XOXO

Have you ever been so excited about something that you just wanted to call all your "people" up and tell them? Well I figured I would give my "people" a break and do it here.

I AM SO IN LOVE WITH MY HUSBAND! HE IS THE MOST AWESOME MAN EVER!! He plays non-stop Boggle Deluxe with me, makes me laugh until I almost pee (tmi?), watches chick flicks or shows with me, stands patiently while I look at Target, holds my hand when he drives, puts my hair in a pony when I can't, walks into Coffee Bean for me, hangs my clothes because I can't, leads me closer to the Lord when I'm confused, wants to spend (or acts like he does) as much time with me as possible, and so much more. But the BEST thing he does with me is WALK VERY VERY SLOWLY, so he can keep up with me! I can't get him out of my mind, can't get enough of him, and look forward to the next minute with him.

Just had to tell someone.

A Quick Update

I just realized that I never blogged about my last visit to the UCLA Lung Clinic. I went in to see my doctor, whom I thought was the surgeon, and learned that he was one of the surgeons but now he runs the transplant lung clinic. Well he said that he thinks it's time that I go over to see the actual surgeon. Whom has a really smart sounding name of Dr. Ardehali. He feels that I might have to go on "the list" sooner rather than later. He had hoped that we would be able to wait a little longer but feels that with my recent hospitalization, need for oxygen, and decrease in daily activities it is more likely to happen sooner. I have had to go through a series of doctors in order to move through the clinic. Obviously "moving through the clinic" is not a good thing. It means a decrease in health. So unfortunately I have moved through the clinic and am on my way over to see "THE SURGEON"(dum-de-dum-dum). We will be going to meet him on April 18th at the hospital. I was told that I have to get a series of things done in order to start this process. Being put on the list means that you have to go through a rigorous process of tests, scans, and labs. They basically have to know everything about your health, every aspect of it. So I've been very busy going to all sorts of appointments in order to do all of this by April 18th.

Please help us by continuing to pray for God's will to be done in all of this. For Manuel, the girls, and I to continue to grow closer to Christ and each other in this time. We love all of you so much and appreciate all of your love and prayers... I just want to let you know that I am going to try to label my blogs to where the HEALTH related issues will be under HEALTH and all others will just remain unlabeled. Hopefully it works. This way you can go straight to HEALTH if you want instead of reading all my other blabberings! Love and blessings to you all!

Happy Happy Birthday Baby!

Happy Birthday Babe! I love every single thing about you. Yes, even those little annoying habits. You are definitely a gift from God for me and our girls. You are more than I ever thought I deserved in a husband. My wish and hope is to continue to grow old with you. I wasn't kidding when I said "I hope to one day wake up at midnight and say 'happy 75th birthday babe'". Thirty years looks good on you honey! You have so much on your plate babe and you still manage to be the super silly funny guy that you are. In a home full of princesses you handle it like a King. In our house and eyes that is exactly what you are, the King!
ONCE AGAIN, I LOVE YOU!

Well I've been feeling a little more human lately. I don't know how anyone can take Vicodin for pain on a daily basis. It makes my stomach hurt, makes me groggy, and I get in this funky mood. I had to finally stop taking it, thanks to Dr.Grossman. Well as far as my Rheumatoid Arthritis and my muscle pain, I am still having a hard time. When my pain gets bad I just lay there and cry out. The only benefit to the Vicodin I was taking was that it was the new stronger one and would minimize the pain. Which is the first thing I have found that will do anything. Now I have to weigh whether or not my stomach can handle it when I need it. I have decided that I will only take it when I am in excruciating pain that doesn't even go away when I stay still. The muscle pain gets so bad that it feels like someone is just slicing at them with a razor blade (that's the best way I can describe it). Well, last week I went to see Dr. Grossman (she's my Rheumatologist) and she had a lot of guesses but still no firm answer as to what is going on. She is still thinking that right now I am suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis (only based on labs). She is still not certain as to what else could be going on because I have a lot of shoulder muscle and joint pain (pain doesn't even describe it, I really mean failure). She says that generally that doesn't happen with Rheumatoid Arthritis. So once again I am a big ?mark. She did give me some new meds to try, although not the strong stuff because there is a lot I can't take because of my lungs. That's the thing I get no relief because the stuff they would give for that is not good for the lungs and would hide the symptoms to be able to know what exactly is going on. So I have to have these pains and problems in order to help it show in my labs and to describe it. As I sit here and type I can feel my right forearm beginning to start up. She also ordered me to get some x-rays and a TB test done. I got the TB shot yesterday, which is only so that they can get a baseline to start a new self injected (woohoo) med. Then I have to go today to get the x-rays of my shoulders done. Then Thursday I am back at the Dr.'s office to get the TB test read and something else done. I get confused with all the medical things I have to do. On top of this stuff there is a bunch of things I have to get done for the Lung Clinic. I will have to post on that later. Just wanted to give you another long update, thanks for reading it all. Thank you for all your prayers too! I am feeling more like myself in respect to attitude, so thanks for the prayers. Love you!

Whew!

Well it's that time of year again! The selling is over, the numbers have been crunched, and now comes the delivery. The good thing is that we seem to have more time this year to sell, deliver, and collect payment. Our living room is full of cases and bags of all of these Girl Scout cookies. So if you ordered some they are on the way! We have fun doing this and actually look forward to it every year. Good job Analiese!


THE END!

F.Y.I.

Just wanted to let you know, I've been in the hospital. I don't feel like blogging and I don't feel like talking. I don't mean to be rude, I just don't feel good. I just wanted to ask you to pray and I just wanted to let you know where I've been. I went in Wednesday night around 8pm and came home Sunday around 430pm. I'm on the road to recovery (I think) and have a week of visits to UCLA. I might feel up to a blog sometime soon but right now I just want to lay in bed and sleep. I love you and would appreciate all the prayers we (my family) can get.