The Result

After not hearing from the doctor's office I finally sent an email. Below is her response. Thank you all for your prayers. I have been quite peaceful.


Shelley,

The FNA was consistent with a cyst. There were no abnormal cells present.

thyroid update

I had my biopsy Wednesday. It was the most nerve-racking experience. The procedure was painless. It was the idea that I was having a procedure done to determine if I have cancer or not. I love the doctor and PA though. They are great. They were able to drain the nodule. They said the test would probably not find any cells. It just looks like a cyst. They scheduled me an appt for 9 months from now. They put me on a synthetic thyroid pill call synthroid, vitamin D and B-12 because my blood work revealed I was low in both of those vitamins.

I left and it was flat. That night at the dinner table I felt my throat and the nodule was back! I was so mad. I called the next morning and they got me right in. They could not drain it this time and said it was probably a fresh blood clot. He told me to use warm compresses for a few days to see if it will go down. And that if it keeps filling up then we would have to remove it. He said he doesn't want to yet because it will leave a scar. To me that is not a big deal at all. That is the least of my concerns. So, the journey continues. Hopefully I will know the results by Monday.

Third Times a Charm

We finally got Nate's one year pictures made. I was trying to think why I waited so late to do it. Then I remembered that when he turned one I was barely keeping my head above water. We had just moved and I was ultra overwhelmed and underwhelmed. It was a bad time. Since then I have tried two other times but he just would not cooperate. But, it was worth the wait because look at this cutie. We went to Portrait Innovations. I will definitely go back. It was a really good experience.

PS- I have enough pictures for anyone and everyone! So, let me know which one you want.

PPS- Streed and Ella both took their one year pictures in a wicker chair wearing a monogrammed outfit. Nate is wearing a purple and gold ensemble because we moved here the month of his birthday.

finished product

I LOVE IT! It was a little bit of an ordeal but worth it. The first attempt was minus the tamping block. It sagged in the middle. The next day Chip decided he needed to take the bricks up, go buy the tamper and re-do it. I was so glad. I LOVE the pea gravel. That is what makes it. I am proud that it was my idea and my design. Thanks Chip for contributing the muscle and the money!

how we beat the heat...

Everybody please bring your squeaky tricycles inside and ride laps around the house. All while screaming with excitement.

Or like today when Streed had 2 neighborhood friends over. The five year old was squealing to the tops of his lungs while playing with a cars race track. Then somehow Nate's diaper came off and they were all (including Ella) running around the house SCREAMING "naked nate, naked nate"! I guess Nate thought, "It's getting hot in here. I'll take off all my clothes."

It gets better when they all run from Ella into Streed's room and shut the door. Ella then proceeds to beat on the door while screaming "LET ME IN!".

Or after being outside they come in saying they are thirsty and the 8 year old opens all my cabinets looking for cups and almost hopped on the counter to get one. I immediately had to let it be known that this was my house and if they needed something they needed to ask.

Ahhh. We do want our house to be where the kids play. It is just a new phase in life for me. I guess I better get used to it.

more projects

kids vanity before
(I do not have an after picture yet)

my vanity after
(mine was the same color as theirs)

Our bathroom vanities too were quite hideous. I have become a fan of the $3 sample pints of paint at Lowes. Since I usually goof on colors it is better to spend $3 on a sample than $20 on a gallon of paint. I bought a "swiss chocolate" pint for our bedroom. It was way to dark for the walls but was PERFECT for the vanity. I just love it. It only took the pint to paint the whole thing. Since mine turned out so well I got 2 "navy" sample to do the kids' since theirs is bigger than ours. I just love theirs too!

Our vanity tops are marble so I do not want to change them even though they are "slightly" outdated in their color schemes. Ours is a swirl of aquas, off-white and light tan. And the kids' is a swirl of greens, off-white and light tan.

I decided that a dark contrasting color on the vanity base would be fine as long as the wall color was chosen from among the swirls in the top. Eventually the walls in my bathroom will be "Aqua Smoke" and I think the kids will be "Pale Camel". Mine may end up "Pale Camel" too. The "Aqua Smoke is definitely going in my bedroom. My vanity area is actually a part of the bedroom. So, I don't know yet if I am carrying the color in there or making it appear separate. I am looking forward to that day when it is all finished. I have, however, come to terms with doing a little along the way.

since we've been home

I have been in major "do house projects" mode. I find that if I am being creative or getting things done that I am a much happier individual. So, Chip told me he was not doing any projects until all the clothes were washed and put away. He knew this would motivate me. Soon though I figured out that he said "HE" wasn't doing any projects. And that he did not say "WE". So, while he was out having a lunch meeting with our associate pastor I got after something I have been dying to do.

This here is a falling down planter box
in the middle of our patio

this here is after I hauled all the bricks away

this is after I hauled much dirt away
and smoothed it out

There is a stump in the middle that Chip has been working on. I am not quite sure how we are going to get it gone. But, the plan is to lay pavers in this square and make a pretty focal point to the patio while expanding our usable space.

Whooo that was a project. I worked up quite a sweat but it gave me a feeling of accomplishment. The box before was ugly and dangerous. I love making progress.

Day 29

I am HOME! I am sitting on my couch, not my bed. And we will be here for a good 3+ weeks. We may head to Mobile for a few days but here the majority of the time. I am so tired but energized that I am home.

Last night Nate had another hard night of not sleeping and Ella had a fever. Around 2am Chip just made the decision that we were leaving early. I was not that disappointed. I was sad though that we did not tell many people good-bye. All of the students were at work when we left. However, we will be back in about 4 weeks.

Day 28

More women time today that was really good. Then we had lunch with the speaker. She is a 57 year old lady who has been on staff with a ministry for 30 years with her husband. They spent 11 years in Indonesia and even followed the Lord's leading in sending two of their kids to bording school in Malasia while in Indonesia. It was a major faith lesson for her (and for all of us who were listening).

This evening I took some pictures of Ella & Totsky at the beach.

Day 27

Today started the Leadership Symposium. I did not know what to expect going in. I was much encouraged in a short 3 1/2 hours. I do not know about the guys time but I would not say the women's time was focused on Leadership as of yet. It was more focused on our character, heart, and intimacy with God. We also looked at the character qualities of Ruth and the impact she had in being the great-grandmother of King David. It was a lot and it gave me a lot to think about. I am looking fwd to tomorrow. Glad I wore my Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara. This stuff is awesome. It is waterproof. I normally hate waterproof mascara because it is so hard to get off. Not this. It comes off with warm water!