Thougts from the hospital cont.

THE EPISODES

So here we are at Monday. Sunday night was really rough, but things would only get worse. Monday morning I woke up and Doug had already left for work. Brielle stayed over at Wandas house so I just had the boys. They woke up and it took everything I had to get up and get them breakfast. My friend Karen came back over and helped me get the boys dressed. Then while I laid on the couch she played with them and kept them occupied so I could rest. This is when the "Episodes" started. I was still feeling really cold and achy and this morning was no different. I started to get cold and shake and then my body began to hurt worse that ever. I felt like EVERY bone in my body was BreAKinG! It went on like this for about an hour. I finally took some ibuprofen and an hour later I started to sweat again. Not just sweat, I was totally drenched, from head to toe. The pain was relieved quite a bit except for the pain in my head and then I just slept. I felt like I had run a marathon. About 4 hours later I started to feel cold again and then the severe pain returned. This is why I call them the episodes. Because it just kept repeating like this over and over again, never stopping. Karen and Wanda watched my kids, and Alice brought me groceries and I didn't move off the couch all day.


ER VISIT #2
Monday night was my worst night yet. So, I called my Doctor first thing in the morning and they could get me in at 10:15. The next two hours were some of the worst. I just laid on the couch and sobbed. I hurt so bad and literally could not move. Doug took me to the doctor where I had temp of 103.7 and even with the ibuprofen my body was not getting better. I was in BAD shape. My doctor decided that I needed to be admitted to the hospital. So I was sent again to the ER so they could do a SPINAL TAP. For those of you who don't know what that is, they stick a huge needle into your spine and drain fluid from it for testing. It is the exact opposite of fun. I again waited in the ER forever before they did the Spinal tap and then waited for about 5 hours before they put me in a room. All the while my head and body were going through the episodes.
Finally, about 8:30 Pm I was admitted to my hospital room where I have been ever since.

THE HOSPITAL
We have now made it to Wednesday. Wow what a wild ride. Tuesday night was full of pain and blood draws and my back was pretty sore from the Spinal tap. They began on Wednesday to rule out everything they could possibly could. That included taking my blood whenever they felt like, and meeting with new Dr's. They decided they would start out with some tests to go along with the Spinal. So they sent me to get a cat scan on my abdomen. Everything was going along quite nicely until they injected the contrast dye into the IV near the end of the test. I THEN HAD AN ALLERGIC REACTION to the dye. My face swelled up and my lips turned blue, my vision went blurry and I couldn't breath. I was really scary.I finished out the test but felt really weak after that.
Then they took me back to my room. As soon as we got back the coldness started to came back and I had the worst "episode" yet. I started shaking so bad I couldn't stop and I was literally yelling out in pain. They immediately gave me a shot of narcotics, benadryl and steroids. The pain stopped a few minuted later and I was finally able to sleep. It was a rough few hours.

Later that day I met with a few different Doctors who of course all wanted blood samples for different tests. I met with a hematologist to discuss my blood. My white blood cell count was REALLY LOW and my platelets were down so they know I was fighting off something bad. The hematologist wanted to do work on my blood, so more tests. He told me that if my blood count didn't go up by the morning then they would have to do a bone marrow biopsy. But we will get to that. Then I met with the Rhuematologist who wanted to do work to see if I had Lupus or some other Auto-Immune disease. Then came the infectious disease doctor who wanted to rule out any crazy diseases. And last but not least cam the Neurologist. He obviously wanted to do tests for things like MS, brain tumors etc. So it was quite the panel of Doctors to try and solve the Mystery.

Wednesday night came and guess what, it was the first night without the pain!!!!! What? I know I was shocked. But I know it was from the fasting and prayers. Both mine and Doug's families fasted all day, and I know that miracles can happen. Another REALLY EXCITING thing happened on Wednesday. My Mom flew into Knoxville to take care of me. She is so amazing, and I am more grateful to her than anyone can know. It is great.



Thursday began bright and early with of course it starting off with more blood work. They came back to let me know my white blood cells were still low so they would be in to to the BONE MARROW BIOPSY. This is DEFINITELY the WORST test that can be done to a living person. Let me explain. First, they numb the area between your hip bone and your back. Then they make an incision with a razor blade. next, they take a ginormous needle and hammer it and dig it into your bone! OUCH! Then they take a smaller a needle to suck out the marrow in your bone. It is pretty indescribable. I just know that my back is going to hurt for days. Then they sent off the slides and we had to wait.
Then last night they sent me off finally for an MRI of my head. Maybe some headache answers.

The Good news

So now it is Friday. I have received most of my test results back. I don't have MS, Lupus Leukemia, Lymphoma, Rheumatoid Arthritis, infectious diseases, a brain tumor, or anything else life threatening. I only got one answer. They found a small inflammation spot on my brain, but WHY do I have the massive never ending headache and why is my blood count still so low? I have another MRI scheduled for the morning. They are going to look at that spot a little more in depth to determine what to do. Best case scenario they can treat it with steroids and I will be fine. So now I sit the hospital and wait. I will hopefully go home tomorrow and will continue to meet with some doctors just as an outpatient. I guess time will tell, but I am confident they will find an answer.

I would really like to thank all of you who have called, prayed, fasted, made meals, watched kids, cleaned my house, and just plain cared. I am sure I am not even sure what a lot of you have done. I feel so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends who love me. This experience more than anything has taught me that I am loved and not alone. My Heavenly Father knows me and is aware of me and will send angels among us to do his will. I am so grateful for all that I have been given. I also now appreciate my life way more. When you are threatened with something that may actually change your life, the little things just don't matter anymore. it is my new outlook to enjoy what I have while I have it.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Calico Giveaway

You'll love these giveaways and her blog. Go link.

A Thanksgiving of Wonders

As a surprise I gave Doug tickets to fly to Utah over Thanksgiving. Every year as a tradition his dad and others go on a backpacking trip to the Grand Canyon the day after Thanksgiving. Since we have lived in Tennessee Doug has missed out on the tradition. I decided that Doug is so busy and works so hard always doing things for other people that he never has time to do fun things for himself. This was the perfect opportunity for him to get away. These are a few pictures from his trip. They pretty much hike and make up their own trail down so it is a dangerous. This time they actually found a new route to the bottom of the canyon that is much shorter than the other hikes they have done. He had a great time enjoying one of the greatest wonders of the world!
This is a panoramic picture of Doug standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon

Here is a picture of the ring tail cats down there that come out at night!

This is a fresh spring coming out the side of the rock

A night on the town!

So a couple of weekends ago Doug and I were able to go on a real date. The law firm he works for paid for us to go to a dinner that celebrated those attorneys that have been practicing law for over 50 years. The founding partner of his firm was honored that night so we were invited! It was so fun, we got all dressed up and went to the art emporium for a buffet dinner and a live band. It was a real black tie affair! We had a great time together, and I think the last time I got to where a fancy dress was on our cruise 7 and 1/2 years ago! It was so fun!

We are still here!

Well, long story short my camera busted so I cant post pictures, all three kids have been way sick. Parker has had two ear infections in which we have tried two different antibiotics which didn't work and so he has had to have two rounds of heavy duty antibiotic shots! Poor kid! Brielle and Bens have had a bacterial infection called Microplasm that settled in their lungs. So between nightime wakings, antibiotics, breathing treatments, cough medicine and being quarantined to our house for a week I have not had time to blog. But we are all alive which I am grateful for. Here are a few updates:

Parker: We took him to the doctor and he weighs 20.6 lbs! What in the world! He is my biggest kid by far, but I absolutely love all his rolls. He is almost crawling and is only seven months old. The other two didn't even attempt til they were at least 9 mo. He does the army crawl to get everywhere! I need to baby proof my house again for sure! He is still the best baby ever and never cries, even with 2 ear infections he has been a happy camper.

Benson: Well Benson is still Benson. He was standing on the dresser the other day and fell and busted his lip open. It was bleeding everywhere! Does that surprise anyone? I wish I had a camera so I could post picts. He is all boy . His new favorite thing to do is to help me clean up. To do this he cleans things up and then throws them in the garbage. It doesnt matter what it is, it all ends up inthe trash. So funny.

Brielle: She is still my great little helper. I really don't know what I would do without her. She is always keeping an eye on her brothers for me, or feeding parker his bottle. She plays the motherly role great. I am going to be really sad when she goes to Kindergarten. We went the other day to get our haircut and she kept saying, "Mom I really love being a girl so I can do girl dates!" I am so happy to have her as my little girl!

Well, that is the update for us. I will post again soon, but until we get our new camera for Christmas I will be posting only picts taken by others!

My life is never dull

This is what Brielle did with her lunch instead of eating it. She made a ham face (notice the eyes, nose, and mouth, they are hard to see but they are proportionate with the face), a grape and string cheese body, cheese cracker legs, and carrot arms. Pure Creativity! And I know after all my posts you are wishing you had a 4 1/2 year old with a fantastic imagination and love for life huh?

Is it too late??

I know Halloween was a long time ago, but I had to blog it so I would remember. Arent they super cute!


Brielle as a mermaid fairy? We don't know where she came up with it either, but it really was just a mermaid costume with wings!


Benson the fireman who absolutely loved his helmet and would not take it off!
Parker dressed up as Benson's Fire dog dalmatian! Don't you just want to squeeze him?