Thursday, March 27, 2008

My Blogging Update

The house is quiet, I am enjoying the silence and the time to just browse through blogs.
I like reading random blogs, seeing that other people live the same sort of life as me.
No matter where they are, Utah, Texas, Georgia, New Jersey, etc... people are alot more alike than you might realize.
We all have our ups and downs, our struggles, but for the most part we are all living the same way. Making ends meet, or trying our best to, raising our kids and hoping to not totally loose our sanity in the process, spending time with friends and our special someone, and maybe finding a little time for ourselves too.
Blogging is the way people keep in touch now. It's how families send updates to those in another state or country. It's the way Grandma, who is not able to travel to visit the babies, can see how they are growing and learning new skills. It's our way of sharing those precious moments with one another. Ahhhhhhh........technology.
I enjoy sharing my life with others, rather it be friends, family or someone who just happens to find my dreary little blog.
Today I thought I'd share the latest pictures that my daughter has taken. Sometimes her creativity amazes me.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy.............




It's a good thing that we live out in the country where the traffic is light or this could be a difficult pose to achieve.

















Of course, having friends with you is always a plus.











I especially like this picture, the way she used the brick wall is really cute.





Riding in the car is even a photo opt.














I love when the kids are playing together, there is such love between them ..........

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Sweet Sixteen....Here We Come












HILLTOPPERS ARE IN THE SWEET 16!!!


YEA!!!!!!!!!!





Way To Go Toppers!!!!!


This is sure the top story around here.
All of Bowling Green is excited, my son included.
He is Ecstatic!!!

Saturday, March 22, 2008

GO HILLTOPPERS


Fans all across Bowling Green are celebrating victory!!!

Western's 101-99 overtime win over Drake has all of Bowling Green excited.

Ty Rogers says that he saw it coming.

Days before Rogers became a Hilltopper hero Friday with his game-winning, 25-foot 3-pointer, he said he told teammate Matt Maresca that WKU would beat the Bulldogs with a buzzer-beating shot.

“That’s true,” Maresca said. “For some reason he had it in his head that we were going to win the game on a buzzer-beater shot.”

After hitting the shot, Rogers pounded his chest, yelling, “I told you!”“I just thought it might happen, let’s put it that way,” Rogers said, smiling.

“This is going to be one of those plays you’ll see on commercials and the NCAA Tournament for years to come,” Maresca said. “It’s one of those things you see on TV and you never think you’ll be a part of. It’s awesome to be actually part of it, to say one day you were part of that team and part of that game.”No matter what happens in Sunday’s game against San Diego or the rest of the tournament, the Hilltoppers know they added a dramatic chapter to this year’s tournament and WKU’s history.
I know my son sure is happy................

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Just Saying Hey

Not alot going on here. I have had to work this weekend and I am ready for a day off.
Still have to work one more day before I get it though. Hurry up Tues............

Lindsey's Spring Break starts this week. Actually they have Professional Development Days on Thursday and Friday and then Spring Break begins. Anyway she will be out of school for 11 days. I plan on taking a few days off too. Probably do a little shopping and maybe some Wedding Tasks also. Still soooooooo much to do, but it is coming together.

I'll try to post about that soon.


Have a GREAT Sunday............

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Another Dr. More Test.....

How many Dr's does it take to find out what's causing pain?


1) My Family Dr.

2) Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist

3) Rheumatoidologist

Hopefully, the third time IS the charm.

I saw the Rheumatoidologist yesterday.
He did a full examination and MORE blood test. This time they are checking my muscle enzymes. It seems that when you have muscle damage, the enzyme levels are elevated.


So, the only way to find out is to take my blood.

At least I'm getting better at having this done. I used to pass out frequently when they took my blood. I haven't done that, yet!
The Dr. checked my bones, my reflexes, my muscle strength, my breathing, etc, etc, etc....

He says that I have Osteoarthritis and Fibromyalgia. Both can cause wide spread muscle and joint pain, which I have. One of the main symptoms of Fibromyalgia is fatigue. It affects your non-rem sleep, or your deep level sleep, the restful rejuvenating sleep.
He suggested that I work on my sleep patterns by:


Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day
Avoid caffeine, sugar and alcohol before bed
Avoid eating immediately before bed
Practice relaxation
exercises while falling to sleep
Avoid exercising within three hours of bedtime
Maintain a sleep environment that has a comfortable temperature and is quiet,
free from distractions such as television
Limit daytime napping.


The hardest one for me will be the limiting of caffeine. Since Dr. Pepper is about all I ever drink.
However, if it will help me sleep and feel better, I'll learn to drink water.

The Dr. also talked to me about a clinical study that they are participating in. It is a "Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Safety and Efficacy Study of XYREM in Subjects with Fibromyalgia." A 27 week study.
Jazz Pharmaceutical Researchers want to find out if the drug Xyrem can help people with Fibromyalgia.

This drug is in the family of the date rape drug, a known drug of abuse. (Fun stuff....Huh....)It can be addictive. When you take it you are to be in bed and ready for sleep, not responsible for any child or elderly person and can not drive or do anything that requires mental alertness for 6 to 8 hours after taking the solution.

Not really sure that I want to participate in that study.

Anyway, I am supposed to cut WAY down on the caffeine and try to get restful sleep. Continue taking Advil or Tylenol for the pain. The Dr. will call when the blood test results are back and I am to see him on April 9th for a follow up and to decide what we will do next.

One good thing the Dr. mentioned, is that massage therapy is very useful in helping with the pain.
A VERY good reason to visit the spa. I know I sure enjoy a good massage....





I'll keep you posted.............


Friday, March 07, 2008

The Results Are In


I finally got the results of my blood test back from my Dr.

Lupus.....Negative
Arthritis....Negative
Glucose....Good
Calcium...Good
Liver Function....Good
Potassium...Good
Etc...Etc...Etc....

The only thing that was not within the appropriate range, was my hormone level.
It was on the borderline of being too low, but since I am taking a relatively high dose anyway, my Dr. doesn't want to change my dosage.

He wants me to complete the coarse of antibiotics that I am currently taking and if, after doing so, I am still experiencing the muscle aches and fatigue he will refer me to a Rheumatoidologist.

I am almost halfway into the coarse of antibiotics with little relief from the muscle aches or fatigue. The headaches have gotten ALOT better....Thank Goodness. The sinus infection seems to be better, not completely gone, but better.

So I am trying to cope as best I can. Being on my feet for 8 hours at work has become a challenge. By the end of the day I am exhausted. I come home and collapse. So much so that on Thursday I called the Rheumatoidologist office, thinking that it would take some time to get an appointment, and wanting to get in soon or near the time I finish the antibiotic. I see him this coming Wednesday.
I'll keep you posted..........

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Drs. And Tests




I have yet to hear from my Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist.



When my cat scan was scheduled, I was told that it would take at least 48 hours from the time that the Dr. receives the results for him to contact me. I had it done on Sat. the 23rd. By Wed. I called the Dr's office to see why I had not heard anything, only to find that the office was closed for training Monday through Wednesday, the Dr. would be out of town until Thursday afternoon and would be in surgery most of the morning on Friday. Therefore, he would not have an opportunity to view the test results until next week.



Meanwhile.......I'm miserable.

I asked that a copy of the cat scan be forwarded to my General Practitioner. So, I gave him a call and made an appointment.
Thursday I go in, but have my results been sent to my Dr? NO!!
The nurse called the records department, to make sure, no test results. She calls the ENT's office and asked that they fax the results over. She continues taking my vitals.

Blood pressur was 150/100........and that's with taking my meds.
After a few minutes the Dr. comes in, looks over the chart and then goes to check the fax machine. Nothing.
By this time he is getting impatient, so HE calls the ENT's office and gets the results over the phone.
He is successful. Seems that I have a crooked septum, from some sort of trama to my nose at some time. This is possibly part of my problem, not letting my sinuses drain properly.

Also I have a chronic infection of my Ethmoid Sinus.

This is why I have had the headaches and the pain behind my eyes.

The Dr. prescribed an antibiotic that I will have to take for 20 days and a nasal spray that I am to use everyday.


Hopefully this will get rid of the infection.
He put me off from work until Monday and told me to rest.
I have no problem following those orders, since all I want to do is sleep.
Because I have had no energy, alot of muscle aches and soreness for going on a month now, the Dr. decided that I needed some blood work done also.



It has been some time since I have had any blood work done, so he is checking everything. They took six tubes of blood from me.........

He thought those results would be back by today, but they are not. Guess they had too much blood to check.....LOL

I'll update when I know something.
Until then I will be taking a loooooong hot bath, watching t.v. or sleeping.