Health Update

Went to the rheumatologist on Thursday.  After he had me undress and examine me.  He tells me that he doesn't think I have the systemic lupus, but I can still have the cutaneous skin disease kind of lupus if one of my blood tests comes back positive.  If there is nothing wrong with me then who can explain my rashes, aches and 50 lb weight gain?  I won't be happy if after this visit and all the blood tests I still don't have any answers.  I looked at the blood tests that are already done, and they are all normal, including my thyroid testing.  I don't know what all tests he ordered, so I don't know when all the tests are done.  The doctor said that unless I hear from his office, then everything is normal.  It's very frustrating!  Makes me angry!  I am not wishing to have a disease, but I do have a lot of symptoms for no disease.  I will keep you all informed.

Hugs -

Breaking Dawn

Warning: Rashes Aren't Always Just Rashes

I can't remember exactly when this journey started, but I think it was March maybe.  I had a really bad cold and after it was gone I got a rash on my face.  I went to a local doctor who was working that Saturday after we had gotten back into town from a basketball tournament.  He said that it was an allergy to the protein from the cold.  He gave me an antihistamine and an antibiotic.  The antibiotic cleared most of it up, but not completely.  Back to the doctor I went again.  This time I was given a different antihistamine and prednisone pills.  Still, the rash didn't go away.  Then the doctor decided to do a biopsy on  my face.  I was scared.  I've never had a biopsy done before, let alone on my face!  I already have plenty of scars on my face, so I wasn't worried about one more.  In the meantime of waiting for the results, someone at one of my jobs mentioned that her mom once had yeast infection on her face.  So, I decided to try an anti-fungal cream that I had on hand.  This worked.  The rash on my face finally was gone!  When the biopsy of my face rash did come back, it only showed eczema and psoriasis tissues.  I thought this was the end of this ordeal.

Then, a new one started.  I went to my son's district track meet on a Thursday.  I was out in very sunny 80 degree weather for a few hours.  I didn't think anything of it.  I was wearing a t-shirt and jeans.  Two days later I was covered in another rash.  This time it was on my left hand and all over both arms.  Off to a dermatologist I went this time.  He said that I had an allergic reaction to the sun.  An Iowa farm girl having an allergic reaction to the sun?  Hmmm.  I told him what I used on my face, so he gave me some ointment of the same.  Well, I used this ointment for 2 weeks and this rash was finally almost gone.  I just had some spots that looked like scars left.  I went back for a check up and he said it cleared up nicely and not to worry because he didn't think I would have any scars.  He told me to use a moisturizer for a week and then back on the ointment.  After a week, the rash came back.  Back to the dermatologist I went.  This time he was going to do a biopsy.  While there I asked him if he thought it could be an autoimmune disease because being a self-diagnoser on the internet, I had researched it.  He questioned that we had already done the lupus blood test.  I said no, we didn't.  He went through my online records to make sure because he didn't want to repeat any tests since  insurance wouldn't pay for it.  Finally, he knew that he hadn't done the test.

I waited a week for both of these results to come back, after calling on them for 2 days after the day he said they would be done only to hear every time I called that the nurse was in a room or that the doctor hadn't reviewed them yet.  The biopsy again showed eczema and psoriasis, and the blood test, a ANA antibody testing came back positive which is an indicator of  an autoimmune disease called lupus.

After reading up on lupus, I realized that I have had a lot of the symptoms of the disease.  I have had TMJ for almost 2 years.  I have had body aches off and on for a while.  Lately I have had awful back pain in the morning. I have always taken a lot of ibuprofen, almost daily.  I've noticed weight gain and abdominal bloating.  I also have red spots on my chest that are actually blood vessels that have come to the surface, which is another sign of the disease.    The dermatologist's office made me an appointment to see a rheumatologist.  I can't get in for a month though.  This doctor is the same one my mom goes to for rheumatoid arthritis.  Another clue, that it runs in the family. At this appointment I will have to answer a lot of questions regarding symptoms and have a lot more blood tests ordered.

I am very scared for this specialist to actually say the words to confirm that I have this.  There are a lot of other bad symptoms that can occur including hair loss and kidney failure.  Whatever the future holds regarding it, I will just have to work through it and not give up.  With the right drugs it is very manageable, but not curable.  I will keep an update going on this journey.

The Stages of Life

Elle, Big Grandma and Dalton

As my mother-in-law Mildred was getting up there in age, hitting 90 two years ago, we knew the day was coming for her to meet the Lord, her maker.  This day has arrived, as she passed away this morning around 7:00 a.m.  I think I am still in shock.  It doesn't seem real.  It began on Wednesday with her having a fall at the nursing home.  They thought she broke her femur, but CT scans showed she didn't and her orthopedic doctor thought she would return to the health center in a few days.  Then, on Thursday morning my husband gets a call from her MD saying that she had taken a turn to the worse.  Her kidneys were shutting down. It was mind boggling how things could change so quickly, just when you stop praying for her to be ok. The doctor told us that when you are her age and the kidneys shut down that it is usually within 48 hours that they are gone. My husband sat by her bedside Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  I accompanied him on Thursday, knowing I had to bring myself to go and see her and say my goodbyes.  This was one of the most difficult things for me to do, having witnessed my own father passing away in a hospital bed when I was only 6 years old.  To say I have problems coping with death and funerals, is an understatement.  Knowing she was suffering, it was a relief when she was finally at peace with God.  She hung on until all of her children were there to see her and says their goodbyes.  They came from Texas, Colorado and California.

Elle is at college and feels horrible that she hasn't been here during this hard time.  This is her and Dalton's first time having to deal with losing a loved one.  It will be very difficult to watch how they react to her services and burial.  Death is a horrible thing to have to deal with, but yet a stage of life that we must endure. They are both very fortunate to not be forced to deal with it until now.  My husband and I both lost our dads when we were very young.

Rest in Peace Mildred.  I hope you are with your husband and all the other loved ones who passed before you.  You will be missed my many. We all love you always.

New Adventures

Elle's dorm Steggy

Yes, I am old!  I sent my first child to college this weekend!  When my daughter Elle was little it seemed so graduation seemed so far away.  It really creeps up on you fast!  On Friday I drove Elle about 2 hours away to Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.  It seemed surreal.  I got to spend all day Friday with her and stayed overnight at a hotel.  I wasn't freaking out on Friday.  On Saturday, my husband and son came up with the rest of her stuff.

Elle moving in

It is a very nice college.  Everyone there is very friendly and helpful.  It's a beautiful campus.  We went to the opening ceremony at the chapel.  They had a Christian rock band that was very good.  There were several key speakers.  You could really feel the energy in the room!  It was very inspiring!  I never experienced anything like that at Buena Vista when I was a freshman.  We went to an outdoor movie on the green in front of the chapel that night.  It was a lot of fun.  After I left Elle got to go to the local Dutch bakery for a night run.  Before the movie a friend from when I was in college came to visit me.  It was great to get caught up with her.  

Dalton and Elle saying goodbye

Saturday was very bittersweet.  While very excited for Elle to experience this time in her life, knowing that we were leaving her there on her own was too much to bare!  We said our goodbyes in the parkinglot.  My husband absolutely lost it.  Then our 15-year-old son broke down too!  This really shocked me!  Showed me how much he really loves his sister! :) 

Me,. Elle and Jeff saying goodbye

Elle starts classes tomorrow.  We are praying that she gets along with her roommate, meets lots of new friends, and does well in her studies.  God brought her there, and I know he will watch over her while we are not there!  She's coming home in about two weeks for her birthday! We skyped with her tonight and our dog Rocky finally figured out where her voice was coming from and tried to lick the Itouch.  It was so cute!

Believe and God will Take Care of You

Elle Dawn after graduating from Carroll High School

Well, we have been stressing over the settlement of Elle's financial aid package.  She got a very good package, but not quite enough.  Well, today, we found out she got more!  I've been praying nightly and the power of prayer has paid off!  


Elle is going to Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.  This is a private Christian college in a Dutch town.  I thought the tuition at Buena Vista was bad!  Tuition for a year of school at Northwestern is $34,000. All I can say is she dang well better receive a great education there!  She chose Northwestern because of its religious affiliation and it's moral values - dry campus and certain safety restrictions other colleges don't offer.  Elle is a Christian girl with very strong morals.  She wants to do good in the world. She plans to study social work and education.  She loves traveling on mission trips and helping people.  She has traveled to the intercity of Washington D.C. to help the homeless and intercity youth.  She also traveled to Joplin, Missouri to help tornado victims.  Elle has a great soul.

Dalton at football camp

Our son Dalton has had a very busy summer so far.  He has practice for high school football and basketball, as well as speed and condition, and weight lighting.  He has also been working quite a bit.  He works as a dishwasher at a local eatery.  It's about the only job available for a 15 year old.  All employers around here require kids to be 16.  Dalton is a very hard worker.  He really wants a car!


Today both kids went on a church trip to Lake Panarama.  Hopefully they will have fun bonding and boating, while learning something at the same time.  I haven't heard from them, so I'm sure they are having fun.  My husband of 21 years, Jeff and I got to go on a date night tonight.  We went to Las Americas Mexican Restaurant.  It is excellent!  Delicious!  Muy Bueno!  

The lesson I learned this week is that some times there are disappoints in your life expectations, but then God turns around and surprises you by answering your prayers in a different way with the same ending that you wanted.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.


Psalms 77:14-19 (The Scriptures 1998+) (14) You are the GOD who does wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. (15) By Your arm You have redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. (16) The waters saw You, O Elohim; The waters saw You, they were afraid; The depths also trembled. (17) The clouds poured out water; The heavens rumbled; Also, Your arrows flashed back and forth. (18) The voice of Your thunder rolled along; Lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook. (19) Your way was in the sea, And Your path in the great waters, And Your footsteps were not known. 


Well, the Fourth of July is fast approaching.  We are planning on going to Lake Okoboji with my mom.  This has become a family tradition.  Love Boji!  We used to go there every summer when I was little for at least a week.  I have always loved the lake setting.  There is something very calming about it.  Everyone have a terrific holiday!  Independence Day!  My 44th birthday is also quickly approaching - July 6th!  Yikes! Scary!

 

The Day Is Here

Elle at grad party

Tomorrow is Elle's graduation ceremony! Wow!  Time has flown! We had her party last Saturday.  We had a very good turn out!  Elle has 77 thank you cards to write!  I made way too much pasta salad and we had way too much meat and fruit, but oh well, no one went hungry!  We had smoked pork loin that was delicious! Everyone loved the meat and the cake.

Elle's Cake

Elle has chosen to attend Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.  I went with her to college orientation day on Thursday.  It's a great college and perfect for her!  It is a private Christian college.

Northwestern College Orange City, Iowa

Most of my stress is gone now that Elle's party is over and I have accepted reality.  I was so stressed out that I was grinding my teeth and had such severe TMJ that I had to go to physical therapy.  My jaw was so sore that I couldn't open my mouth all the way without it hurting terribly.

I will post the graduation ceremony photos soon. There will be tears tomorrow!

Time is a Precious Gem

Wow, I can't believe that it's been 7 months since I last blogged!  Wow!  Guess I've been a little busy!  Well, anyway, I got the urge tonight! That sounds like a confession!  "Forgive me Father for I have sinned, it's been 7 months since I last blogged!"  lol!


For a months now I have been obsessed with the Facebook garage sale sites.  I was really in to it and it occupied many hours of my precious time!  I did sell a crap load of stuff though!  I finally got over it!  Yeah!  I was on like 20 sites, no joke, and now I cut down to 8.  Three of them are my own sites, and I guess I can't abandon them.  I would like to, but really don't know how!  When I tried to "leave" one group, it said that anyone could be an administrator if I left!  Oh, nice!  I just sold something last week though.  It just took hours and hours to take photos, download them, and put descriptions and prices on them! No thank you!


My daughter is graduating next month!  I am in total denial still!  My husband and mom have been working on organizing things.  Thank God for them and their skills!  I just hope everything will fall together for her party in less than a month now!  I have been doing invitations though and am ordering the cake.  I'm good for somethings!  Oh, and I scanned a thousand photos!


Track has been keeping us busy.  Both kids are in it.  They are both long distant runners, and my son does the long jump.  We have track meets twice a week, and we have been freezing our butts off!  i am posting a couple of photos, one of Elle and one of Dalton.

Elle also had you senior prom this month.  She looked beautiful!  

I can't believe how time has flown, and it makes me realize how precious our time is and how we should use it wisely!  Our son is a freshman, and in 3 more years he will be gone too!  It is mind boggling to also realize how old I am!  I will be 44 in July!  Wow!


I keep hoping to hit the lotto so we could make our lives a little easier.  It would be nice to get a chance to slow down and actually start enjoying some family time!  I am working full-time as a sales rep for an advertising publication and part-time at a grocery store in customer service.  My husband, Jeff, works as a truck driver for a bread company and does refereeing on the side.


My son is also on a traveling basketball team.  My husband drove him to Kansas this weekend six hours one way for a tournament.  Thank God we only have one more tournament out of state.  I may have to drive him to Minneapolis in June.  I hate driving, let alone driving on my own in a city I don't know!  Dalton and I got lost in Iowa City!  omg!

Well, I guess you can see why I have had no time to blog!  I used to blog when I had insomnia.  Now I take sleeping pills and sleep like a baby!  


Well, I just wanted to get something out to let you all know that I'm still alive!  So sorry to those of you who read my blog!  I will try to keep up at least one a week, or once a month!  lol  Remember to take time to smell the roses because one day they will be gone!  Time is precious, so  make time for your families!  I need to make time to exercise too!