Larynogoscopy

On Monday I had my surgery. The Dr. said it couldn't have went better, so I am very pleased to hear that! No talking for 7 days and then it will be a gradual increase in talking. I start vocal therapy in 2 weeks and then should be ok to sing again in about 4-6 weeks. I was put on pain medincine, mucinex, a sinus antibiotic and an anti-reflux medincine. Wednesday I only took my pain med once and today I haven't at all. It hurt to swallow for a few days but now I'm feeling almost normal. I resumed eating solid foods today which makes it easier. For a few days I was only having liquids and soft foods - mostly popsiciles, ice cream, etc. Today, I ate a salad and muffins which was awesome!

The no talking has proven to be a challenge, but what's harder is no coughing or clearing the throat. I can't whisper or mouth any words either, so that makes it doubly hard! I just have a dry erase board to communicate - but with Josh, it's hard b/c he can't read! Josiah has been a great helper and really does well with all this! Josh is more of a challenge for me though, surprise, surprise!

Ronnie has been an awesome husband! He is more than I could ever ask for in a husband! He'll pick me up special things to eat and say silly things to make me smile like, "I don't want to hear one word out of you young lady!" At least I can smile, b/c I can't laugh or cry either! Which is hard b/c at times I get emotional about all this, but I have to remind myself that it's gonna be worth it and I don't what to do anything to mess up the surgery.

I think the worst part is having this sinus infection during all this. I got a sinus infection on Thurs. before the surgery on Monday and I've had lots of mucus building up in my throat and chest which makes it hard to breathe b/c I can't cough it out. So, the netti pot helps along with the meds, but I haven't been able to sleep through the night yet since so that's frustrating. Last night I thought I might choke on my mucus! Sounds terrible I know!

I went to youth group last night with my dry erase board and that was interesting. The youth had fun with it - I got some laughs and poked fun at, but it was all entertaining I'm sure! I'm just trying to keep my spirits up through all this and look for the humor and good out of it all. I hate not talking and it makes me feel handicapped in a way, but I'm looking forward to a better and stronger voice after all this is over!!!!

Getting answers

So, my visit to the ENT went "ok." The red dot is a blood vessel and the inflammation and problems I'm having in his opinion is not from singing or overuse of the voice. There's no explanation really why I have this blood vessel on my right vocal fold. So, I am now having a micro direct operative laryngoscopy done on Wed. April 13th where they will remove the blood vessel. I won't be able to talk for 5-7 days and will not be able to sing for 4-6 weeeks. UGH!!! So, lots of writing things down and using a dry erase board! Everything should be fine afterwards. So, in a few months all this should be behind me!!!!! It'll be nice to be able to sing in a full voice again!!!!

Vocal Issues

So, a few months ago I went to an ENT to discuss some vocal problems I had been having for a few months. Thinking I've damaged my voice from leading worship for 12 years is a scary thing!!! He treated me with different meds for allergies like a steroid called methylpredisone and a strong nasal spray. Well, after spending $500 trying to figure out why my vocal range has decreased and why I'm having vocal fatique so frequently I researched online for some help. I found a speech and hearing clinic at IU where there is a lady who does vocal therapy and they do throat scopes. I emailed her and set up an appt. and had an hour and a half evaluation. The throat scope is awesome! It's not awesome to have a long thing stuck down your throat that makes you want to gag, but it took video of my vocal folds while I was doing vocal exercises. Turns out both sides are inflammed, the right side being worse and there is a small red blister like thing on that side which is causing that fold to be stiff. So, when the folds go to close, they aren't closing all the way and there is a gap at the bottom. Therefore, that explains why I have to power or volume in my headvoice right now. What I thought was "allergy related" has turned out to be something more. So, after this very thourough evaluation she set me up with an appt. with the ENT she normally works with - since I told her not to use the one I went to in the first place b/c first off I couldn't hardly understand him b/c he's a different nationality and second off he wasn't on the right path. So, TOMORROW, April 1st, I go to get my diagnosis based on my information from the evaluation and my video of the vocal folds. Not sure what will come of this, so I'm a little nervous. Bad thing is that if I have to not talk for an extended period of time - I'll go insane!!! And Ronnie leaves for 3-4 days for FL on Sat. to go on a fishing trip! So, we'll see what happens!!!

12 Year Anniversary

I made this slideshow of Ronnie and I from when we started dating till now for our 12 Year Anniversary

Josiah's First Piano Recital

I just started teaching Josiah piano about a month ago and I went ahead and put him in our winter recital and he did a great job!!!! Here's my little Mozart.....

Upwards Basketball 2011

The boys have been enjoying their basketball season! This is Josiah's 3rd year to play and Josh's 1st year and they're actually on the same team! Josiah's been making lot of baskets in the games and Josh is doing great in defense! Josh really goes after the ball!!! Surprise, surprise!!! I'm so proud of them!!!!

First snow of 2010

The first big snowfall was super exciting for the boys! They couldn't wait to get out there and start throwing snowballs!

snowball fight with Dad

Josiah throwing a snowball at me while I'm taking pics!

backyard

our snowman

drinking hot chocolate

wrestling Dad in the snow

more wrestling - what else do boys do?

BIG HUGE LEAF PILE

raking up leaves!

Getting blown by the leaf blower!!!

guitar player/leaf raker!

OUR BIG HUGE LEAF PILE! HERE COMES THE FUN!!!

This is Josh trying to get all the leaves out of his shirt!!! HA! HA!

It was a great day!!!!

Hearing God's voice

So, in our night time devotions with the boys we were talking about how to hear God's voice - yeah kind of hard for a child, but I don't think it's ever too early to start teaching them how to hear the voice of God. So, I explained how in your prayer time if you're quiet and you listen God can speak to you in your heart. So, after Josiah prayed he sat quietly listening for God to speak something to him. After a minute or so he opens his eyes and says, " I didn't hear anything." I said, "That's ok. It takes time to learn how to listen for His voice. So, Josh prays and he waits and listens and he says, "I couldn't hear God talking. He wasn't talking loud enough!" It was cute! Then Josiah pops up and says, "I heard God say something! He said I need to be a good boy and listen to my mom and dad." I thought, Well that's a great thing for him to hear God say and then he says, "I just made that up!" ha ha! Kids are so funny! I love teaching them about the things of God and God's word. The questions they have and the things they say are priceless!!

Campout in the backyard

laying on the trampoline looking at the stars

The boys missed their Royal Ranger campout for church b/c we were gone that weekend, so we promised them we'd campout in the yard before it got too cold!!! They LOVED it! We played football, pretend bow and arrows, ate hamburgers and hotdogs, mac-n-cheese, watermelon and beans (boys love beans, ya know?) had a campfire, roasted marshmallows and told stories and then went to bed! I had to go inside twice in the middle of the night - once b/c I was about to wet my pants and the second time for Josiah to go to the bathroom! I was soooo tempted to stay inside and get in my comfy, warm, bed!!!! We had a great time!!!!

FUN at Lake Placid campground

Every year Ronnie and I help out at the PK (Pastor's Kids) Retreat at our District campground and we bring the boys and they have a blast!!!! This is their favorite!!!