Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The Baby Dill Mobile

Yes, Kristin and I did make a late night run to Smith's tonight. Yes, we did go "shopping" and found some interesting things, but they didn't make it past the check-out lane. But really.. enough of that. I have just found some funny things in my life lately that I feel I should share with you. Everyone needs a good laugh now and then, right?

So, in all honesty Kristin and I really did make a late night run to the grocery store tonight because we were both starving.. and decided nothing in our apartment could live up to our cravings.  Well.. everything was going just dandy. We headed outside to jump into Kristin's car to head over to the grocery store. Then, Kristin remembered, perhaps due to the smell, that she had left a full can of pickles in the back and they had leaked a little.  Ok, maybe more than just a little..the truth is that, it leaked a lot, all the juice was gone and the smell of pickles joined us on our little adventure.

On the way out of the store, a car decided that even though I was walking behind it, it was going to go ahead and back out. It came a matter of a few inches, maybe centimeters from hitting me. Kristin was a quite bit more phased than I was.  So went our little adventure for the night.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Home

A word with so many meanings... a wise person once said "home isn't where your house is, its where the people you love are." Maybe that's why I'm feeling so conflicted right now. Home is here.
  • the house I grew up in
  • FAMILY
  • the quilt made for me by the young women in my ward when I moved away
  • the farm
  • my favorite stuffed animals from when I was little
  • my mom's homemade dinners
  • the delicious drive-in down the street
  • the best friends a girl could ask for
  • familiar faces and places where memories are made
  • finding old bucket lists and notes passed in high school
  • realizing your dreams didn't come true, or at least not yet, but realizing that its ok
  • rolling hills, green grass, lightning bugs 
Home is also there. Utah.
  • endless hugs and get well wishes
  • familiar faces and places where memories are made
  • birthday buddies
  • roommates and friend I can count on no matter what 
  • blessings and service from people who have just met me and love me unconditionally
  • a second family
  • someone who holds my hand & dries my tears
  • late night giggle sessions with roommates about hair, reflexes and need I say?? boys
  • mountains, cuddles with warm blankets and good books, good news from friends abroad
  • attempts at mom's homemade goodies
  • endless lessons, all learned in miraculous ways
  • a chance to grow beyond the capacities of my own imagination 
I guess what I'm trying to say is home is simple. Home is love, no matter the location. Love is... home.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Goodness Gracious

Today I ran across a blog that was listed recently as one of the top 100 blogs/websites that will inspire you to be a better person.  In the particular entry I was looking at, I was excited to see a list of things that come for free but are so good.  "The Best Things in Life are Free".  I have also recently run across a "handwritten" blog that writes a note a day or a week addressed to something positive in her life. I can't remember the link to that one anymore, but I hope someday to be able to write things that can inspire people. I believe I have been given the gift of eloquence and I can say and write things in a way that people can understand and relate to what I am saying.  Anyways, the point is that I want to start doing something similar when I post. My family is all over the country right now and we have been writing each other each week with three things that are good or we are grateful for.

Here is my version of inspiration this week. I want to write down one thing that happens everyday that is good starting today!

I get to go to Tucanos Brazilian Grill with some amazing people!!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Unhooked, unleashed and unloosed! Happy Birthday to ME!

FREEDOM!  So this is what it feels like. I'd have to say I've rarely experienced the feeling of being tethered and then freed. This is it! Best birthday present ever! I get to take a bath at home, put on make-up, do my hair and celebrate the heck out of being out of the hospital. Don't worry though, I won't party too hard, I don't want to end up back in here.

But hey, it wasn't all that bad, it's just a great birthday present to be leaving the hospital. The housekeeping staff sang to me and gave me a card. That's pretty cool and the sun is the brightest I've seen it maybe since I've been here.

P.S. There was just a code green in the psych ward. I'm trying not to think too much about that. 

Here are some pictures of the homecoming/birthday party! Kristin did a great job of baking and making the cupcake display. I have amazing roommates!

Five candles cause I'm young at heart. 25 was a good birthday!


Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Soul Food

Did you know?

Candy is soul food. The Prince of Egypt is really a great way to share a night with friends.

My blood type is A+ but they have to retest it in the hospital every 72 hours. Just in case it changes?

Cupcakes are good birthday food. Shout out to The Cocoa Bean, Nurse Aubrey and Garrett "My Home Teacher". Mmmm good.

Notes and small sincere thoughts make me happy. I had my first allergic reaction and did not like it!

Life goes on. Its really fun to sneak around the hospital and watch the sunset with great friends.

The longer you stay in here the more friends you make and I like making friends.

Nurses like you better when you don't complain or need help going to the bathroom. Prayer works.

Chemotherapy drugs make you throw up and lose hair, it isn't a myth. AVOID at all costs!  A good book and blanket makes any day great.

Flowers and hugs are two of my favorite things. It is okay to cry it out, but only if you do it every once in a while.

Being aware of those around you and trying to  learn from every moment isn't always easy, but it is ALWAYS worth it!

Angels will always surround you if you ask.  It's okay to squeeze really hard!

Blood going into your body is COLD and blood coming out is HOT. Your body is AMAZING!

Kindness  is never forgotten. Most importantly though is, you are never alone.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Shingles Go on Houses, Not on People!

So, the latest news is that I woke up on Monday with a fun little case of the shingles. Thus, I am still in the hospital just chillin'. Today I woke up with a swollen eye and they had the eye doctor come in to make sure the shingles weren't spreading to my eye.

Fast forward to Sunday. I feel GREAT! I'm ready to bust out of here. I feel like I've been sitting here for three days just waiting for them to let me go. Its a little bit out of control. I guess if it is meant to be it will happen, but I am definitely pushing for Tuesday or Wednesday so that I can get home before or on my birthday. It is just frustrating cause I don't feel sick, maybe a little weak, cause I can't do anything but walk in circles, but I'm ready to bust out of this joint!

Sorry the post is short and grumpy today. I'm ready to be outta here baby!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Warm Turkey...

So, yesterday on Facebook I made a comment about how I was addicted to football and my friend Dre said that was an addiction that was ok, kind of like breathing, and eating and you couldn't just go cold turkey, no football is just not possible.  Well... will someone take that turkey out of the oven, cause it's done! Let me tell you about my two favorite football teams.

1. BYU- I will never stop being a BYU fan. I don't hate on Jake Heaps, or Riley Nelson or anyone else who may have forgot to "honey up" their hands last night, however, I'm slightly worried that Jimmer may have taken all of our miracle juice for the year. Silly Jimmer.

2. The Colts- Ya.... only a few words for that one too. Payton Manning, neck injury, season... obliterated. But, we still love Austin Collie... I think he is hurt right now though too.

The good thing about warm turkey is that it tastes delicious and there were some good things this morning that helped to season up that yummy bird.

In dialysis the supervisor had her grandson with her. He was probably the cutest kid I've seen all week! No, bur really, he was very cute and he was playing with an iphone application that he could ask questions and it would say yes or no back to him.  I started answering his questions instead and we had a good little conversation cause he started thinking of more questions to ask and laughing and getting excited. He was very cute.

Also, for the first 2 hours of dialysis I was able to watch the movie 17 Miracles that Sister Larsen brought to me. It was a great movie, after which Trevor gave me the play by play of the Sunday School lesson. All in all, so far its been a good day.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Underpants?

Underpants, what a funny word. Yes.. I'm starting a post for you today with the word underpants. I could have gone with long-johns, unders, arounds or even overs, but just for you, I chose to write about the complete and utter awkwardness of being basically completely exposed every time I wiggle my pinkie finger in the wrong direction.

Let me just tell you, the "nursery rhyme" I see London, I see France, I see "insert name here's" underpants is sure a whole lot funnier when you are 6 years old. It becomes even less funny when you are suddenly "living" with 10 other people and everyone is walking around in a drape with a giant hole in the back.  I guess they have to provide us with some kind of entertainment to keep up occupied huh?

Although, I must admit, being on a floor where both patients and nurses have moustaches that have outlived me can make for some interesting stories.

Yesterday I got to take a jog or two around the nurses station. Yeah, that's right. I jogged. It was invigorating! One time, I leaned over to pick up a piece of paper and almost won the race face first. I guess now I know what it feels like to be a little "tipsy." I think I'll stay away from that for umm... ever. I must admit I felt a little like this guy. Not quite sure which way I was going to end up going.

My doctor came by today and it sounds like I'm slowly taking baby steps towards getting my little bum on the move outta here. The platelet counts are still slowly going up.  They are thinking they may have to start the chemo drug treatments before they do the biopsy though because the platelets are just being slow pokes.  This could be a good thing, because they might discharge me earlier than expected  since I'm doing so much better, but it could also be a bummer because I'll have to have an outpatient procedure when they finally reach high enough levels.

No definitive word yet though, still playing the waiting game for now. Hopefully I will hear from the other two doctors soon and they can give me some good news. After all.. who wants to watch an intense BYU/Utah football game in a hospital room? BOO!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Movin' on Up!

That's right, minute by minute news updates comin' atcha from the THIRD floor, or as I'd like to affectionately call it, Cloud Nine! Yes folks, I've been moved to the KID-KNEE floor. Here, they will ... do more of the exact same thing... except my room is bigger... and.. I have a shower.... a shower being a chair that I can sit in and kind of wash off.  Its an exciting thing!

Sad news though, I talked to the nutritionist today to find out exactly what is restricted on my diet until my Kidneys start to get better... The good news is this...

I can still eat meat, both white and red.  I can have some of the fruits and vegetables that I love, not all, but some and I can very sparingly eat my favorites, such as tomatoes, potatoes and peaches.  They are mostly on the no-no list. No more of the mashed goodies :( Maybe I'll be able to eat them by Thanksgiving, cause that would be fantastic!

So, even though cloud nine is obviously pretty dang sweet... there are still some snags that I'd rather not deal with.  Don't worry through friends, I'll keep you updated as the events of the third floor unravel and weave their fun little tale.

Escapee in the East Wing

Well.. it was a nice interesting night last night up in the E-Wing of the UVRMC.  I feel so bad for the patients who get confused and don't quite understand what is going on. My new neighbor didn't understand why she was in the hospital and DID NOT want to have oxygen on.  She pulled her oxygen mask off at least 4 different times in the middle of the night. The alarms all went off each time because her oxygen levels weren't high enough for her to continue breathing.  I feel bad for those people who just don't understand.  They had to eventually tie her arms to her bed so that she would not be in danger of removing her mask and passing away overnight due to lack of oxygen.  Needless to say, it was an interesting night in the E-Wing, lots of yelling, sedation and confusion. Luckily, I was able to still get a few hours of sleep.

Don't worry I'll keep you updated as more excitement and fun goes down I'm sure we haven't seen the end of it.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

The Girl with the Lightning Scar!

Well folks, it has happened... I finally rough and tumbled myself into quite the predicament. After a week and a half of coughing and hacking and getting weaker and weaker I decided to check myself into the E.R. Well.. friends, dang good thing that I did. They have since discovered a weird creature living inside me called pneumonia.  I don't know what the heck he thinks he is doing in there, I have told him multiple times that he isn't welcome or appreciated, but whatever. Then... of course, my friend Anemia decides he wants to join in the fun. Turns out that the reason I had been so weak lately was because I had less than half of my blood in my body. I guess they were having a little civil war in there and the wrong side was winning, so, thanks to the kindly donations of the lovely A+ students at BYU and UVU  I was able to receive 4 units of the juicy red stuff which has helped me to feel much better.

Unfortunately, in addition, my Kidneys have decided that they need to also cause problems. They are trying to stop working on me too.  So, I get to have dialysis. WOO... so.. NOT fun. Its cool though, my scar count will go from ... like... 3 or 4 to like 45 after this hospital stay.  I already have about 14 to add to the count! Don't worry,  I requested one to look like the Harry Potter lightning bolt, we'll see if that pans out. Its on my neck so it probably will look more like a Vampire bite.. yikes.

Well.. tomorrow should be a fun day though.  I will start dialysis in the morning.. at like 6:30 am or something like that... followed by a kidney biopsy.  For those of you who don't know. THIS is the needle they will put into my back and get fluid off of my kidney so that they know what is going on back there. Ya.. it's cool.. I know I'm brave! I guess it looks whimpy in this picture... but I've had it done before. Its a little larger than it appears.

That is how its rollin right now in the land of the happy and home of the brave.  However, I would like to offer a little shout out to everyone who has come to say hi! I would just name everyone.. and don't think I can't remember... but then it would just be a boring list of names.

Anyways, I just wanted to let everyone know that yes I'm alive, yes I'm still breathing and my heart is beating. I'm keeping the nurses and visitors entertained (I'm their favorite.. even though they may not admit it) and I'm getting better and better at telling cheesy jokes and making sarcastic remarks. Don't worry though I'm still the same 'ole me.

So.. the moral of the story... don't run faster than is needful. Stop and smell the flowers.  Remember who you are. Don't forget to brush your teeth. Smile like you mean it. Keep on truckin! BUT, Never give up and never give in. Life is full of surprises,

Take care of yourself you beautiful people.. and you won't end up like me... in the hospital with a bag of crayons, a goofy hair-do and a cheesy grin with the silly story of how I ended up as the girl with the lightning scar.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

ksl.com - BYU basketball reunites missionary and convert after 40 years

ksl.com - BYU basketball reunites missionary and convert after 40 years

For anyone who follows BYU Basketball, very cool story about the power of friendship and love and missionary work.

Hope of things to Come

“Everybody in this life has their challenges and difficulties. That is part of our mortal test. The reason for some of these trials cannot be readily understood except on the basis of faith and hope because there is often a larger purpose which we do not always understand. Peace comes through hope.”- James E Faust

I have been studying hope and faith this week, and especially today.  It has been an interesting 6 years for me out here at BYU. I have had ups and downs of which I never expected to experience, yet at the same time, I never wish to trade for anything.  The experiences, the faith and the Hope of better things to come have and that there is something important I am supposed to learn or help someone else learn from these things, trials and circumstances I have been given.

If you have any extra time, I highly encourage you to read the quotes that follow.  They are inspiring and remind me of what  I'm here for and why sometimes life has to be hard.

Genuine hope is urgently needed in order to be more loving even as the love of many waxes cold; more merciful, even when misunderstood or misrepresented; more holy, even as the world ripens in iniquity; more courteous and patient in a coarsening and curt world; and more full of heartfelt hope, even when other men’s hearts fail them. Whatever our particular furrow, we are to ‘plow in hope,’ without looking back or letting yesterday hold tomorrow hostage (1 Cor. 9:10).”- Neal A Maxwell

"Hope . . . is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear."- Dieter F Utchdorf

"The things we hope for lead us to faith, while the things we hope in lead us to charity." Elder Utchdorf

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

A Day Late and A Dollar Short

So, I posted my Jimmertines yesterday but didn't get around to putting up my hearts for the year. Also, in honor of the first year for a while without a Valentine I will also include ten things I love.  Here are the hearts for this time around.

1. I love friends.
2. I love family.
3. I love sappy chick flicks.
4. I love God's little reminders.
5. I love memories.
6. I love goodness.
7. I love chocolate.
8. I love roommates.
9. I love Christmas.
10. I love a day that is all about showing love.

Happy late Valentine's day, enjoy the pictures.



Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Be Still and Know

Recently I have been thinking a lot about the verse found in Psalms, "Be Still, and Know that I am God." Lately, life has been a little bit out of control. I work full time, but that isn't necessarily why life is crazy. I haven't been taking time to myself like I should. I was able to see these pictures up close and personal in October while they were on display at the Nauvoo visitor center. I don't want to say much about them, other than that these pictures are nearest to how I picture Christ.  The details in the real photographs are impeccable and every picture brings peace and reminds me to "Be Still."  All pictures are credited to Mark Mabry and can be found on his site "Reflections of Christ."   
Because of this new sense of peace and comfort that I have found through things happening in my life I've found myself to be:

Overly optimistic               
At peace
Smiling and laughing more often
Patient
Quiet and Thoughtful
Filled with love
Kinder
More willing to serve

I guess the point of this post would be to encourage anyone who bothers to read it to be a little nicer, give a little more often, smile at a stranger, laugh out loud, at yourself and remember to simply, Be Still.