*Life goes on....

I haven't blogged in awhile...wow. lol Well, not a whole lot has happened since then. Chad came home for good from CA...he was there playing minor league baseball, for those of you who don't know. He asked for his release...he just wasn't having fun anymore and he was missing so much stuff at home that he could never get back. I am so proud of him for the decision he made. Of course I would have supported him either way, I just can't imagine how hard it was for him. But I am SO happy to have him at home.

Jason and I went to the zoo the other week. We always try to go at least once every summer. I love it! :)

Last weekend, we had a birthday party for my great grandma Kate- she turned 90!! It was alot of fun and I got to see family members that I haven't seen in a LOOONG time. My uncle Tim and his wife Charity were here from CO with their kids, Danielle and Jayden (they have CF too, like me) and then Faith and Dave were here too, from TN. SO it was good to see everyone again. I just wish John and Melody could have joined us!

Oh, and as for my health...well, it couldn't be better! I feel great and it has been almost SIX months since I was last hospitalized. Which is just AMAZING! God is SO good, isn't he? Usually, I am in sometime in Jan/Feb, then in May/June/July, and then again in Oct/Nov. But hopefully, it won't be for a LOOOOOONG time ;) My next doctor appointment is not til Septemeber!

My Heart Aches for this Family...

T.J. Sommers passed away this past Saturday afternoon...I won't go into details about what happened because it is just too heartbreaking and so hard to wrap your brain around. Please pray for the family...it was all so sudden and everyone in our church body was affected. Thank you!

THERE WILL BE A DAY BY JEREMY CAMP

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

(Chorus)
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more
fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more,
we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you’re walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you’ve walked out all alone

Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

(Chorus)

I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will
wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery
this is why this is why I sing

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more
fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more,
we'll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more
fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more,
we'll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day, he will wipe away the tears,
He will wipe away the tears,
He will wipe away the tears,
There will be a day.

Ho Hum

Well, I don't really have too much to say- life has just kinda been moving right along at the moment. The Great Strides walk was a big success! My team raised over $1,000!! Twice as much as last year! And it was such a nice day! 

 Here are some pics from the past couple weeks ;)

*Ready for the walk- Me, Jason, and Bubby*

*Sisters*

*Me and my cousin Katrina*

*Me and my cousin, Lela*

My best friend, Andrea came home for a visit this past week. She is at New Horizons in CO til October, but came home for a wedding. It was soo good to see her again!

*Me and Lisar ;)*

*And another one of me and Lyd- because I love this picture!*

*And one last one of me and Jason*

By the way, in case you're wondering- I am feeling WONDERFUL at the moment! My doc added another antibiotic 2 weeks ago when I was there- and I'm not allowed to have cheese or chocolate! AHHH! But I guess I will just have to deal with it- at least its helping me feel better! ;)

Cleveland

Last Saturday, Jason and I went to Cleveland for our 3 yr. anniversary ;) We left around 4:00 and went to Mongolian BBQ for supper- oh my word! It was amazing! I can't wait to go again! After we ate, we drove around the Tri-C campus for alittle (Jason is really thinking of going there this fall). And then finally, we went to the Indians game- it was awesome- even though the Indians lost :( But it was a wonderful day and I cannot believe its been THREE years that we have been together! How time flies!

Here a few pics- I wish I would've took some pics at Mongolian BBQ, but I didn't bring my 

camera in from the car lol.

PROGRESSIVE FIELD 

MR. GRADY SIZEMORE ;)

JASON AND I

Well, thats all for now. OH, the Great Strides Walk is this Saturday! If you still would like to donate money or join my team, or even just buy a shirt- let me know! All donations must be in by Friday! :) Thanks and have a great night!

Myrtle Beach

We just got back on Saturday from Myrtle Beach, SC where we were for spring break. Justin's baseball team went down there for SB to play. It was alot of fun! It was only nice like 3 days maybe, then it was kinda chilly and windy the other days, but still alot of fun! All we did was go to baseball games, shop, and eat. lol Very relaxing! OH, and we went to the beach twice- both times it was perty windy, but not bad. We had lots of fun looking for cool seashells. :)

 We also went to this Japanese restaurant where they make the food in front of you- it was sooo good. All in all, it was a great and very relaxing, fun vacation!

Here are a few pics:

*At the last game of the week. They were undefeated!*

Great News!! Chad just found out yesterday that he will be moving up to Double A- which is amazing! He will be in TX this summer for the season! An answer to prayer! God is so good!

GOD IS GOOD...ALL THE TIME...ALLTHE TIME...GOD IS GOOD!!

Oh where do I start? I had a doctors appointment today- actually, it was my annual- which basicall means, once a year I have an "annual" when I go to the clinic and see everyone and their brother. LOL No, but I have to see the genetics doctor, the nutritionist, a physical therapist, and then my regular doctor. (I ususally have to see the endocrinologist too, but I didn't have to today, not sure why) ANYWAYS, I got a WONDERFUL report from everyone of them and my PFTs have gone up TEN PERCENT, yes, I said TEN PERCENT since March 6!!! AHHH! Needless to say, I was SOOO happy! My PFTs on March 6th were like 51%-52% (which is terrible for me) and today they were 61%!! I feel great and my tests were so much better, even tho I have been off IVs for about 2 weeks now. I've just been on 2 antibiotics- one oral (pill form) and one inhaled (aerosal). And apparently they are doing their job! Ahh I just can't get over it! I'm so excited! God is SO good!

Oh, if you guys think about it, please pray for Chad this wknd- he will be finding out where he'll be playing this season. He will either go to Lancaster, CA which would be the High A team or he could go to Corpus Cristi (sp?) TX which is the Double A team. We are really hoping it will be TX because that would mean he moved up a level AND it would be cheaper to fly there ;) Your prayers are very much appreciated- it's gonna be hard this summer for Chad to be away from Kim and Isaiah and vice versa. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

I'm Walking on Sunshine.....

And don't it feel good?!.....

Ok, sorry. I don't really have much to say other than I feel wonderful! I'm still not on any IVs right now (the docs still haven't really called about any change in my meds). But it's amazing how good I feel...even I'm amazed! lol  

Anyways, not to sound like a broken record, but just a reminder that the Great Strides Walk is coming up sooooon! Its on May 2nd at Mckinley High School at 10 am. We also have shirts on sale for the walk for $12 :) 

Well, thats about it- I told you I didn't have alot to say! Have a great wknd!

And, I thought this picture was ADORABLE, so I figured I'd share ;)

Ho Hum...Now What?

Well, as you know, I have been on IV antibiotics for about 3 wks now since I came home from the hossy. Well, just last week, I started having an allergic reaction to it. (oh joy) The first few times it happened, it wasn't TERRIBLE, but it was really really NOT fun. I broke out in hives twice from it. Anyways, so I had a doctor appointment on Friday and we talked about it and everything and they decided to try prednisone (steroids). So I was supposed to take the steroids like 30-60 mins before the med that nite. Well, I took the steroids like an hour before my med and within MINUTES of starting my medicine, I got incredibly itchy. Like itchier than EVER before. I broke out it hives like no other, my throat got real tight and really warm, and I started coughing alot. So, needless to say, the steroids didn't work/help. So, now I guess I'm just waiting to hear from the docs to see what they come up with for treatment now. Fun, fun. 

But, other than that, I do feel good most of the time. I just get really tired and worn out faster. OH! We got our T-shirts for the Great Strides Walk this year! They look awesome! If you would like a T-shirt or would like to sign up to walk- just let me know! The shirts are $12 a piece.

Have a great day!

You Never Let Go

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death Your perfect love is casting out fear And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life I won't turn back I know you are near And I will fear no evil For my God is with me And if my God is with me Whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?

(Chorus:) Oh no, You never let go Through the calm and through the storm Oh no, You never let go In every high and every low Oh no, You never let go Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on A glorious light beyond all compare And there will be an end to these troubles But until that day comes We'll live to know You here on the earth

(Chorus) Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on And there will be an end to these troubles But until that day comes Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

PS- My brother, Chad leaves tomorrow for Spring training so if you think about it tonite or tomorrow- please remember to pray for his safety (he is driving to FL) and also for Kim and Isaiah- I know it's not easy and I have no idea how in the world Kim does it!! Thanks so much.

Happy Valetines Day

Just a WARNING: This post maybe end up being extremely LONG. I apologize in adance :)

Well, I have no idea where to start. I guess from the beginning-On Feb. 2nd, I was admitted to the hossy (CF lingo for 'Hospital'). I had been on home IVs for 2 weeks before all this and they were not helping all! So anyways, I come in and they just keep my meds and antibiotics the same for about a week and a half. 

During that week and half, I had an Xray done of my lungs and then one of my stomach-this is gross and I'm sorry, but I was backed up and couldnt umm go. If you know what I mean. So they made me drink this stuff called Go Lytely (dumb name bc it basically makes you go ALOT, not lightly) Oh- I was supposed to drink 4 LITERS in just a few hours! Ok, so they bring it in the first nite and I try and I seriously almost threw it up right away. Well, they r like, if you cant drink it, we will have to put an Ng in (a tube that would go up my nose and all the way down to my stomach .) So I was like, uhh ya I will try to drink it because I am NOT doing that. (oh, side note: the night nurses said that I couldn't add anything to it- like pop, juice, etc.) Well, I tried for like 2 hours and I couldn't even get down HALF a glass...and I was supposed to drink 4 LITERS. So, I tearfully gave in to the Ng tube...worst experience of my life! The Ng lady came in to do it and when she started, she couldn't get it in the first nostril she tried, so she went to the other one. (By the way, I was crying and panicking the whole time, yes I know I'm a baby) She told me to drink something to help it go down my throat- so anyways, when she got it in place, I started panicking more because I could still feel it in my throat, and if you know me at all, things like that bug me like crazy. So i started crying more and like hyperventalating alittle- well, I threw up twice and it came out and I was like, I'm DONE! So the lady was apologizing and saying- oh you did such a good job. Sure I did. So they kinda let it go alittle before I went to bed because I was majorly traumatized. 

The next morning, I had my fave nurse Jessica for the day. She came in and said that I still need to work on drinking that stuff and she's like- Oh, you can add anything you want to it- even its like 3/4 pop or juice and the rest Go Lytely, thats fine. I was like- Are you freaking kidding me?! Needless to say, I was VERY upset with the night nurses I had had the night before. Anyways, I mixed it with grape juice and it took me 2 days to drink about 8 liters- they just kept giving it to me til I actually 'went'. 

Anyways...fast forward to like a weekand half since I've been here. Which would have been like Wednesday, the 11th: They change ALL my meds! I was on 4 antibiotics before and they cut everyone one those out and now I am just on 2. So, Friday the doctor comes in (more on them later) and says that the one anti is messing with a level or something in my kidneys-and thats bad. So she took me off of it. So now I am only on ONE. Great, ya. But 2 nights ago, I sarted getting a fever right before bed- the first night it wasn't bad. But last night it was like 102. So they gave me some tylenol....oh, and my pulse ox (oxygen in my blood)was perty low for the last couple days. Good for me is like 97/98. Well, it was barely staying above 90. So I had to wear oxygen last night while I slept.

Now onto the the Adult CF docs. There are 2 of them:a man and a woman. And, I'm sorry, but they just don't click with me. Although I do prefer one to other, I still want Dr. Kraynack back (he was my Peds doc til I was 20, I was actually SUPPOSED to move up to the adult clinic when I turned 18, but some things happened). The new docs still don't know me very well and I have been with them for almost a year- in May. And when I go for appointments, you never know which one you're gonna see. Well, I had the one ONCE when I went for an appoinment so I feel MUCH more comfortable with the other one. He is really nice, don't get me wrong, but like, he asks ME when the last time I was in and what meds I was on and so on. I'm like- dude, YOU are the Doctor, YOU are supposed to know and remember!!! But I guess he could be doing to help ME remember what was going on. Dr. Kraynack was THE best doctor in the world (McBride is a CLOSE 2nd lol) and he knew EVERYTHING about me. I NEVER had to tellHIM when I was admitted or what meds I was on when. I honestly just want to write Dr. Kraynack a letter and ask him to take me back as his patient! Life would be so much better!

Anyways, sorry for my grossness and venting. I'm not trying to be mean and I am not "looking" for pity by writing all of this. I just wanted to let everyone in on my day to day life...in the hossy at the moment.

Have a wonderful Valentines Day Everyone!

***And, in reverance to my CF Adult docs, I decided to not use their names.