Go GREEN

Yesterday I went over to Amy's to have lunch. She showed me a video that she had to watch for a grad class. It was about the effects we have on the environment and how much energy and resources we use for the things we buy. The past year or so I have become more conscious of my own carbon footprint - bringing reusable bags for shopping, using less paper goods such as dishes and napkins, turning off appliances when not in use. It may not be a lot but I believe that if everybody does a little it will make a difference.

We are so wasteful and the video talks about the disposable society we live in. It is sad to think that we throw out things without giving it a second thought of where it will end up. I saw a show on Oprah awhile back about this. The guest speaker said that there is a mound of garbage the size of TEXAS in the Pacific Ocean! They showed pictures of turtles and birds caught up in plastic bags. It was so sad. Another videoclip they showed was of a garbage dump and all of the things in it that could have been recycled or reused.

I just hope that people will watch this video and be aware of our impact on this planet. If our ancestors were this selfish and wasteful, where would we be today?

You can view the video at www.storyofstuff.com. It is worth the 20 minutes of your time when you consider our future and that of the generations to come.

Amy's Bridal Shower

So my best friend Amy is getting married in September and I am the maid of honor. I've been nervous and excited at the same time. I don't usually like attention being on me and I am already panicking about giving a speech at the wedding!! HAHA. But on to the fun stuff, her bridal shower was yesterday. I have spent months planning and trying to make it special for her. (A little background - Amy lost her sister when we were in the 6th grade and hasn't talked to her mom much since.) It is a said situation and I really wanted to show her how loved she is and how much she deserves to be happy. After the shower was over I came home and literally crashed. The anxiety of everything running smoothly along with the physical planning, setting up and carrying presents, chairs, etc wore me out! I spent all day today relaxing and even took a nap. We had a great time, but I am glad it is over now =)

Chair I decorated

Me with my friend Nicole

Amy showing off the lingerie clothesline

Bubblegum Interview game

I was so excited about the chapstick favors!

Silly pic with Brooklyn when I got home

Kidney Stone Update

Sooo if you read my last post it mentioned that I've had back pain on my right side. My doctor did an x-ray and urine test to check for a kidney stone and FINALLY called back with the results. I do have one, but it's on the left side. Is that common? Rob didn't think it was unusual to have pain on the opposite side, but I'm not sure. Either way it is 4mm and my doctor said to just drink plenty of fluids for now and call her if I'm in pain (my back isn't hurting anymore right now).

Anyway, tonight we went out to dinner for my MIL's 60th birthday - Rob's parents, his brother and his wife, his sister and her husband..and me. I felt so depressed on the way home and miss him terribly. I can't wait for this stupid deployment to be over.

CF Clinic

Today I had an appointment with my CF doc. It went surprisingly well. We went over A LOT of stuff though, so I will break it down in sections.

The best news was my PFT's. Here are my numbers:

• March 2009 - FVC 61%, FEV1 42%
• April 2009 - FVC 72%, FEV1 49%
• June 2009 - FVC 89%, FEV1 55%

I am really excited about that!! I haven't even been doing anything differently, but I am glad they have gone up so much. I plan on exercising more and seeing if I can get them even better. It is kind of weird, but I don't feel GREAT. I mean I feel okay, but not way better than I felt in March.. Either way, the numbers don't lie and they are fantastic.

My weight was 113 lbs. which is only up from 112 in April. Last year I weighed about 125. Dr. Behar would like to see me gain 10 more pounds. She said it will help fight infection and be better for when Rob comes home and we try for a baby.

She also said I should lower my insulin by one unit in the morning. Sometimes my blood sugar goes low around lunch time and she also thinks it may help with gaining weight.

As for the coughing up blood, we determined that it seems to be directly related with ovulation. I've noticed this over the past few years, and since increasing my vitamin K in April, the only hemoptysis I've had was a couple days before my period was due. She said as long as that is the only time it is happening, she isn't concerned. Does this happen to any of you? It's frustrating but I'd rather have a reason that it be a mystery. I know it's not infection because I don't feel sick plus I've been on antibiotics and it doesn't make a difference.

Also, this is kind of interesting and I wonder if anyone has an opinion. I told her that I was VERY short of breath last night, even after doing the vest and xopenex. She said that another patient before me said that exact same thing and thinks it has to do with the weather change and drop in the barometer. It kind of makes sense and I am going to take notice when it happens again. Let me know if you've ever had something like this happen.

While I was waiting to be seen by my doctor, I was approached about a research study. It is to determine the affects of Vitamin D levels in CFers. Of course I agreed to the study and they took a sputum sample and blood levels. I will have to go back and give samples again at the end of July after spending time in the sun.

FINALLY, I have had pretty bad back pain on the right side since last night, so I had a urine culture and x-ray of my kidneys done. Hopefully it is not a stone, but I will find out in the next day or so. The funniest part was when I went to have the x-ray, I had to put on a gown and lay on a table. I was embarrassed because my legs were stubbly..hopefully the tech didn't notice LOL

Great Strides 'O9

Yesterday was the Great Strides walk in Poughkeepsie. We had absolutely BEAUTIFUL weather all day. I was proud of myself for walking just over a mile (the short walk) even though I have been feeling crappy the past few days. I am on prednisone now so the bleeding has stopped. After the walk we had a BBQ. Our team was probably the smallest ever this year with only about 25-30 walkers, but we raised over $3000. Next year I hope we will do even better. The best part of the day for me was seeing my friend Donna cross the finish line for the first time. She is 45 years old, married with 2 teenage kids, and had a double lung transplant Jan. 2OO8. She is amazing and a true inspiration.

Walking for Niki
Donna and Me

Mom and Dad

Friends =)

Showing off Brooklyn's t-shirt
(I am in the fight against Cystic Fibrosis
because I love my mommy!)

My best friends Mike & Amy

Me with my sister in law Meghan

Sorry!!!

I have been sooo bad about posting lately!! UGH.

Well...my trip to North Carolina was exhausting. My mom had me running around for 5 days straight, but it was fun. We had dinner with my friend Hutch who just got married, my friend Sandy cooked us an awesome breakfast on Memorial Day, we went shopping, to church, got my car inspected, dentist appointment and more shopping LOL I needed a vacation when I got back, but it was nice spending time alone with my mom.

Hutch showing off his wedding ring

Me and Sandy, eating Rocky Road Choc Chip cookies I made..soooo good!
Playing Wii Bowling

Mom's turn

While we were away my dad starting completely redoing the upstairs bathroom. It will still be a couple more weeks until it is finished since he can only work on it during the weekends, but it will be soo nice. I have been helping him with that and will upload some pics soon.

The greatest thing about this week is that yesterday was 6 months since Rob deployed!! That means this deployment is half over. WOOHOO!! I am super excited and know that this half will be much easier than the first....nicer weather, midtour leave, my best friend's wedding (& shower & bachelorette party) plus the overall feeling that we are in the end stretch. It is great to get past the halfway mark!!!!!!!


As for my health, the past two days haven't been great. I've been coughing up blood which has been happening a lot these past few months. I see my doctor on Wednesday so I will see what she has to say then.

Tomorrow is the Great Strides walk. I am excited because my team did great fundraising, but disappointed because a lot of my family isn't showing up this year. I know it will be a great day anyway. Will post more about that tomorrow.