Leap Day

Today Adam and I celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of our first date. How is that possible when we've been married for 6 years? Well, our first date was on Leap Day 2000. We were both living in Logan as students going to Utah State. We had known each other for about six months but were just starting to hit it off. Adam came to the bank where I was working and asked me if I wanted to go to a Leap Day dinner. At first I didn't understand that he was asking me on a date, I thought there was a Leap Day dinner going on somewhere. Wherever he we was asking me to go with him, I wanted to go, and so I said yes. He came to pick me up later that night and when he opened the car door for me I found several Leap Day presents on my seat. It was so cute. I wish I could remember everything that was there, but all I can think of is a jump rope. He took me to the Bluebird Restaurant for a great Leap Day dinner, just the two of us. My favorite part of dinner was when we were eating our salads, Adam was about to put a crouton in his mouth when the song Forget About It by Alison Kraus came on. He dropped the crouton, closed his eyes, and said, "I love this song." I had to laugh. Before we left the restaurant we bought some gummy frogs in honor of Leap Day. I still have a couple of those gummy frogs in a Bluebird candy sack tucked away in my keepsake box. So, Happy 2nd Anniversay of our first date, to my one and only, and Happy Leap Day too. Thank you for asking me on that Leap Day dinner and for the 8 years that have followed. I love our life and I love you, Adam!

Erythema Nodosum

After my last post my dear husband wrote me a very sweet poem and posted it as a comment. He referenced a few things that I think need further explaining. My "normal" battle with Crohn's doesn't include swollen sores or crawling on the floor, but it has since getting ERYTHEMA NODOSUM. Here's a couple of links if you're not familiar with what that is.

http://www.medicinenet.com/erythema_nodosum/article.htm
http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/erythema_nodosum.html


I've been documenting the progress of the erythema nodosum, this was a picture from today


The biggest, ugliest, owiest spot


Isn't it cute when your kids want to do the things you do

At the end of January my right ankle started to swell. A good week later I started developing red, tender, dime sized lumps on my shins, ankles, and feet. I had been taking some nutritional supplements and had been experiencing some detox symptoms and thought that I might even be going through a healing crisis. I thought these sore spots were just part of my body healing itself and so although Adam and my parents were worried about what was happening I really wasn't. Then last Tuesday I decided I might as well go see a dermatologist, to have my legs checked out, and was able to make the appointment for the next day. I was starting to limp a little on my right leg and the only shoes that didn't hurt my feet were my slippers. That night as I was searching on the internet for any info on what I had (something I had been doing almost daily since the sores had first began to appear) and I found this: Erythema nodosum is a skin inflammation that results in reddish, painful, tender lumps most commonly located in the front of the legs below the knees. I screamed out to Adam, "I found it! I know what I have!!" So although I was positive I had self-diagnosed my sores I still went to my appointment the next day, where they affirmed my diagnosis but took a biopsy just to be certain. It's a good thing I wanted the biopsy, I was curious about what they might find in the way of any possible causes other than just Crohn's, because they had to take a really deep core to get to the fat cells that are inflamed. They numbed me but it hurt later and is going to leave a nice little scar on the front of my ankle. I'm still waiting on the results from the biopsy and hope to get them in the next couple of days.

I came home that night, and just laid on the couch. The biopsy site was already hurting and the other leg, where I had the biggest sore was hurting worse than it ever had. I think I made it to the dermatologist just in time because the next day I could barely walk. If I kept my feet up, laying or sitting in my bed or on the couch, I was fine; walking really hurt and standing was unbearable. So, from Thursday to today, Monday, I've been trying to stay off my legs as much as possible. I haven't had to be alone with my girls very much, thanks to Adam, my parents, my brother, Alexis, and the three day week-end. I've never been more grateful for President's Day, because it meant Adam had an extra day off.

I know the erythema nodosum is continuing it's course because it fades similarly to bruises, and my sores are turning purple and yellow and then they might even turn green. Although this is a good sign, the pain has been increasing each day. I could wake up tomorrow and the pain be better, but it could also be worse. I was so nervous for everyone to go back to work tomorrow, and for me alone to be responsible for Aspen and Bentley. I was a little relieved when my brother, Jean, said he could come tomorrow in the afternoon, but still worried about what I was going to do in the morning. Then my mom called, who had been here a good portion of the day as well as on Saturday, to tell me that my dad was going to take tomorrow AND Wednesday off of work to be with me and my girls all day. I don't want to leave out that he also came on Sunday to help me with Bentley while Adam and Aspen went to church.

I can't find the words to properly express the gratitude I feel in my heart for my parents and all they have done for me. I just want to cry every time I think about it. I truly have been blessed with goodly parents. I know Adam feels the same gratitude that I feel and so I want to express his thanks to them as well. And before I wrap this up I want to thank Adam. He has been a perfect slave and even took BOTH girls to Discovery Gateway today, giving me a mini vacation. It was so restful!

Valentine Thank You's

Valentine’s Day is over, so although this is late, I still wanted to wish everyone a Happy Love Day and also thank so many of you for the comments you left after I posted about being sick. I am overwhelmed with the number of people who have shown me genuine love and concern as I’ve gone through this recent trial with Crohn’s. I’ve received phone calls, offers to watch Aspen and Bentley, offers to bring in meals, many have fasted for me, prayed for me, had positive thoughts for me, and the list continues. So, thank you to all of you who have helped me in so many ways. I also want to thank my parents. I mentioned in the previous post how much they have been helping me. They continue to be there for me and my family, each coming at least once during the week, most weeks my mom has come at least twice, dropping everything when I’ve called for immediate help. Taking care of myself hasn’t been easy as I’ve still had to be a mother to my two little girls. As all mothers know you always come last. At the same time, Aspen and Bentley have brought me so much joy and happiness as I’ve served them during a time when I know I would otherwise have only been focusing on myself. I want to thank them for giving me a reason to get up out of bed each day, for giving me their cheeks to kiss, and for helping me to smile and laugh when I really feel like crying. And of course I want to thank my husband, Adam, who has done so much that I’m afraid has gone unrecognized. He’s been coming home to a messy house and a sick wife, but he never complains. He rolls up his sleeves and gets to work. He is such a good husband and I want him to know how much I really do appreciate all he does, both when he’s at home and when he’s away. I love you, Adam.

For Valentine’s Day Adam gave me a journal. It was such a thoughtful gift. In the front cover was part of a talk by Robert D. Hales titled “Healing Soul and Body.”

The Lord is the ultimate caregiver. We must surrender ourselves to the Lord. In doing so, we give up whatever is causing our pain and turn everything over to Him. "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee" (Ps. 55:22). "And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son" (Alma 33:23). Through faith and trust in the Lord and obedience to His counsel, we make ourselves eligible to be partakers of the Atonement of Jesus Christ so that one day we may return to live with Him.
As we put our faith and trust in the Lord, we must battle our pain day by day and sometimes hour by hour, even moment by moment; but in the end, we understand that marvelous counsel given to the Prophet Joseph Smith as he struggled with his pain of feeling forgotten and isolated in Liberty Jail:
"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
"And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes" (D&C 121:7¬8).
My dear brothers and sisters, when pain, tests, and trials come in life, draw near to the Savior. "Wait upon the Lord, . . . look for him" (Isa. 8:17; 2 Ne. 18:17). "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isa. 40:31). Healing comes in the Lord's time and the Lord's way; be patient.
Our Savior waits for us to come to Him through our scripture study, pondering, and prayer to our Heavenly Father. Great blessings and lessons come from overcoming adversity. As we are strengthened and healed, we can then lift and strengthen others with our faith. May we be instruments in the Lord's hands in blessing the lives of those in pain. I give you my testimony that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ and that He waits for us to come to Him to give us counsel and compassionate caring. May the Lord's blessings be upon each of us as we deal with the trials of life for us personally and for our loved ones, I so pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I will continually be grateful for the people the Lord has placed in my life. They truly are instruments in the Lord’s hands. I know that through my faith in Christ I will be healed of this disease. I pray that as I am strengthened and healed, I can then lift and strengthen others with my faith.

Wanting to be like Big Sis

I caught Bentley trying to put on Aspen's sandles (that Aspen puts on herself everyday and calls her "balleray" shoes). It was so just so cute watching her try to slip her foot in that I had to take a picture.

Baby Allison's Blessing Day and Bentley Climbs Stairs!!

I love this family! Adam's brother, Matthew, his beautiful wife, Annie, Aspen's buddy, Reagan, and their new little baby, Allison.


Matthew's side of the family


Annie's side of the family



Bentley crawled her first stairs while we were at Matthew and Annie's house that day!