Memorial Day Weekend

Last memorial day weekend we were on vacation in North Carolina visiting our amazing friends Kyle and Natalie.  We were taking in the beautiful North Carolina weather and relaxing the days away with good friends. 

This year we took on a different kind of a weekend!  In the last couple of weeks we finally finished up our indoor fireplace project!  I am so happy with how it turned out.  Here is the before and after!

 
We took a day or two off in between and then began work on our next home improvement project…… painting the exterior of the house.  We both feel like we JUST painted the house.  However, when we looked back it has been six years since we painted!  That means we have been in this house for 7 years!  Where does the time go!!??

Over the weekend we tackled getting the front of the house painted.  It was a huge job but we did get the front done.  Now we only have three more sides to go! 

We started with scraping.  It took us two whole days and was really unpleasant!

Then we moved on to priming.  Each day we worked until the sun went down.  

 

Then we finally got to move on the to the fun painting!! 

 

We are painting the exact same color but over the years our green house turned to a blue house!  You can see how much it has faded in this picture.  We are moving on to this south side this week.

 

Even though we are so tired today we can't see straight, we are so happy with how much better the house looks.  Now moving on to the next three sides and the deck. 

 

On Sunday we gave our arms an afternoon break and went down to Roca.  We had family photos taken.  We had given the photo shoot to Marcia as a birthday present.  We were so happy we got to take the pictures out on Roca Road.  We will treasure them always!  Rachel Rippe (a dear family friend of my family) took the pictures and she is amazing!

 

After pictures the whole family headed over the Dudley's for a BBQ.  It was so good to see friends and enjoy great food together!

 

 

 

Overall it was a great weekend to be outside working on the house and we feel blessed we even got to spend extra time with friends and family. 

POTS Program Months 4 & 5

The last two months of my POTS program have flown by so fast!  When I start each new month it seems overwhelming but when I just focus on one day at a time I know I can do it.  Over the last couple of months I have accomplished many things I have not been able to do for years. 

April is always a hard month for me because it is the month I originally got sick.  In years past is has been difficult because it was a reminder of how long I have been battling my POTS symptoms.  However, this year (my 4 year anniversary) it was such a celebration!  I was able to see amazing improvement in my symptoms and overall health.  I am so thankful to God!

Positive Results:

·         Weight lifting with free weights has gone very well.  I couldn’t walk most of month 4 because of soreness but in month 5 I saw big improvement in my lifting.

·         My resting heart rate in continuing to get lower each month.

·         I was able to run my first 5k since getting POTS.  A huge accomplishment for me and testament to how well this program is working. 

·         Over the last 5 months I have learned that I have to exercise EVERY single day!  When I take a day off my symptoms come right back and I am on my back not able to get up.  At first it was hard for me but I learned the hard way it is better to just be thankful I have a therapy (not medicine) that is helping my symptoms.  My medicine is exercise and I must do it every single day no exceptions!

Looking Forward:

·         In month 4 I began interval training.  This is my highest heart rate zone.  On my interval days I don’t feel as well.  I am looking forward to continuing to work through those symptoms in month 6. 

·         My program has structured workouts for months 1-6.  After I have completed month 6 I will need to decide which months I will begin repeating.  I will continue this for the rest of my life. 

·         My tachycardia symptoms are slowing improving but my heart is still running high most of the time.  I will be consulting with my doctor about that symptom.

Here are few pictures from the last couple of months!!  

Walked in a fundraiser in Lincoln with Drew, Marcia and Ray!



Ran in my first 5k since POTS!  It was the Color Vibe race and we had a blast! 



Got my feet some much needed attention with Marcia and Joy!



Celebrated Rita's upcoming wedding with a weekend in Iowa! 



 

Got a new pair of brooks shoes for my workouts!
  

I feel so blessed to have found a treatment that is working for me!  To God be the glory!

Heber

Three years ago today Drew and I adopted our golden retriever Heber.  He has had us wrapped around his paw ever since.

Three years ago I was really battling with my POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome).  It had become so difficult that we had made the decision that I would not return to my kindergarten teaching job the following year.  This broke my heart.  I loved my job and I was having trouble dealing with all of my health issues. 

We decided that it might be a good time for us to add a dog to our family.  We knew with my medical problems that a puppy was out of the question.  We had heard many good things about G.R.R.I.N (Golden Retriever Rescue in Nebraska).  We began the process of adopting a dog through this organization. 

In order to adopt a golden retriever we had a phone interview and a home visit.  It was then time to wait for a dog that fit our needs.  Going into the process we wanted a small petite female.  Luckily our case manager suggested we take a visit to a golden that was in a foster placement in Lincoln.  She really felt that he would be a great fit for our family.

So we drove down to Lincoln to meet Heber.  From the moment we met him we were hooked.  He was a huge male but he was perfect!  Here are a couple cell phone pictures from our first meeting.  I was in love! 

I love this one because I think Drew looks so scared! 

We were hooked!

We had to wait 24 hours before officially deciding that Heber was the dog for us.  We didn’t need 24 hours.  We were in love!  Before entering into the GRRIN program Heber lived on a farm.  His owner died and the family could not take him.  We always joke that he has had the best life.  First he got a life in the country and now a life in the city. 

On May 8^th Heber came to live with us at 6218!  It was such a wonderful day!  I immediately knew he was going to help me so much emotionally through my health battle.  Heber is a shadow.  He goes everywhere we go and hates to be left alone.  We are both sure that he thinks he is a human! 

This is the day we got him!  You can tell by his tongue he was a little excited!

During my battle with POTS Heber was always there.  On days when I couldn’t even get off the couch he would loyally lay right next to me.  Some days I would just lay and pet him for hours.  He saw me through some of my hardest days.  Pet therapy really works! 

I want to thank all of the GRRIN volunteers for all their hard work rescuing and placing golden retrievers.  I especially want to thank anyone who helped with the placement of Heber into our life!  He is such a treasure to us and we couldn’t imagine any other dog in our life! 

Family picture at a GRRIN event.

 

Walking the red carpet at a GRRIN event.

Supporting the Huskers and GRRIN.

Time for Christmas!

 

Playing in the snow at Walnut Creek.  Heber LOVES the snow!

 

Swimming in Lake Dillion in the Colorado Rockies!