Empowered and Encouraged

No pictures today....... well not as of yet :) Just doing laundry and Ansley is painting .....that's not a very exciting picture.
I have been getting a lot of calls and emails asking how I'm doing. Thank you all for thinking of me! I thought this was the easiest way to let you all know. I am doing a lot better. I don't use a cane anymore! Crazy thing.... I miss it. I don't feel very confident yet with out it but they say it comes with time. I can get in the car like a normal person! Yeah! I'm sending the hospital bed back today. So I get my living room back... Another Yeah!!! Its nice to get into my own bed after not sleeping in it for so long. I will say it is really physically hard to get out in the morning .....but so worth it :) I go to the Dr for my six week check up the end of next week. But I think everything is going pretty good. I still have a limp but I think it also will get better (it better ..... I didn't do all this to walk funny the rest of my life). I want to thank all of you for the prayers and just being there for me I know I'm not the best patient. In fact I don't have much Patience for anything :)
To change topics completely (read my first blog if this bothers you). I often read the blog bring the rain (so proud of myself that I figured out the link thingy). I digress.... I often read the blog bring the rain and I love this post and thought I would share it with all of you. I don't know about you but I wasn't to excited about the results of the presidential election on Tuesday night. Most of my thoughts were (are) about what kind of world are we going to leave to our children. I felt helpless and really insignificant in this big world. And since then I have really been praying for Ansley but I read that post and got so excited to realize I wasn't the only one that felt the need to pray. Don't get me wrong I pray all the time for her but I was so excited to see Angie take the time to find scriptures. It made me feel empowered because I can make a difference in Ansley's life and that is a huge deal. So read it and I hope it inspires you to find your own scriptures for your children (or use those) I feel like God has been pulling on my heart more and more to surround my life with prayer. For my country, husband, child, family, friends, and myself. I hope you too feel empowered and encouraged.

Isaiah 41:13

13 For I hold you by your right hand—
I, the Lord your God.
And I say to you,
‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.

This is Ansley's bible verse she says every night when she goes to bed. She heard me say to Eric last night I was scared to have my staples out. She grabs my hands and tells me "Momma don't you remember Isaiah 41:13" ..... and she proceeds to tell me the verse. And I cant tell you how much the smile on her face and the picture of my God holding my hand was so comforting. Sometimes I think this is never going to end but everyday I'm getting better. I cant wait for the day when I'm glad I did this :)
I actually drove myself to the Dr today and I am now staple free! Yeah!!!!! It wasn't so bad. I had a picture in my head that they took them out with needle nose pliers and just pulled. They don't :) I'm so excited ..... I get to take a real shower tomorrow night. Another Yeah!!!! And I found out today that I get to take these nasty, tight, ugly (I think you get how I feel about them) white socks off for a whole 8 hrs a day. I asked about them last week at my visit and they said I have to wear them for six long weeks. They left out the part where I get to take them off for part of the day! Another Yeah!!!!! I ditched the walker (complete with tennis balls on the feet - you know your jealous) and Im now walking with my cane again. Yeah!!!!
Its crazy I started this blog thing for Ansley and its pretty much all about me. So hopefully since I'm getting better I wont have much to write about me!
I need to say thank you to all the people who have helped my little family! Wow I'm blessed! Eric is doing much better and Ansley is such a little encourager. She always tells me how good I'm walking and is always eager to be my helper. Words can not express how much I love those two!
I hope you all have a wonderful week! Blessings to you!

Prayers Please!!!!

Again this is going to be short and sweet. I don't know why but my head doesn't quite work right yet. Its getting better. I can watch TV and focus but I cant read yet :( The post below took me a whole hour to type. I know crazy huh? I'm typing now not for me but for Eric. He saw a Dr last night and his blood pressure was 178 over 115. That's high!!!!!! He went because we thought he had shingles. He does! You get them from stress but you have to have them treated with steroids and antibiotics. So 140$ on prescriptions later hes on the road to recovery. I'm not doing so good either. I go see the Dr tomorrow to see if everything is ok. Mentally I'm doing better today rather than a few days ago. It hit me that this is going to take a really long time to get better. I know some of you are saying well Duh!!!(that's a bad word too) But to me I thought it wouldn't hurt so bad and maybe not take as long. I just want to be normal again! Anyways I'm rambling about me and that's not what this is about. Eric ----- he needs your prayers! He has been the most amazing husband and it makes me so sad that he has to keep all this inside to the point hes made himself really sick. God is bigger than all this!!!!! Love to you all!!!

Home!

This is going to be short and sweet :) I got home last night about 8:30 or so. Thank you for all the prayers! I have had issues with pain meds all this time but I am going to make it :) Sorry to all the friends that called before the surgery and I didn't call you back. I love you all but I really couldn't talk about it................ not really sure if I can yet. But please know I'm not ungrateful!!!!! I have gotten all your messages and cherish them all.
Heidi

Corndogs, Doctors and God

Its been a while and not much has been going on here. It makes it kinda hard to be exciting when we have to stay home 90% of the time. But on Monday we took the girls to the fair. We ate corndogs, funnel cakes, cotton candy (Ansley) and corn on the cob. That's the only reason to go to the fair ....hello the food! Well and to let the girls go to the petting zoo. I was really excited to see Kinley but she was a little disappointing. She had fun but she wasn't as thrilled as I thought she would be. Ansley said something pretty cute I thought...... we were in line at our church's corndog stand and Ed (our pastor) was talking to her through the window and told Ansley "I have a corn dog with your name on it". Well a little later while eating my very literal daughter said to me with all seriousness "Ed said this corn dog would have my name on it" and obviously it didn't. :) All in all it was a good time.














I went to the Dr for my pre op visit yesterday and to my pre surgery class. There is this whole other world out there for hip replacement people that I had no idea even existed. It went pretty good except there was alot of walking. Eric asked me why I didn't ask for a wheel chair....... well to be honest (I'm always honest) the thought never crossed my mind. I told Eric there would have been no one to push me and you know my measly arm muscles wouldn't get me very far :) Ansley stayed the night with her Nona since my appointment was at 9. She had a blast. When Shelly brought her back Ansley crashed on my bed with me for about an hour. For those of you who know Ansley .........that is very rare. She was so cute. If I could have gotten out of bed I would have taken a picture. When she was asleep like that I couldn't help think how little she still is ..... its only when shes asleep though. When shes awake she talks all the time and that's when you forget shes only 4. I love how her little mind works!

Last night like I said I couldn't get out of bed. I have never felt pain like I did last night. Never! It started when I went to the fair (I know I shouldn't have gone but seeing Ansley and Kinley there is something I could never get back) and then the Drs yesterday. I didn't have time to get better. By last night I had taken every kind of medicine I had and nothing would put a dent in it. I told Eric if I didn't get any relief in an hour we were going to the hospital and they could just knock me out. The meds I had were the strongest you can get and they did nothing. I finally turned to him! God! Why I do that when I can no longer take it I don't know.I should start there! I guess I try it my way first, second and on and on until I finally give up and give it to him. I don't know if others out there are the same but I like to control everything. And hes telling me I cant control him. He wants to be with me in every moment of every day. So I'm laying there crying (which I hate to do) and I told Eric to call my mother in law and ask her to pray for me. So Eric, Shelly, Lisa and I prayed and I would love to say I was immediately healed but I wasn't. Not that I don't think he could have if he wanted to. But I did get relief, my pain was bearable. I got some sleep and I am feeling a little better today. Ansley and I are having a movie day......laying around coloring, watching movies and cuddling. Shes so funny I told her we were going to stay in our pjs all day ....... she asked a million questions like am I going to do her hair, do I get to take a bath (I said if you want) she decided not to and this might be a good day after all. So today I'm thanking God for the love he has for me and the strength I have found through him and asking for forgiveness for all the things I try to do on my own. Thank you all for all your prayers...... I feel loved!

Long Weekends are the Best

Hello all..... I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. It was a time for rest and catching up with family for us. Its such a change for us that Eric gets the day off and actually gets payed too. He still really enjoys his job. Such a blessing! Saturday morning my dad picked up Ansley to spend the day together. They went to the lake and rode around on the boat and she actually got on the inner tube! Crazy huh?! She ended up staying the night with our Aunt Sheri and Uncle Robert. She had a blast!! Eric went to the Tech game with Haley and then went to dinner with some friends of ours. He had lots of fun too. We love watching college football. My mother in law Shelly came and watched movies with me. She felt sorry for me :) I'm loved! She even watched a "chick flick". That's saying alot she loves those shoot em up movies! But it was great just having some girl time with her. She always lifts me up! Not literally... Id break her back ! :) The rest of the time we just visited with our families. It was really great to see everyone.




She looks thrilled :) But she really did have fun!



Uncle Robert's the best!

Now to the no fun stuff...... I have been to a few doctors (luckily I didn't have to wait till Sept 11th). Its all in who you know :) and I have great family and friends! But a long story short I'm going to have a total hip replacement on Sept 29th. To be honest I'm pretty scared. Ive never had to have surgery of any kind and the fact that they have to cut off part of my bone and put metal things in its place is pretty freaky :) But I have no choice in the matter. My bone is already fusing to my pelvis and apparently that's not good. I really like my Dr he definitely has my best interest at heart.
Theres lots of other details so if any of my medical family and friends want the details you can give me a call :) Thanks again for all the prayers! Special thanks for the pics Heather and to Sheri for sitting with me for hours at Doctors offices. Love you all!!!

Pretty Pictures

Hey guys,

Sorry my last post was really a downer. But I thought I would update you all...... Im doing alot better. I havent left the house the last two days and Eric has been waiting on me hand and foot. I want to thank you all for the prayers I know that its the only way I have made it through so far. Thanks Connie for phil 4:13. He does give me strength. I have an apt. with an orthopedic Dr. on Sept 11. Yes thats 17 days away!!! So needless to say I am going to take it easy. I have had lots of help from our great family. I cant thank you guys enough!!!!

On to happier things...... my littlest sister (Abby 9) and Ansley had there pictures taken by a friend of the family on Friday night. He just likes to take pictures and the girls had these fabulous dresses. They are Haley's flower girl dresses. As you will see they are every girls dream. When they had them on it was hard to get them to stop twirling. Thats how I came up with my blog name. If you know Ansley she is always moving, dancing, twirling. So that pretty much sums up our lives ..... we are just twirling along. They had so much fun. I am going to have Kinley and Ansleys picture taken with Denae (I have a link to her page on the left so you can take a look at her pictures) they are amazing. Im so excited! I love pictures!!! Heres a few from Friday...

She was talking to me :)

Arnt they really pretty girls?! They had lots of fun. This is only a few of them I have others on my myspace page http://www.myspace.com/heidiiversen. I cant wait to print them off!

Again I just want to say thank you for all that you guys have done for us. It doesnt go unnoticed! Have a GREAT week!!

Stupid Bone Spurs

Ooops Im not supossed to say stupid :) This is long and maybe boring to some but its much easier to type this than call all the people that want to know how yesterday went :) So bare with me! As some of you know I FINALLY went to the Dr. yesterday for my hip. For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about.... I have had bone spurs in my left hip for well I really don't know how long. When I had Ansley they got REALLY bad. So for the past four years I have just been dealing with it. Ive had good days and bad days but lately they have all been really bad days. Its gotten to where I cant do hardly anything and end up in bed for the rest of the day. So from much pushing from family and friends I went to the Dr. They took x-rays and came back in the room and asked "how long have you been living this way"? She said that there is not even a little cartilage in my joint and I need to go have a MRI to see all the damage and see where we go from there. So I go for the MRI and I just want to say it was probably the worst thing I have ever gone through. Ok thats exaggerating but it was in the top 3 :) I'm sure your like all you do is lay there. Well laying flat on my back is really painful but then they wanted me to point my toes inward.... my left one just doesnt to that. So she taped my feet together!!!! I had to lay there for 30 minutes. I almost didnt make it. I had tears running down my face but I just kept praying and saying Im going to make it, Im not going to do this again. Needless to say I was out of commission for the rest of the day :) But thats also why Im writing all this.... God has giving me great gifts in the people in my life. My brother Cole watched Ansley in the morning for the first Dr and then Haley came to watch her in the afternoon. While she was here she vacuumed and took out the trash for me (I love this girl) most of you think thats no big deal but to me it was such a blessing! Eric came home as soon as he could and made supper and was very sweet all night (well hes always pretty sweet) he just was extra nice to me :) As much as they help I have a really hard time excepting it. That's my job and I feel like a failure when I cant do it.
I hate that Ansley has to ask all the time if I'm all right, do you need your cane, can you tuck me in tonight. I think it was at the mother daughter tea party Ansley was talking to Ruth and she asked Ansley about playing with me or something like that and Ansley said "well we can play games and stuff but mom cant play Polly pockets or barbies with me on the floor cause it hurts her too bad to be on the floor". It broke my heart to know I'm limiting her relationship with me. Ruth was so sweet and said that her mom was the same but they could do other fun things together. She always knows what to say. Again another blessing to me.
Well I will get the results from that horrible test later today or tomorrow and then we will see where to go from here. She was pretty sure it will be some kind of surgery. So for those of you that pray I would love those prayers because I really don't want surgery. Thanks for listening and praying for me. I will keep you all updated. You are all a blessing to me!