New Obsession, Ikea Trip, & Our Weekend

This post encompasses May 13-19, 2013…last week!

^^ Kevin watched Ryder at work while I got my first Remicade infusion! Still waiting on the meds to kick in full force! More on that here.  Now I can’t wait for my second infusion next week!

^^ Ryder is turning into a stomach sleeper! Today, during a nap, I noticed he was FACE DOWN literally on his face. His head wasn’t turned to the side  either way. That is so not comfortable for me haha! And I checked to make sure he was breathing…

^^ NEW OBESSION: I discovered the most amazing gelato from the grocery store…Talenti Gelato! I actually got it at Target but I’m sure it is everywhere. This stuff was amazing. The downside is that it is expensive. It is like $5-6 for a pint? But so worth it…I had heard of others loving it, so I decided to try it and boy was I glad! I was pounding this while watching Dance Moms above haha. Just canceling out my workout for the day ;)

^^ Kevin & I took an evening trip down to Denver to visit IKEA to get reimbursed for measuring for our kitchen, do some exchanges, and get some last minute kitchen parts/supplies. We had a bunch of exchanges to do and it was a zoo. Because we had some issues with reimbursement and exchanges they gave us free meals. It is the least they could do! Honestly, they should have done a lot more. I will expound upon this in more detail in our Home Renovation: Cabinet post (which is coming soon!). For dinner, we both got their Swedish meatballs! Not going to lie, they are pretty tasty! Then Kevin ran into the Apple store at Park Meadows to meet with some guys at the Genius bar for his phone, almost when they were closing. It was a crazy evening and we didn’t have enough time! We were going to try and see my friend Emily but ran out of time. ! I wish IKEA wasn’t so far…I mean, it is only 1.5 hours, but still, we don’t go to Denver that often. We need to though!

^^ After working out, two days in a row, I took each car to get washed at Casey’s Car Wash. Sometimes we go WAY TOO LONG with not washing our cars. I often plan on getting it washed but then I look at the weather and it will snow the next day or rain in 2 days so I always wait. THEN…you realize it has been months and months of not washing your car! So finally, we got them cleaned. It was definitely much needed. Ryder was a fan of watching the cars get washed! Also, he was a big hit there! Everyone kept coming up to him trying to talk to him and asking me how old he was! I have never had that many people approach me at something like a car wash. They were busy days though so we were waiting for like an hour once. I’m sure people were really bored too! // Also, the photo of Ryder in the car ‘driving’ was after Kevin, my mom, and I took out the Sister Missionaries at Panera! It was a fun night with them. Then Kevin watched Ryder while my mom and I went to Ann Taylor Loft to help her use some gift cards she had there. I got a killer deal on an awesome skirt that was on sale (which was an additional 40% off) and then later my mom and Kevin told me it looked something like a ‘Grandma’ would wear! I beg to differ haha! I am curious what other people think…but I think I like it! I can’t wait to find the right pieces to wear with it! Unfortunately (or fortunately?) I have absolutely nothing to match it… I also got some sandals at Gap with a coupon so that was fun.

^^ While Kevin worked on the cabinets, I cleaned up around the house, did laundry, organized stuff, etc. I also got the biggest ‘newspaper’ of information about my new Remicade medicine. Guys, it covered half my body haha! I tried to read some outside so as you can see…it even looks like a blanket! Also, I had called Otterbox and got a free case from their warranty plan… It came in the mail and is the perfect hookup to my kicks! Meanwhile, Kevin finished putting the cabinets together for the most part. We are now waiting for the counter-tops to be installed…and the soonest they could do it was 2 weeks, so that is very annoying, that we have to wait that long!

^^ Ryder was the cutest clapping, rolling over baby, ever. Clapping is his fav!

^^ Ryder and I after church. I think he is a keeper!!! On a side note- this was the first time at church where he didn’t want to fall asleep! He sure spoiled me on Mother’s Day sleeping both 2nd and 3rd hour of church! Because he was tired and had skipped his morning nap (and was woken up earlier than he would normally since church is at 8 am), he was a little harder to keep happy haha.

^^ For Sunday dinner, my dad made a fun Hawaiian dinner! Kahlua Pork seasoned pork with spinach, rice, carrots, apple sauce, Hawaiian bread, and Guava nectar! It was so good!

Some other fun tidbits: + New neighbors moved in next door to us so I made brownies and we brought them over! They seem really cool! I’m excited they moved in! + Kevin worked on the kitchen and cabinets and everything all week! + My mom, Kevin, and I had a yummy dinner at Spoon’s. That place is SO good! + Ryder and I hit up Super Target. Seriously, every Monday is practically when I go to Target. I get some basic groceries there and it is definitely turning into a routine haha. + My mom & I had a lunch date and ate at Café Rio and then checked out Home Goods for the first time. They had some pretty cool stuff.

Next Up: Home Renovation: Cabinets!

My 1st Remicade Infusion

Hopefully you aren’t sick of my posts or me talking about my disease on this little blog of mine, because well, I have the disease, it affects my daily life, so…I will talk about it! Unfortunately, it is a big deal. Maybe it will be helpful for someone out there ;) Anyways, so I decided on Remicade (infusion) vs. shots (Enbrel or Humira). The infusions are less frequent (every 6-8 weeks- not sure how many weeks apart mine are actually). If I did shots, I would do them every 2 weeks. I probably, over time, would get brave and the shots wouldn’t be a big deal, but what if, they really sucked, and every 2 weeks I was begging Kevin to give me one or my parents (if he was out of town)…or random nurses that I know here. Random, but I actually know quite a few nurses here! I didn’t want to dread that day and have to deal with disposing of the medical waste/sharps, traveling with the shots and keeping them refrigerated, etc. So I decided to go for it! Kevin helped me decide to do so. I was so nervous to just decide to do it. I decided to take advantage of modern medicine since it is out there to help people and it is the only type of medicine that could prevent fusing of my spine (no brainer there). If I get lymphoma cancer or a serious disease from it, well, that really sucks, but I guess I am taking my chances…. So I was told to drink a lot of water the day before to help my veins be lovely to poke for the meds to run in…I think I did ok. Anyone have a hard time just DRINKING? I would much rather eat. I struggle with staying hydrated haha. Side note- I could NEVER be an alcoholic! By the way, I have never tried alcohol haha… Anyways, I went to bed late, also a problem I have…I have a hard time going to bed before midnight which is like 4.5 hours after Ryder has been asleep, lol. So I go to bed and then in one of my dreams was I was at my rheumatology office, was SO delusional, and couldn’t find the infusion room! I remember being lost in the office and out of it. Thank goodness I woke up and I wasn’t all delusional in there. My infusion was at 8:30 am and was supposed to go 20 minutes early, so basically, I woke up dang early. The infusion takes 2 and a half hours so Kevin took Ryder to work because I couldn’t take him there. Ryder’s first tooth literally popped up 2 days prior to this and he had a little cold so he wasn’t in the best mood. I had a feeling he may be crazier than normal for Kevin and he was. The photo above is Ryder chilling in a chair in Kevin’s office! I love my cute boy! I had my first infusion, Tuesday, May 14th, 2013. They say the meds could start working the following day or a couple of months. That is a big variance! Cyndi (who does the infusions and goes to my church) got my meds ready and gave me my IV. She was explaining how there is a thing that goes into my arm that is kind of plastic-y (sorry don’t know the names of IV parts lol) so when you move your arm the needle won’t poke you or something. Basically, I was SO nervous I was getting lightheaded. < It reminded me of when I passed out at a post surgery appointment at an ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat dr.) appointment. Awhile ago, I had sinus surgery and they also fixed a deviated septum. I was at a check up and he was putting something up my nose like I swear, back into my brain haha and it made me feel so weird I passed out. >  Now back to the infusion, basically, I’m glad I didn’t pass out. I’ve never passed out giving blood or getting an IV but it was just weirding me out. I was just so nervous to get these meds because they are hardcore and the strongest drugs for my disease. Basically, after Remicade and the shots, I don’t know what else there is out there. Hopefully LOTS of options in clinical trials?! Anyways, I brought my laptop (in case I wanted to blog, shop, etc.) and an iPad with Kevin’s Bose headphones. I also brought thank you notes and random things to do. Instead, I sat there asking Cyndi lots of questions and worrying about the side affects haha. Also, I brought a Naked drink because they are yummy, oh and chocolate too :) I ended up getting calm at the end and watching a little of What to Expect When You’re Expecting and then it was all over! Basically the meds just dripped into my body and made my arm cold for a couple of hours. Also, you are allowed to go to the bathroom if you wheel your tower of meds into the restroom with you ha! All in all, it wasn’t too bad, but at the end, I started feeling like I was getting a headache but think it may have been mental haha. Afterwards, Kevin, Ryder, and I went out to lunch at Subway. I told him all about it and he said, “Let’s do lunch or dinner after every infusion to make it a good day!” I think that is a splendid idea. It sucks to have a disease and we can make the day special haha. Then I said, “And I will go shopping!!!'” Just kidding, maybe. That would be an awesome post-infusion tradition! So far, I haven’t noticed anything crazy with the drugs but a positive is that I stopped taking Vicadin 2 evenings ago. I didn’t take the pill and didn’t wake up in the middle of the night from pain! It is hard to say if it is the Remicade working (which would be pretty early) or if my flare-up is going down for a bit. I swear, every day it is something new. Last weekend and earlier this week it hurt to breathe (in the front of the rib cage) and my knees got really bad a couple of weeks ago. I think my knees have gradually gotten better and luckily I am breathing better. Now, my lower back/SI joints are achy which is annoying but definitely better than freaking limping. I am ready to hit the gym hard and not ‘take it easy’! So frustrating. Anyways, I get my 2nd infusion not this week but the following. Hopefully by then, the drugs will be working in full effect! Crossing my fingers!

Also- if you are wondering why I Instagram random IV photos or health ones, it isn’t to gross you out. There is a whole arthritis world out there on Instagram lol. Basically, if I hashtag #Remicade or #Enbrel or #Humira I get a lot of good comments and feedback from people who are on it! I’ve also hashtagged my disease #AnkylosingSpondylitis and found people who have it as well. However, there aren’t too many since the disease is pretty rare. I have gotten good info by doing that so just in case you are wondering :)

Mother’s Day 2013

First of all, hope all of you mamas had a good Mother’s Day, especially my mom, mother-in-law, sisters-in-laws, and friends!

My mom, NiKol, & I after I got married

Kevin & Kathy

My first Mother’s Day…

This was my first Mother’s Day as a mommy! Well…last year I was one, but Ryder was in the womb, hehe. Growing a human (little Ryder), being pregnant, giving birth, and adjusting to life with a baby and all of what has happened with my disease has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. It has been hard but SO worth it. I am so thankful to be a mom and to our amazing son, Ryder. I feel like I have got the mom thing down pretty good for the most part lol. It is still harder to get things done, keep things clean, and stay on top of everything compared to before but it is ok. That is something I struggle with daily! I like things to be orderly, organized, and in control…key word, in control haha. You can’t really control another human being…lol. But having Ryder in our life and little family has been awesome! He brings so much joy to our lives. He is hysterical, sweet, precious, and I am just obsessed with him…as you can tell from my blog since I post a gazillion photos of him every blog post haha! We just LOVE him! So glad he made me a mom. Anyways, a little about the day…Kevin, Ryder, and I went to church and it was great. Ryder slept during 2nd and 3rd hour in his car seat like a champ. He has been pooped out the past few days because he is teething and has a little cold. Anyways, all of the women attended Relief Society which was fun. I remember a year ago, I was in nursery, and I hadn’t been to Relief Society for months and months and was able to on Mother’s Day since the men fill in for the women who have callings 3rd hour. It was SO weird to go to Relief Society I thought! Now I am so lucky I can go each week…depending on Ryder. After church, I watched Ryder while Kevin took a nap and then we ate chicken sandwich croissants with my family for a late lunch. Then I took a little nap while Kevin watched Ryder. My friend Amanda Johnson brought over some Doterra oil for my back (Ankylosing Spondylitis disease, whatever my immune system is deciding to attack at that time) so I will try that soon. That was so nice of her. For Mother’s Day, Kevin and Ryder got me that pink suitcase (here) so I am super excited to use that on our next trip, my in-laws got me an awesome CD, and my parents got me a manicure that I got the day prior. Not a bad day ;) My dad cooked an amazing German dinner - dumplings, goulash, cauliflower, rolls, berries! It was bomb. I love German food, so much. Oh, and my brother, Patrick came home from Boulder to celebrate this day so that was nice. Then while listening to my new CD, Kevin, Hunter, my dad, and I played a game of Rummikub. Then Kevin and Hunter played Jenga and some other game while I tried to keep Ryder happy. All in all, it was a pretty good day!

Hunter’s 11th Birthday Weekend

Hunter turned 11 years old on Thursday, May 9th, 2013! While he was off at school, I went to workout. I had a feeling I wouldn’t really be able to do much at all because of my knees (AS disease) but I was stubborn. I walked into a Step class and walked out before it started. I knew it would make them worse. I then tried doing a mile on a bunch of cardio machines and my knees felt horrible so I left after 4 miles. So frustrating! Then I hurried home and got ready to meet my mom, dad, Zach, and Hunter at Larkburger for lunch.

On the way, it was pouring rain, then it started raining harder, then all of a sudden I realized cars were driving through slush, then I was like, “Is it snowing?” It was the most confusing thing ever. I then realized that it was hailing! So that was an interesting drive down College ha.

Anyone been to Larkburger? What do you think? My first time I was weirded out because they have fancy fries that stink horribly. This was my second time and it was much better. My brothers love this place.

On the way home, I printed the ward bulletins for the upcoming Sunday. Afterwards, Hunter opened some presents and here is a really bad photo of us with bad lighting lol.

Hunter wanted to eat at Mount Fuji for dinner. At this restaurant you can sit on the floor in some booths so we did that. Ryder sat right next to Kevin and I on the floor ha! It is a fun place to eat Japanese food! I got a beef, vegetable, rice bowl. Kevin got a bunch of sushi!

Also- how does one get a good photo with a crazy active baby who wants to move around so much? Seriously, it is getting harder to take photos of him because most of them are now turning out SO blurry!

Afterwards, my aunt NaNet and her kids came over and we all had angel food cake! Here is the birthday boy and Ryder! Also, I wish I had better photos from this day! I feel like the lighting is so weird in all of them!

On Friday, the 10th, my knees were feeling a little better so I went to my friend, Mindy’s yoga class! It was amazing! I love going to her classes. Also, Ryder tried bananas for a little breakfast snack and we both learned they are super slippery haha. How can I expect him to pick up little banana chunks when I can’t pick them up myself?

Hunter’s birthday kind of extended into Friday evening because he had a birthday get together with some yo-yo friends. Ryder watched them yo-yoing and enjoyed his first graham cracker! He ate a little more than 1 graham cracker and it was amazing but…BOY did it make a mess!

We had pizza and Mary’s Mountain Cookies for dessert. Seriously, my family is ADDICTED to Mary’s Mountain Cookies!!! They are heavenly and probably over 1000 calories per cookie. I should probably look into how many calories one is but I don’t even want to know. Meanwhile, Kevin was working on the house with some church friends so I brought him some food over!

We moved the high chair so Ryder could watch the yo-yoers! Also, I think a graham cracker chunk is falling out of his mouth ha!

I would say that Hunter had a good birthday! :D

Saturday, the 11th, Kevin worked on house stuff with friends and Ryder and I hit up the gym. I went to another yoga class and it wasn’t as good. I was having costochondritis (inflammation of the ribs) so it was hurting to breathe. It is SO annoying. But it was good I worked out anyway, I think ha.

Oh, and Ryder’s new thing is sleeping on his tummy?! I know this isn’t crazy at all to most people but up unti this point he really hasn’t slept like this! I think it is so cute. But sleeping on your back is better (Back is best- or whatever) so, I roll him sometimes lol.

My friend Emily Vail came in town so we went with my mom to get manicures. I actually had a really bad experience. An old lady did my nails and it was the worst manicure I had ever gotten, like only half of my nails were painted. Let me explain. Look at one of your finger nails. Now paint half. Welp, that is what happened on a lot of them. She asked at the end, if it was good and I am not usually one to complain…AT ALL. But, I was going to be pissed and not want to pay if they looked crappy, I mean, hey, I could have painted them myself like that! So I said, “Can you paint the rest of the nails?” She did and it kept getting worse and worse. She kept asking “Good?” and trying to paint a clear coat at the end and I told her “I just want my nails to look the same.” By then, each nail looked different because she put different layers on each nail and there were streaks. Then another employee noticed and told her to take it all off and have me wash my hands. Then a different employee finished my nails and they looked much better. Maybe she was in training? Oh my word, it was so bad lol.

Emily came over and hung out a little bit before she had to go and Ryder was a big fan of her.

Hope you had a great weekend and Mother’s Day!!!

Souvenirs, FHE Night, + a Rheumatology Appointment

^^ On Sunday, my dad and Kevin returned from Bangladesh and Dubai…(last week’s post here). While they were away, Kevin would text me at their hotel at odd hours due to the time change, being practically at the opposite side of the world! Got to love free wifi so we were able to text without outrageous phone bills :)  Also, we Face timed a few times but the connection wasn’t that great. Anyways, he once was like, “What do you want from Bangladesh or Dubai?” I was like, “I don’t know…a cool shirt or clothes or something?” Typical me…clothes :) Well, I thought he would maybe…get me a t-shirt and then when they got back it felt like Christmas lol. My dad and Kevin had too much fun shopping - plus apparently Bangladesh has a lot of cheap stuff - so they had to buy an extra suitcase to bring everything back! My ‘Big Blue’ suitcase died right after Kevin and I got married in 2008 at the Kansas City airport, and I’ve been using Kevin’s old missionary suitcases ever since! I called my suitcase ‘Big Blue’ because 1. It was bright blue and 2. It was just huge. I could fit so much stuff in it and that is what ruined it…I packed it so full, it broke haha.  I’m so cheap, I didn’t want to buy a new suitcase until I absolutely had to! Lucky for me, they got me a pink one, with spinner wheels, so I’ve got a NEW suitcase! Seriously, so excited. I want to visit Dubai now. I know I’ve talked about Dubai before but it sounds awesome and I want to visit.

* Loot above: authentic handmade shoes from Dubai, dried fruit (yummy dried strawberries in the mix), Milk Chocolate Elephant Covered Macadamia Nuts from Japan where they had a layover, postcards from Dubai that Kevin wants to hoard and not mail lol, pink suitcase, caramel chocolate, vase thing, Dubai playing cards, colorful bracelet, gold cuff bracelet, wallet, camel handbag, vanilla coconut macaroons (maybe my first time trying macaroons?), mango dried fruit, turquoise necklace, and green and red shirts from Bangladesh).

Um yeah, like more than I get for Christmas hahaha. The suitcase is for Mother’s Day…so fun!

^^ Like every week, I feel like I go to Target. Good thing I finally got a Red card. Took me long enough but hey saving 5% is better than nothing, especially if you have to buy stuff there anyways! Now I am always telling people to get Red cards haha. Anyways, I came from working out and these past couple of weeks have been BAD with my knees. I think it is arthritis from my disease. So…I’m always driving to the gym thinking, I bet this will make them worse, but I don’t know what to do to make them better…and I am not going to sit at home for months or how long it takes for them to stop hurting so I am going to go and be in pain lol. So I lifted weights and then my knees felt crazy weird/painful walking through Target.

^^ Our friends Neal and Amanda Johnson invited us over for FHE along with Michael and Bekah Wilkey and their baby girl Carmen. We all ate tons of desserts and played a fun pirate-y board game. I have no clue what it is called haha. Also, they have 2 birds and in the photo above, Ryder is trying to pet one. So cute! Also, this is probably the only photo I got of Ryder and Carmen both looking at me, haha!

Tuesday, I went to Step Challenge. Knees hurt. Went to Group. Ryder is packing on the pounds! He currently weighs 19 lbs. 5 oz.! Ahh! Then I met my mom and dad at Charley’s out at Centerra. Charley’s has really good sub sandwiches. I also had some good times shopping at Ann Taylor Loft and Baby Gap. I got a final sale striped peplum top for $9 and some pink cropped skinnies for $17 (originally $60, on sale for $30, then 40% off sale) :) I LOVE getting good quality things for a deal haha. So I’m excited. I need to go through a bunch of my clothes and get rid of some. My summer attire is seriously lacking. A lot of the shirts are cotton-y, old, faded, and have shrunken over time. Out with the old, in with the new! Well, it is a good concept. Got to see what I can sell everything for :) But it is time to revamp my summer clothes! I would say my winter wardrobe is much better than my summer because I got Christmas and my Birthday in the winter. Then when summer rolls around, I don’t really spend much money on summer things. Anyways, as you can see I love clothes. I really do. Then Ryder and I got our Mazda’s emission checked so we could register our car’s plates and all that fun stuff for another year. Each year, I dread doing that.

^^ Ryder loves his baths, especially with his toys! Just not when they all float to the opposite end of the tub and he can’t reach ;) (photo below)

^^ Also, I caught Ryder sleeping on his side. He is usually a back sleeper so I thought it was cute.

Rheumatology Appointment: Wednesday rolled around and Kevin, Ryder, and I went to my second rheumatology appointment with Dr. Levine at my new rheumatology office. It was Kevin’s first time meeting him and I wanted Kevin to meet him if I was going to switch to him. My Diclofenac (75 mg., 2x daily, anti-inflammatory) and Vicadin (1/2 5-500 mg pill every night) didn’t seem to be doing much for me and I knew we were going to end up talking about biologics (Enbrel, Humira, Remicade). Plus my knees started hurting a couple of weeks ago and it was sometimes hurting to walk. I also had to stop working out as hard as I was and honestly, I felt like how I was working out was not as hard as I really wanted to be. I was definitely holding back because my body wasn’t able to work out harder :( I was doing tons of lunges and squats (and had started running after workouts as well) and had to stop when my knees got really bad. Anyways, that was a new symptom. After seeing 3 rheumatologists and them always bringing it up, I knew I probably would try biologics at some time in my life unless my disease randomly disappeared forever…ha…that would be lovely! So, I asked him a gazillion questions about it. There are SO many bad and scary side affects of these meds which is why it has taken me SO long and being in so much pain to finally decide to give them a try. He says I am low risk for a lot of the side affects or complications that the medicines can cause but it doesn’t mean the medicine is safe. They increase your risk for lymphoma (cancer), lower your ability to fight infections so you are more apt to get weird infectious diseases (TB – you have to get a TB test before you are allowed to start them which I already got and I got the OK to start the meds, random infections in dry climates (like AZ/so-Cal) and southern places like around Kansas City area (when he said that, I was like “Oh great, Kevin is from there!”), and is a immunosuppressant so you may get sick more often because your immune system is basically shot, and more. SOOO…we will see how it goes! He said Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade are all so similar and so I basically chose which medicine I wanted to try. Would I rather give myself a shot every 2 weeks or get a 2 hour infusion at my rheumatology office every 8 weeks? I chose the infusions. Hopefully that is the right choice! I would just rather not give myself shots. I could probably get over the fact that I am giving myself a shot but what if I couldn’t? Then every 2 weeks I would be begging Kevin or a family member or a random nurse I know to give me the shot lol. Plus, you got to keep them refrigerated and pack them for trips, etc. Anyways, I start my infusions on Tuesday morning! I hope that I get quick relief and no bad side affects!!! Wish me luck!

^^ After the appointment, I hung out at my casa with Katinka and Ryder, did a ton of laundry, and did a yoga/Pilates workout in the evening. Kevin worked on the house with a guy from church and they moved some electrical outlets. And Ryder had fun sharing his binky with Katinka and untying my shoes!

Next up: Hunter’s Birthday & Mother’s Day :)

Have a good Mother’s Day!