Quick Update & Prayer Request

On Tuesday, I went to the doctor to have the MRI read.  To my surprise, the MRI revealed a cyst.  It's pretty amazing they found the cyst before it began causing me any pain (it's about 2.3 inches around) and a little shocking.  From there the doctors worked with me to scheduled ultrasounds and other appoitments to determine additional information.  After meeting with the obgyn, and after having the radiologist read the ultrasounds, they recommended I see a surgeon to have the cyst removed. 

Again, a bit of a shock.

But since Tuesday, I've had lots of people praying and I've had peace.  The doctors are pretty confident it's benign, although it is an unusual type of cyst.  I have an appointment scheduled for the 30th with a surgeon.  Depending on the type of surgery it's a 2-4 week recovery.  It's very inconvinient, but what a blessing that it was found before it caused pain or worse...burst. 

Please pray for my appointment on the 30th, that the less invasive procedure is an option or surgery, that it can be done quickly (as the semester will get more complicated), and that God will use this to bring him glory in some way. 

There are so many ways I've seen God go ahead of me in this situation already.  This is no surprise to Him even if it was to me!

Magnificent Massage

After a long academic year, I knew I needed a break, and I had been talking about getting a massage for awhile.  I looked into many places.  The health center would do an hour massage for $50...great price, but not the experience.  For my first massage, I wanted the experience!  So then I began looking for day spas.  These massages began to run $90-100.  The price made me more convinced that I wanted my money's worth.  I found the Chateau Elan.  It's a local winery with a hotel and separate spa. I was sold when I found out that when you get a service there, you can use any of the facility for free.  

The options included:

a workout facility 

fitness classes

hot tub

robes & sandals

pool with jets for swimming

steamroom

sauna

afternoon tea and snacks

showers with all the necessities

lockers

and all the little extras that made it special

The massage itself was wonderful...although with the way my back was hurting she could have spent the entire time on my back and I would have been a happy camper.  The room was softly lit, quiet instrumental music, the bed heated from beneath me, and after the massage I sat in a quiet reflection room with dim lighting, flickering candles, wonderful lounge chairs and warm blankets.

I made a day of the experience and it was lovely.  AND just what I needed, a day of quiet relaxation and pampering.  I wanted to go around and take pictures of the place but thought it would be odd, so I took a few when I could. ;)

The grounds were beautiful and overlooking a small lake.  It was a much needed day.  Although I will probably supplement my experience with some trips to the health center, I will return and treat myself to another day of pampering!

MRI

Back in October, my mom came to visit.  On a three hour car ride, I noticed my bum began hurting.  Figuring it was probably just from spending too much time in the car I paid little attention.  As the month went on, and the pain continued, I scheduled an appointment with the doctor.  The woman said there wasn't much they could do and sent me home with some drugs.

Skip forward to June when my bum was still hurting.  Yeah, pain in the butt...literally.

So my new doctor at the University Health Center (Joy Ford...who is awesome!) recommended I see a specialist.  Of course, nothing is just that easy...right?!  Unfortunately, Joy recommended I see a specific doctor and the administrative woman made the appointment...with the WRONG doctor.  But I didn't realize that, until I was back in Joy's office for a torn ligament in my toe.  Yes friends, I tore a ligament in my toe by tripping on my pajama bottoms.  But that's another story.  Back to the bum.  After seeing the wrong doctor (a physical therapist), Joy set up an appointment for me with Dr. Doerr, a back, spine, and neck specialist.  

I saw him a couple weeks ago.  He is...quirky, but thorough.  After looking at the xrays, he decided we needed more information.  The exam revealed my tailbone is sensitive, and the xrays show my lowest disk may be smaller than should be.  Either may be causing my pain, thus he scheduled me for a pelvic MRI.  Its kind of like a buy one MRI get one free...we'll get more detailed pictures of both my lowest disk and my tailbone.

So the MRI.

I have had lots of friends who've had MRI's before and everything they told me was...not like my experience.  They took me to a private dressing area and handed me a set of scrubs (much nicer than the hospital gown).  Additionally, I was allowed to keep on any clothing that didn't have metal.  Honestly, getting my cartilage piercing out may have been the worst part of the whole thing.  :)  That or just trying to remain still through the loud clicking and beeping.  But really, they did everything to make the experience comfortable.  They allowed me to keep all my things in the room (locked with my own key), gave me ear plugs, offered me a blanket, gave me a pillow for under my head and knees...during one of the tests, the sound was kind of white noise like...and I could have probably gone to sleep if that test hadn't been one of the shortest.

The whole thing lasted about 45 minutes and I'll go back to Dr. Doerr next week to have the MRI read and discuss options.

Until the next update.

September Plane Ticket

I just purchased my plane ticket for my grandpa's memorial service at the end of September.  :)  It will be a time of celebration and remembrance.  I am glad I'll be out in California with family for a special time to celebrate a wonderful man's life.

Writing Retreat

I spent the last week up in the Georgia mountains on a writing retreat.  It was lovely!  We spent all day, every day, for a week, in cabins writing.  In the evenings everyone would get together and talk about our progress for the day...successes, challenges, etc.  Then various people would share snippets of their work and ask for a press, express, address, or bless.  Here are some highlights...

Revised my publishable paper prospectus (my population and methodology changed)
Fun memories with my cabinmates
Walks around the lake
Hike up to the waterfall
Wrote up a book review (hopefully for publication)
Lots of laughter about bugs and 'camping'
Learned more about qualitative research
Meaningful conversations around higher education & life
Wrote my way into my dissertation (I think I have a topic, pending advisor approval ;)

It was a wonderful retreat...although I am extremely happy to be sleeping in my own bed again! Here are a few pictures from the writing retreat (mostly our trip up Anna Ruby falls).

Devotional for the first day of the writing retreat.  I thought it was fitting.

 From my morning walks around the lake

 We each kind of staked out spaces.  Some of the rooms had desks, mine didn't, thus I took one half of the kitchen table.  We also rearranged furniture that first night to make more conducive writing spaces

 On the deck watching the sunset

 We had all sorts of bug friends that decided to visit

 We were given stickers to wear for our hike

 LaQuesha and my cabinmate Carla

 It was a beautiful day.  I love the mountains, cool(er) days and less humidity!

 Danny & LaQuesha are in my program & made the trek (.4 mile hike, ha)

 The group of us that treated ourselves to a break and a hike.

Carla, Katy, Jung-chi, Danny, LaQuesha, Josh, and me

 My cabinmates, Carla, Katy, and Carolina

Precious Memories

Early Wednesday morning (July 6th), my grandpa went to be with Jesus.  Although I know he's no longer in pain and with his savior...my heart aches.

 

Frolicking in Florida

This forth of July I decided to head down to Florida for some R&R and for a weekend of catching up with my friend Jennifer.  She and I worked at Baylor together and she & her husband recently moved to Florida...conveniently between Tampa and Orlando.  The weekend was packed with all sorts of fun with good friends.

I drove down on Friday and met up with Jennifer at University of South Florida, where she works now.  After getting the tour of campus, we headed to her home to meet up with Stephen for dinner and fireworks in their town.  The fireworks over the lake on the dark night sky were fantastic!

After the fireworks display we headed to downtown Disney to walk around and peruse the Disney Resorts.  A-maze-ing.  Each resort is themed, detailed, and ... magical.

Saturday was open to the possibilities.  We talked about Disney, we talked about Universal Studios, the ocean and the gulf were also options.  The possibilities seemed endless.  After discussion, we headed for Universal Studios-Islands of Adventure.

Why?

Mainly one reason.

Or maybe seven.

It doesn't require a train, although possible.

Maybe it's the butterbeer?

Which is neither butter nor beer. :)

The reason?

It's magical.

...


The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

What a fun experience, truly.  After having read and watched all the movies the wizarding world was quite like I imagined (and kind of like the movies).  It was fun to experience it with Jennifer too as she hadn't read or seen the movies, thus I was able to explain some of the intricacies.  However, before heading straight to the Harry Potter world...we did visit a couple other parts of the park.  I mean, you can't spend the whole day just at the WWofHP.

The Hogwarts train & platform 9 & 3/4

Hogsmead

 The three broomsticks

Butterbeer-delicious! I've already looked up recipes.

 Olivander's wand shop-no I didn't purchase a wand, but watched a wizard & wand matching. :)

 

This picture cracks me up.  Jennifer took it while we were standing in line for the Harry Potter ride.  A wonderful experience through the world of Harry Pottery (some virtual & some through the castle).  It was obviously hot outside (FL in the summer) but they had misters and fans...a little piece of heaven.

 After HP we walked around the rest of the park and rode some great rides.  The one above was a bit of a shock!  I thought we'd ride up nicely to the top and then drop.  This was not that ride.  This one shot straight up at lightening speeds and then slowly lowered back down.  Really fun, but was completely unprepared for the experience.  :)

After riding Jurassic Park, Jennifer suggested we ride it again.  In the front.  The front row.  Yes friends, we rode the water ride with the giant TRex in the front row.  Contrary to popular belief we didn't...oh wait, we did get soaked but it was fun.

 

The spiderman 3D ride. Really cool.

 

  The park was really neat at night...the lights, the sounds, the cool breeze.

Of course I couldn't pass up seeing HP at night. :)

The Atlantic Ocean
Sunday, Jennifer and I went to the ocean via South Beach (not Miami South Beach...another one). :)  It was a beautiful day spent lounging (literally) by the water.  The breeze was delightful and the sound of the waves was memorizing. 

And I didn't even burn :)

The Gulf Coast
Monday, Stephen, Jennifer, and I went to Clearwater Beach on the gulf side.  Although there were more people, it was still manageable.  I was so surprised that for the holiday weekend we never really waited in lines or traffic.  The gulf  water is a little warmer than the Atlantic (and yes the Atlantic is warmer than the Pacific) and the sand is much whiter.  As the three of us were in the water, Stephen made some comment about the water being so clear...to which a little girl nearby replied, well it is called Clearwater.  Schooled by an 11 year old. :)  I could have stayed in the water all day, only I was beginning to burn, and I planned to return home that evening...thus I had a long drive in front of me.

Lunch at Frenchy's on the water. Yumm.

 

The drive home was filled with more Harry Potter on tape (yes, I listened to it on the way down and no, it wasn't actually on tap, iPod actually, but it doesn't sound the same) AND a magnificent sunset.  The time with friends was dear and although I was happy after many hours to no longer be in the car, I was glad I made the trip!