A Day in My Life

Coming....

2012-01-22T22:46:00.002-07:00

Sorry, I know I said I was going to catch up on all my posting--thus my last post "so much to post, so little time"! Well, life happens, I did have my surgery and instead of being in the hospital for just a couple days and coming home, I ended up being in the hospital for 5 days, going to a rehab center for 5 1/2 weeks, and then coming home...yesterday--YEA!!! It feels so wonderful to be home and in my own bed and environment!!!
Anyways...I totally should've taken time while I was in the rehab center or something to post--I did have my laptop, but I just didn't do it. So, now that I'm home and getting better, I'll get better at posting too...So hopefully, if not tomorrow, then in the next day or two I'll get updating things!!! Thank you so much for your guys' love and support while I've been recovering--it means alot!!! :)

So Much to Post So Little Time...

2011-12-01T22:08:00.003-07:00

Hey everyone!!! Sorry it's been so long since I've posted--I decided it was pretty bad when I had to update from my halloween background to Christmas! Haha!
Anyways...I do have lots of fun pictures and stuff to post--Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc...But things have been pretty busy (and I'm slacking too, I'll admit it! :P)! However, the semester is coming to an end...this week is the last week of classes and next week is finals! YEA!!! Then, however, I'm having back surgery for a bilateral fracture in my low spine.
Before than I will catch back up with my blogging, and then I'll have time while I'm home resting to stay caught up with all the fun holiday adventures! :)
Hope you are all doing well and having a great holiday season!!! :)

Fall Semester, Colorado, and a Baby Shower...

2011-10-16T19:36:00.005-06:00

So, again, it's been awhile since my last post, and I know I always say things have been crazy, but I almost think that may be a bit of an understatment! Haha! But that's okay...having things stay crazy at least keeps me busy and on my toes! :)
First off fall semester is now in FULL swing!!! It's definitely keeping me super busy, but I'm loving it--I love school! I'm a nerd, I know--I'll admit it! I'm taking a pretty full load--11 credits (which is good for me) and that includes my wonderful research methods class (love the teacher--hate the class...this would be why I'm not going into doing research everyday--too complicated!)...I'll stick with my clinical psychology! Exciting news too, I'm on track right now to hopefully graduate with my bachelor's next fall (Dec. 2012), and I'll be putting in my applications for grad school next fall as well! Yea!!! I'm so excited!!!! This semester's been very busy between school and health stuff, but I've had amazing professors who've been so great to work with me, great doctors, my awesome family who's sticks by my side through everything (especially the last like 2 months that've been pretty crazy), and my Heavenly Father who truly blesses me through it all...I know that without Him, my family, and everything I wouldn't be where I am!
So the semester started the end of Aug. and the first weekend of September I had to go down to Colorado for a check-up with my hip surgeon. My mom always goes with me--it's usually a pretty quick trip when we're just going down for check-ups, but we thought since we were going the end of the week this time we'd stay a day or two longer and they had a fun farmer's market that we wanted to go to. Well, my sister Jodi was able to come with us too, so we made it a fun girl's weekend! We had to leave Wednesday, drove straight to Vail, CO (about a 7-8 hour drive), had a LONG day of appointments the next day, Thursday, (appointments started at 6:45am with an MRI, had physical therapy and strength tests, and ended at about 10:00pm when I saw the doctor...no joke when I said a LONG day!)!!! The appointment went great though and my hips are doing well...just have to continue working on keeping getting them stronger, being careful what I do, and not overdoing my range of motion! Friday we went shopping around town--they have lots of fun shops and the town is just cool to walk around, and then there was this lake by our hotel so we walked around it...very pretty and fun! Then Saturday morning it was off to the farmer's market and then our drive back home! Lots of fun!

The city where the farmer's market was....

Down one of the streets in one of the towns we shopped through...(I think this one is in Edwards)...

Views from off the deck at my doctor's office at the hospital...up along the mountains of Vail, CO...very pretty!!!

We also got to have a shower for my friend Sarah Wiser as well, this past month! She just had her little baby Zachary--he's so stinkin' cute!!! So the middle of Sept. we were able to all get together at my house to have a shower for her! It was so fun to just visit, see everyone, see all the cute, fun baby stuff, and eat lots of yummy food!!!!

Party favors...little diapers with tootise rolls in them....

DELICIOUS cupcakes that Kelsey brought--they were banana with chocolate frosting!!! (sorry the pic's sideways...my computer was being lame and wouldn't let me turn it)

Sarah opening up presents....she got lots of super cute stuff!

Annie cheating at the game where you guess what chocolate candybar is melted in the diaper--she decided to taste them!

Sarah Nielsen trying to figure out what candybar is melted in the diaper...

Taking a group pic of everyone at the shower--had to get a funny pic in! :)

And of course a cute pic of everyone there for the shower!!! :)

Bear Lake, New Camera, Girl's Night, Swimming, Institute Activity and Surgery

2011-08-12T14:41:00.018-06:00

So much has been going on since I last wrote (as you may very well be able to tell by the title), so lets start from the first of the title...(sorry this post is pretty long)
BEAR LAKE! In July I was able to go on a fun trip with my mom, my little brother Taylor, my four older sister's and their families (Janeice and Bryan and their kids, Jodi and Jack and their kids, Jessica and Jake and their kids, and Jill and Sheldon and their kids), my Aunt Eileen and her whole family (her, my Uncle Gordon, their kids and their families), and my Uncle Ralph and part of his family (him, my Aunt Julianne, Maryann and her family, and David...my Uncle Ralph's family just came up for the day to go to the beach)all up to Bear Lake! It was so fun! We stay at the KOA up in Garden City, go to the Lake one day, they have a pool at the KOA, I played with my nieces and nephews (at the playground and then at night they'd do a little tractor ride thing we'd take the kids down for), we took our electric scooters up to ride around and then one night we have a big "dessert bar" over by where my Aunt Eileen's campground is and everyone brings different treats and we all just visit and eat yummy treats! It was lots of fun!
My nieces and nephews playing at the park...

The boys (my brother, brother-in-laws, and a couple nephews) playing horse shoes...

Waiting for the "tractor-ride"...

Bear Lake was tons of fun, so as for the "new camera" part, I just got a new camera this summer and am absolutely loving it! My old camera was like sucking the life out of my batteries--yes, even the rechargable ones--and it was driving me crazy because it'd always be dead when I went to use it. So I found this great digital one at Shopko that came with a case, memory card, the computer stuff to load things on, and everything for like $70...yea!
The end of July a bunch of my friends and I went over to my my friend Chandra's for the ever popular "Girl's Night"! It was tons of fun and always much needed--taking a break from things, catching up, eating yummy food, and laughing tons!
Chandra's trampoline is right by her house, so Jill climbed up on the roof to jump off onto the trampoline. However once she climbed up, she was a bit hesitant of actually jumping off, so she sat up there for awhile while we were all down there yelling up to her (some of us yelling 'just climb down' and others 'you can do it, just jump')...Here's the pics of her just sitting there and then when she finally jumped...

Denise and Sarah Nielsen's flips...

Kelsey rubbing Sarah Wiser's cute prego belly (sorry not real clear pic) and Sarah posing for me with her cute belly...

All of us who were there...

My sister Jessica and I went swimming at North Shore with her cute kiddos, Kaleb and Sammy, one day during the summer--it was super fun! Her kids slept over the night before, I took them to Denny's for breakfast in the morning, and then Jessica came over and we went swimming!
Taking a break from swimming and eating our lunchables...

My friend Denise and I went to an Institute activity this summer that was out in Hooper--it was an 'Institute Rodeo'. It was lots of fun! My goal this year is to try and come out of my 'shell' a little bit--go to more activities, talk to more people, etc...
On our way there we got a little lost (not too far--just kinda drove past the area a little ways), we pulled over to call my brother for the exact address, and while we were pulled over, across the street, this goat was tied to the fence...I tried walking over to it to pet it and feed it (we wanted to take a picture with it), but it kept walking away; so we had to just settle for a picture of just the goat.

At the activity they had 'horse rides', so we went for a little ride around...it was so fun--I loved it!!!

Finally, about a week and a half before this fall semester started, I had surgery on my right thumb to fuse one of the joints and remove a cyst. The surgery went great and I now have the stitches out and am just in a cast for 4 weeks, so that the bones can grow together and heal.
A picture the doctor gave me right after surgery of the x-ray of my thumb following surgery...

Pictures right after my surgery of my splint I had on for a couple weeks...

A couple of my cute nieces and nephews came over to see me after my surgery--they brought cute little cards they'd made for me and sat and talked for a little bit...little kids are so stinkin' sweet! Here's some pics of my fun cards and two of my nieces and nephews (Jill's kids--Abbie and Nixxon)...

Finally, after about 2 weeks I was able to get the spint off, stitches taken out, and a cast put on...

Well, it's only the second week of the semester, but it seems to be in full swing, so I better get off here and working on homework! :)

Mi Familia!

2011-07-07T14:42:00.003-06:00

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!

A Trip to the Ogden Temple...

2011-04-07T19:42:00.007-06:00

Since the Ogden Temple is now closed for renovations, my mom, Taylor (my little brother), and I decided to go down right before it closed, so that we could walk around the grounds and take some pictures. It was so fun and so many mixed feelings...I'm super excited to see the temple when it's finished (I love the pictures of how it's going to look) but I'm sad to see this one be torn down at the same time!
I love the feeling of just being around the temple--it's so peaceful and the Spirit is so strong! I am so blessed to live where I do and have so many temples that are within so close of a distance!

I'm Still Here!

2011-02-19T21:43:00.002-07:00

So seeing how I've been like M.I.A for the last 6 weeks or so from blogging, from church for a few, and from school for about a week, I figured I'd let you all know I'm still alive! I'm here, just trying to get over having mono! Yea...NOT! Oh well, part of life, and I have been getting some much need sleep! Other than all of that excitement, here's a quick little glimpse of what's been going on this year (sorry no pics--I've been sick and the other's are on my mom's camera and I just figured while I was laying here I'd do a quick update, so no pics this time). Anyways, here it goes:
--Started back up at school at Weber State the beginning of January--majoring in psychology with a minor in health promotion. I love school and it definitely keeps me busy. I'm able to take one class on-campus, an institute class, and then two online classes this semester, so that's nice; and I'm glad that I'm able to be up on-campus for at least a little bit!
--I had my hearing a few weeks ago for my social security disability case (since I haven't been able to work due to my health circumstances...I'd honestly love to work and wish I couuld, but since I can't). I applied in April 2009, but didn't get approved and had to eventually go through to the court hearing. Well, I had my hearing the beginning of this month and I was approved! The judge told me at the hearing, so it was a great relief and such a help for myself and my family!
--For Valentine's I got to have a couple fun events...First, we had a little Valentine's party with all my family. My older sisters and their families came over and we had pizza, the kids played a couple games, then the kids all passed out valentine's to everyone, and we decorated heart sugar cookies. It was fun! I was thinking how the kids always have Valentine's for each other, but they don't always get to see each other to give it to them so I wanted to have a party and my mom was all for it--she got all the stuff and made everything (I felt bad I couldn't help but I stayed in bed up until everyone came...lame, I know). Second, our stake did this fun party for all the adults, the Saturday before Valentine's, so my mom and I went to that. It was dinner and this huge 60s show (singing and stuff from people in our stake impersonating the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Monkees, the Temptations, and so many more)! It was great!
So it's been a pretty busy, but a good year so far!

Christmas and Catching Up...

2011-01-09T15:21:00.007-07:00

So it's been a little while since I last posted--sorry--things have been a bit crazy and I've just slacked off on it, but I'm finally taking the time to upload some new photos and to sit down and actually write something.
First off, Christmas!!! Here's a few more pics of all the fun Christmas decorations...

Christmas was great...we had a family Christmas party out at my sister Jodi's house on Christmas Eve, and had a blast! The kids did the Nativity story (with puppets), we ate dinner, exchanged gifts (we draw family names), the kids did an ornament exchange (each of the kids make ornaments for one another and give them to each other), and we played games, talked, and laughed lots! Then, on Christmas everyone came over to our house and my nieces and nephews opened their presents from my mom, we ate yummy food, and just spent time together! I love Christmas time!

All my nieces and nephews...

Then I had to get some pictures of the "pairs" of nieces and nephews I have (my sisters tend to have their kids at the same time...it's kinda funny and fun!)
(Jodi's oldest boy Jeremy and Janeice's oldest boy Corey are just 4 months apart--April 2000 and Aug. 2000--but I didn't get a picture of them together.)
These three were all born within 9 months...kind of fun having three sisters pregnant at once(Kaleb--Jessica's little boy--was born in Nov.2003, Jace--Jodi's little boy--was born in April 2004, and Ashley--Janeice's little girl--in July 2004)

These two were born just 2 months a part (Jessica's little girl Sammy was born in June 2006 and Jodi's little boy Jon was born in Aug. 2006)...

So Christmas was very fun and full of family!
Since I posted, I've also been busy...graduating with my associate's the beginning of December, starting a new semester this past week, spending some time with friends, I was in the hospital for a few days (but am doing tons better--Priesthood blessings and prayer are amazing!), and just relaxing! I am so grateful for this wonderful time of year--to spend time with family, to celebrate the birth of our Savior, for the Gospel in my life, and for the joy and happiness surrounding us!
I hope you each had a great Christmas, that your new year is going wonderful, and that you're each doing well! :)

Let It Be Christmas...

2010-12-09T13:46:00.005-07:00

The semester is over, the Chirstmas tree, lights, and decorations are up, it is Christmas time!!! Yea! I love this time of year--family, friends, yummy treats, decorations, celebrating the birth of our Savior, and just a fun time!
The semester ended great--I pulled off a 4.0 so I was very happy--and I graduate tomorrow (Friday) with my associate's! So I'm excited! I sold my books back, got my books for next semester, and am ready for my classes--I think I'll relax and enjoy my 3 1/2 week break though first! I was super excited though, because I filled out the papers and did the 'lowest price guarantee' thing at the bookstore and saved like $70 on my books! Heck yeah...what a way to start off the Christmas season!
This last Monday I went with my mom, brother (Taylor), and Grandma Liptrot to see Scrooge: A Christmas Carol out at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse! It was way fun! We go every year, and it's just way cute and a fun time! We all went out to El Matador for dinner first, drove around to see some of the Christmas lights downtown, and then went to the play...a very fun night and a nice start to celebrating Christmas!
Next week (on the 17th) I'm going with my mom and Taylor (brother) to see Voice Male! I'm excited...we've gone to their Christmas shows before and they are way good and very funny! So it should be a fun time!
Last night we had achievement days (I'm with the 10 and 11 year old girls--it's so fun), and we did Christmas stuff...the girls made their own advent calanders--coloring a picture of the nativity scene and then taking Hershey's Kisses and making like a candy necklace (twisting them and tieing them with yarn and things in plastic wrap) and then they stapled the necklace to the picture...it turned out way cute! I took my camera and was going to take some pictures to post, but the batteries weren't working...lame! So you'll just have to picture it in your head!
I was home the other day and playing around with my camera taking pictures, so here's some...
I put Barkley sitting on our little reindeer by the tree and he totally sat there and posed for me!!!

I had to take a couple of myself by the tree too...(I'm a nerd, I know, but that's okay, it's fun!)

My other little dog--Pocco--wouldn't sit still to let me take a picture of him, so I may have to attempt that one again another time when someone else is home and can help me try to get him to hold still for a minute. I need to take some pictures of just the tree and the lights and stuff outside too...so pretty and fun! I'll have to post those later with more Christmas season news and updates!
Life is wonderful and I'm loving it!!! I hope you are all enjoying this Christmas season!!!

Grateful...

2010-11-13T12:37:00.002-07:00

With it being Thanksgiving this month I wanted to take time to do a post on gratitude. So, here's a list of things I am grateful for (in no particular order):

1. The Gospel (having the Gospel in my life, a testimony, the gift of the Holy Ghost, being sealed to my family,the Atonement, the Book of Mormon, prayer, everything!!!)
2. My Family
3. Great Friends
4. My Health
5. The opportunity I have to further my education
6. A nice home
7. A car to drive
8. Living in a free country
9. Having so many temples so close
10. The advanced technology we have (through medicine and through technology to communicate with people)
11. Music
12. Writing
13. Books
14. Creativity (being able to have fun making different things and baking and things)
15. Having such a perfect mixture of seasons where I live (summer, spring, fall, and winter)
16. The mountains (outdoors)
17. Movies
18. Love, peace, comfort, support, strength (so many great feelings)
19. Insitute
20. Sleep
21. Pictures (captivating memories)
22. So many countless blessings
23. Clothes, shoes (sometimes it's fun just dressing up)
24. Food
25. And so many more things, the list could just go on and on....

I am so grateful for all I've been blessed with in my life and for all that I have!

Surgery, Birthday, School, Fructose...Busy stuff!!!

2010-09-29T17:34:00.004-06:00

Kind of a weird title to the post, I know! But I figured it's totally beyond time for me to update this, so I figure'd I use words of things that have been going on for my title--very creative, huh?! ;)
So first off...on August 23rd, it was a crazy day--fall semester started and I was having surgery that morning (so I went to one class and then headed over to the surgical center to have my thumb fused). The surgery went really well--I'm in a pink cast right now! They took a little bone graft from my wrist and put it in one of my thumb joints (the mp joint), put pins through so that the bone could grow together, and it'd be fused! I ended up having an allergic reaction after the surgery so I had to go on some steroids to get it cleared up, but it got cleared, they got the stitches out, and the cast is on so that it can heal completely!
Here's some pics:

I also turned 23 a couple weeks ago, and was able to do some fun stuff with my family! On my birthday I went with my mom, grandma, and little brother down to Trolley Square in Salt Lake to the Spaghetti Factory and then we walked around and shopped after...it was tons of fun!!! Then, the next day, my siblings, their families (my brother-in-laws, nieces, and nephews) came over and we had scones for dinner, ate outside, the kids played games, and we just visited and had lots of fun! I love my family!!!
Now onto school!!! I know this might so weird, but I LOVE school! I was like counting down for the semester to start! I have one on-campus class this semester (public speaking...yikes!) and two online classes (stress management--awesome class--and microbiology). They've been great and I was totally excited because I actually finished my microbiology class today!!! I decided I just wanted to hurry and get it done, so I did the entire semester's work in the first 5 1/2 weeks of school! haha...I know, total nerd, but hey, it's done now! But this semester's going great, and I love it!
And finally...fructose! I know you're all probably thinking, what in the heck?! Well, I went and had this test done the other day and I went to the doctor yesterday for my results and to follow-up with everything, and it turns out that I have a very high fructose intolerance! Yuck! It's good cause I finally know what's going on, but it's a little tricky trying to stay away from fructose, high fructose corn-syrup, sorbitol, sucrose, and stuff when it's in like everything! So, if any of you know of anything without these in them that's good, I would love to have any input! haha!
Well, I'm finally caught up now in posting...yea!!! I totally need to do better on this! But I hope everyone's great--I love reading your blogs and hearing what's going on with everyone!

Getting Ready and Getting Things Done...

2010-08-14T21:57:00.002-06:00

I have totally been so bad at keeping this blog up to date!
I've gone on a couple fun trips since I last posted. We went up to Lava Hot Springs for a weekend, and then the next weekend we went to Bear Lake with my family, my aunts, uncles, and cousins--it was a blast!
Today has been a busy day, but very fun and productive!!! We went to Walmart and my wonderful mother bought me a new cabinet/stand for my room to give me some more room to put things in and on, some of those plastic drawers, and then I went home and went through tons of stuff! My drawers have turned out WONDERFUL--I put all my ribbon, buttons, fabric, scrapbook stuff and craft things in them! Talk about organizing and looking so much better!!! The cabinet still needs to be put together, but once that's done, I can finish all my organizing! I'm loving it!
Throughout these last few days, I've been working on bows for my nieces for school (to match their new school clothes), working on the organizing and cleaning stuff, and getting all my school stuff ready and together (the wonderful going to buy all my school books--the books actually aren't that bad, I love them...just not the amount you have to pay for them).
And the final thing and probably one of the biggest going on is...I'm having surgery on Monday the 23rd! The end of July I went into see the hand specialist, because my left thumb has been subluxing and is very unstable (due to my ehlers danlos). Well, the doctor injected the joint with cortisone injection and wanted me to follow up in a couple weeks to see how it was. (He told me the shot should help with the pain, but it won't fix/help the instability.) I went back for my follow-up this past week and I told him that the shot helped take away the pain for about a week, but then it started coming back and is just gradually getting worse. So, the decision...fusing my left thumb at the mp joint (the joint just below the knuckle)!!! I'm kinda nervous, but the doctor is an amazing doctor, I'm ready for my thumb to get better, and I know that things will go well! The doctor said what they'll do, is take a small bone graft from another place (probably my forearm), cut out the cartilage and part of the bone in that thumb joint, put the bone graft between the bones, and then place pins and wire in--to hold it in place! So we'll see how everything goes--I'm sure great though!
I'll try and post again before the surgery (so within the next week), but I don't know how long until I'll be able to post again after--I'll try my best to, it just depends how I'm feeling--but I'll check on here for any comments, I'll be checking my email, and I'll have my phone with me if anyone wants or needs to get ahold of me!
I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the last part of your summer!!! :)

Decision Made...

2010-07-25T22:05:00.003-06:00

I've decided that I'm going to sell bows. Well, just kinda make them and sell them as people would like--letting them choose the style, color, size, etc... So, if any of you are interested or know anyone who might be, let me know and I'd love to make some! They'll start out about $2-$3 just depending on the size, how many layers, etc...and then just vary from there (just depending on those factors so that I can get the supplies I'd need). There are lots of different fun colors, sizes, and things to do...they have an alligator clip on the back with a non-slip grip, so it's great for all hair lengths and great to slide on a headband even since it won't slide!
Anyways...here's some new one's I just made (for my niece's birthday--these are all doubles, so she can wear them single or two...in pigtails or something):

I need a favor...

2010-07-04T10:37:00.002-06:00

Okay everyone...So I'm sure many of you are on facebook and/or at least know many people on it, so here's my favor:
Chase Community Giving is giving money to top charities voted for by us--the higher on the leaderboard, the more money they could possibly get. There's a charity that is very near and close to my heart, it's the "EDS Today" charity! It's been slipping in ranks, and we truly need it to get back up. The money's going to go towards research for a cure for this disease--it could change not only my life but many others! PLEASE, PLEASE, take just a few minutes and go on facebook, go to the Chase Community Giving page, click "like", then go to the "Search and Vote" for charities, type in "EDS Today" and click "Vote"!!! Please, just take a few minutes, if you could, to do this; and then, if you could and would be willing to, let all your friends and family know to do this--either by facebook, talking to them, or on your blog (because I know many of us read blogs before facebook). Thank you so much, and I could never thank you enough for taking the time to vote!
If you have any questions about this, how to do it, or anything, please feel free to ask me! Thanks and please vote!!! :)

Bows, Bows, Bows

2010-07-02T17:25:00.002-06:00

I've loved making bows for my nieces and friends--it's so fun! So, I got to thinking...Since I can' work right now and am home, maybe I'd make some bows to sell--to help with some money. They'd start out at $2 and then vary depending on the size, how many layers, how many, etc...(to help with the price of the ribbon)and you can pick the colors and stuff you'd like. Would anybody be interested or do you know anyone who may be if I decide to do this?
Here's some new one's I've done:

Patriotic for July

Some for pigtails

A single one

Light to Dark...

2010-06-28T10:29:00.008-06:00

I'm sure most of you will totally know what I mean when I say I was having one of those times when I just wanted a change with my hair...different color, style, or just something! I mean, as a girl, that just happens...we like a change and many times that change can come with our hair! So, I decided to go for it and I dyed it! Granted, I'd dyed my hair before--putting highlights in it and just more of subtle changes...nothing to drastic. Well, not this time! I went from light to dark--and when I say dark, I mean DARK! It was totally different at first, but I'm liking it! Here's some pics...

My hair color before:

My hair after:

My Crafty Side....

2010-06-17T15:15:00.005-06:00

So I never thought I was quite crafty, but I kept seeing so many cute things other people made and I came across so many cute blogs with fun crafts on them that I decided I wanted to try my hand at making some new things. So, here's what I've come up with so far:

My shelf I painted and decorated with my willow tree figurines and hats...

Some fun circles I painted and decorated to hang in my room...

And a bunch of hair bows I've been making for my nieces...

That's it for right now, but I'm looking at and trying to come up with a bunch of other fun stuff! I love summer and just being able to relax, have fun, and do fun things! :)

Writing...

2010-06-06T19:56:00.002-06:00

So I sat here, wanting to update/write on my blog, but thinking what exactly to write about...nothing new or exciting has really been going on--just the usual hanging out with family and friends, reading, doing school stuff, etc...But then I got to thinking that today's Sunday, the Sabbath Day, and so I wanted to put something down that went along with that. For those of you who may not know, I love to write--especially when it's things that we all can relate to in some way or another. I have this book just full of things I write, and so as I was writing in it today and looking through past things, I found one that I wanted to write on here and share with all of you. I really liked (well, I'd hope I liked it since I wrote it...haha), but that has to do with our Savior, the Gospel, and everything--it just fit perfect for today. I hope you guys like it--I think it can fit into each of our lives in some way. So here it is (sorry if it's kinda a long post):

"The Canvas"

That first breath that we inhale is the opening to our blank canvas.
Each a pure, clean slate awaiting the Master's hand--to place each stroke in its necessary setting;
As we gaze upon each of these strokes that have been shaped, shifted, and formed to fit that which our life has created.
Questions fill my mind: "What are these detailed lines forming?" "What is this creation that our Master seems to see so clearly and yet it has a sense of haze over my eyes?"
As I'm forced to face life's challenges, it seems that the strokes become more plentiful.
It's during my hardest times in life that the Master's hand is so quick at work.
I can't figure out what it is that He's creating, but I hear Him say: "Trust me my child, I am with thee."
As I near the end of my mortal existence, I pray and ask God one more time...
"God, why have I gone through all these trials, why has it seemed that when times were hardest your hands were fast at work, and God, what have you created from all of this?"
A still small voice is than heard: "Oh my child, when you first let out a cry into this world, a blank canvas appeared.It was your canvas and nobody else's.Each canvas is different--but my hand is still a part of each one."
"At those times when you thought you'd messed up, I was here to clear your canvas off and give you another try."
"And during those times when you cried late into the night longing for peace and tranquility, all of these beautiful lines, shapes, and figures were created from those tears."
"Now my child, take a step back and look at your canvas now."
I stepped back, and with wide eyes, I realized that all of those frustrations, the sorrow, happincess, and pleading for help and forgivness, had created my Celestial Eternity."

Pictures...

2010-06-03T17:28:00.010-06:00

So a couple posts ago I had said how I had just redone my room and how I painted my shelf and everything and that I'd post pics...Well, here they are!

My shelf I painted...

My quote on the wall above my vanity--I love it...

My wall with polka dots and frame full of pictures with friends...

My cute new bedspread (quilt) that my aunt made me...

I'm loving it, and just thought it was fun! I also came across some way cute blogs of fun crafts and things to do...
sewdangcute.blogspot.com
sweetcharli.blogspot.com
atsecondstreet.blogspot.com

They had some cute stuff if you want to check them out!
Hope everyone's doing well! :)

Cute Nieces and Studly Nephews....

2010-05-25T21:42:00.012-06:00

So I wanted to do this post on my cute nieces and nephews because I just love and adore them all!!! These guys can all just make my day and are so cute and fun to be around and I'm just so proud of all of them! So we'll kind of go by families...
My oldest sister Janeice has two kids--Corey's 9 (he'll be 10 this summer) and Ashley's 5 (she'll be 6 this summer). They are such sweet and fun kids! Corey is such a smart kid, going into fifth grade (I can't believe how big he's getting) and he's just hilarious! He's the kind of guy you can always count on to make you laugh and have fun...I love him--he's definitely a stud!!! Ashley's such a sweetheart! She's getting so big too and graduating from kindergarten this year--I'm so proud of her!!! She is so fun to be around, and totally girly--it's great! She's just the sweetest little girl--she was over the other week and sat in my room and colored while I got ready and then we sat and painted her nails and just talked and had fun...she's such a cutie and I love her!
Ashley and Corey

My next oldest sister Jodi has four boys--Jeremy's 10, Justin's 7 (he'll be 8 this summer), Jace's 6, and Jon's 3 (he'll be 4 this summer)! Oh my goodness, talk about having some studly little boys! I love these guys they are so much fun!!! Jeremy is the oldest out of all my nieces and nephews and I can't believe how big he's getting! He'll be in the fifth next year and I swear he's going to pass me in height in like a year! This kid is so fun and has such sweet heart! He's great in sports and just a great kid--total stud! Justin is hilarious! I just love watching him because you can always just see these looks he'll get on his face--either of mischevious (wondering what is he up to), just total helper and sweetheart, and/or just laughing having fun! He's getting ready to get baptized this summer and I am so proud of him! He's a great kid and definitely studly! Jace!!! Oh I love this boy! He's graduating from kindergarten this year and I'm proud of him! This kid is great at sports, such a sweetheart, and just gives the best big like bear hugs! He's so fun to be around, I love him to pieces, and total stud! And, Jon...he's a ham! Definitely loves his mom and he's just so funny and such a character sometimes! He loves to make you smile and laugh and is getting so big and he's so fun! I love him and he's a little stud!
Jodi with Jeremy, Justin, Jace, and Jon

Jessica is next and she has two kids--Kaleb is 6 and Sammy is 3 (she'll be four next month)! Oh goodness, what do I say about these two?! Kaleb is a brain! He just had his kindergarten graduation and I am so proud of him! He got accepted into an advanced learning school for next year that he tested for and he's so excited--I'm proud of him! He loves to draw, read, and make things and he's just so fun to watch play pretend and give you hugs and talk to! He's a sweetie and a little stud! Sammy is such a cutie! She's a little girly girl and it's just a blast! When she comes over she'll always ask me to paint her finger and toenails, she wants to put on lipgloss, lotion, and she'll tell me 'oh I like your flower (in my hair) Jackie or oh I like this'...such a sweetie! And she loves to help out with cleaning, laundry, dishes, cooking, anything--it's great and so fun! She's graduating from pre-school tomorrow and I'm proud of her, love her, and she's just cute!
Kaleb and Sammy

Jill's my sister just older than me (the last of my siblings with kids--Taylor and Kara both have awhile). Jill has two kids--Abbie's 2 and Nixxon's 9 months (he'll be 1 in August). Abbie's so cute...little girly girl with blonde curly hair, big eyes, and just melts your heart! She loves to help with her brother, she let me sit and paint her nails the other day, she loves to laugh, and likes to play with her dolls and to just laugh and be around everyone! She's such a sweetheart and is learning so much--she called me and counted to ten all by herself the other day...I'm so proud of her and I love her--she's such a cutie! Nixxon, oh my goodness! He's such a cute little guy! He is probably one of the happiest babies I've ever seen and he's just so much fun to hold and be with! He loves to just sit and smile, laugh, look at you and at everything around him, and to jump! He's just so sweet and melts your heart to hold him! He's definitely a little stud!
Nixxon and Abbie

So those are all my little nieces and nephews! They are all so different from one another, have their own personalities, and are each just so much fun to be around and they just make my day and I'm so grateful to have them in my life! I love them to pieces and they're just so cute and studly!!!

May=Ehlers Danlos Awareness Month

2010-05-22T21:41:00.003-06:00

Okay, so it has been a super long time since I posted--I really need to get better at this, and I promise I will try. But, here's an update on what's been going on since my last post....
As far as medically, the doctors decided they didn't want to do surgery on my knee so I've just been trying to be careful, do some strengthening, and we've been taping and bracing it. I went back for a check up in Colorado on my hip and they said that it is looking really good, I finally got my brace off (only had to have it on for about 4 1/2 months), I get to start some additional strengthening stuff on it. and I'm just supposed to take it slow and be very, very careful!!! Alot of my other joints--my wrists, fingers, shoulder, knee, and stuff have been getting worse and having lots of problems, but the doctors have said that as of right now there's nothing really we can do for them besides bracing them (I have braces for both thumbs, one wrist, about 5 fingers, and my knee), taking it easy, and doing what little easy things I can to strengthen them. But, things are going pretty good. I've been sick the last couple weeks with abdominal pains, headaches, sinus, and then a virus, but I went to the doctor today and got some medicine, so hopefully it should start going away in a couple days. I gave it to my mom though--I feel bad...sorry mom!!!
On other notes...Spring semester ended and I was able to finish with a 4.0! Yea!!! I'm taking summer semester off, but am studying some different stuff on my own to try and be ready for fall semester. I finally finished painting my shelf and a couple other things and hanging it up in my room that I redid, did some cleaning and organizing, so it's finally almost finished! I'll have to take some pics and show ya when it's all done...I like it!
And finally, to end this post, I'll get to the title of my entry..."May=Ehlers Danlos Awareness Month"! So, as most of you probably know, I have a rare collagen disease called Ehlers Danlos that I was diagnosed with about a year and a half ago. Anyways, May is Ehlers Danlos Awaress Month and we're (the ehlers danlos national foundation and the eds--ehlers danlos syndrome--community) trying to get it recognized in each state and raise awareness about it because it is so unheard of. So I thought that I would post about it on my blog to let you all know that it is Ehlers Danlos Awareness month and I'd really appreciate the support from all of you on this subject that is very important to me! If you have any questions about it or would like to know more information on it, you can always ask me--please feel free to--or you can visit the national foundation website at: www.ednf.org There's actually a big learning conference this summer in July (for the annual learning convention and celebrating 25 years of the foundation)back in Baltimore that I want to try and go to.
Well, I hope that each of you are doing wonderful! I will try to post again very soon!

MRIs and Spinal Taps

2010-03-23T12:45:00.002-06:00

The last week has been pretty busy. Last Thursday I went in to have an MRI on my brain--to check and see if my spinal pressure was low (because I have had a constant headache for the last 6 weeks or so). When I got there I needed to also schedule an MRI on my knee (due to some pain and instability from my ehlers danlos), and luckily and so nice as they were, they just did both MRIs at the same time.
I got a phone call that night from my neurologist, and the good news was that my spinal pressure was not low, the bad news, we still didn't know for sure what was going on with these headaches. So, yesterday I went back into the doctor's office and they had to do a spinal tap to check and see if the spinal pressure was too high. Good news again, my spinal pressure was normal! Yea! The neurologist said that it sounds like since my spinal pressure is normal, which is good, that I have chronic migraines and that due to some of the pain medicine doctor's have given me for my joints and my kidney stones, it has caused them to get worse.
As far as the MRI on my knee, it did show a tear in my meniscus (the cartilage in my knee), and I go to the doctor today to find out what is going on for sure with that.
Other than those things, nothing too much new or exciting is going on. This semester of school gets done in like 4 weeks so I am super excited about that! Yea!!! And, I was able to have a wonderful, fun, well-needed movie night with Jenna the other night...thank you SO much Jenna for always being there for me--I love ya to death girly and I honestly don't know what I'd do without you!
I am continually blessed with an amazing family and great friends who I love so much and am so grateful for, and also a loving Savior and Father in Heaven who continually watch over me!

I'm Really Bad at Posting...

2010-03-09T10:56:00.003-07:00

So I know that I said in my last post that I was going to try this year to keep my blog regularly updated, but, as you can tell, this obviously hasn't happened. haha! And I know that today's post won't be too long, but I figured I'd give everyone a quick update as to what's been going on (and kind of as to why I haven't posted in so long).
Well, we will just say that this last month or so has been quite busy and full of surprises, to say the least. I have been sick for about the last month and we have been in and out of doctor's offices and the ER probably more times than I could count. I've had kidney stones in my kidneys for about the last 6 years, but they've just kind of stayed there (not really passed--only a couple times--and stayed pretty small). Just recently, however, they started passing and growing. I was in the ER one day passing one on my right side and then two days later I was passing one on my left side. About a week later I began just not feeling well and it got worse each day. We were, again, in and out of the doctor's and ER, and I ended up finding out that I had a horrible UTI, an impacted colon, my kidney stones were growing, and all of this had also kicked my migraines on (so I've had a constant headache for the last 3 weeks).
Anyways...Long story short, we got my colon and UTI under control, and I ended up going in this last Friday for surgery on my right kidney (to do lithotripsy and break the stones up). The surgeon said we could only do one kidney at a time, so we did the right one now, and when that one is all healed and under control we will do the left one. He told my mom that I two (of the three large stones they broke up)of the stones were 7mm each and the third stone was almost 1cm!!!
So, I've been home resting and trying to take it easy, heal, and recover from all of this. Sorry again I haven't posted in so long, but I will try my to be more diligent! :) I better get going and rest some more, but there's just a quick little update. I hope that all of you are doing well!

It's Been Awhile...

2010-01-14T20:10:00.004-07:00

First off I apologize for never updating afer the surgery--I let everyone know what's going on, update right before I go in for surgery, and than BAM...I stop!!! But, this year, one of my goal's is going to be to try and keep this thing actually updated!!! But, since there's been SO much that has gone on since I last wrote, I will write some today and then update on other things tomorrow and so forth. So, here we go....
First, lets start with the surgery! The surgery went well!!! My wonderful surgeon, Dr. Philippon, said that the bones and things from the previous surgery was healing great, but he could definitely tell why I was hurting so bad...There was a BIG hole in my hip capsule!!! So, he took a section of my IT Band out and reconstructed a new hip capsule!
However, because this is me everything can't go quite as smoothly as just that! :P So, after the surgery, instead of just having to stay over in the hospital that night (because it was late when we got out of surgery) and getting out in the morning, I had to end up staying for about 3 days! They had an epidural in my spine to help with the pain and when that came out we found an allergic reaction (from the medicine) spreading horribly all over my back, my heart rate went up high, and my blood pressure dropped clear low again (like it did when I was in the hospital in the fall...at about 70/40). I was finally able to be released from the hospital the day before I was scheduled to head back home to Utah!
However, our crazy adventure in Colorado can't end there!!! The day after being released from the hospital--our day to return home....Things changed from flying home to driving home!
See, we were all set to fly home, but after this surgery...now being in my hip brace again and with a big restriction on my range of motion, we were wondering how flying home was going to work. (Because the planes we'd have to fly home on are those small, 36-passenger planes). Two of my wonderful sisters, Janeice and Jodi, left Utah late Saturday night (the day I got out of the hospital) and actually drove all night and got to our hotel at like 5am Sunday morning, picked my mom and I up, and drove us home--instead of trying to have us fly! It worked out so much better, and I am so grateful to them! I have such a wonderful family who is always there for me and looks out for me and I am so grateful to them for that!!!
So, as of right now....My hip is doing okay! I am able to walk without crutches (I only had to be on them for about a week since the bones were doing well), but I do need to make sure I just don't wear myself out. I'm back into my lovely hip brace (that wraps around my waist--at like my ribs--and then goes clear down my leg to about my ankle), with range of motion from 0 to 90 degrees, and on for the next 3 to 6 months! I use a CPM machine each day for about 2 hours a day--for 6 weeks (so 2 more weeks. And basically just rest and try to do things as well as I can without overdoing it! No physical therapy though right now (or for awhile) because the doctor's just waiting and hoping my hip will heal up tight!
So, that's basically the update for now...at least as far as my hip is concerned! I will continue to to update everything else that's been going on another day! But as for today...I am grateful for everything that the Lord continually blesses me with--for my family and friends, for the health and strength that I do have, and for so many blessings and opportunities in my life! :)

Surgery Day...

2009-12-16T07:23:00.003-07:00

Well today's the big day...I go in for my hip surgery--to help reconstruct my hip! Yesterday my mom and I flew from Salt Lake to Denver and then from Denver to Vail/Eagle. Last night I had an MRI on my hip--which was not very pleasant! I've had LOTS of MRIs before, but I think this one was a mixture of being in lots of pain from flying so much and the fact that they had to place a weight hanging on the end of my leg--pulling on it...which HURT! I ended up having to have them take it off because of the pain! After that great experience though, it was up to the doctor's office for some strength and range of motion testing and then off to get lab work done. Finally, around 7pm last night we were done for the night, so my mom and I went to Denny's to get some yummy dinner (well, more like breakfast for dinner :) ), and then back to the hotel to just rest the remainder of the night.
I wasn't able to sleep real well last night--I'm pretty nervous, anxious, and scared for what today will bring. So, at about 4:30am I just turned the tv on and watch Christmas movies on tv. Now, it's off to hurry and get ready for the day--jump in the shower, get ready, and head back to the hospital for a doctor's appointment this morning (to go over everything that will be going on today) and then surgery this afternoon.
Thank you SO much to all my wonderful family and friends for all their love, care, and support through all of this! And thank you for all the sweet posts/comments on here...I really appreciate the support, prayers, care, and strength through each of you and I love to read them! Thanks for everything! Here goes nothing...

Getting Ready...

2009-12-13T19:13:00.002-07:00

This weekend has been very busy trying to get things all ready to leave for my trip to Colorado. My mom and I are flying out Tuesday morning around 9am, so this weekend's been full of packing, shopping for some things, finish some last minute Christmas presents (so that everything will be ready for when we get home), spending time with family and friends, and finally by last night...CRASHING IN BED!!!
As hard as it is for me to want to accept or realize, I'm learning my body isn't like everyone else's--let alone another 22-year olds body. I want so bad sometimes to be like everyone else my age and be able to just go and go and do everything and whatever I want to, but by last night and earlier during the day yesterday, I began realizing...or more like being smacked by the realization that I'm not a 'typical 22-year old'. I've been overdoing it really bad the last few days and by Friday and Saturday, I was hurting horrible, didn't feel well, and by about 7:30pm last night, I just feel asleep on the couch for the night! So, even though it's hard to realize and accept sometimes, I'm learning that I do need to let myself rest, not overdo it, and realize that that's okay.
Anyways...Besides that...Today has been a beautiful day as I have been able to go to church, feel of the Spirit, watch the beautiful snow fall, spend time with my family, and be able to receive a Priesthood blessing from my Home Teacher, Bro. Pippen, and Bishop Hadley.
Also, like I stated at the beginning of this entry, my mom and I are getting ready to fly out to Colorado on Tuesday morning. I have an MRI and some strength and range of motion testing that evening. Wednesday morning I have a doctor's (pre-op) appointment to go over everything and then surgery will be that, Wednesday, afternoon. Finally, we should (as long as the weather cooperates for us...haha) be home Sunday evening!

Update...

2009-12-02T22:18:00.003-07:00

Sorry it has been SO long since my last post! But, here's an update as to what's going on...
I had all the testing done to check my adrenal, pituitary, and thyroid glands for any insufficiency and all tests came back normal! So that's very exciting and such a relief! Also, I went and met with the new neurologist--Dr. Skuster--and she has diagnosed me with something called daily onset headaches. No pseudotumor cerebri which is also excellent news! Yea! For the daily onset headaches, she said it can be very common in people with a past history of migraines (which I've had), so they have me on some medicine to help with that.
Since all of those tests have now come back normal and all of that is cleared, I am having surgery on my hip. I talked to the doctor's office in Colorado this week, and the surgery is schedule for Wednesday December 16th. My mom and I will fly out for Vail on Tuesday the 15th, surgery will be Wednesday the 16th, and then we will fly back home on Sunday Dec. 20th! This surgery will not be arthroscopic though, they are going to have to open up my hip, take out a section of my IT band and use it to reconstruct a new hip capsule!
Other things...I have a back brace now--not too bad of one (it reminds me more of a corset)...it wraps around my torso--because I have "bilateral pars defect" or in other words, a slight fracture on each side of my spine (on the vertebrae), a slight bulging disc (not too bad), and mild scoliosis. I also have a few braces/splints for my fingers to help them because of the laxity and hyperextending of them.
Things have been going pretty good though...I was able to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family! I was able to meet up with some great friends from up at school (Justin, Jordan, Laurel, Corinne, Niki, and Vanessa) for lunch! I went to the temple yesterday with Emily, and we've got to have some fun hang out days! And always great hang out days, movie nights, ice cream trips, and lots of laughing with Jenna! I am SO blessed to have such amazing and wonderful family and friends!!! Thank you!!! :)

More Hospital Stays...

2009-11-08T20:54:00.004-07:00

So things have been pretty crazy the last couple weeks. I spent another week in the hospital--October 26 to October 30. It all started the weekend before, on Friday Oct. 23rd. I wasn't feeling very well on Friday, Saturday it was getting worse, Sunday was really bad (by Sunday night I was just laying curled up in my bed in the dark, and I asked my mom to call our Home Teacher to see if he could come give me a blessing--which both he, Bro. Pippen, and Bro. Barney were so sweet to come over), and by Monday morning I felt HORRIBLE!!!
My mom called the endocrinologist's office first thing that, Monday, morning because we didn't know if this was all happening because of tapering off the medications. Anyways...my mom explained to the doctor what was going on, and he told her to take me to the emergency room to have them run tests and things--in case it was an adrenal problem. So my uncle came to pick me up and take me up to meet my mom at the emergency room (she was at work up at the hospital) and the testing and things began. I had a CT-scan on my brain, another spinal tap (to check the opening pressure--which was still elevated but not quite as high as it was previously), blood work (including a blood gas level which I had never had done before and I never want to have done again), and the monitoring of my blood pressure.
As the doctor monitored things he decided that he wanted to admit me to the hospital because of my blood pressure--which kept dropping. It would come back up to its regular level, and then would begin dropping again and just kept dropping (it got down to about 72/48). So, with everything else going on--still waiting on the adrenal testing and to get in to see a neurologist--the emergency room doctor wanted to transfer me from McKay-Dee Hospital to the new Intermountain Medical Center in Murray (where there would be more specialists).
I kinda figured 'okay, my mom's going to just take me down to that hospital and they'll admit me so that they can monitor me through the night and things'. That's not how it happened though! The doctor said I needed to be down and have my blood pressure continually monitored,so he called to have an ambulance transport me down there. So, I said 'bye' to my mom and told her that I'd see her in a little bit (she would leave to drive down too), and I left on my ambulance ride. That wasn't where the surprises all ended though...When we got to IMC (Intermountain Medical Center), I was admitted but not to a regular patient room--I was admitted to the ICU!
So, to make a long story short, I stayed in the ICU for the first night and then was transferred to a regular patient room and stayed there the rest of the time.
I saw a neurologist while I was there, and he had me try an IV treatment to see if it would help the continual headaches but I had an allergic reaction to it instead! We were able to switch to a different IV treatment and after a couple days of it I got to come home.
Before coming home though, the doctor's were able to figure one thing out...They said that I have postural tachycardia--meaning that when I go to stand up my heart rate shoots up. This, the doctor stated, is due to my ehlers danlos (collagen disorder) and the blood vessels not working right to control the blood flow when I stand. So, he said that I need to be careful when I get up, so as to not get too dizzy and pass out.
As for now, I'm home, I have follow-up appointment with a new neurologist tomorrow morning in Salt Lake, in a week from tomorrow I have my follow-up appointment with the endocrinologist to run all the lab work to check for the adrenal, pituitary, and/or thyroid insufficieny(s), and I'm just taking it easy and resting lots (especially this weekend--not having felt well at all and spending most of it in bed). I hope each of you are doing well! I will post again soon to update each of you on my doctor's appointments. Enjoy your week! :)

Surgery Postponed...

2009-10-30T15:38:00.002-06:00

So I know some of this late news, but I've been slacking on trying to keep this thing updated--too much stuff going on. But, I was supposed to have my surgery on my hip done in Colorado on Oct. 21st. Well,the week before the scheduled surgery, I got a phone call from the doctor's office and they said that we needed to postpone the surgery.
The problem came down to the fact that we haven't been able to run all tests needed to check for the possible adrenal insufficiency, pituitary insufficiency, or thyroid insufficiency. So, as these could all be very dangerous--even fatal--with surgery...in not knowing for sure what we were going in with, the surgery was postponed until we can do the further testing needed.
So, as of now, we had to taper me off the steroid medications and then stay off of them for a few weeks, and finally, on Nov. 19th, I'll go have all my testing done for those things. Then, depending on the results and everything, we'll schedule the surgery.

Trip to Seattle...

2009-10-20T18:52:00.006-06:00

On October 5th my mom and I flew out to Seattle, WA for a doctor's appointment. This appointment was one we--myself, my family, and all my doctors--have been waiting for and hoping to find answers! This particular doctor is a medical genetics specialist, does testing for ehlers danlos, and is doing research on ehlers danlos. So, this was going to be a big appointment! We figured that he'd be able to do any other testing for other subtypes of ehlers danlos if he thought I may have it, that he'd be able to tell us more about ehlers danlos, and, most of all, that he'd be able to give us some ideas on what to do (especially where my joints seem to be getting so bad so rapidly), what to expect, and help us have some more insight to what is going on with my body.
Well, I think--actually I don't think the correct word is think...it's more like I know--that I got my hopes a little too high because it definitely wasn't what I planned on having happen or what I hoped to hear. In summary, this is basically what the doctor said:
I definitely do have ehlers danlos--the hypermobility type--and it's effecting every single one of my joints (from my head down to my toes). He said he doesn't like to really put people into particular groups, because just like with my ehlers danlos hypermobility, there can be so many different levels of severity--for some people it may just effect their smaller joints more or there larger joints and for some it might just be kind of looser, but he said with me, for example, it's effecting all of the joints. He also said, though, that I have something else going on as well, but the problem is he doesn't know what it is, how to test for it, or what to do. The problem is that not only are my joints unstable (with the ehlers danlos), but when my joints come out my tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and everything ruptures. Most people, he said, with ehlers danlos, when their joints sublux or dislocate it may rupture the surrounding structures once in awhile but mostly they just stretch out (or one joint may rupture the surrounding structures at times but most of the other joints just stretch things out). Anyways...That is not the case with me--for example, just my left hip capsule has torn open about 3 times in the last year! Things tear constantly and easily! Also, when we asked if all of these other health problems that I've been struggling with--the possible adrenal and/or pituitary and/or thyroid insufficiency, possible pseudotumor cerebri, gastrointestinal problems, etc...--are related to the ehlers danlos, the answer was 'no'!
In the end, it just basically came down to these facts, I have the hypermobility type of ehlers danlos, something else is going on but they don't know what it is, I'm already doing everything possible that they know of to help my ehlers danlos, there's nothing else we can do, and I just need to be really careful, LISTEN to my body (when I start getting tired, stop and rest), and try to do some strengthening to help try and let the muscles help stabilize my joints (although in strengthening, I need to be careful so as to not let my joints come out while strengthening).
Anyways...needless to say, I was a bit disappointed after my appointment and having gotten my hopes that this doctor would have answers and be able to help me get/feel better! I cried and sometimes still do...I have good days and bad days! It's just frustrating to wake up some days (today for example), wake up in pain, take my medicine, lay in bed all day, the pain won't go away, I don't know what to do, the doctors don't know what to do, and it's hard! But, between my family, friends, and the Gospel in my life, I know that I can make it through anything!
Finally....My wonderful mom helped to make this trip still very fun and exciting! Since we had lots of other time in our 2 1/2 days besides my doctor's appointment, we went out and had fun! We went to the Space Needle, Pike's Market, to the shops along the pier, to the Old Spaghetti Factory, to two awesome museums--the Science Fiction Museum and the Experience Music Project--to the LDS Seattle Temple, and just sightseeing! It was great!!!

It's Been Awhile...

2009-10-20T17:00:00.002-06:00

Sorry it's been awhile since I've posted...SO much has been going on and has happened. So, rather than have just one HUGE post, I'll make a few different posts that will explain the various things. I don't know if I'll get them all done today, but I will definitely catch you up to date over the next couple days. Hope you are each doing well!

Surgery...

2009-09-21T17:04:00.003-06:00

So I just thought I'd give a quick update/info post. My nurse from my doctor's office in Colorado (the surgeon who works with my hips) just called today, and she talked with my doctor about how I'm feeling, my MRI, and things going on and he said that I'm going to need to have surgery again! :'( She said that he's going to go in and he'll drain it (because I needed to have that procedure done anyways), but than for the big surgery part, he'll have to take out part of my IT band and he's going to use it to create a new hip capsule.
I had a similar type of thing done on my right hip, where he took part of the IT band and created a new labrum. So, that's what they'll have to do for my left hip, but creating a hip capsule instead. They're hoping that by doing this it will make it thicker so that it won't tear as easily, and they're rebuilding it because they said it's torn so many times that there's not much left to try and repair. So, I'm crossing my fingers that this does the trick!!!
We don't have a set date quite yet...the surgery coordinator is supposed to call me tomorrow to set everything up. I do know that it won't be for at least a few weeks, because I have to meet with the endocrinologist on the first and talk with him about things and I also have to go to Seattle Oct. 5th-7th to meet with a medical genetics specialist for my ehlers danlos. So, it'll be sometime after that. I'll let ya know for sure though when I have the date.

I'm home!!! (Warning: Very long post!)

2009-09-15T14:30:00.003-06:00

It has been quite awhile since I last posted (sorry it's been kinda crazy), so lets see...where to begin?

Well, since my last post, I did spend about 6 more days in the hospital after that. It was a crazy time and very emotional! The doctors ran test after test after test...once I was finally home, I looked on my online medical info to find out what all they had run and how many tests they had run. Here are the results:

4 MRIs

3 Cat-Scans

4 X-Rays

2 EKGs

1 Echocardiogram

43 Lab tests run (that includes all lab work, urine samples, spinal fluid tests, etc...)

1 Successful Spinal Tap & 1 attempt

1 Upper-GI Scope

So, with all of this taking place (not to mention LOTS of doctors coming to visit) in a 10-day period of time, I was TIRED!!! Although, I think the craziest time wasn't even when any of those things were taking place, it happened the day after my last post. The CNA had helped me get up to use the restroom and come back to bed and I told her that I didn't feel well at all and that something was wrong, she left to go get the nurse (or at least that's what she said she was going to do), and I just slid up into my bed and laid down and closed my eyes (thinking I'll just close my eyes and wait for the nurse to get here). Well, that was the last thing I remembered for the next hour or so...My mom told me that she came down from work to see me and check to see how I was doing (thank goodness she did come down), she walked into my room and I was still laying there, eyes closed, still breathing and everything, but unresponsive! She had to get ahold of nurses and things to come in, they had to call the doctor, the doctor gave me different meds in my IV, and the next thing I remember, was starting to open my eyes, there were TONS of people all around me (most of which I had no clue who they were), the doctor was next to me asking me questions, and my mom was standing next to my bed with tears streaming out of her eyes. Scary and nothing that I wanted to have happen or wake up to!!!

Well, then after that, needless to say the doctor had me transferred to a different floor where I was being monitored much more closely (my room was right next to the nurses desk), and that's where I stayed until I came home. They continued running tests and things, and the doctors finally came to the conclusion, that they knew something was wrong, but they didn't know what it was--they had run every kind of test they possibly could, but this was out of their scope. So, as I started at least feeling better and things became managable, I was released to come home on Friday Sept. 11th!

Since than I've been home resting. At first it was very frustrating realizing how much help I needed with some things--like trying to take a bath (oh that was a fun experience...thank you mom for basically pulling me out--since we realized once I was in that I couldn't stand up on my own to get out!), get dressed, do my hair, etc... As the days have gone by though things have become much easier!

I do have to rest lots still--I tried being up doing lots yesterday and ended up with a horrible headache and hurting lots! And I still have lots of follow-up appointments. Monday (the 14th) was my first follow-up and it was with my primary-care doctor. Things went well, but it was emotional (to say the least). We sat down and talked about how I was feeling, about my ehlers danlos, and about my future. I tried so hard to fight the tears back as I asked my doctor if I was going to get better, if my joints would feel better, if my back would heal and stop hurting (I've started getting scoliosis due to the ehlers danlos and they found a slight fracture in my lower back as well...probably again due to the EDS), and things like this. But, as he looked at me, and as told me how sorry he was to say this, how bad he felt, and how he wishes he could do something, but that I wasn't going to get better, my joints weren't going to heal, and basically, they were just going to continue to progressively become worse. Well, than the tears came!!! I tried so hard to say that I could handle it and that it would all be okay, but deep down, it hurt to hear this, I was scared (I still am), and I was angry that this was happening.

My sweet bishop's wife (thank you Sis. Buswell for taking me to my appointment) asked the doctor different things about this, and he explained with the example that for him and her it would take decades to get to the point where my joints are and to have to face some of the choices that I'm going to have to make based on my lifestyle, what I can and can't do, getting around, and so forth; and how instead, for me, this is happening quickly and I have to face these things now. I think after all of that, between all three of us (the doctor, myself, and my bishop's wife) are eyes were all watering. Even though I knew, deep down, that everything the doctor said is the truth, it was still hard to hear, but I am so grateful that he told me and that both him and my bishop's wife were so sweet and kind in wanting to be there for me and help me through this!

Other than that appointment though, I had an appointment yesterday with a doctor at a pain management clinic, and I also have follow-up appointments with an endocrinologist, a neurologist, and I'm going to Seattle in a couple weeks (Oct.5-7) to see a medical genetics specialist for my ehlers danlos. So, this is all keeping me quite busy. The doctors did have me completley withdraw from school for the semester due to my health (which was very hard to have to do). And, with my appointment following-up with the endocrinologist, they're thinking (from everything that has happened in the hospital and so forth) that I might have addison's disease as well, so they currently have me on different medicines to treat me for this as well.

I won't lie, it all scares me, but I know that I have some of the most amazing people ever around me--doctors, nurses, family, friends, etc...--who support me, care about me, and are continually helping me everyday! I also know that I have so many people, that I can't see, that are helping me and making it possible to get through all of this (my dad, step-dad, grandma, my Savior, and my Heavenly Father)! I don't know how I could make it through without all of these people and I want everyone to know how continually grateful I am for each of you--for your thoughts, prayers, love, support, and friendship! Also, I want to specially thank so many people who helped me and were there for me so much these last couple weeks: my mom (who was there for me 24/7), each of my sisters and their families (my wall at home is now covered with pictures and cards from my neices and nephews...and they brighten my day everytime I look at them), Jenna (for always being there for me and for sneaking me up the yummy shake while I was in the hospital), Ariana, Eric, Mitch, Clay (Mitch and Clay for coming and giving me a blessing while I was in the hospital), Sis. Fessler, Emily, Mark, my single's ward (the relief society presidency and all my friends and the whole ward for fasting for me), Dr. Anderson, Dr. Kerwin, Dr. Hollingsworth, Dr. Allen, my most favorite nurse in the hospital--Alicia (for staying with me, talking to me, crying with me, and always being there), Jeff Speckman, Tres Ferrin, and just so many people I don't think I can name them all...But I just want to say THANK YOU (I don't think that even begins to express my gratitude, but I am so truly grateful).

So, I will keep you updated, sorry this post has been SO long, but I am home now, resting, and getting stronger and better! Thanks for all your love and support!

ER trips, Spinal Taps, Medicine,and lots of Tests...

2009-09-04T10:52:00.006-06:00

Where to start? This week has been a crazy one to say the least! Well, to start off I still have not been doing well at all with my whole body just not feeling well. On Wednesday my mom woke me up like she usually to bring me breakfast before she leaves for work. (I have such a great mom! :) ) Well, when she woke me up that morning I did NOT feel good!!! I couldn't sit up in my or even lift my head up to eat breakfast, so I had her place it beside me on a chair so that I could just reach for it.

Later that day (Wednesday) I was not getting better at all, so my mom took off work, came and picked me up from the house, and took me to the emergency roon! While I was there they did blood work, urine samples, CT scans, and the worst thing (I so didn't like) was a spinal tap! One of the things that made it the worst , besides the obvious sticking a needle clear into my spine, was that the doctor and nurse were just going to do it in the ER, and I was like okay that's fine. They started it--first they went in with straight lidocaine (OUCH), than they went to go clear into the spine to the get the CSF (cerebral spinal fluid), didn't work, they went back in with more lidocaine, and then I believe they attempted to go into the spine again, but I don't know for sure. Anyways....After that the doctor looked at me, while I just have tears streaming out of my eyes, he said that due to my ehlers danlos I had alot of calcifacations along my spine and along the ligaments and things surrounding it. So, since my tissues and everything were so hard, I had to go to radiology to have a guided (by x-ray) spinal tap. So they took me straight over, and did the spinal tap (thank goodness I was so happy that my favorite radiology tech person--that does all the injections and things--was there to do mine.)

So then it was back to the ER and waiting for the results of all the tests and everything. The doctor came in, said everything looked fine, that he wanted to try me on another new medication for nerves, he gave me a dose of the medicine, and let me go home. (By than in was like 7pm on Wednesday night.)

Oh Wednesday night came...I went to bed early (probably by like 9pm at the latest), but woke up at like 3am in horrible pain and not feeling well at all. I called my mom and she came up to help me and see what was going on. I told her and she said lets try your anti-nausea medicine first. So I took the medicine and about 10mins later I threw it up! We than decided we'd try my pain medication but that I should eat something first, so I ate about five crackers, took the pill, and 20mins later I threw up again! Finally we said okay lets try the nausea medication one more time, and it came straight back up again! So not fun!

My mom told me we need to go back to the ER. I told okay and she helped me get up and off we went (I was pretty sylish I might add in my pajamas--a T-shirt and shorts--and the socks my mom just put on my feet...no one needs shoes! haha) to the emergency room! We got there, they checked me in and got me straight back and a doctor came right in. He talked to us for awhile and he said I don't know what other tests to order, because these doctors have been run almost all the tests I could think of. He did find one type of lab that hadn't been done so he ordered that and gave me some different types of medicines in my IV.
I finally woke up at like 12:30pm that same day (Thursday) and was in a hospital room. I looked at my mom and she said that they've admitted me. That day they ran an MRI on brain, did an echocardiogram (an ultasound of my heart), more blood work, and x-rays.

Update....

2009-08-22T21:01:00.002-06:00

I just wanted to give everyone a quick update about this crazy week that has occured! I went back to the doctor's office yesterday (on Friday), because I still was not getting any better. It was a hard appointment--to say the least--but I just want to say that I am so grateful for all my doctors, nurses, physical therapists, athletic trainers, everyone who works at the offices, and just all of the medical personnel who help me through everything! Also, a huge thank you to Ariana for taking me to my appointment! :)
So, about my appointment...The doctor and I talked about many things--my pain levels, school, my joints in general, going to see the doctor in Seattle, and just basically my ehlers danlos in general (since that is what kind of ties all of these things together). Here were the conclusions to basically summarize the doctor's appointment:

No school up on-campus for Fall semester. School starts on Monday, and the doctor told me that unless I had some miraculous recovery (which he didn't find likely especially since it's a life-time/chronic thing we're dealing with) over the weekend he didn't see how it would be even be a possibility. I agreed with him and understand exactly where he's coming from. Although, I may try and see if there's a couple of online classes I could perhaps pick up--giving me something to still do, keep busy, and keep progressing towards my degree.
There's nothing else we can really do--because there is no cure or really any treatment (other than the anti-inflammatories, pain meds, surgery, and physical therapy) for the ehlers danlos. So, he asked if there was any chance of getting in sooner to the specialist in Washington, but I told him that I'd talked to them again but that there's no more opening (the doctor is only in the office once to twice a week) but that they'd call if something came open. So he wants me to finish the steroid pack/treatment, go back onto my old anti-inflammatories and take them (because that's already the strongest dose), continue taking my ultram (a non-narcotic pain med), and then he increased my other pain medication a little bit so I can take those as well, as needed. Then, we will wait and see what Dr. Byers, the specialist in Washington, says and if he has any ideas and/or suggestions.
Finally, my doctor was a bit worried about me using my crutch that I have been because of the strain it puts on my upper body. I told him that that's partly why I've just been using the one crutch--so that I wouldn't use the other with my shoulder that I just had reconstructed--that I don't use them at home, but they've wanted me to use it while I'm out, not necessarily to take the weight off but more to help stabilize me. I explained to him that it's kind of between a rock and a hard place right now--use the one crutch and put strain on my upper body to help stabilize me so that I won't trip, fall, or have any problems or don't use and risk tripping or falling and causing more damage. So, he's suggested that I don't use my crutch anymore when going out, but rather use my wheelchair (with someone else pushing me)--not because I would be wheelchair-bound but to help try and preserve my joints as long as possible. He said that my joints are just wearing out fast, it's part of the disease process, and there's nothing really that we can do. So, we'll use the wheelchair to try and help calm and slow things down.

So, that's basically my doctor's appointment in a summary. Sorry this has been such a long entry, but I thought I'd give everyone an update. Thank you so much again to all the wonderful people in my life who are continually there for me! I don't know how I'd make it through everything without my wonderful family, friends, medical personnel, and my Savior! Thank you for all the continued thoughts, prayers, phone calls, visits, and everything! I appreciate everyone! Thank you!!! :)

Angels in my Life...

2009-08-19T17:04:00.003-06:00

Oh where to begin?! These last few days have been very eventful, to say the least! We'll just start out with saying...Today I'm laying in bed--which is what I've been doing 24/7 since Sunday--and my sister, Jessica, and her two kids, Kaleb and Sammy, came over to see me, and as I'm on the computer looking at things Jessica asks: 'are you going to update your blog and write on there that you're alive?!'
So here you go everyone...I am alive!!! :) (So here's the story on why she's wanted me to write that...)
It all began Sunday morning...My mom woke me up before she left to church, so that she could help me with my physical therapy exercises on my hip. (My mom is so wonderful and I don't know what I'd do without her...she's just an angel in my life!) When she woke me up I told her that I just hurt horribly, but that's not too uncommon for me to wake up and have pain due to my Ehlers Danlos, so she said that maybe I should just stay home from church today and rest. I told her I'd see how I was feeling and things. So, my mom and little brother left to church and I gradually tried to get ready to go to my ward (I'm in a single's ward). I was still hurting alot, but I wanted to try and make it for at least part of church. I was finally ready and headed out the door, and I got to church just a little into Sunday School where I went and met up with my friends. Sunday School got over, and my best friend, Jenna, and I were heading to go down the hall to Sacrament! She's so cute, she looks at me and was like 'Jackie I'm not trying to sound mean, but you don't look very good...you either look like you are in lots of pain or don't feel well. Are you okay?' I just looked at her and told her that it was both--I was in so much pain it was making me sick, but I'd be okay. We started down the hall, and I held on to my crutch with one arm and her with the other; we stopped for a minute and I started crying a little bit and she just asked if I wanted her to take me home. I told her I'd be okay and that I wanted to try and stay. However, than the pain in my head started getting very bad and making me extremely dizzy. All I remember was saying: 'Jenna I hurt so bad and I don't feel very good.' and then I passed out!
My wonderful friends, more sweet angels in my life, caught me and laid me down. Jenna called my mom and someone else called 911. And I ended up being taken by the ambulance up to the ER.
My sister, Janeice, met my mom and I up there, and they--my mom and Janeice--stayed with me the entire time. I love my family so much...they mean everything to me! The doctor ran blood tests, x-rays, CT-scans, IVs, pain meds, and everything while I was up there. All of my tests came back normal (well nothing came up that we didn't know about all ready...the CT-scan showed mild curvature of my lumbar spine and an increase in size and number of kidney stones throughout my kidneys) and so that was great news!!! She, the doctor, said that she's thinking I have costochondritis again--which is an inflammation of the cartilage between my ribs and my sternum--and that and all of the other pain and inflammation throughout my body is coming from my Ehlers Danlos.
The Ehlers Danlos, as I have said, is a collagen disease and collagen is found throughout your entire body. So, with this flare-up, the joints connecting my ribs and sternum, between my neck and my skull, in my back, shoulders, hips, etc... (basically all throughout my body) all pop, shift around a little bit, and just inflame everything...thus causing all of the pain, sickness, and dizziness.
So, I went to my primary care physician yesterday, Tuesday, and things still aren't getting better, so they switched the anti-inflammatory medicine I was on to a steroid (it's a 6-day taper off treatment) to see if hopefully this can hit it and help calm everything down. In the meantime, while I'm waiting for that to kick in, I'm just home laying in bed, taking naps, watching movies, and just taking it easy.
I'm so grateful that it was nothing more severe than this, and more than anything, I'm so grateful for all the many angels that the Lord has blessed me with in my life! I want all of my family and friends to know how much I love them, am grateful for them, and that I don't know what I'd do without them. It seems that whenever I'm having a hard time or anything or just need a little "pick-me-up" my family and friends have either called and/or come over to visit! THANK YOU SO MUCH to my mom, my siblings (Janeice, Jodi, Jessica, Jill, and Taylor), my neices and nephews, my Bishops (both in my family ward and in my single's ward), my friends (Jenna, Eric, Dallin, Ariana, Tiffanie, Tara, Ashley, Tiffany, Kelsey, Jill), so many ward members and leaders (again from both wards...Sister Fessler, Jennifer, Amy, Bro. Carlile, Bro. Scott, Mitch), and just everyone!!! Thank you for always being there for me and helping me through everything...I love you guys!!!!

Moving Forward...

2009-08-13T16:08:00.000-06:00

Sorry I haven't updated this in a little while, but here's what's been going on...
I've been in my brace and using my crutch still since my last entry (trying to keep my hip stable and things). A few days ago I met with one of my doctor's, Dr. Blackham, here in Ogden--at McKay-Dee Hospital--and it was a tough visit, but there's still good that comes out of it!!!
We sat down and talked about all of my joints, how painful and unstable they are becoming, what I'm supposed to do to be able to go to school (up on campus) again, sleep well at night, and just function. That's where the hard part came in: He just looked at me (with that look of a 'I really don't want to have to tell you this') and told me that there was nothing else he could do, everything I was already trying was all that he could think of, that this is all part of the disease process, that I have--with my complications and things--the worst case he's ever seen (which I didn't particularly want to hear that), and that, sadly, it's only going to get worse! Hard to have to hear, right?! :(
Well, here comes the more positivie side to it--the silver lining that I needed to try and find: Dr. Blackham suggested that I try and get into a doctor at one of the clinics that worked/specialized more with Ehlers Danlos patients. Of course none of those clinics are around here really, so I made a phone call. I called Dr. Byer's office at the University of Washington, up in Seattle, because another doctor I had seen down at the University of Utah had told me about Dr. Byers. His office called me back today, and guess what...I have an appointment with Dr. Byers on Tuesday October 6th!!! I'm exciting! I know that they're still might not be any exact answers to come from this, because as of right now there is no cure, but it'll be nice to meet with a doctor who's doing research on Ehlers Danlos, who might have some ideas, and who might be able to help me have a little bit more of a functionable life!!!
My old seminary prinicipal my senior year of high school, Brother Bell, once told me two things that have always stuck with me and that I'll never forget...The first was: "The Lord knows what you can handle and He will help you through...Pray as if everything depends on Him and live as if everything depends on you." The second was: "The power within you is greater than the obstacles in front of you."
I'll admit that some days I have a hard time believeing that I am strong enough to deal with the things that I am faced with, but I know that when I turn to the Lord and do these things that Bro. Bell has told me--praying to Him like everything depends on it--I can feel that power within me grow and He does help me through those obstacles in front of me!

The Verdict is in...

2009-07-30T17:40:00.002-06:00

I got a call from my doctor's office in Colorado this afternoon, and the nurse--she's so sweet, I just love her--told me that she was calling to let me know that the doctor had looked at my MRI today and said....that it looks like I've torn my hip capsule back open! :(
They said this keeps happening because of my Ehlers Danlos, and he doesn't want to keep going in and doing surgery every time it tears back open to close it back up. (I've already had surgery on that one hip twice within the last year.) So, they want me to stay in my brace (it's so lovely...I'll have to post a pic...haha...it's black and goes from my ribs, around my waist, and down to my ankle) for at least the next 6 weeks, use my crutch still--mostly for support (and only one because I can't really use the other one due to my recent shoulder reconstruction)--and we'll do another MRI in 6 weeks.
I can take my brace off and get in a pool and just walk around--carefully--but no extension (beyond 0 degrees--so straight with my body) or external rotation.
So, let's cross our fingers and hope it calms down!!!

Not until Monday...

2009-07-24T22:30:00.003-06:00

So, I said that I'd be giving updates on what's going on with my health and stuff, so here's the start....First off, I'll kind of go back and give an explanation on some things to help explain to anyone who may not know. Here it goes...
Last August I was diagnosed with a rare collagen disease called Ehlers Danlos. There are many different types of this disease, and the geneticist that I was sent to said that I have type 3--the hypermobility type--and I'm more on the severe end of the spectrum. So, what this is/causes is your collagen is all throughout your body--in your joints, skin, organs, intestines, etc... (although mine is mostly effected in my joints and some in my intestines and things)--and where most people joints only go so far (staying within a certain range of motion and then your joints stop), mine don't. My joints stretch and don't stop--one of my doctor's calls me Gumby and another type of name that can go with people that has this would be like Elastic-girl/boy. Thus, my joints may go until they sublux (go part way out of socket and then usually back in on their own), dislocate, and/or tear ligaments, tendons, cartilage, etc... So, I have had numerous surgeries (I've had 19 surgeries to date), casts, braces, splints, crutches, wheelchair, etc...
So, getting more up to date...In March of this year I had surgery on my left hip (my second on that hip), this surgery took place in Vail, Colorado, and repaired my hip capsule which tore back open, debrided my labrum, shaved the bones to form them correctly, released my IT band and my iliopsoas (my hip flexor), and heated the capsule to form it tighter.
In April of this year I had surgery on my right shoulder (the third on that joint) down at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake, and for this surgery I had to have a metal cap placed in my shoulder--it's called a hemi arthro-cap. To do this, they had to shave the head of my humerous (the bone in my upper arm) back, place a metal cap over that and screw it down into the bone; so now I get to set off metal detectors. ;)
Anyways...For my hip, I was in a brace, that goes up to my ribs (around my waist) and down my left leg to my ankle, until around the second week in June (it was on for about 3 months) and then I've been on crutches since (so for about 6 weeks). Although, I've only been able to use one crutch due to the surgery on my shoulder.
Well, this past Sunday night, after I'd come home from the fireworks up at Weber State and was laying in bed trying to fall asleep, I was laying in bed on my side and when I went to move my leg my hip obviously didn't want me to move, because my hip popped!!! My hand was along side of me so I could feel it with my hand, and it felt like it actually subluxed--not a very pleasant feeling! So, I talked to my doctor's office in Colorado first thing Monday morning and I am now back in my brace and still using my crutch. Yesterday I had to go have an arthrogram--an MRI with contrast--done, so they injected contrast/a dye into my hip (not the most pleasant feeling to have an injection clear down into your hip socket while you're trying to lay still), did the MRI, and then we sent the MRI and report to the doctor's office.
I talked to the doctor's office today and they recieved all of the information, but the doctor won't be able to look at it until Monday. So, hopefully Monday I will get a phone call from them and find out what the MRI said. I'm crossing my fingers that all is well and nothing tore open again! I'll find out, and then I'm sure there will be another post! Now, Monday just needs to come so I can find out and hopefully get this brace back off!

My blog...

2009-07-18T14:32:00.003-06:00

So I've been thinking--while I've been playing around trying to figure stuff out on here--about what I'd put on here; I mean, I'm not married, I don't have kids, or anything like that--my life's just pretty simple...school, friends, and family. Then, I thought...I'm going to use my blog to kind of keep an update on everything going on in my life--from school, to family and friends, to my health stuff.
This blog, therefore, will be a big mixture of everything going on in my life. Lots of things will probably be update things from doctors, how I'm feeling, and that stuff (hopefully none of you mind because I'm thinking this will be a nice little "out" for me to write things), but then I'll also get to post lots of fun stuff from exciting things with my family, friends, and the ever exciting life of a college student! :)
Let the blogging begin....

I gave in....

2009-07-18T14:07:00.002-06:00

So my best friend Jenna got into the whole "blogging " thing and she was like 'you should get a blog too,' so as you can tell, I gave in! It seems pretty fun, but I'm still trying to figure it all out. So, we shall see how it goes!