Tests, tests and more tests

So I went to the gastroenterologist yesterday.

Aaron and I had to laugh when we walked up to the door and saw the sign. 

The first thing I said was, "No one told me I had to see the Digestive Disease doctor!"

I think gastroenterologist sounds much better.

Anyways, we met with the gastroenterologist (who was very nice) and he is pretty sure I have Carcinoid Syndrome or at least that is what all of my symptoms are pointing to.

This is also the same thing that the rheumatologist thought I had and the reason he ordered the urgent CT scan which we thought came back clear. 

Apparently normal CT scans often don't pick up the teeny tiny carcinoid tumors that cause Carcinoid Syndrome. Since they are only 1-2 centimeters big and can be basically anywhere in your abdomen they are very hard to locate.

So the next step is to try and locate those pesky little tumors. 

The doctor has ordered 4 or 5 different procedures (endoscopy, colonoscopy, specialized CT scan, internal ultrasound, swallowing a capsule camera) to try and find out where the tumors are. 

Right now we are just waiting on authorization from my insurance to start the procedures but they were hoping to at least do the endoscopy and colonoscopy by the end of this week (but it's looking more like early next week).  

Oh and I had to do a zillion more blood tests and a 24 hour urine test (fun I know) where I can't drink coffee for 3 days! 

Pray for me :)

In the midst of all the craziness I feel like Aaron and I are doing pretty good.

And it's definitely nothing that we can attribute to ourselves. 

Whatever strength we have is absolutely and totally from the Lord. 

He is so good.
And so in control of everything.

Even my body. 

Even these possible tumors. 

He knows the exact number of days I'll be around and while I'm hoping and praying that I have a whole lot left I have to be at peace with the fact that His will is the best. 

Whatever that might be. 

But in the meantime we wait and hope and trust in the Lord

and PRAY like crazy that he would heal me or allow us to walk through this whole thing shining brightly the light of Jesus to whoever we come in contact with along the way.

*Oh and we are switching Internet providers so we are without Internet for 2 days! I snuck away to write this post to keep you all in the loop so please don't panic if I'm M.I.A. for a couple days. I can still read all of your comments and reply to emails from my phone I just won't be able to blog until it's back on. Thanks again for all your love and prayers and support! 

Easter weekend

He is Risen!
He is Risen indeed!

Happy Easter!

I hope you and your family had a great day celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus!

We sure did!

As usual it was a busy, fun filled holiday weekend.
 Here's a little peek at some of the festivities...

Our church had a really cool event called Walk to the Cross.
We went to the family/kid friendly version on Wednesday which was awesome!
It had different stations that walked you through the events in the Bible leading up to the crucifixion.
Each station had different hands on activities for the kids which helped it all come to life.
The pictures above are of the triumphal entry, the cleansing of the Temple, Jesus washing the disciples feet, Jesus as the Good Shepherd, identifying sin in our life and Jesus nailing our sin to the cross.
   

 On Friday we went to the Good Friday service at our church.
It was awesome.

Then on Saturday our community group hosted an Easter Egg hunt for our community. 

Sunday morning the kids opened their Easter baskets 

and searched for eggs.

This year I hid money inside since I was so over candy! 

Mackenzie was trading Wesley for the pennies because she thought they were prettier than the other coins. 

If she only knew. 

Then we went to church with our family

and some friends.

And then we went to my aunt and uncle's house 

and hung out with all of my cousins and family. 

She's cute :)

I love him!

And we had our annual egg cracking contest.

The kids were so excited to be old enough to participate.

Oh and I made cake pops! 

And I swore to never make them again. 

again.

Hope you guys had a great Easter weekend too!

Friday Randoms

Hey Guys! 

Happy Good Friday!

It's a good Friday indeed. 

Here's a peek at our week through the camera lens of my phone. 

Enjoy!

Little boy...back at the doctor again!

This time for hives. 

A told Aaron he caught the mystery disease I have :)

This boy is crazy! 

No wonder we are at the doctor so often. 

The big kids were pretending to text each other on our old play phones.

I don't know if this picture is cute or disturbing.

I had such a great time on our church's woman's retreat. 

Being silly in Momma's glasses. 

Mmmm...

who knew sea weed could be so tasty?

Wes and I went to the dentist.

Doesn't he look really excited to be there?

It was his first time. 

We went to a family "walk through the cross" event at our church. 

It was awesome!

We decorated Easter eggs. 

And we visited germ central at the mall.

That place totally grosses me out.

I'm pretty sure everyone looks at me like a crazy woman when they see the amount of hand sanitizer I lather on my kids when we leave. 

She loves her food. 

Me and Kenzie wore our matching shirts.

When you have 3 little ones, 4 years and under

Every outing is an adventure. 

Love that smile!

Hope you guys had a great week!

{Semi} Homemade Oreo Cookies

These cookies are the best secret ever.
They look like you spent the whole day slaving away in the kitchen

and they taste like Martha Stewart made them herself. 

However they are really super easy and quick.  

but that's our little secret :) 

Ready for the recipe?

-1 box Devil's food cake mix

-2 eggs

-1/2 cup oil

-can of vanilla or cream cheese frosting 

Heat oven to 350 degrees. 

Add oil and eggs to cake mix and blend together.

Roll dough into small (quarter size) balls.

Press down with the bottom of a cup to flatten.

Place on greased cookie sheet and bake 7-8 minutes.

Mmmmm...

Once your cookies are cooled take your frosting and put it into a ziplock bag.

Cut off the corner of the bag and pipe some frosting onto the center of a cookie. 

Press another cookie on top and enjoy!!

These cookies are so delicious you can't just eat one.

But don't take my word for it. 

Go make some for yourself!

Enjoy!

wrinkle release

The wrinkle release button. 

The procrastinator in me loves it and hates it 

all at the same time. 

Because when the normal dryer buzzer goes off I think to myself

I don't haaave to get it right now. I can just wrinkle release it later.

And so I wait until I'm done doing whatever I'm doing 

or until I decide to stop being lazy 

and I press the wrinkle release button. 

And then the buzzer goes off and I think

I don't have to get it right now. I can just wrinkle release it {again!} later. 

And then the clothes (which have undoubtedly been wrinkle released several times) sit in my dryer for a whole week until the process starts over again.

It's bad.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who loves :) to do laundry.
And who has a major love/hate relationship with the wrinkle release option necessity.  

Woman's Retreat

This weekend I was away with the girls at our church's Woman's Retreat.

It was amazing in so many different ways. 

First, it was amazing to be kidless.

Don't get me wrong I love.love.love. my kids but it's good to have some uninterrupted adult conversation and two free hands once a year.

Second, it was amazing to sit under Elyse Fitzpatrick's teaching.

She was hilarious, insightful, real and a powerful teacher. 

I want to know and preach the gospel like she does. 

maybe one day :)

Third, it was awesome to spend the weekend with old friends and new friends (and my mom and soon to be sister in law)! 

I'm so blessed by the people God has placed in my life. 

The body of Christ is such a cool thing. 

Forth, it was awesome to go in the hot springs. a lot

In my dreams I would have one in my backyard. Wouldn't that be nice?

(The retreat was in Murrieta Hot Springs)

And fifth it was awesome to spend some alone time with the Lord. 

Not nearly enough...just enough to make me want a whole lot more. 

Hope you guys had a great weekend too!

Oh and as promised here's a mini update on all our crazy health stuff...

-Wesley is doing great! The hole is still healing from the surgery but it looks to be infection free! Praise the Lord! 

-A nurse called me yesterday to tell me that the only thing they found out from all those vials of blood and tests are that I am ANA positive (which I already knew) and that I have low potassium. Which basically tell us nothing or at least nothing that explains why I'm having these crazy episodes. So right now I'm trying to get an appointment with the doctor to talk to him and go over the results and see what the next steps are but it's been so difficult to get a hold of anyone at the office and to get an appointment to be seen. I'll keep you guys updated as I hear things. Thanks again for all the prayers!  

I'm alive :)

You guys are all so sweet! 

I didn't even think that my lack of posting would freak all of you out and make you think that I got some really awful news. 

I'm feeling fine, just waiting for answers. 

I'll post some more info tonight but there isn't a whole lot of news at this point. 

Thanks again for all of your sweet emails and concern.

Love you all!