case closed

We got a letter in the mail that from the Department of Human Services that they had closed our adoption case. It was a sad moment and oh so disappointing. Unfortunately though, I know that it is for the best for now. I don't have the energy required to deal with another child. The ones I have are relatively drama-free except on a few days, and we like it that way.

It is so disappointing, though. Luke especially was bummed as he was still holding out hope of us getting him a little sister. I told him he'd just have to wait until he could have his own kids.........YEARS from now!

However, we know that God knows best.

I go back to the dr. in Charleston on Tuesday. I had some lab work done, and things look a little worse which probably rules out lupus, but still leaves us in the dark as to what is wrong. So, I'll keep you posted.

another appointment

and still no diagnosis. I went to see the rhuemotologist yesterday. He was great, and we really liked him. However, he wasn't able to find a definitive problem as of yet. For now, I am on a two week regimen of prednisone, which I am not that happy about. He took some x-rays and some blood, and we will discuss the blood work when I return on March 1. I have an increased ANA which is an antibody that basically makes your body fight against itself. Yea! So, right now, while certainly far from sure he is considering that it might be lupus. We will have to wait and see what the blood work shows and what the prednisone does for me.

I know that I haven't been blogging much. Whatever this illness is that I have, it is at this time, manifesting itself in exhaustion. I am just tired all the darn time. So, I stay away from the blogging world because I feel so guilty for not posting anything, but I honestly just don't have the energy to type most of the time.

the doc called

So, Dr. McDonough called yesterday. Of course, my phone is broken and I didn't get the message until this morning so Steve called them back while I was at my leadership conference.

Good news: not cancer

Bad news: autoimmune disease-- there are like 100 of these so now I go to see another specialist and start figuring out which one it is. Boo Hoo. I don't know what that will entail, but whatever it is, me and MY GOD will manage! He already knows the answer and is probably working to heal me right now! Yeah, me!! I serve a BIG GOD....................


I totally had to jump back on here and leave these two links for you!!

My friend Janet has an etsy site which you can find here.

You must go and read this blogpost which is hilarious!

December so far

Well, December is finally here, and with it--some cold weather for SC. After enduring 10 months of summer down here, winter has finally shown up. I was having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit with it being so hot, but just in time for our annual open house, the weather decided to cool.......and not too soon for me!

Our open house was a huge success even though I have not one single picture of it. I was actually able to talk to our guests this year because we learned a valuable lesson last year in traffic flow! We had a great crowd, and yummy food (I'm just guessing about the yummy part since I didn't get any!). Our sweet church people brought us some really cute things...totally unnecessary, but certainly appreciated! It's always nice to look at something and remember who gave it to you....it's a nice reminder that you are loved, and it gives you the opportunity to say a quick prayer for them, too.

We also went to a couple of parties over the weekend with more to come this weekend. It's just a partying season round these parts. This coming Saturday Luke is in  two parades, so guess what we will be doing! Yep, drinking hot chocolate standing in the cold for the band to walk by so we can shout and wave like idiots making them know we love all of them.

I have just about finished up our shopping. I've had so much fun this year doing that. I love local shops, though, and I think next year is going to be all about the local fare. I love giving small businesses MY business.

I think that's about it for now.....busy week ahead. We are reading Sugar Cookies in the library this week and decorating cookies AND Santa (Steve dressed in a suit)  is coming to take a picture with all of the kids as well. I am sure to be worn out by Friday.

Please keep me in your prayers next Monday as I travel to Charleston to see an oncologist there. Hopefully, we can get to the bottom of this platelet issue soon and our adoption can once again be the focus around here. Honestly, I feel fine. You'd think if something were truly wrong, I'd have some kind of symptom by now. So, I know God is in control and am just trying not to think about it.

Enjoy your week!!

white-coat phobia

I do believe this is a true, very real syndrome that probably has a name; but, I'm too traumatized lazy to google it. There's something about that coat that turns me: a rational, educated, calm individual into a blathering idiot who probably throws her furniture out the front door so it can be cleaned by the rain.
I honestly don't know what comes over me when I get into that small room--my hands start sweating, my heart starts racing, and my mind (previously filled with all sorts of intelligent questions or requests) goes completely blank.
Then, the minute the babbling brook called my train of unintelligle thoughts ends, the doctor.....wanting to escape the crazy walks out and I turn back into a rational, educated, calm person again who wants to yell, "Wait! Come back. I'll show you I'm not crazy." But, alas, it is too late for he is gone, and I am left on my own to decipher WTH just happened. 

SIGH..............................

good grief!

I can't hardly say that without conjuring up a picture of Charlie Brown and Lucy with the football. I love Charlie Brown, and some days I feel like him!

We must be on the cusp of something BIG, either personally or spiritually.......something that God really, really wants because Satan, he is attacking.

He knows our most vulnerable areas to send his darts, and right now he is working overtime trying to hit my mark. I am trying to dodge all of those arrows he's sending my way and not let him hit the bulls-eye, but merciful heavens, it is tough.

We had a wonderful weekend with friends. We had a fabulous Sunday as well until about 10 pm. Luke went to bed and about 20 minutes later came into the tv room (where I was trying, unsuccessfully due to satellite issues) to watch the last hour of Survivor and the season finale of Brothers and Sisters. He was upset, holding his chest, having a hard time breathing, and complaining of the area between his shoulder blades hurting. Well, I don't know about in your house, but I really like for the people in my house to BREATHE. So, since he scared me to death, we took him to the emergency room--along with about 900 other people--and waited through something scary where the police were called--until about 3 hours later they told us he has pneumonia. WHAT?? It came on him in like 10 minutes! But, alas, there it was. So, they sent us home with medicine and the hope that he would feel better soon. Fun times!

Finally made it home and to bed only to have to get up a few, too short hours later since, not being clairvoyant, I had made my own doctor's appointment for 7:30. My doctor told me that my labs looked a little better, and we would re-check them in 2 weeks. Maybe we are going in the right direction with that. Unfortunately, he will not sign the adoption paper until we have this little issue figured out or it fixes itself so that is still up in the air!

We did complete our 2nd adoption class on Saturday and it wasn't quite as boring as the first one. We also have our pre-fire inspection next Tuesday to make sure we are ready for the "real" fire inspection. So, we are on schedule with that for now.

Back to satan and his evil plan, though. I hope he knows that my God is bigger and I have NO problem letting him fight this battle for me. He's glad to do it......so why not let him?