If it wasn't for Joe...

A few weekends ago we went camping with a big group of friends. I quickly realized that if it wasn't for Joe I would starve while camping. Which is weird because back at home he would starve if he didn't have me.


He does everything from chopping wood, to starting a fire, to setting up the tent.

Hospital Update

So Joe and I were finally able to leave the hospital Saturday evening. My heart was doing some crazy things and so they decided to cardiovert (shock) my heart to put it back in rhythm. That worked and I was able to leave the hospital with a heart that felt so good. Later that night my heart rate started to increase again and it has been high ever since, today it got a little higher. So the Doctor wants me to come in for some tests. The Doctor expected my heart rate to be a little high because they were agitating it for 6 hours during the procedure, but they don't really want it as high as it is.

I believe in the power of faith and prayer and would really appreciate if you could say some prayers for me. This Sunday is fast Sunday, so if you could include me in your fast I would really appreciate it.

Thanks for everyone's love and support, it has been really encouraging.

Hospital

So I haven't really told anyone because I have not wanted people to worry. During my 1/2 marathon in Moab I was really short of breath, my heart rate was out of control and I was really dizzy. I did not think anything of it, but just thought I was having an allergic reaction to the outside. When we got back in town the symptoms didn't go away, and my heart rate was always really high. After a month of it I couldn't take it anymore and started to go to see doctors to find out what was wrong with me.


It turned out that my heart was in atrial fibrillation where my atrium were trying to contract as fast as they could. The doctor started me on a bunch of medicine to see if that could correct the "A-fib", but the drugs did not stop it. About 2 weeks ago they shocked my heart to see if that would fix the problem, but my heart only stayed in rhythm for 10 minutes before it reverted back to A-fib. The doctors told me I would need an ablation.


We checked into the hospital yesterday where I had an MRI and a TEE to make sure that I was still okay to have the ablation procedure.


An ablation goes a little something like this. They put 2 catheters in near your groin and then another one in your neck. They wind the catheters up to your heart, and from there they map the heart and then start ablating (burning) different parts of the heart. The process is very long. My ablation took over 6 hours.


This morning I had the ablation and I am proud to say that it was a success! My heart it beating in normal rhythm for the time being! And we are just praying that it will stay in normal rhythm. Thanks Dr. Bunch for fixing my heart! Hopefully we will be able to leave tomorrow morning, so that I can rest at home! And now I think I want to be a cardiac nurse!

Stratosphere

We could not end our strip without stopping off in Las Vegas one more time to go and see the place where we got engaged. When we got engaged Joe surprised me by sending me on a scavenger hunt for him that ended with a surprise trip to Las Vegas where we went to the stratosphere and he proposed at the top after dinner. It was fun to walk down the strip together like we did after we got engaged and to relive that moment.

I love you Joe! I'm glad that we were able to have such a fun trip

Fantasy Factory

So Joe and I are completely addicted to the show Rob and Big and the new Rob Dyrdek show, Fantasy Factory. Basically both shows are about this pro skater Rob Dyrdek and his shenanigans. If you haven't watched it I highly recommend you going to MTV.com and watching a few episodes. Our trip to California would not be complete without a pit stop to see if we might get a glimpse at Rob and his Fantasy factory. First off his fantasy aren't what some of you might be thinking. He has basketball hoops, an indoor skate park complete with a foam pit, a zip line, a American Gladiator tennis ball gun,and rascal scooters.
We did not see Rob or anyone else from the show. It looked like they were doing some construction on the inside. We can't wait until the next season to see what fantasies Rob will live out next.
One of the producers saw us taking photos and when we told her we wanted to see Rob she told us he wasn't there and that they didn't want anyone knowing the location of the Factory. Apparently she is not a master googler like Joe is.

Cruise

After Las Vegas we drove down to San Diego to spend time with our friends John and Melanie. We had so much fun chatting at the Cheesecake factory and stuffing ourselves! The next day we headed out for our cruise.

A cruise might just be the the best thing next to cookie dough ice cream. First off you can eat whenever you want and you don't have to cook. Dinner was the best. Joe would order like 2 starters, 3 entrees and 2 desserts. All day we would find ourselves at the ice cream machine or at the pizza place.

This is the lovely ship we were on!

We had fun at Catalina Island

We think this is a pig that they made for us when they came in to turn down our sheets at night. And they are wearing Joe's sunglasses

This guy would eat like 4 ice cream cones a day, on top of all his meals. What a champ!

It was so nice to be able to read a book that wasn't a textbook for a change.
We played a few rounds of miniature golf. Joe beat me every time. He's got mad skills on the course.

I can't believe its over! We are so glad we could take a vacation, and would go back at any minute. It was fun to spend 24/7 together. We have not been able to do that since our honeymoon, so it was very nice.

Las Vegas

This past week Joe and I were able to take a vacation! It started in Las Vegas where we went and saw Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian! It was absolutely amazing! I would definitely recommend the drive down to Las Vegas just to see Phantom. They had amazing special effects! (The theatre was made just for the phantom)


The next morning we met up with our friends Christy, Zach and Landon Takos (Christy and I went to high school together and played volleyball together as well!) We went to the Paris hotel where we had the most amazing crepes! And then later we went over to the Bellagio fountains.

On our way out of town Joe and I stopped by the Las Vegas Temple and did a session. What a beautiful temple! It was nice to feel the quiet peaceful feeling that comes from the temple.

Lots more of the trip later....