Wednesday, March 24, 2010

The tunnel of death

About a year ago I started having some wicked headaches.

I would categorize them in the I'd-rather-chop- my-head-off than have this headache category. I'd say we had a few stressful things happening around our little house about the same time, so my doc said its probably stress induced. Well when the scull-pounding-knive-seeking headaches didn't stop for weeks on end, the doc said lets send you do get an MRI, aka the tunnel of death. Have you ever had an MRI? he asked. Once, and I freaked out BIG time, I said.  He thought I was kidding. Not so much kidding.  I'm not one that is fond of small confined spaces. In fact, not only am I not fond of them, I HATE them. We had to get to the bottom of these headaches so I didn't have much choice but to face my fear of the "tunnel".


The appointment was made and the little "chill yourself out" pill was taken but then they came in to strap me down to the table, head, arm and legs! Oh boy, I did not like that. The test usually was to take about 45 mins. Mine 65. 65 minutes of praying and trying to find some sort of happy place.

A few days later the test results returned.

Cyst
Back of the scull
2.5 cm
Close to optical gland
covering the pineal gland. size of pineal gland 5-8 mm

Not what we were expecting.

The cyst was determined to be non cancerous but "of concern".

So for weeks and weeks I went to different doctors. I seriously felt like the doctors office was my second home. My mind usual goes to worst case scenario, death.   My body tattoos on a smile and keeps movin cuz a pitty party for one is not much fun.

Solution: wait 6 months, redo the mri and see if there has been growth to the cyst.

Friday was my day. Once again into the tube. 6 months flew by.

This time I put on my big girl paints, brought a sleeping mask, took 2 "chill yourself out" pills and was slid in.

Then the waiting game. The stressed ~ out ~ waiting game.

After a long weekend of waiting and wondering, my doc called.

No growth

No change in position

Revisit the tunnel in 6 months. If no change, then it’s a monitoring process once a year.

Halleluiah

I get to keep my long hair. Vain, I know.

Life!  I get to live without some risky surgery.

The headaches are still here. Not as often as they were, thank goodness.

But, I now have a whole lot of something to be happy about!

A whole lot of something to be positive about.

A whole lot of anwsers to some serious prayers.

A whole lots of thankfulness.



Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Spring Break Snow Day

Spring Break in Az wouldn't be complete without a trip to the snow. Thankfully we've gotten snow to go to this year. It's been a nice change!



The Tifft cousins are always on board for our last minute snow outings!


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A true AZ snowman!


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We love the snow, but love it even more that we get to drive out of it and leave it all behind!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Nine

Someone around here has a very special birthday!


Ashley!!


Ashley has the biggest smile and most contagious laugh!
She loves to tell jokes and pull pranks on us unsuspecting people!
She loves to be outside
She is very easy going and can entertain herself well
She has a firey temper and throws a mean left hook
She has giggle attacks that can last for hours
(which is hularious unless it happens in church, then not so funny)
We love you Ashley!!
You keep us on our toes and make our home a happy place!
Happy 9th Birthday!!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Thirteen

There is something about the age 13.
Somewhere between being a boy and a man is this little number 13.
13 years of laughter
13 years of fun
13 years of memories
second to none!



I've had stray tears all day thinking that my little 9 lb 13 oz first born is now 13!
From boy to man in a blink of an eye.
I couldn't have hand picked a more
kind
fun
thoughtful
gentle
athletic
giving
tough
smart
funny
adventures
spritual
bold
kind of son anywhere!

Happy 13 Shayne!!
Our family wouldn't be the same without YOU!!