Things Will Get Better With Time :)

I have been on the Plaquenil for a few weeks now and seem to be doing better.  My aches and pains are down considerably and I am not as tired as I had been in the past.  The only down side of this medication is the fact that it makes me so horribly nauseated and my mouth waters like you wouldn't believe!  At first I wanted to just quit it and deal with the Lupus head on, but my dad let me know that it would be worth it in the end.  He said he has taken the medication for his Lupus for years and has no side effects from it, so I have kept taking it only missing about three doses while fighting with my insurance company to pay for another refill.  I just hope that my insurance company realizes that this is a lifelong thing and there may be more medications that I need to control my symptoms, so I hope they are ready. 

I still get those painful headaches around the brow line and behind the right eye and my vision gets pretty blurry at times and I don't know if these are Lupus side effects or a medication side effect.  I am also having issues with breathing.  Not like I am dying or anything, I just feel like someone is sitting on my chest and I can't take a full breath.  I don't know if it's allergies, medication or Lupus, but I guess I need to figure this all out don't I.  Speaking of, I still haven't gone to get more blood tests, I think I am just putting them off because I don't want to deal with the inconvenience, but then if I keep putting off my mom will call and give me another Lupus lecture and I really don't want any more of those. 

We are going camping with my sister and some friends and I am really excited.  I never get out of the house so I look forward to every second of outside time.  I just hope that my sinuses can handle the outdoors for a few days so I can have fun.  The ladies are going to Canal Days and hopefully finding some cute stuff too!! I just can't wait to have some fun and be around friends and family :) 

Welp, I should get back to work so I can make at least a few dollars today LOL!

New Job, Blood Tests and Biopsy OH MY!

It's been a few weeks, but I am still alive.  I found a new job within a few days after being "laid off" and I actually like my current job, though I am pretty slow while learning new styles, doctors and procedures. 

I went to the dermatologist about a month ago to have a look at my rash that I have had for a few years.  Unfortunately, the NP (nurse practitioner) thought it looked suspicious for Lupus so we did some blood work, which came back positive with very high numbers.  My ANA was 1:1280 (normal being 1:80) and my SSA was 8 (normal being 1).  I was then informed that I needed to get a punch biopsy, which is actually as icky as it sounds.  A big, huge, ENORMOUS 3 mm hole punched into my shoulder for a tissue sample.  I made Mike go with me and he just laughed at how I was acting.  The NP had to actually lay me back and give me an ice pack and juice.  I HATE needles and now I REALLY HATE anything that has the words punch and biopsy in it.  I will never go through a biopsy again!  I don't care what I have, that thing sucked big time.  After it was done, and I was about to die from being a freak, she actually wanted to give me a stitch!!!  Yeah right I thought and I told her that I would rather bleed out all over the floor then to have her put a stitch in me. 

I had the biopsy on Monday, so I should hopefully hear the results within the week.  I am so over the waiting and just want a final YES/NO answer to why I am constantly depressed, have headaches, constantly tired,  aches/pains and this darn rash, and that I can attribute them to something with a name and that I just don't just feel this way.  There is no way this can be a normal life to live.  Is this really how all people feel?  Tired all of the time?  Depressed all of the time?  Pain all over?  Come on!

Up In The Air!

My whole life right now is up in the air. Losing my job isn't something that I necessarily need right now and it just makes it worse knowing that MY job is being shipped to overseas workers who don't even speak my language, but, for some reason, can somehow type dictations by American doctors.  OH! AND the company who is taking those jobs? They are hiring proofreaders! What a joke! All I have to say is, CEO of Urology of Indiana, you get what you pay for bro' and we will see you back in the US trying to find a decent company to transcribe your work in the future. You know, after the wonderful overseas workers totally screw up your work, but for a decent price, right?

Apparently, I may be moved to a different account with the same company, but I have no idea what to expect. I haven't heard anything from our home office and it's really disappointing, but understandable. This contract was about 35% of their workload, so I guess things are somewhat chaotic there. Mike said that I will have no problem finding a new job, but that isn't the point at all. I, along with many others in this world, hate change and I really don't like having to get to know new systems and new people. I just think that God doesn't like it when I get too comfortable in my life AND I really need to stop complaining about things! Earlier this week, I was complaining that I was so sick of hearing about penis' and vagina's all day and now, I don't have to, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A JOB! LOL. God is very literal and you have to be careful what you say to him or he will do just what you want, except it won't be the way you expect it at all.

I have been so down and out this weekend that I am glad that I sent the boys up to the cabin with my family. They really don't need to see their mommy this sad. They are on their way home now, so I have to get into my happy and "everythings fine" mode before we get them.

I just have no clue what the next days, weeks and months hold for me and my family, I just pray that God will cover us and watch over us cause we will be callin His house a lot!

Here is a pic of my neice and my baby on the train at the zoo!

*sigh*

I swear I'm bipolar. One day I am up and happy and ready to just have a great time. Other days, I am down in the dumps ready to cry at the drop of a hat. The latter is the day I have had today. I don't know why. Maybe it's the fact that I haven't been out of the house, other than to drop the kids off at my mil's house, for a few days now. I need to find a reason to leave this house. Unfortunately, A's bball is over for the summer, so I don't have that to go to three days a week. I usually complain about going, but I have met some new people and actually made a new friend, at least I hope I did.  Maybe she just thinks I am weird and only talked to me because she was too scared to walk away. Hmmmm....I guess only time will tell LOL!

My headaches haven't stopped lately, in fact, they are moving down my neck and behind my eye, which feels just wonderful!!! I love working all day and then just lying around with a headache all night. I swear my boys probably think the only thing I can say is, "be quiet, mommy has a headache!"  Though, M has left me alone....SCORE!

All of my "issues" have really got me to realize that I really need to start being alone with and seeking God more. I have been pulling away so much and it is just not working out for me. I miss Him and really need a good prayer session with Him.

Well, as a side note, how can I be so down when I have one of these to look at every day :)

Can You Say STRESSED!?!?

For some reason, I am so overly stressed lately.  What do I have to be stressed about?  I have no clue.  Nothing is going bad in my life.  M is still working, I am still working, the kids are better than ever, we are still paying our bills on time.  I have no idea what is going on, but today I feel like running away.  I am so tired and drained, but I haven't even done anything.  I think I need to up my meds or something cause I am goin insane!!! 

Anywho, A's baseball is into their tournament and we lost our first game.  We were on a winning streak there in the beginning and have, for some reason or another, fallen off the truck and just lost every single one of our last three or four games.  If we lose tonight, we are out of it, but I love my team and I think we rock it.  Such adorable little kids.  I really wish I could take every single one of them home.  We do have one parent on our team who has a terrible attitude.  She tells her child, "your team is sucking and you are going to lose!"  Totally sad.  Every time the poor kid is crying, I try to sneak in a few good words because the poor thing doesn't deserve to be put down.  Come on, they are only kids!  *sigh* why do I have such a heart for children who have mean parents.  I just hook onto them and pour the good vibes and words into them like a funnel.  I just hope that something I say really strikes a nerve. 

Church is going okay.  I still feel like something is missing and that we have lost our way.  It just feels like God isn't there.  I haven't heard him speak in a service for so long and it just breaks my heart.  I have been praying so hard that God will hear our prayers and fill us in on where M and I should be right now in our lives because I feel like we are in the wrong place. 

Well, I hear Mr. Baby calling from his crib and I still have a lot of work to do so gotta get!

Love to all and all to love peeps!

We R In Serious Trouble!

My Friday Night Date and Avatar

The kids were at Gmas tonight and Mike and I + little one went out to eat at my favorite restaurant, Cracker Barrell!  I love that place.  Come on, what better place can there be when you have shopping and a store mixed into one.  They really need to come out with a clothing store with a restaurant attached.  I should come up with that...I will keep you posted on that front (I know you will be on pins and needles just waiting!).  While we were at CB, I meant to take a picture of the best meal ever, but I snarfed it down way too fast to take time.  I always get biscuits and gravy with hashbrown casserole and a Diet Coke, of course.  Never fails, that is what I get.  I have found that whenever I change my routine at that place, I am always disappointed, so that is what I get EVERYTIME!  Can't possibly fail. 

After said BEST MEAL EVER, little one took a nap :)

On the way home, we decided to stop by a RedBox and rent a movie.  We wanted Shutter Island, but that wasn't in yet, so we got Avatar instead.  Unfortunately, I was not aware of how sad some parts of it were and I cried like a friggin baby! 

That pic, is of me after a good cry or two.  I have to tell you that Avatar is the best movie EVER!  I would love to see it on IMAX and in 3D.  I swear, a love story can get me every time.  I am in love with an Avatar :)  If it is ever possible to be turned into an Avatar, count me in.  Seven feet tall, blue skin, cat eyes and, most importantly, I can wear and work that ponytail :) 

Love to all and all to love peeps!

Another Day Another Issue Right?

Today has been a very long and stressful day here at the Oliphant household.  The internet was giving me issues this morning and I couldn't log on. I still have a few more dictations to do and some uploading of the work, but I will get done soon. 

The boys, minus Zachary, are spending the night at grandma's and papaw's tomorrow night, which will be nice, but poor Zach gets left out of everything since he is so little.  Andrew walked up to me last night and said, "Mommy, let me tell you something!"  "Mommy, you and daddy can go on a date when Caleb and me go to grandmas!"  He is so adorable.  I would just rather go to bed and sleep until Saturday morning, but whatevs, I can do with a meal!

I took Zach to the doctor last week and basically got blasted because he isn't even on the growth chart.  Basically, out of 100 babies, he is the smallest, maybe even smaller that a few of the smallest!  He is 15 months old and weighs 19 pounds.  He has always been small and I don't see him being a big boy any time soon, but the doctor told me to start him on PediaSure, which is expensive! I then have to take him back for a weight check in three months.  I have no clue what will happen if he doesn't gain any weight between now and then, but I am sure that the doctor will have an issue or two.  He also had a problem with the fact that Zach isn't talking.  Okay, so he says "ma" and "da".  Isn't that what a 15-month-old is supposed to do?  All I have to say is that he is walking around like mad and is as smiley as ever, which is about all that I need to brighten my day. 

Well, I better get to work again so I can get to bed some time soon!  Love to all!  God Bless and have a good time until then!

The Beginning!

Well, my first blog. I have never wanted to do a blog because I'm not funny in writing and I really have nothing to say, but what the heck, it's not like anyone is going to read this anyway right? So this is my blog! I will have something good to say, maybe, at some point in my life. I hope!