So we said good-bye...

My sister (in-law, but I don't really think of her that way) left this morning for the Dominican Republic. I'm so excited for her and for all that God has planned for her while she's there. She'll be gone until August 19th and is working with Kids Alive International, coordinating the volunteers that come down to work with the organization.

But, I am also so sad for me. When there are very few people in your life you consider close friends, and of those, even fewer still that you feel you can call in a heartbeat if you need a shoulder to cry on or someone to listen to you, to encourage you, to help stir your faith, to know your heart and not judge you for mis-steps along your journey, having one leave is devastating.

Jenee is one of those people for me. She's not just a friend, she's my sister. And she's a good sister. And she's a good friend. I can call her when I feel like punching the wall or curling up and crying. I can call her when I'm excited about something stupid or when one of the kids says something hilarious and I need to tell someone. She knows all the ins and outs about my life the last 2 years and all the crap I have dealt with and am currently dealing with. She loves my kids, and she's always willing to help me if I need it. More than that, if I just want someone to come sit on the couch and 'be' with me for no reason other than I'm lonely, I know I can call on her.

Doesn't it suck when a friend like that leaves? I know it's only for 4 months. It feels like an eternity to me.

Thank GOD for Skype.

I love you Jenee. I miss you already.

G.G.s are the Bestest!

Olivia with her Great Grandma (G.G.).

Grandma's mother is also still alive and kicking at 96 this August!

Proof is in the Pudding.

19 months old on Wednesday the 6th and has pooped on the potty twice. She'll likely be potty trained before Hunter, her 3 1/2 year old brother. Sigh.

My Love Bugs!

Liv & Hunter watching the kids in the Pleasant Valley "Spring Sing".

Little Bumblebee for the "Going Buggy" performance!
My little singer!!

Hunter is our resident "Strange child". He asks for the weirdest things..."Mom, take a picture of my arms like this!"

A day in my life.

Strange boy, again.

Will, dressed as DJ Lance Rock

Little Tutu girl, begged to dress up then played out back with the big boys in the dirt!

Diva!

Little kitchen helper!

My Love Bugs...some pictures:

And another month has gone by...

...since I last updated my blog. I have realized with my sister leaving for the Dominican Republic for 4 months on Sunday, I need to keep up so she knows what's going on in our lives.

I went to see the rheumatologist. His determination after an examination was that the pain is not localized in only my joints (which means it's not RA, which is good!) but is also in my tendons and some muscles. His diagnoisis is neuropathic pain and an extreme Vitamin D defeciency. Neuropathic pain basically is my nerves misfiring and telling my body I'm in pain after doing regular, normal things people do on a daily basis, that shouldn't be causing pain. The Rheumatologist said that he's seen this kind of pain develop after patients use the medication Plaquenil, but usually after long-term use, not usually after a week on the medication (which is how long I took it).

Vitamin D defeciencies can cause extreme bone pain (normal Vitamin D levels are 30-150. Mine was 11.). I was put on 50,000 iu of Vitamin D per week and another medication called Gabapentin for pain. It's a pain medication, but not a narcotic.

So far in the last several weeks, I haven't noticed a huge change, if any at all. I've now been referred to the pain clinic. Sheesh.

Lunchtime for the kiddos, so I think I'll write more to update on their adorableness later!