Um...What??

Well, I finally got some answers about why I have been so sick recently. (If you do not understand what I am talking about, read previous posts.) Anyways, so I had an endoscopy the week before Thanksgiving, where they put a telescope down to my stomach to see if anything was abnormal. Well I got results back today and it wasn't. Just some scarring in my esophagus.

Meanwhile, the nurse thought it looked like I had a rash on my face so did some blood work on me for Lupus. Came back positive. I went to see a doctor from my old ward here in OK today and I don't have Lupus. I have it's cousin, an autoimmune disease called Sjogren's syndrome.  ??? What??

Yeah. That's what I said! I had never heard of it. I had barely heard of Lupus. So it is a disease were the body attacks the glands that produces saliva and tears. It causes dehydration of the eyes, mouth and skin as well as fatigue, joint pain and in my cause, headaches and stomachaches. Isn't it freakin crazy how ALL my problems are related?? It is fascinating. I love how it all fits.

Anyways, that is what I have. I am on a new medicine that should help get everything under control. So, let's hope it does. Thanks for all the prayers and concerns!

Grateful

There is a lot going on in my life right now that requires gratitude. Here is a short list:

1) Modern medicine - Not only does this relate to what I do but I have been pretty sick lately and I have greatly blessed because doctors and medicine. I am still working on figuring out what is wrong. I will keep you posted. Please keep me in your prayers!

2) Priesthood - I am extremely grateful for the power for the priesthood and for the power it plays in my life. I am grateful for a worthy father and brothers who exercise it on my behalf.

3) Family - My family is my everything. I love them so much and even though most of them are so far away from me, I am very grateful to have them in my life.

4) Friends - I have amazing friends who are constantly there for me through all my problems and just make me smile and laugh. TDH. :o)

5) My boys - Even though I do not understand them or their sport, I am grateful for my team and my job. I love my job and being able to take care of them. We have a lot of fun.

This is not even a scratching on the surface of all the things I am grateful for but I am just contemplative today. Remember that Thanksgiving isn't just a holiday, it's a state of mind. We need a thanksgiving people so count your many blessings! 

Just Me

A really good friend of mine, Maya, used to tell me when I was not acting like myself around guys or when I was putting others around me down in order to make myself look better. She was a huge help because I didn't know I was doing it. Now that I am four years removed from that time, I can tell when I am not being real or when I act a different way. Why do I do it? The same reason everyone does. We want to be liked and we are willing to change ourselves in order to be liked.

It dawned on me again this week that I have been guilty of this. The boy? (Because we all know that I am interested in a boy always) I will just refer to him as TDH (tall dark handsome). TDH is someone that I really like and when I am around him, strange things happen. But since this realization, I am going to make a conscious effort to be more myself around him. If he does not like the real me, then I do not want to be with him anyways.

Well, I will be someone else for the next two days while it's Halloween, then I will go back to being me. The real me. By the way, my costume is awesome!!! Just wait.

When Fall Breaks

This weekend was awesome for two reasons. Number one: no work or school due to a wonderful thing that is called Fall Break. I love it. Number two: 5 stake YSA (young single adult) conference in Norman. Super love it.

So I packed up my stuff for the weekend (which ended up being two bags, don't judge...) and drove down to Chris and Megan's where I spent the night and then spent the days hanging out with tons of singles from all over the state. It was pretty fun. It was no very well planned. In fact, I spent a fair amount of time trying to think of how I want to help plan it differently for next year when my stake in OKC hosts it. Super cool, huh? Anyways, there were awesome speakers, Elder Zwick and Elder Fluckiger included, among others. We did do some fun activities but some others were kinda lame. There was an inflatable obstacle course Friday night that was way fun!

The big accomplishment for the weekend was the fact that I carved two baby pumpkins at meals with plastic butter knives. I have witnesses. I got lots of compliments and it was definitely a favorite with the guys. :o)

The sad part of all this is I have to face reality and go back to work and school. I kinda miss being graduated and not having to do anything. I wish I was all grown up and finished with school. Sigh...only a year and half. I can do it!!! Plus, when I do finish, people have to call me Master! Hehe...

Dieting, Dudes and Daddy

Judging by the title, this post is going to be a sweet post right?? Here goes...

I have had stomach problems almost my entire life. For the past few months I have been having increasingly worse pain and nausea. This is getting ridiculous. I went to a doctor out here (which is an unpleasant experience due to insurance issues..) and she told me I was fine and it would go away. Not fine. What a joke of a Dr. Anyways, about a month later I went to a different doctor and he ran a bunch of blood tests. Good news: its not an ulcer. Bad news: he thinks I have celiacs disease, which is a gluten intolerance. Interpretation=suck feast. He also thinks I am lactose intolerant (which I am almost positive is true).

My new diet which I have been following for almost two weeks now ( I am REALLY proud of myself because this is has been REALLY hard for me) is fruits, veggies, meat and rice. Absolutely nothing made of wheat, dairy, anything spicy, fatty or greasy. 

Bread, cheese and milk are my three favorite things to eat and I can no longer eat them. This has be torture. :(

 The best part? I still have stomach pain...

Next topic. Dudes. I have decided that I no longer care about them. That's pretty much all I am going to say about that. Next topic. :)

My dad came in to town this weekend for business and to hang out with me, Chris and Megan. It was good to see him and spend time with some family. I spent the night at Chris's house last night. I slept on the couch, which was surprisingly comfortable. Dad and I spent the morning together. We ate breakfast at IHOP (I did not eat pancakes...) and then I drove him to the airport. I miss daddy. Can't wait for Christmas when the whole family will get to all play together!! YAY! Until then...

Welcome!

So welcome to my new blog! :o) I decided that I wanted to keep two separate blogs, my other one for work related/ injury stories and this new blog for my personal life. I want to keep the two separate because that is how my life is. So, enjoy!