L-O-V-E

I can't believe 10 years ago, I was only 18 years old. Darrel was 23 years old. I was fresh out of high school, and going to college. But we were in love and wanted to get married. And we did on October 21st 2000. Best day of my life! We had no clue on how our lives were going to end up. We just knew we were going to tackle life together and have fun doing it. We got married at Secrest Grove Bapist Church in Monroe NC. We had the traditional wedding with bridesmaids and grooms men's. Wedding cake smashing and love in the air. Took a quick honeymoon to Myrtle Beach SC to see our all time favorite country band, Alabama, play. We only spent 4 days at the beach, since I decided to get marry during mid-terms. But it was a start to our brand new life together as one. We bought our first house a year later. We both had great jobs. The weekends was spent with family and friends. Bought new cars, and had mini vacations. Then we decided to have a baby. Well the baby thing took couple more years than we thought. Went through alot of heartaches and emotional breakdowns. We had each other, and we had our faith. We were finally blessed with twins, Karson and Jackson!! What a true blessing they are to us. We are so thankful we were chosen to be their parents. I couldn't ask for a more important job, than to be their mom. Of course most people knows our story, and where our story goes too. Darrel was sick going into our 6 year anniversary. We spent that year in the mountains, enjoying the beautiful scenery and remising about our wedding. Remembering all the good times and bad. This is when our vows come into play. We said in sickness and in health. We take great care of each other. It was hard to see Darrel sick, but it made our marriage stronger. Our faith in God became everlasting. We didn't know if we would have a 10 year anniversary. But we made it. We did it for richer or for poorer too. We don't care about having the big house, fancy cars, or money in our pockets. We are just blessed to have each other to still hold at night. We decided to treat ourselves to a cruise for our 10 year wedding anniversary. We left on our actual wedding anniversary. We ported out of Jacksonville, Fl on the Fascination Ship. We were gone for 4 nights and 5 days. We didn't take the boys with us, but we sure did missed them. We went to Freeport and Nassau Bahama's. This was the perfect way to relax and enjoy our vacation together. I am sure we will always remember our 10 year. And we are looking forward to 100 more years together........

FALL T-BALL 2010

Fall T-ball is over for the season. But it was an absolute blast for the boys!! What a great season. You can obviously tell both boys improve dramatically. Jackson loves T-ball, and he loves to play in the middle. When Jackson hits the ball, he winds up his left leg so high. Super Cute!!! Karson was more interested this season. He loves to hit the ball. He hits the ball perfectly, and with very little strength. If we can get him to put a little power to it, it will be amazing! They made great friends, and wonderful memories. Hopefully in the spring we will be back at the ball fields.

Karson getting ready to hit!!!


So proud of him!!!

Great Running Jackson!!

No stopping him now!!!

Pumpkin Painting

Today the boys and I painted their pumpkins. Now I am not an artist, so carving an pumpkin is out of the question. But the boys love to paint. So paint is what we do every year. And plus the pumpkins last longer. At first, they painted each side of their pumpkin. One was a girl and the other a boy. They all have names. Of course they are names from their class room. But of course, things get crazy with two 4 year olds. Then it was a free for all with the paint and the pumpkins!! The boys had a great time. And we are officially on pumpkin season!! Soon pumpkin cake will be coming.....HMM HMM HMM HMM Hmm

Apple Picking!!

With the beginning of fall, the boys are learning in school about apples. They are also learning how the weather changes, and when the weather changes; the leaves change. They are so interested in learning about fall, we decided to take a trip to the Mountains. What better way to learn than hands on!!! We visited Justus Apple Orchards in Hendersonville, NC. Karson was telling us how to pick apples, how to twist the leaves off, and how to put them in the basket so they do not bruise. We were able to pick 2 basket full of different type of apples. Then we were able to have a picnic, beautiful scenery. Grandma and Papa Jackson came along with us, as so did Big Papa and Big Maw-Maw. So we enjoy our lunch with apple cider, apple cider doughnuts and boil peanuts. We were full!! But can't leave the orchard without an hay ride. Gorgeous horses took us around the orchard, so we got to see more pumpkins, apples and the landscape. Which was magnificent. Afterwards, we rode down to Chimney Rock and stop by the river. While the boys got to watch the ducks go by. Sometimes it is the little things that matter. What a great day trip we took, but a lifetime of memories for all!!!

September 2010 School Update

So the boys officially finish their first month of school. They are learning so much. I am so glad we picked WBEC for their pre-school. Jackson has even learned some Spanish since, there are a couple of Spanish kids there. Jackson is also into drawing. He has a great imagination. When Jackson studies a picture or structure, he basically replica the same thing. It amazes me that a 4 year can do that. Jackson loves both of his teachers, and is making many friends. Very outspoken, and flirts with any girl in his radius. He nows counts to 100 with a little bit of help. But like I said before I am amazed!! He is also taking interest into reading. He likes to pick out words and sound them off. I am hoping he will be able to read by the end of pre-k. Besides of school; he is playing t-ball, Awana's at church, and soon he will be attending Kids Choir at church.

Karson is coming out of his shyness a little at a time. He loves his teacher!! I believe he has a girlfriend name AVA. He even spells her name all the time, and writes it. Rumors are that AVA is the mean girl in class, but Karson just adores her. Karson loves playing on the computer in class, so amazing watching him. He walks into class, does all the normal morning routines. And then he is on that computer. I can't believe my 4 can operate a computer!! Karson likes for me to walk him into school a couple times of week. I love doing it. I get to see his artwork and he is so proud of himself. He gets surprises all the time for being a great kid.

The boys recently started watching Care Bears. So we made nicknames for the boys. Karson is Snuggle bear since he loves to snuggle. And Jackson is crazy bear. Jackson loves to watch Monster Truck Jam, X-games, and Wipeout. Since Jackson claims he only watches cool shows now. Nick Jr. is for babies. Karson isn't really sure what he likes. He just likes to play with his pet rocks. One night Darrel came into bed, and laid down. Then he popped up very fast, and found 5 rocks laying on his side of the bed. Karson loves to leave rocks everywhere. When we try to take the rocks away. Karson would cry and say that was his friend rocky.

Rheumatoid Arthritis-my pity party of the past 9 years

19 years old and married to a wonderful husband. We just bought our first house. My first year out of college. Working long and tiring hours at an Foreclosure Law Firm. My dream was to become a lawyer growing up, but I decided to go to college and get my Legal Admin Degree from King's College. I graduated at the top of my class and with a typing speed of 73 wpm. Spring came along with wonderful temperatures. We had big dreams with landscaping. So we both took time off of work, and devoted our time and attention to our back yard. We planted several types of flowers and iron border around 4 of our big oak trees in the back. Neither one of us had ever did landscaping or use machinery to do it. It turn out beautiful!! We were very proud of ourselves. We were very tired and in pain!!! My pain stay longer than Darrel's, we just thought I worked muscles I never had used before. The pain would go away and come back with a vengeance. I would get to the point of not being able to open soda bottles. Envelopes was the worst. Most embarrassing was not able to dress myself, or open the shower door. Turning the light switch on was becoming difficult to do. I made a Dr's apt , just to see what was going on. I was thinking working in the yard was not a good idea. The Dr. told me I just pull a muscle. Gave me some Ib 800 and muscle relaxers. Two weeks later, the pain was getting worse. I was having a hard time grasping the steering wheel to drive to work. One of my job duties at work was copying and filing. Which took half of my day. Work was getting harder, and stressful. With every step I took, my body would just fall apart. Sleeping was becoming a nightmare, and the fatigue was awful. Darrel made me go back to the dr once again. Dr. Wagner (which is one of the worst drs. ever) started saying it was in my head. Well, we knew it wasn't in my head. I was in sever pain. So a week later, we made another dr. appt with Dr. Barron. Which is the greatest doctor ever. She asked questions. One of the main questions was: does anyone have any autoimmune disease in your family. At this time, the only that had any thing was my decease grandmother. My grandmother Jackson died of Lupus. Dr. Barron drew blood to run different test. A week later, I received a call to come back in to discuss my blood work. Rheumatoid Arthritis normally tests for 30 and below and my blood work came back at 753. This is not the type of Arthritis you can just take Tylenol and go on with your life. Please take the time and read what RA is about:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheumatoid_arthritis

Besides of dealing with pain, you have to start medication asap. RA medications are some of the worse medications you can ever take. I have been on 3 medications that are consider Chemo drugs. One of the worse, and most common is Methotraxte. Once a week you take 8 pills at the same time. The side effects are horrible as all other chemo drugs. Hair loss, nausea, fatigue and dizziness. So I always made sure I took this med on the weekends. Eventually, I was no longer able to take methotraxate orally, and started giving myself injections, which subsided the side affects. Predisone is the drug you love to hate. Predisone seems like it makes all your pain goes away, but the long term affects are horrible. At this time I didn't worry with predisone side affects I was happy to move and feel like a normal 19 year old. Then came, Vioxx, Mobic, Motrin 800, Hydrocodone. The more you try to do, the worse the pain is. The more you lay around, the more people talk about how lazy you are. With all medications comes a consequence. I eventually left my job as a Legal Admin, and I went from job to job. Until I could find one that was suited for my body and my lifestyle. At this point the RA was moving at a fast pace. So we decided now was the time to try to have kids. Reason #1-I have to be off all meds except predisone while trying to get pregnant at least 1 year prior to trying. So that is another year of excuriating pain without medications. Then add in another 4 years of trying to get pregnant. Any type of stress causes Flare Ups. Flare Ups = EMEMY. I am now working at a bank. Eventhough, it is not my degree, I love it. But: I had limitations. I did not open the ATM envelopes, I did not carry coin boxes, or Cash Trays. I did not stand up for a long period of time, and I did not sit down for a long period time. So when new people started, I will have to ask for help. Hey can you carry this box of pennies for me. They look at me like I am crazy. I will explain that I have RA. Oh, my granny has Arthritis. (TOTALLY DIFFERENT) But since I was overweight, everyone automatically assume I was being lazy. Lazy is not the definition. RA is a disabilities disease. When I can't lift my arm to grab a teller tub out of the machine, or key in checks b/c my fingers lock up. Or can't get out of my seat because I can't move my hips. Laziness is not the problem. What I would give up just to be able to stand in a line for more than 2 mins without being in pain.

Finally in June of 2005 we find out we are expecting!! It was long, hard struggle for us to get pregnant. Seem like everyone was getting pregnant around us. My Rheumatolgoist did not agree with me trying to get pregnant. Even family members did not understand us wanting a baby so bad. No one knows what Darrel and I went through to get pregnant, all of the heartaches. The false positive tests, the RA being out of controlled. At that time it was the worst emotional roller coaster I have ever been on.

August 2005 we had our first internal ultrasound. That is when we found out we were having twins. Twins is consider high risk, having RA and being pregnant with Twins was a double high risk. I had the best pregnancy ever. We gave birth by C-section on Feb 17th 2006 too 2wonderful boys. But who would had thought, that within one week. The unimaginable flare up of all time came aboard. I swear to this day, it has not left!!!

Now I am going to a new Rheummy. I have been dx with Fibro, TMS, and depression. I am on Remicade, Predison 50 mgs, Mobic, Hydrocodne, and Xanax for the anexity I was facing. I would do anything to prevent the pain. Carrying around two babys all day with colic was not good for the body. Enventually, I am moved to Enbrel injections. Then to Rituxain infusions (6) hour infusion. Then to Orencia Infusion. yes as you guess, my body and RA drugs do not mixed very well. So at this point I switch to another dr. I am on 90 mgs of predisone nightly. It is year 2008. I have a bone scan done. I have OA in my spine and hip areas. <---Predisone side affect. I have Cushing's syndrome from predisone. I have heart palpation's from Predisone. I have inflammatory stomach lining due to predisone and motrin. I also have a Handicapp Sign. Yes the stares I get when I use it. I do not abuse the sign, I use it, when I need it. I am learning to get over my fears and embarrasment of using the sign. Now we are here on today dates. It is August 25th 2010. I have been awake now for 24 hours. I can't sleep, b/c it hurts to bad. I have had this awful disease for 9 years. My twenty's was supposed to be the best time of my life, but it was a painful time. I know this is a pity party. But I think it is time for people to understand what a person life with RA is. I do have good days. I cherished those good days. But believe me, my body will pay for those good days. If I go shopping, Darrel is prepared for me to come straight home and go to bed. And this can last until the following day. Ra has nothing to do with weight, skinny people get it too. So look at me being overweight and think I am lazy. I am mostly overweight due to medications. And it is hard to work out with RA. If you really want to know what RA is please read the following spoon story: http://www.inspire.com/groups/stop-sarcoidosis/discussion/the-spoon-theory-read-this-youll-be-glad-you-did/

Karson Sleeping!!!

We went to check on the boys one night, and this is how we found Karson sleeping. It took about 5mins to remember that we had a video camera. This child sleeps the weirdest ways!!!