Connecticut in the Fall

It's official. We have moved to Manchester, Connecticut to get better treatment for my Lyme's Disease. Regan is serving tables at Carrabbas Italian Grill at nights and is looking for a full-time day job so we can afford to live out here! We got a screamin deal on our apartment, though, and our ward and area are so great. The fall is GORGEOUS. You can't go down a single street without feeling nostalgic about early America or see the enormous Maple trees and Cottonwoods. I guess you could say, It's a perfect place to harvest ticks.
I got to see an Infectious Disease Specialist in whom many told me is the best Lyme Disease doctor in Connecticut. She was great. She looked over my bloodwork and said I definitely have chronic Lyme's Disease, but that she doesn't think that it is the main cause of my symptoms anymore. She said that I have had beyond the sufficient amount of antibiotics that should have taken away the high fevers, extensive body pain, and nausea beyond all reason. So, of course, she is running more tests. She is also sending me to a Neurologist, a Rheumatologist, and a Gastroenterologist to try to find more answers. I see her again in a week to get more blood results to see if some of my Lyme has turned into arthritis yet, or if I have C-difficile amongst other things. As of now, we are trying to find a preschool for Cole while I rest, a job for Regan so we can pay the bills, and health insurance to help us with any of it! We miss our family terribly already, but are so excited about this new adventure. We really love Connecticut. We have plenty of room for anyone that wants to visit! We're close to New York City, Boston, you name it! We'd love to have you.







Out our front door on a walk with Cole.


































































































































This is the front of our apartment complex, The Clocktower Mills. I guess they used to be old silk mills.













This is what you see when you walk through our front door. Half bath on the left, huge walk-in coat closet on left, kitchen on right and stairs to our downstairs bedrooms. Don't you LOVE the brick walls?








This is the kitchen nook area. The kitchen is to the right.









Can you believe the height of these ceilings? My place is HUGE!




















Cole's Bedroom. I won't show you ours, because it is still unpacked and I'm sure it will be months to have it presentable!


































I went to a historical society "tag sale" (garage sale for antiques) around the corner this afternoon, and found some really amazing things! I had so much fun there. Found some great old suitcases for decoration, and even an old record player box to finally display my records I've collected over time. I also got a globe that I LOVE, that goes great with the Ranch map I stole off the wall. Kidding, but Uncle Pat was going to chuck it so I claimed that baby up quick!



This video will be boring to most, so it is dedicated to Cole's grandmas from far far away. He is making up a song about A Bug's Life (which he's never seen.) He sings some pretty low and high notes, and I think I even caught a country twang in there! He's his daddy's boy!

Connecticut. . .Here we come!!

I have many pictures to still post from our awesome summer in Boston, but it will take me a while to get to it. . .

So I guess Regan, Cole, and I are moving to Connecticut to get the Lyme's Disease treatment that I need. I was informed by my doctor in Connecticut that I need another PICC line treatment as soon as possible. And not for 4 weeks this time. . .for twelve. My bloodwork shows that I am at HIGH risk for blood clots, not to mention I have about ten new viruses that have shown up because of my low immune system. I am extremely anemic and have hypothyroidism. No wonder I have been feeling like total crap!! And this all happened because of a tick the size of a poppy seed!! The Doc says that because all of it is caused from the Lyme's Disease, we have the best chance of getting these infections to go away by doing another PICC line treatment.

I looked into it, and no one in Utah will do the treatment for that long because they would have a lawsuit on their butts for doing it. In Connecticut, it is a STATE LAW that chronic Lyme's Disease is COVERED!! No matter how long you need treatment!! The doctor I have been working with out there unfortunately can't order the treatment I need because he is a Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue doctor, so I will need to find a new infectious disease specialist out there to do the treatment. But we know everything will work out. We have prayed intensely over this decision to do this without my family close by to help me through the treatment or to live in Connecticut where I will get the treatment I need for a whole lot less than $90,000! We have felt the spirit confirm that Connecticut is the place for my little family. We will probably live there for at least two years so Regan can finish school.

I am scared to death about leaving my family, but this is what Heavenly Father has told us we need to do. I know He will take care of us and help us find our way. My family is packing up my apartment as we speak while I rest at my mom's. Regan will fly to Connecticut on Tuesday and look for a job, a place to live, and health insurance for me to get my treatment. We are hoping that he can figure this all out in a few weeks, then he will fly back home. Then we will pack up the moving van and drive across the country. My doctor REALLY didn't want me to travel before this treatment because it takes so much out of the body, but we really don't have another choice.

So here we come Connecticut!! Please be a good little state and protect my family!

Beautiful Boston, I am here.

It's been about one month for me in Boston, and the first two weeks were really fun! Regan, Cole, and I took "the T" (train) into the city to see Harvard Square. It was a beautiful day, warm with bouts of rain. We ate at an outdoor pizzaria under an awning right in front of a band playing in the street. Cole was lovin it as you can see in the pic of him at our table! Then it down-poured out of nowhere. . .yet we were safe under our awning. So we had a romantic dinner with the smell of rain all around us. It was perfect. We took a visit to campus and headed back. It was a great day. The old red brick buildings surrounded by the green trees and grass make me so happy!!

We've made some really great friends out here already. A bunch of "the wives" our APEX men have boys the same age, so they get to play together a lot. Cole's best friends are Brock, Dillan, Jack, and Cohen. It's fun to go to the playground area in our complex and know that there will most likey be other wives out there with their little ones playing too. Cole also LOVES to swim. That kid is part fish. I put a little life jacket and tube on him and he swims around the pool by himself for hours. (Don't worry, Grandmas! I'm supervising closely.)

For the first few weeks I felt better than I have in a long time. I was still healing from my surgery and pnemonia craziness, but it was definitely manageable. But of course my body was just dying to check out a real live Boston Hospital, and so we "visited" the E.R. a few weeks ago. Just the same old drill: Fever of 102 for over a week, EXTREME nausea, overall immense body pain, lower abdomen pain, the overall feeling that I couldn't live another second in so much pain, yadda yadda yoo. Well, after testing they said that nothing I have would kill me and to go see a doctor during regular business hours.

So last weekend, for our anniversary, Regan and I drove to Connecticut to see a specialist in Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, and Lyme's Disease. He works for the same company as my Utah doctor, so it was a semi-smooth transition. I absolutely adore my Utah doctor, and will continue to see him when I return to Utah; but it was really cool seeing a doctor in the state in which "Lyme's Disease" got it's name. Plus this doctor has Lyme Disease and has treated many patients with it, so he has some great plans for me. The costs are extreme, and my insurance won't cover it. But we feel that is important that we take advantage of medicine on the east coast where they know a lot more about Lyme than we know on the west coast. We hope it will pay off in the long run! Mostly I hope that we will be able to get this flare up of symptoms under control FAST so I can enjoy and explore the little time we have left in this gorgeous state.

So, here are some pics to enjoy. Some are of Harvard, some of our pizzaria, some of Cole with his friends Brock and Dillan, and a video for his grandmas. The video gives you a taste of how I tire Cole out if I'm too sick to let him go outside and play! I thought we were singing "Little Bunny Foo Foo," but apparently we were singing, "5 Little Monkeys".

Toncillectomy gone bad

Well, I can't write long because I absolutely have to lay down. But I thought I would give a very short update until I could give the full story. Basically, I went in for my Tonsillectomy and went home to get better. By the next day I couldn't breathe and was rushed to the hospital. There was a complication with the surgery and I got pneumonia. They transferred me straight to the ICU where I stayed for 4 days. They were the worst for 4 days of my life. Full of pain and not being able to breathe, but through a pure miracle I was able to come home last night. I am so grateful to be home. It's nice, for many reasons, but mostly. . .to see Cole. When I saw him for the first time in what seemed like and eternity, the smile he had for me lifted me higher than I could imagine. It was better than hugging a gigantic percocet. I'm so grateful to be home.

I just wanted to say thank you for all who have been praying for me. I have had some miracle this week that I know have come from the prayers and fasting from those in my life. Thank you. I really don't like asking people for favors, but this is one that I feel that I really need at this time. Please pray for me. The pain is almost more than I can bare. My husband has already moved to Boston, so it's hard to be without him. Mostly, I just want to be able to focus on the postitive and get through this emotionally. I would really appreciate the extra help from above and I know God listens to the prayers of his children. . .especially when asked in Faith. I feel like my faith is so tiny, and I really need the faith of others to help me through this.

I hope all is well with everyone else!!

Tonsillectomy

I head to get surgery on my tonsils tomorrow. I've heard it's a nasty recovery, so here we go!

Boston? Maybe Not.

Well, once again, life decided to throw a boulder at our family. Regan found out that his liver fibrosis has progressed to a dangerous level. The doctor told him that he has to lose weight now, or it's a matter of life or death in the next 5-10 years. So he is working really hard on eating well and exercising. Then another blood test came back that showed that somehow Regan contracted hepatitis! We are supposed to leave to Boston in one week for Regan to sell APX Alarm Systems for the summer. The treatment for hepatitis is bed rest, so we thought we could no longer go. My wonderful family fasted and prayed immediately, and the Lord blessed us. We were called from the doctor and were told that his bad liver gave a false reading for the hepatitis, and that he doesn't have hepatitis! It was a scary week.

But it wasn't over yet. I have been in and out of the doctor for at least 6 months for sore throats. I was told when I was younger that I had tonsillitis, but that I may grow out of it. I guess I didn't. Today I woke up with tonsils twice their size and all white and pussy (sorry for the disgusting details). I can't swallow and I'm in so much pain all over my body I can barely stand it. I was lucky enough to already have an ENT appointment set up for today, so I went to the doc. Sure enough, he said my tonsils were awful and need to be taken out asap. We are supposed to drive out to Boston on Tuesday. My ENT won't do the surgery until I am well from the current infection. Then after the surgery he wants me to stay in Utah for 2 weeks to be sure no complications will arise (such as blood entering my lungs and kidneys). He said with how awful my tonsils look, it was most likely be a very painful recovery and that I need to start preparing mentally now. Oh, and Cole has an ear infection and a temp of 103.

So I guess Regan is driving out to Boston without Cole and I. We will fly out as soon as this whole thing passes. This is so frustrating to say the least. I know that I have so much to be grateful for. But I need a break. I'm so tired. I'm tired of being sick. I'm tired of having the tiniest bit of hope left and then getting that hope thrown to the ground. Again. I'm trying so hard to have faith that things will eventually get better for us. But it's been eight years of grabbing onto a cliff with my nails, and I just don't know how much longer I can take it. I thought once we treated the Lyme Disease I would get better. But new things keep coming again, and again, and again. It's hard to remember what it feels like to not be sick.

But I have learned a lot along the road. Most importantly, that my family means everything to me. They have been there through it all and have carried me through most of it. I have the most wonderful husband in the world. He is perfect for me. He has shown compassion for me from the start, and never gives up on loving me (which I guarantee must be hard with how much I complain!!). My son keeps me laughing, and gives me something to look forward to every day. He knows when I hurt and cuddles with me and gives me "kisses and loves" so that "honey" will feel better. He shouldn't have to see his mommy cry so much. He's only two. But I know he is an angel sent straight from heaven to help me. I'm also so grateful for my mom and Mel, who have helped me through every single day when Regan couldn't be there. Mel is like Cole's second mom, and has been my best friend through my tough struggles. My mom will never know how much she means to me. I cannot describe it. She puts her life on hold for me every day. She even gave up a trip to Europe with my dad to stay home to be with me for my surgery. She is so self-sacrificing, and has helped me to understand the Savior through her example. I hope to one day be there for the people whom have helped me so much through these tough times.

BOSTON! Bring it on!

To Boston, we go! Regan, Cole, and I are moving to Boston for the summer! Regan is going to sell APX security systems there. Kev & Rach, and Scott & Alicia are coming too, so it will be great to have fam around when I have my sicker days. I am so excited to visit my old mission and visit all of the historical sites that I didn't get to see on my mission. I just may have to stay away from wooded areas so I don't get Lyme Disease again!! We really hope this will be a great experience for us to live somewhere exciting and HOPEFULLY pay off some of these medical bills!! I'm nervous to leave my doctors, but I'm excited that I actually feel well enough to go. My health has come such a long way since last year. I've been fighting off some new bacterias and the aftermath of having so many antibiotics for the last 3 years, that it's tough to know what is causing what anymore. But I feel very hopeful for the future, and that hasn't been the case for me in a really long time. I feel very grateful. We leave in 3 weeks, and will get home at the end of August. We're so excited!!

As for Cole, I could write about him all day. He cracks me up all of the time. He likes to put on my robe and say, "Honey, Cole's a princess!" I would be worried, but he also loves to play swords with sticks like "Poopy Pan". The other day I gave him a fruit snack from a big box and he said, "Honey. Zats from Costco?" How in the world does he pick up on things like that? Hilarious.
So here are some random pics of Cole since last post. Have fun! In case you wonder what Cole keeps saying in the video, he is saying, "Hun, Hun. . .", which is his shortened version of "Honey". He better call me Honey till the day I die. I love it.