Hey everyone! I'm sorry I've been so MIA; believe me, I would MUCH rather be on these boards than dealing with the crudiness that has been the past month.
To summarize the simple things:
~ My law firm had a time consuming move to a different building, so until this week, I've been working some major over time. We're all settled in our beautiful new space, though.
~ Brad & I moved apartments the same time my firm was moving; talk about stress! We are officially moved as of last Saturday, and he's being wonderful by unpacking for me while I'm at work.
Two main reasons I haven't been on:
~ My 18 year old cousin was diagnosed with a pretty serious heart condition. She's got to have surgery on her heart. We lost another cousin of ours a couple years ago (he was in his late 20s) because of heart issues. So, we're all a bit shaken about this and praying our hearts out that things are easily fixable. We're awaiting a surgery date at a heart hospital in Austin.
~ My dad went in for a physical and found out he has a major hernia; he's scheduled for surgery on May 7th (a week from today.)
And, the main reason I've been MIA:
~Three weeks ago, I was sitting at work preparing for a moving project for some of my cases, and I lost my vision. It went completely dark for a few minutes, then all I could see was flashing lights. (You know how when you rub your eyes, you see those light spots? That's all I could see.) So, I was obviously sent home from work. I was in horrible pain that night; my head was beyond throbbing and I still couldn't focus on anything (once the lights stopped.) The next day, we called my asthma specialist to see if this could be a side affect of the steroids, and she said no. She rushed me in to an internal medicine specialist that she knows and trusts; so, I went that day to have some blood work done. They've put me on some pain pills for the throbbing in my head, but I can't take them at work because they knock me out.
Well, we got my blood work results back, and the initial tests aren't good. My white cell blood count is high, my protein levels are high, and I tested positive on a test called an ANA screening. (This is an initial test they use to see if you could have some sort of auto-immune disease.) My asthma specialist and new internal medicine specialist pulled me off the steroids; they weren't working, and after my blood work results, they think something else is making my breathing difficult, not asthma.
I'm scheduled for more blood work this coming Monday (the 4th) as they wanted to make sure all of the steroids are out of my system; they are going to re-do the ANA test (she said sometimes, false positives happen, but she kept making sure I understood that it's only a sometimes/not often thing). If that tests positive again, they'll use the rest of my blood work to start testing for specific auto-immune diseases - these can be something basic causing my headaches and difficulty breathing to something as serious as most forms of cancer (specifically, luekemia.)
They're rushing my blood work back, and I go in on Wednesday (the 6th) to discuss the results and go from there.
I've basically been trucking to work, toughing it out without pain pills, then going home, taking a pain pill, and crashing for the night. I'm still having horrible vision issues and everything is blurry 99% of the time right now.
I'm so sorry I've gotten beyond with all of your plans!! Our trip is on a major standstill right now until we find out what is wrong with me; if it's something major and requires extensive treatments, we won't be going this year. I think I've been avoiding the boards until I know for sure what is going on because I don't want to think about the fact that we may have to cancel.
We don't have internet set up at our new apartment yet, so I'm updating quickly from work. I promise that I'll keep checking in and updating all of you, though.
In the mean time, give me something to distract myself. I am way too behind to catch up on everyone's PTR/TR, so please leave me a comment with any major updates that you all have had in your lives and/or reports the past few weeks!
I don't blame you one bit. I'd never want to fly again either! I've never been on an airplane. I've flown in a helicopter but not an airline. I don't know that I have a desire to be flown anywhere but the weird thing is....I would like to learn how to pilot a plane myself. 
I guess I just feel safer when in control. I also wanted to say beautiful wedding picture! I LOVE the ears!
I hope all is well with you and your mom! 
Get well soon!
