A new day, a new year even!

Hello,

My goodness could it be so long now? So much has happened. So many tales! Some are such wonderful achievements and advances...and some are such heart-wrenching pains and losses. I have much to share and will very soon, won't you join me?

Love,
Nikki Lynne

Health history tale

Hey friends,

I was cruising around on my husband's computer because mine is in desperate need of repair and realized I hadn't posted in a while. I joined a group today for those with rheumatoid arthritis like I have. I wrote out my whole spiel of my health history and no one has responded. I suppose it is quite overwhelming...or boring; one or the other. I thought perhaps I would share it with all of you to share a little more about me. A person's health is a big deal in their lives, especially when you start being immobilized because of it.

My story 07/22/05 08:10 AM

Hello,
This is a little about me and my run in with rheumatoid arthritis.
To give you a past history I have been a heavy set person since puberty and had wrist and ankle problems since junior high. I had my bunions removed and my big toes broken and reset when I was 14yrs old. Then, I graduated high school at 242lbs and my feet started hurting so bad. I was diagnosed with plantar fascitis(heel spurs) when I was 19yrs old. I had a c-section with my first child at 22yrs old and a c-section with my second child at 26yrs old. When I was 27yrs old I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism (very high levels of TSH). By the time I was 30yrs old I weighed 370lbs and having a hard time moving with much pain all over my body. (I am 5'5" tall). I decided to get a RNY gastric bypass in 1999 at 31yrs old to rid myself of my weight issues and get back into life. Within one year I not only lost 186lbs, but moved and got a divorce and met my new husband. I had lots of problems with a triple hernia along the incisional line which was repaired in that same year by sewing up the hernias and placing a mesh on top to strengthen the area. They also removed 10lbs of flesh from my lower stomach. Three months later, I got pregnant and was very tired and weak throughout the pregnancy. I gave birth to a daughter with a congenital birth defect and loads of medical problems. Three months after that, I became pregnant again and got even much weaker and had dizzy spells often and memory problems to boot. I ended up getting my c-section almost 3wks early because I couldn't take the pregnancy any longer(and yes got my tubes tied at long last..hee hee). Anyway, we had severe financial troubles, bankrupcy, eviction, medical stuff with daughter etc...and within 2months after moving twice..I ended up laid up in bed with EXTREME pain in allllllll of my joints and muscles. I couldn't move and was constantly fatigued and crying. My newborn son was very high needs and I couldn't even get up to change his diaper at night because my fingers were inflamed and in pain. I went to the doctor within a week of these symptoms....literally shuffled in making no sudden movements and lickety split my doctor ordered blood work up. I had very high levels of RA factor and sed rate and seeing as though my sister came down with RA in her early 30's they gave a definitive diagnosis of RA. I was thrown on methotrexate, prednisone, vicodin, iron, folic acid, and calcium, and an antibiotic. I was put on vioxx a month later (man I miss my vioxx). I went to a bariatric doctor as well to get a check up and he did blood work up and found that the anemia I was experiencing had a big deal to do with the fact that after having gastric bypass, I could no longer absorb b12 and was severely deficient in it. I began with every 4 weeks b12 shots for the rest of my life. (I also have since been put on Humira and have been on it for 2yrs) The symptoms lasted a good long year and I even filed for SSDI (denied) because my husband was out of work due to back injury and we had no money.
The following year I started coming around and decided to start school since I would get financial aid being as broke as I was with 4 children. As I went through school I started gaining more and more weight back and within a year I was back to the old foot pain. I had to get new orthotics and really started hurting more. I am now 37yrs old and am 280lbs. I am miserable that because of the stress I am eating badly like my old ways, and because of the prednisone my body has changed, and because of the arthritis I have been less active. Oh yes, I forgot to mention, I have spondylolisthesis of the L4-L5 region at a stage two. I has been very cranky as of late, and mornings are a real bear to endure.
So that is me in a nutshell.
Nice to meet all of you.

Working tale

Hello all,
Well, it's been an interesting month since last I posted. I have been hired and quit/fired however you want to interpret it. My body couldn't handle the CNA position for 8hrs a day. I need to lose weight and get into shape so I can be an effective nurse. Fortunately, my husband's working sabbatical is over and he's on the come back as a salesman. I'm so proud of him. He is so sharply dressed every day and leaves for work 6 mornings per week. I'm so proud to tell everyone my husband is at work!!! He is motivated and very talented and I just know he's going to do well.
I pray all is well with all of you out there is blog land.
I just got my report card for the semester and was only slightly upset. Last semester I earned 4 A's. This semester I earned 3 A's and 1 B. Not too shabby, eh?
Well, I have to go take care of my baby for now.
Love,
Dove

Tale of Homework Avoidance!

Hello strangers and strangermen!

I cannot believe how long it's been. I'm here to say hello and to avoid doing some much needed homework assignments. Yikes! I cannot believe it is so near the end of the term!
I have had so much happen this month so let me share a few things with you!

I took my Promissor Exam for registering to be a CNA and I passed both the written and skills on April 16th! Then, on April 25, I applied for a job and by April 27th I accepted! I start as a registered Certified Nursing Assistant on May 2nd in a nursing home/assisted living facility! Whoohooo!
I'll be making 8.00/hr but I will only have to drive across town to get there so that's good!

Anyway, I just thought I'd share those things with you!
Oh...by the way, my oldest son just got asked out on his first REAL DATE! It's a formal banquet and it is girl ask guy. I have been so giddy about it to see my son growing up and becoming a human. It's rich. Truly.

That's all for now, sailors!
Dovey

Tale of the day

Good afternoon,

Well, it's back to school from spring break this week. I've already missed my first day of classes which was 4hr times 5pts. I really have to be careful of those points. I didn't have a lot of options though, considering our my husband was in the hospital having surgery on his sinuses and adenoids. I hope this surgery will not only open up his sinuses, but his future health and well-being. If this surgery is successful, it will allow him to sleep with a cpap machine for his sleep apnea issues. Once he gets a good night's rest, he will be able to recuperate at night and easily be able to function better in life as a whole.

I can't stand watching him waste his life away at home, with little hope and medical problems. He's such an intelligent and worthy gentleman. I pray someday that he realizes his full potential and lives up to his goals and dreams! I will continue to pray for him, will you too?

My two younger children are going to drive me quite mad. They are beautiful and intelligent, yes. They are cute and creative, yes. But they are also tyrannical little beasts when it comes to what they want and their poor attitudes! Grant it, they are only 2 and 3 yrs old, but I really never thought I'd be in this position where I just blow up every so many minutes because my children were uncontrollable!! My youngest either laughs or yells at me when I reprimand him. And he's only 2yrs old!! With my older two kids, I found very little in the way of such indignance. I'm beside myself with how much they both whine, and how much my little one screams and cries. No matter what I do, good or bad, is never what he wants!!!! What is going on with him? ....

Ok....perhaps I'm just feeling a bit stressed out right now. I'll take a breath. In through the nose, out through the mouth.....there. Ok.
I guess I just needed to get those things out of my system for now. Thanks for listening/reading!

See you soon,
Dovey

Strain, Pain, and Again Tale

Hey guys!

How are things? It's Saturday morning and my older two kiddos are off to their dad's house. I feel really bad that I woke up early to type in a story my 10yr old son wrote on his own blog, and it's been so long since he had an account, he forgot all his information to get access to it!!! I told him I could put the story on mine, but I don't think he wants to. So, I suppose we'll either make him a new account or keep trying with his old one.

Lately, I've been waking up with a terrible back ache and not just the lower back anymore. It radiates throughout my whole spine which makes me think that it's not just the anklyosing spondylisthesis, but the arthritis that's attacking it. Oh joy. I just love rheumatoid arthritis, don't you?
Everytime I get down about the pains and struggles I have because of my various illnesses, I try to remember that others have it so much worse than I. I still can see, I still can hear, and although I hurt, I still can feel... not everyone can say that, and for that I'm very thankful.

We got a lot of snow overnight, and to be honest with you, I love it. I don't have to drive anywhere, and beyond that, it's March 19 and I know it won't stay long because spring is arriving. I do love spring and fall the most. The changing of the seasons is so full of hope. Although it brings the end of one season, it always provides something new. The fall brings the end of the heat of summer, giving us cool nights and the sight and smell of newly fallen leaves. The fall introduces us also to the beginning of the holiday season where we gather with family and friends and celebrate the joys of the year. The spring brings the end of cold, old man winter, and gives us birds chirping and a peek at the green carpet we will be dancing on all summer.

I think I'll leave you with that thought, until next time.

Love,
Dove

Tale of the Birthday, SpringBreak, and Good Intentions

It's been a busy birthday month for me and I apologize to those of you who "had" been faithful readers of my blog. I just haven't taken the time to write! Shame on me!

Today is my last day of school until Tuesday, March 29. I'll be on spring break!!!!!! Whooooohooooooo! Alas, alas!
I always have plenty of good intentions as to the time that I spend on break. I wonder how much I'll really accomplish?? I would love to get those toddlers of mine potty trained! I would love to take a vacation with my hubby for a few days! I need to organize my house. I need to work on my schoolwork to prepare for final papers etc!

Now, what will probably happen is I will sit and watch lots of shows I've missed on tv...spend time with kids, type on my computer more and look at the calender and realize it's time to go back to school!!!!! AAAAAArrrrgggg!

Seriously, I'm just happy to be half-way done with the semester. I can't wait to start taking the nursing courses this fall. I hope I get into the daytime courses but I'll take the evening if I absolutely have to.

I'm thinking about buying the book, "The New Raising a Strong-Willed Child". I have this two year old boy that definately falls under that category and I am seeing things get out of hand in my house. He rules so much of what we do. No amount of discipline, yelling, or outbursts are working and I'm looking for a much quieter and calmer solution. Oh my dear, baby boy! Give mama a break, eh? Give all of us a break and be that sweet boy I know you can be!

Well, I must get ready for school. I shall type more tonight, I imagine!

Love,
Dove