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.

Out of Body and Out of Mind

Ok...just a warning...you guys are gonna think I'm crazy after you read this. Ok, so I'm on IV antibiotics right now and I've been kinda nauseous the last couple days. I still had some meds that help the nausea from last time I was on IVs that made me nauseous. Anyways...it's called Merinol and it is a derivative of Marijuana. The prescription said to take 2 pills- so I went ahead and took 2 pills. OH, we were going to the spa that day for Lydia's bday. Anyways, so we're on the way down there and my mind is like racing extremely fast and it feels likeI was running everywhere- my legs hurt so bad. I was seriously like "high" from that stuff. I would "come back to reality" all of a sudden and be like, why am I crying? Or I'd remember something I just did and then be like, did I really do that? or did I just think I did? WOW. Anyways, it probably sounds hilarious reading it, but it was the most terrifying 2-3 hours of my life. Needless today, mom and I didn't get anything done at the spa then because I was insane and my mom was scared to leave me alone. But Kim and Lydia had fun. I felt better when we were getting ready to leave the spa then. We met all the guys then at Applebees for supper and I felt way better than- back to normal. 

So that was my day.

Thats all for now....

Oh, and here's a pic of Mia...so cute!

 

Great Strides Walk

The Great Strides Walk is coming up..ok, not really that soon- May 2. But, I'm definitely starting earlier this year with getting a team together and raising money. For those of you who don't know, Great Strides is a like a walk-a-thon I guess. It's to help raise money to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Last year, I found out about it kinda late- like April or something- I still managed to get a team together really fast (people would just come up to me and say they could walk! PTL!!) and amazingly, in such a short time, my team managed to raise $500 for the cause! This year tho, I'm getting a big head start! I'm excited! The walk is May 2 at McKinley High School and registration starts at 9 AM. I believe that actual walk starts at 10. I forget how far we walk, but when its over, they have a complimentary lunch for everyone! There were SO many people there last year! Even my CF doctor was there ;) But anyways, if anyone is interested in walking or donating money- just let me know! I'll keep you up to date with everything up until the actual walk! :) Your support would be very much appreciated!

*Pictures are worth a thousand words...*

I don't really have much to say- I just felt like posting some pictures :) So, here are a few more pics of Mia, our Christmas pic, and other ramdom pics from the last couple weeks! Enjoy!

*Such a sweet face!

*Mine and Jason's Christmas Picture :)

*How sweet are they?

*I love this kid SO much- he's so excited for Christmas!

*Merry Christmas!!

OH! And I'm feeling better than I have for awhile! PTL!! :)

Mamma Mia!

OK, so there is a reason for my title.... :)

Last Tuesday was a very good night. Jason got me a puppy for Christmas and we got to go pick her up then. She is a 9-wk old puggle (a cross between a beagle and a pug) and she is just the cutest little puppy in the world! Oh ya, we named her Mia. She just looks like a Mia. We were either gonna name her Mia or Holly- for a more Christmas-y name. But Mia definitely fit better!

Last Friday night, our college and career class had our Christmas party. We went to Dave and Julia's to eat and exchange white elephant gifts and then we went bowling. It was alot of fun- our class is awesome! Here is a pic of Lyd and I- my fave!

And then Saturday night, we went to the ballet with Brad & Steph, Brian & Sarah, and Jenny. That was fun- we saw the Nutcracker. Very cute- Steph knew the girl that was the lead Sugar Plum Fairy girl :) I'll post pics soon! 

I am STILL not feeling good- I'm coughing more and I get run down sooner than usual. I need to call the doctor- but I don't want to go on IVs right before Christmas. It would really suck and I wouldn't be too happy lol.

We took Christmas pics this past Sunday afternoon- they look awesome! (Sorry, I hope I don't sound conceited!) I would post them, but that would ruin the surprise of getting it in the mail :)

Other than that, my life hasn't too overly exciting. Christmas is in like 9 days or so- and I so can't wait! My cousin and her family are coming in from Liberia for Christmas- so that should be awesome! I haven't seen them in a year! Anyways, I'll try to get those pics from the ballet soon!

20 Days and Counting....

Well, Christmas is just around the corner....have you got your shopping done? I'm done I think, for the most part- now I just have to wrap everything. :) Lifes busy-ness has died down for the most part...for me, anyways. 

I still don't feel the greatest- usually I'll be fine until about dinner time, then I start getting wheezy and coughing a ton. Hot mint tea has been a God send. It really soothes my throat and the wheezing goes away....and then f course, theres the Nyquil before I go te bed....that stuff is amazing....lol. Don't worry, I'm not (and won't get) addicted to it. I've been taking this stuff to 'boost your immune system' and its called Mona Vi or something like that, but its too soon to see a difference or anything. 

Oh....Isaiah isn't feeling well...poor thing. He's feverish and throwing up alot. But, its scary when he throws up- like, I don't know, it just freaks me out and I feel SOO terrible for him! I hate seeing him like that :(

Oh ya, I forgot to mention our "exciting" Thanksgiving Day fun. In the afternoon, Justin was outside skatin (skateboarding, for those of you who don't speak "skater" lingo haha) and he fell...well he came in after that and his elbow was HUGE and he couldn't move his arm! So he was sitting on the couch icing it and was feeling around on it and was like, "Uh, what if its broken?" So, Chad was feeling around on it then and he's like yeah....it feels broken- this one part is supposed be here or connect here and its not (or something to that extent). So, long story short- my mom, Lyd, and Justin went to the ER that night and found out that it was, in fact, broken. So, he had to have surgery on Friday morning to put pins in it and a wire. So, ya....Friday was a LOOOOOONG day at the hospital. I went with my mom because my dad wasn't feeling good at all over Thanksgiving weekend. The surgery only took like 2 and ahlf hours, but then they had to admit him and give him antibiotics to prevent infection. So, we got there in the morning at 730 and didn't leave til abiout 930 that night! Wow....

Thats about all I have for now...here are a few pics I thought were kinda cute :)