Epstein-Barr Virus & Infectious Mononucleosis

This post should give a little insight into this whole mono situation of mine:

-My blood tests came back positive for the EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus) & Infectious Mononucleosis (Mono). The doctor thinks I've had it for about 4 months, since that is when my symptoms started. 

-He thinks that it will take me 6 months to a year to get over, since I'm older than the average patient who gets mono. Our neighbor here who is a doctor thinks it may take even longer.

-The only ways to recover from mono are to rest & drink lots of liquids. I can also take Tylenol to relieve my symptoms.

Here are a few facts that I've read about mono:

-EBV can cause mono, but in most cases, when someone gets EBV, it doesn't turn into mono.

-Almost everyone has been infected by EBV by age 35, & never know that they were infected. In children, the virus isn't as severe & manifests itself like the flu or another common illness. People who become infected with mono & have noticeable symptoms are usually between the ages of 15 & 17. It is rare for someone to get mono after 24 years of age. Most people only take 4-8 weeks to recover from mono.

-The virus is transmitted through your saliva. Kissing or sharing a drink are the only real ways to spread mono.

The symptoms that I've had with mono are:

-Fever

-Chills

-Body/Muscle Aches

-Fatigue

-Headache

-Sore Throat

-Abdominal Pain

-Lack of Energy

-Sores on my Tonsils

I also found out that I'm slightly anemic. 

Needless to say, this isn't very fun! I'm glad to know what was wrong with me for most of last semester, but I think this recovery is going to be pretty hard on Lincoln, Kylee & I. Linc & I have worked out a system to where he spends an hour with Kylee in the afternoon so that I can rest, & he also makes dinner every night. I am also able to rest for an hour or two in the afternoon when Kylee naps or has "quiet time" in her room, & then again at night when she goes to bed.

The problem is that I'm trying to add in cleaning, grocery shopping, time with friends, Spanish classes & my calling into that "resting time" and it isn't working. I'm just not getting as much rest as I need. I feel like I've already simplified my life A TON, but I'm going to have to simplify it even more. Knowing that I could feel like this for another year or so is hard to think about! However, we have gone through much worse & have come out on top. I know that there has to be a way for Lincoln to do well in school, for Kylee to be happy, & for me to learn and grow while I'm recovering from this. 

A few days ago, I picked up a book from my shelf & found this note that I'd written to myself. 

Friday, October 6th, 2011:

"It's 1:00am & we just completed our preliminary paperwork for the adoption. Lincoln will deliver the packet to the director [of the orphanage] this afternoon after school. Today was pretty stressful. I felt very overwhelmed, discouraged & inadequate, but couldn't figure out what had triggered these feelings. Then I remembered days during our adoption process with Kylee when I felt the exact same way. I'm reminded that the adversary wants nothing more than to destroy families & that he will work in any way that he can to accomplish this. I won't let him. I will hold my head high, be confident in myself & in the Lord, & know that Heavenly Father is working to ensure my happiness, as well as my family's. I can't wait to see what blessings these difficult days bring to us in the very near future!"

It may be a blessing in disguise that this next adoption is taking awhile. I hope to be fully recovered by the time we bring this child into our home. We still don't have any news from the orphanage, but I know that there are a lot of things going on behind-the-scenes & that Heavenly Father knows how this whole thing is going to turn out.

The Lord knew that I was going to get sick & He knew how rough Lincoln's workload would be this semester. I know that if I put my trust & faith in Him, that He will show me His plan!!!

Back to Mexico!!!

We left the U.S. on Thursday, Jan. 5th. Leaving my family was depressing. I really enjoyed having so much time to spend with them on this trip. Kylee loved all of the attention & having people other than me to talk to during the day. I liked staying up late & talking to Megan, having playdates with Melissa & Nixen, & spending extra time with my parents. While saying goodbye, I didn't cry until I realized that Melissa will have her baby next month & I won't be able to be there for any of it! I have to thank my family too, for being so accommodating, supportive & loving. We miss all of you already!!!

We met Josh Haskin at the border, ran into the gas station for our last dose of American treats (peach rings & Reeses' Peanut Butter Cups for me and sunflower seeds & Mt. Dew for Linc), then crossed back into good old Mexico. Lincoln thinks it is extremely weird that I get excited to cross back into Mexico. I really do enjoy living here.

It ended up taking some time to get Josh's truck registered & all of our paper work taken care of. Kylee & I usually just walk around outside while we are waiting for Lincoln to take care of everything. This time, I had Daisy & Hallux with me too. As I was sitting there, a guy who had asked Lincoln for some money & who Lincoln had refused (sounds mean, but SO many people ask for money here, that you can't give to all of them) came up to me & asked me (in Spanish) if I had the keys to my truck. I looked at him kind of flabbergasted, thinking that he was seriously trying to take advantage of me & was trying to steal my truck! We went back & forth for a few minutes with me saying that he couldn't have my keys (laughing, because I couldn't believe that he was even asking!) and him asking me if I would give him my keys, if I knew where my keys were, etc. He finally pulled my keys out of his pocket & held them up! Apparently they had slipped out of my pocket when I sat down on a fence while holding the dogs' leashes & this guy found them & picked them up. I couldn't believe I'd done that, but told this guy "muchas gracias" over & over and assured him that I would give him a "propina" or "tip" as soon as Lincoln came outside with our money. Man, my clumsiness could have been disastrous, that's for sure!

We drove for about 11 hours the first day & stayed overnight in Navajoa. Kylee is a really good traveler, which we are thankful for! She slept and read books...

 

She also played make-believe with her stuffed animals and watched DVD's...

The dogs were great too. They just slept most of the way, even though they were trying to cuddle up to us the whole time!

We drove about 12 hours the next day & made it safely home to Zapopan! It felt so good to walk into my clean house (courtesy of my husband) & to sleep in my own bed! We really enjoyed seeing everyone in the U.S., but it is also nice to be home.

Holiday Vacation: Part #12 (MESA again)

We packed everything up & drove to Mesa on Wednesday night so that we could take Kylee to get tubes in her ears early the next morning. Kylee was in pretty good spirits on the way to the surgi-center & decided to sport her elephant hat during the ride...

Kylee did a great job. She didn't flip out until they actually put her on the operating table. Then it was only a few seconds before they put the gas mask on her & she was out. (We weren't allowed to go back there with Kylee...I just asked the nurse what happened once she left us.) Kylee woke up kind of fussy & was a little tired that day, but that's about it. Since getting tubes, she has been like a new kid! I think I blamed WAY too much of her behavior & crankiness on the "Terrible Two's" instead of on her ears.

We had Santa's forgotten gift laid out on my parents' couch for Kylee when she woke up from her nap...

Seriously, all Goodwill! Expenses in medical school are killer, so I was glad to be back in the U.S. with some options of things to buy & good deals to find!

We really enjoyed the nice weather in Mesa. Linc took Kylee for a bike ride one day, which she LOVED!

We spent New Years Eve with our good friends Steve & Erica. We were so happy to be able to hang out with them multiple times during our vacation. Friends like them are very hard to find & we are SO blessed to have them in our lives! My favorite part about our relationship with them is that we can go months without talking & pick up right where we left off. Plus, Erica is another one of my friends who knew me before all of my health problems. She knows who I am without all of the trials & baggage & everything else that comes with me now. :)

Anyway, we put all of the kids to bed at Steve's parents' house, then played games & ate treats. Oh, and we laughed...

 A LOT...

 Even Lincoln laughed hard. That means we had a lot of fun, in case you didn't know. :)

(Sidenote: Most of you have probably noticed that Linc & I are opposites in the laughing department. I laugh at pretty much everything & I laugh loud. Lincoln doesn't laugh very often, & most of the time he just chuckles quietly to himself. In fact, at least once a week, I say something that I'm pretty sure is hilarious that he doesn't laugh at. That leads to the same conversation every time...

Me: "Why aren't you laughing? That was seriously so funny!"

Linc: "I am laughing."

Me: "No you're not."

Linc: "Yes, I am. I'm laughing inside.")

At midnight, we watched the ball drop & toasted with sparkling cider. Someone had the idea that we should all set a New Years resolution right then & tell it to each other, so that we could check back next New Years to see if we actually accomplished our goals. After I said that I want to lose 20 pounds this year, nobody else could think of a resolution...or maybe I just made it awkward? Ha ha.

We woke Kylee up, gave her a chocolate cookie, & took her home...

The next day we met Heather & Josh, and Joy & Aaron (Heather's sister & her husband) at Joe's BBQ. Kylee didn't take a nap that day, so she ended up falling asleep in the car...

When Kylee woke up, she ran around with Cason, who is the same age as her...

After dinner, we took Kylee back to my parents' & put her down for the night, then headed over to Heather's parents' house. Man, it was so nice being able to leave Kylee a few times at night after she was asleep & have a free babysitter! Anyway, the boys played video games until really late while Heather & I went to Walmart, then QT for yummy donuts & shakes, then back to play games & hang out. We ended up setting up a mini photo shoot for the two of us. I'll share those pictures another time. :) 

Here's a favorite pic from that night though..."Dr. Hiatt" feeling a lump on Heather's neck. The face Heather made for this picture & Lincoln's face of "Anj, are you seriously taking a picture of me doing this?!" makes me laugh...

The next day was spent packing to go back to Mexico, then we left the U.S. on Thursday morning!

Oh, & I almost forgot to share that I FINALLY found out what is wrong with me! I have mono! Good old Dr. Coss in Snowflake met with me last-minute, ran some tests & discovered what was wrong. I was really impressed with him & how thorough & thoughtful he was when I was telling him my symptoms. I'll leave the rest for a post all about mono...I know you can't wait to read it!!! :)

Holiday Vacation: Part #11 (SNOWFLAKE again)

We spent Christmas Eve, Christmas & the next few days in Snowflake. We had a lot of fun, even though I still wasn't feeling great. We ended up being the only kids at Linc's parents' house for Christmas morning. Kylee loved her gifts. Santa was smart & shopped at Goodwill this year for part of Kylee's Christmas, & boy was it worth the hours spent there! 

Opening her gifts...

Princess books!

Kylee also got a Leap Frog Tag Junior reading system, a doggy doorbell, crayons, colored pencils, coloring books, a stuffed monkey & some clothes. Santa left one of Kylee's gifts in Mesa, so Kylee got that one later in the week. :)

We ate breakfast, which included the traditional oranges & bananas with powdered sugar on top. I think that this tradition came from Lincoln's great-grandma. They've carried it on through the years & I love it. It's simple & just always really memorable to me for some reason. This will definitely be a tradition that I carry on when we spend Christmas morning at our own home.

While we were in Snowflake, Kylee played the piano with Grandma...

And dumped BOXES of stuff on the ground when she was supposed to be sleeping!

She went with Daddy to milk the cow, but got pretty scared...

So she pretty much just sat in the corner & cried...

We visited the cemetery, where someone left a rose in front of Jackson's headstone...

And Lincoln's aunts left some more flowers in back...

(Lincoln's aunts do this every year for the family graves. It makes me so happy to see that someone left something at Jackson's grave when I couldn't!)

Jarod & Claire came with us to the cemetery & played in the snow...

While we planted tulips on Jackson's grave...

Kylee helped too...

The kids performed tricks in the snow for us before we left...

And yes, bending over is one of Kylee's tricks...

We received the BEST news while we were visiting. Lincoln's brother Matt & his wife Danielle are EXPECTING A BABY!!! This was truly our Christmas miracle. They have 3 other kids (Jayten, Jarod & Claire) but had given up on having another one. Without going into more detail, the news that they would have one more was truly exciting (& shocking!) and we are SO, SO excited for this little girl/boy to join our family later this year!

It was so sad saying goodbye to our family, knowing that we wouldn't see them again for quite awhile. Kylee sure will miss her cousins...

I've said it before & I'll say it again: I am INCREDIBLY lucky to have married into such a wonderful family! Thank you to Linc's family for making so much time for us & for being so supportive & loving. We love each one of you so much!!!
(We missed you Holly, Jordan & kids and Kenny, Cleona & kids! Can't wait until we are ALL together again.)

Willis Family Christmas Party 2011

We attended our Willis Family Christmas Party with Linc's mom's side of the family on Christmas Eve. This party is always so much fun! This was my first year attending it at the church instead of Jacki's house. Although it didn't feel quite as intimate as usual, the family is getting big & this seemed to work out better. 

I enjoyed hanging out with my little sidekick Claire...

(She had her tonsils out & still wasn't feeling well that night. She's such a trooper!)

We ate YUMMY food & then had the kids act out the nativity. I guess Kylee just makes a really cute angel, because that is the only part she has ever played in a nativity...

I absolutely love this girl's chubby, rosy cheeks!

And once again, Kylee didn't last very long. Pretty soon she had left the nativity scene & was hanging out with Grandma & Papa in the audience...

Next it was time for Santa to visit & bring everyone their stockings! Kylee was nervous again, but managed to hold back the tears...

(Kylee sure was lucky this year, getting to sit on 4 different Santa's laps!)

Kylee got the Curious George movie, fairy bracelets, Ring Pops & PEZ in her stocking!!!

Linc's parents on Santa's lap...

And us! We've been good kids this year, that's for sure! :)

Allen Family Christmas Party 2011

Every year on Christmas morning, my grandparents make a big breakfast for all of their children & grandchildren. This year with Nana being gone & it being easier for families to stay home on Christmas morning, Grandad held his breakfast for all of us the morning of Christmas Eve. We combined his breakfast with our usual family Christmas party with my dad's side of the family. Linc & I headed over early to set up while Kylee threw a fit outside. 

Breakfast was delicious as usual! Then we had a visit from Santa!

Kylee riding around in the "train" with Koralyn...

Holding Cooper's hand on the way home...

We headed to Snowflake & said goodbye to Shawn, Ashley & Cooper. It sure was fun being able to spend a few days with them!

Cooper Family Christmas Party 2011

I was so excited to find out that the Christmas party for my mom's side of the family would take place while we were still in Mesa! We had dinner & treats at Aunt Carol & Uncle Don's house. It was so nice to see everyone & enjoy their company!

Kylee wanted to sit in a carrier & act like a baby once again...

My cousin Kristin & I...

(We are only 12 days apart in age!)

Us with our girls...

Grandpa & Kylee had fun hanging out in the back seat together on the way home...

Holiday Vacation: Part #10 (MESA again)

We arrived back in Mesa on Wednesday night to see my brother Shawn, his wife Ashley & their little boy Cooper. Their flight didn't get in until late, so we put Kylee to bed & then woke her up when they got to my parents' house. This was Linc's first time meeting Cooper.

Kylee was pretty jealous that Cooper was stealing Linc's attention...

But she is honestly obsessed with Cooper, so it didn't take Kylee long to get over it...

I knew Shawn & Ashley would make cute kids! Coop is seriously ADORABLE!!!

Cuddling with Uncle Shawn & Cooper...

Showing Coop the show Caillou on the iPad...

My mom finished her baskets that night. She worked SO hard this year. Seriously, she hardly sat down for over a month! Her baskets turned out beautiful, as usual. I especially loved these ones in the little sleighs...

(Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Rods, Brownie Balls, Loaf Cakes, Chocolate Caramel Apples & White Chocolate Chex Mix...my mouth waters just thinking about all of the yummy stuff that she makes!)

Poor Linc got sick that night & had a fever most of the next day. Thursday (Dec. 22nd) was the only day that the whole family (besides Aaron who is on his mission) would be together, since Melissa & I were spending Christmas with our families at our in-laws this year. We had a big breakfast of French toast with buttermilk syrup. This is a family favorite!

My mom even bought a whole gallon of eggnog in my honor!

After breakfast, we all hung out...

And opened our Christmas presents from each other...

Kylee got lots of fun things including another Barbie, books, candy, puzzles & Play-Do! Cooper got this adorable Santa outfit...

After we opened gifts, we got ready for family pictures. We haven't had a family picture with my family since Lincoln & I were dating. That was 8 years ago, so this was our first time getting a family picture taken since marriages & kids. Luckily, Linc was feeling somewhat better by the time we had our family photo shoot. I can't wait to see how the pictures turned out!

I bribed Kylee during pictures with a donut from QT if she would smile for the photographer. It worked! We headed to QT right after & let her choose whatever donut she wanted. She picked chocolate, of course...

(I forgot how good QT donuts are! I ate way too many on this trip.)

My parents took all of us to dinner at White Chocolate Grill. That place is SO good. I got their chicken crepes & Linc ordered ribs...

Kylee enjoyed rubbing Ranch dressing all over her hands...

And showing Uncle Shawn how much her coloring skills have improved since she last saw him...

And of course she had to stick a crayon in her ear to see what it felt like...

(She has developed an interest in her ears & nostrils lately. Only one thing has gotten stuck so far. Let's hope this little stage doesn't last long!)

Lincoln went golfing with my dad, Shawn, & our cousin Stetson the next morning. I didn't feel well at all the next day. I stayed in bed while my mom & Ashley hung out. :( I did feel better in time to go the Cooper Christmas Party that night though!