Happy Halloween

The girls have been super excited to get to wear their Halloween costumes. They finally got to put them on yesterday for their class parties. They both picked out what they wanted to be without any influence from me. Sam chose The Flash. Apparently it is a superhero from Justice League. I don't know, I'm not very knowledgeable in superhero. Megan chose Daphne, from Scooby Doo. I know, big shock. She is a huge fan of Scooby Doo. At least I knew who that one is.


Nana and Papa with all their little goblins.

I hope you had a fun Halloween. It was a busy day to end a busy month. And it is just going to get busier with the upcoming holidays. I am already exhausted, oh please Lord give me strength.

Until next time,

Jaime

Frustration and Exhaustion

The two words that really sum up how I have been feeling is frustration and exhaustion. I am tired. Really, really tired. It could be from all the running around with kids and their activities. It could be from working. It could be from traveling with Rick to the band competitions. But it could also be from my depression. Yes, I take medicine for depression. I admit it because I am not embarrassed by it. It has been a rough couple years and so I got depressed. I am feeling a bit like I am having some more depression. Which would help to answer the tired question.

Frustration is also a big part of the exhaustion. I am frustrated with so many parts of my life right now. Frustrated with Rick's work schedule. After 16 years of working for the same company his hours are being screwed with and he goes from working 12:30pm -9:00pm to working 12:30am-9:00am. That not only screws up him, it screws up our whole family. And I worry about what that severe change to his system will do to his health.

As I am sure you have been aware I am frustrated with my kids. We have been battling with them to pick up their rooms, show respect to each other, and to stop destroying the house. By destroying I mean that they write on the walls, furniture, and basically disrespect our things. It has reached a boiling point that is about to boil over into complete disarray. They have not been showing us respect, and have been showing a complete lack of responsibility. Yes my expectations are for 6 and 9 year olds. I do realize they are just kids, but this is out of hand. And it makes me sick to see this happening in our family. I feel like I have tried so many different tactics that have all failed. I don't want to be a failure to my kids. I want them to grow up with awesome memories, not memories of always being yelled at. I don't want to yell at them, I try to avoid it as much as possible. But I just don't know what to do anymore.

That is the biggest problem that I face everyday. The girls are always fighting with each other. I am feeling like a terrible mother, like I must have done something wrong. This is not how I want our family dynamic. I am so frustrated and saddened by how things are going right now.

The second biggest frustration is the financial situation we are in right now. It has been a rough couple years and it is really hard to try to feel like I'm not drowning. All these things are not good for our marriage either. We are lucky to have formed such a close bond over the past few years. But sometimes life gets in the way and right now I am not feeling that bond as strongly which breaks my heart.

These are the reasons that I haven't been blogging much lately. I don't feel like I have anything positive to say. I have had a really hard time thinking of things to write. Nobody wants to keep reading depressing blog posts. And I really want to be funny or witty, so that is why I have been avoiding the blog. My goal is to get this all turned around now that our crazy schedule of activities is slowing down. We have a long winter ahead of us, which means a lot of time stuck together in the house. And it is going to suck if I can't get things turned around.

I am going to give it my all. I want a strong, loving family. I don't want to be frustrated and exhausted anymore!

Until next time,
Jaime

My Favorite City

Do you all remember that I love Seattle? Well, I do! I love all the water, the skyline, how it smells. I don't enjoy the traffic. But I really look forward to being able to get over to Seattle. However it isn't very often. Since the last marching band competition of the season just happens to be in Everett (just a few miles north of Seattle for those of you not familiar with the area) it is the perfect opportunity to spend a little time there before heading up to meet the band. The weather this year was typical Seattle weather. It was windy and misty. But it still smelled fantastic!! And made for some beautiful rainbows.



We took a drive around Seattle and went up to the Queen Anne neighborhood. There is a cute park that looks out over the Seattle center, which includes the Space Needle, and the downtown skyline. Can you say gorgeous?
It was a nice drive with all the beautiful fall colors. Of course we made our way to Spud's for lunch. Fish and Chips + Clam Chowder = Yummy!!!!! Seriously, it is soooo good!!!

Oh how I wish I could spend more time in my favorite city.

Until next time,
Jaime

Liver Disease Facts Part 3

It is time for another installment of Liver Disease Facts. Remember that October is Liver Disease Awareness Month. And also remember that I am totally borrowing these facts from Shawnee.

1. About 15,000 children are hospitalized every year with pediatric liver diseases or disorders. How sad is that?? Nobody would accuse the kiddos of having liver disease because of alcohol. Just saying.

2. More than 15,000 patients are currently registered on the liver transplant waiting list of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), while only about 4,500 cadaver donor livers become available for transplantation each year. That is a seriously scary statistic. It seems so simple, just be an organ donor.

3. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL) and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), obesity-related chronic liver disease, may affect as many as one in every four adults over the age of 18. Thin people or of average build can also get fatty liver. In fact, people can develop fatty liver even if they do not experience any health conditions such as obesity or diabetes. See, "Nonalcoholic".

4. Drugs can cause liver disease in several ways. Some drugs are directly injurious to the liver; others are transformed by the liver into chemicals that can be injurious to the liver directly or indirectly. (This may seem strange in light of the liver's important role in transforming toxic chemicals into nontoxic chemicals, but it happens.) There are three types of liver toxicity; dose-dependent toxicity, idiosyncratic toxicity, and drug allergy. The most important examples of dose-dependent toxicity are: Tylenol (acetaminophen), statins (cholesterol reducers), Niacin, Amiodarone (Cordarone), Methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall), many antibiotics, NSAIDs, and even some vitamins and herbs. This is exactly why it is so difficult to treat all of Rick's conditions. Since his liver is already damaged that rules out the use of so many drugs that could potentially help with the other diseases. But we of course do not want to risk damaging the liver any more, or speed up the liver failure process.


So are you bored yet? It is so important to me to get the word out that liver disease can affect anyone. Young or old. Healthy or maybe not so healthy.

Until next time,
Jaime

Soccer Saturday

Thank goodness for warmer weather. It was a very pleasant day for soccer today. Sam's team won 6-2. She played out during the first half and goalie during the second half. She was close to scoring a goal. It can be so frustrating to watch sometimes. But I really enjoy cheering her on.


Until next time,
Jaime

Daisy Scouts/Soccer Saturday

Tonight was Megan's second Daisy Girl Scout meeting. It was the first time she wore her Daisy vest. She was super excited to wear her vest and go to another meeting. We (and by "we" I mean "me") made name necklaces. And she was able to recite the Girl Scout Promise so she has earned her first official badge. It will be the center to the Daisy petals. I am so proud of her.

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Sam had a good game this past Saturday. She played goalie for the entire game. Although her team didn't win she was able to make some really great saves. And she is getting really good at her drop kick.

I have really bad at taking pictures lately. This was the first game I took pictures. She scored a goal two weeks ago. I missed the game because I was at a band competition with Rick. My Mom said that Sam was so happy. Apparently she had a HUGE smile on her face. I am really proud of how she is blossoming as a soccer player this season.

I will take some more pictures at her next game and hopefully Soccer Saturday will actually post on Saturday.

Until next time,

Jaime

Liver Disease Facts Part 2

Here is some more liver disease facts, courtesy of my friend Shawnee because she is awesome and has been putting together some great facts. Sorry for stealing your facts Shawnee, hope it is okay.

1. Liver disease often develops undetected over years, without obvious symptoms. Many people are diagnosed with liver disease after abnormalities are detected during routine blood tests. This is how Rick was diagnosed with PSC. His doctor was very concerned because his liver levels were WAY above normal.

2. Hepatitis C is the number one reason for liver transplantation in the US.

3. The liver is the only organ that can regenerate itself. I think that is actually really cool. I mean imagine such a vital organ being able to regrow and function as if nothing had ever happened to it. It is really amazing.

4. PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis) is a disease that damages and blocks bile ducts inside and outside the liver. Bile is a liquid made in the liver. Bile ducts are tubes that carry bile out of the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine. In the intestine, bile helps break down fat in food. In PSC, inflammation of the bile ducts leads to scar formation and narrowing of the ducts over time. As scarring increases, the ducts become blocked. As a result, bile builds up in the liver and damages liver cells. Eventually, scar tissue can spread throughout the liver, causing cirrhosis and liver failure. This is the liver disease that Rick has.

5. Cirrhosis is a disease of the liver in which there is a loss or a damage of liver cells, leading to the irreversible scarring of the liver. Due to the scarring of the tissues, the flow of blood through the liver is not smooth and hinders the critical functions of the organ.

The liver is certainly a complicated organ. Without a normally functioning liver the entire body can suffer. There are so many side effects and complications that come with having liver disease.

I will write about how PSC has damaged Rick's liver in an upcoming post. So stay tuned.

Until next time,
Jaime

BRRRRRRR

Where did Fall go? When did Winter arrive? Why can't it be Summer all the time? Okay I know, enough with the questions. But seriously, what happened to Fall. Two weeks ago it was in the 80's. Now we are breaking record low temperatures. It has been in the 20's at night, with daytime highs in the 30's-40's. It is 20 degrees below normal. There could be snow flurries tonight. OMG!!

I want Summer back!! I hate being cold. And I am always cold in the winter. I hate the cold weather. I think that I was meant to live in a warm climate. After the crazy winter we had last year I could go a looooooong time without seeing snow again.

This is NOT good soccer playing/watching weather. I was a soccer mom popsicle on Saturday (pictures from Soccer Saturday coming soon). And the girls were little soccer star popsicles. It was soooooooo cold. I really don't want to sit on the sidelines bundled up so much that it is hard to even watch the game.

Okay, no more complaining. I am done. But if you live somewhere warm please soak up some sun for me.

Until next time,
Jaime

A Prayer Request

I have a prayer request tonight. Rick is sick. Really sick actually. Luckily it is not the Swine Flu. But he does have a severe case of bronchitis and strep throat. He is on some serious antibiotics. However, with his immune system so weak it is going to be a tough battle to get over this.

It is this exact reason that I hate it when people use my stuff at work and then joke when they find out that they got me sick. I am not a germ freak. But I am very careful and try to stay healthy so that Rick doesn't get sick. But to find out that someone thought it was kinda funny that I got sick after they used my phone and computer just is not cool!!

I am asking for prayers tonight for Rick. Please pray with me that he will kick this quick and get back to himself. He is miserable, and looks just awful. I would hate for this to cause a snowball effect with all his other diseases.

So please keep him in your thoughts. I would really appreciate it.

Until next time,
Jaime

Liver Disease Facts Part 1

I said that I would randomly post some liver disease facts during the month of October. So here is the first installment.

1. Thirty million Americans - one in every 10 - are or have been affected by a liver, biliary or gallbladder disease. One in every 10, 10%, wow! In our house the number is 1 in every 2 people if you count my gallbladder disease.

2. There are more than 100 types of liver disease, but hepatitis A, B, and C are the most common. Can you name Rick's liver disease?

3. The liver filters over a liter of blood each minute, removing toxins such as air pollutants, pesticides, cigarette smoke, environmental chemicals, alcohol, and prescription and non-prescription drugs. EVERYTHING you ingest, by consumption or inhalation, even products you put on your skin, pass through your liver. Seriously people, EVERYTHING!!

Please take care of your liver. You never know when someone might need part of it.

Until next time,
Jaime

Liver Disease Awareness Month

I betcha didn't know that October is Liver Disease Awareness Month. There isn't a lot of people with green ribbons running around trying to raise money and awareness to cure liver disease. There also doesn't seem to be a lot of people interested in liver disease.

Liver disease carries a stigma of being an "alcoholics" disease. Seriously, it does. I have had some interesting looks from people when explaining that Rick has a liver disease. Especially from people that don't really know us. The first thing people seem to think of when they hear that someone has liver disease is that they must be drinkers, or drug users.

It is sad that I have to explain that no my husband is not sick because of drinking, but that he is sick because he got a bad hand in life. Rick has liver disease and very rarely drank alcohol. We often joke now that it is too bad that we didn't drink more when we were younger.

My blog friend Shawnee has been posting some liver disease facts. I will probably "borrow" some of her facts and post them here throughout the month. I am trying to help remove the stigma from liver disease.

So stay tuned for some fun liver facts.

Until next time,
Jaime