Merry Christmas From Our Family to Yours...

Prayers Please

Part of the reason for my month long hiatus from the blogging world has been due to a little medical scare I've been dealing with the past few months.  Well I guess it really started back in January.  I've never really had a hard time dieting/losing weight, not that I'm a really skinny person, but I normally can work out, watch what I eat and lose weight pretty easily. I've never necessarily had weight problems and I've normally had a great metabolism.  In fact, Jamie has always been jealous of my metabolism because in the past I could eat whatever and as long as I worked out, I was okay. Last year in the fall, I had no trouble dieting and lost 10 lbs in about 2 months but fell off the wagon around the holidays.  I got back on the diet in January and was really watching my carb/sugar intake to no avail.  Not only that, but I was tired all the time.  I began doing Advocare and lost 17 inches overall and not a single pound.  I was really discouraged and completely baffled.  The inches were great but I couldn't understand why I hadn't lost any weight?  I decided to go to a women's hormone clinic to have blood work done and see what the problem was.  She discovered that I had hypothryroidism and put me on Armour Thyroid, a natural hormone replacement medicine.  She also told me to keep doing what I was doing and the weight should begin to fall off.  Well, it didn't.  And I was still hard core watching what I ate. After talking with several other people that had hypothyroidism, I discovered that EVERYONE diagnosed with this was on a different medicine thank I had been prescribed, Synthroid.  After 3 months on Armour and no noticeable difference, I went back in for a follow up and asked to be swapped over to Synthroid and a recheck on my blood work.  My bloodwork came back normal (meaning the Armour was working) however, I still didn't feel good and I still hadn't lost any weight.  I asked to be changed to Synthroid and reluctantly she did. 

At this point, I decided I should see an Endocronologist.  By then, it was the end of August and I felt like this had been going on for too long to not really have any answers.  I had an appointment with Dr. A, the endo, and he confirmed I had thyroid disease but also discovered a nodule on my thyroid.  Your thyroid is located at the base of your throat and is butterfly shaped around the trachea. Your thyroid produces hormones that keep your metabolism going so with hypothyroidism, you aren't producing enough of those hormones, which causes your metabolism to slow down, resulting in weight gain, fatique, sadness/depression, constipation, joint/muscle pain, increased sensitivity to cold, dry skin, thin brittle hair/nails, infertility and overall weakness.  Once you have thyroid disease, it's a lifelong disease and you will be on meds for the rest of your life.



He expressed some concern because when someone has hypothyroidism, it's common for your thyroid to become bumpy all over (with goiters), however mine just had the one nodule on the right side.  He did mention that it COULD be a tumor/cancer and so we had to take proper precautions to rule that out.  He also told me that based on what he could feel, it seemed rather large so we might have to do surgery to have it removed regardless if it was cancer or not.  He set me up for an ultrasound which confirmed what he was feeling on my thyroid wasn't a goiter but indeed a nodule. The next step was a fine needle biopsy.  This was a procedure that I had done in the hospital, where they deadened the skin then inserted several needles in my throat guided by ultrasound, into the nodule to extract tissue to be tested.  It was nerve-wrecking (they told me don't talk, move, or breathe while the needles were in my throat) and slightly painful.  My neck was sore the rest of the day after the biopsy. 

Two long weeks later, Jamie and I went back in for the results and were told that the biopsy came back suspicious.  WOW. It was like having the wind knocked out of me. Totally not what I was expecting.  The only option is to surgically have the right side of my thyroid removed and slice open the nodule to see if it is cancer.  I was given the option of having surgery at ECM with a general surgeon or being referred to UAB and seeing a Otolaryngologist, basically a specialist that does this type of surgeon all the time (I chose UAB).  Of course, it took a month to get in at UAB so I just had my consult for surgery this past Tuesday.  I really like my surgeon, Dr. Peters.  He came highly recommended by a friend who's husband is also a surgeon at UAB.  He told me that the nodule is so large, 3 mm, that it would need to be removed based on size alone.  Every doctor that I've seen can't believe that I never noticed the nodule before having the doctor find it.  So surgery is set for Friday, January 11th (which coincidentally is the 2 year anniversary of when my dad was diagnosed with his cancer).  They will make about a 2 inch incision in my throat to remove the right side of my thyroid and while I'm on the operating table, they will cut open a frozen section of the nodule to inspect it for cancer. If it is cancer, they will then remove the remaining portion of my thyroid.  If it's not cancer (praying this is the case) then they'll close me back up with half of my thyroid still intact and I'll just take Synthroid the rest of my life and be done with all of this.  It's just a day surgery so I'll be released later that day and will be in pain for about a week or two.  Also there's a good chance it will affect my voice for several weeks but all of that will get back to normal eventually.  Now if it turns out to be cancer, I will have to undergo a radioactive iodine treatment but I won't go in to details until I know that's something we'll have to tackle. 

During all of this, my doctor took me off of Synthroid so I have gradually felt worse and worse since September/October.  His reasoning was that he wanted to take care of the nodule first then address how much medicine I need to be taking.  The past month has been terrible.  At first I just thought I was sad because of all of the that's been thrown my way, however, I realize that it's the lack of the hormone that's causing me to feel this way.  Tired doesn't even describe the way I've felt.  It's like extreme exhaustion all day long, regardless of how much sleep I get the night before.  I've literally been afraid I would fall asleep while driving Noah to school at 8 in the morning.  As terrible as it sounds, thank goodness for Chuggington and Mickey Mouse.  They have entertained Collier while I've laid on the couch the past few weeks.  I've been unexplicably sad at times and just feeling really unmotivated, achy, tired and blah. Plus I've gained a few pounds and we all know how that makes a girl feel.  I finally called Dr. A and all but demanded to be put back on the medicine because I HATE feeling this way.  Thankfully, he put me back on it yesterday and had me come in for more blood work to see what doseage I need for now (it will probably increase once I lose 1/2 of my thyroid from surgery). 

I have moments where I'm so overwhelmed and upset but for the most part, I know that God is in control and I trust that he's going to take care of me in this situation, as He has in everything else.  Life has definitely thrown us some curve balls the past 5 1/2 years, but I also realize that if it wasn't for dealing with Noah's craniosynostosis surgery/developmental problems and my dad's cancer, then there's no way I'd be so calm facing this surgery and subsequent cancer scare.  I just am asking for all of your prayers as we head into this surgery next month.  I'm thankful for an amazingly supportive and loving family and group of friends to help hold us up during this time.  I've been shocked at the outpouring of love and concern from new friends that I've just gotten close with in recent years (and in some cases, recent months).  You expect it from your older friendships but its such a pleasant surprise from the newer ones.  Its heart-warming and I'm so grateful to have all of these friendships, new and old.  Most importantly, I'm grateful for a loving God that is holding my hand every step of the way! 

And lastly, I don't think any of you that read my blog are friends with my grandmother, but if you are, PLEASE DO NOT mention this to her.  She takes the word 'worry', to a WHOLE other level so we are waiting until the week of (more like day before) to tell her about this surgery.  Trust me, its much better for her (and all of us) if we wait in telling her. 

James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perserverance.

 

1 Peter 1:6-9 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for alittle while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that the proven genuinesness of your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end resulf of your faith, the salvation of your souls.



Oops, I did it again

Well, I let a month go by without an update... it's actually been a pretty busy month so my mind hasn't been on blogging.  However, I will play catch up. 

My mom and I  took a weekend getaway to Nashville for her birthday in early November.  We enjoyed some delicious meals, marked lots of items off of our Christmas list and enjoyed the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at the Grand Ole Opry House.  It was a beautiful show with lots of exciting, fast paced dance numbers, a 3-D movie that puts you in the passenger's seat of Santa's sleigh, as you fly through New York City and a finale of the stunning reenactment of the first Christmas in the "Living Nativity" with real life animals!

Thanksgiving was great and we celebrated not once but 3 times with 3 seperate meals.  A Wednesday night dinner with Jamie's family, Thursday Thanksgiving lunch with my dad's side of the family and a Friday dinner with my family.  Also on Friday night, one of my good friends from high school had a going away party so I had an AWESOME time catching up with friends that I haven't seen in awhile.

The first weekend in December we had our annual Brink shopping trip and stayed at the fabulous Opryland Hotel.  Jamie's parents take us somewhere each year and instead of trying to guess what each of us would like, they give us our christmas shopping money and allow us to spend the weekend shopping for ourselves.  Plus they give us money to buy for our kids, from them, so we can pick out exactly what our kids need, too.  It's a shopping-dining-football-watching trip for the adults... no kids allowed; and we always have a ton of fun.  Jamie's family is hysterical and pretty crazy (good crazy, not bad crazy) so it's a guaranteed fun weekend no matter where we are.  And the Opryland Hotel is my favorite at Christmas time because of how beautifully decorated it is.  Since the SEC Championship was that Saturday, we shopped up until game time, then all watched it together in the sports bar inside of the hotel and were thrilled to watch Bama take home the title.

Last week, Collier had his Christmas program at preschool.  I was so excited to see him perform the songs he had learned.  Jamie, my mom, and I arrived and positioned ourselves front and center so we could see our little man.  He marched in with his class and sat so sweetly in between two little girls, with his hands in his lap and a cute little smile on his face ... until he made eye contact with me.  His face LIT up and that was it... he left that stage and ran into my arms, refusing to go back up to the stage to sing.  I took him back up on the stage and sat beside his teacher and other classmates and held him while they performed.  However, he just hugged me tightly and wouldn't even face the audience. I'll admit, I was a little disappointed, however he is just 2 AND is the youngest in his class, so I know his behavior is pretty typical for a little toddler.  However, lesson learned.  Next time, I will stay hidden until AFTER he finishes his songs!

Whew! It's been a busy, fun few weeks and I can't believe Christmas is right around the corner! Thank goodness majority of my Christmas has already been purchased, although it currently is sitting in bags down in my basement so I have lots of wrapping to do.  I'm excited to enjoy these next 12 days by visiting Santa, driving around to see Christmas lights and letting my boys experience the excitement and wonder that the Christmas season has to offer!

 {Harper's 1st Thanksgiving}

 

{Collier giving Harper kisses}

{Noah sure loves this little girl}

 {I'm a very proud aunt!}

 

{And Lindsay is a proud aunt, too}

 



{this child LOVED fried turkey}

 

{Noah and his sly little grin}

 

 {Noah & Uncle D are buddies}

 

{everyone in attendance at Casey's party}

 {high school buddies}

 



{The Powell - Brink - Bright clan... Thanksgiving 2012}

 

{So thankful for my 3 boys}

 

{mine and Jamie's balcony view from our hotel room at the Opryland Hotel}

 

{such a sweet little boy, sitting so good and still...}

 

{and eye contact has been made...}

 

{"Hey, did you see that?! My mommy is here!"}

 

{and this was the end of it for Collier... he was up and in my lap in a heartbeat!}

 

{cute little brothers in their Sunday's best}

Two Year Stats

Collier had his 2 year check up this week and he is doing great! He weighed 26lbs (with clothes on) and was 34" tall, which was around the 30% in weight and I think around 50th % in height. I looked back at Noah's stats and at 2 years old, he weighed 28lbs 9 oz. however, I don't have his height written down but I know Collier is smaller/shorter.  I expressed my concern with him being on the small side but Dr. A said he was perfect: fit and lean.  He said most childrens clothes these days are built for thicker kids and I shouldn't be concerned that he's still in a 12 - 18 month size pants. He also told me that his picky eating habits are completely normal and eating 1-2 meals a day is pretty typical.  He was pleased with his language skills and how well he is talking and said that vocabulary normally explodes around 2 years old... which it has.  In the past few weeks, he's begun saying so many new words and using more sentences.  I enjoy that we can talk with each other and it's a 2 sided conversation!  I'm amazed at how much he has picked up from being in school just 4 hours for 1 day a week.  It's good for him to be around other kids his age that he can socialize, play with and learn from.  Collier's class had Thanksgiving lunch today and the parents were able to join them.  It was a Thanksgiving feast fit for any 2 year old... Chick-fil-a nuggets, fries and a side of corn on the cob, along with a couple of different pies and chocolate chip cookies.  After a sweet prayer of thankfulness, the kids dug in and enjoyed their gourmet meal.



Trick or Treat!

This Halloween Noah dressed as a Fireman and Collier was a Dalmation. I love coordinating their costumes and will continue to do so until they will no longer let me! (Last year, Noah was a cowboy, Collier was a horse).   We had to make several stops on our Trick or Treating excursion for all the family to see the boys and we ended up in my parents neighborhood where we took the boys door-to-door to some of our long-time neighbors/friends.  We've been working with Collier on saying "Trick or Treat!" which comes out like "twick tweat" but he was kind of bashful and wouldn't always say it for the neighbors, although he loved knocking on all of the doors.  After visiting a few houses we came back to my parent's for dinner and spent the rest of the evening handing out candy.  This was Noah's favorite part.  He, my dad and Derrick sat on the front porch passing out candy and Noah loved seeing all the kids come up to the porch in their costumes!  The kids had a great evening and racked up with alot of candy.  And I can't believe another Halloween has come and gone!

 

 

 

 

 

we ran into collier's friend lily 

 

 



harper's first trick-or-treating experience 

 

Is uncle jamie having baby fever? he held harper all night long and even gave her a bottle 

 

harper makes a cute minnie mouse