Dreams & Blessings

This week has been a crazy, busy, blessed mess. I have had a lot of dreams in my life and this week I've had several of those dreams come true. My Crohn's is in remission. I just love that word! I'm getting the kitchen of my dreams!!! And a few other very fabulous things. All I've been able to think about is just how blessed we are. Even after all of the things we've been through. My faith grows stronger every day. Finally, I get it. Yesterday was a hard day for me though. My bestie had her baby girl 15 weeks early. FIFTEEN. My heart aches for her. In the midst of all my joy she is going through one of the toughest times in her life. I was a nervous mess all day yesterday, looking at my phone every five minutes- okay maybe every two minutes- checking for an update. This morning I was much better because I got to go see them both. I've never really imagined a person so small. It takes me back to all the things Adam & I have been through; when one moment to the next so completely changed our lives. I realize now how lucky I am and that I need to be thankful for every moment that is "normal". We will be keeping the faith. Praying for those we care about who are going through good times and bad because you just never know.

Kitchen Project 2011

Last year I got this brilliant idea on how to re-do my kitchen. Its been bothering me since we built the house six years ago. The windows weren't big enough, nor were they properly placed. I can see out of one little corner of the kitchen if I contort myself over the sink that's 45'd in the corner. On top of that the windows just haven't been the best windows. And I did happen to spend a small fortune on them. Not happy.

So, my brilliant idea was to move the pantry into the closet and take out the pantry doors, put a huge "window" from the back wall of the pantry into the dining room, add an island of sorts in that area. On the back side of the wall I also engineered it to build in the hutch that had been in the dining room to be in the wall with shelves above it, making my display area for fancy things much larger.

In November I started making holes in the walls and taking things down and out to get the project started. I don't like to wait. Which probably explains why I'm usually doing all the renovating myself. Don't get me wrong Adam helps if I really, REALLY want him to. Or refuse to do things like electrical. I can do it, I just don't like to.

Over Christmas break from work I built this huge and might I add VERY heavy butcher block countertop out of Walnut, White Oak, and Ash. It now houses my gas cooktop :) I finished just in time to get my tile up before I had to go back to work. Ever since I finished I have been DREADING the grout.

Remember about a month ago or so when I was so furious from being so embarrassed at church I decided my day couldn't get any worse so I might as well grout and get it over with. My 10 pound bag got me 1/3 of the way done. *sigh* It really seemed like more. So we were in Mason on Saturday and I decided I better stop at Menards and get more grout. Well they only had the sanded grout and I like the unsanded but I wanted to get it done so I bought another 10 pound bag and came home to finish. Yeah right. That bag got me to 2/3 done. Insert another sigh. Yesterday when I was in Rochester I stopped at Lowes and bought the UNsanded grout so I could come home and finally finish. I got smart this time and bought 2 bags so I was sure to have enough. AND I happened to have saved the best part for last...the ceiling. Whoever came up with this fabulous design didn't take into consideration that they WOULD BE DOING THE WORK!!

I guess you could call it a good workout. I was sweating like crazy. When I decided to put the tile on the ceiling I was trying to avoid damage to the sheetrock from the steam coming off the cooktop. Good idea, just not executed well.

Long story over, I finished. Tomorrow I will be putting on the rest of the sealer and getting my area back together. YAY!

**I also had to have Adam take pictures just to prove I really do all the work I don't just talk about it :) HA

Remission

Remission.

A word I wasn't sure I'd ever hear or think was possible. After the last couple weeks of not feeling well off and on and the tests I've been preparing for and having- now I know it's true.

My Crohn's Disease is in REMISSION!

I took the trip up to Mayo today by myself to meet with my doctor. I was a ball of nerves. Up until today I'd been calm. But this morning it hit me. It turns out it was nothing. I am so happy I could burst! My injections are working!

Dr. Rao and I went over my colonoscopy and compared it with 6 months ago. The ulcers that lined the area I had resectioned are gone. The deep ulcer I had is gone. My ulcers are GONE! I can't believe it. Well, actually, I can and I am.

I feel like I have a new outlook on life. I feel like I don't have to be controlled by this like I have been for the last 3 1/2 years. I do need to watch what I eat more carefully. Not eat "bad" things so often- I got a little carried away when my injections initially started working... but I can do it. It's worth it!

If you could see me right now- besides being uber tired- I am grinning ear to ear.

I even bought myself a little (okay, BIG) reward. And I'm pretty excited about it!

Life is good

God is good!

Keep the faith.

Thanks to everyone who has been supporting me and praying for me! :) :)

P.S. One of the tests showed there is something going on with my liver but we will just have to keep a watch on it...

P.P.S. I probably won't be seeing Dr. Rao again since she is done at Mayo July 1. I have to say I have grown to like her and I will miss her. Maybe I'll get lucky and she'll stay- otherwise I'll have to go back to my regular doctor who's at the top of the field. ;) Guess I'm okay with that too.

Liquid Diet

Tonight I'm having my last meal until Friday. I've been working up to this not eating much over the weekend as I wasn't feeling well. But tomorrow, I start my liquid diet. I'm thinking about making Jello for the occassion. Last week Adam and Ali went with me to the grocery store to stock up on Jello, pudding, Popcicles, ice cream, Gatorade and bottled water.

I'm not looking forward to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. People at work always make some good things for lunch and the smell trickles out into our office area. I can imagine it already.

Friday I head to Mayo again. This time Adam gets to go with me. Luckily. I've gone through my fair share of tests alone. Although he can drive me crazy in the hospital. Pacing back and forth. I'm going to be put under this time so someone had to go along to drive me home. Hopefully it goes as well as last time. And hopefully we get some results that tell us something. I'm in need of answers. Again. I'm standing her thinking dejavu- with the exception of the whole blog thing, since I didn't have one last time.

I've been off work all day today since I was supposed to have my tests today. The were only rescheduled THREE times. But who's counting. I have gotten a good start on Ali's Easter dress. Finally! And hope to get more done on it tonight.

Its time for Dancing with the Stars to start again! YAY> Happy Monday!

Ahh Spring!

Thursday was beautiful out so after work Ali and I went outside to spend some time with Ford and play. She had gotten a t-ball set from my parents last Easter and is finally getting into it this year. We're hoping she likes to play softball.
She's batting right handed...

Now left handed...

This is my new favorite picture. 1- Ali is batting left handed, but she's really left handed. 2- Ford is in the background throwing his Hedgehog around. 3- Ford seems to be in mid air. He was having so much fun outside playing. He would chase all of the balls Ali hit but not actually take them.

And Ali had to swing before we were done outside. I think she's going to have a lot of fun outside this summer! :)

Who knew?!

So who knew a blog could upset so many people. Especially when it really has nothing to do with them. Guess I'm wrong. Oh, well, I'm a big girl and guess what? I can make my own decisions. I'm a little bitter right now, maybe I shouldn't be blogging....

I thought this weekend was going to be great, I had a lot of good things planned- hasn't gone that way so far. Great. Just great.

I did get to do something fun today (and I won't mention who went with me; they would like to remain anonymous) FABRIC SHOPPING! I bought 47 Batik's in Aqua, green/lime green, and purple. I'm doing a Ricky Timms Kaleidoscope quilt and I am ecstatic about it! It's going to be very different than anything I've ever done because it's BRIGHT! And it will have a black background. I also think I'm going to try either a colorful flange or maybe some piping.

This photo doesn't exactly do their brightness justice, but you get the idea. But I did take this photo with my new Cannon SLR. I'm pretty excited about that too.

Yes, I'm spoiled.

Here we go again.

I put in call number THREE for the week to Mayo today. I should have just "forgotten" because I got the news I didn't want.

A week from Monday I'm get to have another colonoscopy. YIPPEE! This will be my fifth in the last 3 1/2 years. So I guess, next weekend is a four day weekend for me. Tuesday I have my follow up appointment and get the results from my biopsies.

I know- this is exciting stuff! Clear liquid diet, here I come.

Tonight though, I get to eat pizza! The fam is going to Poor Richards in New Hampton for a get together with Grandma since Cala is home. (life tends to revolve around when Cala will be home) And tomorrow is the SHOP HOP! I cannot wait. I've been looking forward to this for weeks. I'm looking for Batik's and possibly fabric for my sister's THIRD t-shirt quilt; this one will be of all her college shirts. We'll see if she's nice to me tonight or not. She wasn't all to pleasant with me on Skype earlier so I may need to rethink this amazing gift. She already has four quilts from me and another that I assisted my Grandma Shirley with. Even she says "what am I going to do with all these?". Well, in my opinion she better appreciate them! So, we'll see what I decide. She may be disappointed.

This is my life.

Driving in the driveway today I noticed one thing. Extra tire tracks. After thinking about what they could be from I realized there's a box on my front porch. (Sorry UPS guy who had to walk around the deer head because my husband refuses to get rid of it since "Ford loves it")

This is the box...

This is what's in the box.......

This is my life. What my life revolves around. Injections.

Since I started this medication in October, I've given myself 14 injections. After today- 16. I'm fine with it, as long as it helps.

And luckily I'm feeling better today for the first time in about two weeks.

So, I'm going to get out the cotton swabs and alcohol wipes. Wash my hands and get these injections done. Hopefully I don't bruise myself for a week this time.

not ready for Monday

The best thing about Sunday night- this Sunday night in particular- is the Celebrity Apprentice. The Apprentice has been one of my very favorite shows since it began. I have yet to miss a season.



However, I'm not ready for Monday. Usually, I don't dread Monday's- I like to go to work. This weekend I didn't get everything accomplished that I had hoped. I ended up spending a lot of time today with *2 people who would like to remain anonymous...shopping. That wasn't in the plan but my sister isn't home much and she might not be home at all this summer so I thought it was a good idea.



I did get the fabric for Ali's Easter dress, the tutu, fabric for a dress for me, shoes for Ali, and a few extra things...

The thing I could be dreading most about Monday, though, is the fact that I'm supposed to get a hold of my doctor within the next three days and I know that I don't feel much better. Not better like I was supposed to. I'm pretty disappointed. I don't know if I should wait to call or just get it over with. I'm not prepared to go spend more time in Rochester. I like the city but I'm not ready to take more time off work and spend a small fortune while being there...being poked and prodded isn't on my list of fun things to do and I was really hoping to avoid it this year.



On a good note tomorrow night is Bachelor night and I have a quilt guild meeting. Nothing like a little fabric and a lot of drama to give me time to avoid my own problems.



Have a good week everyone!

*new* project

A couple weeks ago I designed a new quilt. It's going to be my new show quilt and it's inspired by a couple of my favorite things. Stars and America. I purchased this Civil War Era fabric a while ago and I'm finally getting around to doing something with it.

I finished cutting out all of my pieces this morning and I've put together the first block that is my centerpiece.

I'm using a new technique this time it's called "Diamond-free". It's different than the way I learned but I think I've figured it out. I can't wait to get it all together!!

We're going to the annual Wild Game Feed party tonight- so, I better get my casserole made!

I also have a tutu to make this weekend and tomorrow I'm going to buy Ali's Easter dress material. I'm going to try to make a petticoat- the dress is inspired by Minnie Mouse! :)

Happy Saturday!

Living with Disease

Yesterday was day 3 of bad days in a row. My morning- shortly after getting to work I got the call that Miss Ali is sick. Well great. So after a jillion phone calls I finally get through to the Peds Clinic to get her an appointment...I take her to Mason- they say she's fine. Nothing wrong. We get back to town, I take her to preschool, and go back to work. Everyone was surprised to see me.

Skip forward a bunch of hours- she doesn't sleep through the night because she's coughing too much. I thought she was fine?!?

In between I got a call from my Crohn's doctor at Mayo- never a good sign when they call you...

Remember that test I did at home the day I first started my blog? Well, those results are in. And I don't want to hear them. Not ever. I have been feeling so much better and the test was just in preparation for my check up in 3 weeks. Only over the last several days I haven't felt so well. I just thought I hadn't been eating right and I've been a little stressed out... APPARENTLY it's a little more than that. My test is showing inflamation. Freakin' great. I wasn't prepared for this. Not yesterday. Not after the last three days. The last thing I expected yesterday was to hear from Mayo.

This is why I hate surprises.

Crohn's Disease has been ruling my life for the last 3 1/2 years and I cannot stand it. I remember being in the hospital with Adam, just before my diagnosis, when he was so sick, praying that he had Ulcertive Colitis not Crohn's Disease. Well my prayers worked for him and two weeks after his first surgery guess who was diagnosed with Crohn's. This girl.

Ulcertive Colitis is somewhat "cureable" while Crohn's just isn't. When we were going up to Mayo what seemed like at least every week back then all of the doctors just kept saying how they couldn't believe, and that they had never seen, a married couple with both diseases. Lucky us.

My doctor and I discussed a lot of things yesterday- mostly what we're going to do. If I'm not better in 7-10 days I have to go up right away and do a whole bunch more tests. I'm really excited about that because I was having such a good time paying off my last $20,000 visit. And if I do feel better in the next 7-10 days we'll pretty much be doing the same tests just not immediately- I'll have to "wait" 3 weeks until my appointment.

I'm staying optimistic though because stressing about it will only make things worse. All I can do now is hope and pray for good news but more importantly I am praying that Ali doesn't get either of these terrible diseases.

PS Day #4 was not nearly as bad as days 1-3. Happy Tuesday!