maters in the garden

Chris and I experimented this year as to where to put a garden next year.  

The choice is obvious.

Tomato plants at the top of the hill:

withered and half-dead.

Tomato plants at the bottom of the hill:

lush with 5 maters!

Next year I want some tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, green beans...  We'll see what happens :)

PS3

what my cute husband does when he and his friend have some time off work:

dr. B

Chest x-ray today revealed that my lungs are clearing up (thanks for doing your job, prednisone).  I've got two weeks left- 20mg then 10mg- and Dr B is optimistic that I'll be done after the 10mg (no 5 mg taper).  I'm going back to see him in two weeks for another chest x-ray and more blood-work.  I'm wondering if I'll have AC veins left by the time I'm 30.  Anyway, I'm hoping that 100mg of Imuran will do the job of keeping the lung nodules away.  Only time will tell once I'm off prednisone again. 

Thanks for your prayers as always.  I'm actually feeling fine.  I was having some trouble with my right hip, but prednisone is solving that issue... so it's not all bad.  I've also had some funky cough for about a week (the kind of cough that makes people not want to ride in a elevator with you), but it's getting better.  I don't feel sick at least.  Me and Benadryl have become BFFs.  It's hard to sleep on high doses of steroids, but Sara go night-night with a couple of benadryl capsules.

This year will be better than last year.  I mean, this same time last year I was so sick and in so much pain that I thought I would rather die.  Thank you Lord for delivering me from that.

forgiveness

Disclaimer:  This is a sermon to me.

It is really hard to forgive people.   I have never really had to forgive anyone for doing something that horrible to me or my family.  Think about people who have experienced murder, rape, adultery, abuse….  I can’t even begin to imagine their pain.  Or worse... try to understand how Jesus must have felt dying for the sins of the world and forgiving us for them in the process.  What an insult to Him.  But what LOVE!

I am generally a very forgiving person, but how foolish I can be sometimes to not let offenses go.  Am I that proud?  Let me list out my sins today and put a check mark by all the ones that Christ forgives me for…

Colossians 3:13 says “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

In Matthew 18:21-22, Jesus tells us to forgive people 77 times when they sin against us.  That is a lot of times to forgive someone who keeps offending you.

Matthew 6:15 tells us that if we do not forgive men of their sins, God will not forgive us ours.

How many times have you heard someone say “Well, I could never forgive that person for what they did to me [or insert name here]!”  Are you kidding me?  We are such selfish people.

We are sinners.  We are going to hurt people- sometimes on purpose, sometimes not.  And others will hurt us.  It's the nature of a fallen world.  I certainly hope that if (no, when) I make a mistake, someone will have the heart to forgive me- not begrudge me.

Our life is supposed to reflect Christ perfectly.  It’s what makes us Christian.  Christ loves infinitely.  And He forgives infinitely.  We can’t pick and choose which pieces of Christianity we want to adhere to; therefore we are to love people and forgive people infinitely.

Who do you need to forgive today?

check-up tomorrow

I'm going back to see Dr. Bensadoun tomorrow.  (We have become great pals this last year.)  Tomorrow will mark the end of week 2 for the current prednisone taper, so I start 20mg on Saturday.  I think I'm getting another chest x-ray and of course bloodwork done.  And I'll cough up another office visit copay.

Fortunately it's jeans day at work tomorrow, so I don't have to roll up to UK in my scrubs like I usually do.  Patients tend to stop me and ask where things are in the hospital (i.e. the nearest snack machine) and of course I do not know.  Although, I have frequented UK hospital since July 2009, so I have an occasional answer.

Once I know about the status of my lungs, I will post another update.

My blog life has seriously struggled the last few months... if I do write, it's about my health... maybe because that is all that I seem to focus on sometimes.  I promise that I have done lots of fun things, most of which I neglected to bring my camera to take any pictures.  I'll try to do better.

Most recently, Chris and I went to the HMA (Housestaff Medical Alliance) Family Picnic on Saturday.  About 40 of us (including kids) gathered at Masterson Station Park for a potluck picnic and socializing.  :)  It was a good time and surprisingly good weather- quite cool out.  Then we headed over to play disc golf with a couple of friends.  The weather turned instantly awful.  And somehow a grasshopper crawled up my jeans causing me to have a spastic fit in the middle of the field.  Embarrassing.

This Saturday Chris is working, so I will be going solo to a cookout for HMA at a friend's house.  I'll take my camera.  Hopefully I will take some pictures.

Updates coming...

put on a happy faaaaaaace!

I have resumed a prednisone taper, unfortunately.  Dr B. would like to eliminate the lung nodules while my body gets used to the 100mg of Imuran, since we know that steroids work so well.  I guess that's okay with me.  I'm doing 40mg for a week, then 30, 20, 10 and probably 5.  Then we shall see if 100mg of Imuran by itself will keep the nodules from re-appearing.  One can pray.

I decided that the main reason I hate prednisone so much is the weight gain issue.  I feel like I look stupid with a chipmunk face and I get p.o'ed when I have to wear jeans that are two sizes bigger than what I should be wearing.  Guess I'll just have to Zumba and TurboJam my butt into shape.

Must fight the fat!

uncooperative lungs

Sigh... I have been off prednisone for over a month and have been on Imuran for about three now.  I got a CT scan done July 9 and there were four new small lung nodules.  ACK!  My lungs were normal/clear on April 9.  So the medication battle begins.  The docs are thinking I will just up my dose of Imuran (no prednisone!)... I go see Dr. Bensadoun again next week, so I should know by then.  I don't care what we do as long as I can breathe and I stay out of the hospital.  :)

goodbye, prednisone

June 4, 2010 was my last dose of prednisone. The plan is to never return to this drug. I started Imuran (azathioprine) on April 26 and so far it is successful. (and it’s a pill-hooray!) The next appointment with my lung doctor is July 9- I’ll get a CT and blood-work to check for inflammation/new nodules. But there won’t be any. =D

My chipmunk face is disappearing. My hot flashes are gone… I am pretty much back to normal temperature. This is helpful since it’s so hot outside. Hot flashes + summertime= misery. I’m losing weight… slowly, but surely. I was a bit sluggish for a while since I didn’t have the boost of steroids to perk me up everyday, but I think my body is regulating itself now. Overall, I feel so much better.

Funny- Last week I listened to a web conference about IBD for women and one of the comments the doc made was that if prednisone were to be presented to the FDA nowadays as a new drug, it would likely not be approved for use due to the nasty side effects. HA! However, it DOES do its job and is an amazing cure for a lot of ailments,but the short and long-term effects are to be cautious about. 

Anywho, I’m done with them after 10 long months. Yippee!

a day full of celebrations

Happy Birthday, Momma!!  I love you!

Happy Anniversary, Barbara and Jeff Barnette!

Happy Anniversary, Kristin and Matthew Collins!

And Happy Flag Day!  :)

It's a wonderful day full of celebrations.

memorial day in memphis

Christopher and I took a much needed trip to Memphis, TN over Memorial Day weekend... we had not seen our friends in exactly one year.  Way too long, despite the fact that the year flew by.

Coming into town, we drove by our first home together.  I actually was kinda sad.  Such a cute little place.

Our first stop: Central BBQ.  Yes, real, delicious BBQ- finally!  Chris and I split a ginormous basket of bbq chicken nachos.  And he also ate a beef brisket bbq sandwich.  Yum.

After we ate lunch, we stopped by Medtronic to see my old co-workers.  Unfortunately, it was a holiday weekend and a bunch of peeps were gone on Friday, but I was so grateful to spend some time with the folks who were actually there.  :)  I put post-it notes (with messages) all over my boss's desk... maybe one day he will find them all.  And maybe I hid his stupid Darwin fish magnet that I despise.  Hehehe.

We spent a good chunk of Friday with our dear friends, Heather and Nathan.  Chowed down on a burger and fries from Huey's for supper.

After dinner, Nathan and Christopher went to see a movie and I went to see my BFF, Jen.  Man, I miss her.  We strolled through the river park and chatted like I had never left Memphis.

Saturday morning, my other BFF, Kelly, picked me up and we went to breakfast and shopping.  Although, we spent most of our time at Panera catching up on life.  I really miss her too.  Moving sucks.  Neither of us was feelin' the shopping vibe... too bad.  We walked around the mall for a little while, accomplished nothing, then she dropped me off at Memphis Pizza Cafe to eat lunch with the Makris family (one of the four essential Memphis restaurant stops for my trip).  It really sucked saying bye to Kel Kel... not to mention, I am lame, and forgot to take a picture of us together.  I am still bitter about that.

After lunch, I called up another friend and we got pedicures!  That was a blessing.  We had a good time relaxing and chatting and she got a little bit of free time away from the new baby. :) 

We ate supper at their house that night and got to meet the new baby, Sam!

Saturday night we went to Dan Lee's graduation/birthday party.  I had not had enough of my Jenneefurr.

Sunday was an awesome day.  We attended our old church- Christ United Methodist.  I boo-hoo'd nearly the whole time- I really miss our time there.  I miss playing in the worship band, I miss our friends, I miss the pastor...  I didn't want to leave.  Our church friends came over for a cookout Sunday night.  We had a blast with everyone.  The little kids made "Miss Sara" jump on the trampoline with them until she was about to croak.  My, how our bodies age so fast... Here's me jumping and smiling through the pain...

Christopher and me with Jen and Lucas Parris

I also neglected to get a photo of us with our wonderful hosts- Paul and Kristy Makris.  They let us stay at their home for three days, fed us, and threw a party for us.  We love them so much- thank you for your hospitality!!!

Finally, on the way out of town, Jen Lee came and met us for breakfast at Blue Plate Cafe.  Delicious.

See you again soon, Memphis.  We will have to make Memorial Day in Memphis a yearly tradition.  :)