Blessing and Blizzards

Way back a month ago we went to Price for the weekend to attend Miss Joelle's baby blessing. We spent Saturday helping sort through my mom's food storage, and Luke got in a little hunting action with his dad.  That night we celebrated Jacomo's 2nd birthday with the family and then Sunday was of course, the blessing.... that is also the day where the arthritis hit Tianna.  We got home late that night after a day full of running and playing with her cousins, when suddenly her knee was inflamed.  That is why this post has been so delayed.  

Tianna and Joelle Eva Frandsen

The sandbox monster. The whole time we were at Jason and Joy's house, this little girl was out in the sandbox. 

The boys  and the little lady

Then, there were the blizzards. We had some gorgeous weather one week (and thankfully I put up my Christmas lights) because suddenly, winter hit with a vengeance! It made for some good snow-angels though!

My indoor snow-angels! (most of the time)

The "snow-pocolyps" that hit was a pretty fierce storm, but didn't last too long and was certainly no worse than any other winter storm... The wind created some nice drifts though.

Well i think that is enough for one post-- Now, on to Thanksgiving

Happy Post but Prayers needed

Hey everyone--if anyone still reads this... :)

We are asking you to pray for our girl.  She was officially diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis at her rheumatology appointment Wednesday.  It appears that she has had it longer than we've even known, as her right thigh is quite a bit slimmer than her left.  That indicates that she has favored this leg for awhile, and in retrospect, she has.

The good news is, being a white female, she has the highest chance of the arthritis going away completely.  And they switched her medication because the other stuff she was taking had only worked for just over a week. Then it seemed to only take the edge off her pain.  Hopefully this will help more.
The best news we received that day was that the doctor is very confident that a steroid shot will remove all pain and swelling from her joint. The down side, this injection is quite painful and so she will be put under full anesthesia.
She is scheduled for the injection Dec 21st.  We are so glad it's before Christmas! If all goes as expected, within 24 hours of the injection she should be back to her old self! It has the potential to return, or return in another joint, but at that point they will just do another injection and go from there.  The fact that this MAY possibly remove the arthritis completely was very joyous news to us!!!

That is where your prayers come in-- please, pray that the injection will work! And if you are so inclined, we are dedicating our fasts this Sunday to her.  Thank you, and good night!

I promise, my next post will be about something other than this--and pictures will be included!

Much to be Grateful For

I know it's not Thursday yet, but we're feeling so grateful that we can't wait to tell the good news.

Yesterday Tianna had her first ophthalmologist appointment. Maybe first of many.... But it showed NO swelling in her eyes and everything looked great! See, one of the worst symptom of juvenile idiopathic arthritis is eye swelling. It usually occurs when there is only 1 joint effected-- like hers.   So the doctor was most worried about her eyes over anything else. The joint swelling can usually be controlled with medication, but the eye swelling can cause blindness. Luckily, for now, they look great! We were really relieved.

Another strange thing about it is, for those with JIA, the eye swelling goes unnoticed. No pain--nothing. But they could have raging eye inflammation that would cause a person without JIA immense pain in their eyes.  So the only way to find it is through frequent eye appointments.

So, the next step is to see what the actual results/diagnosis is after she meets with the Pediatric Rheumatologist on Dec 1st at Primary Children's.  Depending on the results, she may have to meet with the eye doc every 3 months for awhile.... so we shall keep you posted! But for now, we're rejoicing! Her medication is helping her knee pain and she hasn't woken up with the stiffness since Saturday when she started the meds.  It's still a little swollen and sore when she bends it far, but otherwise it's mostly unnoticeable.  YAY!
But please, keep her in your prayers still. We would still love for this to be a temporary issue that resolves and disappears forEVER! :) Thanks!

A nightmare.

I missed my "Thankful Thursday" post this week........ mostly, because I wasn't feeling very grateful that night. It had been a rough week topped off by a really bad day.

Today, I can repent, and write a list some things I AM grateful for. 

1- Doctors

2- Family that cares

3- Modern Medicine

4- THE TEMPLE

5- Priesthood blessings

6-Supportive and loving husband

7- My beautiful girls

8- Anti-inflammatory medicines

On Sunday when we returned home from visiting Price, Tianna was complaining a lot about her leg being sore. Figuring it was just asleep I brushed it off.  Eventually, when I went to kiss it better I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw her knee. It was more than twice as big around as the other one and warm to the touch. What the heck did she do?! I couldn't recall her hitting her knee at all that day. 

Since she has gotten a swollen eye after playing around the horses and the hay before, we figured she must have some crazy hay fever. We gave her some Tylenol and sent her to bed. The next morning it was sore but she went off to preschool without any problems. The swelling lessened and by Tuesday night I had almost forgotten about it. She was walking on it fine and it didn't seem to bother her much. Then around 3 am she began screaming! 

I ran into her room and she said her leg hurt so badly! I got her some Benedryl this time, in hopes of removing the allergy causing the swelling.  

First thing in the morning I made her a doc appointment, but when it was time to go she was jumping around and acted like it didn't even hurt her. After much debating, I cancelled the appt and thought I'd wait at least one more day.  The swelling was still there but it wasn't huge anymore, and she could walk-- so obviously it wasn't broken or something. Our insurance isn't great so I hoped to avoid unnecessary x-rays. 

That night (Wed), I tried to pull her leg around to get her to kneel with us and she jerked and shrieked and began crying and I KNEW then something was really wrong with her. I took her in at 8:40 the next morning.  

That is when everything changed.  

After an examination the doctor said she was sending me in for x-rays (i expected that) and blood work (WHAT?!) I asked what that was for and she told me it sounded like arthritis. 

*I have heard of juvenile arthritis and it always sounded HORRIBLE! but how could that be? Wasn't that something you were born with? Tianna has always been fine! Surely, it wasn't that!

She also said it could just be some sort of infection or Heaven forbid- a tumor. I asked if it was possible it was an injury and she said it was unlikely since we didn't remember anything happening to it, and for something to cause that sort of swelling, we'd remember it.

So more than a little freaked out inside, we went in for the work and then ANXIOUSLY waited all day long. 

Finally the nurse called to say her x-rays looked good and mumbled something about the labs being okay. She said the doc was referring us to a rheumatologist. (Arthritis doc)  When I asked what the labs ruled out, the nurse didn't really answer just said to call the rheumatologist. Gee- thanks. 

There I was, left with no idea what this all meant and no one to tell me what to do. 

Of course I turned to research on the Internet. It freaked me out completely. How could my Tianna have something like this? Sunday she was fine all day then suddenly she had a swollen knee. Everything the Internet sources described sounded like what Tianna was experiencing. It sure sounded like arthritis. 

Arthritis?!  I started picturing her becoming crippled and mangled, and basically anything but my active, fun loving, HEALTHY child! The girl in my head can't do anything but take countless medications, has to wear braces, can't run or jump or play, just sits and cries from pain. ...  I tried telling myself  the Internet always discusses everything up to the extremest of cases, but it's hard to not fear the worst.  What if her whole body became wracked with these joint inflamations. 

*what I now know of Juvenile arthritis- Arthritis means inflammation of a joint caused by the immune system attacking the joints.  The form she most likely has effects girls more than boys, whites are more susceptible, and it often begins between 3-6. She's 4. right on track. :( The type that effects only one joint (most often a knee) also can cause inflammation in the eye--which can cause many many problems.  You have to work closely with an ophthalmologist (amongst others) to detect the swelling as there is usually no real symptoms. In addition to the eye issues, sometimes only one joint is effected, sometimes other joints develop problems too. Only time can tell but early detection is very important. 

Thankfully Luke gave me a blessing that night and I decided to attend the Temple first thing in the morning.

I came away much more at peace and knowing that no matter what, we'll be fine. She'll be fine. And even if she has to live with pain, medications, doctor appointments and who knows what else--we'll be fine. Also, no matter what happens to her physical body, she will always be the same person. Not only that, but I honestly feel like this is something that can be overcome. We have the power of prayer, fasting, blessings, and faith on our side. 

This is a trial we are going to face, and hopefully learn from quickly, and then we can move on.

I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES! I have witnessed them first hand in our lives and we will get a miracle for Tianna.

So I am asking you-- PLEASE, pray for her recovery.  It can't be diagnosed as juvenile arthritis until she has had it for more than 6 weeks. I pray that it is not a permanent thing. Sometimes arthritis only lasts for a few months, sometimes it lasts a lifetime.  We'll know a lot more after we see the rheumotologist.  (hopefully next week sometime) 

Until then, she is just sore after long periods of resting and especially after sleeping. It's called "morning stiffness."  She's been given an anti-inflammatory medication like Aleve, and other than not wanting to kneel on it, a little stiffness and limping sometimes, she is otherwise the same old Tianna. THANK Goodness! 

We love our baby girl so much and it pains us to see her suffer, even in the smallest degree. 

Thankful Thursday

Well, it's November again... that means it is time to reflect on the great things we have in our lives. I've decided to try and think of something I'm especially grateful for each day of the month. Then on Thursday's I will post my list from the past week. Mostly, it's for my own journaling purposes. BTW--I received my blog books back in the mail the other day and I'm very pleased... if you are interested in printing your blog off, blog2print is the WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!

I'm THANKFUL FOR...
November 1: Me- Those days when I seem to have more patience with my children than usual. Those sure are good days!
Luke:  Family Home Evening-(we taught Tianna about the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving... and watched the Karate Kid--good show I might add.)

November 2: Me: The opportunity to vote and all the other wonderful freedom's of our country.
Luke: Democracy!

November 3: Me: Great friends AND many of the election results.
 Luke: lots of extra time on a take-home exam... (really, more time to procrastinate..but whatever! hehe)

November 4: Luke-a job... where he gets to do work that actually means something and that he enjoys.
Me:  That food storage is more than just beans and wheat. (I hosted a Shelf Reliance party tonight. It was a good eye opener! "Store what you eat... Eat what you store")

Halloween Part 4- The Final Stages of Exhaustion

So here we are: 5 minutes into November! YAY!!!!!!!!!! Don't get me wrong, but I'm SO Halloweened out! We had so much fun, but it kinda felt like Halloween every day (or nearly) for a whole month. We definitely lived it to the fullest!

Okay, so back to our festivities:
Friday night: HALLOWEEN PARTY in Lehi with some of Mary's old high school friends
We had a really good dinner with soup, chili, baked-cheese sandwiches in the shape of pumpkins and of course, treats.
It was kinda crazy with all of our children (weird and wonderful to see my old friends as mothers!) and it was really great to see faces I only see once a year or less. After dinner we made slime (it was such a hit when we did it with Monica's family we thought we'd share the fun) Again, the kids loved it!

 My super handsome cowboy!

 with our super adorable girls

One cowboy + 3 princess = either one very lucky guy... or one guy with his hands full!

 Adelia quite enjoyed Taylor's tail

 

The crew: The Peacock's, Robinson's, Langford's, Fenwick's, and Preece's

It was so great to see everyone! Thanks for coming! And a HUGE thanks to the Robinson's for hosting the party and for letting us crash at your beautiful abode.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Trick-or-Treating
We braved the rain and trick-or-treated around our little neighborhood, as well as couple other houses in our ward boundaries, and visited Luke's uncle's family who live in Nibley.  Once again, they SCORED in the candy department.... and since we were gone doing our own TOTing we didn't give out near enough candy...

Yes, you are right, Adelia, those pumpkins ARE hot! 

Mike has never looked better!

And now last, but certainly not least (after everything else we've been doing, it was actually LEAST)

We enjoyed a nice DINNER-IN-A-PUMPKIN after church, with blood drinks, and Gremlin fingers (green beans) for dinner and of course, CAAAANDY!!!!! 

Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween! And I for one, and SO GLAD it's NOVEMBER and we can do a bit less partying :) BRING ON THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Halloween Part 3: The Pumpkins and the Parties

Monday FHE: Carving of the pumpy-kins!

From left to right: Luke's, Tianna's, Mine, Adelia's: I must say, some of our best work yet!

 Check out those caramel apples-- make your mouth water?

Before I begin, I have to tell you about our cute child. Due to a Halloween book that has a jack-0-lantern on the front cover and a "Ah-ah-ah" laughing Vampire on the last page, EVERY time Adelia sees a pumpkin with a face she makes a throaty "ha-ha-ha-ha" laugh. It's hilarious!

She also loves to sing the "Elmo's World Song" Well, sing, as in saying "Ga-Ga-Ga" to the tune of Elmos World. So she says her throaty "ha ha ha" laugh to Luke's Pumpkin and "Ga Ga Ga (trust me, it sounds like the song) when she points to her own. She's too cute!

THURSDAY was the TREAT-OR-TREAT at Luke's work.
The Disney Princess Trio: Cinderella, Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) and Belle (Beauty and the Beast)

After a nice haul of candy we had to rush to meet our friends for the pumpkin walk. Apparently, it had ended a few days before. But don't worry, Sponge Bob was still there! Actually, we were quite sad we didn't make it as a family...

FRIDAY morning- Tianna's CLASS PARTY:

I was already getting sick of seeing this dress in every picture.. and it wasn't even Halloween for a few more days!

Friday AFTERNOON: Witches at Gardner Village

 We just had to stop by and see the witches. I went with Tianna when she was 1 but haven't made it back since.  The witches were so fun-- but the place was way too busy. Never go the day before Halloween (or actually, the day before Halloween was observed in Utah) People everywhere!

Since this is already so long, the next post: FRIDAY NIGHT and SATURDAY NIGHT