Mystery Diagnosis

*WARNING THIS POST HAS SOME GRAPHIC IMAGES*

I have taken a break from the blogging world to play Nurse Jen for the last 6 weeks. Poor Nick is all I can say. He has had a serious of misfortune events that has led to him practically being bed ridden and his body waging a war against itself. Here is the abbreviated version of how it all went down.

We play in a co-ed softball league on Friday nights. It is a blast, and such a great date night that we both enjoy. In our last game of the end of summer league Nick slid into second base and got a 'strawberry' type wound on his left calf. After two weeks it started to look better, that is until he put the dreaded neosporin type ointment on it--then the wound got MAD!! It opened up, oozed yellow junk constantly, and was a lovely violet color. Three days later at a football game Nick got bit by a spider on the foot of the same injured leg. Two days after that his foot swelled to 2-3 times the size of his right foot with a red blotchy rash all over.

From this day on--it has been down hill just about. I finally convinced him to go to the doctor the next day. I worked only half the day so I could hear what the doctor had to say. Literally, I don't think any doctor has ever had me that scared. He named about 10 diseases it could be, wrote him 4 prescriptions, and instructed him to get blood drawn, come in everyday for an office visit to see if it is changing, and to have his leg elevated for at least 20 hours a day. (let us not forget this was all the same week as we were moving--this will have to be another post).
The culture of the open wound came back as him having a psudemonas (sp?) infection, and a condition called nonpapable purpura. In English that translates to some trigger in his body (either the spider bite or the infection from the open wound) led to his immune system over-reacting causing a full body rash that appears like hives and itches constantly. It only got worse before it got better--and after trips to the doctor daily, a visit to a specialist, blood work, liver panels, tons of meds, and rest--here we are 6 weeks later with the rash still present all over his feet, on the back of his legs, and blisters forming daily on the bottoms of his feet. He is no longer on the prednisone (to dangerous for long term use), so he patiently waits as his immune system stops trying to fight itself.

Needless to say, Nick has been great through it all. I have done the worrying for both of us. I am so thankful for the Priesthood blessings that the both of us have received and for all the prayers of friends and family. I truly do feel blessed at all the outpouring of love that I have felt from everyone. We still continue to pray for Nick's body to full recover, and in the process I am learning that this is all part of the Lord's plan. This has given me such a great opportunity to serve Nick, and in turn I love him more than ever.

Here are a few pictures of what his legs looked like during the 'scary' phase. We still haven't gotten an actual diagnosis, but thankfully the blood work all came back ok and nothing is related to an autoimmune disease that could be chronic.

How I Spent My Day Off

I knew I had it in me....just call me domestic! I have been wanting for awhile to make my own laundry soap. I hate spending money on the stuff, and I know quite a few people who make their own. So after only spending less than $6 on the needed ingredients, $4 on the glass jar, and about 30 minutes grating soap----Here is the final product. Label and all!! Only a tablespoon is needed, and it should last for over 6 months!

Also---We move in 12 days!! I also packed 4 boxes of books (I don't know why we keep this stuff). So off to more organizing I go. Happy Monday!

Halloween 2009

This year we were busy!!! It seemed like Halloween lasted for two weeks with all the activities that were going on. Oct 24th we went to my boss's massive Halloween party. You name it, he had it there. Live band, concert setup lights and sound, karaoke, mechanical bull, awesome costumes--we had a blast. We went as SNL spartan cheerleaders. By far, the most comfortable costume I have ever worn. Our friend, Paul, was in town so it was fun to have him party along with us.

On October 30th we went to the Bendixen's Couple Halloween Party. We decided to mix the costumes up at little bit. After a great trip to Saver's we found some awesome wigs, and a leather vest for me that helped make our decision to go as Duane aka-Dog the Bounty Hunter- and Beth Chapman. It was such a hit. We even won best costume of the night. We were so honored. HAHA. The night was so much fun. Blood was almost shed during the money game, and then a second place finish for us in the Newlywed game.

Finally, we spent Halloween night rocking out! Nick had a job DJing a house party for a family who are patients at the office that I work at. They have two kids in high school, and wanted to throw 'the ultimate Halloween house party.' It was so much fun!! The 'dance floor' was packed and by the end of the night we were all as sweaty as possible from dancing the whole night to DJ DOM's awesome mixes. Nick did such a great job, and I am glad I could go with him. We went again as Dog and Beth--all the kids loved it! Such a great night, and it is always nice to earn some money on the side. Happy Halloween everyone! Enjoy the pictures below.

Practicing our cheer leading stunts

Nick making as much noise as possible on the mechanical bull

Posing for a picture at the Wallin Halloween Bash

Paul and Nick entertaining the crowd

Heading out the door as Beth and Dog

Oh yeah!-That's Beth and Dog

Mike, Angie, Cory, Crew, Scarlett, Jen and Nick

Watch and Vote!

Monday night is the first night of the live top 20 dancers on "So You Think You Can Dance." I am so excited to cheer on Ashleigh and Ryan Di Lello--the first married couple on the show. Ashleigh was one of the girls on my freshmen dorm floor, and even back then we all were mesmerized by her dancing. She deserves this opportunity so much, and I know she will take advantage of it. Good luck to Ashleigh and Ryan---we will be watching and voting for you. If you are reading this...you should call and vote too!!

This is why we live in Arizona....

...FOR DAYS LIKE THIS!

It has been absolutely gorgeous here. Mid 80's, no humidity, light breeze, sunshine, and gotta love those AZ sunsets. I find myself saying several times a day, "Wow, it feels so great outside." We are back in our tennis playing, nightly walk, and hiking mode. This is the time of year when all you want to do is be outside. (**sidenote**-any family or friends wanting to visit AZ, this is the time of year to do so).

Drumroll please....

Yep, you've heard right...we BOUGHT a house!!! We are ecstatic. So excited. Can't wait for it to be done. We have been looking for over a year, and needless to say I was more than discouraged towards the end. With the help of our realtor (whom we highly recommend) he had us look at new builds because he said the prices on them were too good to be true. I wasn't exactly thrilled, but we went to check out this neighborhood. This house was started as a spec, and at the beginning of Sept when we went and saw it, it had only been framed so we could still pick out most of the interiors. I love the floor plan, it has a huge backyard (well huge for AZ), and the fact that no one else has lived in it made it that much more appealing. After much thought and even more prayers we decided we would make it ours. The first walk through is November 6th--right around the corner. We can't wait!

The most recent picture of the front. They had just finished the stone that day.
This picture is a few weeks old--but is shows how great the backyard will be!

The kitchen cabinets were put in just a few days ago. I love them. They were the only thing inside that we didn't get to pick out, so I am was so excited to walk in and see them.

This home will have plenty of extra space, so we will love visitors! More to come...

A Few of My Favorite Things

I feel the need to make a post about a few things that have changed my life.--okay, so maybe that is overstating some, but they sure have made life wonderful. Thought I would share them with you.

Truessence is the brand of essential oils that I have been using on my back for the last 6-7 weeks. A lady I go to church with introduced them to me, and I have really gotten into them for even daily use. I have even used them to help Nick with his sinus problems, and for headaches I have gotten. I love soaking in the dead sea salts with peppermint oil--and this is coming from someone who hates taking a bath. They are pretty affordable, and I have been accumulating a supply to help any future ailments I might get. Some of the ladies in this class I go to on Thursday nights have not had health insurance in 30 years, because they treat everything with oils. Pretty neat stuff--I have learned so much.This is the Fysical TheraP oil I put on my lower back every morning and every night. It has healed so much. It has birch and other oils to help with inflammation of muscles and joints. I take it to work and apply between patients if my back is bothering me. Such an improvement considering I was taking 1600mg of Advil a day!So, this next favorite thing I have been using for 6 months daily and I LOVE it!!! It is so great. It is Vitamin C Skin Boost from the Body Shop. It has made my skin velvety smooth! It is an antioxidant and good for the skins elasticity. I usually put it on after I wash my face and before I put on a moisturizer with sunscreen. On low key days I wear it alone and don't need any makeup because my skin is so awesome. This is #1 on my must have skin care list these days and for $26 it is much cheaper than what I have used in the past (in 6 months I still haven't finished one bottle yet--you only have to use one squirt).

Yes, another Body Shop produce--I swear I don't' shop there alot...but the few things I have gotten there I love. This tea tree face wash is great. It tingles on the skin, and has certainly cleared up my face. I learned in my oil class that tea tree oil is great for acne or to prevent acne, so I thought I would try this product out. I have noticed that it heals up the pimples I get much faster than other stuff I have used. And it smells great. One down side is that it doesn't remove eye makeup too well and it makes your eyelids tingle--so I use an eye makeup remover first so I don't have to wash my eyes as much with this product. I follow this up with a moisturizer--feels great!

Finally, this is a hair product that everyone must have. I was getting my hair done this summer, and the hairdresser suggested it. I usually don't give in to their suggestions, but I had noticed how dry this AZ summer heat makes my hair, so I thought I would give it a shot. Again--I love it! I spray a few skirts in my hair after I towel dry it, and then comb through. Have noticed that since I have been using it (3 months--since my last hair cut) I don't have near the nasty fried ends that I usually get. Then I blow dry and style..and my hair feels so smooth, but manageable (I know we have all used those leave in conditioners that make your hair too soft to do anything to--don't worry not that way at all). Another product I will keep on using.

I have been wanting to do this post for awhile because all these things are inexpensive and awesome. Anyone else have any other great products they love I want to hear.

Happy Birthday Domenic

Nick celebrated his 27th birthday this past week on Monday, September 8th. He had night class so we decided to meet up and go to Toby Keith's resturant. It was a lot of fun, and definitely a place that we need to get a group of our friends together so we can two-step! Here are a few pictures of Nick on HIS day. Love you!!

No Fear of Needles for Me!

Today was my fourth acupuncture treatment. And..............I FEEL GREAT!!! Skeptic no more I guess you could say. I have tried to research what it is about acupuncture that makes it 'work' but no one really knows. One theory is that the needles in various points release so many of your endorphins, which in turn are what repair your body and relieve pain. (Hence the reason why I always feel high as a kite when I leave the appointment). Since my second treatment three weeks ago, I haven't taken any pain medication!! I have learned so much about natural medicine and what essential oils can do for you. Don't worry I am not turning into the voodoo lady, but they are working for me! I have been doing a few other things as well, such as daily stretches (I am officially an old lady), nightly lemon detox, dead sea salt baths, and twice daily essential oil rubs on my back. But the verdict is in........IT WORKS! I hope to keep feeling on the up and up--and then back to the gym I must go!

She's Baaaack!!

In case you missed it - today was the 24th season premiere of Oprah. I do love her. This is no secret to most of you, since I quote her as most of my sources on things (hahah---but so true)! I must admit, that I thought after a long summer hiatus she would come back with a totally rocking body--but not so much the case. (Made me feel better about my summer hiatus...lol). Great show today, so you should check it out, especially the show opening performance by the Black Eyed Peas. I am glad to have my girl back on the air. :)

Lake Powell Trip

What a fun time! We went to Lake Powell August 16-Aug 23rd with our good friends The Evans' (John, Jeanine, and Mark), our best friends The Badger's (TJ, Michelle, and Brandon), and our new friends The Cannon's (Ray, Kelly, and Courtney). We stayed on the houseboat "The Powell Pleasure" ( I think I laugh every time I say that name), and were so fortunate to have awesome weather, except for the storm during the docking the last day. So many pictures, so I sized them small (click on the picture to see them larger) and the captions should give all the details of the rest of the trip. We had a blast with everyone and hope to go again.

Here she is--The Powell Pleasure in all her glory: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, living room, slide, BBQ, theater--what else would you need?

Nick giving the passing houseboats an eye sore! We all were hysterically laughing. (side note-Nick only wore the speedo for about 20 minutes the whole trip, but so many hilarious pics)
Nick out of a wakeboard run. Such great water.

One of the many nasty fish Nick caught. He was using NY strip steak as his bait, no wonder he caught so many!

I even gave fishing a try. Not too much luck.

When all else fails-there is always redneck fishing! Huge fish at Dangling Rope Marina, but fishing isn't allowed, so Nick decided he was just going to be a "man" and grab one with his hands. He had quite the audience while doing this.

Slot canyon that we swam through. Glad I had some strong men with me because there were some huge rocks that we had to climb over .

Nick and TJ as getting ready to swim the canyon

Us on the ski boat exploring the slot canyons

Rainbow bridge with TJ, Michelle, and Us

Nick with a catfish he caught one evening.

Always time for a little kiss

This tree was sticking up out of the water. Thought it made a great picture. At one point we had seven people climb up the tree for a group picture.

Gregory Butte behind us. Right next to where we docked the houseboat.

We never got tired of looking at such beautiful landscape. The sunset was amazing each night. We slept under the stars and the bats!!

Such a great trip. We played cards, learned a few new games, watched movies every night under the stars, slept on the top deck of the houseboat watching shooting stars, ate way too much food, ate M&M's for breakfast, saw a crazy storm and watched two ski boats sink!!! So wild. And way too many laughs with great friends=great vacation!

And...My 26th year has begun!!

August 24th was MY day. And to be honest, it started out rough. I got up and Nick asks, "Happy Birthday!!-Do you feel any older?" To which I stated, "I have felt old for the past month!" (See below post on back pain for details on that) I had a moment of tears after that-mostly from frustration of feeling old! I immediately hummed in my head, "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to"--it gave me a laugh and made me feel a little better.

I went off to work, then the chiropractor, a pedicure to make me feel special, and then home. Nick had night class, so I figured we might go to a later dinner, but I was wrong. Before I could change my clothes people were knocking at our front door saying they heard there was a party at our place. I could have killed Nick!! I was tired, my back hurt, and so not in the mood for a 'social gathering' but after a 20 minute vent to my friend Kristie--I was ready to have fun. It is always great getting friends together, and I hate that it seems like it has to be someone's birthday or an event to get a larger group together. Either way, we ate a delicious carrot cake and icecream, played spoons (I hadn't played that in years), and had some great laughs. Let's hope 26 is good to me!


The group of friends (minues Laura, Jeff and Heather) who came to celebrate.

Thank you Nick for putting the evening together. It was a lot of fun and ended my night way better than the day started. :)

Powell Preview--Spoiler Alert!

Sorry, I just couldn't resist posting these ASAP. Such a great week with some gut-wrenching laughs! More to come...aboard the Powell Pleasure!!

Our First Anniversary

I can't believe that on August 16th of last year we were getting married. In some ways it seems like that was forever ago and in other ways it seems like yesterday that we were sealed for time and all eternity in the Louisville Kentucky Temple. This year we were driving most of the day for our anniversary (headed to Lake Powell--more on that in a future blog post). We had planned to celebrate the night before, but my back just wasn't allowing for that. So we didn't really do anything!! No worries though--we have forever to celebrate right?!?!

I had expressed to Nick that I wanted a thicker wedding band to wear to work. I don't wear my engagement ring much since it is a pear shaped diamond and it tears through the gloves, and my wedding band is so thin. So we did some looking earlier in the summer when I said I thought that is what I wanted, and sure enough I got it!! I feel so lucky to have it. It is gorgeous!!! I love it. Seven rows of pauve diamonds that light up the sky! I will post pictures when I take them. Needless to say, this will be my present for everything in the next year!

I decided to get Nick a new pair of cowboy boots. He LOVES him a good pair of boots. Since they are for an anniversary present I went with a nice dress pair with a leather sole and bull head leather on the heal. He was totally surprised and so excited.

Now for the most important part of this post: WHY I LOVE MY DOMENIC:

-I love his curly hair (even though it is currently gone)

-I love his southern accent and how when he is really tired it comes out stronger then ever

-I love that he is Mr. Sensitive

-I love that he does all the laundry and irons my work clothes everyday.

-I love that he will eat everything I eat--even when I won't even eat it bc it is bad! hah

-I love that he takes such good care of me

-I love that he writes the most amazing cards you have ever read (I don't think there has been one that hasn't left me in tears)

-I love that he lets me have my sweet tooth

-I love that he rubs my feet after work and he actually LIKES doing it

-I love that he always tells me how beautiful I am

-I love that he makes me feel confident and important

-I love that all my friends love him

-I love that he is so focused in school

-I love that he loves to cuddle

-I love that he loves to travel

-I love that he lets me have as many nick names for him and that I call him them in public and he doesn't get mad!

-I love that he makes me takes vitamins and drink water

-I love that he has taken such good care of me with my pathetic back

AND most importantly I love that HE LOVES ME!

Happy First Anniversary!!

A Preview of My Life at 80--PAIN

Back Pain I am pretty sure will be in my life when I am old--especially since it is present now!! I have been miserable--not even able to fake it really well. And I thought I had a high tolerance for pain (that has sure come back to bite me in the butt--literally).

So two weeks ago I had the day off -it was a Friday, got up bright and early, off to the gym for some step aerobics, and WHAM...a knife stabbed me in the back (not literally, but it sure felt like it). All I did was step up on the step. I didn't fall, didn't trip--nothing traumatic!! Being, stubborn Jen, I continued working out until the end of the class thinking I might have just tweaked it, but as I was walking out of the gym bent over I knew this was not good. After 5 visits to the chiropractor, a Sunday emergency (expensive) chiropractic visit, a muscle relaxer Rx, ice packs, and rest----I still feel horrible. Some mornings Nick has had to carry me out of bed because I can't even roll out of bed the pain is so bad. I have learned that crawling on my hands and knees while my back muscles are spasming really does give some relief--I look like an idiot--but it works! And, yes--I have somehow still been working. Actually working keeps my muscles pretty loose, but then at the end of the work day my back spasms constantly. My best friends are Ibuprofen (a lot of it), Flexeril (muscle relaxer that if anything just lets me sleep), and my Nick.

Nick takes such good care of me. I am so blessed to have him here. Of course, this is his week of no school (since summer session just ended and fall starts in two weeks) and he waits on me hand and foot. Literally, I can't even bend my back to pull my pants up or lean over the sink to wash my face. Nick always does these jobs with a huge smile on his face. He is so patient, loving, and always says he genuinely appreciates this chance to serve me. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have him to help me through his. I know that when I am 80, he will still be loving me--because he loves me all crippled right now.

On a final note, I had a consult with an acupuncturist today. I am going to do IT. The lady Nick and I met with today thinks that it had to do with my left sciatic nerve stemming from my lower back. She will put needles straight in to the muscle spasms and then from head to down in different pain trigger points. Honestly the length of the needle doesn't scare me...it is more-this lady better know what she is doing!! HAH. So this Saturday is the day. Can you tell I that I am very desperate for some relief?? I will post a report on how it goes. Until them pray that I get some relief from this 80 year old body I am living in.

Happy Birthday Garrett

HAPPY 27TH BIRTHDAY GARRETT! August 1st was Garrett's birthday and we knew we wanted to celebrate with him. Nick and Garrett have been best friends since they were 15 and met in Virgina where they grew up. Garrett was Nick's best man at our wedding last year and gave the most eye-watering toast. I am so glad that Nick has such a great friend that lives near by. He and his wife Tara, moved to AZ in January of this year--and we are doing as much fun stuff with them as we can before their baby girl arrives in December.

For the birthday celebration we had them over, went to Joe's BBQ where Garrett ate for free and then went by Krispie Kreme so he could get his free dozen birthday donuts! Back at our place we played Sequence (Nick and I won both games) and then Phase 10 where Garrett won twice. We finished off the night with the most delicious cheesecake I have ever eaten. Tara totally out-did herself on this treat! So good! Happy Birthday Garrett!

Nick and Garrett goofing off
Sequence

The four of us

Garrett making a birthday wish