in knowing what steps to take in trying to seek help.

We are thankful for Crystals cheerfulness through all this. She does not have much pain which we are so thankful for. We certainly sense Gods grace and courage he gives to us. One night this week I woke up and lay awake for quite some time thinking about some of the cares of this life and then it seemed like God was telling me to cast these cares at the feet of Jesus and was reminded of the words, Casting all your cares upon Him for He careth for you. What a promise and blessing to know that God cares.

Dave

May 9, 2010

Dear Friends and Family,

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.

We claim this verse as a promise.

We are happy and thank God that we can report that Crystal has improved. Her pain has decreased a lot and her movements are not as severe.

On Thursday evening Crystal requested to be anointed. On Friday morning we had anointing service. We committed her body to God for healing, as well as by Gods grace, yielded our will to the will of our Heavenly Father. By Friday afternoon we saw some relief. On Saturday she had very little pain and was able to quit taking pain medication. Today she seems much better. The severity of her movements have improved enough that she is able sit on a recliner and do some writing and reading again. What a breath of fresh air to hear her talking and laughing again. She enjoyed company from some of her friends.

Praise the Lord, God does answer prayers. We want to praise and magnify His Name.

Tomorrow we plan to take her to a Cranial Therapist.

While there are still some unknowns we know that God knows what is best.

Thanks again for all your prayers and continue to pray.