Update on Life

Well, my HIDA scan came back normal today. That means my gallbladder is okay, functioning as it should and nothing is wrong with it. My liver is still all messed up and that's the next steps to take - since we know the gallbladder is okay, we can focus on trying to fix the liver. I have to make a follow up appointment with Dr. Oh (yep, that's his name) and move forward with whatever it takes to get rid of the "fatty" liver issue. I know losing 30 pounds is in the future but I think I need to get to a nutritionist (who isn't my husband) to help me focus. Yes, Eric knows all that stuff but I need to see someone outside the four walls of my house (I really have more than four walls but you know what I mean). So, until the next appointment, that's all I've got. Good news as far as gallbladders go....but still not defined answers. I'm staying positive and that's all I can do.

Eric is doing well Uncle Jim. Yep, he's still personal training....going on 11 years in the business. Funny, you would think as a personal trainer, he'd have a "smokin hot" wife but unfortunately, it's not reality. :) Hopefully that'll change with this 30 pounds I have to lose.

Ethan is doing awesome! We have decided to not start him in kindergarten this year - he is not quite ready yet. So, today was his first "Transition" day from preschool to PreK! :) Woo hoo! He did awesome with the transitition for day 1. He will start full time in PreK on the 15th! Unfortunately Uncle Jim, he isn't in to baseball or softball....he likes it but would rather kick a ball around....soccer! We wish for football but he loves soccer. I'm trying to find out if there is a team around our community for him to join - he would love it!

That's about it from here! I have 7 weeks of school left and I'm done! I cannot wait!!

Bye for now!

Medical Update

As for the medical update, they still think there is something wrong with my gallbladder after having an ultrasound done....although the ultrasound showed my gallbladder was fine....just one more test to determine if it is messed up or not. That is on the 24th of July.

Another surprising thing showed in the ultrasound.....I have a fatty liver....I know, sounds lovely....but I have it nonetheless. My liver is enlarged....the one thing that surprised my doctor was the fact that my cholesterol levels are so below the average, that I almost have a zero cholesterol count! That sounds great for the heart, but it is really bad for other things....such as your liver. So, when he tried to determine why it was so low and saw my liver, he had his answer. See, my liver isn't working like yours.....yours is taking the fat that comes in to it and is breaking it down into cholesterol which is then secreated in some way (another subject). Mine....well the fat goes in to mine and sits there....very little is processed and therefore, because there is so much in there, it has enlarged my liver. They call it fatty liver disease.....and there is no drug to help it! I have to exercise, diet, and lose 30 pounds at least and PRAY that it will take care of the problem - it is not a guarantee!! That will take me back down to high school weight which is good enough. If I don't take care of it, it could turn in to Hepatitis or cirrhosis which can lead to liver cancer. So, I am on my way to losing the weight....God help me! And I again, pray to God this works!!!! If not, I'm in trouble.

That's it for now! I'll let ya know about the hydrascan on the 24th if anything comes out of it.

Not sure of a title tonight....

It's been a while since I've posted anything and not that I have a whole lot to say, but figured I better write something.....

So, 6 days and I graduate college! HOLY CRAP! Four long years of school....no, not just for my bachelors....I got my associates in there somewhere....but Saturday is for my Bachelor's. I wish when you got your degree that your pay automatically went up 100%! Well at least 15%.....is that asking too much? I have to pay the student loans back sometime....

My brother is coming in Thursday afternoon to hang with us until next Monday! So excited to see him - so is Ethan for that matter - I miss that guy more than I can even express. I cannot believe how old we are now....me turning 30 this year.....him getting married next year! Wow! I remember (get ready Mac kids) when I would visit my dad in La Quinta and the Mac kids, John and I would spend all weekend swimming, "Going to the Mall", hanging out without a care in the world. Now, we are dating, married, having babies, raising families, working our butts off, getting old! :) I'm sure I have a ton of different memories but since I just finished reading Sarah, Emily, James blogs, they were in my mind...

My mom is coming in Thursday as well as her mom. I'm excited to see my mom but in all honestly, seeing her sometimes makes me sad. She's mom, but not mom. Not sure how else to describe it. I miss her dearly. Grandma is super excited to be here! She is getting so old to travel now but she said she wouldn't miss it for the world!

I have friends and additional family coming from all over to celebrate with me! Wonder if I will be sober on Saturday night.....there are too many people wanting to buy me a drink.....good thing I'm not the one driving that day! Oh, good too that Eric doesn't drink. I actually shouldn't be drinking since I got a diagnosis from my doctor....I'll post that in a different post.

I am throwing myself a graduation lunch in my honor (that sounds conceited - oh hell, who cares) on Saturday before the graduation at Claim Jumper. Love that place! Won't be great on the pocketbook but I will only graduate college once. :)

So, I suppose I had more to talk about then I thought.....I'm off to do homework!

Your Gall Bladder

Does anyone really know what our gall bladders are for without looking it up online? Neither did I until it became an issue...a painful issue that comes and goes as it pleases. Ever since I was pregnant with Ethan, I've had these spells that come every so often. My back left shoulder blade will have this unbelievable pain, almost like heartburn but in your back. Nothing specific triggers it, but when I was pregnant and was explaining it to my OB, he said, "Well, that is a common symptom of gall bladder issues but it's normally in your right shoulder blade. But everyone's different - you should have it checked out AFTER the baby is born!" Well, those of us that have had babies know that you have NO time after baby is born to do crap! So, I never had it checked. The spells have started again (well they have been for some time)....and I had one so bad a couple weeks ago, that I finally decided to see a doctor. He is referring me to get an ultrasound after he proceeded to push up under my ribs where your gall bladder is and saw me almost jump off the table at the doctors office. I asked him if they found anything what they would do and he explained the different types of surgeries depending on the severity. Lovely. I'll keep you updated.....

So, back to my original question, does anyone know what your gall bladder does?

The gallbladder's main purpose is to concentrate and store your bile. Bile is a fluid made in the liver that helps you to digest fats in your small bowel (intestine). It is made from cholesterol, water, bilirubin and bile salts. Bilirubin is what gives bile its greenish colour. It comes from the breakdown of used red blood cells. When you eat fatty foods, the fats are broken down (digested) in your stomach and intestines. Your gallbladder is not an essential part of your body. You can live without it. So after having it taken out, you are still able to digest your food.

Well, to that last sentence I say "Thank God"!! I will still be able to eat if I have to have it taken out. :)

Four Day Work Weeks

It sure is nice having holidays off but I despise four day work weeks! It seems that everyone around me is in a panic to get all their work shoved into four days....hello....how much work did you honestly have on a Monday????? That much to stress you out! You knew the holiday was coming - it does every frickin year!! Next time, prepare for it!! Geepers....just RELAX!

Ok....I feel better now.....just had a rough day. HA HA!

Which brings me to my next thought....why don't companies have four 10 hour day work weeks?? If I owned my own company, that is how it would be. But then again, if I owned my own company, I would work whatever hours I wanted. It just seems with a four 10 hour day work week, it would give us so much more time to do the things we love on the weekend....laundry, scrubbing toilets, waxing the car.....

Hmmmm.....just some random thoughts as I have called this blogging thing.....

Graduation Gear

The cap, gown, tassel, and all the other gear arrived today! Reality is starting to set in....not exactly the reality that I will be graduating very soon, but the reality of the student loans that loom in the darkness waiting to be paid! And all I have to say about that is CRAP!! And CONSOLIDATION! :)

Bummin.....

I'm bummed out tonight....tomorrow night, in Las Vegas, Bon Jovi will be performing a one night concert for Tiger Jam at Mandalay Bay. Wonder why I won't be there? Tickets were 300.00+! And that was nose bleed seats....yes, I would normally fork out the money, but I couldn't justify it with the amount of debt I already have. Then, tonight, I find out that Chris Daughtry is opening for Bon Jovi! OMG - I love Chris and his band!!! Since the days of American Idol. I just knew I should have bought the damned tickets....oh well.

On another note, graduation is around the corner. I am trying to decide how to celebrate...lunch at Claim Jumper with family and friends before the ceremony....get together at my house with snacks and finger foods.....drinks after the ceremony (well this will probably happen anyhow :)....I just don't know. Ideas anyone?

I'm off to bed....night all!