We're Back!

Mexico was a blast. I did end up getting sick, and of course it was the travel day that we were heading back so traveling back was complete and utter H*ll. But, I made it back and missed Nolan like crazy. I have never felt so lonely without him! It was the best reunion to see him again. I also ended up coming back with what I thought was sun poisoning, but I'm thinking it might be something else. The medications I'm on, I'm not suppose to be in the sun, however, how do you go to Mexico and not go in the sun?! Impossible. So I had a basically neck to toe rash that is so painful and itchy!!! I went to the doctor yesterday and they gave me some creme and it's not working. Oh well, it was worth every painful itch I have right now!

and we're off....

Not sure if many people are reading this anymore as I don't post much and don't have many updates on my health since I'm doing so good but I guess it's a good way for me to journal this journey.

Tomorrow we head to the cities, and then Friday at 6am we are on our way to Mexico!I didn't think this would ever come!

I did have a minor set back this week, which really caught me off guard. The last few weeks my left hand pinky has been getting a little swollen. Well this week, I decided I better go in when it swelled to the size of a small hotdog and was in extreme pain. I went in and I guess it's just part of the arthritic part of Lupus, but the doctor did think it was weird that it was in all three joints in my pinky. Usually, it's just one joint. Go figure:) She advised me to get back on steroids and do a "shock treatment" where you take a few high doses for a few days, low doses for a few days, then quit immediately. I told her I was not going down that path so she decided to inject my joints of cortizone and said she can't guarantee it would work. It hurt like crazy and had to wear a big splinter on it for 24 hours but I figured it was better than drugs. When I took the splinter off, only one joint was better and the rest were still puffy so I did start the shock treatment of steroids. It's already starting to feel better and almost down to it's normal size. Hopefully when I get off steroids again in a week or so, I can stay pain free for awhile!

Hope to come back in a week and update with many pics and awesome stories!

Until then...here are some updated pics of the little punker.

Easter egg dying..nice "Perkins" apron hu? It was from my old college days of waitressing!

Two weeks!

Our trip to Mexico is coming up in two weeks and I am finding myself getting a little anxiety over it. Don't get me wrong..I am SUPER excited. However, I know a lot of people that have gone down to Mexico this year and got sick and I'm so scared of that. I know to be careful and not drink the water, etc but I'm still really worried! So if you could say a little prayer for me to be safe and healthy while in Mexico that would be great! THANKS!

Kidney Update

Saw my Nephrologist today and everything is still looking great! My Kidney function has even gotten a little bit better from last time, and last time's look great so I was thrilled to hear that! I have to admit though...I do still get a bit nervous when I enter the doctors office, hoping and praying for good news but yet knowing there is still a possibility for something to go extremely wrong and my kidneys to be getting worse. There is always a pit in my stomach that sits there until the doctor pulls up my lab reports. Hopefully that anxiety will go away over time. Other than that..not much to report. Starting to really get excited for our trip in almost 3 weeks already!

Healed

I can now start to visibly see my body getting better. My nails are hard and long. My hair is thicker and shiny. My face is full of color. My joints, not painful. My energy, very high. My face swelling, gone. My body feels completely, absolutely, 100% healed. I feel like I've never been sick, never gone through chemo, never taken hundreds of pills. It's crazy how your body heals. How it gets over things like this and though I hope I am in remission forever, I am confident if it happens again, my body is strong enough to fight it off yet again.


Here are some updated pictures of my little bug.....
Not liking his new lifejacket......

Loving his new rocking chair. (This rocking chair was actually given to me by my Grandma and Grandpa Reed when I was born and now I am giving it to my son!) Nolan being his silly self at dinner....

My new housekeeper!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG:

I got this as a forward in my email the other day and thought this was a very important message to remember.....(#8 is important to me!)


1. Try everything twice. On one woman's tombstone she said she wanted this epitaph: Tried everything twice...loved it both times!

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. ( Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches)

3. Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle.' An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimers!

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER.

6. The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, and hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, or a trip to the next county or a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. I love you, my special friend.

11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second chance.

Nolan has something to tell you all....

Just in case you forgot:) Ha! I saw this shirt and had to get it!!!