Fascinating

I made my second trip down to see Dr. Simon Yu yesterday. My expectations were all over the place. Yes, I feel better. No, my wheeze and cough are not gone. The skeptical part of me said, "Parasites, really? Who has parasites that cause a tumor in their lung. And what Dr. uses a crazy machine to test you." Granted, I have to be fair. I've had my share of crazy tests by other medical doctors, but none compare to a test that measures the meridians of my body. What would you say if I told you that he diagnosed me with a machine that measured the nerve endings on all my fingers and toes? Did you know that your right thumb is connected to your right lung? I'd tell you some of the others, but with forty I lost track. I just remember the lung because that happens to be my problem. I know, see? Like i said, a little crazy. After yesterday, though, I'm a believer.

Last trip, if you look at my life like forty violin strings, I had fifteen that were out of tune. Mainly my gut, hence the parasites. This time.... drum roll please... only ONE! And guess which one? My right lung, of course. What I find fascinating is that last month the lung showed up as a problem, but nothing that would make you think it was my main problem, or even a big problem. This time, after a month of treatment, it was like a layer was pulled back. He described it as my body having to take care of the major problem (parasites) before it could take care of the more minor, yet most irritating one. He has a way to test, as well, what medicine or antibiotic will help make that part of your body strong. That in itself is crazy. All Doctors need a machine that will tell you if the medication they are giving you will actually work. Wouldn't that eliminate a lot of irritating medicine changes. Like they could have told me that my vicaden ( I don't know the spelling, and am too lazy to walk upstairs to check.) would make the trunk of my body break out into a rash and cause my armpits to itch. :-) Anyway, I am back on my parasite meds in about ten days, well still taking the 25 natural pill's (Cleansers, natural parasite meds, Vit. D, etc.) he has me on. It is a little daunting, and I'm not looking forward to the feeling of the strong stuff again, but you know what? I don't care. I'm getting better. Do you know how long I've waited to say that? I took my girls to the zoo, the pool, and over to the Bair's for supper and I still felt great. The next day I went to St. Louis and back. Normally that would leave my lung hurting and the right side of my head aching and out of commission for a few days. What do I feel today? No pain. A little tired, but no pain. Maybe I'm celebrating a little early, but I have a good feeling about this. :-)

On a side note.

I want you to know that my plant is thriving. It really is a hardy breed. Believe me, I've almost killed it twice. When I went to St. Louis I forgot to have people water it... oops. Who knew? Now I know why people have to have other people water their plants when they leave. It was an Ah ha moment for me. :-) I have discovered that if you load it up with water daily it stays looking like it did when I bought it. It really is like a third kid I leave hanging outside the house all day. :-) If I forget it it will die, but with a little love and care it thrives. Good thing my kids yell and squawk if I forget to give them food or water. :-)

I want...

I just want everyone to know I slept seven straight hours last night. I know it doesn't seem like much to some of you, but for me it is a mini miracle. I don't think that has happened since Gabi was born and my health got so yucky.

On the health side of things, I'm feeling pretty good. I have a bad cold or maybe it is allergies again, I can't tell, but my lung feels great. I still wheeze when i take a deep breath, but it's not burning or causing my head to ache, so that makes me happy. On the downside, my cough is worse, but again, I don't know if that is because of the cold/allergies, or what. I go to the doctor on the 28th, so just pray that he will have direction for me. I want so badly to feel normal again. To have the energy to clean my ENTIRE house in a day, which isn't that much as those of you who have been here know. :-) I want to be able to wash all my laundry and not leave it sitting in baskets for a week because I'm exhausted. I want to cook nice meals for my family and not just put something in their mouths so they don't starve. I want to play with my girls and have energy to keep up with them. But once again, even though these things sound noble, it is the case of the "I wants..." Really, when it all comes down to it, I want what God wants for me. If I am supposed to deal with this for however long I want the strength and the grace to survive each day, bringing glory to Him. That is what I want. Really, even if I have to sound like I'm going to hack my lung up at any moment and people look sideways at me wondering why on earth I am out infecting them with whatever horrible disease I have spewing out of my mouth. I really should start wearing a sign. :-)

Houseboat

It was unanimously decided that whoever gets rich first should buy a houseboat for the family to enjoy. We had so much fun the other night on a friends. Karis surprised me by swimming all over the place out in the middle of the lake. I thought she might be to scared, but not at all. Of course, having the aunties around to grab onto helped a lot.
Mmmmm..... what a life. It felt good to relax after a hard day out in the sun. Well at least for Rae. Abby had a hard day managing a coffee shop. :-)
Yummy food, thanks to Grandma.
They managed to fit quite a few on there without tipping it. Although this was one of the few times that happened. Watching the tipping was quite amusing.
Ooops, put this in twice.
Karis and I had fun making silly faces and checking out the houseboat bed. It would have been fun to sleep out there we decided.
Enjoying the sunset from the roof. Karis had no fear, which was good, but at the same time worried mama a little now and then. Whoever it was that invented life jackets I am grateful for.
A nice ending to a great night. Karis and I decided that God did a great job with this sunset.

Awww..... :-)

I'll admit, I'm pretty proud of this picture. Just wanting Grandparents to know you will be getting new pictures of your little girls. The friend who takes them is out of town, so I'm trying to improvise. I'm just not quite satisfied with JC Penny's or Target, so... we'll see what I can do. Digital cameras and computer programs can make anyone look like a photographer. :-)

Summerfest 2009

These pictures are backwards, but I'll just run with it. Grandma spoiled both girls by taking them to the carnival. Something Karis was super excited about all day, and it lived up to her expectations. Thanks to the nice man who ran this she popped the balloon all by herself. When given the option between stuffed teddy bears, lions, or a stuffed $100 bill she without hesitation said, "I'll take the money."
"I'm big enough" has started. She saw the Dragon roller coster and decided she must go on it. I told her that she wouldn't be able to ride with me or Grandma, but she said, "Mom, I'm FOUR." As if this solved the entire problem. She started off with a confident smile, as you can see. By the second time around there was a very concerned look on her face. By the third or fourth time she was saying, "Mommy, make it stop!" I was proud or her, she made it through without crying, but it is nice to know that I am still needed, even though she is four.
The girls wore Grandma out by going down the slide. What a good Grandma. Both the girls loved it, so it was worth the trek. Thanks Grandma!
They both picked the duck out of the swimming pool and actually won their bigger prizes. It was quite the walk around the Carnival the rest of the night. The bat was quite big and awkward and that silly dolphin squeaks in a very obnoxious way. :-)
This is Grandma's favorite ride, but Karis wasn't too sure about it. Maybe next year.
A favorite for both girls. We could ride the merry-go-round over and over.
The parade itself was long and a little boring, but it didn't lack in terms of candy. Gabi thought it was the best thing ever. Not only did she get to walk in the street, but people threw candy at her. Karis was a little more cautious this year. I think she has heard us say she could get run over and squashed enough times to make going out on the street, even with approval, a little scary.

A weekend with Daddy

We took Daddy to the Zoo and shared the wonders of the train with him. We also took advantage of the visiting Birdman and enjoyed his show. He had some funny, as well as beautiful birds.
Enjoying Saylorville Visitors Center.
This is very typical Gabi. Walking along with sippy cup in hand.
This year has been the one where Karis has discovered her love for flowers. She will stop and smell any that we are walking by. Hopefully next year I will have the energy to help her plant her own little garden (or pot) of flowers.
I know she is a "big" four year old, but I think this picture makes her look like my little baby again.

All in all it was a fun day with Daddy. We don't often get two days in a row with him, so are looking forward to today, as well.

The Zoo with Auntie Christie

Enjoying a train ride.
Showing Auntie Christie all the tunnels. Karis is getting to know the Zoo pretty well this year.

Anxiously awaiting the train ride. This was the highlight of their day, I think.
Watch out everyone, here come the scary dinosaurs! What a fun day! We were exhausted by the end of it, but everyone had a great time. Christie is here for the month, mostly working for Pioneer, but we did get to enjoy her for a week before we had to share.

Oh my

I uploaded my 150 pictures from the last couple weeks this morning and realized how far I've gotten behind. My new goal is to blog at least one time a day to catch up on all the fun times we have had. But in the meantime, I couldn't resist sharing this picture from this morning.

I was doing something for Karis when I happened to glance out and saw Gabi just sitting on the chair. This is unusual for her, so I came out to take a closer look. She had lined up her baby da's as she calls them, and was watching over them like a mother hen. I don't remember Karis ever doing this, so had to take a picture.

All is going well here. More in the days to come.

PS, I am a firm believer that the "horse pills" I've been taking should be reserved for those creatures alone. One more day and I'm done with them!

Almost done with the first ten days...

The first round of the killer medicine is almost done. Today is my last day - well, almost. I got off to a slow start the first day, so have one more little pill to take tomorrow. Then I start the next round. I went to pick up my prescription, excited because it was only one dose, one time a day. Now, I wasn't feeling well, at all, when I went in there. That is what the meds I'm currently on do to me, make me feel blah, anyway, back to me feeling blah and walking into the store. She hands me this HUGE bottle and I blink at her. "No," I say, "I only have to take this one time a day, why so many pills?" And they aren't just any pills, they are chewable lozenges made for horses. But she assured me that they should taste great, being orange flavored, and all. I only have to chew FOUR of them right before I go to bed. I almost cried. Listen to me complain. I'm feeling better, coughing less, and yet I'm still a whiner. How does God put up with me? I tell myself everyday that this is way better than being in the hospital for five days with a two month or more recovery process. And, no, I haven't seen any parasites yet. I'm really praying they are of the super small variety and I never will.

Night on the town:-)

Could they be any cuter?
This picture wasn't supposed to be in there, but it's cute, anyway. I'm sure this is what she was probably doing well we were out.
Aw.......
We are enjoying Java Joe's coffee.
Yes, we actually took swing dancing lessons.(Christie and Jake are demonstrating in this picture.) My husband was very reluctant to try it, but he did. Neither of us is a natural, but it was fun. I think we are going to try it again in a few weeks. It is something I have always wanted to do (dancing of some sort) so I am excited.

Long thin slimy ones, short fat juicy ones, itsy, bitsy....

I have been asked a few times if I will actually see these parasites. The above picture is my response to this. Aahhh! I certainly hope not. I didn't ask, and I'm not looking too closely! :-)
Karis agrees, and we both have decided that this particular treatment is a don't ask, don't tell, don't see, don't look one. :-)
Good tonsils, eh? We were having a silly face picture taking fest and thought we would share. Karis and I got lots of giggles as we snapped these photos of each other.

Seriously, though, the treatment is going well. I will cautiously say, that aside from the side effects of slight, slight,nausea, feeling like I've had one too many to drink in the morning, as well as the proverbial stars, I am doing well.( I say with bated breath that my lung may even be feeling a little better) Am I killing parasites? Hopefully! One of the worst side-effects is that I can't snack. :-) I have to wait two hours after I eat and and hour before to take these little pills. It is so hard not to pop something into my mouth and I must admit that I have failed a few times. Hopefully the little buggers will still die despite my slip ups. I just can't remember everything, and honestly, when you feel slightly hungover for part of the day what is a girl to do?Four more days of this pill and then on to the next one. I'm back to the Dr. on the 28th, so am excited to hear the results and to see if I need to go on another round. Ooo...boy. I just keep telling myself this way better than surgery!