2014 Year in Review

Every year I vow to make blogging more of a journal to look back on and keepsake for our family as we watch our kiddos grow up. Every year, I struggled to follow through. Here goes at least one way I can try. To post a year in review and try again.. New year, new chances! :-)

January: We rung in the new year at home, with kids tucked into bed and sparkling cider in fancy glasses. During a snowstorm, we went to the local toyota dealer and traded in our Mazda minivan for a new to us Honda Odyssey complete with heat and a/c in the back! Also, heated seats for mama!

February: Ethan turned 7 and we celebrated at Monkey Bizness by inviting all the boys from his first grade class and a couple lil sisters for Avery to play with. It was a LEGO themed party! My mom and step-dad also made the trek down to visit for a week over a short break due to conferences. We went to Legoland downtown and they stayed at a hotel down the road. We took the kids swimming there. They had a great visit with their grandparents. Avery and Nathan went to their first father/daughter dance at Indian Creek church. She had a blast! She also received her first rose from Prince Daddy for Valentine's Day!

March: Ethan joined Spring Soccer through the YMCA. He really enjoyed it! He was on a team of K and 1st graders so, he was towering over most the kids, but it was perfect entry level for him to start on. He also had his first sleepover at our old neighbors/ friends house. They moved to Louisburg and we still miss their presence on the cul-de-sac. We visited the zoo with friends

April: We added a new fur baby to our family by way of rescue. I had been asking Nathan for a tiny dog to snuggle and love on to cure my baby fever! We found our Greta on a petfinder site that our friend was actually hosting dogs from. She is no longer the tiny pup we thought she would be. But, we love her immensely! Avery joined Spring Gymnastics at McCracken's in Olathe. She loved it! Nate's folks came for a visit and enjoyed a warm weekend. We took a trip to Deanna Rose Farm. Dyed easter eggs and I painted my bedroom!:-) Our weekends were taken over by early morning soccer games for Ethan.

May: Ethan won a star student writer award at school for his story about Nahte the alien. We completed the color foam run 5K as a family and our friends joined us, The Edwinson's. Ethan had field day at school and Avery graduated from Pre-K at Lil Treasures to start Kinder in the fall at Mahaffie! We braved the first swim of the year at our gym's outdoor pool. Brrrrr. I took a long weekend trip up to MN to see my baby brother graduate high school before he joined the Marines. I rented a cabin with my sisters and got to see my aunts and boy cousins. It was a great trip. Wish it was longer. Maybe this summer?

June: The kids made their rounds at the local VBS's. Beautiful Savior (Where Ethan went for a year) and St.Marks methodist church (for our second year) They enjoyed both. We spent lots of time at the pool and bummin' around town enjoying summer break!

July: We spent the 4th at our old neighbors/ friend's land out in Louisburg, where fireworks are legal! :-) The previous year was spent viewing fireworks from a hospital room (Pancreatitis/ Gallbladder).. although cool to be eye level, glad we were out and about. More pool time and lounging around had by kids and mom.

August: Avery turned 5! we celebrated at the local pool with lots of friends, new and old. It was a frozen theme and was super fun. The kids went to Nathan's folks for a week after her birthday party. Then a few days later, the kiddos started school! Ethan in 2nd and Avery as a 1/2 day Kinder student!
Was also the first year that I didn't join MOPS for the fall.. after 6 years and with a Kinder student I figured it was time.

September: Ethan joined Fall Soccer through Rush, a community soccer club. He was on the Second grade team with some classmates. He really enjoys playing soccer! His favorite position is goalie or defense. Avery decided to take a break from activities and looked forward to joining the Girl Scouts. We took a tour of the shatto milk factory in MO on a weekend that there was no soccer. I had to schedule it in July. So, it worked out well actually.

October: I celebrated my 34th year with the fam. Nathan got me an ice cream cake and a vivofit. We had a date night and ate at Grinder's in Lenexa.. YUM! My cousin Craig, took our family photos at the "Lorax" park aka. Black hoof park. For Halloween Ethan was Luigi and Avery was Tinkerbell. We walked the neighborhood with Avery's friend Julianna and her family. It was a chilly night! Nathan also went to a concert with his buddy Jordan.

November: We traveled to Omaha for Thanksgiving with Nathan's Dad's side. Then drove and stayed in Red Oak for a couple nights at his folks. I signed up to lead a new daisy troop for our kindergarteners and we got our first girl scout meeting up and running!

December: Nathan turned 32. We ate Planet Sub, I made him a chocolate peanut butter cheesecake bar. Had a date night out at Bolings and did a little Christmas shopping for the kids. Christmas was very low-key this year. We all got sick over the course of three weeks so, we stayed home most of break to quarantine our germs. Nathan's folks came down to visit the weekend after Christmas.
This was the first year the kiddos wanted to stay up until midnight. Avery made it to 10:20 and Ethan until 11:00 (after the ball drop)

 Looking forward to better health and what the new year holds for our family! Happy New Year!!

Raychel's Dr. Appt

It's been a crazy long time since I posted on here. I did have a doctor check up last week and had been having some pain in my sides (both) since having my gallbladder out a year ago so I went there fasting so she could do some bloodwork. We discussed the side aches and she had some ideas, so she ran specific tests to check my enzymes in liver, pancreas and wanted to look at my blood sugar too. We have been discussing weight a lot and since I had gained again since last time, she was getting concerned and was pushing gastric sleeve surgery. I really felt like I had gained for no reason, I didn't get it. I have been walking more often, I got a vivofit for my bday and somewhat curbing my indulgences. Of course when an obese person says this to anyone, they look at you like, yeahhh i'm sure you just gained for no reason! But, seriously.. It was like that I was not eating larger amounts or anything different.

Anyways, Got the blood work back.. everything was fine! EXCEPT for my Insulin. It was elevated and I was fasting. It was almost to the highest number the nurse said.. Highest for what? I have no idea. But, They called me in a script and said " see ya in 3 months!" No explanation. Nothing. So, I took my Insulin number and googled it along with my medicine name. First thing pops up, Type 2 Diabetes! uhhhh, freak out a bit then remember my sugar is normal. So, keep searching.. Turns out I have Insulin Resistance. When I say that out loud it sounds like the Lego Movie.. :)

To break that down for ya, quickly. It means my body has decided it doesn't want the energy, fuel, sugar etc.. that I am feeding it. It will not absorb it for my muscles to use. Causing me to get tired. This causes my pancreas to work harder to try to get the cells to absorb the energy. They don't. so then my body just stores it. ALL. Hence the easy weight gain.

The medicine helps the pancreas by getting the cells to open and receive this energy so, it doesn't have to work so hard pumping out more and more insulin. If I hadn't found this out, since it is very hard on my pancreas  it can cause it to burn out. Once the insulin secreting cells burn out, you have Diabetes and that's a whole world I know nothing about and plan on keeping it that way.

Basically when you see on the Biggest Loser the Dr say, you are Pre-Diabetic.. this is one of those conditions. Insulin Resistance. Also occurs in PCOS, I don't have that either.

So I will take my meds, eat healthy and exercise. I am hopeful that is the help I need to get my muscles fed and get some more energy! I have been soooo exhausted and this is the answer. So I am relieved but, know I am on the crossroads of a very serious medical condition and Fear right now is helping me. Avery and I just had homemade chili for lunch and then a platter of veggies as our snack. I am trying. I just hope my mind stays right and doesn't sabotage me.

That is why I overeat, emotions, stress and emotions. lol... Fear can be motivating and it can be debilitating. I am praying that HOPE takes over and gets me healthy. Just posting this story because I believe prayers work and positive thinking helps. So, any positive vibes or prayers you can lift up for me while I make this huge life change would be awesome!!

Thank You!

Avery turned 5!

We celebrated Avery's fifth birthday this year at the local pool that we spent most the summer at. We met up at a little park right outside the pool and did presents and cupcakes. Then headed over to the pool. It was a beautiful day and had so many friends come celebrate our girl.

Julianna and Avery- friends from Pre-K

Barbie Jeep!

Ken!

Making a wish

Candles keep re-lighting

Charly and Avery

Ethan

Silly

The Party Venue

MN trip June 2014

I took a solo trip up to MN this June. My youngest brother graduated high school in Pequot Lakes. My sisters and I rented a cabin for a couple days in the middle of the woods *literally* and hung out. It was nice to see them. My aunts Peggi and Kate made it up as well as my cousin Jason who was home from Marines. Peg and Rusty stayed with us the last night and then Peg and I took the scenic route back to the cities. Stopping in Monticello to visit grams gravesite and then visited with my Pops. I spent the night with my cousin Eli and his wife Kelly before heading back to KC. It was a great trip just wish I had more time to visit everyone

Rusty, Peg, Jae, Shawna & Kate

                                                  

Cousin Jase and Bro Rusty

                                                       

Four Siblings, youngest to oldest

                                 

Silly Siblings

Sisters at Graduation

Rusty at graduation

 

Summer 2014!

I did not blog this summer but heres some highlights!  I will resume blogging this school year.

Summer Treat at OrangeLeaf

Daddy catching his girl at Blackbob Bay

Hanging with Miller's at Frontier

Zoo fun with Vallad's

Swimming Lessons

Walking in the stream at Franklin park

Peach pickin' at Geigingers

Summer Blogging

I'm going to attempt to blog this summer.  It will be fun to look back on when school starts!

Our first week of summer break 2014!

Kids played with water balloons and squirt guns. Got the pups soaked! 5/22

First day at the gym pool this summer! It was 

Ice cold!!

Mommy got a beauty break w/ master stylist Lindsay!

Tall enough to slide this year! Yay!memorial day chillax day!

Rock bottomus

Here's the deal. I have had both these tumors for 1.5 years. One is an actual 3mm adenoma on my pituitary gland that secretes prolactin and the other is not a real tumor per se but exhibits symptoms like one.  I've had multiple tests. Been poked,  scanned,  prodded and quizzed and finally come to the conclusion. I hate medicine. It makes me feel bad.I have side effects like crazy, I get lethargic and depressed, I feel worse on the meds than I did before I jumped on this merry go round.

I met my new endocrinologist..hes pretty quirky. I like him. He listens to me and he doesn't sugar coat things. He also doesn't think I NEED extra hormones either. I like him. He does  think I need to lose weight the old fashioned way..in his words..go amish!

So now to talk to my neurologist about what I really need. My vision has stayed the same since oct 2012. No worse. Yes my pressure was high but I am considered obese and this could be a factor. So my case will be.. take me off everything.get my energy and spark back and let me lose weight and see if that doesnt fix it!

I dont want a quick fix surgery. I need to learn to be healthy or it won't last.  I don't want to be the sick one. The one who needs help all the time. The one who is the victim of life. I want to live and I feel like I'm just not dying some days. How depressing. So I'm at the bottom and I'm ready to climb the duck out of here. God can light my path and I'm not looking down/back. This shh has gotten bananas. I don't know who this person is anymore but I don't really recognize her or like her much. Im out.

Pondering

Since I've been resting and healing I've had waayy too much time to think ..and shop online... but that's another post. And I've wondered what's the lesson here? I  believe there's always a lesson to be learned in tough times even if it isn't the main reason for the tough time, if that makes sense.

I focused on the people that did the wrong actions and didn't do the jobs the best way. I focused on the pain I was in and what I was missing and I was miserable in every way. It wasn't until I realized I was fighting with myself. I was telling myself it wasn't okay to not be ok. Over n over. See the problem? I wasn't accepting myself as being the way I was suppose to be at that moment. This moment since I'm still in it. I tried to be stubborn n go to mops cause I felt bad for my kids being victims of my current illness. But then I ended up in so much pain and embarrassment that I had to leave in tears n be driven home (Despite my protests).. I'm so blessed n thankful for the group of moms around me that accept me and love me in spite of myself. Until I catch up. They have been a true blessing checking on me bringing food. Helping transport kids.I don't know what I would do without them seriously. I genuinely hope to be able to return the favor to everyone who graciously helped me. I hope I'm back to normal soon too now that I think the lesson is learned ;)

Results are in!

If you have been following this saga with my health I finally have some answers!  Hooray! I will try to keep this as simple as possible since it gets confusing.

I have two diagnosis'.. A. Prolactinoma which is essentially a benign tumor on my pituitary that secretes the hormone prolactin. I was diagnosed October 2012 with that.  My MRI scan from last week shows it has indeed SHRUNK! Not sure how much as I haven't gotten the report yet but since my old endocrinologist stated it wouldn't change in size I am happy for any change. I meet with my new endocrinologist through St Luke's in February to start treatment again.

My newest diagnosis B. Is Pseudo Tumor Cerebri also known as intercranial hypertension. It's when you display all the symptoms of having a brain tumor but no mass is found. I had a spinal tap last Wed and my pressure measured high, they drained it to normal and they started me on medicine already to keep it normal. One of the ways to combat is through weight loss which this medicine has a strong side effect of.

I could write a whole post on my experience with spinal punctures this week but its still fresh and hurts, literally.
I will say I hope to Never have one ever ever ever again.

Thanks for prayers n well wishes. :)

New Year, New Diagnosis?

Happy New Year All!

How fast did 2013 go by?! Seems like every year with kids makes time fly!

I am dealing with some health stuff again and figured blogging will be a good outlet and also keep those who want to be in the know, in the know.. Here's some background.. I was diagnosed with a Prolactinoma on my Pituitary Gland. It is small and my old endocrinologist said it would not grow or shrink and that we were "managing symptoms"  the symptoms being lactating from elevated Prolactin levels. The medicine I was on was making me cray cray, like super hormonal and not fun to be around. My cycles were like those of a teenage girl and it drove my husband crazy, even though he is sweet enough to only mention it a couple times.. :) So, I quit taking the medicine...

I had also seen a neurologist who diagnosed me with Pseudo Tumor Cerebri.. ( this is when you are showing all signs of a brain tumor but there is no mass found) because my eye exam showed a swollen optic nerve. This is was not confirmed by testing just, guessed and so, my eye doc fought the neuro's diagnosis and requested a second opinion. I was seen by some neuro P.A's and they took me off the diamox because they didn't see any sign of PTC. They only way it can be diagnosed is by a spinal tap to measure the pressure in the fluid in your spinal with corresponds with the fluid surrounding your brain.


About a month ago I had an annual eye exam and when I got there I ended up waiting about an hour before I was even called back. This was because I was on the schedule to have a Field Vision Test before the actual Dr saw me. Well, I was grumpy after waiting and for the mix up and told them I don't need that test done because the diagnosis that required it (PTC) had been tossed out and so I just needed the eye exam. During the eye exam my eye doc noticed my optic nerve was still swollen. So, I ended up going back for the Field Vision Test (which is done to see if you have lost any peripheral vision) My results were only mildly abnormal in my left eye --I missed a spot this year that I had seen last year.

My Opthamologist strongly urged me to go find a Neurologist and get the spinal tap done to see if I do have Pseudo Tumor Cerebri and if not, help figure out why my optic nerve is enlarged. My uncle and my cousin both recommended a Neurologist for me to see and I do really like her and trust her. She ordered another MRI since it's been a year, referred me to an endocrinologist and ordered the lumbar puncture aka. Spinal Tap.

The MRI is to check up on the pituitary adenoma and overall health of my brain and the Spinal is to check the pressure in my spinal fluid and if its high they will drain it to normal pressure and start me on medicine. They don't know what causes Pseudo Tumor Cerebri but, said its common in woman of childbearing age and overweight women or women on acne medications. She said losing 5% of my weight could help but, would like me to lose more, especially if this is what my diagnosis ends up being. So, the medicine we have discussed is also approved for weight loss as well as keeping the pressure to normal in my brain.

I am so stressed just writing that all out and trying to keep it straight. I am scheduled for my MRI and Lumbar Puncture on Jan 15th. Its an outpatient procedure but, I will be laying flat the rest of the day she said. The only thing I am worried about besides getting poked in the spine and being pressured to lose a ton of weight.. Avery has school that day and Nate will be driving me to the appointments.. So, I need help getting her to and from school. I have Ethan taken care of. I have been avoiding talking about it cause its overwhelming and people never like to hear about health issues or know really what to say, I dont know what to say either.. I just wanted to share on a public forum cause its easier to get it all out and then I can answer questions instead of explaining it over and over.

I just need my family & friends to support me and make me laugh. I'm having a hard time dealing with life while having this is in the background of my mind constantly. I am trying to really rely on God and know all will be revealed and taken care of in time. I just hate the waiting and testing game... Hoping my pit tumor has not grown and hope we can get me back to normal again... thanks for reading! Ill keep this updated.

30 Things My Kids should know about me.. In 30 days.

I saw this really cool post on Pinterest awhile back. I pinned it and forgot it. One of my friends just pinned it and I saw it again. I decided to do it! The best way for me to do anything is on the laptop. It's easier to type it out and why not blog it? Then I can see it whenever I want. :-)

So, Day One!
First thing my kids should know about me is to list 20 Random facts about myself! (this reminds me of a feature in my US Weekly magazine, they ask a celeb random things about themselves and I always enjoy reading them) Maybe this should be included in my list hahaha!

Here goes...
#1. I was born tongue-tied and had my frenulum lasered when I had my wisdom teeth pulled, at age 24.
#2. I started school (kindergarten at age 4, which made me the youngest in every grade. When I was in 3rd grade they wanted to advance me to 4th grade because of my reading and writing skills, but they didn't because I was already a grade ahead by age standards.
#3. I am afraid of deep water, I used to be an excellent swimmer but, got thrown into a pool and never recovered from my fears.
#4. I was in a spelling bee in 3rd or 4th grade and lost because I spelt dolphin wrong, D-O-L-F-I-N.
#5. I failed my drivers license test 2 times before I passed.
#6. I was going to help start a girls hockey team in high school, so I got some rollerblades to practice skating during the summer in Minnesota. Never played hockey.
#7. I studied to get my boating license at age 16.
#8. I applied to be a foreign exchange student for my Junior year. I was runner up because my grades weren't good enough.
#9. I switched schools every two years and was in Catholic schools until 8th grade, when I went to live with my grandma.
#10. I hate spiders
#11. I see 11:11 almost daily on my clocks. I think it's my grandma's saying hello!
#12. I used to smoke cigarettes heavily, until I became pregnant with Ethan. Best choice I ever made, to quit and stay quit.
#13. I have never been a runner and used to fake injuries in volleyball so I didn't have to run.
#14. If money were no object, we would live in the mountains of Colorado and have a cabin in Northern Minnesota.
#15. I was named after the baby across the hall. My mom thought I was gonna be a boy, Joshua.
#16. I wanted to join the peace corps after college.
#17. My first job was a dishwasher at a restaurant, age 15.. and im still washing dishes! ;-)
#18. I've had about 50 jobs, give or take in my life. Age 15-26
#19. My favorite number is 11.
#20. I love Peanut M&M's, but not plain peanuts.

SnOMG 2013 Part 2

After our intial storm on Thursday, we got another inch or so that evening. Sometime in the afternoon the schools called another snow day so, we knew that today would probably be spent lounging, making a snow fort and playing outside. Nate woke up and jumped out of bed and went outside. I fed the kids and they were bugging my to let them go outside. Then, they saw him hollowing out the snow fort! There was squeals and laughter, PLEASE!!! can we go outside?! I knocked on the window and motioned to Nate (who was entirely un-visible from being the fort, he's 6'3") to let them out. He okayed it and I have never seen Ethan get his outerwear on SO FAST! I wish he moved like that on school days! I decided to venture out and take some REAL pics, that weren't from inside.

Here are pics from Snow Day #2!


Here is the OFFICIAL Vorhies deck measurement! 13" of beautiful white snow!!


How I found my husband! what a kid!!


Sweet Avery with her massive snowball!


Strong Man Ethan!


Nate working on the final touches of the fort



My family piled into the snow fort! (nate said 6 people could fit in there!!)

Hope you enjoyed the pics! :-)

SnOMG 2013! Part 1

As most of you know, Kansas City was hit with Storm Q otherwise known as SnOMG for the rest of this post.. I had two people close to me scrambling to get out on flights the night before the whole city shut down. They made it out! We, did not. In fact, I haven't left the comfort of my home since Wednesday! I know, it's only Friday.. I tend towards the dramatic :-) Anyways! Wednesday night pretty much the whole town was shut down in anticipation for this major storm. I'll admit, I scoffed at the native KCitians. Since I am such a traveled snow person, I mean, I grew up learning how to drive in snow! One of my drivers training lessons abruptly ended because I right turned into a snowbank! (In my defense, there was a big yellow school bus preparing to turn left at the same time!!) I scared my grandmother countless times with my driving in snowy conditions at age 13,14,15 when I would pull a little to close to the side of the road to turn onto our gravel road.. So, yes! over half my life, at this point, was spent in MN. I'm no stranger to snowy weather. But, I have never seen a town shut down over it, BEFORE it snows like, KC! I mean, it's not like we live in FL or AZ or somewhere unreasonably warm where snow has no business being, We are smack dab in the middle of the country, Tornado Alley, prone to all jet stream interactions imaginable.

Moving along... town shuts down Wed night, which was probably a good thing.. *claps* Nate knew he wasn't going into work, Ethan knew he wasn't going to school. I knew all my plans were likely to be cancelled and I could bake treats and have a carbfest while we hibernated! yahoo! It started snowing Thursday morning, barely covered the grass when I woke and it snowed until early afternoon.. It was coming down fast and its was cloudy! It was actually a THUNDER-SNOW!! dun dun duuuunnnn... The kids literally popped out of bed and into their snow gear they were so excited! I wasn't feeling the best so I said to Nate " Take some pics!!" after being outside in the visibility, which was poor. He said, You need to take pics if you want them! I can't see with the snow.. So, I sat inside with whiny dog, Huddy and snapped pics from the windows..

Here is Snow Day #1 Pics...


*look at the crazy fast moving snow!*

*Nate shoveling, Bad pic, but look at how dark it was out there!*

"helping dad shovel"

Avery's adorable pink cheeks when she came in!

In total the kids went out twice, about an hour each time. Nate shoveled and piled all the snow in a mound so he could make his "EPIC SNOW FORT" so that "Ethan will have the childhood I had!" He grew up in Colorado and he said "I haven't seen snow like THIS since COLORADO!" he was so happy!! :-) I love snow also, its so pretty and clean and makes everything quiet and serene. I must note, when we went to bed last night I commented to Nate how bright it was outside from the snow. It was like a natural GLOW!.. I miss that from MN! <3

I think a second post is in order, this is getting lengthy! More pics ahead!!

Vorhies Christmas : Part 2

On Christmas Eve, after a nap I awoke to Nathan telling me our heater fan wasn't blowing out air, after the inital panic and a troubleshooting with an excellent hvac guy we went about our evening like, we had planned, THANK GOD! Complete with BoLings Chinese and driving around to see the lights in town. When we got home we set out Santa's cookies and egg nog and tucked the kids into bed. CHRISTMAS MORNING!! Santa came and brought Avery a Lalaloopsy and Ethan a video game. Ethan's Rescue Bots Avery's Bunny Even Hudson got to open something! The AFTERMATH:

Santa & Christmas Cookies!

We went to Bass Pro Shop for our yearly Santa picture. This year the kids were really excited to put in their wish with him, since we had an Elf this year named Leo! Ethan was very concerned about touching the elves that were helping the with the pics, he didn't want them to lose their magic! He also wanted to make sure touching Santa was okay too, didn't want to mess up the whole gifts thing. I assured him all was fine! The picture turned out HILARIOUS! and I posted it on my social media sites with the caption, None of them are impressed! haha This is one I took, At least E is smiling! While we waited in line, Ethan practiced shooting with a bow. Sunday before Xmas Eve we cut out cookies while Mae-Mae was here! The kids loved it! Ethan loved cutting out the stars, they were his favorite. Pre-baked Now time to decorate!! (and nibble) Final Products! Avery's final product: