Andy and I went to St. Louis yesterday for yet another Doctor's appointment. After waiting for 3 hours, yet again....we finally met with my Rheumatologist! She told me that I do NOT have Lupus! We were very surprised. She said that they aren't sure why my first blood test was positive for Lupus. I might have to retake a blood test some where down the line to make sure, but we're thinking I don't have it! Great news for sure!
After reading the results to my blood tests, we talked about starting me on Enbrel shots. We decided to go ahead and start them, hoping that I will get a good head start on putting off any bone damage down the road! She showed me how to inject myself weekly, and sent me on my way.
Now I have to get a TB test done. If it's negative, then they will send my my Enbrel shots to start right away! I have to keep going every 2 weeks to get blood drawn to test my liver from the Methotrexate. Besides that, I don't have to return to St. Louis until April! So that's good news as well.
I also asked her about drinking while on Methotrexate. She said that she allows her patients 1 beer or glass on wine a week. Which is better then nothing! She said I could have maybe 2 if I wasn't going to drink any at all the next week. So at least I can have something!!! Well, that's all for now I guess. Thanks for listening!!!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
What a HORRIBLE weekend!!!
Well, I guess having a great weekend last weekend meant that I had to have a horrible one this time around!!! I woke up around 2am Saturday morning with the flu. Yeah..I was up all night getting sick. No details needed! So all day Saturday, I laid around and watched Andy take care of Porter. I hated not being able to get up and hold and kiss on my little man. I knew I had to back off so he wouldn't get sick as well. Then Sunday Andy had to work. I felt better, so Porter's Aunt Trina came over to watch him so I could get some MUCH needed grocery shopping done! Every time I had a babysitter planned, something came up, so I thought I better do it while I can or we'll never eat again! Which wouldn't be such a bad thing, considering I lost 5 lbs by not eating all day Saturday while I was sick! I like food too much for that though! Let's hope that this week and weekend will be a whole lot better then this weekend was! And I pray that this bad flu going around won't get to any of you guys!!!!!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
My baby's getting too big, too fast!!!
My little man, Porter, is growing up way too fast! He'll be 5 months on the 21st already! I was looking at his baby pictures today, and I can barely remember him being that small. It's sad how fast they grow up, but I know it'll just keep getting better!
He's trying so very hard to roll over! He can get all the way onto his side, but he can't seem to get past that one arm in the way...haha! He can sit up for a few seconds as well. He's leaned over pretty far, so I don't think this counts just yet..ha! He's always been big about standing up. He likes to jump around in his exercise saucer, or just stand up on your lap. He can't seem to be still for long, and his legs have always been very strong, so we wonder if he'll walk early like his daddy did. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that though...considering his daddy was only 7 months old when he started walking! Unreal, I know...but it's true!
He LOVES his cereals and veggies! Rice and oatmeal cereals, sweet potatoes, squash, and carrots are what he's had and loved so far. He's going to try green beans and peas this week, and then next week he can have some fruits. I know he'll love them too!
I'll make myself stop there...although I could go on and on about him!!! There's just nothing like having a baby. It changes your life so much, yet you wonder what it was like before them!
Monday, January 12, 2009
What a WONDERFUL weekend!!!!
This weekend was just the best weekend ever! To continue from my earlier post, Andy got me some pretty good birthday presents. I got the 4 book series of "Twilight", and if you haven't read these, please please do! Let me just say, I am NOT into vampires or anything sci-fi like that, but these books are the best I've ever read! There is such great romance and chemistry between the main characters, and even the whole vampire parts are quite good as well! I'm on the 3rd book now, and find myself not wanting to read it because I don't want it to end!!!! Just give them a try. You won't regret it! The movie is also very very good..but the books are better! OK, I also got a really nice dust buster...this is something else that everyone should own! And he also got me the newest "Scene It" game. It has the newer movie trivia on it. This is perfect for us because we are soooo into movies!
We went to the wedding at 2:00 that day, and brought mister Porter with us. He slept through most of it, and didn't get fussy until we were walking out....PERFECT! I was afraid to have that screaming baby you hear at weddings, and are secretly hoping that someone would just take them outside already! The wedding was very beautiful! Then we took Porter to Mama's, and went to get my BFF Kara and her hubby Nate. My sister-in-law Trina was also with us! We had a great time eating lots of good food, and drinking lots of good beer! We danced the night away until the wedding shut down at 11:00. We were no way NEAR done, so we all went to schindlers for some more beer and dancing! It was a great time for sure...maybe a little bit too fun, because I recall dancing on the pool table with the girls! Goodness!
Sunday I paid for my fun though! I had the worst headache in the world..and not feeling too great in the stomach area either! We laid around until noon and then went for some Chinese! That helped out a lot! All in all, it was a much needed weekend with the friends! I wish we could have more weekends like that.....but I could skip the day after!
We went to the wedding at 2:00 that day, and brought mister Porter with us. He slept through most of it, and didn't get fussy until we were walking out....PERFECT! I was afraid to have that screaming baby you hear at weddings, and are secretly hoping that someone would just take them outside already! The wedding was very beautiful! Then we took Porter to Mama's, and went to get my BFF Kara and her hubby Nate. My sister-in-law Trina was also with us! We had a great time eating lots of good food, and drinking lots of good beer! We danced the night away until the wedding shut down at 11:00. We were no way NEAR done, so we all went to schindlers for some more beer and dancing! It was a great time for sure...maybe a little bit too fun, because I recall dancing on the pool table with the girls! Goodness!
Sunday I paid for my fun though! I had the worst headache in the world..and not feeling too great in the stomach area either! We laid around until noon and then went for some Chinese! That helped out a lot! All in all, it was a much needed weekend with the friends! I wish we could have more weekends like that.....but I could skip the day after!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Happy Birthday to me!!!
Sooo...today I'm 26! It doesn't really bother me, but it seems a lot closer to 30 then 25 did! I think I will handle turning 30 alright, but maybe not..haha!
Today is going to be a pretty great birthday I think. Me, my husband, and our little man will spend most of the day at home..chillin. Andy made me my favorite breakfast, french toast, and then I'll open my presents and card before Porter takes his nap. Besides that, we'll just relax until a friend's wedding at 2:00pm. What a great way to celebrate you're birthday, as far as I'm concerned! I LOVE weddings and wedding dances! I can't wait to eat lots of great food and drink lots of great beer...and dance like no one's watching!!!! I LOVE to dance..even if I can't. Who cares, as long as you're having fun, right?
Well, I'm off to open some gifts! Tune in later to see what I got!
Today is going to be a pretty great birthday I think. Me, my husband, and our little man will spend most of the day at home..chillin. Andy made me my favorite breakfast, french toast, and then I'll open my presents and card before Porter takes his nap. Besides that, we'll just relax until a friend's wedding at 2:00pm. What a great way to celebrate you're birthday, as far as I'm concerned! I LOVE weddings and wedding dances! I can't wait to eat lots of great food and drink lots of great beer...and dance like no one's watching!!!! I LOVE to dance..even if I can't. Who cares, as long as you're having fun, right?
Well, I'm off to open some gifts! Tune in later to see what I got!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Touching base....
Once again, it's been awhile since I blogged. I just don't have time to get on here like I used to. It might have something to do with my little man I guess...haha! Let's see if I can catch you up on the life of Hannah.....
Christmas was wonderful! We got together with all our family and got way to much as always! Porter really enjoyed his first Christmas...as much as a 4 month old can I assume! He got lots of books, Baby Einstein dvds, and many wonderful toys!
New years was also very nice. We laid low this year and just got together with family both new years night and on new years day. It was nice to just eat lots of food and play games. No hang over this year, which was NOT missed at all!!!!!
Besides all the holiday fun, the only other new thing was my doctor's appointment in St. Louis on the 5th. If you haven't already read about my RA, you can look at an older blog that talks all about it. To continue on that subject, I will try to sum up what the Rheumatologist told us.
The Dr. asked me lots of questions and did a physical exam on me to see how my pain was and where it was located. She also looked at all my previous blood work, xrays, and bone density tests that I had taken in cape with my primary doctor. She then agreed that I did indeed have RA, but that I might also have another ANA disease, such as Lupus. We weren't too surprised in hearing this, because my dr. mentioned something about it before.
So today I have to go take more blood work that is specifically for ANA diseases, and then in 2 weeks I will return to StL to go over what they found. In the meantime, I will start my treatment for RA. I will continue to take my Mobic for the pain and swelling everyday, but in addition I will start taking a drug called Methotrexate. It's 4 pills that I will take once a week for the rest of my life. They also give this to cancer patients as a form of chemotherapy, so it might make me sick. I have to take folic acid along with it to restore what it takes from my body. I can not drink once I start this treatment. I take it like I can not even drink one glass of wine or even one little beer for the rest of my life! Apparently, Methotrexate affects your liver so you can't add any other problems by drinking. I will have to get labs done every month forever as well, to make sure my liver is doing ok.
When I go back in 2 weeks and she talks to me about my lab results, she will also start me on another drug called Enbrel. You may have seen the commercials about this on T.V. This is a shot that I will have to give myself every week, forever. Enbrel combined with the Methotrexate should help relieve my pains and hopefully slow down the disease process. Since we caught this early enough, it's possible that I could have no bone deformities and live a relatively normal life!
The biggest thing that bothered me was if I could have more children or not. The Rheumatologist said that we would just have to plan my pregnancies better. I will have to get off all of my meds at least 3 months before we start trying and then stay off until I am done breast feeding for the first few months or so. My pains might get worse after the baby is born like it did after Porter, but I can return to my meds and it should all be alright again. That was GREAT to hear!
I read up on Lupus, in case that's what I also have, and I don't really like some of the things I read. I won't get into them now, because I might not even have it. I know everything will be ok though. It could be so much worse, and I'm thankful that it isn't a life threatening disease!
I just wanted to share that with you. If anyone knows someone with RA, or even Lupus, please share your story with me. Maybe you can tell me what meds you/they are on, or how they are doing. It's amazing how many people actually have RA after I found out I have it! Thanks for listening!!!
Christmas was wonderful! We got together with all our family and got way to much as always! Porter really enjoyed his first Christmas...as much as a 4 month old can I assume! He got lots of books, Baby Einstein dvds, and many wonderful toys!
New years was also very nice. We laid low this year and just got together with family both new years night and on new years day. It was nice to just eat lots of food and play games. No hang over this year, which was NOT missed at all!!!!!
Besides all the holiday fun, the only other new thing was my doctor's appointment in St. Louis on the 5th. If you haven't already read about my RA, you can look at an older blog that talks all about it. To continue on that subject, I will try to sum up what the Rheumatologist told us.
The Dr. asked me lots of questions and did a physical exam on me to see how my pain was and where it was located. She also looked at all my previous blood work, xrays, and bone density tests that I had taken in cape with my primary doctor. She then agreed that I did indeed have RA, but that I might also have another ANA disease, such as Lupus. We weren't too surprised in hearing this, because my dr. mentioned something about it before.
So today I have to go take more blood work that is specifically for ANA diseases, and then in 2 weeks I will return to StL to go over what they found. In the meantime, I will start my treatment for RA. I will continue to take my Mobic for the pain and swelling everyday, but in addition I will start taking a drug called Methotrexate. It's 4 pills that I will take once a week for the rest of my life. They also give this to cancer patients as a form of chemotherapy, so it might make me sick. I have to take folic acid along with it to restore what it takes from my body. I can not drink once I start this treatment. I take it like I can not even drink one glass of wine or even one little beer for the rest of my life! Apparently, Methotrexate affects your liver so you can't add any other problems by drinking. I will have to get labs done every month forever as well, to make sure my liver is doing ok.
When I go back in 2 weeks and she talks to me about my lab results, she will also start me on another drug called Enbrel. You may have seen the commercials about this on T.V. This is a shot that I will have to give myself every week, forever. Enbrel combined with the Methotrexate should help relieve my pains and hopefully slow down the disease process. Since we caught this early enough, it's possible that I could have no bone deformities and live a relatively normal life!
The biggest thing that bothered me was if I could have more children or not. The Rheumatologist said that we would just have to plan my pregnancies better. I will have to get off all of my meds at least 3 months before we start trying and then stay off until I am done breast feeding for the first few months or so. My pains might get worse after the baby is born like it did after Porter, but I can return to my meds and it should all be alright again. That was GREAT to hear!
I read up on Lupus, in case that's what I also have, and I don't really like some of the things I read. I won't get into them now, because I might not even have it. I know everything will be ok though. It could be so much worse, and I'm thankful that it isn't a life threatening disease!
I just wanted to share that with you. If anyone knows someone with RA, or even Lupus, please share your story with me. Maybe you can tell me what meds you/they are on, or how they are doing. It's amazing how many people actually have RA after I found out I have it! Thanks for listening!!!
Friday, December 19, 2008
My first time being tagged!!!!
Ok, so my bestest friend in the whole wide world just tagged me! Now I'm supposed to list some of my favorite Christmas traditions that I already have and some that I intend to start! Here we go....
1. Every year we put up our tree and decorate the house the weekend after Thanksgiving!
2. As soon as it's December, I start watching all of my favorite Christmas movies and listening to lots of festive tunes!
3. I buy a new ornament every year that has something to do with a special event that happened that year, and put the date on the back.
4. Sometime close to Christmas, we take a nice drive with hot chocolate, and look at all the Christmas lights!!
5. The weekend before Christmas we have our holiday party with my mom's side. We play the Chinese gift exchange! There's always some goofy presents in there, mixed with some really great ones!
6. In the past, we've always had a Christmas party with my parents, sisters, brothers-in-law, and nephew and nieces, on Christmas eve. It's always been my favorite party of the season, but I was always watching the clock because I had to leave early for my husband's family party. Don't get me wrong, I love his family as well, but I was always there thinking about how much fun MY family was having without me! But this year, they changed it to Christmas day so that we can stay the whole time!!!!! WOO HOO HOO!!!
7. On Christmas eve we go to his side of the family where we eat lots of amazing food, exchange presents, and read something from the bible. I always enjoy that part of the evening. It seems that most people lose the real meaning of Christmas, and it's nice to be reminded!
8. We love to end our night with the midnight mass at our church...which is really at 11:00pm these days..haha. I love this mass so much! The church is always dark and decorated with lots of Christmas trees and lights, and I just LOVE singing all the wonderful songs!!
9. Christmas morning we'll get up around 7:00 or 7:30, whenever mister Porter wakes us up with his sweet little babbles, and for the first time..we'll get to open presents with our great new addition!!!! I'm so excited to experience Porter's first Christmas with him, and I know that each year will only get better!
10. Around noon that day, we'll go to Andy's dad's for a great meal with just him and his girlfriend. It's a nice quiet afternoon!
11. And the star on top of our tree...haha.. ( I made that up)..is celebrating Christmas at my mom's house!! As I mentioned on #6 , this is my favorite! I love my family sooooo much and I just can't wait for this day! We drink lots of wine, and tend to get quite typsie....although, don't mention that to my mom or she'll quit drinking..haha...and then we eat until we just can't possibly eat anymore....but somehow we still do..haha! Then we all gathering around in the living room and open present upon present, until the room is covered in paper!!!! We always go over board! Everyone hangs out until the kids are all passed out, or too cranky to deal with anymore!!!! Christmas is the best time of the year for sure!!!!!
12. I was done, but have a little bit of OCD and can't end with an odd number, so let me just wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. Every year we put up our tree and decorate the house the weekend after Thanksgiving!
2. As soon as it's December, I start watching all of my favorite Christmas movies and listening to lots of festive tunes!
3. I buy a new ornament every year that has something to do with a special event that happened that year, and put the date on the back.
4. Sometime close to Christmas, we take a nice drive with hot chocolate, and look at all the Christmas lights!!
5. The weekend before Christmas we have our holiday party with my mom's side. We play the Chinese gift exchange! There's always some goofy presents in there, mixed with some really great ones!
6. In the past, we've always had a Christmas party with my parents, sisters, brothers-in-law, and nephew and nieces, on Christmas eve. It's always been my favorite party of the season, but I was always watching the clock because I had to leave early for my husband's family party. Don't get me wrong, I love his family as well, but I was always there thinking about how much fun MY family was having without me! But this year, they changed it to Christmas day so that we can stay the whole time!!!!! WOO HOO HOO!!!
7. On Christmas eve we go to his side of the family where we eat lots of amazing food, exchange presents, and read something from the bible. I always enjoy that part of the evening. It seems that most people lose the real meaning of Christmas, and it's nice to be reminded!
8. We love to end our night with the midnight mass at our church...which is really at 11:00pm these days..haha. I love this mass so much! The church is always dark and decorated with lots of Christmas trees and lights, and I just LOVE singing all the wonderful songs!!
9. Christmas morning we'll get up around 7:00 or 7:30, whenever mister Porter wakes us up with his sweet little babbles, and for the first time..we'll get to open presents with our great new addition!!!! I'm so excited to experience Porter's first Christmas with him, and I know that each year will only get better!
10. Around noon that day, we'll go to Andy's dad's for a great meal with just him and his girlfriend. It's a nice quiet afternoon!
11. And the star on top of our tree...haha.. ( I made that up)..is celebrating Christmas at my mom's house!! As I mentioned on #6 , this is my favorite! I love my family sooooo much and I just can't wait for this day! We drink lots of wine, and tend to get quite typsie....although, don't mention that to my mom or she'll quit drinking..haha...and then we eat until we just can't possibly eat anymore....but somehow we still do..haha! Then we all gathering around in the living room and open present upon present, until the room is covered in paper!!!! We always go over board! Everyone hangs out until the kids are all passed out, or too cranky to deal with anymore!!!! Christmas is the best time of the year for sure!!!!!
12. I was done, but have a little bit of OCD and can't end with an odd number, so let me just wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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