Friday, February 8, 2008

MY EYES! MY EYES!!!!!!

***Update on the FREAK Eyes****
They are looking a little better today - less red, more flaky looking though. I am praying that they will be even better tomorrow and that my 'vanity' will not keep me from getting to go to church. Did I mention I love church?!? I also love my makeup and without it I look semi-dead. If they are still no better than they are now by 7 am then Iwill stay home in the morning and hopefully slip in the back pew for tomorrow night........we shall see. Until then, I am spending a beautifully sunny Saturday in my kitchen working on crafts for the Preschool Valentine's party at church on Wednesday and for the Valentine's part at Lake's school on Thursday. Have I mentioned that in our new house I will have my own craft, present wrapping, sewing, card-making room? Hubs just told me this morning that I need to draw out the design so the builder can start building the shelves. Yep, God is good ALL THE TIME (even with my freaky eyes) ALL THE TIME! Can I get an AMEN? Hah---lay---looo--yaaaaaaa!

"Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity". Ecclesiastes 1:2
Okay, so do you guys remember back in college when you were required to take 'Personal Health' class? Remember the book that showed pictures of all sorts of diseases? Those pictures always grossed me out! I could literally throw up at pictures of things like cauliflower ear and other anomalies like that. What in the heck is that junk anyway? YIKES!! There is a reason I am not a nurse - my stomach couldn't handle it. I was a candy striper at a local hospital for about 2 months. That two months as a candy striper brought my future as a nurse to a screeching halt. One of my jobs was to refill water and ice containers for each of the patients. While I was in a 2-person room one day (the room was divided by a curtain) I was filling a water container and a man with a trach-tube grabbed my leg through the curtain - he was yelling at me and I freaked out - I screamed and ran out and never went back. (Give me a break I was 15!). Needless to say I was not called to nursing. The smell of a hospital makes me gag every time.

But you get my point that I have a weak stomach. Right?
So, anyway, this past week I have noticed that the skin on my eyelids was very dry and red. I have used vaseline, neosporin, lotions, etc. etc. in an effort to make the redness and dry skin go away. Yesterday, both my eyes were not only red, they were swollen - alot. I dealt with it and covered it up with makeup (I know not the best idea, but I had places to go, people to see! Like being at my son's school, taking him for a haircut and his basketball game). So, last night, I made the command decsion to take some Benadryl and go to bed. I woke up this morning and my eyes were not only fiery red, they were swollen shut! I am talking "Night of the Living Dead' . Hubs said I looked like Marylin Manson (well he said Charles Manson first - we arent that schooled in freaks, ya know - as I stood there for a minute trying to figure out why I looked like Charles Manson, he said "No, not Charles, ummmmmm that freak that puts red paint on his eyes......). Now I have never seen Marylin Manson, but I know he is not someone who I aspire to look like.
Moving right along................
I went to the doctor and it seems that my skin is so dry that the top layer has come off and I have had an allergic reaction to my makeup or moisturizer. So, three steroid shots and lots of embarrassing 'sunglasses indoors' moments later, I still have swollen red eyes and cannot wear makeup for 5 days (yes FIVE DAYS - guys, I aint pretty without it). I literally wore my sunglasses in the doctors office, in the car, in the drug store, and in my house. I answered the door today with my sunglasses on. Hey, sometimes you gotta weigh your options. It was either scare people to death or make them think I am weird. I chose weird. I talked to my dad on the phone today - yes, he reads this blog (someone help him figure out why he cant post comments). I was telling him that our church is starting revival with Bob Pittman this Sunday thru Wednesday. I told him that I wouldnt be able to go if I wasnt better. He told me that I was being 'vain'. Yep, he went there. Vanity is a strong word, but unfortunately might be fitting in this particular instance, but I am also thinking of the poor people who will be forced to look at my freaky self. Did I mention that my arm where I got the shots feels like I have been holding a 400 lb weight for a week? How anyone could get addicted to steroids, I will never know!
So, against my better judgement, and only because I know you all are my true friends, I am posting a couple of pics of my 'Bride of Frankenstein' face. I have to say these pictures make me look much better than I really look in person. They fail to show the true blood red color on my eyes and they do not do justice to the extreme swelling. I posted a normal pic of me above so you would remember that I dont always look like this and so anyone new to this blog would not be scared to come back. But I am only posting this picture so that you ALL can answer this question:


Should I go to church and endure endless stares and answer everyone's questions or should I stay home until it is less noticeable? What would you do?





This morning





This evening - remember I cant wear makeup for at least 5 days! Help!

14 comments:

Mari said...

You poor girl! I hate it when my eyes have anything wrong - it seems extra annoying. As for your question - I guess I would see how they look tomorrow, but if they aren't much better I would probably stay home. It's not that you look so awful, :) but that you are going to be self conscious and may not get much benefit from being there. Hope you get better soon!

Alana said...

Bethanne, you crack me up. Really by the pictures, it doesn't look that bad. I'm not sure what to tell you, though.

Mari makes a good point, will you get anything out of it or will you be worrying about your eyes the whole time?

Rochelle said...

Poor you!! How are your eyes now?

Anonymous said...

You are too funny!

I even clicked on the photo and it does not look bad----I never wear make up! (yikes---for real!)

But, I'll pray healing for you!

Fran said...

Honey...I would stay home bc you are gonna be worried about your eyes the whole time...have some glorious time alone with the Lord and have your own church service right there in your den! :)

I sure hope they are better soon.
I'm so sorry....
Sending you some hugs~
Fran

Earen said...

Bethanne, I LOVE your sense of humor even amidst your swollen eyes! Can I also so, I completely understand! I've had pink eye a few times in my adult life...ok, in the last 5 years & I couldn't wear makeup for SEVEN DAYS! Yes, it wasn't fun. I wore glasses so that at least it would hide my no-makeup face a bit! If you're going to be worried about it the whole time, just stay home...You don't look that bad either, if that makes you feel any better. I feel your pain sister! The sunglasses while answering the door made me laugh out loud! Hang in there friend...this too shall pass! LOL!

ocean mommy said...

I've had eye issues before too. I think if it were me, I would stay home because the only thing that would be on my mind would be my eyes!

I'm with Fran, have some wonderful time alone with the Lord!!

But, I'm going to pray that you'll wake up Sunday and the redness will be gone!

steph.

He Knows My Name said...

you are so cute to let us see your eyes. i am so glad you didn't wait any longer because if they look better than they did, they were quite bad. my vote honestly goes to taking sunday off. i'm speaking honestly as if it were me.

why is it family members seem to just tell it. when i want to have my daughter take a new pic for the blog she gives me the ol' vanity talk. if the truth were known, i was feeling so bad and became sick the next day. oh, i feel much better getting that out. this vanity thing can be more than skin deep it can go to the marrow. i think that is what solomon had, the marrow kind. ha! no, not me i have the other kind.

my recommendation is worship at home, draw up my shelves (sneak in a window seat) and pump iron! :)) i'm so glad you are on the recovery road. hugs ~janel

Cheryl said...

I'm going to go against the flow here and say, put on a little lip stick and go!
Let God use this as a time to teach you to focus on Him during the worship service rather than worrying about what everybody else is thinking.
Just my opinion, thanks for being real with us!

Lysa TerKeurst said...

Okay, first of all I think you are beautiful without makeup- that's for sure!!!

Go to church and tell people you are fasting from makeup ro something like that. But wait, then they might hold your feet to the fire and expect you to do that for 40 days. Hmmm... scratch that idea.

Just go... you look beautiful, I promise.

And about that craft room... wow! How totally fun is that!!!

Sweet Blessings my red eyed friend!

Steve said...

Our Poor Beth!! I do hope you get better soon!!

Renee said...

Sweet, sweet Bethanne.

I hope you're feeling better today! (I still haven't read your most recent post).

I have to say though, that even with your red eyes, you are beautiful!! I think you look good without makeup (and no, I'm not on drugs...I really think you're pretty!)

I'm going to read the post you wrote today to get your update.

Carol said...

Thanks for the comment! I'm glad you stopped by. I had an eye problem last year where I went without eye makeup only for about two weeks!! I so understand! Bless your heart. I hope they get better soon!! :) Carol

jennyhope said...

Well, Mrs Bethanne I think it could have just passed for pink eyeshadow. Bless your heart I am just catching up!!