We've had a very busy summer. Starting Memorial day weekend, when we met 21 other Yoder's (Darrin's brother, wife and their daughters; his sister, husband and their 4 children; Darrin's dad and his fiance; Darrin's cousin, his wife and one of his daughters and Darrin's daughter and her sister-in-law) in Gatlinburg, at a beautiful cabin in the mountains. We saw the Dixie Stampede and spent a day at Dollywood, kids went to race cars and others went to the shooting range. Other than that we visited, hung out and ate great food. We drove there and back and between the travel and activities it took a week before I even began to get over it and then I caught a cold that I still have a cough from! Darrin's dad Ray and Nancy came back to spend the week with us and ended up finding things to do. I couldn't recover and slept most of the week. Not the way you want to spend time with family. They were a big help and Deke enjoyed having his Pap and Nana Nancy to play with.
This was the last post that Ami was working on, thought I would put it out there for everyone.
In June we went to DC, where Brad, Stella and Delyssia met us. We spent the week sight seeing and catching up. I was able to do most everything we had planned to do, even though I was still dealing with the cold and started having problems with my blood pressure and sugar. Deke was in awe of everything, Chase enjoyed spending time with Delyssia and Darrin and I enjoyed spending time together and creating more memories. Chase went back to VA with Delyssia for a week and then came home, only to head out to camp for a week.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Dr. visit
Just got home from the neurologist. Good visit, with the exception of having to be rescued from the restroom, which was not ADA equipped appropriately. The toilet was to low and I couldn't stand up. They had to take the door off the hinges. I was MORTIFIED. Thank God, Darrin was there to help me up and out...chortle, only my luck. I've been banned from using the restroom at the offices (lol). Our last visit ended in a similar situation, except I was in a different restroom and was able to reach the door to unlock it, but still couldn't stand. I had to blow my whistle. This wasn't long after Deke had his tonsils out and had lost about 5 lbs, so his clothes were all to big for him. Deke heard the whistle took off at flat run to find me, loosing his pants, belt and diaper along the way, and everyone followed him to me. That time Shirley helped me up and out.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
May 2009
Well, I was just patting myself on the back about not having any "serious" incidents, no hospitalizations and the boom. Off to the hospital I go. I'd had a great day, felt fabulous and then late evening my sugar bottomed out and the real fun began. After 5 hours of no relief, we decided it was time to go to the hospital. I spent the obligatory week, they found no definitive reason or cause and I came home Friday evening. I had a tough week last week, same symptoms, just not as severe and being home was a true relief. I started feeling really good on Sunday and am still feeling great.
This week is dedicated to a doctor a day. Once again, an obligation that has to be repaid after every hospitalization. The one positive is that I was able to see the heptalogist that will be treating my liver, while I was in the hospital and she began treatment, which has already eased my discomfort!
Ami
This week is dedicated to a doctor a day. Once again, an obligation that has to be repaid after every hospitalization. The one positive is that I was able to see the heptalogist that will be treating my liver, while I was in the hospital and she began treatment, which has already eased my discomfort!
Ami
Easter 2009
We had a wonderful Easter weekend. We spent Saturday at the church Easter Egg hunt and BBQ. Deke made tissue eggs and ate from the dessert tables.
Sunday we went to church and the Easter bunny went by the house and hid the baskets and left eggs for the kids to hunt.
Darrin cooked our Easter feast, ham, party potatoes, green bean casserole and rolls. So we gorged on candy and food. Deke was ingesting sugar at rapid fire speeds and Chase and Darrin were in peanut butter bliss. I just loved watching it all and following the bunny trails behind Deke as he was hunting. Priceless moments.
Believe it or not, we didn't get a single picture, although we videoed the day. So not stills to share.
Love to all,
Ami
Sunday we went to church and the Easter bunny went by the house and hid the baskets and left eggs for the kids to hunt.
Darrin cooked our Easter feast, ham, party potatoes, green bean casserole and rolls. So we gorged on candy and food. Deke was ingesting sugar at rapid fire speeds and Chase and Darrin were in peanut butter bliss. I just loved watching it all and following the bunny trails behind Deke as he was hunting. Priceless moments.
Believe it or not, we didn't get a single picture, although we videoed the day. So not stills to share.
Love to all,
Ami
Friday, March 6, 2009
Holy smokes! March 6th, 2008
This is beyond lame!!! I knew it had been awhile since I'd updated my blog, but not that it had been 5 months...tsk tsk. Now I'll try to remember everything I can.
For Halloween Deke ended up being a horse. He rode hard and ate his spoils almost as quickly as they hit his bag!
We spent Thanksgiving in Kansas. It was wonderful. The serenity truly rejuvenated my body and soul. The food was yummy and the time spent with family was enjoyable as always. Deke was able to play with his cousin Sammy. Watching them gave you the sense of how they'll be double trouble later in life...tee hee. Deke also got to spend time with his 4 yr old cousins, Woodley and Barrett. Those two showed the little ones how to take Deke's little Tykes tractor and jump the steps into the dining room. Jump forward 30 odd years and they'll be doing the same thing. Their dad, Cousin Matt (in his 30's) came up for the walk this year and aired up Deke's wagon tires and caught air going down the neighbors steep driveway.
At Christmas, Chase, Shirley and I headed out to Puerto Rico an came back New Year's eve. This was the trip Chase and I were going to go alone, but I need help and Shirley was more than willing to go along with us. The beaches were beautiful and the water was gorgeous, but to chilly for me. We went to Old San Juan and stayed along the main strip. Chase loved it and Shirley and I enjoyed ourselves. I've decide I want to be home or somewhere with snow for Christmas. Going to sunny destinations, just doesn't feel like Christmas. My guys gave me a beautiful platinum mother's ring. It's beautiful! They did a wonderful job designing it. It is similar to my engagement ring, so I wear it on my ring finger. Gorgeous!!!
Travel is becoming increasingly tiring. I don't want to fly ever again!
For Valentines we all shared cards and candy.
I'll work on catching up next week.
Smooches,
Ami
For Halloween Deke ended up being a horse. He rode hard and ate his spoils almost as quickly as they hit his bag!
We spent Thanksgiving in Kansas. It was wonderful. The serenity truly rejuvenated my body and soul. The food was yummy and the time spent with family was enjoyable as always. Deke was able to play with his cousin Sammy. Watching them gave you the sense of how they'll be double trouble later in life...tee hee. Deke also got to spend time with his 4 yr old cousins, Woodley and Barrett. Those two showed the little ones how to take Deke's little Tykes tractor and jump the steps into the dining room. Jump forward 30 odd years and they'll be doing the same thing. Their dad, Cousin Matt (in his 30's) came up for the walk this year and aired up Deke's wagon tires and caught air going down the neighbors steep driveway.
At Christmas, Chase, Shirley and I headed out to Puerto Rico an came back New Year's eve. This was the trip Chase and I were going to go alone, but I need help and Shirley was more than willing to go along with us. The beaches were beautiful and the water was gorgeous, but to chilly for me. We went to Old San Juan and stayed along the main strip. Chase loved it and Shirley and I enjoyed ourselves. I've decide I want to be home or somewhere with snow for Christmas. Going to sunny destinations, just doesn't feel like Christmas. My guys gave me a beautiful platinum mother's ring. It's beautiful! They did a wonderful job designing it. It is similar to my engagement ring, so I wear it on my ring finger. Gorgeous!!!
Travel is becoming increasingly tiring. I don't want to fly ever again!
For Valentines we all shared cards and candy.
I'll work on catching up next week.
Smooches,
Ami
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Trick or treat!
Good day everybody. It's gorgeous here. We've been out and about running errands and looking at all the "pider and punkns". Deke is still determining what he wants to be for Halloween. He'll either be a little ghoul that scares everyone in a shiny black cape or a horse. He's big into growling and telling you to run...bossy little feller, so I'm thinking the ghoul will win. We visited the pumpkin patch last night an he picked out two. One big and fat, the other a baby squash.
We raised over $8,000 for ALSA and had a great time at the walk, even though a sickness came calling. Tuesday before the walk, I went to the doctor and was told I had a respiratory infection and was given an antibiotic I've taken many times before. Only this time I had a severe allergic reaction. Apparently, reactions are categorized on a scale 1 to 5, with 5 being the worst. I of course had a level 5 reaction and ended up in the hospital for 4 days!!! At first, we thought I was having a reaction to cousin Crystal's blueberry breakfast cake, because I broke out in little red dots from my head to my toes, as soon as I finished my second piece. Eventually, I started to itch and then my feet and calves turned an amazing shade of red/purple. Off we go to home our home away from home, Baptist Collierville. I came home Friday and started to have sores come up in my mouth. They felt like horns when air would hit them. Just breathing was extremely painful and talking wasn't a possibility, although I did manage to croak out a few words. This was caused by all the steroids I was given for the allergic reaction. The doctor played it safe and ordered a swish and spit rinse, so that I wouldn't react to it. What a mess. For those that asked or wonder why I seem to be having issues with medicines since my diagnosis, just don't know my luck (har har). Seriously, ALS causes your body to wear out quicker and leaves a person weakened and susceptible to all kinds of nefty illnesses.
Now for my costume this year, I'll be a bloated, horned witch...snicker
Saturday was my best friend, Kelly's, son wedding. I can't believe my little Scotty has grown into such a remarkable man. The ceremony was so touching, the reception was delicious and sharing the moment with them was priceless.
Crystal you need to share on the recipe, because it was fabulous!
Enjoy the kiddies this weekend! Sugar'em up and send them home.
Love,
Ami
P.S. I'm working on getting the walk pictures uploaded, so they'll be along soon.
P.S.S. I want to get out to see my Navy friends soon. Definitely before Sabrina has her little baby!
We raised over $8,000 for ALSA and had a great time at the walk, even though a sickness came calling. Tuesday before the walk, I went to the doctor and was told I had a respiratory infection and was given an antibiotic I've taken many times before. Only this time I had a severe allergic reaction. Apparently, reactions are categorized on a scale 1 to 5, with 5 being the worst. I of course had a level 5 reaction and ended up in the hospital for 4 days!!! At first, we thought I was having a reaction to cousin Crystal's blueberry breakfast cake, because I broke out in little red dots from my head to my toes, as soon as I finished my second piece. Eventually, I started to itch and then my feet and calves turned an amazing shade of red/purple. Off we go to home our home away from home, Baptist Collierville. I came home Friday and started to have sores come up in my mouth. They felt like horns when air would hit them. Just breathing was extremely painful and talking wasn't a possibility, although I did manage to croak out a few words. This was caused by all the steroids I was given for the allergic reaction. The doctor played it safe and ordered a swish and spit rinse, so that I wouldn't react to it. What a mess. For those that asked or wonder why I seem to be having issues with medicines since my diagnosis, just don't know my luck (har har). Seriously, ALS causes your body to wear out quicker and leaves a person weakened and susceptible to all kinds of nefty illnesses.
Now for my costume this year, I'll be a bloated, horned witch...snicker
Saturday was my best friend, Kelly's, son wedding. I can't believe my little Scotty has grown into such a remarkable man. The ceremony was so touching, the reception was delicious and sharing the moment with them was priceless.
Crystal you need to share on the recipe, because it was fabulous!
Enjoy the kiddies this weekend! Sugar'em up and send them home.
Love,
Ami
P.S. I'm working on getting the walk pictures uploaded, so they'll be along soon.
P.S.S. I want to get out to see my Navy friends soon. Definitely before Sabrina has her little baby!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
October 8, 2008
Whoozer! Has it been over a month since I've updated this???? Guess that's a silly question.
Anyhoo, the latest news is that I was in the hospital at the end of August with what they finally decided was serotonin syndrome, which was because two of the medicines I was taking, Lexapro for anxiety and Seroquel to help me sleep, were both serotonin uptake drugs, meant to make a person feel better. To much serotonin can make a person very sick. Of course, I'd be that person. All three of my hospitalizations have been related to medications and their side effects. Because of this I stopped all my medicines, except the muscle relaxers and and ambien to sleep. Last week we added baclofen a new muscle relaxer. I'm taking a very small dose to see how my body reacts to it. So far, it has reduced my twitching significantly and taken away the "squishy" sensations I had in my legs....yippee!
Many people hadn't realized that I do still walk. I walk around the house every day, but make sure my wheelchair is close in case I get weak. I use the super duper wheelchair when we go out. I don't risk falling in public! Not only would I be mortified, I'd hate to get hurt in the process. My new lift was delivered last week. The lift is used to transport me from bed to bath or to pick me up off the floor. I don't need the transporting yet and pray I don't have to use it to scrap my bootie off the floor! It came with only one wheel having a brake, which doesn't seem safe to me at all. When I questioned it, the company suggested I "try it. one brake should work." I was like "Nope. Not gonna happen. I won't be a guinea pig, cause my luck I'll end up back in the hospital!" The sling (part my body rests in) allows for my hind end to just dangle. I don't like that idea either, so were swapping swings.
More exciting news is that I nominated my brother for an leadership award with ALS TDI and he won!! He's going to Cambridge, MA for their summit meeting the weekend of the walk. This is great because he'll be able to hear the latest in cutting edge research and see the leading doctors in the ALS field.
We're getting ready for the 2ND annual cookout at the cove, which we host the Friday evening before the walk. We're also doing some spring cleaning and repair projects, all to get ready for our friends and family that are coming in for the walk.
If you haven't register to be on Ami's Awesome Army team for the walk, please do! Even if your a virtual walker, please sign up! Goto http://walktn.alsa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=WLK_TN_SignUp.....please, please, please sign up.
I also want to see Hip hip hooray! for Darrin's dad Ray. He raised almost $700 at his first annual horseshoe tournament! and still has folks bringing in more donations! Way to go Pap!!!
Chase is getting ready to run for vice president of the student council and Deke is going to the allergist Friday to figure out what's been making him itchy and bumpy.
Our next travel plans are a road trip to the Kansas Yoder's for Thanksgiving and Chase, Shirley and I are going to Puerto Rico at Christmas.
We plan on renovating our bathroom shower, so that I can use a shower chair in it. Which means we'll take out the 6 inch lip and make a ramp.
I hope I've caught everyone up!
Love,
Ami
Anyhoo, the latest news is that I was in the hospital at the end of August with what they finally decided was serotonin syndrome, which was because two of the medicines I was taking, Lexapro for anxiety and Seroquel to help me sleep, were both serotonin uptake drugs, meant to make a person feel better. To much serotonin can make a person very sick. Of course, I'd be that person. All three of my hospitalizations have been related to medications and their side effects. Because of this I stopped all my medicines, except the muscle relaxers and and ambien to sleep. Last week we added baclofen a new muscle relaxer. I'm taking a very small dose to see how my body reacts to it. So far, it has reduced my twitching significantly and taken away the "squishy" sensations I had in my legs....yippee!
Many people hadn't realized that I do still walk. I walk around the house every day, but make sure my wheelchair is close in case I get weak. I use the super duper wheelchair when we go out. I don't risk falling in public! Not only would I be mortified, I'd hate to get hurt in the process. My new lift was delivered last week. The lift is used to transport me from bed to bath or to pick me up off the floor. I don't need the transporting yet and pray I don't have to use it to scrap my bootie off the floor! It came with only one wheel having a brake, which doesn't seem safe to me at all. When I questioned it, the company suggested I "try it. one brake should work." I was like "Nope. Not gonna happen. I won't be a guinea pig, cause my luck I'll end up back in the hospital!" The sling (part my body rests in) allows for my hind end to just dangle. I don't like that idea either, so were swapping swings.
More exciting news is that I nominated my brother for an leadership award with ALS TDI and he won!! He's going to Cambridge, MA for their summit meeting the weekend of the walk. This is great because he'll be able to hear the latest in cutting edge research and see the leading doctors in the ALS field.
We're getting ready for the 2ND annual cookout at the cove, which we host the Friday evening before the walk. We're also doing some spring cleaning and repair projects, all to get ready for our friends and family that are coming in for the walk.
If you haven't register to be on Ami's Awesome Army team for the walk, please do! Even if your a virtual walker, please sign up! Goto http://walktn.alsa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=WLK_TN_SignUp.....please, please, please sign up.
I also want to see Hip hip hooray! for Darrin's dad Ray. He raised almost $700 at his first annual horseshoe tournament! and still has folks bringing in more donations! Way to go Pap!!!
Chase is getting ready to run for vice president of the student council and Deke is going to the allergist Friday to figure out what's been making him itchy and bumpy.
Our next travel plans are a road trip to the Kansas Yoder's for Thanksgiving and Chase, Shirley and I are going to Puerto Rico at Christmas.
We plan on renovating our bathroom shower, so that I can use a shower chair in it. Which means we'll take out the 6 inch lip and make a ramp.
I hope I've caught everyone up!
Love,
Ami
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