All I Wanted Was A Family Picture

Okay so I hate posting this on here, but no one really checks this blog anymore, so for posterity's sake I'm going to admit that I have lost a little over 80 lbs in the last year. That doesn't mean that I'm ready to walk a high fashion runway, but I am fitting into cute jeans. I'll admit it ... I'm proud of this accomplishment. It took months of eating right and exercise.

Here I am at my starting weight. Yep, that's me in front the the world's best doughnut trailer called "Gordoughs." This picture was taken the night before I started my diet. I figured that it I was going to stop eating all the things I loved, I better start with one of the craziest. I ate a doughnut called the "Flying Pig" Its a large doughnut, with Maple frosting, which is then topped with bacon. I know it sounds gross and I promised myself I would never eat one again, but it was the perfect ending to my out of control ways.

Here I am now. (I'm the one on the left). Can you see a difference? The best day was when I had Mark climb up into the attic to pull down my "I only wish I could fit in" box of clothes and everything fit. It was better than shopping. I felt like myself again.

So to reward myself after all this work  I decided we needed a  family photo.






I hate having my picture taken, so this news was pretty shocking to my husband, but he was game. My friend Beth tried to take the photos, but we had a hard time and ended up with more than one person in tears.  We rescheduled for after Christmas with our friend Wendy who is a photographer.

So we got all dressed up with 5 girls' hair done and headed out to get the perfect photo (AGAIN).

 





About 15 minutes into the session we went from this...

And this...

to this.


I don't know what the doctor's call this thing, but it's like Chinese handcuffs. Believe me it was not fun. Turns out I fractured my Ulna (that's the little bone in your wrist) and broke my Radius (that's the bigger bone in your wrist) into 8 different pieces.

I ended up in surgery where I got 8 screws that look
like this...









and this.While these picture look like lots of fun I wouldn't recommend this for a good time. So i'm sure all 2 of you are wondering how I broke my arm taking family pictures.

I tripped over a log. Well lets be honest I thought I was young and cool and was standing on the log trying to make my daughter (seen on the left) laugh. Note: She laughed after I fell.

Honestly I think the Log got off pretty easy. Other than having to take a few pictures, it's probably still enjoying its solitude in the field where my children left it. I on the other hand still have months of Physical Therapy left. Curse You Log!!!

3 Days and ... Church

It's been three days since Mark's last surgery and he was feeling well enough to attend church. (We even took this picture to document the occasion. Can you see Reagan's cute face by my elbow?) His pain level has decreased dramatically, so now we are playing the wait and see game. The Doctor put a stint into his abscess, which has helped a ton, but it gets removed tomorrow, with hope that his body will do the rest of the work it's self. Thanks for all the prayers. We really have felt your love.

Taking on Crohn's

After one surgery, multiple doctors visits, supplements, a diet change and many pain pills Mark is heading back into surgery today. His pain level is still way high and it really seems that the abscess is growing or at least moving, We are hoping they will be able to relieve the pressure enough that he can return to a somewhat more normal life. We are all tired, but still feel that the Lord is directing us and that there is hope for a less painful existence. We appreciate all the prayers and we feel love all around us.

Mark's Fight

In 2001, Mark was diagnosed with a disease call Ulcerative Colitis. It involves inflammation in the Colon and makes your life a lot more uncomfortable. Mark did a fairly good job managing the Colitis until the spring of 2004 where the Colitis began to fight back. Luckily though the help of our family, doctors, our Ward Family and most especially our Heavenly Father we were able to get him healthy enough to come home and eventually manage the disease again.

Fast forward to 2012… Mark has been struggling with his health almost this whole year. He has had several staph infections along with Eczema that have been bothering him, but it was the flare up in his Colitis that had us concerned. He is very pale and I starting his weigh closely; then came the pain. About midway through June Mark started having a pain every time he sat down, which then escalated to hurting even when he stood. The pain grew until the only time he was free of it was when he was laying on his stomach holding perfectly still. Of course we made an appointment and got him in to see his internal medicine doctor. The prescribed some cream and send us home. There was no improvement. We were both tired, Mark of the pain and me of feeling useless.

Last Friday, July 20^th, Mark came home early from work, because the pain had reached a new height. I was in the middle of shampooing carpets in our bedroom and decided that I needed to clean under the bed. I moved the bed by scooting it to one side and was excited to see Mark, because he could help me with the moving it back. (That’s right he was in incredible pain and I asked him so help me move a heavy bed.) He of course agreed we moved the bed a few inches and a beam fell right onto his head causing him to need 7 stitches. While we were at yet another doctor’s visit I asked for new medication for Mark’s pain.

By Monday it was pretty obvious that the new medication was also not working. Mark was starting to feel left out and I was starting to feel alone. Neither of us knew what to do. Then I remembered a conversation I had had with a sister in our ward whose son had Crohn’s Disease. She had impressed me and I had thought at the time I should talk with her further, but the time had never come again. I decided to call her. She answered and the two of us talked for the next three and a half hours. Actually mostly she talked and I listened and took notes as fast as I could. It turned out not only had her son been diagnosed with Crohn’s, but another son and her husband had as well. She had made it her life mission to help her family and her hard work was paying off.

She gave me books to read, supplements to order, and doctor’s to make appointments with.. The whole time we talked I felt the hope that only the spirit can deliver. It was the first time in years I felt like there was a direction we could take. The next day I starting work on project Make Mark Better. I ordered the supplements, downloaded an e-book, called and made two doctor’s appointments. One of which was a doctor Robert Cline. I called his office sounding almost desperate. I told the office assistant on the phone that my husband was in constant pain and that I knew they were all busy, but I would do anything if they could just squeeze him in. ( I was ready to babysit, cook meals, or take pet iguanas while they vacationed. There really was very little I wouldn’t do.) She said it was funny that I had called right then. She had just hung up the phone with someone cancelling a 3:30 PM appointment that day. She was supposed to call the next person on the list, but if Mark could make it there the appointment was his. I took it and then called Mark (who was struggling through another painful day of work). He agreed to the appointment and left work a few hours later to meet with Dr. Cline. Dr. Cline immediately could see what was causing the pain and offered to perform surgery on Friday.

So here we are on Friday. They were able drain the abscess and the Doctor discovered that Mark’s Ulcerative Colitis has now become Crohn’s. (No wonder when I was talking to the sister in our ward, so much of what her family had suffered sounded just like Mark’s symptoms.) I am now excited to talk to the other doctor we meet with, in two weeks. Though we never would have chosen Crohn’s, it is what we’ve been given, so we will have to move forward. Something we are now prepared to do, because… We have a plan.

Stitches for Daddy

Hooray for me!  This is the second time in my life I have had stitches.




The first time I was 12 and put my hand through a glass door pane.

This time? I don't think the story is that interesting.

I can tell you that it involved TARA and I moving our bed together on a Friday night.

And it all gets a little fuzzy after that.

Happy Father's Day!

After a wonderful day of spoiling Mark we finished off with Root Beer Floats (one of my dad's favorites) and mustaches just for fun. I am so thankful for the sweet husband that I have. He truly is my best friend. I love you Mark!

Daisy's 7

If we are known for anything it is celebrating everything and when the dog's birthday comes around it is no different. We spoil her to the point of making her sick and tired. After all shes not a young pup anymore. Daisy's day began with fresh dog food. Then it was off to Red Bud Isle for a morning of swimming and playing with friends.

It is hard for a dog to hold still when there is so much to see.

This stick was in high demand by many of the dogs at the park.

Austin chose not to swim this year, but still enjoyed putting her feet in.

Right after I won the splashing contest.

Kat loves her dad.

Hallie couldn't wait to get in. Swimming with Doggies... what a treat.

Shortly after this picture the clothes came off revealing a swimsuit and Reagan went in.

After spending a few hours at the lake we headed over to the Bee Cave Park where we all enjoyed ice cream, while Daisy had her very own Frosty Paws. We then headed home where Austin gave Daisy a bath and Reagan and Hallie gave her a good brushing. The kids loved on her the rest of the day with tons of doggie treats (even one from Rocky Mountain Candy Factory). SPOILED, but how we love her.