Sorry for the Delay!

I am sorry we haven't posted sooner!  I am sure that most people who follow this blog already know, but we never made it official.  Jackson's scans were all clear!  The spot that was seen in the previous MRIs was gone, and all is well!

Dr. Granger said that at our next clinic visit in a month or 2, we should talk about ending our scan schedule.  Talk about anxiety!  I told Dr. Granger that she would have to sell that one to Kayla.

The boys are doing great, and we are all excited for Jackson's Make-a-Wish trip in September.  They are sending us to Disney World, and the boys can't wait!  Kayla's mom (Kathie) and Aunt Degi are coming with us, which is all too appropriate since they were KEY in helping us get through NY for Jackson's surgery and Austin's diabetes diagnosis.  We still can't thank you both enough.

I guess I haven't mentioned anything about my recent joint pains, so here goes.  A few months ago, I hurt my back (which happens every year or so).  I was in lots of pain for two weeks, and then suddenly began having pain in my joints (knees, shoulder, ankles, hip, wrists and fingers.  I went to several doctors and received minimal help.  Finally, after some reading, I asked my primary doctor to run a Rheumatoid Factor test.  It came back slightly elevated and I was referred to a Rheumatologist.  I was told I would have to wait months for a new patient appointment, and I had called almost every office on my health insurance plan.  Finally, I widened my criteria and called an office or two in Dallas.  I found one that had an appointment a few days later, and they ran a bunch of tests and determined I probably have Psoriatic Arthritis (an autoimmune disease).  I have tried several frontline medications (NSAIDS) with no help.  Now I am on methotrexate which will take a few months before I can tell if it is helping.  It is a chemo agent, that when given in low doses can be very helpful in suppressing the immune system and reducing symptoms.  I hope it works!  Well sort of.  The downside is that it makes me very tired and VERY sick to my stomach.  I had a really bad flare up in my left arm about a week or so ago, and took a round of steroids which helped a lot.  Unfortunately, I think they wore off today, because my back is killing me again, and my knee pain is back.  We will see what happens.

Kayla is excited and nervous about her new job.  She is starting in a couple weeks at the boys school (Children's University) as the school nurse.  The scrubs she picked out, while cute, are not the type of outfit that I had imagined...It will be so great that she will be able to be close to the boys and help manage Austin's blood sugar so well.

We are really lucky to have each other and such a wonderful supporting group of family and friends.  It has been just over two years since our world was turned upside down, but it really has opened our eyes to what is truly important.  Right now is all we are promised.  While we do make plans for the future, we enjoy each moment as it comes and take nothing for granted.

-Joe