Christmas time in Virginia

Micah and I spent Christmas in Virginia with my parents, Jason's family and Christy's family. It was so nice to see all of our extended family and to take a trip into D.C. Every Christmas since my mom was little, the family has gone out to eat chinese on Christmas day and it's funny to see the crowds get bigger and bigger as the years pass. My favorite part of Christmas is sitting with my grandparents and watching my neices and nephews open their gifts...to me, that is the best!

Clinicals are over!!!

My crazy Adult Health clinical group!

I learned so much at Princeton but I am SO glad it's over.

I was kinda getting sick of being a glorified babysitter

with the occasional option to start some IV's and change

nasty dressings filled with MRSA!

OB Clinical was so much fun at Brookwood.

I thought Labor and Delivery was my calling as a Nurse,
we'll just have to wait and see.

Pulmonary Embolism

In the beginning of August I started to notice that I would have some episodes where I could not get a full breath. I would be sitting on the couch watching TV or about to go to bed and I would have an episode where I was short-of-breath. This would occur about 1-2 times a day with marked dizziness occurring periodically. Finally, Micah convinced me to go to the Doctor who gave me an inhaler thinking it might be asthma related and set up an appointment for a CT scan to rule out any problems with my lungs.

Micah and I arrived at the Kirkland Clinic for my CT scan. This whole week I noticed more incidences where I would experience shortness of breath and dizziness. It was getting worse and so was my anxiety about it. The radiologist came into the room after the scan and told me that there was a clot in my lower left lung and that I had a Pulmonary Embolism. I was in shock. I was very scared and worried about what would happen next. She told me that she would walk my husband and I over to the ER were I was to be seen immediately and admitted to the hospital. We arrived at the ER and within 2 minutes were back in a room where I was hooked on a heart monitor and also given my first dose of Lovenox which is a blood thinner. After 10 hours in the ER, we were put into a room at UAB hospital. I was put on Coumadin and Lovenox to thin my blood. A pulmonary specialist came to see me everyday I was in the hospital. He asked me if I was on any birth control. I told him that I was not on any at the time but I used to be on Ortho Evra, and Ortho Tri-Cycline. He asked me if I had been on any long trips lately, to which I answered no…I have not been on a plane or long car ride for a very long time. He also asked if I had a family history of clots. I had just gotten off the phone with my mom and dad who told me that no one in my family had ever experienced clots, DVT’s or Pulmonary Embolisms at a young age. Dr. Bettacchi then told us I was going to get a Doppler test done on my legs to look for clots, and a EKG to look at my heart. He said that until we have any other reason to suspect, we are going to blame the pulmonary embolism on birth control.

So to end this long story, I am on Coumadin to thin my blood and will be on it for about a year and a half. I am so grateful that it's not worse and that they caught it early enough. I know that through this all my Father in Heaven was watching over me and blessing me with health. I feel so blessed to have a body and I know that as I take care of myself I will get better and as I have a positive attitude I will be able to understand the reason why this happened.

I don't have any pictures from when I was in the hospital but Micah insisted that he take a picture of what the lovenox shots did to my stomach...man those shots burn!

We were able to go out to Utah to visit some of Micah's family and be with his Gran on her first trip to the Bountiful Temple. It was such a great weekend even if it was a fast trip.

"In the NAVY we can Sail the Seven Seas....."

Micah signed with the Navy!!! He was accepted for their Healthcare Professionals Scholorship and our prayers have been answered. The Navy will pay for his school, books, equipments, and give us a stipend each month. We will owe them 3 years after Micah graduates where Micah will be an Optometrist on a base. We are hoping for a base in Virginia or D.C. so we'll see. I am so amazed at where our life is going because if you would've asked me 2 years ago about Micah serving in the Navy I would've been the first in line to disapprove. But through faith and prayer we have come to realize that this is an amazing opportunity that Micah really wants to do. We'll just have to wait and see where it takes us...

Orange Beach with the Duffy's =)

Our first trip down to the Gulf Shores was amazing. I can't believe how beautiful the beaches are!!! We were shocked and are now big fans. I can't wait to spend more fun times there with friends.

Haircut

You know the feeling...for about a week you stare in the mirror at your boring hair that you can't do anything with and think..."I'm just gonna cut it all off....that's it, I'm doing it". Well even though 6 inches isn't the most drastic cut of my life....I regret it just like I always do...haha, oh well, it's just hair!

Micah's White Coat Ceremony

Micah's family came to Birmingham for Micah's White Coat Ceremony. It was so nice to have some of his family here for the occasion. Micah is now a second year and getting his white coat signifies starting work in the clinic setting. Only 2 more years to go....

We Painted

Here is the apartment...I need to put up more pictures of it but we are happy with how the stripes turned out. Micah helped so much!

Bush Gardens

Micah went on every ride that Caleb wanted
Micah and Jeremy rode EVERY Rollercoaster!
Kenna LOVED the swings...I got dizzy after the 10th time ;)
Kenna and Caleb in "Italy" stompin some grapes
Sweet Uncle Micah holding a very tired McKenna

Water Country USA!

On our tour of fun things to do in Virginia, we spent an awesome day at the water park near Bush Gardens...short lines, clear skies, warm day....it was perfect!!! McKenna went down all the big slides with her Aunt Missy and Uncle Micah...except this one where my bottoms got permanently wedged you know where. ;)

Colorado Bryant's first trip to the Beach!!

Virginia Beach was a blast!!! The kids had never seen an ocean before considering Colorado is not on the coast ;). McKenna and Caleb were in the water the entire day...and besides Caleb constantly spitting out the salt water...it was the perfect day. And who knew the Vulcan was in Virginia too...;)

Williamsburg

We loved taking Paula, Jeremy and the kids to Williamsburg. There are so many cool things to do as long as you dodge the horse poop in the streets you'll be set. =) McKenna and Caleb liked the different clothes and food but it was so hot we all just wanted to get back to the hotel to go swimming.

Virginia with the Bryant's

We visited my family up in Virginia for a couple weeks. Jason and Tina live there too and it was great spending time with their kids. It was also great seeing Grandma Bryant who we never get to see anymore. Jason, Paula and the kids also flew out from Colorado for some fun!!!

D.C. to ride the metro!!

Micah and I took my brother Jason's family and my brother Jeremy's family into D.C. one day to ride the "exciting metro". One of my nephews, Caleb, loves anything having to do with trains/metro's/anything that you can ride on a rail :). He (and Micah) were also very excited to go to the Air and Space Meuseum since both of them have a thing for planes. It was a fun day with family in our Nation's Capital.

Myrtle Beach with the Kinney's

Myrtle Beach is always fun with Micah's family. Every June we spend a week with Micah's Dad and his family and with Micah's sister and her family. We never miss it!