A new beginning.......

Nope I am not talking about Star Wars either!
Since Mothers Day was my last post, I thought it was waay past time to update you. Hmmm, my condition worsened and my arms from the shoulder down to the tips of my fingers were effected. My arms were heavy, joints stiffened and it was extremely painful on most days to prepare foo or even use the mouse on my laptop. Tylenol was the drug of choice and I was beginning to have appointments weekly. The Docs here on base made me another appt with the rheumatologist who couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. Bless her heart, I'm probably one of the last people she wanted to see and we have an appt on the 24 at high noon!
I didn't make it. A little person made their arrival Sunday evening at 5:37 pm. 6 lbs 1 oz and 19 inches
My family is not the quiet type and this little girl came in this world with a bang, er an emergency c-section. From what I was told by the distressed Dr (he was really good- we just stressed him out!), little Miss was firmly held in place by the cord which was wrapped around her neck and then back around under her arms. There was also a muscular band that was keeping her from descending out!
It was meant to be like that and THANK THE LORD that she didn't descend because tragedy could have ensued for the both of us.
Prayers of friends and church members and mercy from the Lord above gave us a healthy outcome.
Thank you all!

Mother's Day 2010

Well, it's that time of the year again and this year is possibly the hardest one for me. My mom is gone and I can feel it and it is lonely. I thank God for my Aunts and my sister, but no one could ever take the place of a mother. Tears are welling up in my eyes as I think of all the times since August 2nd that I have wanted to call her and just hear her voice. I want to know what she is doing, if she is actually going to cook today and what has Daddy been up to. Has she taken her medication or is she being the "Difficult Patient" she has always been. I want her to talk to Elise and make her feel better about herself (they just LOVED each other).
I want my mom back!
I know she is in heaven, suffering no more. Call me selfish, but I want her too.

"There is no heartache so deep as the loss of your mother."

Remember that and go and love your mother today.

My condition-An update

Seeing that I've left you hanging on the edge of what is wrong with me, I'm sure it's time for an update.
I have been back and forth to Cambridge, Addenbrookes, Spire Lea, and Lakenheath seeing doctors and being tested for so many things. I probably need a tranfusion myself after the many draws they have taken. I have faith that whatever it is, God can deal with it or move back to the states and hole ourselves up on a ranch somewhere, acting suspiciously till the feds come and see that we are doing nothing more than growing herbs and becoming nudists.(okay-you KNOW I'd never do that. People have known me for years and have never seen my skin except from the elbow or midcalf down!)
Okay now back to reality, so after seeing all of these drs, waiting for weeks for test results, being called on my PERSONAL cellphone by drs (one called me 3 times in ONE day, mind you. April says they call that stalking, I think I'm popular, ha ha),living with horrible joint and muscle pain and having to crawl to get around this house to get things done, I saw the rheumatologist ONE LAST TIME on Thursday.
(Did I tell you I put 300 miles on the van this week alone? Darryl had a hole in his heart plugged up on Wed -an ASD, they call it, and I had 2 appointments on that same day which had me driving from Lakenheath to Papworth, to Cambridge, back to Papworth, back through Cambridge, and then home. He ended up staying the night and I had to go and pick him up at lunchtime the next morning at Papworth, past Cambridge, back to Cambridge to get him lunch at McD's and then home. So you see where I'm coming from? Going round in circles! Ha, ha, ha!) Yes, I feel like I am losing it. He seems to be doing alright except for overdoing it the first 2 days, but he only has a half inch cut on his groin instead of having his chest cracked open, so he got away easy, THANK the Lord! If he is so hurt now, I could only imagine..............
Now back to me.... So the new diagnosis is UNIDENTIFIABLE! Can you believe that? Dr. Speed kept telling me she was sorry, but she couldn't figure out what was wrong with me except that something was wrong and they couldn't pinpoint it. Maybe it is pregnancy related and will go away after the baby is born. She couldn't guarantee that, but she was sorry and if my symptoms got worse then she is a phone call away.
Are you as frustrated as I am? I bet not! I just know I need to know something and I want to not feel pain and achiness all the time. I want to be normal again and hop out of bed in the morning to get breakfast started. I want to sit down and not have to adjust the pillows so my legs won't hurt. I want to be able to go to bed and not have to move and shift to be comfortable for 30 minutes then have some lightening pain shoot through my joints facilitating me having to reposition 3 pillows and recomfort myself again. I want to walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night without fear of falling and having to use any solid piece of furniture to support my LONG 15 foot journey to a 2 hour relief.
I WANT TO BE ME AGAIN!!
I pray for something to help me be patient and have peace right now. I pray for my family who has half a me, and a grumpy half of me to deal with. Even Mr needs prayer for his speedy recovery so I can get him back to work and not be angry that he is sitting around playing video games and watching movies(resting, they call it) while I am trying to get things done.(Is that selfish?)
Pray for my niece to make it here safely on Thursday morning so I can hand over the reigns to her.
And most of all, I pray for Chloe who is about to be knocked out of her pole position by a new short person in town. She and I have so much fun together that I can't imagine someone else coming between us.
Lord help me!

Hmmm, they think I might have......

Lupus.
So far I have a few things pointing to Lupus, but my symptoms are never withing the "guidelines". I have been to 6 Drs in 7 days and had my blood drawn at least 5 times within those 7 days, you can see that I ought to be too tired to type at 11pm. Well yes, I am pooped but thought that friends and family might want to know.(Also a touch of laziness and the thought of repeating so much information makes me feel nauseated.)

This means that I will be getting all of my services at Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge since the American hospital has kicked me out.

Now enough said, I am off to a shower and bed.
Keep us in your prayers!

Misty

What's wrong with me- Part 2

I was on my way out of town with my girls and my friends oldest two girls when the cell phone rang. She wanted to let me know that on Monday, she will most likely do a spinal tap. She didn't want me to be alarmed, but informed ahead of time. Also, she wanted to make sure that I knew if I felt funny or ill in any way, to go right in to the ER. Also, Addenbrookes, the BIG hospital in Cambridge would be in on the deal depending on the results.
Okay, I heard that only a few hours ago, so what's the deal? Should I be walking, or eating? Do I need to call my family? Should I move back to the states?
Lord, help me. I think I was fine until I was bombarded with all of these tests and questions. I feel strange because they are giving me things to think about that are strange. You know what I mean?
So I finished talking to her and we ladies had our afternoon tea at Harriotts in Bury St Edmunds, made our rounds at a couple of stores and headed home when the phone rang again. A nurse from family practice wants me to come in on Monday morning before the other appointment.They said after the spinal thing I won't be able to get around for a couple of hours so they had better see me first.
Talk about demand! Not enough me and too many of them! Anyone want to take my place.
The consistent thing about this is that my pregnancy makes this more complicated
than imaginable and they have to work around the poor little baby.
I feel sorry for us both. Let's pray for a good outcome for us all.

What's wrong with me???

It has been a crazy week around here. Being spring break for the children and not being able to go anywhere because, A- Darryls leave was not approved even though he put in for it months ago, B-Darryls passport expired on Tuesday (UNBELIEVABLE!!!), B-Chloe has some strange illness and her eyes are red and watery with cold symptoms, and C- my face is numb and my taste buds are nonexistent.
Hmmm, as much as I love to eat, I have no desire since I can't taste a thing! Life is not fair( can you sniffle with me?)! Oh well, I'll lose a little weight and see if I can endure this. I have been at the neurologist twice this week, OB/GYN once this week and at the lab THREE times. Even the tech at the lab is wondering what is going on and can't they use any of the results from my other tests to figure out what is the problem??? Hey, I'm expecting and my iron is low enough, not to mention my thyroid function and low calcium.
Next week, I am fully booked for 2 appointments on 1 day!
UPDATE!! The neurologist just called and gave me a long list of things. Mainly that my SED rate has gone up extremely higher than it was on Tuesday and the family practice Dr will be calling me to see him on Monday and I have to see the Neurologist at 10 also. AND go get my blood drawn before I see them both. She mentioned going to Addenbrookes to see Neurologists, Infectious Disease and Inflammatory specialists. ALSO if I felt strange or ill in ANY way, go tothe ER immediately.
Well, now that I am on the edge, I am going to go out for tea. What else am I to do?
I have already prayed and given it to the Lord so I KNOW I am in good hands.
Bless you all!

Happy Birthday April!!

Well, my first baby is now older! She turned 17 last weekend and after weeks of pondering,(I wanted to take her to Paris, but the plans fell through-that's another story), and many last minute changes, we came(uhem- I came) up with a great party theme. We had an "Iron Chef" party. Since she didn't want a whole lotta hoopla, there were 6 girls total and that broke it up into 3 groups of 2. Each group had a recipe to fix and had an hour and a half in which to prepare it. Group 1 had a lovely Strawberry Torte. Group 2 had Thai Chicken and Noodle Salad. Group 3 had Wontons to make. My goodness this place was rocking with laughter, conversation and the constant business of cabinet doors opening and closing. The young ladies had a great time and the best part was that I sorta got a tiny break from cooking. The cleanup was appauling, and it took 2 days to REALLY get the kitchen clean, but again, the party was a success and April enjoyed it.
Group 1 won!!!! That cake was the bomb, absolutely delicious!



Strawberry Torte (Found at MarthaStewart.com)

Ingredients

Serves 8 to 10
Unsalted butter, for pan
8 extra-large eggs, room temperature, separated
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup cake flour (not self-rising)
2 teaspoons sifted baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 pint heavy cream
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, plus more for work towel
1 quart strawberries, washed, dried, and hulls removed
Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and line a rimmed 15-by-10-by-1-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper; set aside.
In a large bowl, beat egg yolks and sugar together until light in color, about 1 minute; stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Add cake flour and baking powder; stir until well combined.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into flour mixture.
Pour cake batter in prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula or the back of a spoon. Transfer baking sheet to oven and bake until cake springs back when touched, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, set 6 strawberries aside for garnish. Thinly slice remaining strawberries. Place heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat on medium speed. Slowly add remaining teaspoon vanilla and 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar. Continue beating until soft peaks form. Set half of the whipped cream aside. Gently fold sliced strawberries into remaining half; set aside.
Lay a clean kitchen towel flat on a work surface with one of the short ends facing you. Generously sprinkle dish towel with confectioners' sugar. Flip cake onto towel, remove baking sheet, and peel off parchment paper. Using the dish towel, roll cake away from you; let cool.
Unroll cake. Evenly spread strawberry whipped-cream mixture over surface of the cake and re-roll. Transfer cake to a serving plate and evenly spread top and sides of cake with reserved whipped cream. Cut reserved whole strawberries in half lengthwise and place on top of cake for garnish.