Thursday, September 29, 2016

Fall Festivities

Last weekend was the annual apple-fest in our town... it was SUCH a different year... .things cost more $$... things actually COST $$ that have been free fun in the past and our CREW was not all together :( I am not a fan of change... BUT we made the best of it, had fun and think maybe we don't need to tack this onto our fall tradition next year....

Gals had fun and I'm sad I did miss the photo op with the W Crew as we were headed out and they were headed in... a beautiful day to be outside for sure though... beautiful

On Monday Miss B called to see when "she was ava-wa-bull" to go apple picking :) She was trying to ask Grampa when THEY were available but it definitely came out like she has a crazy busy social calendar for a four year old :) He decided we'd go that day since it was supposed to be the best of the week... (and so far he was right... brrr rainy and cold this week)

Happy Everybody!


Too funny not to post them all....




It was a great day getting "trapped" in the Jeep and so fun being spontaneous!

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

RA: An Update ~ Steroids and Biologics

So I mentioned back here that I was having a lot of pain over the summer....in June the doc had changed my methotrexate from 8 pills on Monday AM to 5 in the AM and 5 in the PM for a total of 10 hoping that the absorption would be better and it would actually work.... well... I tried it... and felt HORRIBLE... sick to my stomach and the pain was exactly the same... tried it one more time... AWFUL.... and decided that I was not going to spend my summer like that as I anticipated going to PA and thinking about people who ARE really SICK and HAVE to take the nasty meds... I figured I would deal with the pain so that I could at least not be sick to my stomach and support....

and then I came home to the foot infection... and then we had a few good weeks (albeit pain filled) and looked forward to the anticipation of vacation... and then you know we had the broken arm.... and then.... there was a night where it all just broke down... all of what I was TRYING to do on my own, the denial of what is wrong with me, the aloneness of being in chronic pain but no one knows because it is all inside your body.... the taking care of everything just like I always have and just couldn't do it anymore. (Here is the part where you should all feel sorry for Husband ;) good thing he's so good at picking up my broken pieces....because they were ALL over the place...

I was scheduled for an RA visit on 8/16. I made the appointment so that Husband would be able to go with me... they rescheduled. For the end of August when he would be back at school/practice... etc. and the date they picked didn't work for me so I cancelled. I finally made the call to reschedule and agreed to be put on a cancellation list and was able to get into the doctor on Wednesday.

You know... midway through the sanding/painting/joints dying renovation? CountryMum agreed to take the gals and I was an absolute TRAIN WRECK. Terrified doesn't even begin to cover it... these next steps... these drugs... telling the Dr. that I had not been taking the "chemo" all summer and would he be angry.... TERR-I-F-I-ED....

The RN came in and I shared my (tearful) concerns and she assured me that he would be understanding. That he only wants me on meds that will make me feel better, not worse. When he came in he definitely tried to lighten the mood and we decided on a new plan.

I'm taking prednisone for about 2 months. Just a low dose that he says will just "take the edge off the misery" and he was right. HOWEVER... my blood sugars are all outta whack... running extremely high for me so I put on a sensor so I can have a better handle on how quickly they are rising and taking a boatload more insulin to combat the steroid.

I also was checked for TB in the office on Wed and went back on Friday for them to confirm it was negative. I had NO IDEA that I was going to get my first Enbrel shot as well.... TOTALLY took me by surprise but I guess that was good because I didn't have time to get all worked up about it... the poor RN that gave me the injection didn't know that the Dr. had taken one out of the fridge anticipating my arrival that day so she gave me a cold one... WOWZER that did NOT feel good. Thank goodness for Miss B holding my hand and her encouragement when it was all over... "that's ok Mommy, next time you just have to be tougher...." um... OK. Steroids every day....Enbrel injections every Friday courtesy of Husband ;)

So now we are in with the big guns and PRAYING that in the next few weeks (although it can take up to 3 months) the Enbrel takes over, I get weaned off the steroids and I'm feeling better and better... that is of course always the goal isn't it? Emotionally I'm doing better with it and I think that obviously has to do with not being in AS MUCH pain....still praying for remission and not having to take anything at ALL would be amazing....

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Bathroom Renovation Take TWO....or is it 3?

a couple of years ago you may have remembered THIS POST....Well... about 8 months after that post this... happened....

the paint started peeling off in SHEETS... Miss B said "this one looks like a bunny Mama!" :)

so in the spring I went with Liz, Spencer, MC and my gift card to Home Depot and got new paint...and primer.... and sanding paper.....

and then the thought of redoing my bathroom would have me in tears thinking about the pain my body was going to have to go through.... and then well... you all know about how we spent our summer.... but... I finally decided it really HAD to be done... I had to $uck it up and move forward....

and then CountryMum caught wind that I was going to start working and "Bob" said he'd like to help and Aunt Nancy offered to take MC for some fun and then Tamarah showed up with Miss O to play....

and before I knew it....




(keepin' it real)



(his one and only break in FOUR DAYS :))

BUT... By Friday it was FINISHED...We started on Tuesday and on Saturday AM Husband helped me put everything back together....



I'm so much happier with the paint coverage... it now flows like an "en suite" from our bedroom

and I'm looking forward to actually getting something hung up on the walls....

Will keep you posted :)
 
COULD NOT have done last week without CountryMum or "Bob"... they were worker bees, encouragers and skilled at what needed to be done and how to do it.
SO very thankful for my "village".

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Saturday Sports, Snuggles and Shenanigans

Snuggles with "Radar"

Redman sisters are now both off to college.... their little brother HAD to get a dog ;) can't leave a sibling home alone, right Sky? :)



So fun getting to watch Mags play field hockey.... in this house the gals will get to pick their fall sport... poor kids... winter (Bball) and spring (Track) are all decided for them ;) but when it comes to fall... whatever they want :)


Happy Husband with two of his track favs...

Shenanigans of SWIMMING in SEPTEMBER....BBRRRRR


My happy fish...




best buds....

and happy girls who got to see Do-Do when he came home for the night from school....

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Embracing September....

Spaghetti dinner for the golf boys...

complete with a corn hole tourney


sad snuggles because she misses her sister (and actually even cried after I dropped off Minnie at school this week :( )

nothin' a little pet therapy can't fix....

the final JUMP before the cover went on for the winter....

giggling about how low the water is....


fall berries...

his shirt is appropriate but it could also say "awesome sport"

1st time for everything... "Bob"'s first time picking raspberries... see above picture to figure out who asked him... I don't think he could EVER say "no" to her about ANYTHING :)

these two are the best!

CHEMO days... potentially only 3 more now... only 3 more