Update

Just wanted to give you an update on my "unique" medical situation. I went back to Dr. Morris this morning and my platelets have come down to 968,000. Yeah. I am so thankful to the Great Physician that they have continued to come down, but my earthly physician thinks still thinks they need to come on down a little quicker so he doubled my medication and added something he hopes will help with my headaches. I have to continue to go back weekly until we can get my platelets to a "comfortable" level (and to monitor my white and red blood counts as well, this medication can effect those) so that Dr. M can take me off of the medication, do the bone marrow biopsy, and put me back on the medication. Yes, that's right, at the moment the plan is still to go ahead with the bone marrow biopsy. He is putting it off for the time being until he can get my levels down enough to feel comfortable about taking me off the medication temporarily. Apparently you cannot get an accurate reading while on this medication. We are unsure of when the biopsy will take place because it all depends on how long it takes my levels to come down, could be a week, could be months. Who knows, maybe he will nix the whole biopsy thing. A girl can hope, can't she? Anyway, we already know that the prayers are working because my platelet levels have come down so please keep sending them up. Thank you so much for your continued prayers and encouragement.

While I'm Waiting

Yesterday's visit with Dr. M went okay. We got to watch Dr. Phil and a little bit of Oprah while waiting and I only had to give the vampire lady one vial of blood this time. Yeah. Oh, and my platelet count was down to 1,170,000. Double Yeah.
Anyway, as if I weren't nervous enough about my visit, Dr. M comes into the room and the first thing he says is "So, do you want to have a bone marrow biopsy?" Well, duh, NO, but if I need one I guess so. He decided to go ahead and set me up for the biopsy on Friday, then start medication to get my platelets down to a safe level and see him back the first of the week to get the results. He then noticed that a couple of my tests that he had sent to Mayo hadn't come back yet so he left to see if he could call and get those. No such luck since it was after FIVE. However, when he came back into the room Matt asked him about how long I would have to stay on this medication, if it would be a permanent thing or just long enough to get my levels back to normal and come off or what. Well, I think Dr. M took his question wrong and thought Matt was asking if we could try the medication first instead of the biopsy so he put the biopsy on hold until we get the Mayo results and told me to go ahead with the medication. We think Dr. M's primary concern at this point is to get my platelets down and then move forward. So that is where we are, waiting once again. I go back on Tuesday at 9:30 and hopefully we will know more at that point. Until then we are PRAYING HARD that it is the Thrombocytosis Essential and that the medication (Hydrea) is doing it's thing and bringing my levels on down to normal. I take comfort in knowing that God does hear our prayers so please keeping sending them up. I know that God is soooo good and he will protect me and it is my prayer that I will PRAISE him no matter what.
This is one of my favorite songs.
John Waller - While I'm Waiting
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Peace

My bestest friend Hope sent this to me today. Even though I say I am handling yesterday's news okay she knows that I am really just holding it together and might lose it at any minute. When she told me she was going to send me something and then I got this I have to admit I shed a few tears. Thanks Hope. Love Ya!
God has such perfect timing.
Do not look forward to what might happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father, who cares for you today, will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.

Thrombocytosis

Where to begin? I had intentions of posting about how much "fun" it is to go for your yearly checkup but after an interesting chain of events I have something on a more serious note to blog about.
God is AMAZING! I have been toying with the idea of changing from my doctor whom I love dearly to a doctor closer to home because of convenience and because he is A LOT cheaper, but as GOD would have it, I decided to go on to my regularly scheduled checkup on Monday. As I mentioned I had plans on writing about all the humorous things we women have to go through during these oh so pleasant visits so I had out my handy dandy notebook jotting down a few things to post when Dr. S walked in and everything changed. After all the usual "hands on" business he had me get dressed so we could discuss this platelet issue. According to his machine my levels were at 999,999 (which was the highest number his would read) and a normal level should range between 140,000 - 440,000. Dr. S was concerned. Dr. S is a very take it as the wind blows kind of person so for him to be concerned concerned me. So, after drawing more blood and rechecking there, just to be sure they sent the sample over to the hospital. A couple of hours later I received a phone call from Dr. M's office with an appointment for today. Then I received another phone call from Dr. S explaining that he was referring me to a Hematologist (Dr. M) for a more thorough workup.
I'll admit I was a little freaked out but surprisingly I haven't dwelled on it. I had really expected to be given some medication to correct it and move on...well, that is not how things went. So here's the rundown. After seven tubes of blood, three waiting rooms, two very long hours and one Dr. M later we know a lot and very little. My actual platelet count from Monday was 1.5 MILLION and today's was 1.3 million. Even though today's was a little lower Dr. M was quick to say that it is not unusual for it to fluctuate that much when levels are as high as mine. We know I have Thrombocytosis but we don't know what kind yet. There are two kinds of Thrombocytosis, reactive and essential. I will not presume to know exactly what that means but my understanding is that reactive is my body reacting to something (hopefully my IUD) or essential which means my body just produces too many platelets and they give me medication to help. Words such as chronic leukemia and bone marrow biopsy were thrown at me as well but only as possibilities and not likelys. I mentioned my IUD earlier because looking back over my levels since I had it put in until today (1 year today) they have steadily been increasing. So we are praying HARD that by having it removed my levels will begin to fall until they reach normal. I also had stated earlier that God is AMAZING because had I switched doctors the local doctor does not take blood samples during routine checkups. So I know that no matter what comes of this ordeal, GOD is already ALL over it watching over me.
I do ask that you pray for me during this difficult time and for my family.
Prayer Requests:
That the IUD removal WILL bring my platelet count down to normal.
That I make it through this week without losing my mind.
That I don't have a stroke. (Which is possible with levels this high)
That I won't have cancer. ( That word scares me.)
That I won't have to endure a bone marrow biopsy.
Praises:
Matt went with me to my appointments today.
I didn't change doctors.
Dr. S took prompt action.
I am so blessed to have such a supportive family.
That my IUD removal went well.
I leave you with this:
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrew 11:1

Happy Birthday Corbin!

Yesterday was Corbin's EIGHTH birthday. Wow! Time has flown by in warp speed. Corbin is such a little charmer. He is always talking us into things. In true little boy fashion, he loves all things blue and all things sports and all things electronic and of course all things MAMA. :) I have to admit I love all things Corbin too. God has blessed us beyond belief.

Happy Birthday Corbin!

Me and my little Cornbread.

Matthew & Leecie Bob. Giddy up horsey.
Corbin & Daddy in a skeet ball battle.

He might NOT be a beautician but...

I have to say I have a new love in my heart (and a good laugh) for my dear sweet husband. You see, I got the brilliant idea yesterday that I would recolor my hair MYSELF...yea, MISTAKE, especially since I have a very talented sister who is a beautician. Anyway, I put my too cute rubber gloves on and started coloring away. I carefully watched the time and at exactly 25 minutes I rinsed, conditioned, rinsed again and wrapped my hair tightly up in a towel. Everything was going just peachy until I took off the towel and the sun came out, and it was raining outside. Ahem. After my initial shock, and applying SPF 40, I thought well maybe it won't be so bad after I dry it. Then I thought maybe it won't be so bad after I fix it. Well maybe I was WRONG!

So, after the "I told you so" spill from my big sis I threw on a baseball cap and headed back to Wal-Mart for take two, only take two required not one but two more color kits. One for the desired color and one so I could have a cap to pull my hair through to help tame the sun with an eclipse. :) So I get back home, we eat supper by way of sun light, watch a movie and put the kids to bed so we could get started. Matt had agreed during my conversation with Amie that he would help with this process. So I pulled on my stylish new cap and gave my husband a bright and shiny and SHARP new hook to pull my hair through with and away we went. Well, after many bouts of throwing the hook down and something about a rat's nest (oh! and referring to my sister as CRAZY for her career choice) I knew something had to be done. So, with an aching scalp and a profound disgust the cap ended up back in the box only TWO HOURS after we had begun and a new ALL OVER color was applied. After examining my end result and deciding I could live with it I crawled into bed at 1 am.

All in all I think I have learned a few things:

* Never give your husband an excuse (and a weapon) to torture you.

* Light Blonde should really be named You Are My Sunshine Blonde.

* Pain is Beauty or Beauty is Pain...however that saying goes -- IT HURTS!!

* Next time I WILL be tortured, I mean pampered, by my sister instead.

* Finally. Matt might not be a beautician but the man loves me enough to try.

And here is the final result. What do you think?

State Bible Drill

We had ten fabulous kids participate in the State Bible Drill from our church last week. I am so proud of each one of them. I would so lose to any one of these 4th-6th grade Bible Drillers on "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" I mean, could you recite and find 25 Bible verses just from hearing the first few words of the verse or the reference? Me neither. I feel so unsmart right now. Anyway, Matthew was so nervous but he did great. We must also say a special thank you to Mrs. Robyn Shelton and Mrs. Katherine Parham for working so hard in preparing these boys and girls with the word of God. You ladies are super!!!!!!

Matthew receiving his award.

Way Cool - Super Smart - God's Word Knowing - State Bible Drillers

She represents the Lollipop Guild...

Well, we broke down and gave Leecie Bob her very first lollipop the other night, well actually it was a ring pop, and she L-O-V-E-D it!!!! It was like a watermelon flavored paci to her. She quickly whittled it down to almost nothing and Mommy was afraid that she would utilize her brand new razor sharp toofies so I took it away and the wailing immediately began. She cried for ten minutes. Almost long enough for Daddy to break down and give her another one. Thankfully Mommy shushed wailing Leecie Bob just in time. Vanilla Wafers anyone?

Leecie Bob's impression of a fish...

I mean lovin' a ring pop.