A long time comin'!!

Hello Everyone!

Yes, it has been a very long time since I have updated this blog. I guess I felt I didn't have much to write, but now that I sit and think about it, there actually has been a lot that has gone on.

I was laid off from my job in August, 2009 (which was for the best). I then found a job as Asst. Director of Nutrition at a local nursing home in October. I absolutely loved the job however, much to my surprise, I was laid off after the New Year (I now have the feeling they brought me on only to get through the holidays). As bummed as I was, I figure everything happens for a reason and I am at peace with this situation. I am blessed to be able to collect unemployment and still have health benefits. Things could always be much worse.

Now that I am unemployed, I have used nearly every waking moment applying for Dietetic Internships to become a Registered Dietitian. I submitted my application in February, but will not find anything out until April. The competition is fierce to say the least, so I will admit I am nervous. The program accepts 40 interns and last year they had around 280 applicants!! YIKES! So, the current prayer request is that I get into this internship.

We are also gearing up to host the 31st Annual Wells Fargo Cancer Tennis Tournament. As Directors of the tournament, we are staying ever busy in coordinating the tournament to make sure it is a huge success. Last year we raised around $18,000 and are hoping to come close to that again this year. The tournament is going to run from June 1st-6th...and time is flying by!

My mom was out here for a week in September to celebrate her 50th birthday and that was a fun treat. We went to a baseball game and then went to the Royal Gorge and rode the train and finished the day with sight seeing. It was a blast!

Royal Gorge Train Ride

Rockies Game

Aaron and I will be heading to Vegas for a few days on Monday. I can't wait. Aaron has been working so hard lately and really needs a break from it. So, it was kind of a last minute decision, but I can't wait!!

As we approach the middle of Lenten Season, I have been reminded that I have a Savior who loves unconditionally and died on a cross for all our sins. As Lent continues, let us all be reminded to be vigilant during this time, remembering that Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice all because of love.

Peace and blessings to you all!!

Amanda

Tournaments, Anniversaries, and School...Oh My!

I just realized that it has been about 2 months since I've written on here. Seems like a lot has happened (good things, ofcourse) and I find that I didn't have time to write on here!

I went back to work for 32 hours/week on May 13th. Work...well, it is what it is with that and I'm so glad that I'll be done in less than a year (when I start my Dietetic Internship). I'm still looking for another job, and I pray that I can find one here eventually. The stress from work does not help my health.

I am however enjoying my 32hour work weeks! Gives me extra time to study since these 6-week long classes are tough! And that's an understatement. I actually started and finished 2 classes since I last wrote! I took a Nutrition Assessment class and a Nutrition Counseling class. I enjoyed both classes and was thrilled with my grades! The classes went from May 18-June 29th. Now I am in Advanced Nutrition and Clinical/Nutrition Assessment (until August 5th) at which point I will be DONE! All that remains is my internship which starts next summer and then I will be a Registered Dietitian! :)

Our cancer tennis tournament (June 1st-7th) went great! Juggling that, work, and scool made life a complete whirlwind for about a week, but it was worth it. The cancer tennis tournament celebrated it's 30th Anniversary this year and Aaron and I took over as Directors this year. It was a lot of work and we ended up with about 160 entries and raised around $17,000...well worth it!

Aaron and I also celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary on June 14th. With both of us in school right now, and work being so stressful, we decided to stay near home. We went to the zoo, toured Coors Brewery and caught a Rockies game! It was a fun filled Anniversary and I can't believe it's been a year already!

Me and Aaron in front of the flamingos!

The gorillas

Da Bears! ;)
Flamingos!
Lions!
Coor's Brewery!
Rockies game!

My health has not been all that bad considering all the events going on in life right now! God carries me through whatever is going on and for that we give Him praise! None of this would be possible without Him!

Aaron and I are getting ready for the 5k Race Against Cancer tomorrow. I enter all the registration forms and then on race day, we work at the finish line timing and scoring the event. Typicall there are about 1700 runners, so I've been terribly busy once again...but all the tennis tournaments and 5k races will be done after July 4th and I can focus 100% on school and work!

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Much love to you all!

Closing with scripture:
"Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience." James 1:3

Love,
Amanda

Answers...

Well, I got the rest of my blood work back today and the final results (from weeks of blood work and waiting) are:
Sjogren's Antibodies= Extremely Elevated
SED Rate (detects Inflammation)= Elevated
Potassium= Slightly low
Vitamin D= Low

On top of it, I had an Eye Dr appt yesterday. He did a routine exam (when Sjogren's is involved, I have to have a few extra "eye moisture level" tests done). When my Eye Doc went to do these tests, the results revealed that I have ZERO moisture/tear production. That explains a lot! It's part of the "flare-up". It was newer territory for me, because I have NEVER had an eye test result in NO tears until yesterday. Always on the "low" side, but never on the "zero" side. Even more funny...I told the eye doc that I didn't notice anything "new" with my eyes. So when he revealed the results that I had zero tear/moisture, I was surprised. We both agreed that I must just be used to it.

I'm starting to do better. So, lots of things going on to make me feel sick. Just taking my regular meds (I'm done with the steroids) and 2 new meds to help with nerve pain and fatigue...which helps Sjogren's and SED Rate levels. The potassium is just slightly low, so I'm going to treat with food (being a Nutritionist and all, I know what needs to be done to fix any Vitamin/Mineral Deficiencies)!! But the Vitamin D Deficiency is too low for me to treat with food, so I'm taking a Prescription Strength Vitamin D Supplement for 3 weeks. Many of you know how much I HATE supplements (other than a multi-vitamin) unless it is a 100% true medical deficiency. But with my situation, it's only a few weeks that I have to take the supplement, and it came from my Rheumatologist. Its not like the advice came from somebody trying to make a sale, and I trust my Rheumatologist completely.

Easy enough, right?! I think so. Just treating with the proper medication and praying that the Vitamin D Supplement will help and all of my other blood work will be "normal". I'll always test positive for the Sjogren's anti-bodies, but the SED Rate and any Vitamin/Mineral Deficiencies should go back to normal after the proper treatment.

It's just another wait-and-see right now, but I am confident that these things all combined together will provide the results I have been waiting to see for a long time (well, since February to be exact).

Thanks to everyone for your prayers! They mean so much to me! Take care and I'm sure I'll talk to you all soon!

Love,
Amanda

Update

Guess I didn't know what else to title this! Well, I had another Dr appt yesterday and he determined that I still don't look all that great (gee, thanks, huh)...but I knew what he meant! :) He added another medication to my stash, which has me up to 7 different medications/day (13 pills/day total). YIKES! That seems like a lot, but it must be done and we are still trying our very hardest to not open up the doors of chemo again. So, pills it is. The doc also ran some more tests yesterday:
Muscle Enzyme
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
and also testing my Potassium levels again

Right now, the plan is to just keep resting and trying to get my blood work to come down (the inflammation/enzyme) and up (the Vitamin/Mineral levels). It's getting a little frustrating to still be so sick, and yet I find peace. Peace like a river. It's hard to explain, and I think that's because the peace can only come from one source...God.

I will keep you updated as things change. Thanks to everyone for the emails/prayers/phone calls...I love them!

Oh, and on a truly positive note...I got into all of my Dietetics Classes! When I got my Nutrition Degree, there were 4 classes that I was missing to get my Registered Dietetician (therapy/counseling classes). I got into all of the classes through Univ of Northern Colorado. I start May 18th and will be done in August. Then, in January I will begin the Internship Application process and by June of next year I will be in my Dietetic Internship (which should last 6 months). I'm so very excited about this! :)

I would not be able to hang on and do all of this without the support of my wonderful hubby! He truly takes such wonderful care of me. He stays up and takes care of me in the late hours of night, among doing the other countless things to help out (dishes, laundry, yard work). He is truly a wonderful man!! Thank you, honey! I love you so much!!!

Ending with scripture...

Ps 4:8 "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."

Thankful for the peace,
Amanda

Fear Not & Hi/Lo Thursday

Oh, how those words (fear not) speak volumes! And so many times those exact words are written in the Bible, yet how often we all feel so "affraid". Affraid of God, life, death, health, people, etc. But mostly affraid of the things to come, the unexpected. My Great-Aunt is a wise woman and has done great things with her life. She's very smart, Godly woman whom I really admire. Lastnight she sent me an email with the following verse:
"Fear thou not; for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yea, I will help you, yea, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Is 41:10

I read the verse and I am reminded of God's love. HE loves each and every one of us and no matter the storm, He will see us through it...we must not be affraid.

Things here are like a roller coaster. Somedays I'm doing really well and then other days where I can barely walk. But in all of this, I really do think the medication is working, which is great news. I'm beginning to wean off the steroids, and the new medication (Lyrica) should be kicking in here soon. I'm sure it will be just a matter of time before I'm feeling really well! :)

It's also hi/lo Thursday! YIPEE! :)
This post is part of "Hi/Lo Thursday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check out their blog to read everyone else's "Hi/Lo" posts and get your link on their site.

The Hi of the week:
Well, I just found out yesterday that I got into ALL of my Dietetics Classes! YAY! There are 3 classes I will be taking this summer in 2 6-week sessions! It's going to be a whirlwind, but I am SO excited! After these 3 classes, I will have a semester off and then in January I will begin the process of applying for my Dietetic Internship! I'm SO excited and feel very blessed!

The Lo of the week:
Kirsten (my sister-in-law) had brain surgery yesterday. She did very well, but we were nervous during the surgery. Also, my health has been a continued roller coaster and that can be frustrating at times. Both Lo's are quite serious, but the LORD has been answering prayer and for that we are thankful!

Trying real hard to not be affraid,
Amanda

And the diagnosis/treatment plan is...

Medication, Rest, Time and Prayers!

WOW...what a week! I finally got my results back on Weds and then spent Thursday and Friday figuring out the best possible treatment. My blood work came back and these are the results:

Sjogren's Anti-bodies= extremely elevated
SED Rate (inflammation)= elevated
Potassium Levels= low

One can look at the above and quickly determine that I am in a flare-up. This is good news b/c that means it's not anything more serious/life threatening. It is a very bad flare-up however, so the time off from work is much needed. SO...basically we spent Thursday and yesterday talking about medication/treatment options and avoiding chemo at all costs. I am going to stay on the steroids (to help the anti-bodies and sed rate levels) and my doc has added another medication for nerve pain. And as far as Potassium...well, there's no reason it should be low (I'm not on any diuretics, kidneys are fine, I certainly do not have an eating disorder), so it must be attributed to all that's going on...but treatment...that's a no brainer for me. I'll just increase my Potassium intake in my diet!

Thanks to all of you again for your thoughts/prayers/emails/phone calls! Even if I can't get back to you right away, I so much appreciate hearing from you! Take care and I'll be sure to keep you updated. I'm just so glad that this is just a Sjogren's thing. It's somewhat familiar territory, so rest, medication, and time should help immensely!

I have posted a song that just so expresses how I feel right now! I encourage you to take a few minutes to listen to it. ;) You'll want to pause my blog music on the right side of my site, first before playing the song below, so you don't have two songs playing at once. :)


May you find yourslef singing for all to hear!!
Love,
Amanda

CHRIST IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN INDEED!

A VERY Happy and Blessed Easter to everyone! We went to the Easter Vigil lastnight and it was as beautiful as ever. We saw over 20 people baptized and confirmed into the Church (just as my hubby Aaron did 2 years ago), and it's just amazing to see these men, women and children proclaiming their faith! Today is Easter Sunday, and once again I woke up realizing that the fact at hand is...CHRIST DIED FOR US...all of us. Whatever pain/suffering we might be going through, well, is temporary. And, we must go through this suffering on earth to be reunited with Christ in Heaven where we will live Eternally!

I did not fall asleep until about 3:40 this morning (that was the last time I looked at the clock, anyway). My legs were in a great deal of pain as was the rest of my body. And as I was trying so hard to fall asleep, I caught myself talking to Jesus. Thanking HIM for blessing my life with this illness. God is not surprised that I am feeling sick, and HE has a plan for me going through this. So...yes, I tried very hard to get to sleep, but at the same time prayed and talked to God while I was awake in the wee hours of the morning. I thanked HIM for the Cross, for HIS never ending LOVE and great GRACE and MERCY.

A VERY Happy and Blessed Easter to you ALL! May God enrich your lives and may you be reminded of the very reason you are meeting with family/friends today to eat all the wonderful food and socialize! :)

It's time for me to set the table and get ready for the festivities. We are hosting Easter Dinner at our place today. My only job was to cook a ham which consisted of throwing in the crock pot. Everyone else is bringing a dish to complete the meal...my mouth is watering! :) OK...blessings to all!

Col 3:1-4
Since you have been raised up to be with Christ, you must look for the things that are above, where Christ is, sitting at God's right hand. Let your thoughts be on things above, not on the things that are on the earth, because you have died, and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God. But when Christ is revealed -- and he is your life-you, too, will be revealed with him in glory.

Happy Easter,

Amanda