Tuesday, December 31, 2013

2013. . .looking back

What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?  I worked as a substitute paraeducator on the first day of school.

What moments from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? In January, my hair stylist gave me a cut and a highlight for the price of a cut. She knew I couldn't afford highlights and she wanted to make me blonde. It was very sweet of her. Taking my grandma lunch because she's my grandma and she's 93 and I don't know how many more times I'll be able to take her lunch. Bringing Wilson home from boot camp because he wasn't the same dog I dropped off. My 40th birthday celebrations - including a surprise party in Ohio planned by Phil because, holy cow - I'm 40. Sisterhood of the Traveling Crafts and Ghetto Girls do Vegas.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?  Finally getting a full-time job.

What was your biggest failure? Not losing weight. The office/scrap room is still a mess.

Did you suffer illness or injury? I didn't, but Phil did. I haven't written about this because we weren't sure what was going on for a long time, and, honestly, it was just really hard to talk about. 

I came home from Las Vegas at the end of October to a sick husband. He was having some pretty bad abdominal pain. After waiting a few days and not getting any better, he went to see the doctor. When the doctor was talking to him, he mentioned that he was also having some shortness of breath issues. After two rounds of bloodwork (ruling out pancreatitis), an EKG, two CAT scans, and an angiogram, he was told the day before Thanksgiving that there were enlarged lymph glands in his lungs and abdomen which could be an infection or it could be lymphoma and he was referred to a pulmonologist. 

Lymphoma. Cancer. Not exactly the news you want to hear. I cried and worried. A lot. I barely held myself together Thanksgiving Day.

We waited almost two long weeks to see the lung specialist and then there was a breathing test and a bronchoscopy (tube down the nose into the lungs) to remove tissue samples. The procedure on the 23rd went well and we had to wait until Monday to hear the results. We found out that it wasn't lymphoma, it was an auto-immune disease called Sarcoidosis. 

Sarcoidosis is very common, they don't know what causes it, and it sometimes just goes away on its own. The other end of the spectrum is that it gets so bad you need a lung transplant. It can affect lymph glands, skin, the eyes, and internal organs. They can treat inflammation with medication, but it has bad side effects. The doctor has determined at this point there is not going to be any treatment. He's going to monitor it and Phil goes back in 6 months for more tests. He also has to see the optometrist to make sure his eyes aren't being affected. 

It's been a crazy few months. We're so very thankful that our worst fears did not come true and praying for complete healing in Phil's body.

What was the best thing you bought? A new vacuum. I love that thing. I've sucked up about 5 Wilsons with it. A new mattress and box springs. So comfy. And we finally upgraded and got smart phones on Black Friday. 

What were your favorite 3 photos of 2013?  
my sister's kids. . . looking all grown up.
Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park, our 2013 camping trip to NW Washington.
 my friend Michelle, just married in Vegas by the Vegas preacher man, and looking so completely happy.
What did you get really, really, really excited about? I was super excited about going to Vegas and getting to see my college friends. Having lots of sub jobs, which led to a me being a go-to sub in a building, which eventually led to me getting a job. I also got really excited every time I bought patterned paper and anything related to scrapbooking.

What song will always remind you of 2013? Matt Maher's Lord, I Need You.

What was the best food discovery of 2013? I don't think I discovered any new foods. I always order exactly the same thing off the menus when we eat out and I'm not an adventurous cook.

What do you wish you’d done more of? A lot of things, but money was tight. I always say I wished I would've scrapbooked more. I also didn't take very many pictures. Sent people cards when they came to my mind.

What do you wish you’d done less of? worry.

What was your favorite new TV show? Sister Wives on Netflix. 

What was the best book you read? I read a bunch of books about dogs in which they all died and I cried.
I've almost finished reading Made to Crave. . . really good. 
I've read some memoirs of survivors of the Holocaust. 
I recently finished this one about a lady who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease and how she purposefully planned and spent time with her family. 
What did you want and get? a polka dot birthday cake. a project life core kit. a job.

What did you want and not get? visitors. somebody come see me. please.

What's something you fell in love with? guacamole. 

What kept you sane? talking to my mom and my sister. reading - blogs, message boards, books. more blogs. pinning and walking the dog. Barbara Marquez. 

Who was the best new person you met? Ms. Elliot, my new principal. She has been encouraging and welcoming and she makes me feel like she really believes in me and my abilities. 

What was a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013? It's not a new lesson, but it's one that was constantly brought to mind in the many many low points I had this last year. . . God hasn't forgotten me. He has a plan. He sees the bigger picture. He knows the needs I have and He does provide.

1 comment:

Natalie said...

Sitting in the dentist office waiting to pick up a friend and decided to see what you've been writing :) Guacamole - really!?! Love you!