knees and ticks

The Saturday before last, I thought my boys were sitting out in our field chatting it up.  What I didn't realize, until several minutes later, was that Matt's knee had given out and the boys were trying to help him get to the house.
We got him loaded up in my car and he and I headed off to the hospital (the boys met us there).  I was trying to decide if he should just go to urgent care or the hospital. We both settled on the hospital because of the amount of pain he was in,
The ER visit sent Matt out with a referral to the Orthopedic doctor's office
Orthopedic Doctor did an exam on Matt's knee and then sent him for an MRI
The MRI was today
A little over an hour after the MRI was done and we were gone, the doctor's office called and said they would like to see Matt tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. and that he needed to be using both of the crutches he was issued at the hospital during his ER visit (you know, those $25 crutches that the ER charges $500. for....smile).

12 days after Matt's knee injury and he's still hobbling
still in lots of pain
things just aren't right

The woman checking Matt in when he was getting his MRI said he could, if he choose, get a report of the MRI later on this afternoon.  Once the Orthopedic's office had called and said Matt needed to be using both of his crutches, we got super curious about what the MRI results said about his knee- I ran and grabbed a copy of the report.

It will be interesting what comes out of the visit tomorrow.  The report has 5 numbered bullet points under 'Findings' that are summarized like this:

1. Extensive acute internal derangement with periarticular osseous fractures and large, layering lipohemarthrosis.
2. Complete ACL tear (AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!) p.s. the AAAAAHHHHH!!! is not on the report, I added this in :)
3. Medial and lateral meniscal tears
4. Grade 2 MCL sprain
5. Fibular head fracture with surrounding soft tissue edema and possible disruption of the proximal tibiofibular ligaments.  The static elements of the posterolateral corner are not seen and may be involved

My poor Matt.  Hate seeing him in so much pain- He's a trooper and continues to go to work and tough it out.  I'm so glad he's in good hands and getting some answers.  Hoping that from the answers we get tomorrow he can start on the road to complete recovery (whatever that looks like).

Here we are, waiting for Matt's MRI- He's still as ornery as ever and still has his sense of humor :) :)

Totally changing the subject....
Ellie's tick arrived to the clinic in Maryland to be tested today.  It will be tested for Lyme, Tularemia, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.  We also ended up having her go on preventative antibiotics for the tick bite.  While the preventative antibiotic method may not be for everyone, it is the right choice for our family at this point.
When you pay for the testing, you get a link that you can click on at any time to see the status of the testing.   I appreciate this type of communication that Tick Encounter provides (that the results are available to you just as soon as they know, as opposed to waiting for communication via mail).  We should know the results no later than Tuesday of next week.

And so we rally as a family
And trust God with all the details and results.

ellie's tick bite (UPDATED)

We've been asked quite a bit, 'what would you do if someone in your family was bit by a tick?'.....

For those that do not want to read this entire blog post, here is a bullet point list of the steps to take if you are bitten (if I have have missed a step, please message me so I can get it added):

• Remove the tick, including the head of the tick
• Immediately put the tick in a zip lock plastic bag and place in the freezer.  Mark on the zip lock bag the date you were bitten by the tick 
• Mark on your calendar the date you were bit and start watching for symptoms of Lyme Disease.  The symptoms will usually not begin showing for 2 weeks but can begin sooner or later.
• Do your best to identify what type of tick you were bitten by (see below for the tick identification chart)
• Begin watching the bite site.  If you notice the spot developes a rash or raised area around it, take your tick out of the freezer and get it sent off IMMEDIATELY to a tick testing facility (we have used University of Rhode Island Tick Encounter).  The tick can be tested for Lyme and other co infections.
• For extra precaution, your Lyme Literate doctor may also recommend that you get tested, using IGeneX labs or another similar lab.
• No matter what, even if you do nothing else, keep any tick you are bit by (stored in a zip lock in your freezer)

Now we'll get back to the blog post :)

Last night, Ellie and I were sitting on the couch.  She was sitting on my lap and I was reading her a book.  Her head was sitting just below my chin and her wild curls kept sticking in my lip gloss.  At one point, I smoothed down the hair on the top of her head and my finger caught something that felt like a moveable scab.  I instantly stopped reading and started sorting through her hair to determine what it was I was feeling.

'There's a tick on the top of Ellie's head, Matt!!'

As Matt started sorting through her hair, we both were trying to determine if the tick was embedded in the top of her head, or, if it was trying to embed but the amount of hair it had to go through to actually get skin was preventing it from biting Ellie.

Ellie has A LOT of hair :)

Matt pulled it out, head in tact, and I put it immediately on a piece of clear tape.  Be very careful when you are removing your tick.  Do your best to make sure you have the entire tick removed (it is common to remove the tick body while accidentally leaving the head)
The tape was folded up around the tick very carefully.

We then needed to determine what kind of tick was on Ellie- After using the chart below, we know it was an American Dog Tick (Male).  The American Dog Tick can carry Lyme Disease.

Once a person is bit by a tick, you immediately start watching for a bullseye rash to appear around the tick bite.  You also start watching for flu like symptoms (usually takes about 2 weeks after a bite to start seeing the symptoms of Lyme Disease- a good way to remember the date of the tick bite is to write it on your calendar).  Since we were not sure if Ellie was actually bit or if the tick was just caught up in her hair, we started watching the place on her head where the tick was.  This morning we noticed that a red scab had appeared at the tick site (no bullseye rash, only a red scab).

With the knowledge that Ellie was bit by a tick, we took the next step and will send the tick to Tick Encounter to have it tested for pathogens most commonly found in the American Dog Tick.  The tick will be mailed first thing Monday morning and the results will be to us by early the following week.  The cost to have a tick tested through Tick Encounter is $50.
If, in the meantime, Ellie developed a bullseye rash around the tick bite site or any other 'symptoms', we will immediately start her on (the antibiotic) Doxycycline.  If the tick comes back positive for Lyme, Babesia, etc. we will start her on Doxycycline.  We will do all of this within a 2 week window of the tick bite.

I will keep you all posted about the tick results!!

P.S.  If you are bit by a tick but do not want to send if off for testing, save the tick in a ziplock bag and put it in your freezer.  Watch the area where you are bit for a bullseye rash, if one developes,  go to your doctor immediately and start on Doxycycline (or if you develop flu like symptoms around the 2 week mark after you are bit).  At this point, take the tick out of your freezer and GET IT TESTED- A good resource for testing is University of Rhode Island's Tick Testing.  For the contact info and instructions how to send your tick for testing, please click HERE.

UPDATE:
I sent a message asking Tick Encounter if it was ok that I put the tick on tape.  I also asked if a tick that has been frozen for days or weeks could still be tested.  Please see our messages below.

TEST RESULT UPDATE (5.31.16)

Praise the Lord for the negative results!!

Here is the tick we sent in- YUCK!!

and we rally

Only 5 months into 2016 and our family has had some significant chances to rally.

Websters describes the verb meaning of the word 'rally' as this:

recover or cause to recover in health, spirits, or poise.

"she floundered for a moment, then rallied again"

January through March saw our family heading to Germany so that Ryan could receive treatment for Lyme Disease

It wasn't easy but it could have been so much harder

our family rallied 

April saw our family watching as my pops (step dad) fought for his life.  Viral meningitis along with several other viruses and a heart attack were wracking havoc on his body.  

We prayed, he prayed, my childhood church and the church my parents still attend prayed.

God healed 

Phil is recovering
we rallied as a family

May has blessed us with the opportunity to rally around my Matt.

This past Saturday afternoon his knee gave out.  It's been a tough week for him- The pain and the limitations of not being able to have mobility without crutches has left him working so much harder to have even a bit of normalcy.  

A knee surgeon took a look at Matt's knee on Tuesday (we are blessed to have a knee surgeon in the fam)  and came to the conclusion that there is injury to the knee but he does not know to what extent.

This coming Tuesday Matt will have an MRI to determine if he tore his ACL.....

We have been praying

We are trusting God that no matter the outcome of the MRI, he will see us through 

and we will rally

we will recover

2016 has allowed many an opportunity for our family to flounder, even if for a minute, but we trust God and rely on His strength and we rally- again and again and He see's us through,

again and again

For all of my friends who are in a season of struggle- a season of needing to rally back from, or, in the midst of difficult circumstances, may you feel God pressing on your heart to keep going, keep trusting Him, and may you feel His strength giving you the courage to rally.

And all God's people said, AMEN!

bahahaaa!! I am learning that there is great relief in humor when life is stressful.  My boys send me funny quotes all the time and I look for ones to send back- here is one from our stash of 'funnies'

so, here's how it works

OK, so, here is how it works.

You've heard me talk about my love for Goodwill before
IT'S THE BEST!

Best shopping
Best variety
Best prices

You know I love you if I've bought you something from Goodwill-
my close friends and family have made many a trip with me to Goodwill so I can have a chance of outfitting them (and proving how amazing the store is).

Today's my mom's birthday- Guess where I did ALL of her birthday shopping?
you guessed wrong
she would KILL me if I did her birthday shopping at Goodwill (she's not a fan of GW but on occasion, I still buy her stuff)

I've gone into Goodwill twice in the two weeks we've been home from Germany.  The first time was a couple of days after getting home.  I walked around in a jet lag stuper trying to get back in my groove, finding nothing (this is a never for me).  The second time was yesterday- jet lag is gone and normalcy is beginning to return- I walked out with 5 pairs of shorts for my boys, a dress for me, and a dressed up tank top.

It wasn't the name brand that caught my eye of the tank, it was the fabric- It reminded me of my friend Deb.
remember you know I love you if I'm buying you stuff from Goodwill
I always try on the things I get for people to make sure the fit is 'right'- you also catch things you would not catch otherwise by trying on the piece you are looking to buy (missing buttons, broken zippers, etc).
When the tank came down over my head, I immediately noticed that it had a tear in the front of it.
BUMMER!
But the fit was really nice and the fabric pattern is beautiful

At the check out counter I asked if they would discount the tank top due to the tear (they took it down from $4.99 to $2.99 and made it non returnable).  I also made a mental note that I would fix it within a day or two, preventing it from sitting around in the 'fix it' pile and eventually getting thrown out (I repaired the tear this morning- whoop whoop!!).

I have a little something something for you Deb- I'll give it to you at church on Sunday.

P.S. Happy Birthday to my precious mom- Mom, I have a whole bag filled with new gifts to give you tonight :)

Easter Sunday

There is just something about being in church with your whole family.  Sandwiched between Matt and Eli, Ry just two seats away, and Elle's in her class....you worship, greet, and then listen to the sermon.

Something you've done hundreds and hundreds of Sundays past.

Something you missed for just 9 Sunday's

But somehow in those 9 Sunday's, you noticed how much you missed this most every Sunday normal.

Today's Sunday found our family celebrating Christ's Resurrection.  It also found us celebrating our first Sunday all together as a family at church (last week we were home but Ry went to a different service so he could go dirt bike riding).

So thankful for Christ's finishing work on the cross.  For the eternal redemtpion and the priceless gift of salvation.

I am also so thankful to be able to celebrate this special day with my family.  

Christ is Risen!

no particular order

Totally random pictures in no particular order :)

My dad and brothers :)

Ellie and her cousin Claire when they were both a year old

Ellie pooped sand for a week after this trip to the beach....note to self, don't let your child eat sand!!  (She has never been back to the beach- We are determined to take her back...she's going to love walking in the sand and seeing the water)

Our claim to fame has never been that we're 'normal'....here's all the proof you need

A flight back from Hawaii where Oklie joined us

2008 

2009

2010

2011

I love my kids

Eli and Matt's mom

Ryan took holding his BB gun seriously...ha!

I guess turning 36 was a big deal

2011

I posted this picture as a visual warning....look at my bangs....take a good long look my stubby short bangs...I cut them with paper cutting scissors on my way out the door (without looking in a mirror- I just felt and went for it) to meet these girls and did not get a glance of them until looking at this pic after it was taken....Don't EVER cut your bangs without looking in the mirror....EVER EVER EVER!

The smile on Ry's face (Hi Code)

Ellie's first day of pre K

Ry and his dirt bike

Precious!!

Can hardly wait to go home

My nephew Cole

So proud of our Eli

Eli and his buddy Tyler

Not sure why but several times people have stopped us and asked if they could take 'selfie's' with Ellie- She's all smiles when they do :)

how my parents euro's got us a windmill

My parents were in Germany a couple weeks back.  As they were getting ready to leave, they handed me the Euro's that they did not use on their trip and said, 'Oh sweetie, do something fun with these.'

That same week, we learned that the nurse who is treating Ryan's Lyme thinks that 10 weeks of treatment will be sufficient (instead of the 12 weeks that was first thought).  We all agreed that Ryan would have a Lyme test pulled on the very last day of his treatment, March 24.  The test will take 2 weeks to get the results and instead of us waiting in Germany for a positive or negative, we would go home and receive the news by e-mail.  We could choose to stay here during the waiting period and once the results are received, decide what to do from there (continue treatment or not).   We have chosen not to take that route, at least at this point.  Our decision is not because we do not fully appreciate and feel like Ryan is receiving the best treatment available, but instead because, if the test comes back positive, we know his Lyme is in remission and we would choose to manage it from Oregon as needed.  It would also tell us that his Lyme will not be beat but instead managed throughout his lifetime (from what we've heard, success rate for the treatment he is going through is about 90%).  From all of these decisions, we know that our family will fly home sometime between March 25-27.  Matt and I are throwing around Ellie and I flying home next week while he and Ry finish out the remaining 3 weeks- Ryan has 5 of his cousins flying into Germany next Monday to spend the last 2 and a half weeks of Ryan's treatment traveling around and spending time with him....I don't think he would miss Elle's or I :)

So, back to my parents Euro's and seeing something fun.....

With the strong possibility of Ellie and I leaving late next week, we had one thing left on our 'Europe to-do list' that we have not done.....

See Holland.

My Matt's family is Dutch and his grandparents were from Holland (both sets) so, naturally, seeing Holland was something that was important to us.  It was $18. to switch Matt's flight from a Stuttgart, Germany arrival to an Amsterdam, Netherlands (Holland) arrival.  It was an almost 7 hour drive for Ryan, Elle's, and I yesterday to travel from Schwabisch Hall, Germany to Amsterdam (we came up a night early and stayed in a little bed and breakfast last night).

When Matt's ticket was secured and we knew Holland was happening for sure, I started checking into  where we would stay.  In my mind, it needed to be something special- something local and authentic. Something we would remember for a lifetime.

When the windmill came up in the search engine, I immediately looked at the price.  For our 3 night stay, it was over twice as much as the amount of Euro's my parents had left.  It was purposed in my mind to not go over that amount but I didn't want to rule out the windmill completely.  It's not peak season in Europe yet and the weather is less than ideal- this mixed with what my friend Kathy had told me (she has e-mailed owners of vacation homes before to ask if they were willing to offer better deals than what was advertised), I sent the owners an e-mail and asked if they would be willing to accept the amount from my parents....they were so gracious and said 'yes!'

Put on your bucket list a visit to Holland, staying in an an authentic windmill that has been rehabbed.

WOW- it is beautiful!!

I copy and pasted some pictures off of the advertising website (cause it's exactly what it looks like) and then added some of my own.

P.S. Thank you mom and pops- we love you guys

I snapped this picture from the back side of the windmill

If you look closely, the roof looks like a pressed hay bale

you eat on dutch tableware

Typing this blog post from the living room of the windmill
p.s. my leggings need lint rolled!!