Update

Well finals are here, and nothing has gotten better.

My grandmother has been in the hospital for about a week now. She had a PET Scan done earlier this month. She went to the doctor for some anxiety pills, and the nurse said they had the results from the scan. There were several spots that showed up in differnt parts of her body. They were concerned that she is now down to only 87 lbs, and is in so much pain. So, they admitted her to the hospital. They did a biopsy of her lung on Monday. That night they had to take her back in because her lung had collapsed. Tuesday they came in and told my aunt that they weren't able to get the spot they needed, and needed another shot. Tuesday they took her in and tried again. They had to take her in once again Tuesday night because her lung started to leak again. Wednesday they said they were able to get the spot they needed, and we should have the results either today or tomorrow.

I have fallen far behind since I have not been able to focus from the events of this last week. Finals are next week, and I am really only worried about one class. History of Matematical Science. It is more of a history class because of all the reading, and memorization I have to do. There are very few acutal math problems on the test. We only have 3 grades in there, 2 tests and a paper. First test a 70, I think he felt sorry for me!

I had to go back to work at Fisherman's Wharf. My body was not happy at all when I started back last weekend. I am working Friday and Saturday nights, and Sunday mornings. This will change when the Fall semester gets here. I will be in school Monday-Friday.

One day at a time! One hour at a time! One class at a time! 10 MONTHS LEFT AND I WILL BE DONE WITH SCHOOL, for a while.

What Next?

Where to start? The last few days have, to say the least, been very hard and trying! The up side to everything was that nothing happened before midterms.

I went to go see the boys on Friday, and that is the most amazing part of the last few days. After a wonderful visit, details in another post, I was leaving to take my brother to Austin when I was told that my Granny might have pancreatic cancer. She has been sick for a while with a bacteria in her stomach, and her sciatic nerve not letting her sit or lay down for any period of time. They thought it was her gallbladder, but now cancer might be back. My grandmother has been through a lot over the last few years. About 30 years ago she had Thyroid Cancer, and then in the last 6 years or so she has had Breast Cancer and Lung Cancer. It has taken a toll on her body, and I know she hurts and is super tired. It makes me said to know that there isn't much time left with her. I didn't know what I was going to do when she moved to Arkansas 5 years ago. What will I do with out her at all? I know I will have to be strong for my kids, but mostly Hunter! They have been two peas in a pod since he was born. There is a special bond that nobody but them fully understands.

On Thursday when I was at my mother-in-law's she asked if Sean and I could came over, she need to talk to us about something. He kept telling me he didn't want to go over there, and I just couldn't figure out why. Anyways, it took me all weekend to get him to go, but on Sunday we made it over there. We walked in, and she turned off the tv, and I knew it was serious! She proceeded to remind us of how she had a biopsy done of some moles on her inner thigh. We both nodded our heads because that I think is when it hit us both like a ton of bricks....she had cancer! She has been diagnosed with a very rare form, Bowen's Disease. If that wasn't bad enough, she is in the 1% of the abnormal group. She said the doctor had referred her to MD Anderson in Houston, but she had to wait to see if she was accepted to the hospital. Good News and Bad News, she called me yesterday and said that she had been accepted to MD Anderson. Does that mean that it is bad enough, or is it just rare enough, or both.....?

About an hour, or so, after talking with Mom yesterday, I get a call from one of my very best friends. She got a call from the doctor, and the results of her tests were back and they needed her to come in. The tests are the kind that if everything is ok then they just don't call.

WHAT IS GOING ON? WHY IS ALL THIS HAPPENING TO ME? DID I DO SOMETHING FOR THIS TO BE HAPPENING TO THE ONES I LOVE?

They next few days, weeks, and months will be hard. I know that God won't put more on me then I can handle, and I trust in him to know what is best. Please just keep them all in your prays!

Getting Older

After much anticipation, Sean and I went to go see the new Harrison Ford movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, today. It is a wonderful movie for the whole family!!!! I grew up watching the Indiana Jones' movies which this movie makes several references back to, which most of the "kids" just didn't get. I will have to say they did a beautiful job making it look just like the other films, bad CGs and all :) which they actually intended to do. It was NOT like the action movies of today, which I found very refreshing. It was the first movie I have seen in a long time that didn't use a single curse word. It wasn't a "G" or even a "PG" movie, but a "PG-13" movie. This movie seems to be one of the first movies that did not change for the younger generations, but is relying on "us" the older generations to make it a hit. However, the younger generation didn't seem to appreciate it as much as those of us who remember the first three Indiana Jones movies, last released almost 20+ years ago in the theaters. All I can say is, "WOW!"

I remember my mother telling me once that she remembered the first time she felt old. It was when the Hollywood Stars that were she grew up with looked "old" on TV and the big screen. Tonight, as I watched Harrison Ford on the big screen, I realized that we're getting older, a lot older, and I knew exactly what she meant.

As we were driving home from the movie, I realized I have grown up and I'm not a "kid" anymore. For the first time I was actually happy about it. I had a feeling of accomplishment. Turning and being 30 was hard for many months, but now it is not so bad. I have been married to a wonderful man for 7 years now and have two wonderful young men!



Next March, I will have a teenager. Wow, how time flies! When Hunter turns 18, I will be 36 and that's not bad. In about 5 years, Christian will be 13 and I'll be 35, I will then have 2 teenage boys, and that's not to shabby. I will be the "Cool Young Mom!" I guess getting older does have it's advantages. Several of my friends are in their early to mid 20's, and I feel reassured in what I have learned since I was their age. As they say, "Wisdom does come with age."

A week with my 4 nephews!!!!

My sister had baby boy #4 on April 22nd! Her mother-in-law went to stay with her the week after Brennan was born, and I was lucky enough to stay with her the following week. I HAD A BLAST!!!! I didn't feel like I did enough while I was there, but I enjoyed spending the day with Brennan and the nights with Brandt, Brayden, and Bryson. The boys were boys, but it was so much fun. I felt needed again and it was great! I have now been dubbed "Aunt Sissy", and was informed I am not Kristi. I went with Kelly to Brennan's 2 week checkup, and watched Brayden during Kelly's doctors appointment.



Later in the week Brandt had a t-ball game. He did great!!!!



I helped the boys make Kelly's Mother's Day presents, and they turned out better than I ever thought they would. Each boy painted a pot and base. We then glued two "not real" Gerber Daises into each pot and put moss on top for "grass". The boys were so impressed with themselves and couldn't wait to show Kelly. Brandt was so funny, he wouldn't let Kelly come out of her room unless we hurried and put everything away. He was so worried that she would find out what we were doing. Little did he know that Brayden "wasn't going to tell" her. Dustin told me that Brayden had told Kelly "Mommy, I'm not going to tell you what we got you. I'm not going to tell you we painted pots, and I'm not going to tell you we got your favorite flowers. And I'm not going to tell you we are going to put them in the pots." I just had to laugh, and promise not to tell Brandt.



The boys also helped me put together Geemaw's, mine and Kelly's mother, and Gram's, Dustin's mother, presents. My mother has all the grand kids' hand prints on her bedroom wall in her house in Cedar Park. They moved to Lexington at the beginning of the school year and leased the house. She was worried that someone might paint over the hand prints. So, Kelly and I had the idea to get each kids' hand prints and put them in a frame so she could take them where ever she went. The trick was to find one that had six openings and one of them had to fit, Hunter, my 12 yr old son's hand. We found one that worked perfect. It had three 3x5 and three 4x6 frames in a collage type group. Could we just have picked one color paper and paint, oh no, that would be too easy. I want you to know it is not the easiest thing to get a 2 week old baby to give a single perfect hand print, but we were asking for two. However, Brennan came through!! Gram's got a single frame with four matted 4x6 openings. Under each boys' hand print I wrote their names, and on the top is "2008." I thought they turned out great, of course I had to wait for the boys to go to bed before I could finish the presents.

On Monday, Kelly had told me that Dustin came home at lunch because it was the only alone time they got. I know how expensive it is to pay for a babysitter for 4 kids. So, I told her and Dustin that they needed to take advantage of me being there and have a date night. I know they enjoyed going to eat and being able to focus on each other without having to worry about kids and messes.

I knew I was going to miss the boys, but had no idea how much. I was driving to see Hunter and Christian when it hit me, I really missed all the boys! I'm not sure if I missed Brennan the most because he is just so cute and new, or if it is because I have really been wanting a baby for several years now. Either way, Kelly was blessed with a wonderful baby to end with.

Kim's Birthday weekend

Sean and Matt, a friend of ours, took me Friday, May 2nd, to Houston to spend the weekend with my baby sister. We had a great time and I enjoyed spending time with her! Friday night we went to a bar in Houston called the ROCBAR, and had a blast! At midnight we had Kim's first BIRTHDAY SHOT, and she toasted herself, mine wasn't long enough I guess.



Saturday we went to see the boys at Lexington's homecoming. They were tickled to see me, as I was them! They knew I was coming for Mother's Day, but had no idea I would be there the weekend before. There were a lot of things for the boys to do on the square.

Hunter and Christian begged to ride the mechanical bull. I really didn't want them to, but it was sure better than a live animal!!! This is why I didn't want them to:

Yes, Christian broke his nose! The upside is he doesn't ever want to ride a bull again, real or mechanical.



For Kim's birthday she got to ride in a helicopter with Hunter and Christian! Christian begged Kimmi to sit in the back with him, and Hunter wanted to sit in the front so he could see everything. The helicopter didn't have any doors so both of the boys were apprehensive before they got on. However, when they got off they were grinning ear to ear! That is all they talked about and how they wanted to go again for hours, but at $20 per person, once was enough.

After we left the Lexington Square, we went to the house on 112. We rode Champ, Christian's horse. Kim was the first one on Champ and she looked like a city girl on him. Well, I guess she does look out of place in the country!

I also got to see most of my siblings. KELLY WE MISSED YOU!!!


Then Saturday night, for Kim's birthday, we went to Heather and JD's house, some friends of hers. I laughed so hard watching her and Heather play beer pong. I know she had a great birthday!(minus the bummed knee she doesn't remember how it happened)It was also a total shock when I knew someone there. Julie, Heather's lil' sis, was in my Cal 1 class @ Temple College. My weekend ended with Kim dropping me off at Kelly and Dustin's house. About an 1 1/2 hours after Kim left, Kim's ex left his dog! Yes, he left Mya. Kim thought she was in front and he thought she was in back with Kim. So, I got to doggie sit for about a week.

Doctor's Appointment

Went to see the jerk from the clinic today. I had to drive to Texas City, where I thought I was going to get to see someone else, guess not. I had a well woman exam a couple of weeks ago, and they did blood work. When he came in I told him about my most recent trip to the ER, and what the doctor said. He looked at my chart and the blood work from the well woman exam. He turned around and I guess he realized that I wasn't blowing smoke up his butt. I had been on a very strong antibiotic for about a week when the blood was drawn. My white blood cell count was up, and in combination with the swollen lymph nodes, it doesn't take an idoit to know what the next round of questions were going to be. I don't have Lymphoma on either side, but there is cancer on both sides of my family. He FINALLY looked at my legs!!!! Of course they were swollen, I had been sitting upright for over an hour at by this time. He wasn't a jerk any more. He said just like the ER there was nothing that the clinic could do for me anymore, but he would refer me to a specialist at UTMB. So, now I have to wait!

Another trip to the ER

Friday night I was weak and was breaking out in sweats of and on. I went to work this morning, after about a hour I got something to eat and hoped that it was just a sugar problem. It didn't help, and I wasn't getting any better. I went and sat down hoping that would help, but nothing was. Then, my boss walked in and took one look at me and told me I couldn't work today. He is the type, with everything that was wrong with me a couple of weeks ago, that made me stay and work. I knew I had to look just about as bad as I felt. He told he I couldn't come back to work without a doctor's note, and I need to go to the ER so they could find out what was wrong with me.

So, I went back to the ER. What fun..... Anyways, this time I was in and out in about 2 hours, what a difference from last visit. I talked with the doctor and told her everything form the beginning. She looked at my legs and said there was definitely something wrong. She went and looked at the CAT-Scan from my last visit, and came back with some different news than before. My lymph nodes in my abdomen were enlarged. Great, since all this started with a lymph node on my neck swelling! She told me that it wasn't enough to raise a red flag for the radiologist, but it was something to let the doctor know at my appointment on Monday. So, I am again on the couch where I seem to spend all my time when I am not at work.

HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY, BABY!

I was able to go see the boys for Hunter's birthday. I met everyone out at the house on FM 112 that my parents are remodeling. Poor Hunter he had to help out with the remodeling on his birthday, and he was not happy about it!

Christian really wanted to show me Champ, the horse he got for Christmas. The last couple of times I had been to visit we weren't able to get out to see him. My mom walked across 112 to Doughbelly's place, Christian's great-grandfather, to saddle him up. The only problem was she put the child's saddle on him, and it hurt when I rode with Christian. Hunter wasn't too sure about ridding Champ because the last time he did Champ rolled over on him. It was great to see the boys twice in one month.

Back to see the Jerk!

After going to the ER I was to follow up at the clinic. Well, I had to take a friend up there, so I figured that I would see if I could get in. I was luck, and was able to see someone. Kristin went back to the back with me, and I had told her about what a jerk the P.A. had been. Who, oh who do you think walks in the room? Yap, you guessed it, Jason the P.A. I asked him about the swelling again because it was only getting worse. I must have had "Idiot" written on my forehead because he said it was gravity. Yes, that is right he said gravity!

Well, he added another medicine to the mix. This is to help somehow with the lining of my intestines. It is some kind of powerful antibiotics to clean my system out. I have asked a few of my doctor friends and they say it is the strongest antibiotics out there, and it should do the trick. I have to go see someone in Texas City on the 31st. I am hopeing it is not Jason because he said it would be forever before I would be able to get in to see him. They asked me if I would mind driving to Texas City, and I thought not at all if I don't have to see the jerk again! We will see what happens in 2 weeks.

In the mean time my lab work still isn't back......

Trip to the ER

Sean had a clinical yesterday and had to leave to drive me to the ER. We got there around 5:20 p.m. and didn't get called back to see a doctor until 10:30 or so. They ran the same blood work that the clinic ran this week, but the results aren't in yet from the clinic. Everything came back normalfrom the ER, but they did a CAT-Scan just to make sure. While we waited for those results I was finally able to have a few hours of decent sleep, after some nice drugs. Finally the doctor came in and said that there was a thicking of the lining in my intestines. I was told that it could be anything from IBD (Irritable Bowl Disease) to Crone's Disease.

Before the results came back, I had one of the symptoms my friends told me about. My friend has a lot of medical problems, and is somewhat of an expert on the subject. So, I called him to ask what I should do. The clinic couldn't do anything because my blood work wasn't in yet. He told me to that I should probably go to the ER since it was 5:00 p.m. and the clinic was closed. Well, Sean came and got me and we got out about 7 this morning.

I think this might just be the first of many

I finally got the results of the blood work and we were not pregnant. So like Howard said I went back to have a full workup done. I found out I had to see someone because the blood work hadn't been ordered yet. I told the Physician's Assistant everything that had been going on, and how my feet swelled after being on them for 15 minutes. He never looked at my legs or feet, and told me, "Well, just stay off them." I couldn't believe it! He then told me that my heartburn and nausea weren't related, and I need to stop trying to make them be related. You could tell the P.A. just thought it was a load of crap, and I guess he thought I just wanted pain medicine. (which he didn't give me any) What a jerk! Where was Howard? Anyways, I had to go have a full workup done. He did give me medicine for my heartburn and another for nausea.

I had to go pee in a cup, and after about 20 minutes the P.A. came in and told me they found Bilirubin in my urine. I had no idea what it meant, and all I got from him was "It has something to do with your liver." Great, what was the something?

When I left I called a friend of mine, I knew he would know what Bilirubin was. He was able to set my mind at ease, and told me what symptoms could occur and if so to go back to the doctor. I guess it is just a waiting game now.

A long over due visit

I decided since I hadn't seen the boys since Christmas that I need to go see them. I met everyone out at the FM 112 house. When I drove up my sister, Kelly, and her clan were all there. I didn't know how much help she was going to be since she semed like she was going to pop any day with baby boy #4. Hunter and Christian were across the highway @ Donna Kaye's, Christian's grandmother. Hercules and I walked over there to get them. The kids weren't in any hurry to cross the highway because that meant work.

Hunter and Christian loved playing with Hercules, but he wasn't use to all the little kids and so much going on. Also he wore himeself out with my parents dog Holly. He was just fixed this week, and so all his hormones weren't out of his system yet. He had total over load, and slept the entire way home. It was great to see Kelly and her kids.

Kristi has been very sick

Everything started a little over a week ago. I had a lymph node swell up on the side of my neck to the size of a golf ball, and it HURT!! Thursday, after about a week, it was no longer noticeable.

Saturday I woke up with the worst heartburn I have ever had, and it wouldn't go away. (No matter how many TUMS I ate) Then at work I broke out in a drenching sweat, threw up, and by the end of the night my whole body hurt. This wasn't like any pain I have ever had, it was worse. It hurt to walk, to bend, let alone carry trays and to wait on tables trying to not let them know anything was wrong. I had to look like I hurt really bad because I made some really great tips that night. When Sean came to get me that night, it took all I had to make it to the car. He had no idea I was that bad until I sat down in the car and just started crying. When we got home he took my shoes off and I had no ankles and my legs and feet were very swollen.

I went to the clinic that Monday and saw the Nurse Practitioner, Howard, he was great. Since I had not had a period in over 3 months he had me do both types of pregnancy tests. That was it, I have to wait on the results and that could take up to a week. However, if I am not pregnant, I will have to go back and have them do a complete workup.

Sean turns 32!!!

Sean was able to get off for his birthday. I had told him that some of our friends were going to be there for his birthday. I guess there were a lot of people telling him they were going to be there that he realized it was a party. It was so hard getting him out the door to go. The whole drive all he said was how he didn't want to go. I told him our friends were waiting on us, and we were already an hour late.



I had talked to all our friends and collected money to get Sean this knife he wanted for Christmas, but didn't get. It is some kind of Emergency knife or something. Everyone chipped in enough that he made like $75 extra. Sean had been bothering me all day because he knew his present was in the trunk of the car and he doesn't do good with waiting for his presents. Plus, I think his mom accidentally slipped him a hint. Therefore, he had an idea of what he was getting.



Everyone had a great time, and I know Sean did too. He was glad he went, and so was I. It was the first birthday since we have been together that he celebrated. Since we have such an awesome group of friends, that love him, hopefully it won't be the last birthday he celebrates.

Happy New Year!

We went to Murphy's to celebrate with our friends, and had a blast!!!! We missed Brit, things just weren't the same without her! At midnight they gave out free campaign. It was the first time, in a long time, Sean and I didn't sleep through the strike of midnight.