We are all hanging in there. Summer is already almost half way over, though, it feels as if it just started. School got out later this year, and winter dragged on for what felt like forever, so we're cramming the days, and soaking it in while it lasts. We were playing in the snow the first few days the kids were home. Like I said, winter didn't want to let go.
Kids, for the most part have enjoyed summer. First week out of school, the 4 youngest attended Vacation Bible School, and had a blast. Our days since have been filled with summer field trips, swim center days, trips to the library, Carson Valley Days, parades, carnivals, more snow play, Farmers Market, concerts in the park, more concerts, movies, coloring nights, out door movies in our drive way, frog hunting and splashing in the creeks, playing with the farm animals, learning to ride bikes, more lost teeth than the tooth fairy cares to count, stargazing trips, incredible sunsets, photography excursions, news interviews, makings of commercials, sleepovers, birthday parties, fishing derby's and fish cookouts, camping, company in town, rescuing baby birds and lots and lots of friends over. On top of our normal 'day to day' stuff--meetings, appointments, traveling for appointments, classes, work, housework, etc It's been pretty jammed packed. Grief camp, and church camp are coming up, and before we know it, school will be starting again!
Health stuff....most the kids are doing well. Sierra has been doing well, but her migraines seem to gradually be re-appearing. We are hoping that this will be short lasting, and she will stabilize again. Thankfully, MRI remains stable. Ken has a couple small tears in his shoulder--an injury that happened a while ago at work, and will be starting physical therapy, hoping they will repair and surgery won't be needed.
I've shared on here in the past that I was dealing with some of my own health issues, but haven't really opened up about them much. Some have asked, and I've avoided talking about it, as I wasn't really sure what it was or how to explain it. As y'all know, our lives have been painfully crazy the past several years. So much good, so many fantastic memories, but also a lot of pain, a lot of trauma, and a lot of stress. I was doing pretty well handling it all, so I thought. The stress has caught up to me though, and started effecting my ability to eat much. I'd eat, but would feel nauseous or throw up. I've never been much of a big eater, and definitely have never been a stress eater, so it didn't seem like an issue for a while. Till my appetite, or ability to eat without getting super nauseous or vomiting didn't come back, and the weight kept falling off, even when things were going well. A lot of medical tests were done, labs, imaging, meds...nothing came back abnormal, usually. The only thing we could come up with was it was a stress induced eating disorder. Not anorexia, not bulemia.......just not taking in enough calories to maintain weight, and then when I did eat, it often wouldn't stay down. Had nothing to do with weight or body image...it was the physical pain that came with vomiting or the relentless nausea. So, currently, my weight has been stable, and I'm very slowly increasing my intake, while singling out things that my body simply does not handle, eating more intuitively and what my body asks for. Physically, I feel fine, and even though I've lost a lot of weight, I'm still in a healthy range. But as soon as stress increases (like last night sitting in the hospital with sierra), my appetite becomes non-existent and today I've had to work hard to get enough in. So, with that being said, if you pray, please keep us in your prayers...for Sierra and her migraines, for wisdom for the doctors treating her, for Ken's shoulder, and for me, that my body will continue to allow nourishment, and my weight/health will remain stable.
attaching a bunch of pics from the past few months. Hope y'all enjoy! Love to all of you.
You can find Sierra's news interview here:
http://www.ktvn.com/category/170899/video-landing-page?&clipId=13447240&autostart=true
and the link to the Bryce and Makenley's video is here:
https://www.facebook.com/YelpReno/videos/1727814993900915/
and one more. :)
http://vid.hellonetcdn.com/vid/nv/douglascounty/biz/nvdoug_24_rev2_iwd_lrg_univ.mp4?e38747ba796c597d97d67d86c76a84aad91f4fa3c79a948082f8def1f1bc3d60fe209fda17a179a1424e38c4003bad5d069b
