Take Steps, Doctors, Baseball, & What not to wear take 2

Wow I feel like its been a long time since I’ve blogged…I’ve been so busy with baseball and doctors and baseball and doctors and just plain worn out from all of it but I’m still here and I’m still kicking so here is whats been happening:

Back on June 13th we did our Take Steps For Crohns and Colitis Walk. Our team was “Steppin' out for Catherine Sarah” and we had a great time. J and B were able to come with us and my other son (J’s brother from another mother) came with us too. We all met at K’s house and got some hugs and kisses from Pen



and then J drove us down to the CMU parking lot





We hopped on the shuttle bus and headed to the Park for the walk









And walk we did….3 miles….here are some highlights:







Some did a little climbing too!




It was a very nice walk but my suggestion to them would be to pick a level 3 miles for me next time!!! I do not like hills…I cannot walk up hills, no I can’t, I cannot do it they make me pant. Hahaha I thought they were going to have to drag me that last mile but I made it YES I DID.





According to CCFA the Burgh walk was very successful. Over 800 walkers gathered at the Park. So far $175,000 has been raised with more funds still coming in! Thanks again to everyone who walked and donated and supported us and others. I hope we can do it again next year.





So why all the doctor visits??? Well I got my CT Scan results and they saw a few things that needed a closer look so off to more doctors I went and will go. They saw a little something on my uterus so I went to my GYN and he looked over the report and didn’t think it was anything to be concerned about especially since I am not having any pain and he could not feel anything. Still he wanted me to go for an ultra sound just to be sure so I went and had it and while I was at it I had the bone scan that my GI has been wanting me to have (because of taking steroids). The bone scan was fine and the ultra sound showed that I have some fluid in my fallopian tube which at this time doesn’t need anything done about it since I am not planning on having any more children. They also saw what appears to be a cyst in my booby that has filled back up with fluid so I have an appointment with the surgeon to see if it should be drained again or what??? I of course have to follow up with my GI about all of this plus I have some narrowing in what is left of my ileum and a polyp on my gallbladder. I also went back to my PCP because the med that he put me on for my migraines was causing some very strange side effects. The migraines were gone YAY but I felt like I was going crazy. I was having trouble concentrating, remembering things, and getting easily confused and feeling just plain stupid most of the time. So he switched me to a different med. I have to follow up with him in a month to see how that pill is working.

The rest of my time (awake) has been spent at baseball. The past two weeks Brian has had a game every night. He had a wooden bat tournament last weekend, 6 games 3 of which were on Sunday. It was exhausting but worth it because they did very well. They took 2nd place and B had the only homerun of the entire tournament. I was one proud mama. This week B also started a 6 week baseball and condition program. Monday thru Thursday from 8:30 – 11:30 and he had a game every night this week too. He had another tournament this weekend with another 3 games on Sunday and another 2nd place. J has been working at the high school and coaching a local colt baseball team and playing baseball when he can. I got to one of his games so far and watched him coach. That was a lot of fun but strange watching him coach instead of play. I haven’t had a chance to get to one of his games to watch him play yet…hopefully soon. I am feeling rather old these days because J was in his friends wedding this weekend. His friend from high school. Yes one of my sons friends got married. Yes he is only 20 and very young to be getting married but it still makes me feel very very very old. I was at baseball with B so I can’t wait to see the pictures of J in his Tux.

What Not To Wear Update!!!
What not to wear to baseball:



Now I personally think I have a much better figure but I still would not be caught dead out in public wearing this and I think if I did my kids would kill me. No one is safe when I have a camera on me :)

Love, Laugh and Always know where the nearest bathroom is…

Picnics and Piggy Toes???

A three day weekend and here we are in June! And a busy weekend it was. What a way to end the month of May. Baseball, picnics, sunshine, family, good food, homeruns, and a beautiful baby girl I love with all my heart!!! After a little break B had two baseball games. They were just practice games but still a nice opportunity to get to see him play and a homerun is a homerun in my book practice game or not GO B!!!





J is officially moved back home for the summer (doing a dance right now)and I have the piles of laundry and maze of extra furniture to prove it plus a very large supply of creatine???



Three Picnics this weekend, all with wonderful family and friends who I love spending time with and the food YUM! There is nothing better after starving all morning and afternoon at a baseball game then going right to someone’s house and eating a LOT of wonderful food (none of which you had to prepare) Nom nom nom!!! Then spending the rest of the evening taking pictures of my favorite baby girls piggy toes!!!





The weekend was so great I almost forgot that this Wednesday was my forth week Wednesday which meant it was time to shoot up the Cimzia WOOP!!!



I can’t believe I almost forgot…I usually stress over it for a few days before. That hate of needles thing ya know. It was kind of nice doing without the stress for a change.

Well we are getting closer to our walk date. 9 days and counting, nails are painted purple



T-Shirts are here (I have to tweak them a bit; need to add cousin, niece to a few of them :)



Fundraising continues

http://tiny.cc/63lsy

Excitement level very high YAY!

Love, Laugh and Always know where the nearest bathroom is…

Lots of Good Stuff

Well the end of my week was somewhat uneventful compared to the three days of birthday celebrating. The good news is that my tummy has settled down and the benefits of my Gluten Free diet have kicked back in. It’s clear that when I’m having a flare even the GF can’t help me but that’s ok because it’s helping me the rest of the time.

Btw have I told you how wonderful my family is? They are so loving and supportive. They are always looking out for me. My beautiful niece K just gave me some very good GF news so I looked up the details so that I could share it with you:

Gluten-Free Bun Available at Every Eat’n Park!

We have an exciting announcement for our guests who have celiac disease: we now have a gluten-free bun available in all of our restaurants! This new rice/tapioca-based bun is similar to an Italian-style roll, and we think you’re going to love it. Unlike some other gluten-free breads, it doesn’t have a dry, crumbly texture. In fact, it’s delicious!

We’ve always done our best of cater to our guests’ various dietary needs, and the back of our menu is a great resource for anyone on a low-calorie, reduced-sodium, vegetarian, or celiac-friendly diet. However, for those with gluten allergies, this new bun opens up a whole new world of celiac-friendly possibilities at Eat’n Park.

Below is a list of our menu items that can now be enjoyed gluten-free with the substitution of the new bun:

Burgers:
Black Angus American Grill Burger
Black Angus BBQ Bacon and Cheddar Burger
Classic Black Angus Burger
Classic Black Angus Cheeseburger
Black Angus Superburger
Black Angus Mushroom and Onion Burger

Sandwiches:
Philly Steak and Cheese
Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich
Santa Fe Turkey and Bacon
Chicken and Portobella Hoagie
BLT

Breakfast Sandwiches:
All-American Scrambler
Texas-Sized Scrambler
Skinny Scrambler

Just ask your server to substitute the new bun with your next meal, and as always, be sure let him or her know if you have a gluten allergy, so that we can avoid cross-contact with gluten ingredients when preparing your meal.

On the vitamin front I am wondering if the D3 tablets are absorbing properly. Since I’ve switched from the 50,000 IU D to the D3 I have started having the morning nausea, fatigue, and headaches again. The morning nausea is the worst of these three things. I wake up feeling so sick I have no choice but to go back to bed. Blah! I am going to switch to the liquid D3 and see if that works better.

Baseball News: B is recovering from a hamstring pull and was not able to play yesterday or today. Depending on how he is feeling he may get to play Monday or Wednesday. J and his team continue to do well. His games were away today (NY to be exact) so I didn’t get to go.

While you are here please check out the new link on the right for the Take Steps For Crohns & Colitis. I am so excited to be raising money for such an important cause and to be walking this year with my family. If you are able to please walk with us, make a small donation, and/or pray for the members of our team.

Love, Laugh, and always know where the nearest bathroom is

An Update and a Special Request

I am happy to report that this week I am feeling a little better. Still exhausted but the joint pain is not as bad, I have less nausea, and I think I went an entire day without a headache. I am hoping the next three days will continue to be good ones because, are you sitting down, on Sunday I have to prep for my colonoscopy!!! Blahhhhhhh!!! So think of me in my corner sipping my clear liquids and toxic waste but try not to picture me running to the bathroom.

I am also happy to report that I (with the help of my wonderful husband) made my first loaf of gluten free cinnamon raisin bread last weekend and it is very good. I am so happy to have some bread in my life again and I am looking forward to finding/making other wonderful gluten free foods.

Now I would like to ask a favor. If you happen to have an extra $5.00 or are looking for a wonderful cause to support please consider making a donation to a fellow crohnie who is participating in the Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis walk this summer. You can donate online at:

http://online.ccfa.org/site/TR/Walk/Chapter-SouthwestOhio?px=1957383&pg=personal&fr_id=1797

More than 1.4 million patients across the country suffer from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Beyond raising money for research, Take Steps brings together the community in a fun and energetic atmosphere. Participants are encouraged to make noise and be heard—raising awareness of these little known diseases.
If you are able to please consider supporting their efforts by making a tax deductible contribution.

Your support of even $5.00, will help fund important research and raise awareness of diseases that affect millions of people.

Another way you can help spread awareness:

If you have a twitter account on 3/14 please use #Crohns at the end of all your tweets in hopes of a trending topic to spread awareness.

Thank you so much

Love, laugh, and always know where the nearest bathroom is