My Update from Mayo

It has been a long day...a long couple of days. I am glad to be home. I have had many people checking in on me today either through Facebook or text message. I have played this medical situation close to the vest because I wasn't sure what we were dealing with and it was a bit scary for me. Now that I am home, I will share what happened.

As I said in my last post, last fall routine labs came back with some abnormal levels. My liver counts were elevated and when my gastro doctor at Mayo repeated the tests two week later, they were even higher. This concerned him enough that he referred me on to a liver specialist. When I met with the liver specialist at the beginning of December he didn't seem too alarmed but wanted to follow up with more testing. He said that if he didn't get the results he was looking for and if my numbers didn't start going back toward normal he would perform a biopsy on my liver. I have talked to many people who say that the liver biopsy isn't that big of a deal but I was pretty freaked out about it. I went on Dec. 28 for a repeat of my labs and an MRI. The labs looked better than they had, although they still weren't normal. When the nurse called me on New Year's Eve to tell me that my MRI looked fine and the labs were better she said the doctor wasn't ready to cancel the biopsy just yet. He wanted to see what my labs would show when I went back up on Jan. 13.

That brings us to this morning. I went for my blood draw first thing this morning and expected for the doctor to give me an answer about the biopsy when I saw him at 10:30. He didn't do that. Instead he said that my blood levels were better and heading toward normal but that he still had concerns and he wanted one more test to determine whether or not I would need the biopsy. All morning I felt like it was bait and switch. I would reach one milestone and then he would set a new criteria. I appreciated his caution but at the same time, I was ready to be done with all of this and I wasn't liking what I was hearing. Finally, the call came late this afternoon that the biopsy was NOT needed and that Hubby and I were free to leave Jacksonville and return home. Music to my ears!

We don't know why my liver counts were elevated. He said it could have been a virus that they didn't identify, could have been a reaction to some medication (don't know what that would have been though), could have been any number of things. The important thing is that it isn't what he thought it could have been, among which included an autoimmune liver disease.

Tonight I am thanking God for His healing. I am thankful that I get to sleep in my own bed and that I don't have to have any more tests for 6 months. I am thankful for my Hubby who goes with me and puts up with my whining, grumping at him and need for constant reassurance through the process. And I am thankful for family and friends who check in on me and support me with prayers and messages of caring and love. It's been a roller coaster of a day, but at the end of it all, I am feeling thankful.

Heaven's Newest Alto

Today my heart is sad and a little bit heavy.  A friend from church who has been in declining health went to be with Jesus last night.  While I am happy for her and I know that her body is now whole, I am sad for what we lost here on this earth.  Carole was involved in the children's music ministry, playing piano for our children's choir when I was in it and we played handbells together.  She was also in the adult choir and when I was invited to come sing with them as a teenager, she took me under her wing and she taught be how to sing alto.  I was by far the youngest in the choir and I was a bit intimidated when I first joined, but she took care of me.  I wasn't sure I could sing alto, but she told me I could and would turn and sing extra loud toward my ear so I could hear the part.  In fact, she sat be between herself and her good friend, splitting the two of them up so that I could sit between the two strongest voices and learn.  Before long, I did learn and it was such a joy to sing with them.  She couldn't stand still when she sang and I loved that about her.  She always sang with such enthusiasm.  As we sat together, we developed a special bond that lasted for many years.  I began to talk to her about things going on in my world.  I told her about boys I liked, what was going on in school, and the like.  She never treated me like I was some silly kid or acted like my teenage drama was insignificant.  She always really listened to me and I loved that about her.  She listened to the on again, off again high school drama with Hubby and offered advice.  Years later when I told her we were going to be married she wasn't surprised.  I'm pretty sure I got an "I told you so."  As I sit here and I cry, I know these are selfish tears.  I know that heaven has a new choir member and she's singin' alto.  I can see her foot tapping and her body just a dancing as she sings.  I just miss those special times we had together and I am so blessed that she has been such a special part of my life.

An Evening with the Queen

This week I am celebrating old friendships that have been rekindled...well, one friendship in particular.  Last night I got to catch up with The Queen of Brussels Sprouts.  We haven't seen each other in probably 15 years and it was so much fun to meet at our old hangout, eat a piece of pie, and just enjoy each other's company.  Queen and I spent a lot of time together in high school and were roommates for a semester in college.  Fun fact: Queen and I went to prom with two of our guy friends.  These guys also happened to be Hubby's best friends.  We may or may not have seen Hubby and his date arriving at Olive Garden as we were leaving and we may or may not have toilet papered Hubby's car out in the parking lot. 

Queen and her family are about to move to Alaska and have come home for a visit before the Army takes them 4 time zones away (I think it's 4) from here.  We only had a couple of hours together and then these two mamas were about to fall asleep while talking.  We have discovered that we can't stay up until all hours talking like we used to.  By 10:00 we were yawning and starting to lose steam and then by 10:30 we had to give it up and part ways.  I wish I had gotten our server to take our picture together, but we were so busy catching up that I forgot.  However, I have the snapshot of my long lost friend and our visit together in my mind.  I am so glad that we have reconnected through our blogs and emails and that we finally got to see each other in person after all of those years.
If you get a chance, stop by Queen's Blog and say hi.  She has a great way of "fiddling with" recipes to make them more healthy.  I know that as soon as they get settled in Alaska there she will share more wonderful recipes!

A Relaxing Evening

What nice weather we have been having!  Yesterday Hubby and I cleaned our back porch.  I bleached the kids' toys while he vacuummed and the kids, well the kids were mostly playing and staying out of the way.  Anyway, Hubby bought me a new chaise lounge and little table and he hung cafe' lights around the ceiling.  He has made a nice little place for us to sit out there and relax.  We have to take advantage of it now before it gets too hot to stand it.  So last night we ate dinner out there and after the kids went to bed, we sat in our chairs and relaxed.  He brought his i-pod out there and we listened to Enya for a while and then some ocean surf, as we dreamed about our summer beach vacation.  (Even though we live just minutes from the Atlantic, we spend a week on the Gulf every summer)  It was a very nice way to end the long weekend and ease us into the start of the work week.

I also caught up with a dear friend on the phone last night.  I miss her so much and we haven't talked in quite a while, but we were able to just pick up where we last left off.  She told me about her crazy cousins, I told her about my crazy kids.  We talked about everything and nothing all in the same conversation.  Boy do I wish she didn't live so far away!

Well, that's all I've got for tonight.  It's been quite the day today and I have no brain power left.

Twins, Friends, and Tea Parties

Yesterday the kids and I went to visit two very special people. We visited with my dear friends and former pastor from my growing up years. Years after they moved he came back and officiated our wedding, they have always been an important part of my life. Prince and Princess have only met them once and I want my children to know them. We had such a wonderful time, the highlight being a tea party. Princess was thrilled when Mrs. H said that they would be having a tea party.

Mrs. H has a wonderful way of making things special for people. Prince and Princess thought it was amazing that she would let them drink out of "real" teacups. (In other words, not plastic cups) It was great fun as we sat for tea and cookies and I was amazed at how my children turned on the manners, over-exaggerating the "please pass the cookies and tea." It was adorable to hear them as they a fake prim and proper accent. Mrs. H and the kids were reminding Mr. H about his manners, as he pretended not to know how to take tea. While sitting at the table, Sweet Princess said, "Mommy, are they our family?" We all smiled. Yes, I would say they are a part of our family.

The whole visit warmed my heart, my children getting to know these two people that have been such a part of my life. Prince crawled up in their laps to sit and enjoy. I also have to brag a little bit, my children were so well behaved! They did not fight or sass the entire day and they did exactly what was asked of them. We spent the entire day with them, and then it was time to leave for home. Prince and Princess did not want to leave, and I shared their feelings, but it was time. I wanted to be home before Hubby got home from work. I tried a different route home that Mrs. H told me about and I got a little lost, yes, even with the GPS. Then, as we were about half-way home my tire light came on, indicating that there might be a problem. This is why I don't like to travel without Hubby. The drive that was supposed to take an hour and a half took me two and a half hours by the time I missed a turn off and had to stop to look at my tires. All in all, it was a great day! One I hope to repeat soon.

Restored Relationships

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and early loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14

Something really great happened this week. Once upon a time a dear friend and I had a parting of ways. It wasn't as if there was this huge fight or anything, we just stopped communicating and then as the years went on, we lost track of each other. This has bothered me and I prayed for God to heal my hurting heart, but each time I thought of the broken friendship, those feelings of hurt and upset were still there. I think that when friendships are broken we mourn that. A few months ago, I came back into contact with this friend through email. We began to catch up on life and have a few exchanges about what we are currently doing, but the issues from before were not addressed. This week my friend and I were able to discuss the issues that had come between us and we forgave each other. What a freeing feeling! After all of those years of praying that God would restore this relationship or at least give me some closure, it finally happened. We both were able to see things from the other's perspective. We were able to see that we both had some growing up to do and that it took time for us to understand the other's point of view.

As I opened my Bible tonight, these were the verses that my eyes were fixed upon. It's amazing how God does that. He knows what we need, when we need it, whether it be affirmation that He is working things out according to His plan or words to convict us of wrongdoing. His Word is always true and always relevant to whatever is happening in our lives.


These are for you, friend...our favorite once upon a time snack, until we can share them together again.

Keys, Camps, and Other Happenings

It was the weekend I dreamed of....a trip to Key West with good friends. Hubby had never been before and it's been more than 20 years since I have been. Our friends, who have been to the Keys many times, showed us the ropes of where to eat, where to go, and how to have a great time in Key West. Although I missed my kids like crazy, I needed this time away and I did have a relaxing time and came back with my batteries recharged.
This was the view from our balcony at the hotel


And how could I not relax while sitting on a boat watching this beautiful sunset


While in the Keys I:

~tried new foods I have never had before such as raw oysters. I can't say that they are my favorite, but I have tried them and they were OK. The conch fritters were the bomb!

~went snorkeling over a coral reef, which was a neat thing to see the different fish. I must admit I was a little scared of the baracuda I saw.

~took Hubby to the Southernmost Point. I went many years ago but this was his first visit.

~visited Ernest Hemingway's house and took the tour. I don't know how people lived without air condition back then. I guess we are all just wimpy, spoiled people but it was HOT in that house.

~laughed A LOT. It's a great thing to be with friends you can laugh with and enjoy being around.


The food and drinks were yummy, the atmosphere was beautiful and the company was awesome. So thankful for adventures with friends.

Sorry this one's a little blurry. That drink must have been stronger than I thought! Just kidding ~ mostly. Actually, this was taken with my i-Phone and I must have moved while taking it.



The guys did a much better job taking our picture.



Random Quick Topic Change:
Last night as we were walking from the car to the baseball field, there was a lady standing on the sidewalk waiting for someone else who was a ways behind us. As we get close to her, Prince says, "Excuse me lady but you are gorgeous!" Thankfully I don't think she heard him and I tried to shoo him on as quickly as I could. What would posess him?! She was a nice looking lady, but he's 5! I wanted to crawl in a hole. That Prince is quite the charmer.

Princess is participating in Cheerleading Camp this week. She is so excited and has been cheering all over the house. I think she really likes being with the older cheerleaders. Fact: I know nothing about being a cheerleader. I was a band geek. Hubby calls me "Queen of the Band Geeks" since I was drum major. Those were good times.

Prince is attending what I call "Mommy Camp." Yesterday he wanted to know where the other Mommies and kids were. Apparently he thought there would be a group of people and he didn't understand that it was just going to be the two of us this week. Today he and I went on a movie date. It was a fun day and it made me realize that Hubby and I don't do enough one on one things with the kids. We tend to think of the twins as a package deal. Guess we'll be working on that.

Fond Friend Memories and Other Things

So I've really been slacking on my blog this week. Mostly because I've been so incredibly busy that when I slow down at night I fall asleep but I also find that my brain has been so tied up with the to-do lists, that I haven't had much time for reflection.

Yesterday was an important anniversary for a dear friend. She lost her mother several years ago and as I was praying for her and calling to check on her, it brought memories of times I spent with her and her mother. When we were in college I spent quite a bit of time at her house and I remember lazy afternoons of watching movies and especially playing Scrabble. I always thought I was a pretty good Scrabble player until I started playing against my friend and her mom. They would beat me every time. We had lots of fun times together and yesterday especially I was missing my dear friend because she now lives on the complete other side of the country. I just wanted to go hang out with her and spend a lazy afternoon together like the old days...watching Pretty Woman, playing Scrabble, taking a nap, cooking meals, just being together. The most I could offer was a hug through the phone and words of encouragement. I can't wait to see her in the fall. It will be a great time.

In other news, I have been to Kennedy Space Center twice this week to try to see the Space Shuttle rollout which was scrubbed both times due to weather. It is supposed to go at midnight tonight and we will once again pack up the car and head out there. For those of you who don't know what that means, the shuttle is currently in the VAB (Vertical Assembly Building). It is mated to the solid rocket boosters and external tank and will be rolled out to the launch pad to prepare for the May 14th launch. The shuttle sits on a Mobile Launch Platform (MLP) and is rolled out on a crawler that travels about 1 mile per hour, the 3.5 miles to the launch pad. As a Booster Brat, I have been raised around this stuff but this will be the first time I've ever been able to see this. So I am super excited and I really hope it happens tonight. I'll post pictures later.

The princess, in all of her allerginess (yes, I know that's not a real word) is going to see an allergist for the first time on Friday. I really hope we survive until then. She has to be off of all antihistimines for 48 hours before her appointment and she is not doing well with that. I had to stop writing a few minutes ago to help clean her up because she got sick from coughing so much. We're doing a breathing treatment right now, hoping this helps. If not, it may really and truly be a looooooonnnnnnggggg night for Mommy.

Ending on a happy note, my couponing is really starting to pay off. Tonight I went to the grocery store and got $50.01 worth of stuff for $6.95. I must say that I'm rather impressed with myself. It feels great to save money!!

Well, I'm off to get ready to see the shuttle!