February Update

Can't believe February is almost over.   I have spent all of February sick as well as the last 2 weeks of January.   Started with a sinus infection.  Then was better for a few days.  Then the kids all got the 24 hour stomach bug but I of course had it for 3 miserable days.  Then round 2 of sinus infection which then lead to a horrible ear infection that keeps getting worse instead of better.  Antibiotics, ear drops and pain meds.  Then needed benadryl because the vicoden makes me itchy all over.  The ear pain is insane.  I get ear infections 2 to 3 times a year but this is the worst one I have ever had.

On to some pictures.

We had my inlaws over for the Super Bowl.  That was a lot of fun and yummy food!

This was one day that I was feeling ok!  

I joined Ipsy and got my first bag this February.  

I made a nice dinner for Valentine's Day.  It was so good.  We had london broil, french onion soup, salad and cake.

Now it's time to put all the Valentines stuff away.  Looking forward to hopefully a healthy March!

Life Gets In The Way

I haven't been around much.  Most of the projects I have worked on or wanted to work on have been put on hold.  This summer has been rough.  I had no idea what was going on with me.  Why I was in so much pain joints/bones?  Why I was tired all the time? Why low grade fevers every day?  I went to my primary care doctor in July then ended up sitting in the rheumatologists office in September.

Blood work didn't show much. The only thing that came back abnormal was something called Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody test. My rheumatoid factor test was negative.  I was told to expect a 3 month wait to see the rheumy but once my blood work came back I was seen the next week.

The rheumy did more blood work and xrays.   I was started on predinsone for a 6 week taper down and plaquenil.  X-rays showed no degeneration in my hands but did show bilateral osteoarthritis in MTPs and also bilateral calcaneal spurs. 

So my official diagnosis is Rheumatoid polyarthritis with osteoarthritis and he threw in chronic fatigue syndrome.

The plaquenil can take a while to work so it's just waiting right now for some relief.  I go back in 4 months.

On to a few pictures.

I love tea.  Lately I have been adding some fresh grated ginger and or turmeric to my tea.  I don't mind the little flakes of it. Plus I love the extra flavor.

I just turned 37 and my children informed me I needed to color my hair and start wearing more colors.  I told them my jeans are blue and I don't always wear black socks or black shoes lol.  So I colored my hair to get rid of the grays and then they tell me my hair is to dark. Can't win!  Brutally honest kids!!

See the owl?  He is so CUTE!  I found him at Target a few weeks ago!

Here are all my loves!!

So that is what has been going on around here!  

Recovery Buddy

Dozer has been stuck by my side for the 2 weeks before my surgery and ever since I had my gallbladder removed on the 13th.

If he's not following me around the house then he insists on laying on or near me!

Snowy Sunday

Thought I would share a few pictures from our snowy Sunday as I sit here recovering from my surgery.  The surgery went well and soon I will feel much better.

This is the top half of our driveway.  It's always so pretty when the trees are covered with snow.

Nathan, Jacob & Matthew

Nathan & Jacob

Dozer playing in the snow

Apples that are still on the apple tree by the house

Birds that were flying over the house today

So Friday Is The Day!

I had my pre-op appointment on Monday.  They did blood work and said they'd call if they needed to take out my gallbladder sooner.  No one called yesterday so that's good.  So my surgery is scheduled for Friday then I'm supposed to go back for a post-op appointment 2 weeks after that!

I can not wait to have it removed and begin to feel better!

Hubby & Dozer were hanging out with me after work the other day while I wasn't feeling well.

Christmas Porch 2013

I finally plugged in all the lights last night.  I haven't been feeling well this past week and ended up in the ER with a gallbladder attack on Saturday night/ Sunday morning.  I spent 8 hours there.  I've been dealing with this for 2ish years now.  I normally have an attack about every 3 months or so but since July it's really picked up and then this past week I had 4 attacks.  I had 2 small not so bad ones during the week then I had one that was pretty darn bad around 3am Saturday morning then had moderate pain for the rest of the day then at about 9pm I started to hurt really bad and it wasn't going away so we headed to the er around 11pm.  I have a follow up with the gastro surgeon on Monday. So we'll see what they want to do. In the Er they talked about removing my gallbladder but the OR was booked so they sent me home and said it wasn't an emergency.  Now I'm dealing with the pain and a low grade fever.  I'm so done with this!!

On to the front porch!

The wreath was green with gold leaves on it when I bought it a few years back.  I have since spray painted it silver, put some red glitter on some areas of it, added the decorations, ribbons & lights.

This is what it looked like before I changed it:

 Source

Here are the snowflake lights hanging in the front yard:

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