PLEASE no more health problems in 2011, Lord...

Ten months have passed without me every really talking about this. I've decided it's time because I really would like you to pray for me. I'm not sure why all these things have happened to me. I've always been a really healthy person (thank God).

I cannot believe the year I've had. Getting married was WONDERFUL. But I have had ALOT of health problems that have put a damper on things. Soon after I moved to Washington on Dec. 28, I started having skin problems. I got weird, flaky, ugly skin around my mouth. Then, some time in January, I fell down the stairs at Brandon's parents house and hurt my back. A week later, I got a hemorrhoid for the 1st time in my life (TORTURE).

Also, in January, my hair started falling out. I estimate that I lost 30-40% of my hair content. This was REALLY disturbing because I am vain. Just being honest. Truth'll set ya free...

Next, my mouth started breaking out with sores, all around around my lips. That was in March, before the wedding. Thankfully, it cleared up before the wedding.

To continue the skin problems, I got some rashy patches on my chest, near my shoulders. I was nervous they would show when I wore my wedding dress, but they didn't. PTL!

After we returned from our honeymoon, I started feeling bad right away. By the 3rd week of May, I was having big problems with fatigue, aches and pains, sleeping for very long periods of time, etc. I thought I was pregnant. Thank goodness, I wasn't. That would have been WAAYYYYY to soon.

Then, a new skin problem popped up. I got an ugly, oval patch/rash on my neck that looks like a hickey or an eyeball. I first noticed it in July. It itched like crazy and has really bothered me. I still have it even today, although it's going away with medicine FINALLY.

So, I finally went to the doctor on July 22. She did 7 different blood tests and a urinalysis. We discovered that I was "Severely Iron Deficient". Let me tell you folks... NOT FUN. This has been one of the hardest seasons of my life because all of my energy was drained and I felt depressed. So... Guess what the symptoms for Iron Deficiency are? Weakness, joint pain, belly pain, hair loss, blue mood/depression, skin-color changes. Perhaps my rashes were attributed to this.

So, now it's almost November and I'm STILL taking 65 mg of Elemental Iron every day (this is 361% higher than the recommended daily allowance RDA). I had bloodwork done again on Sept 26 (2 months later). My iron was still WAY low.

Iron in July: 29 (normal range is 50-212)
Iron in September:44

Iron Saturation July: 8 (normal range is 20-50)
Iron Saturation Sept: 13

Ferritin (iron binds to Ferritin) July: 4 (FOUR) the normal range is 11-307!!
Ferritin in September: 9

So... enter my latest health problem... on Wednesday this week, I started itching really bad on my upper thigh. It was annoying, but I didn't think enough about it to look at my leg later that day. On Thursday, my leg was itching like crazy and really hurting. At lunch time, I went to the restroom to inspect it. HOLY COW.... My leg was covered in a horrible, ugly, scary rash! I thought it was a staph infection!!! I was really upset. I knew I was going to have to go to the doctor. My insurance got an emergency appointment for me on Friday morning with a different doctor (my regular doctor wasn't available).

I went in Tuesday morning at 11 am. The doctor looked at my leg and gasped! She started consoling me. Her exact words were: "Oh, you poor thing!!! That looks terrible! I know you are in pain! You have hives!" Well, I was actually GLAD they were JUST HIVES. Hives aren't contagious and hives are semi-common. So, thank God it wasn't something worse.

Last night before bed, I noticed that hives were starting to break out under my arms, near my arm pits, too. Holy cow!!! I started crying. Poor Brandon held me while I cried myself to sleep last night. I'M SO VERY TIRED OF BEING SICK!!!!!!
I would really appreciate your prayers.

So, now I'm taking Prednisone and 2 other medications to help with allergic reactions. I'm very happy to report that my hives are much better tonight (Saturday night). Please pray for me. I don't ask for prayer for myself alot, but I'm ready to be healthy and feel good again. On top of it all, I've gained 40 lbs since our wedding on April 2nd. I'm getting ready to start some kind of weight loss plan. The low iron really prohibited exercise by zapping all my energy. I have to get motivated again.

Thanks for reading. :) I appreciate your friendship!

Boo Bash in Downtown Camas

I went downtown with Brianna, Ethan and Brandon's mom for the annual Boo Bash in Downtown Camas on Wednesday from 4-6 pm. It was a lot of fun. We met up with some of Ethan's little girlfriends. :) They were so cute together!

Kids (and even some adults) dressed up and went business to business, receiving candy from the different shop owners. We saw some VERY interesting costumes. Check out the pictures and a few videos below:

Boo Bash 2011

Dear Fall... I love you!

Oh my goodness! The weather and fall colors here are so pretty! Fall is my favorite season. The highs up here this week are in the 50's and the lows are in the 40's. And it's sunny! I love it! :) The air is crisp!

Look at some of these beautiful tree pics I've taken during the last couple of weeks.

This is my favorite shopping center up here. We are here alot! :) I love all these trees!




This is the middle school parking lot where I worked Friday and today...


This is the church parking lot where we've been attending...


This is the church we've been attending...



We've been so busy in October. I've blogged less this month than any other month. I hope to pick it back up in November. Hope you are enjoying the Fall! :)

Fall is here!!!

I am loving the fall in the Pacific Northwest! The trees are turning colors and the weather is really nice!

I made a fall wreath yesterday. It only cost $13. The ready-made ones were $30 at the craft store! Ridiculous! So, this wasn't my best effort of all times, but I thought it turned out great and just fine for $17 cheaper!






I have been working on a project for my good friend Debbie Hall & her son for the last 10-12 days. We have had so much fun taking pictures all over Washington and Oregon. Click on the link below to see my Flat Stanley pictures!

Flat Stanley

Fun & busy October!

We have a very busy calendar for the month of October. There are a lot of fun things happening. First of all, I got reunited with an old friend of mine from Orange, TX. I found out she lives in Vancouver, Wa, about 30 minutes away! We just started going to a Bible study together on Tuesday nights. We've already gotten together 3 times. We are so excited to be up here together! :) She is a gift from God!


I have another good friend here named Mel. We get together almost every Wednesday. Her husband teaches at my favorite middle school here. Mel's husband, Jim, is a friend of Brandon's from the district. We got connected in June. She is also a blessing to me! Every Wednesday, we go for walks, visit at each other's houses or go to a coffee shop.


Brandon has finished his thesis! Hallelujah! He is going to present it to his professor and a masters class on Oct. 18th. We are so glad he's done. I'm really proud of his work. It's great! :)

A couple of weeks ago, we had a game night at Brianna's house (Brandon's sis). Mohit was out of the country on business. So, we went over and ate and played games. That was the first night I ever heard Brandon Ray call someone a name. He called our new friend Cory a "scum". I laughed and laughed. It still makes me laugh. :)


Every time we get together with friends, I make a homemade chocolate cake. They have been HEAVENLY! People are devouring the cakes. I am making another one tomorrow for Brandon's family.


The weather has gotten rainy, but on days when the sun shines, it's gorgeous! We've had low temps in the upper 40's and highs in the upper 50's. This is my first Fall in the Northwest. I've lived through all the other seasons here. I love Fall! It's my favorite. :)



My good friend, Debbie Hall, sent me a cardboard man named Flat Stanley this week. Her son has a school project that I'm helping him with. I have to take Flat Stanley places and document our travels with photos. It's fun! :)


I'm subbing, but not as much as I would like to. The kids really like it when they see me appear in their classrooms. :) I get some pretty hilarious reactions from them. They make me laugh. :)


I've been cooking a lot lately. I had to take a break for 2 weeks because our refrigerator broke. Don't get me started... Anyways, I'm glad to be cooking again.

Brandon and I made a pact with each other to start losing our "newlywed weight" that we've put on since April. We started walking together. We did it for about 2 weeks and then we got so busy in the evenings, we stopped. It's really hard to make it before dark because Brandon gets home from work so late. Don't know what we'll do when the time changes and it gets dark at 5:30 pm. I guess I'll have to walk without him. :(

I'm attaching a link below with October photos in it. It's a hodge-podge of pictures and places. Hope you enjoy them!

October 2011 Pics

:) Welcome, Fall!

I love the fall! I've never seen the Pacific Northwest during the fall season. It was really cold here this weekend. Also, the shadows are changing. The mornings are the prettiest I've seen so far.

Our high temperature this week is going to be 64, but that's not until Saturday. The lowest temp will be 47. I love it!!! :)

Today, I left the house to go to store for a couple of things. I saw our neighbors' house across the street. She had a pumpkin on the porch. I thought...hmmm... WE need a pumpkin for OUR porch! :) And when I got to Safeway, they had pumpkins in the parking lot. Yay!!! :) I don't think I've ever bought a real pumpkin before. I was always in an apartment. But now I've got a house with my hubby! :)

This is our neighbors' house...


Here's our cute pumpkin!





When Brandon called me as he was leaving work, I told him to check out the porch when he drove up to the house for a special surprise. He came in the house and said, "There's a pumpkin on our porch." :) Yep!

Our 6-month Anniversary! October 2, 2011

Brandon and I have been married 6 months today! I can't believe how fast the time has passed. We had a really great weekend together. :)

Friday night, Brandon suggested we go to a restaurant I've always wanted to go to. It's called "Who-Song & Larry's". It's a nice restaurant on the Columbia River, between Washington and Oregon. It was fun and the food was delicious. This was the view from our table. It's the I-5 Bridge that joins Washington and Oregon.




The weekend was cold and rainy. We stayed inside for the most part, watching movies & cuddling on the couch. I love my man... can't believe how much more I love him every day. I am so thankful for the gift of my husband! :) God knew what I needed.

This last picture is just something cute we do a lot. All the time, I will look down and our fingers are locked together. :) I like it that it's so natural, I don't even realize when we lace our fingers. I just look down, and they're laced! :) I took this picture last night on the couch.