So Long Remicade!

It has been way too long since I have blogged. I have thought about it many times but really my schedule this semester hasn't allowed for much of anything besides school work and student organization activities. I am finally taking a really short break from homework. Although this semester has been absolutely hectic it has been a wonderful semester. 

This semester is my first semester of candidacy which means that I am student teaching three days a week and in classes the other two days. The class load is a lot and can be overwhelming at times, but in the end it will be well worth it. I am thoroughly enjoying my student teaching experience in second grade. I look forward to the days I get to go to the school. 

It was the first day of classes and I got to have lunch with this cutie!

Some pretty amazing classmates and friends. 

What a sweet surprise to have this sweet friends bring cupcakes for my birthday to my CT's classroom. 

I have also had the honor to serve as president for two student organizations. I have thoroughly enjoyed serving as an officer of NSCS. One of our biggest events was held just a few weeks ago and my momma was so gracious to come down and help me for five days around this event. Future Educators is Action is a new student organization in The College of Education and have had the privilege to serve as the founding president. One of the things I have enjoyed most about being involved in student organizations is all of the amazing individuals that I have the opportunity to work with. 

Along with an extremely hectic schedule comes a lot of stress and Crohn's doesn't really like stress. I am working hard to keep a positive attitude no matter how I am feeling. The Lord has given me immunity from the many germs in the schools and I have remarkably been able to stay relatively free of viruses and colds. 

Crohn's has become a little bit of a challenge for me recently, but I am thankful the Lord has given the doctor's the wisdom and discernment to treat my case. Back at the beginning of October I was seen by a gastroenterologist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. This visit came at the direction of my doctor in Pensacola to see someone with an even deeper knowledge of Crohn's Disease and could give some recommendations. It was a very long day of several doctor's appointments and tests, but we were able to get a better grasp on a treatment plan for my Crohn's. 

Tomorrow I will get another Remicade treatment and it will hopefully be one of my last treatments, if not the last Remicade treatment for me. I have been on Remicade for two years this month. Remicade has served its purpose but the infusion reactions are becoming worse and its effectiveness is not as strong. Right before Thanksgiving I will have another colonoscopy and upper GI scope. After this step I will hopefully switch to Humira self injectables. If there is a strictures in my intestines I will undergo another bowel resectioning over Christmas break. I am praying that there is no strictures or that they are able to balloon them open in the colonoscopy. I am looking forward to switching medications to the self injectables and the hope is that I won't have as much of the pain I have with my infusions. 

With a new treatment plan comes so many unknowns, anxiousness, and a little bit of fear. As I continue through this journey, my constant prayer is that I would see my Crohn's as a blessing. I don't know exactly how The Lord wants to use this in my life but I do know that He has a plan. The plans I think I have for my life pale in comparison for the things the Lord has for my life. He will continue to be my source of joy and strength. 

My Blessing in Disguise

As a friend and I were talking last night we talked about how the Lord has used Crohn's Disease as a Blessing in Disguise in my life. Yes, Crohn's has its ups and downs, but as I continue on this journey I continue to see how The Lord has used it in many different ways for myself and for others. I am continually amazed as He reveals Himself in my life, even through the tough situations. 

I was diagnosed during my Freshman year in college. I had made new friends the beginning of fall semester and was enjoy college. By the time Spring semester came around, I began to get very sick. I was hard for me to keep up with all the things my friends were doing. I did my best to hang out with them, but wasn't able to do nearly all they were able to do. The night before my colonoscopy, and ultimately the night before I was diagnosed with Crohn's, my very sweet friends and sisters in Christ brought me a card, journal, and prayed with me. Little did all three of us realize that life was about to drastically change for me. The thing I reminded myself of is that none of this took God by surprise! Although I had just met these sweet friends a few months before, they have stuck by me through every step of Crohn's Disease. There were many months where I couldn't do much, but they continued to pray for me and encourage me. Can I please say that I have some of the world's greatest friends? From the many tears we have shared, calls and texts made, encouraging words exchanged, prayer time, visits to the infusion center, and accompanying me to doctor's appointments, I am reminded of how truly blessed I am. No words could ever express how thankful I am for the friends the Lord has placed in my life. 

Truly blessed by and thankful for my sisters in Christ

Two very sweet friends

I went into flare a few weeks ago due to stress and am starting to wean back off of my steroids. I am not fond of steroids, but I also know that in times of flare, they are the only thing that can help me to bounce back. As I continue to wean off of steroids and prepare for my next infusion treatment, I continue to rely on God for strength. Both infusions and flares are hard for me, but I also know that with Christ I can walk through anything. When we trust in Him, God won't give us more than we can handle with His help. We can't do things on our own, but He is ready to help, if we will place our trust in Him and rely on Him for strength. 

This summer is flying by for sure! I got a chance to visit my family at Nolin Lake in Kentucky and see my extended family for July 4th at the beach. I can't believe that I only have two more weeks before my summer class is over. After summer class ends I have a few weeks to enjoy before Fall semester begins. I'm sad that summer is flying by, but excited to see what the Fall semester brings. 

 Road trip time!

Love this sweet cousin!

God painted a beautiful picture!

One of my favorite pics from the lake weekend

Another picture of God's masterpiece 

We momentarily got three of us in the hammock. 

Tyler won't be riding with us anymore... He is scared we will sending him flying

At least we didn't roll the Jet Ski this time...

 Stephanie, Emily, and I had a blast on the tube

A little fun on the tube with mom and Leah

"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Sweet Summertime

Spring semester has ended and summer semester has begun...

Spring Semester ended and I headed up to surprise my mom early for my visit between semesters. I was so excited to surprise her and am shocked that I was able to pull it off! I pulled it off and came up a week earlier than she expected. We went to the farmer's market, a lacrosse game, and celebrated Mother's Day that weekend. Mother's Day we cooked brunch, went for a family bike ride, and then made an awesome dinner. I enjoyed being able to spend Mother's Day with my mom.

I spent three weeks at home with my family and was sad to leave them. While at home I started my summer class. This is the first summer class I have ever taken so this has been an adjustment. I am really enjoying the class in Child Life. The material is very interesting and practical. I fall more in love with the field of Child Life as I continue in this journey. The Lord has truly given me a heart for the field and a passion for work with children. I am excited to continue to learn as I go throughout the semester and take this step towards earning my certification.

I would be the one to climb on top of the train! :)

Loved exploring downtown with my cousin Anna!

What would I do without my sweet momma? So sad that I will be missing her birthday this week but can't wait to celebrate when I come up!

Being a little creative with my mom while I was up there. 

Before I left home I got to spend the weekend at our lake house in Kentucky. I LOVE it there!!! I can't wait to go back in just a few weeks. 

First of many jet ski rides this summer!

Love her!

The dog found a baby turtle and my mom saved him. :)

After returning to Mobile, things got very busy again. This summer is extremely busy, but busy in a good way. Between babysitting three very sweet kids, working in EDM lab, taking a class, being president of two organizations, and trying to have a social life, my calendar has very little white space. :)

These two gave me some of the biggest hugs when I went to the house to pick them up for Friday morning fun time! It made my heart so happy to get hugs from them. 

Tyler won by 2 points overall!

Abby Kate even got a strike.

This kid is always making me laugh!

Pit stop on the way home to Bass Pro Shop.

Macy's beautiful wedding!

These are the absolute greatest friends around.

Our apartment door needed a little boost too. :)

The Lord has blessed me with so many opportunities and I am thanking Him for them. I am excited to see what this summer holds in so many ways! 

Crohn's Update

Overall, I have been doing well with my Crohn's. I still have good days and bad days, but I enjoy the good days and take the bad ones with strides. A hard part of having Crohn's can be traveling. I have to be really careful of what I eat in the airports so that I can feel decent on my plane rides. Sitting for those extended periods of time can really take a toll on my arthritic hips, but I just make the best of it. 

After returning I got my infusion treatment and had a routine follow up with my gastroenterologist. Frankie and Jessica came to see me on their lunch break at the hospital during my infusion and rode to Pensacola with me for my doctor's appointment. The Lord has given me friends that are always going out of their way to make sure I am feeling ok or seeing how they can help. They keep me in line and are encouraging when I need a boost. I treasure their friendship and am blessed. I cannot imagine this journey without having their friendship. My family and friends been a constant support since Day 1 of this road. 

Crohn's is not always easy by any means, but the Lord gives me the strength to take one day at a time.   I don't take one thing for granted. I have the best support system around; as well as, a great medical team that treats me. 

"Hallelujah! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever." Psalms 106:1