Mi Familia!

First off, I know it's been like forever since I've posted (like 3 months), but things have been kinda crazy and well...just read on and you'll figure why.
So the beginning of April I started not feeling too well--just feeling sick and having a horrible headache going down my spine (I've had that before), so I just rested lots. As the month went on the headache would not go away and school was getting harder to make it to. By the end of April, the week of finals, I ended up in the ER and they did a spinal tap (I'd had that headache going down my spine for 3 weeks at the time)...well, the opening spinal pressure was slightly elevated so they drained some, gave me some medicine for that night, and had us call my neurologist.
I was supposed to have my psychology final the next morning at 7am, and I had no clue how that was going to work out with having just had a spinal tap the evening before. My mom called the psych department while I was in the ER to see if I could take it later or something, and she left a message for my professor. My psych professor called us back the next morning while we were on our way down to the neurologist and told us that he would just give me the grade that I had going into the final (an 'A') and that he hoped I'd feel better. Oh my heck, can I say "THANK YOU DR. GROW!!!" and "THANK YOU TO MY MOM for taking me to the ER, down to the neurologist the next day, and for always being there for me!!!"
Anyways...The neurologist put me on some medicine to help decrease the spinal pressure, she had home care come and do an IV overnight of some other medicine, started me on the IV meds orally to help stabilize thing, and wanted me to see a specialist neurologist at the University of Utah that deals with spinal pressure problems. After another month (all of May) of being down in bed, not being able to drive, starting to at least get the headaches under control while waiting for my appt at the U, and a few scary moments...one of my medications caused me to become very confused so when I'd take my dose during the day I'd forget what was going on and things (it was so frustrating and it was hard on me and my family...they said it was hard to see), but we finally got things fixed to where now I take that medicine at night and it wears off the confusion while I'm asleep! So with my meds finally under control, headaches somewhat in control, and things, May finished out okay--I was just resting each day.
so in the beginning of June I had my follow-up with the cardiologist that I see (for my low blood pressure due to my Ehlers Danlos), and I told him that I'd been very lightheaded and things and he said that the medicine I was on to decrease my spinal pressure could cause my blood pressure to drop lower...since it was a diuretic. We talked to my neurologist and long story short, I went off the medicine but it had already dehydrated me too much and a week later (the middle of June) I had to stay overnight in the hospital to get IV fluids and medicine. My cardiologist was so sweet...I had called his office because I was still not feeling well and he called me back personally, told me to come up to his office to see him, and then he admitted me overnight and came to check on me in the morning...amazing doctor! Love him! The fluids helped great and I was feeling much better! My mom, Taylor (my little brother), two oldest sisters (Janeice and Jodi), and their families all went on vacation up to the Redwoods and along the Oregon Coast the next day.
I'm doing well...getting better each day and just keep taking it a day at a time!
So now you know why I haven't updated for awhile, but you're probably wondering how all of that ties in to my title of this: "Mi Familia," well here you go....
My family is the greatest!!! They have helped me and been there for me through EVERYTHING!!! Through all of this the last three months, my mom has been by my side, there to help me, called me everyday they were on vacation, helped me in figuring things out for school, she'd sit and play Yahtzee with me every night (even though when I was on the one medication during the day I couldn't remember when my turn and things were part of the time), and she was always there to talk to. We were sitting talking the other night (I was having a hard day about some changes going on with some people in my life and she was telling me how many people are only in our lives for so long) and I told her how the Lord is our one support who is always there whenever we need Him and that He had sent her to me, because He knew I needed someone tangible to help me through things too. I love my mom!
My sisters...oh where to begin...they would call everyday almost and talk to either my mom or I to see how I was feeling, if I needed anything, and some days they'd come over just to give me company! While my two oldest sisters were gone with my mom, and brother on their trip, two of my other older sisters would come over and spend the day with me, let me go hang out at their house, fix me dinner, I slept over one night, call and check on me everyday to make sure I was okay, and take me to doctor's appts. I seriously couldn't ask for better sisters--you are all the best!!!
My little brother...He's so awesome--especially for being a teenager! He'd get home from school, let the dogs out for me, check and see if he could do anything for me, and then he'd just hang out with me (which was great especially from being home all day alone)--talking, laughing, or watching TV (NCIS or Law Order)!
My extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins)...These guys are awesome too! While my mom was gone they would call and check on me (I seriously wasn't going to get away with anything with so many people there for me...haha), bring me dinner, and invite me over to their houses for dinner or to hang out. I am so blessed to be so close with my extended family as well as my immediate family!
Last but not least my nieces and nephews...I saved them for the end for a reason...these 10 little monkeys (7 boys and 3 girls) are some of the most amazing and Christ-like individuals I know! I don't know how to even begin to express my love and appreciation for them! When all my family came over for Easter and I laid in the recliner, two of my nieces came and sat on the piano bench by me to talk, have me paint their toenails, and just be with me. When I slept at my sister's house while part of my family was gone on vacation, my nephew told me I could have his bed to sleep in and he'd sleep on the floor by me. When one of my sister's would come over to see me and I was down on the couch because it made me sick to get up, her kids pulled chairs into the living room, brought cards, and sat and played games with me so that I could stay laying down. One of my sisters picked me up from a doctor's appt, and we put the front seat back so I could recline, and my little nephew had his pillow and blanket in the back and asked if I'd like them. Another one of my nephews always will come in and find me to see me--whether I'm in bed, in the recliner, on the couch, or anything--he'll give me a hug and ask how I'm feeling. My little monkeys always come and give me hugs when they run into the house, give me hugs when they leave, they tell me they pray for me, sometimes I get super cute pictures that I've had hanging in my room and when I was in the hospital, they've been on those walls. I love these kiddos and I can't ever tell them that enough! My sister's have raised amazing kids!
I'm so grateful for such an amazing family!!! My family truly are some of my greatest friends I could ever ask for!