Me Again.....

Greetings followers...
I am going to try my hand at blogging again! It won't be strictly about the kids anymore because on that front I can HAPPILY say all is well!
Marshall is doing fairly well and working on some things in his education in preparation to attend Seminary college. I always felt that God had Marshall here for a reason. I am praying that things fall into place for him, he feels in his heart that this is his calling and we couldn't be more proud of him...he is a true walking miracle and now he will get to share his story with other people and help them on their faith journey.

Amelia has made a great transition to High School! Last year at her last year at Jr high school, we weren't sure she was even going to make it to high school. She just finished her first 9 weeks and I am super proud to say she had done awesome on her grades! She has mostly A's and B's and she was even studying for her exams....hmmmm had to wonder if that was really my child!

Now Nathan, well he is following in his sisters Jr high footsteps. He didn't do so well this first 9 weeks. We haven't gotten his grades but we think he might end up with a D on his report card. I decided to let him have his freedom the first 9 weeks, he didn't do so great at his freedom so now I have to pull the reins in a bit and stay on top of him and his home work. Well dad will more than likely be the one taking over that position.

Moving on to Ty, dad. It seems as though he/we just can't seem to get a break. In my previous post I mentioned that he had started a new job. We were doing great, we were digging ourselves out of a hole and doing wonderful....It started in about end of July he came home complaining about his lower back hurting, it was coming and going. Well on August 17th it came with vengeance and has not left, we have been to the emergency room  and 4 different doctors and still no plan of action other than he is unable to work at all. We have gone completely through our savings. He will not be able to return to his current job ever!! What we have found out so far is that he has 3 disc in his lower back that have no "cushion" or  "jelly" between them (degenerative disc disease), possible herniated disc in upper back and maybe something wrong with his neck. I am sure that some if not most of this is related to his last motorcycle wreck that he had in December with the Sheriff's department. We have another MRI to do on Monday from the top of his head to his tailbone and then back to the doctor on Nov 7th, from there we are praying they will have answers and a course of action. I am looking for a job for now, praying that we don't lose our house. I was hoping to find something in a clerical position or a receptionist, but I haven't been in the work work for over 12 years and people just don't want to give a 40 something stay at home mom a chance....so it is looking like I will be looking for something at Hobby Lobby or World Market anything right now to help pay the bills.

I am trying to stay positive and keep the faith. I know deep in my heart that this is a test from God and well unfortunately right now I'm not doing so well at the test. I know that things happen for God....it's His will His way....I am just trying to understand...we have been faithful Christians, go to Church on Sunday, try to read my bible during the week  and do my best at what He asks us to do. I am usually a positive person, even with all that we were handed in dealing with our kids. It's the had we were dealt and we played it....but this time I feel like I was dealt a poker hand and the game is rummy!!! It sucks to not have any income coming in and struggling to find a job. I know that this happens all the time  to other people and I guess you keep bopping through like never thinking that it could be you and then one day it is you! I am still struggling with my right foot in pain and it is hard to put a shoe on with a back, but I have no choice but to suck it up and deal with it and find a job. I really didn't want retail because I knew I would be on my feet most of the day...but I have to do what I have to do to keep our family from drowning.

I promise though in the future my post will not be rants and I will try to keep myself upbeat and positive. I know this is a trial and we must all go through them. I am praying for many things...1) they figure out what is wrong with Ty and treat him, he has been in constant pain and I worry about him with the pain meds that he is on. He has been warned about becoming addicted to them so let's hope he is hearing us. 2) that I find a job that will help some with the bills and that we can continue to pay for the health insurance for Ty to continue to receive great care. 3) for the kids to adjust to the new normal that will be coming in their lives and that they understand a little about the money situation. That sucks big time when you have to tell your kids no for things that aren't that big. 4) for Ty and I the knowledge and wisdom to make the right decisions for this family

Well if you have stayed and read all the way to the bottom I thank you. please if you could or would say a small prayer for us. I am hoping to come to do some more blogging sometimes letting it out helps. Sometime they may be short and sweet. I want to get some pictures of Amelia to put up, but she won't let me take a picture of her but yet she take millions of selfies....go figure!

Until next time.....Keeping the FAITH!

School

These two, yep those two are my babies...babies no more! They are ready to start school tomorrow! Amelia is starting (gulp) high school tomorrow. If you could say an extra prayer or two, both she and I are nervous. I think I am more worried about her size she is so tiny....But those she is small she has big attitude! I love that girl. Nate will be in Jr high...I swear this is not possible I just blinked and they grew up right before my eyes!

 How did this happen?! Momma is getting old!! I hope they will let me take pictures tomorrow! I will post if they do!
 Have a blessed day everyone!!

3 years post BMT!

I'm a day early with this but, who knows what tomorrow brings. (isn't that a song)  Tomorrow will be Amelia's 3 years post transplant. When I look at her it's hard to believe that just 3 short years ago she was fighting for her life. Today she is thriving, she just finished school on Friday as a Jr high student and next year she goes to high school.......GULP.....I'm not ready for that!She is blossoming into a beautiful girl. Health wise she is doing awesome, no problems what so ever and barely even sick this past school year, I couldn't be more please with her progress. We will do all the little check ups with the dermatology, ENT, Eyes and Endocrine, all routine once a year checks. Last year when we arrived home from our Disney trip we got a very special phone call from the U of M letting us know that if we wanted to the 2 year waiting period was up and we could learn all about our donor. Well we were thrilled to be able to find out who the kind hero was! His name is Dennis and he is 26 years old from Germany. We have a small language barrier, but thanks to translation apps on both of our phone we are able to stay in touch! He is and ALWAYS will be our hero, he gave the precious gift of life and just from the little bit that we have been conversing he seems like a really super sweet person! Amelia wishes that she could meet him in person, but well truth be told, not sure if we could ever afford a trip to Germany and he promises that if he ever gets a chance to come to the US we will be where ever it is that he is going to meet him!

As for the rest of the family we are all doing really well. We have had some major changes take place here. My husband (Ty) has been doing great. Last year he had a cyst  in the brain, well come to find out it turned out to be nothing. We were so relieved and grateful.  Last July he had an injury during work where he tore the tendon that holds the bicep down off the bone and was out of work for quite a while with that. He had to have surgery to repair it. He was out on light duty for about 4 months then went back to work full duty. Five days into his full duty he had mandatory training on the motorbikes, the one he hadn't been on in 6 months. Well he had a wreck that again put him out of work. He had tree broken ribs and torn ligaments in the knee. While out we had been talking and trying to find another job. We prayed that God would provide the way and show us what path to take. On March 5th he retired from the Sheriff's dept and he bout a truck and trailer and went into business with a company that his brother is working for. He is so much happier, healthier and very much less stressed, so much that he has lost 30 pounds!

Marshall is doing well also, he has had a few jobs here and there. As far as health goes he is doing well we just had a check up with the head and neck cancer specialist and we are good to go for 6 more months. We will see the dermatologist when Amelia goes. Right now he is in therapy for a frozen shoulder and for stability and balance. Something he will always have to work on.

Nathan is also doing great, getting big. He just finished his last year as an elementary student and now moves on to the Jr high school....I'm still trying to process this... Not sure I am ready for all this growing up that is going on around here.  He did a full year in the band and learned how to play the trumpet, he is looking forward to doing more with it next year as he will have band every day as an elective.

And me...well I have been suffering with foot pain for quite a while now, I am trying everything but surgery as it is a very extensive surgery and would be 8 weeks non weight bearing and then 6 moths of physical therapy. So at all cost I am trying to avoid surgery. Then I have also been suffering with an eye infection in my left eye. The doctor says it is clearing up, but it has left me with very blurry vision in the left eye and at times it feels like I have something slimy in there. I will probably end up needing glasses or one contact to clear up the vision.
There is never a dull moment around here! These three keep me on my toes for sure. Summer has just begun here so we are going to try and enjoy some swimming, thankful my mom and dad have a pool! maybe we will be able to squeeze in a quick trip to the beach! I hope not to be so long with another up date!

Hugs and Blessings!

Wow! I can't believe that it has been almost a year since my last update. Well as they say no news is good news. I have a ton to fill you all in on.....if of course there is anyone out there still interested in our journey. I promise to sit and write some hopefully tonight or tomorrow especially with Amelia's 3 year anniversary coming up! I will also try to add some picture..but big changes around here and happiness all around. Here are a few pictures of my beautiful girl! She is growing up so fast! PS she takes a lot of selfies...lol

update coming soon!

update

We all had a great time in Disney World. It was a full fun week. We celebrated Amelia's two year post transplant having a wonderful day at the Magic Kingdom, riding all the rides! It was a wonderful week, but now back to reality and back to the world of doctors and doctor appointments. When I say appointments I am not kidding you, we started the month of June with Ty's MRI on the 5th and from there things just spiraled. He had his MRI (on the brain) done at 8:30 that morning and by 1:00 the doctor was already calling him. I was at the doctor with Marshall, when he called to tell me. We weren't expecting results till at least the next day or later, but obviously something was wrong for her to call so quickly. He has a 3mm cyst in the brain, well I think it's more in the pituitary gland, he wasn't quite sure what the doctor had said, he half listens. I've made an appointment with a neurologist for June 25th and hopefully we will know more from there. He will also need to see a hematologist as his iron level is extremely low again! This is the 3rd time in about 3 years. There is something going on there and no one can seem to figure out why this is happening, this time they caught it before it hit 0. It was at 16 and a the range is 20-300 so he is below the range and point of concern. Marshall was at the doctor for his shoulder and now has to have therapy for a frozen shoulder, I went to the doctor on the 7th for Achilles tendinitis. He put me on steriods and after two day of them I am feeling 100% better!! Amelia will go to our local hematologist on the 18th to start her 2 year check up and her, hopefully, last bonemarrow biopsy ever!

Speaking of Amelia, she celebrated her 13th birthday on Friday! Yep it's official I have a teenage girl!

here are a few more pictures from our trip....

the above is her being silly while waiting to watch fantasmic!
Well I hope to hop on here again soon to give another update of everyone's health. For now we appreciate prayers, thoughts and good vibes!
Blessings,
Kelly

Time Flies

Wow, sometimes I wonder where the time goes! First let me say that my mom is doing Awesome!! Thanks for the thoughts and prayers! Second we are still running test on Tyren to see if they can figure out what is up with his no taste, no smell, headaches and metallic taste. I stopped googling it cause it scares me way too much. He will be having a MRI the first week of June, so a prayer for that would be great, I'm praying the font find a tumor, like what keeps popping up when I google it!! 

Marshall is doing well but having some issues with his knees and shoulder again.   He also has an appointment the first week of June for those. 

And I can't believe that on Monday we will be celebrating Amelia's 2 year post bone marrow transplant!!! She is doing awesome and we will be celebrating in the happiest place!!! Magic Kingdom! Yep we leave tomorrow morning for Disney World! The kids are super excited, I'm not sure my feet are! 

Well that's about all I have for now! Hopefully I will be able to post a few pictures of her having a blast! So much to be thankful for and to celebrate this year! All the kids will celebrate birthdays this summer, Marshall will be 20, Amelia turns 13 on the 7th of June and Nate turns 10 at the end of July and believe it or not on September 18 Marshall celebrates 10 years post BMT!

Blessings faithful followers, 

Kelly 

Prayers please

I'm asking for prayers today for my sweet momma! She is having an angiogram And a stint put in. We are praying that all goes well and they are able to do this, if not she will have to have open heart surgery. So prayers and good thoughts will be much appreciated today.
Blessings,
Kelly