Weekend Camping at the Lake

I had debated cancelling our camping trip this weekend, but decided we would attempt it. If I got sick me and Em would just come home and the boys could finish out the trip.. I was so glad we did as we had a blast. It was hot, but the lake water was cool. It was just the 5 of us, except mamaw came and hung out with us Saturday night and brought some yummy food (love you mamaw).. They fished and swam, played games and made new friends at our neighboring campsites. And I think its just what we needed after these past few weeks!! Here are some pictures of our weekend fun!!!

Update on Me

I wanted to post a small update on me for friends & family. Some have heard bits and pieces and some have no idea whats been going on. A quick recap last August my OBGYN picked up that my anemia had started to worsen. I have always been a borderline anemic and kissed the mild/moderate line through all 3 pregnancies. Last August I crossed over into the moderate range so we started trying various oral iron supplements. Fast forward to March when I started having really bad fatigue and light headiness (if thats a word). I went into see my regular doctor and she discovered the anemia had worsened and was now in the severe range. She attempted one last oral supplement, but I could not take it due to the cluster headaches it was causing.

About a month ago I came down with a horrible sinus infection. After trying to get rid of the junk for over 2 weeks I went into my awesome doctor. She immediately did blood work and within 24 hours I was back in her office going over the "whats next". My Anemia has hit a kinda critical point. Not you need to go into the hospital critical, but a we need to find out why its not getting better and get your levels up asap critical. So I left her office Wednesday, was in the GI doctors office Friday and then last Monday I went in for a colonoscopy and endoscopy. We did find a few things via the scopes that were going on in the GI part (biopsies showed no cancer though :)), and we are awaiting 2 more test results, but nothing so far that would be causing the severe anemia. So now its off to the Hematologist to see what he recommends. My doctor has mentioned everything from IV iron infusions to blood transfusions, but she told me she will let the Hematologist decide which route he wants us to take. She said no matter what we need to get my levels up fast and then determine why! After we talk to the Hematologist and get a game plan I will venture then to my OBGYN again to have her round of test to see if she can find a cause..

I will not lie this past month has been hard! I have had little to no energy. I still have this dang sinus junk and I am now on antibiotic #2 for it. I end it that perscription Thursday, then give my body a weeks rest, and start 3 more prescriptions for some of the GI stuff they found. I will be so glad though when we figure this out and I have the energy to have fun with the kids this summer and not have the physical stamina of an 80- year old lady.. Joe has always teased me he married a little old lady b/c I LOVE to watch Little House on the Prairie and the Waltons.. I guess I'm just making that true ;}

I will keep everyone posted on the upcoming test and doctors appointments. Thank you to friends and family for being there and praying for us. Helping us with the kids with all the doctors visits and understanding of why I have went MIA over the past month. I dont know what Joe and I would do without yall!! HUGS

Saying GoodBye

May 30 we sadly said goodbye to my husbands grandfather, Joe E Lannom III.. Papa was on a cruise in the Bahamas with Joeys grandma, dad, stepmon, uncle, and aunt when he fell ill and passed away in Nassau, Bahamas.. The following days were filled with disbelief, extreme sadness, and alot of questions.

The night we broke the news to the boys was hard. Justin took it hard, as we had been expected. Hes the oldest and has had more "time" with papa.. Nick also took it hard, this we were alittle thrown by. We had not expected him to take it as hard. I must say watching and guiding our boys through this experience of grieving a loss was so hard. It broke our hearts seeing them experience this part of life..

On Wednesday 6/6 we attended the funeral and said our goodbyes. To say this was one of the hardest days as a parent and wife was an understatement. Papaw was a great man and will always be in our hearts!!

A Trip to the BattleField!

The other day we had sunny skies and temps in the 70's. A flat out perfect day to go walking around the Stones River Battlefield. Both boys are really becoming interested in history, and though the museum part was closed on this trip, we will be going back this summer. And as we walked around I was able to snag some pretty cute pictures!!!

Did She Really Turn 3

I still keep repeating this in my head. Did my BABY girl really just turn 3 year old... YES..... Is the cold hard truth. Every year I seem to scream "were did the time go", and every year I am left with no answer.

What an amazing little 3 year old she is. Full of smiles, and laughs, and some sass! Miss Emily Grace makes our world so much brighter and a heck of alot more fun. I am so proud of you baby girl!!!

And though I love watching you grow, I beg for time to slow down. And as I snagged this picture on your birthday I thought to myself, oh how someday (about 13 years from now) I can see this scene playing out all over again!!!!

Slacker - Yep thats me!

Things got crazy around here when baseball season started, and honestly April was a blur! I mean take a look at our Calendar....

Though we have been busy, we have had fun. We have planted our garden, went to games & practices.. We have celebrated Birthdays & had cookouts with friends and family. We have done school projects and studied for test (TCAPS - Nice).. We have worked and played and battled colds... And I am pooped!!!

Health wise everyone is doing pretty well.. Nick had 3 weeks of antibiotics for his sinusitis. Ems caught Daddys cold and the cough is still holding on.. Here she is curled up on the couch watching Dora!!!!

Justin has been doing really well with his stomach. We have had no major issues and even started consulting with his GI on different ways we could boost his weight gain (healthy high fat snacks, vitamins, etc).. Me - I'm doing good, trying to keep my meds down, but still having issues with the Anemia. I go back for another blood draw in a month and half so we will know if its working then I guess..

So whats ahead on the calender.. Well a certain 10 year old and his daddy are going on the 4th grade field trip Friday to Cumberland Caverns (pictures to come).. A certain 7 year old is gearing up for his Mars presentation and "Splash Day" coming up next week at school.. And a certain 2 year old is getting ready to turn 3 (tears) and have on kick butt Princess Party this weekend.. So more pictures to come, but heres some to hold you over!!!

WHO WANTS JELLY

PLEASE SHARE DADDY

TEA PARTY TIME

ARE YOU SURE YOUR COMFY DIXIE

PRINCESS

Sick Days

I swear 2012 has been full of sickness. And it seems to not be letting up anytime soon. Justin is still battling several ailments that are linked to his poor immune system just taking a beating. He battles with fatigue on some days and restlessness at night. We just take one day at a time and hopefully his body will bounce back soon and we can have an eventless summer!!

Poor Nick is also battling a nasty sinus infection. I swear its a mirror image of him this time last year. Chronic cogh and drainage. When given a 10 day antibiotic he improves, but soon falls back to the same coughing pattern. So he is actually head to see Mrs Ashley, his allergy/asthma doctor this afternoon and maybe we can come up with a concoction to kick it. Mother nature has been brutal this year as it seems all tree and grass pollens bloomed a month and half early and all at the same time. Add no rain to help knock the pollen down and you have alot of people suffering just like Nick Nick!!!

And of course I couldn't not throw my hat into the ring.. I went to the doctor for suspected strep a couple weeks ago, but I was also having other "issues". Beside the debilitating fatigue, restlessness, cramps, dizzy to almost passing out spells, and random bruising on my arms and abdomen I went in for some test. We got those test back this past week and my blood work showed my anemia has progressed to the severe range since August of last year. My levels all over the board were low. My Hemoglobin that should run anywere from 14-18 was 9 and my Hemocrat which should run for a women around 34-44 was 30.. My blood pressure was low and my O2 in a "resting" state was peaking at 95%. So I am now taking a "horse" pill as I lovingly call it. Its my last attempt and trying to orally build my blood levels back up. I choke down 2 a day and in 3 months if I do not improve enough or in the meantime have anymore "spells" My doctor will be sending me to a Hematologist for possible infusions. Good news is she feels the Anemia is Iron Deficiency Anemia and not APlastic Anemia, which would mean more bad things!!! Im also going to take a trip to the GI specialist (like mother, like son) to see if Im possibly loosing the blood some were in my GI tract..

Like I said the first half of 2012 we should call the sick days!!!