A Not So Typical Update

I'm so far behind on updates I'm not even sure what I have posted about and what I haven't. Therefore I apologize ahead of time if you get repeat information or things are in a really unusual order. Got a lot to update on.

I guess to go back as far as I think I have been since updating (I think we were preparing for vacation last time I updated). Our vacation was AMAZING!!! Definitely the trip of a lifetime. We had a great time at Disney, swimming with the dolphins was absolutely amazing, and the new Harry Potter theme section of Universal is totally cool. We were lucky enough to stay at the Animal Kingdom Resort at Disney and that was truly a worthwhile investment. It really added to the whole experience. We ate WAY too much while we were there but we got the dining package and that kept the costs to a 1/3 or less. Harry Potter was great!!! The Experience Ride was totally worth it and Butterbeer is just YUM! (Sorry for the non-Harry Potter fans that have no clue what I'm talking about). However, despite loving being immersed in the world of my favorite wizard, swimming with our dolphin Roxy took the top prize hands-down. I highly recommend you have this experience if you ever have the time. It is worth every penny. They are truly magnificent creatures. For those wanting to see pictures, they are all loaded on my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=205440&id=1594381093&l=a8bda42f33 just click on the link to s

The other thing we all truly enjoyed was the experience of meeting family that either we have never met or haven't seen in ages. We were truly awed by the hospitality of all of the relatives we visited. Tim, Tammy, Becky, Grandma Ester, Tom, Polly, and all the kids!!! You guys truly helped us begin and end our trip on a high note. Then, not to be left out, it was great to come home and see John's dad who was visiting from his home in Texas (he basically took the North route why we were taking the South. LOL). We don't get to see him a lot but it's always a treat when we do.

Ok, I guess onto the total opposite of the fun we had on vacation. A few weeks after we returned, I began having what I thought was a sinus infection. It literally floored me for six weeks. After two rounds of antibiotics, it wasn't getting any better. Eventually, things weren't behaving as much like an infection and we ended up with an MRI. The MRI revealed a large amount of swelling in the right side of my head again. They put me on a steroid to try to help ease the swelling. Luckily, that also helped me get over the strange symptoms that I began having towards the end. We will be heading to Mayo for a consultation/additional testing on Friday (appointment at 10:30 AM) to see if we can determine what is going on. It could be one of many things still at this point whether it's scar tissue, regrowth, or something not yet considered we won't know until then. Therefore while we know there are a few different options depending, we don't know what route might be taken without knowing what is going on.

I guess, long story short, we are hoping and praying it is just some crazy benign issue that is causing me some swelling but we are lining things up if it isn't as benign.

I'll keep everyone posted as much as possible as we move along with updates. Now that I can actually stay out of bed longer than a few hours (I literally spent a week in bed a few weeks ago)

Until next update. All thoughts and prayers are appreciated and anyone I know of that is going through their own issues are in mine.

Huggles all

Amy

Vacation 2010; Driving, Family, SC

Truly the trip of a lifetime!!!
Sorry it has taken me so long to get an update out here on our trip. I really should have done it as soon as possible so that there wasn't any opportunity for anyone to put a negative spin on the great trip. However, I will do my best to give a great accounting of it, without letting certain people's view cloud the wonderful time we had.


Anyway, we left home on Friday, July 30 heading for Lexington, South Carolina. We had a nice, fairly uneventful drive with beautiful scenery as we drove through the mountains. The fact it rained most of the way didn't bother us a bit other than the pictures we attempted to take didn't always turn out.


We stopped Friday night in Kentucky then continued to SC. We arrived in Lexington and were greeted my my husband's Aunts, Uncles, Grandma, and cousins. All of whom I have never met and he hasn't seen for a very long time. They had a glorious feast for us that night and we really enjoyed the bonding and conversation.


It was great to meet most of my husband's family for the first time. They were all very great and I loved talking with them. His Uncle Tim and Aunt Becky were so nice to let us stay there for a couple of days so that we could bond. I really wish we could have spent more time together for we all got along amazingly. It was like we had known each other and saw each other frequently our entire lives. We will definitely all have to get together again sometime soon. Maybe next time up in our area.

The beautiful, young lady on the right is my husband's cousin and was in diapers the last time my husband saw this part of his family... Now she's a Southern beauty Queen. ------------->



We left South Carolina on Monday, September 2 around midday and drove to Florida arriving at Animal Kingdom Lodge; Jambo House early afternoon.
The entire crew. Left to Right, top, middle, bottom: Amy (me), Jazer (my son), Aunt Becky, Tyler (cousin), Aunt Becky, Grandma Ester, Ellen (cousin), Uncle Tim, John (my hubby), and Travis (cousin), Not pictured David (cousin)