Catching Up

Okay, so it has been over 3 months since I updated.  Life always gets away from me and goes so fast.  Overall, we are doing well.  Abigail and Olivia both enjoy school this year.  Abigail is in kindergarten and Olivia is in 5th grade with lockers (I know. . when did that happen??)

Abigail - Kindergarten

Olivia - 5th grade

Olivia turned 11 back in August.  The fact that she is close to being a teenager blows my mind.  She still wants to be a preschool teacher and is so great with little kids.  Her little cousin, Ivy, just adores her.  She is so kind and gentle.  We had a peacock birthday party as she still likes peacocks and cats.  I made her a new peacock painting for her room. It turned out better than I expected.

She had a great party with some of her closest friends.  This was the first year that two of her friends slept over for her birthday.  

We also gave Olivia my old phone and reactivated it.  We have been trying to get her to text us, but she is in no hurry to grow up.  

Both girls enjoyed Halloween. Ryan put out his Halloween decorations for the first time since Olivia was three.  

Abigail dressed as a unicorn and Olivia was a wolf.  

Oh and as Abigail would say. . .she met her BFFs over the summer.  Avelyn and Alayna are sisters whose grandma lives across the street.  They met and it was instantly like they had known each other forever.  They play every chance that they get.  Avelyn is a year older, in 1st grade, but Alayna is in her kindergarten class.  Life is always more fun with friends and I am so thrilled that Abigail has made such great ones!!

Abigail and Avelyn

Abigail and Avelyn at their first sleepover

Alayna, Avelyn and Abigail.. the Three 'A'migos

The girls also made friends with the new neighbor, Makinze, who lives next door.  They all play at least a few times per week. It is nice that they have a friend that they can both play with.  We have neighborhood kids at our house quite often.

We also made our annual trip to Applejack Pumpkin Patch this year.  It is always fun (and I love getting all of the new pictures.)

Olivia has gotten really tall!  She is now 4 ft 6 in.  She has been on growth hormone injections for a little over a year and they have helped immensely.  Still not putting on much weight, but I think that's because her body is working on growing taller.  She has never been over the 3rd percentile and is now in the 14th percentile for height.

Abigail is pretty tall as well.

Izzy, Ivy, Abigail and Olivia, cousins

Oh and Olivia started playing the flute this year.  I was able to get my old flute refurbished for her.  So, she thinks it is pretty special to have her mom's old flute.  

Abigail lost her first tooth last week!  She was so excited.  Once it was loose, she was determined for it to fall out. 

And. . .I got a new job at a veterinary clinic.  I started mid-October and I enjoy it. It is part time, but the days are long as I leave at 7 am and don't get home until almost 7 pm.  I enjoy wearing scrubs and not having to think about what to wear everyday.

So. . .that is pretty much a quick summary of all that we have been up to.  I will try to update more often than once every few months.  Hope you and your family have a great holiday season!!

First Day Of School

I can't believe that I have a kindergartener and a 5th grader.  They have been enjoying this past week of school.  Olivia is at a new school, the 5th-6th grade Intermediate building and Abigail is at a new school. . .Olivia's old elementary school.  Abigail even has Olivia's previous kindergarten teacher.  We LOVE her and are so happy she has Abigail this year.  Olivia seems to really like her teachers as well!  Hoping for a great year!

My 5th grader 

My kindergartener

Sjogren's and Bicycles

After literally years and years of doctors ignoring me, I was finally listened to.  Strange that it was an ENT that finally listened.  I've had fatigue and just a sense of being unwell for most of my adult life.  I'm sure I even blogged about it.  About 5 years ago, I developed migraines and everything snowballed from there.  Doctors would check for one thing and when that came back normal, I had to wait 6 more months to go back in for them to check another, etc.  Some of my test results came back normal, but some would come back abnormal, but they would still dismiss it.

About a year ago, I developed this strange thing called geographic tongue. Doctors would tell me that it is a benign condition, but it was like my body screaming that something wasn't right.  Around Christmas, I got a sore, inflamed throat that didn't go away for 4-5 months.  I took multiple rounds of steroids, antibiotics, antifungals and it didn't help.  My dr finally sent me to an ENT.  He did some bloodwork and found my CRP and sedimentation rate was high.  Funny thing is. . .they've been high for a long time. . .someone just paid attention.  They would tell me that it shows inflammation in the body, but they wouldn't investigate where that inflammation was coming from or tell me how to get rid of it.  Anyway, my ENT sent me to a rheumatologist.  One of the blood tests that they ran was for Sjogrens antibodies because my ENT suspicioned Sjogrens.  They came back negative.  Thankfully, instead of dismissing it again, they sent me for a lip biopsy.  In about 30% of people, the antibodies don't show up and a salivary gland biopsy is needed.  I had the lip biopsy on Wed and yesterday I was diagnosed with Sjogrens Syndrome, an auto immune disorder where your body attacks your salivary and moisture producing glands.  Not only do you experience fatigue, dry eyes, dry mouth. . .but also joint pain, neurological issues, dysautonomia, irritable bowel, constipation and it can go on to attack other glands in the body.  I have problems with my thyroid and kidneys and wonder if it is all related?  You are also at an extremely high risk for lymphoma.

So, not sure where I go from here.  Usually if you have one autoimmune disorder, you have more.  They usually start people on an anti malaria drug that is supposed to help.  Time will tell.  For now, I am grateful that a doctor finally listened to me.  I can't tell you the relief that I feel and the hope that I haven't felt in a long time.  I do worry about my girls as auto immune disorders are hereditary and now my girls have it on both sides of the family.  My mother-in-law has lupus.  

In other news, both girls are now riding bikes!  I told them when they could both ride, I would get myself a bike.  So, I bought one yesterday.  Right when we set out on our first bike ride, however, Abigail crashed pretty badly.  Blood was just dripping from her knees.  After spending a few hours recovering, we finally went on our bike ride and Abigail fell at the end and banged up her another knee.  Needless to say, we invested in knee pads.  We have to tell Olivia not to be so cautious and afraid, but that Abigail needs to have a little more fear.  Ha!  She's kind of a daredevil and rides way too fast.  But, it has turned into a very bicycle riding summer. . .very fun!

My Signs

As you know, about a year ago, I discovered that I love to paint.  I've been busy making paintings and signs ever since and have learned so much this past year.  Last month, I became a vendor at a local craft store and I am selling my signs there as well as from my facebook page Show Me A Sign Designs.  I've loved the creative outlet and hope to paint for many years to come.  Here are some that I have made recently: