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Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Coping with Crohn's: A Quick Update:

 Happy Wednesday family & friends! 

I hope this post finds you all happy, healthy & staying warm!


I realized it has been a while since I've posted an update on my health, and figured it was time to do just that. I have found that posting about my health here is the easiest way to update all of our family & friends. Also, it allows me to be able to look back on every single thing myself and family endure with my Disease. There are days my disease leaves me feeling truly miserable and I find myself constantly asking "Lord, why me?".  As overwhelming as it is most days, for myself, my husband, and for our children, the Lord continues to show me how strong I am, and maybe that's the answer to "why me". 

So here we are, standing strong, trying to overcome yet another hurtle in my health. 


***


The day before we left for Jamaica, I received a call from my Rheumatologist Team at Mayo... If you have been around here long enough or know anything about Crohn's Disease, then you know Arthritis is a side effect of this Auto Immune Disease, and you know I have been suffering with severe arthritis for about 9 years. Well for the past year now, my arthritis has been debilitating... I will have days where I can't even walk it is so bad. So after numerous scans, X-Rays, and MRI's, they found not only severe inflammation all throughout my body & joints, but also I have now developed a condition that is causing severe Bone Deterioration in my spine, hips & pelvis. It is never fun hearing from the top Spine Specialists at Mayo as well as Radiology that "they would have never expected that I was 35 years old, after seeing all of my images...". They all said when they see images like mine they expect to see someone well into their 90's. 

I of course was happy to have some answers and to start the road to treatment, and to just honestly feel better. Jamaica couldn't have come at a better time for us. We needed the time together, to process all that lies ahead, and also to just not think about anything for a little bit. As soon as we got home from Jamaica, on to my new weekly treatment I went... Chemo Medication Methotrexate {MTX}. I am currently 3 weeks into those meds and it has honestly been awful. I am so sick for a few days and then as of right now finally start to feel better mid-week {praying it doesn't change for the worse}. My hair is slowly starting to come out in bigger clumps {nothing "too" significant, but definitely something I can tell} and I am PRAYING hard that what I'm dealing with now is the worst of it {it has taken me 3 years to finally get my hair at a decent length from The Last Time My Hair was Falling Out}. The symptoms I have been dealing with are nausea, vomiting, severe headaches, fatigue, brain fog, and I am now getting these skin lesions/sores all over my body. They are so painful and also super annoying. I was told they could be a form of hives so we are monitoring it and doing everything we can to keep the infection rate down on these. On top of all of this I will start Bone Injections. My first one is tomorrow morning and I'm a bit nervous. They told me it will be about an hour and a half procedure that they have to do under X-Ray. They need to make sure the giant needles get all the way through and into my hip bone. 

I still find myself feeling incredibly grateful though because as I always say, it could always be WAY worse. I have an amazing support system, and a husband & children who love me fiercely. There are definitely days I wish I could be the mom & wife they deserve, but if having to go through all of this means I get to watch my children grow into the amazing adults I know they will become, then I will fight through all of this, every single day that I have to. 












Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Fall Home Tour:

Happy First Day of Fall! 

The change of Seasons always makes me so happy {although let's be honest... Florida doesn't usually cooperate with this... we go from extremely hot, to hot, to warm, to sometimes cool...} ! But nonetheless, it makes me excited for everything that is ahead! Though I already miss our lazy Summer days, I am so looking forward to all things Pumpkin & Fall!

If you have been following along here for a while then you know my love for decorating for the Holidays! So with that being said, I wanted to share a peek into some Fall touches around our home! Enjoy!


"

 





This year's Fall Tablescape! 





Do you decorate your home for Fall? I would love to know what you do and how you decorate! 
And if you haven't decorated yet, I hope this brings you a little bit of inspiration! 
I can't wait to start adding all the touches of Halloween next! 


Happy Tuesday! 






 

Monday, September 21, 2020

Summer Snapshots:

Happy Monday Friends! 

I hope everyone had a great weekend and is happy & staying healthy! I can't believe it is the last official day of "Summer", with Fall and the Holidays just around the corner!

Before I dive into all things Fall {which I am officially ready for} I wanted to share some Summer Snapshots! As most people, our Summer looked very different than the past... No vacations, no trips, no tennis camp. Though we were not able to do much of anything, we took that opportunity to make the most of the situation by making memories together as a family that we will remember forever!


On the first day of Summer, we bought a boat! We have always wanted a boat but it was something that never made since for us because of Navy Life. With us moving all the time, deployments, and Steven's crazy work hours we never would have been able to truly enjoy it. Well this year it finally happened!! With Steven's retirement & crazy Navy work life behind us, we knew we could finally make it happen, and we are so thankful it did! Having our boat this Summer truly made up for all the uncertainty in the world, and gave us something fun to do every single day!



   


It definitely wasn't the Summer we had hoped & wished for, but it was an amazing Summer nonetheless and we couldn't be more blessed for that! We have so much to be grateful for, and for that I am thankful! 

Thank you Summer 2020 for the memories we did make! 

For the love, the laughter, and for all the fun we could have! 









Now bring on Fall!! 



 

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Crew's Corner: Kindergarten Take Two:

 


Our decision to hold Crew back was not a hard one for us. Honestly from the time he was born we realized he would always be on that weird cusp of the School Year, with an August Birthday he would always be the youngest in his class and we always just felt that holding him back a year would be a great decision. Last year we made the decision to not spend the money for him to do Junior Kindergarten at his Preschool {and looking back at how the year ended, I am SO incredibly thankful we didn't waist all that money when he wouldn't have even gotten a full school year}. So we opted to just go ahead and start him in Kindergarten {and mind you, he was still FOUR years old, again because of his birthday} and use it as a trial year for our guy. He had an awesome year... he loved School, loved his teachers, made so many friends, but as the School Year ended, I had a virtual meeting with his Teachers & Principal, and everyone agreed that holding him back would do him a world of good! He was the baby last year, he was so young, wasn't reading {because he had ZERO interest}, and was the class clown. Crew is as social as they come {just like his daddy}, and he didn't have a single issue when it came to his social skills, it was honestly all of his learning skills {the only way I can describe it is that he was very lazy & didn't apply himself}. We all felt he needed a little extra time to become more confident & we couldn't be happier with our decision!

So today, today was our big guys first day of Kindergarten again, and though we are starting the year with Virtual Learning {we are hoping they will be back to brick & mortar the beginning of October}  we whole heartedly know that this was the best decision for him!! We know he is going to do amazing things this year and he is truly going to shine bright! We are excited to watch him grow & learn and be the most confident little learner we know! 

You are going to move mountains little dude, keep being you!! 



Happy First Day of School!! 


Friday, August 14, 2020

Crew Benjamin: S I X

And just like that he's a whole year older... Two hand status... 
The big S I X!



Crew Benjamin,

The sweetest most handsome boy there ever was, Happy Birthday to you big guy!! What a year it has been, you started Kindergarten like normal, and everything shutdown by Spring Break and we have been home ever since. I can't remember the last time you got to play with a group of friends, or go to someone's house, but through it all you continue to show us that oh so sweet side that makes up YOU sweet boy! Though I know you miss normalcy, we have tried our hardest to give you guys the most perfect new normal as just a family. As much as you miss everyone, you tell us every day how you couldn't love it more, getting to spend every day with just us! That right there couldn't show people more who you really are... The most loving, sensitive, find joy in everything kind of person! We love you so much little dude. Watching you grow every year is truly our biggest treasure, because when you were Born and we heard the the NICU Doctors say "your son would have died had they let you go home", can't ever describe the emotions we felt. We can't thank God enough for helping heal your little body when he did, and to be able to see the incredible little guy you are growing to be! You are the biggest love and the biggest cuddler {and ask to snuggle 325 times a day}! Your heart is bigger than anyone I have ever met, you wear your heart & emotions on your sleeve {just like your mama}, and if you do something wrong or something to disappoint us, we truly watch your heart break as tears always fall from your face. You would never ever hurt anyone intentionally and always want everyone to be happy!  You are so clever & smart in your own way... You know the most random things but yet learning to read has been a difficult task, we know you will fully get there in your own time, and are here to help you every step of the way! School is looking a little different this year as we are starting the year out with Virtual Learning, but it hasn't phased you a bit, you said you are so excited to stay home with mommy, and that right there makes my heart so happy! You are going to do amazing things this year and we can't wait to watch! We love you so very much and are so proud of everything you accomplish! We couldn't be luckier to be your parents! 
Happiest Birthday Bubba!! 






*Milestones: He lost his first 4 teeth {with number 5 falling out any day now}
*Some of his favorite things: Riding his bike, riding his scooter, Golfing, playing with Legos, playing with his cars, trucks, trains, Swimming, Boat Days, acting like a ninja, running, torturing the cats, climbing on furniture, climbing trees, 



The Yearly Birthday Survey:
*What is your favorite Color? Red
*What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be in the Navy
*What is your Favorite Animal? I love all cats, like kittens, cheetahs, lions
*What is your Favorite Food? Blueberries 
*What is your Favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Donuts because I only get them for special things! {I'm pretty sure they eat a donut maybe twice a year, so yeah its special!!}
*What is your Favorite thing to eat for Lunch? Pickles 
*What is your Favorite thing to eat for Dinner? Salad
*What is your Favorite Drink? Gatorade 
*Who is your Best Friend? Brooks & Brady and Ben & Blake
*What is your Favorite thing to play with? My truck & Jet Ski with the trailer {a new toy he got for his birthday}
*What is your Favorite Movie? SCOOB
*What is your Favorite TV Show? Spy Kids
*What is your Favorite Book? Still The Little Blue Truck
*What is your Favorite thing to do? relax {thats my boy!!}
*What is your Favorite thing to do as a Family? I love everything we do as a family, but I love going on the boat!
*What is your Favorite Holiday? Halloween & Thanksgiving 
*What is your Favorite thing to wear? Pajamas 






Happy Birthday Crew Benjamin!! We love you so much!!