You're never too young for Heart Problems

I've put off writing about this for a week thinking I would know more before I freak people out but I still know nothing. I need to write it down and explain me weird posts on facebook and such so here it is. Also this is my journal so to speak so sorry it's kind of wordy.

Ever since I've had Blake every once in awhile when I go up stairs or take the boys on a walk it wares me out. I'll be out of breath just going up the stairs. I've always chalked it up to being out of shape and maybe that is still the reason I don't know. But last August I started really feeling funny. One weekend I was really dizzy and sick feeling and I checked my BP (blood pressure) and it was a little high. Regular BP is 120/80 and my bottom number was 89. I have BP problems at the end of pregnancy so I knew enough that it was a little high but not enough to run to a dr. Starting about three weeks ago I started noticing my heart beating weird. Then two weeks ago I was watching TV and was laying down and my heart started to REALLY beat funny. Two beats would be normal then a couple would just pound then they would be normal again then pund. Bryan was asleep in the other room and I was so scared I almost woke him up but when I turned to my back it wasn't so bad. Then I went back to my side and it started doing it again. The rest of the night I slept on my right side or my back because my heart would freak out if I was on my left. Still can't figure that one out!

For the next 5-6 days after that I would notice weird things with my heart- mostly that doing anything would get it beating fast. I could feel it beating sort a funny every once in awhile and it really worried me but I didn't want to go to the Dr. In my life (other then anything to do with pregnancy) I have only been to the dr. twice I can think of. Once in jr. high for really bad strep throat and once when I was first married with the flu. So going to the dr. is a big deal so I put of off. I woke up Thursday feeling really dizzy and sick so when I went to Maceys shopping I decided to take my BP. I was 144/97 - like I said normal is 120/80 and 90+ is bad and 100+ is stroke level. Lovely. So I picked Ty up from preschool and sat at home trying to figure out what I was going to do. I was scared that if it got any higher I would have a stroke or seizure home alone with my boys. I still do, what would happen to me or them if that happened?? I finally broke down and called a Dr's office nearby and they had me come in right away. Bryan had the week off for the deer hunt and had just come back from hunting with his brother so I could leave. I sat there at the office for about 15 minutes then they took me back to do my weight, hight, BP. I couldn't believe it. My BP was 155/110. 110!! The nurse looked funny after she took it so I asked her what it was and when she told me I was like "holy crap! Good thing I'm here and not at home" meaning I was worried I would have a stroke at home, at least at the office they could help me I figured. So the Dr. came into see me and he listened to my heartbeat and could hear a irregular rhythm. It would be normal then sneak a extra quick beat in there. So here ordered a EKG- and the nurse was like have you had one of these before and I told her I haven't had a stitch or a broken arm in my life let alone heart problems. When she was hooking me up to it I was laying on the table exposed for the world to see and I kept thinking about saying something funny about how she hasn't seen a women with a chest this flat since she did this on a 11 year old or something but I was too nervous. I was worried it would come out wrong or something.

Although the actual test is totally painless and not a big deal when the nurse would leave the room I would start to cry. I just kept thinking about all the bad things that could be wrong with me and I thought about how my boys would handle all of this. Then I thought about if I had life threatening heart problems and how they would never remember me as their mom and all of those horrible things to have to think about. I would compose myself then she would come back in to do a little more with the test then leave again and I would cry. Then when they were done and I was waiting for the dr. I cried. The EKG showed that I had a extra wave called a U wave. I don't know much about that but he was worried about it. So he ordered a Holter monitor for me to wear for 24 hours I would get from a heart dr. and they did some more blood work. I guess a lot of times the U wave shows up when you have a potassium deficiency but my blood work came back normal. They checked for protein and that was normal which could be a kidney problem I guess. Then they check my thyroid and it seems normal. I just had the Holter monitor Tuesday to Wednesday and that was loads of fun. It wasn't too bad but it must be made for a big person because I had wires I had to stick down my pants so they wouldn't be showing everywhere. It had six probes on it and the monitor that was around my waist. I would push a button when I felt my heart being weird and record it in a journal. I'll post a picture of it- don't worry it's just my tummy. If you don't want to see a very white stomach then don't look at the picture. When I was in the waiting room to get it on I'm sitting there with all these 80-90 year old people. It was kind of a odd feeling for me. That's when I thought I would have these sort of problems, not at 26.

So today I am feeling VERY tired and I get lots of headaches. I just picked up the big room in my basement and I'm still a little winded 20 minutes later. I get a burning in my chest almost like when you run really hard and your lungs burn but not quite that strong. Not sure how else to explain that. I get pain in my chest too and sometimes when I'm just sitting reading a book to my boys it gets my heart thumping. Weird. All weird. So I hope and pray whatever is wrong with me is a quick fix. I really have no idea what's wrong. My blood pressure has been down back to normal for a few days and I do have more energy then I did a couple of days ago but I'm feeling worse today then I did yesterday so I don't know. No one knows! But if you are religious at all say a little prayer for me and I keep you posted. I'll be honest with you- I'm scared.

This is more skin then you ever thought you would see from me. =) sorry! Try sleeping with this thing on!

Pumpkin Walk and Pictures!

Blogger is being so stupid today- so there is a few pictures missing but I've already been doing this for a half hour so sorry- there is still plenty to see.

We some of the Palmer family decided to go to the pumpkin walk so I wake Blake up, bundle them up, get me some water and stuff (because at this point my blood pressure was sky sky high and I felt like crap) so I get to the pumpkin walk 10 minutes late and no one is there. I figure they started without me so we started walking around. The rest of the group showed up a hours later. That's what I get for not having a cell phone I guess! No one called me in time to let me know they were ALL going to be late. Not their fault- but it made it hard to be there two hours feeling like garbage. On a happy note my boys LOVED the pumpkin walk this year so they didn't mind walking around it twice. It's more fun with the cousins anyway.

I love the look on his face. I had a cute one of Ty here too but blogger won't let me load it. Sorry!

Look how cute my boys are?? They both LOVE tractors so we had to get a picture by this one. Blake mostly was in the stroller. This was the first year I trusted Ty without being in the stroller but he did really good.

Look at the look on his face? Priceless.

They look so happy to be at the pumpkin walk.

Our ward did a primary carnival and the boys were invited. This is the best picture I could get of their customs.

My cute hubby set up our tent in the basement for him and the boys to watch movies. They were in HEAVEN! They still play in it.

Deer Widow Weekend

So I was a widow for only a shot time last week! Hooray! Bryan got a nice buck opening morning just minutes after first light. Some people below him scared it up to them. He was hoping for a bigger deer but is happy with this one. It's a 24 in 5X5 for anyone who cares. We are having it made into jerky as we speak. It was nice to have him home for the week that he had off for the hunt too. I needed his help because I'm having some heath problems that I'll get into in a later post when I know more.

He did get to go up a few times with his brother hunting. We did a European mount where you boil the deer in a big pot. So gross. At least this year he did it in the back yard instead of the front. I know were red necks but I hate to look like it! I'm proud of you Bryan! All of your running to get in shape and hiking all summer paid off!

Bryan and his brother Cory.

Cory and our kids with the deer head. My boys loved the dang thing. So gross.

Bryan and his brothers- this is how his head turned out after we boiled it. At least it doesn't stink this way! That is Joe's baby James with them. Oh he is so cute!

Pumpkins!!!

We grew a bunch of pumpkins in our garden this year. I was trying to have a little fun with some settings on my camera. I love growing pumpkins but they take up SO much room in my garden. I'm not sure I'm going to grow them next year. But the boys love them!

This one is his pumpkin. I'm glad Blake doesn't get the having to have the biggest pumpkin yet or they would fight over it.

Ty loves his pumpkins.

Family Photo's 2009

We went up where we went last year to get a few family pictures. It was the day after I hurt my back but I did pretty good getting around. They turned out ok. My boys didn't really corporate most of the time but we survived. Sorry the quality isn't as good. I have to lower the quality to be able to post them with my slow internet. Enjoy:

Happy Birthday Blake!

I know it's past his birthday but I wanted to post pictures of my baby's 2nd birthday!! Blake was so funny about the whole day- he loved every minute of it. The kid cracks me up. He kept telling Tyson what to do all day. So here is a few highlights of pictures of the day:

How can you not LOVE a face like that? Look at that concentration!

My brother took this picture- what is up with the frown?? So funny!!

A fun toy my mom got him. Ty had a really hard time allowing Blake to play with all of these fun new toys because he wanted first crack at them I guess. Poor Ty!

I always let them help me mix up their cake then lick the cake mix off the beaters.

I got him this from shopko and as soon as he started to play with it the lights and sound quit working. So I took him into shopko last week to exchange it and he saw a toy gun he wanted. I have NEVER heard my kid or any other for that matter scream that loud. It was awful.

Blake is turned into quite the interesting kid lately. He is into weird things that he has to have. Like he always wants his shoes on. He is even sleeping with them on! But he tries to put them on himself. He still is crazy about his toy guns. Even if he isn't holding one if I get after him he takes his finger and pretends to shoot me. I'm sure he has NO idea what he is meaning by that but it kind of cracks me up. He still talks like crazy. He loves to give mom hugs and kisses now. So cute. He doesn't like to sit in the sandbox like Ty does and play he would rather be kicking a ball across the yard or exploring. He likes to play alone a lot more then Ty does and he has his certain movies that he loves to watch. He can already count a little bit and knows part of the ABC song. He FINALLY will let me read to him if it's a short book. It's interesting to see the different personalities in my kids. I can see some weird things that Blake got from me that Ty doesn't have. As a child I was scared of a lot of things but ESPECIALLY dogs. Poor Blake got my fear of dogs. He didn't used to be that way but my mom's nice black lab Sammy comes up to him and if he is on my lap he is fine but if he is standing he freaks out. Ty on the other hand tries to ride on his back like a horse. Tyson likes to find Bryan when he is hiding and have Bryan jump out and scare him. I HATE people jumping out to scare me. Blake runs and find me screaming when Bryan does this- another mom trait. So I'm sorry Blake I gave you my scardycatness. I hope your dad can get that out of ya.

I'm so happy to have you in my family Blake! You make my life so much fun!

Oh my back!!!

So for years and years my lower back has given my trouble. For the most part it's better more then it's worse so I usually don't worry very much about it. My brother has had MAJOR back problems and it's taken years, physical therapy, lots of working it out and tons of dr.'s before he feels like he can function without meds. I've always worried if I didn't workout more that someday something like that would happen to my back. Well it happened. I was in Tyson's room picking up his books that were on the floor then all of the sudden I had a sharp shooting pain in my bad and down my legs that dropped me to the floor. I was screaming it hurt so bad. I've been in labor twice before and granted I've always had a epidural so I don't know what the full labor feels like but the pain I was in was worse then labor for me. I wonder if I feel that way because in labor it hurts then you get a minute or so break then it hurts again and my back I was in pain constantly. Poor Blake was standing next to me when it happened and he kept asking "you ok mom? you ok?" So I try to get to my room but I could hardly move. I called Bryan in tears because I didn't know what to do. I had to have Blake hand me the phone because I couldn't reach it. So I was like that for a couple of hours- I at least made it to the couch and laid on my side hoping to find some position that would relieve my pain but nothing worked. I would either be in TONS of pain or just annoying pain. It didn't help that my kids thought I was kidding and kept hitting me and trying to jump on me. They thought I was fake crying like I sometimes do. I wasn't faking it this time though!

ANYWAY Bryan came hope to help me feed the boys lunch and ended up taking me to the chiropractor. It seems I have sprained my lower back in my pelvis. Who sprains they back?? He had a name for it but I can't remember what the exact term is. They call it a mommy sprain from bending over and picking up kids and from what your hips have to do in labor. It was like a ticking time bomb so when I bent over to pick something up my body just gave up and let go- which sprained it and is pinching a nerve. He said it was a 9 MONTH injury! But I hopefully won't be in as much pain as I was then. Honestly since about the time we left for the dr. I have been feeling well enough to at least walk around and function a little bit. At first there was no way I could get around without crying in pain. So I can't bend over to pick my boys up unless I sit down, have them come to me and stand up. It's too painful anyway right now. It was a chore getting Blake out of his crib this morning while Bryan is at basketball. Poor Bryan had to take the afternoon off yesterday because I couldn't do anything. He had to help me bath the boys and change the diapers. Pretty much anything that makes me bend over at all it's extremely painful still at this point. I at least got some stretches that he wants me to do (pretty much for the rest of my life) and to ice my back. Bad thing is I can bearly sleep because it hurts all the time and my poor boys want me to hold them and it's hard to do it.

So moral of the story is: when bending over to pick up your kids- USE YOUR LEGS! It hurts too much to sprain your back!!!

Blackout

Last night around 7:30-8 we went into a brown out. My tv started freaking out and so did my dishwasher. Then my lights were on but very dim. So annoying. Then it got worse... it went totally black. Lucky for me we had the brownout first because I could tell something was up and I got my flashlights out and candles then got my kids in their pj's. Bryan didn't come home until 9:30 and it was hard to keep the kids entertained in the dark that long. I've now learned how unprepared I am for something like that. I was especially worried about it getting cold in my house without power to run the furnace. Lucky for us the power came on around midnight and we kept warm enough.

Then this morning we spent a fun filled time running errands while Blake was screaming his head off. I have yet to see a kid act that bad in a store- mine or someone else's even. So embarrassing.

I'm back!

I'm back! My stupid internet has been down for almost two weeks and I've been going nuts. I wanted to post a lot on my baby's 2nd birthday and this is the first time I've been able to do it. I have lots more to post but won't be able to today. So here we go!

We went to my parents house a couple of weeks ago and did a mini party for my baby's birthday! My parents found this cute Elmo truck toy with this hat. He loves to ware it around.
We went to the local university homecoming parade. Batman was nice enough to pose for the picture. I had to play parade with Tyson the rest of the day though. He would throw me candy and I would have to pick it up.

My mom with me and my boys.

My cute boy. Oh I love him!

I just thought this photo of Blake and Bryan was sweet.

Our family- Tyson is already starting to pull faces. Nice.