Urgent Care Visit and OSU Game

So this has been an interesting few days. In my last post, I mentioned I have been feeling a little "under the weather" last week and well I ended up in Urgent Care Thursday night and got some news I was not expecting.

So, two weeks ago I started feeling really sick to my stomach and having severe headaches. I had no idea what was going on and about 10 days ago I started to get this small bump on the side of my bottom lip. Well I wasn't thinking this was all connected.. Mitch and I both thought I was developing a fever blister. We thought it was weird, because I have never had a fever blister in my life. I complained for days on how bad it hurt and how it wasn't just the blister that hurt, but it was the whole area around it. It was burning, itching and just really painful! I had no idea fever blisters were like this. So by Tuesday of last week, it was soooo bad I decided to go buy the expensive cold sore medicine... it was a TINY little bottle about that size of my pinky and it was $25! I was convinced it would heal me fast. Well it only got worse and by that night I had a bad ear ache as well. I was able to work through Thursday, but felt absolutely horrible!! I would come home and go straight to bed.

So Thursday night, I had plans to go to The Market Open House with my mom and grandma and so I decided to try and go and the whole time I was miserable. My ear was killing me and my mom told me earlier in the night when I was little I had severe ear infections and since I was around kids so much, she thought I should get it checked out and I was all for it because I knew I needed some kind of medicine. Thursday while I was getting ready to go meet my mom for the Open House, I noticed the area around my chin and up my cheek had bumps all over it. I knew fever blisters were contagious, but I didn't know it was going to be that bad that fast. So after the open house around 9:00 that night my mom took me in to get my ear checked out and I decided to ask the doctor about my face as well.

Well come to find out, I have shingles! I was shocked and kept asking "are you sure" ha! It nailed all my symptoms perfectly and then when he started explaining it all to me it made sense. They are a virus from chicken pox and they said it is more likely you will get them if you had chicken pox when you were under one and I was 8 months old when I had them. They usually connect to a nerve and make a straight line- mine happened to start at my chin and go up to my ear (hints all my ear pain). Now I don't want to speak too soon, but as of now they haven't made it all the way up my face. They are just up to my nose and the doc thinks we caught it early enough where he thinks he shouldn't spread that far, but unfortuntly the pain will be there still. And let me tell you.... this is one of the worst pains I have EVER experienced!!!  It is horrible and I am on more medicine that I know what to do with. I have to set my alarm and take 3 pills every 2 hours on top of my 5 pill steroid and pain pills. The only thing bad about the pain pill is that is is so strong I can't take it during the day unless I plan on sleeping all day, which has been mainly what Ive been doing. But that is the only thing that will help my pain and I can't take it then go to school, plus I am still contagious.

So thats my long story about our fun weekend. We did make it to the OSU game- I wanted Mitch to go and I thought if i got to feeling that bad I could go over to my grandmas. I made it through the game, but came home and was in bed by 7:30. I think it took it all out of me. I spent all yesterday and today back in bed. I am going to be at home again tomorrow, but praying I can make it back by Wednesday, especially since this our last few days before Thanksgiving break!

Summer and I at the game! 

I had planned on putting all our Christmas decorations up and was disappointed we didn't do it this weekend, so when Mitch got up today he got it all down and he helped my put the tree up! I was feeling okay to just do the tree, but the mantel and other stuff will have to wait (I think I have a new idea for our mantel this year anyways). I am happy to at least get the tree up. I love decorating for the holidays and I like my house to be all decorated before Thanksgiving so we can enjoy it and since we are going to be in Colorado next week I really wanted to get it done! I know some people think it is "rushing" the holidays, but I work so hard on getting the decorations up and honestly I just love having them up for more than month. I like the feeling of coming home to a christmas tree and it makes me so excited for this time of year!

I hope y'all are having a good week and would appreciate some prayers if you think about it. I am SO ready to be over this and feel back to normal again. Thanks!

Election Day

This was my second presidential election to be a part of and let me tell you, it was way more involved than 4 years ago. Last election I was a junior in college and I voted by absentee ballot and that was the way to go ha! They sent me all my stuff in a large envelope and I filled it out and mailed it back. Super easy.
Well this year not only did we have to deal with lines, the lobby of my school was a polling pace, so it was CRAZY! Unfortunately it was not my polling place (that would of been so nice for me) we were at some church in Bixby. But Monday afternoon we had a meeting to go over all the rules and procedures since "strangers" were going to be in our school. Out of all 6 buildings at our West campus, ours building with the smallest parking lot, was chose to be the polling place. Also on top of that, my teacher was gone for a meeting, so I was able to run the class, which I do love, but it was just a crazy day!
We had new "routes" to get places, we had to go to the bathroom with every child and I could go on forever. I LOVE that our school takes such extreme precaution for our kids, but it just makes for a busy day. After going through that, I highly think schools should not be polling places! It is too much of a risk, especially for small kids like that. I didn't realize how much preparation it takes for everyone in the school to make it go smooth and a safe place for our kids.

I got out a little later than usual since my teacher was gone, and I waited with every kid that was being picked up in the office until their parents came. Our lobby was so crowded with voters. But when I got off, Mitch and I went to vote. We had to wait a little over an hour. When we pulled up and saw the line out the church doors and to the street it was so hard not to drive away, but I know this is a privilege and it was something we both wanted to do.

We finally made it home and Katie and Tommy came over to watch the Thunder game. We would flip back and fourth between the game and the election coverage. Mitch cooked a big brisket in the crock pot all day and made it into BBQ. It was sooo good! He also made homemade ice cream. I laughed when he told me because it is freezing outside, but if you know Mitch at all- he LOVES his ice cream ha!

I have been feeling pretty under the weather this week and yesterday it got really bad. Everyone told me my first year working in an elementary school will be rough and they said just expect to be sick. I had no clue it would be this bad. I feel like I am sick every few weeks, and not just feel bad a little, but multiple trips to the doc, fever and lots of antibiotics. So a sweet lady at my work told me about this stuff you can get from a natural foods store called Umcka (weird I know) and you put drops in your water, drink it and it helps you feel better immediately.

Well when I started to feel bad I yesterday, I was to the point where I would try anything. So we went to Green Acres Market and got some. I drank it and to my surprise felt so much better. I woke up today still not feeling great, but I am drinking some more right now and praying it will get me through the day. Now I have only used this once, but I think I am a believer, so if you start to feel under the weather, go get some and try it!!

I am hoping I start to feel better soon. We are spending the weekend in Stillwater for the OSU game!!

Halloween and more visitors!

This past week was pretty busy for us. It was the week of Halloween, so we had all our parties at school, which was so much fun! It made the day fly by even faster than normal. On Halloween night was pretty chill for me. Mitch had to work, but I am use to that by now. I think he has worked every Halloween since we've been married. Usually its not too bad because he is home by 8 that night and while we still lived in Bentonville, I would help out at the church. Now since he is on nights, he was gone all night. He was actually scheduled not to work, but he switched with a lady that wanted the night off because she had kids and really wanted to take them trick-or-treating. We were both happy for him to switch... right now halloween is fun for us, but there is no reason for him to be here with me when another lady has kids to take out. I know when we have kids he will want the night off too.

So Bella and I went over to my parents house and had dinner with them. They never have a ton of trick-or-treaters, but they had more than normal this year. I was a little worried about Bella, just recently she has become more protective and barks at people she doesn't know. She has never done this before- she use to think everyone was her best friend (I am actually glad she is finally like this ha!). But she did awesome!! She sat by the door with my mom and I and helped pass out candy. She would sit right by us when we were handing it out and I think the kids were more excited about petting her than getting candy ha! 

Thusday night we had a cookout with our Lifegroup and it was soooo much fun. Since the class was just starting when we joined no one know anyone, so we are all really looking forward to starting to hang out more. We all brought a side dish and had burgers and hot dogs. 

Friday, Michelle flew in from Dallas and got her in the afternoon. I didn't have to work a full day on Friday, so I went and picked her up from the airport. We have had visitors the past few weekends and iI just LOVE it!! We had a relaxing night and hung out with Mitch before he went into work. Later we went to Peppers for dinner and then came home and watched a movie. 

Saturday, we got up early and made the trip to Bentonville. I think as much as I have drove the recently I could do it with my eyes closed. We had a wedding to go to at 2, but we left at 9:30 because we had some other things we wanted to do as well... one being.. lunch at MarketPlace! 

I can't tell you how many times I have eaten here, and not once do we ever pass up a chocolate mess!! Our husbands were proud of us ha! We made it to the church for the wedding and it was hands down the SWEETEST wedding I have ever been to!! Our good friend Jordan got married and I know Mitch was very disappointed he had to work and couldn't make it. He and Jordan were really good friends in high school. 

The ceremony was at the church and then the reception was at Horton Farms in their new "barn" and it was gorgeous the way they had it decorated. And not to mention Jordan looked beautiful!! It was so neat to be a part of it and we had a blast!! 

Later, Michelle and I drove back to Tulsa and just brought dinner home and watched more movies. We were so tired from getting up so early and we had to get up early because Mitch wanted to try and go to the early service sunday when he got off work. 

That afternoon, Michelle and I had lunch at Los Cabos and then did some shopping. She didn't fly out until 7pm so we had all day to shop!! I found a great deal on boots. I have been looking for extra tall, above the knee tan boots since last fall and I finally found the ones I had pictured in my mind ha. I am very picky when it comes to boots. 

Boot are also very expensive, especially the tall ones, and Belk is having an awesome sale right now!!! These were reg. $90 and I got them for $45! So If you are needing a new pair of boots for this fall, they have a huge collection and the sale doesn't end until Tuesday. I usually wouldn't by something like this so close to Christmas, but that deal was too good to pass up!

This week is pretty low key for us. We don't have much going on, so that will be nice. Since the weather has been so pretty, Mitch and I have been running riverside when I get off work. I love running in the weather! Mitch has always talked about running a marathon, and he has decided he is going to run the FULL marathon next April at the OKC Memorial Run. He has always dreamed of doing one and so he is starting his training. I can't even imagine running that distance, but I have no doubt he will do it. He is trying to convince me into doing the half.. I told him I would think about it ha! I know its nothing compared to what he's doing and the race is the weekend of his birthday, so I most likely will run it for him. The last time I trained for the OKC Half, I was in school and did all the training.. was up to running 10 miles and went to register and it was already full! I was SO mad, so this year I am going to have to decide quick, register and commit to running it. We'll see how it goes! 

Have a great week!!