Talk about a Headache...

If I have never experienced a let down in my life, yesterday was the best example I could ever think of.  I found the absolute BEST doctor I have ever been to, hands down.  The entire visit was everything you could ever hope for: speedy service, the doctor sat down with me for 2 hours and really listened to me, examined my head and neck thoroughly, seemed genuinely concerned, made a plan with me on paper of what we were going to do and everything...only I found out when I left there that he's NOT IN MY INSURANCE NETWORK!  I had no idea.  I was referred to him by another doctor, and didn't even check.  Rather than make me pay out of pocket, he said he would write off the cost of my visit.  Very nice.  I'm crushed though.

Moving on to the info I found out...no change on the MRI's from last week, but he would like for me to have a more specialized MRI called a "stand up" MRI in Tallahassee that shows a better picture than supine images.  You can see in the example I found online that the sitting image better shows the herniation of the cerebellum because of the downward force.

He also wanted blood work done since I've been on the same medicine close to a year, but all the tests he ordered are null and void because my insurance won't pay for anything he wants.  Boo.  So we're back to square one finding a neurologist I can trust down here.  I NEVER thought I would say I miss Montgomery, but I finally found a reason I do.  That and we're going to miss the 4th annual doxie races this weekend.  Double boo.

So as usual, I will ask you to keep praying.  I still have a headache, and still have no doctor :(

Easter!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!

Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

 

 

Happy Easter my friends!  Take some time from the eating and egg hunting and chocolate overload today to remember why this holiday is even here.  Blessings to you all.  :)    And save me some marshmallow Peeps!!

 

Nicole, Kerry, and Otis

A quick update for you...

I visited the new neurosurgeon on the 31st (Dr. DeSilva).  He quickly ordered 2 more MRI's to re-evaluate since it has been a while since the last ones were done, and set up 2 other appointments for me.  One is a regular neurologist and the other is an ENT to evaluate my facial/cranial nerves.  I did the MRI's on Wednesday and Thursday and hope to hear some kind of result possibly Wednesday from the neurologist.  I'll pass along any information (new or otherwise) at that point.  Days and nights have been a wild ride lately for me!  Keep the prayers coming, if you don't mind.  I'll return the favor ;)

A really rough one...

I know I haven't complained about my headaches on the blog for a while...or even updated the situation...but that's only because there hasn't been much to update lately.  We've been searching for a new neurologist here in Panama City because Montgomery is too far to drive for regular appointments, and I'm pretty sure my insurance company would not like the idea anyway.  Friday was a very frustrating day trying to call back and forth between offices to get an appointment and get my old records faxed to a new doctor.  I appreciate patient privacy laws, but sometimes they're a real pain!  So after the runaround I'm in to see Dr. Karin Maddox here in PC in late April...way overdue.  :(

I think yesterday was probably the worst headache I've ever had.  I think I managed pretty well, but came home and crashed after work.  If I had the option to call in, I would have.  Gotta love that orientation period though!  Complaining aside, I'm thankful for my job, and my coworkers were more than helpful with my awkwardness yesterday ;)

I have a feeling we're headed for some form of treatment other than medication.  Dr. Maddox's office said to call back and check for cancellations to see if they could get me in earlier than April, so I'll be sure to let you know.  I would most likely be referred back to my same neurosurgeon at UAB if this course of action is taken.  At this point, I'd go willingly.  Please continue to pray about this situation!  Thanks.

Charity's Married!

Another milestone...another friend tying the knot :)

I hadn't seen her mother in YEARS and at the rehearsal when she walked in and saw the group together on stage her comment said it all..."You guys are all grown up!"  That we are, but sometimes I just refuse.  I still don't feel ready to take on all of that just yet...but anyway.........

Charity's wedding was sweet, and it was beautiful.  I'm thrilled for her and pray blessings on her new life as Mrs. Hart. 

I posted a link to my facebook this past week from another blog I found while I was doing some research.  My headaches have gotten increasingly worse over the past few weeks (add dizziness and nausea to the mix), and I've contacted a neurologist down here, but I can't get an appointment for several weeks.  I hate I can't see my same neurologist in Montgomery, but at least with my insurance I can stick with my same neurosurgeon in Birmingham!  So in the limbo time I've joined a few websites to get some of my treatment questions answered. I put a link to a particularly inspirational blog on my blog, but here's the link: http://ihavechiaritype1.blogspot.com/  She described her whole process and even included pictures after her surgery and such.  I still hope I never have to have it, but I really would like to feel better, you know?  So keep me in your prayers that we get this straightened out! 

Another Trip Around the Sun

I turned 25 yesterday!

Kerry put aside his studies and trips to Panera to spend the day with me. He and Otis woke me up bright and early with breakfast in bed...waffles and scrambled eggs.  I shared with them, and I don't think I've ever laughed harder at this dog.  We have to get it on video some time, but he has absolutely no table manners lately...we'll leave it at that ;)  AND the birthday fairy came to see me "while I snored" according to some people...and brought me a new charm for my Pandora bracelet.  Pretty original way to give me a gift, don't you think?  (It'll only start to worry me if he's wearing wings and a tutu.)

Next Kerry showed me my birthday cake he decorated all by  himself.  He drew a running shoe, Otis, a heart, and wrote all kinds of crazy sayings all over it.  Truly a masterpiece!  We saved sweets for after lunch though.  I was told to get up and get dressed because we had a date with a massage table!  We got an hour long couple's massage at Beach Massage on Thomas Drive.  Let me rephrase that...a MUCH NEEDED couple's massage.  I fell asleep during it ;)  My foot hasn't felt that good since before my run back in December!  I came home and took a nap for a bit.

Later on we continued the birthday tradition we started several years ago. No matter where we are, we try to make it to a Bonefish Grill for our birthday dinner.  No particular reason why, we just like it...so we decided to get out of PCB and drove over to Destin to eat at that one (where we actually started the tradition).  We stopped at one of the beaches along 30A on the way for a few minutes, but it was too cold to hang around.  We had a fabulous meal and came back home with the intentions of staying up until 10:58 to celebrate my turning 25, but we fell asleep...and that's ok because I was pretty tired!

All day I had to think of a song Kerry played for me earlier in the week.  Jimmy Buffett:

"Hear 'em singing Happy Birthday

Better think about the wish I made

This year gone by ain't been a piece of cake

Every day's a revolution

Pull it together and it comes undone

Just one more candle and a trip around the sun"

 

I hope my next trip around the sun is as wild and crazy as the last few have been.  If not, it'll just be boring :)

New Year, Same Us

Welcome to 2010! It's hard to believe how much can happen over a decade. Looking back all the way to New Year's Eve 1999 going into Y2K we had NO idea what was coming our way, did we? During this time, Kerry and I met, graduated high school, graduated college, got married, moved more times than we care to remember, made TONS of new friends, said goodbye to several folks, and somehow managed to make it through intact.

Though the dynamics of our families may have changed and our friends may be scattered here, there, and everywhere, our hope for the new year is that Christ may be the center of our lives just as in the past. That's the one constant we've come to count on.

All that being said, the countdown rolls on. I can't wait to see what's in store for the next decade. :)

2003
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