Great Newphews

Here are two of our great nephews that were born in 2007. We had three born in 2007, one born in beginning of January and another great nephew due in June, 2008. Apparantely the "Hall" family cannot make girl babies...lol. Aiden is the older one in the picture and Travis is the younger one. I had the priviledge of keeping Travis last weekend for the night and it was sooooo much fun. He is a good baby. Doesn't like to sleep much during the day for naps but he is always smiling and loves attention. I haven't been able to be a big part of their lives this past year because of working full time and going to college full time but in June when I am finished with school I am going to make more time for all of them. It is so much fun watching our nieces and nephews become parents. It is amazing. Rob and Robert even held Travis at times which was reassuring because they both say they are not into babies.

Doctor Updates

Today I went to the rheumatologist and really am no farther then I was when I entered the office. My ANA levels are elevated and not really sure why at this point. She even said she would not put my diagnosis as rheumatoid arthritis at this point but now we have to figure out what is causing my immune deficiency so more bloodwork and testing will happen in the next few days and I will follow up again with the doctor on March 20th. She put me on an inflammatory for the swelling in my hands and feet and is taking into consideration the other symptoms that I have such as exhaustion, restless sleep, low seritonin levels, colon problems, and the most annoying of all....muscle twitches throughout my body that is now in my right elbow but it moves to different places. It started in my left eye, went to my left knee and now in my right elbow.

Then last night I was eating dinner and my tooth cracked...the one that I had the emergency root canal on last week so today I went from the rheumatologist to the dentist and Dr. Murrel is out of the country so had to see a fill in dentist in his office. He ended up sanding the rough edge down that cracked because it was so rough it was cutting my tongue.

But I will keep smiling!!!!!!

Doctor's appointment

I went to the doctor's last week for a cold...unusual but I have no immune system left so I can't fight off anything anymore. While there I had blood tests done that I have needed for some time now but have been putting it off. I got the call today from the doctor that I really didn't want...my ana levels are very highly elevated and I have to get back to the rheumatologist right away. I am confused by it all because I have felt pretty good except for being tired all of the time. Within a few minutes the doctor's office called back again to say that I also have a urinary tract infection that I wasn't even aware of...don't you have pain for that? It kind of scares me since I am only 42 years old...what is going to happen when I get really old? Oh yeah one more thing...on Thursday night I had an emergency root canal done...never had one and don't want one again. The cost is unbelievable and we have no dental insurance...to the sound of $1600....uggh. Told Robert he needs to think about becoming a dentist...for one the money is pretty good...lol and two then we could get it free....lol. So as you see I have had pretty trying week...really a pretty emotional month and I keep saying: Okay, Lord you can ease up anytime now. I couldn't imagine if I didn't have the Lord on my side...what would it really entail? Keep on smiling!!!!!!!

College Grades & Goliath update

Two more classes down and three more to go. I am so glad the end is almost near. I just received my grades for the economic and organizational behavior theory class that I just finished last week and I received A-'s in both classes. So far throughout my associates degree I have received one B+ and the rest all A's so I am pretty proud of that but it has not been easy. My commencement date is Saturday, June 28th and I am so looking forward to this chapter in my life being over.

Today has been a week since Goliath has been gone and it still brings tears to my eyes. I miss him terribly but it is getting easier as the days go by. I can talk about him without crying every time now but I will always remember his great spirit he had. At one point this past week Robert put a picture of Goliath on the kitchen cupboard and I had to take it down. I just couldn't look at it every time I was in the kitchen. I went to the humane society this weekend to take a peek at what they had because it is so quiet in our house without him but Rob said not now. Which I was really surprised at that because Rob loves animals. Our other dog, Bailey, adjusted just fine. She is getting all the attention now and is loving every minute of it. She has kind of been pushed to the back burner because Goliath always took up so much of our time...he was a little hyper and needed more attention than her. I think she is a little bored though. No one to play with outside and get into trouble with. She does her business and then is right back by the door in no time.

Goliath

Yesterday was a hard day for all of us and today is even harder. We put our dog, Goliath, to sleep yesterday and it is probably one of the saddest things I ever asked Rob to do. Goliath had attitude problems and whenever he felt saddened or etc...he used the house as his bathroom no matter where it was. He was a GREAT dog otherwise but I just could not handle the peeing anymore. He is greatly missed that is for sure. His bouncy spirit not being around is heart breaking and I have cried for over 24 hours now. Please be in prayer for us here because we are emotionally broke.