Instagram life.

What was there before Instagram? I seriously love this app, along with the other 9 million people. I don't really get too caught up in who is following ( is it following?) me or who I am following...I honestly just like the fact that it pinpoints certain things throughout my life. I promise to have the awesome bathroom reveal soon along with some holiday & other DIY projects and a trip to NYC soon. But for now- I shall share some of my 'grams.

Sweet girl

Sweet girl

Knox & daddy.

Christmas cups

Wedding hair for a bride

Wonder Woman!

That's all for now my sweets!

 

Symptoms.

What do you do, when no one knows what's wrong? When you try to explain, but no one gets it. When they think... "Maybe its in your head."

 

For the past year, my husband hasn't felt well. It started with dizziness, feeling nauseous, anxious, tired and many other symptoms. Since I have known my husband for the past 12 years, I know what he has felt like before. What he feels like when he feels good...when he has energy, when he looks rested. We have been to the ER, Urgent Care, to his primary physician, neurologists, GI's and even a holistic doctor- who talks to your muscles and asks the patients body what is wrong {that was VERY hard one for me}..you name it, we've been there. And all we have heard is... "We can't find anything that would cause all of this. We will just have to treat the symptoms." In case you didn't know, "treating the symptoms" means we'll give you several different medications and see if it works, even though we have no idea what is wrong with you.

 

To say we are frustrated is an understatement. It is amazing to me that doctors today dance around the fact that they might have no idea what is wrong with their patient. But I believe that if you are a doctor, it is your duty to refer your patient to someone who might know. Someone who might think differently. Someone who just might listen to the one symptom {that we have been saying for the past year} and run with it.

 

We chose to go to Mayo. If you know anything about the medical world- you know that Mayo is where you go if you are looking for answers. It is marketed as "the place" to go, when you have something serious going on. If no one else can tell you anything. You are told to plan for a week so that you can see specialist after specialist. Yes, those who have cancer go to Mayo. And I was so surprised when I told people what we were doing. The looks on their faces said it all..."You are what? Why would you do that?" It's funny how judgy people can be, when its something as serious as your health. Just because you don't "get it" doesn't mean you should cast your judgy eyes my way. Besides the fact that it makes me want to poke one of your judgy eyes out- its just not a nice thing to do.

 

We waited 3 months for this appointment and both took a week off of work and headed to Mayo in Jacksonville, Florida. I am a Type-A, organization is my game, kind of person. So we showed up that Monday morning prepared with all of our documents. 100+ pages of medical history, a medical timeline I made, MRI & CT results. You name it- I had it, or knew about it.

 

Fast forward to that Wednesday. I cried all 3 days at one time or another. Out of pure "I can't believe this is happening" frustration. Our first day at Mayo we saw only our Internal Medicine doctor. Why? Because they told us the specialists she was referring us to weren't available until Mid- October. OCTOBER. {this was mid-September}. We do not live in Florida. The blood work she requested was lost in the system. It was only because I marched my sobbing- IknowIlooklikemydogjustdied tail back to the registration desk and asked to speak with the Doctor again, that anything happened. That, and the grace of 2 receptionists that sat behind the desk that Monday. Word to the wise- if you ever, ever need anything- it is best to not be rude to the two who blink back at you with the computer mouse in their hands. These two became our advocates during this week. Because of them, we were worked into the schedule because they happened to know the floor supervisors. At one point we waited a total of 7 hours in a waiting room to see one of the specialists. SEVEN. Only to be told "you can go ahead and leave, they are done for the day."

 

Needless to say- we left Mayo 4 days later with no more answers then we had going in. We did finally see all of the specialists she recommended- but only because I pushed and asked. And pushed and asked. I undoubtedly know that most of the people {many of the older generation} show up there with many of the same unanswered questions only to hear "They can't see you until mid-whenever." And with that, they turn around and go home. At some point in my life- I will become an advocate for these couples that I see. Because no one should ever have to wait in a waiting room on stand-by for 7 hours only to rudely be told to go home. I am writing this mainly for others who are trying to decide if they should make the decision to go to Mayo. It was nothing like I thought it would be. I thought it was going to be fast-paced efficiency. Where the doctor had reviewed his medical history- where a timeline would be laid out for us. Where specialists were waiting for us. When instead it was like starting over at a new doctor's office. Where we had to fight to get appointments to see them. Where if we hadn't befriended the two receptionists, we would have gone home without ever seeing another specialist. {We delivered cupcakes to them the morning we left.}

 

We are still in limbo- waiting for more results and more findings. Which we have accepted will most likely tell us nothing. We are so tired and exhausted mentally and emotionally. My husband works through everything- the Flu, strep...so its hard to know he doesn't feel good everyday. As time goes on we pray to find answers to the questions we have.

 

Moral of the story? Be your own advocate. Fight for the answers. Don't give up. Repeat.

 

 

Blogsy.

Remember when I gushed about Blogsy? It was a lie. I just lost a 6 paragraph post.

 

That's all.

Life Lately

I know its been awhile- please accept my apologies. I don't often write about exactly what is going on and sometimes I just kinda "scoot" over the things that are going on. Don't all bloggers? You want to put yourself out there, but most of the time you can't really put yourself out there because sometimes the things you want to say are about people who might happen upon your blog- and then where will you be? Maybe 1 friend down I suppose.

First things first- I am so in love with Blogsy. I was struggling with posting because I fight with my laptop frequently and therefore I am constantly on my iPad. And iPad + blogger = headache. Until I found Blogsy. There are a few other blog apps out there for iPad, but this one got the best reviews.

Where would we be without google? Seriously.

I have to admit I am completely thankful that September is coming to a close. It was a month that had so much going on and created so much stress, that I am just happy to put it all behind us.

A week ago, I left for San Diego for a work function. Every year, we fly out to meet with consultants who work with my office and are in meetings for a few days and they always have such amazing things for us to do planned. Example:

Who doesn't love a cute elephant butt?

We had dinner at the San Diego Zoo- that was closed down, just for our group. If you don't know anything else about me- just know that I LIVE for animals. I would seriously be Dr. Doolittle if I could. Remember when I said I was campaigning for goats? Ya, that is still happening. The next day we had an obstacle course, full of running through a bounce house {have you seriously tried that now that you are a grown up? Its no joke when you get stuck in a crack and you literally cannot.get.out} rowing outrigger, playing dodgeball {I really, really hate games with flying balls. I know, I know...that could go so many ways} amongst other things. It was a good time. Flew home on the red-eye Saturday night and arrived home only to repack my suitcase and head to Florida. And no, it wasn't for an amazing vacation. Stay with me and I will tell you exactly why.

Until next time- I leave you with this.

Fall makes me horribly happy. And who can resist a tiny hedgehog?

I just know Fall is on the way...

Hello cupcakes! Today I am linking up with Becky from MrstoMama about the wonderful thing that is Fall!

If you are new to my piece of the internet- Hi! Pardon my look- it soon will be changing. Kick up your feet and stay awhile!

1. Tell us what you are looking forward to this fall?
     There is something I must confess. Fall, Autumn, the season after Summer is one of my 2 favorite times every year. Okay that is a lie. Its one of three. {The other 2 are Spring and Christmas. Yes, Christmas IS in its own category.} In fact, I have been burning my Macintosh Yankee Candle for a few weeks now...yep, you caught me. I walked into Yankee a month ago (sign up for their coupons- they are so worth it!) and beelined straight for the Fall Section. Some of my fav's?

Summer in the Carolinas has been extremely humid and hot- more than normal. Add in the fact that we didn't have much of a winter last year- which I truly believe did not kill the mosquitoes. So, they quadrupled in qauntity and came back with a vengeance this year. I am ready to bid adieu to the entirety of summer. Put the cover on the grill and winterize our house.

2. Show us your fall style.
Insert scarves, leggings, tights, jeans, boots, sweaters and anything that screams cozy.

via

via

via

And something I am looking to add to my brood? The grayish beauties in the right hand bottom corner from MrstoMama's style... Someone please help me find them.  I need them.

via

3. Tell us your favorite things to do in the fall. If you have children, activities to do with the kids?
No kids for this lady right now, but I love fall activities just the same. Pumpkin patch, decorating for fall, hay rides....you name it- I'm game. 

4. Show us your favorite fall beverage.

Apple Cider

I seriously am in love with Apple Cider. We went to Vermont this past February for the first time and let me just say- Cider Mills have a special place in my heart.

5. Tell us, how you will be participating in halloween this year. Plans? Costume ideas?  

Hmmm...Halloween is fairly boring for me every year. Again- no kids so maybe the poor puppies will get dressed up. Or maybe not. Since I'm an 8-5er Hallow's Eve fell on a weekday so we dressed up..I, was the tooth fairy. I work in the tooth industry so naturally this made sense. Although when I asked my boss what I was ... "Uh- some kind of fairy?" Umm- okay. I just happen to have 23 tiny teeth printouts all over me. But yes, some kind of fairy. 

Thats it for now my sweets! I look forward to hopping around and adding to my list of blog fav's!

3 months.

Apparently I have been on a bit of a hiatus, no? I'll admit it- I have thought about logging on here A LOT over those 3 months. But that thing called life showed up and there were things I had to deal with that I just couldn't sit here and focus on saying anything earth shattering. I even took quite a long break from reading my Top 20 (my fav's that I have bookmarked and follow) and just lived life.

Tonight I was catching up on my favorites and was reading this one. I love her posts and her heartfelt words she always writes about her daughter. It doesn't hurt either that she is literally one of the cutest pregnant girls I have ever dealt with. As I was catching up on her latest vacation- she mentioned something I had forgotten about. A blog book. She had posted about this awhile back- but I think I was in one of my many ruts that I have fallen into this year. But as I was reading it- I thought...This is why I need to blog again. This is why I need to write down exactly what I am thinking and what is happening. Because if I don't...I am going to forget. I am going to forget how I felt, about the experience, about that moment in time that needs to be remembered. That I need to remember.

So I got myself out of my warm nook in the corner of the sectional and got my laptop out of hiding. She has really been in hiding since last December when iPad came to town- and she also put herself there because she is missing a key and her cursor likes to jump around randomly which makes me irate. BUT, its the only one I can successfully log into this blog of mine on. So, here I am.

At this point, my blog book would be a sorry, pitiful book. So, I am going to fill it. Its going to be an amazing look back on what was happening in this life of mine. So that maybe someday I can sit down and really relive the things I want to remember.

So- my 34 followers- thank you for not losing hope and for hanging on. I'm back- and I hope you are happy!

Many posts to come!

And- in case you wondered about the blog book- this is where you can find them!

Oh! Side note- if you know of anyone who is a genius at blog design- this chicken needs some help- so send them my way! XO

Ch-ch-ch-chaaannnges...

As many of you know, we do not have children. We've been together for 12 years, married for 8 and still no kids. If you are one of those that is just baffled by this- go ahead and take a deep breath, maybe do a downward dog and I'll be here when you are done.

For now, we travel, do what we want at the drop of a hat and love on our furry babies. We currently have a dog and a cat and I love them like they are my children. Yep, I'm one of those.

Bella is a Yorkie-Pomeranian aka Porkie and Caris (Care-iss) is my rescue calico sweetbabylovechild. I have had both since they were babes...Bella for 7 years and Caris for a little over a year. They are BFF's...which is a stark difference from when I first brought Caris home. Bella is EXTREMELY jealous...I mean seriously- jelly bean is her middle name.

But we got through it- and now they love each other.

The husband is NOT an Iloveanimalsmorethanpeople person like I am. If I had my way- I would have my own version of a Dr. Doolittle farm- saving animals from the hands of the horrible  people of the world. (And I must admit I am a bit disappointed I did not get a pair of goats for my birthday. But that's a post for a different day.) However, he has been wanting a "big" dog for years. Yes, years. As in, at least 3. I usually ignored that comment...saying " We don't have the money for that" or " we would need a huge fence" or " I can't deal with a puppy right now"...

Somewhere along the way- I agreed to make the leap. Jump into getting this "big" dog.

One of the reasons I climbed on board, was for protection. Aside from owning a gun (yep- we're those kinda people too) I wanted another deterrent in my life. Bella is convinced she is part Mastiff mixed with Great Dane and her heart would protect me from anything. But lets face it- 10lbs is not alarming or deterring. And if you happen to have a tennis ball in your pocket? Well, she'll pretty much pack her bags and move in with you. A big 100 pound pile of Iwilleatyourfaceifyouevenblinkatmymomma is what I wanted.

So we decided to start looking for what we wanted. And we found him.

Meet our sweet, baby boy...

We decided on a German Shepherd for many reasons...they are horribly smart, they love their families something fierce, are great around children and other pets (when socialized properly) and are amazing protectors- especially when trained. No, we did not rescue him. I wholeheartedly believe in rescuing - we just chose not to for him. So in the event you're feeling overly opinionated, just go ahead and put your judgy pants away. MmmmK?

We have been preparing for him to come home for a little over a month and he comes home this Wednesday. To say I am apprehensive and nervous is an understatement. We are going to be introducing him and Bella in park on neutral territory and kind of make it a very long play date..except he just won't ever leave.

Fingers crossed he is happy and the other children don't try to run away.
Until next time...