A Lifetime of Love

Sorry for not updating sooner but I really had no news to share until last night when I spoke to my mom. Erin is still about the same. While my mom was visiting yesterday, the internal medicine doctor (who is overseeing the entire team of doctors caring for Erin) came in to say he was releasing the infectious disease doctors and adding an oncologist. He does not believe Erin has cancer of any type, but he wanted some tests run to simply rule it out. Makes sense and we (my mom, sis, and I) feel better knowing that EVERY possible test has been done to figure out what’s wrong with her. So, more biopsies this morning of her lymph nodes (when she had the CT scan the other day, they found some that were enlarged but still within the “normal” range) and more waiting for results. However, the rheumatologist (specializes in Rheumatoid Arthritis) came in last night and said he is about 75% sure Erin has lupus. The preliminary tests all point in that direction, but again, more blood tests are ne...

My luncheon was awesome. It was held at a private banquet room located inside the State fairgrounds in Columbia. From the moment TJ, Th, and I walked into the building, we were treated like royalty, and although it was nice, I was very embarrassed by it. I do not like to be in the spot light and felt very uncomfortable. We were given name tags (Th felt so grown up writing his own name tag!) and immediately escorted to meet Senator Hayes, Radio, and Coach Jones (of the hit movie, Radio ). We mingled a bit, found our seats at our reserved table with Senator Hayes (which were right up front!), and the program began. Radio gave the blessing and we were ushered out the door to the buffet line. The food was wonderful, but unfortunately I don’t know what we ate other than the “basic” names- mixed veggies, baked chicken, squash casserole, potato salad, beef tips, dinner rolls, and of course dessert. I chose the chocolate cake (chocolate, of course!) and Th had a piece of pie. I don’t know what...

Erin is about the same. Still running a high fever despite being on a different antibiotic. She had her biopsy taken from two different places on her arm and has stitches at both places. She said they don't hurt but she's been on Tylenol for her fever so I think that may be masking some of the pain. She also had a CT scan done last night and received the results today. Thankfully my mom was there when the doctor came in so she could ask questions. Everything on the scan looked good (mainly her lymph nodes were checked to rule out lymphoma) but he saw that her lungs are beginning to collapse from the bottom up because they are not filling to capacity. The doctor explained that when a person breaths while standing and walking around, the lungs are able to fully expand. But, when a person is sitting or laying for extended amounts of time, the lungs cannot get as much air as needed and carbon dioxide builds up. So, Erin will now be placed on oxygen while she is in her room in order...

Erin, my sis, has been running a fever of 103 or higher since mid-May. She has gone to a doctor close to her home (NOT a military doctor- a private physician) several times, has had some testing done (i.e. an ultrasound on her kidneys and liver and other blood work) and has had no relief. She is weak and very tired. This past Friday my mom flew down to drive Erin and Kaylee back to Ohio so Erin could have help with the baby. Sunday morning she was so weak she could barely lift her head off the pillow. My mom took her temperature and her fever was 104, so my mom rushed her to the hospital. Because of her low blood pressure and high fever, she was seen immediately in the Emergency Room and was admitted to the Critical Care Unit (CCU) last night. At first she was going to be admitted to the ICU but because her blood pressure stabilized, they moved her up one level. She was given fluids for dehydration and an antibiotic to help reduce the fever. She was doing better until about 10pm when h...

I added some new links to my blog list. I've been reading them for a while, just haven't added them until now. Check them out when you can! ************************************************ Not much going on here. I'm sick, along with Ta and T.G. We went to Carowinds on Friday, a birthday party yesterday, and spent the afternoon hanging a chalkboard that TJ made me for my birthday. Yes, my birthday is in January. Yes, he finished it in June, only 5 months later. He still needs to build a frame around it and we joked that the frame will be my anniversary gift. . . next year. The kids and I are doing some fun things this week. Tuesday is my luncheon with the senator. I am excited yet nervous, especially because I am battling a cold. TJ is coming with me, and I decided to bring Th with us, too. This is a rare opportunity and I want him to experience it with us. I have a sitter coming to stay the day with Ta and T.G. I am nervous because I have to get up in front of a bunch of ...

I know I don't have a long list of "followers" but for those of you who do read my blog on a regular basis, you know I am passionate about advocating for those with special needs, hence my career choice. I received this email from my friend Jess, whose daughter Parker was diagnosed with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) in utero and passed away shortly after birth in 2006, regarding the organization founded to honor Parker and support others who receive a diagnosis of CDH. I am posting the email below because I firmly believe that the Lord is using Jess and her husband Ashley in a mighty way. They have responded to their daughter's death in such an amazing way that only God can receive the glory. Despite their own pain and grief, they founded the Parker Reese Foundation to offer hope to those who are facing the same despair and uncertainty they themselves experienced. It is awe-inspiring and I want to help in whatever way that I can, especially with spreading the ...

I think I have lost my mind. Actually, I know I did briefly yesterday. I only hope today is better. I have not had the time nor energy to clean my house since mid-May. I mean really clean. I vacuum and pick up clutter and toys, and scrubbed the bathrooms a couple of times in the last month, but that's it. Last week at VBS a friend of mine offered to bring her two boys over (ages 10 and 12) and the three of them would clean my house as a gift to me. It is a very nice gesture, and TJ and I discussed it, and I we decided it would be better if I dropped the kids off at her house for a few hours and came home to clean without any disruptions or distractions. I talked to my friend and she is insistent on cleaning for me. She doesn't want me scrubbing bathrooms or floors with my belly (it's not that big yet!). I haven't gotten back to her yet. I just don't know what I'm going to do with my kids while they are here. The benefit to having them come (besides them doing...