Test Results

Well, this past Tuesday I went back to Dr. Rivera and found out the results of my tests. It seems that I do have blockage. Now when I say blockage, I don't mean cholesterol blockage. What is happening is my heart is beating too fast for my valves to open and shut properly so the blood flow to my heart is not getting to the necessary areas. If it continues any longer, I could be looking a some BIG problems. I have been put on Metatoporol which is a beta blocker. I will try this dosage for 6 weeks and then go back in and see if there is any progress. If in 6 weeks there is no change, he will up my dosage and we'll do another round of 6 weeks. Due to all of the medicines I already take, Dr. Rivera will only up the medication that one time, after that a heart calve will take place (that if there is no change). Please continue to pray. I had to get a blood pressure cuff because the medication also lowers the blood pressure so I have to monitor it to make sure it doesn't get too low. Again, both Chris and I know that God will supply our needs but this time seems to be the hardest. Especially with the expenses of doctors and medications and new equipment. Chris and I are praying that our thoughts will be eased and regardless of the surrounding issues, we will have a wonderful Christmas. How exciting is this, we get to celebrate the birth of Christ!!! Ugh...just so amazing. Chris has been so supportive, even though we don't see him as much anymore. He's been working hard...this past week he has been working at Mail Source all day and then working at Applebess until about 11:00 p.m. and then pulling double shifts on the weekend. He's so tired but continues to have a great attitude. I've been trying to rest but it seems that my list of things to do just keeps growing and growing. I've been getting in one to two naps during the weekend and one nap during the week days (usually right after I get home from work) and yet I don't have a problem falling asleep at night. That's just some of the symptoms of my heart stuff...tired, weakness, etc...

Anyways, I'm gonna wrap this up. I hope everyone remembers what we're really celebrating this Holiday.

"Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth goodwill to men." - Luke 2:14

I Survived

I did...I survived my tests. Dr. River's office called me off and on throughout the week a little concerned about some of my heart monitor readings. They are always asking me how am I feeling, what am I doing, what are my symptoms, etc...They found some shaded in areas on my heart echo last Tuesday. Dr. Rivera did call me the next day and told me to get back into his office so he could perform the Echo himself. There is a chance of blockage so he is a little concerned as so am I. He did inform me that if I didn't pass my stress test, the chance of a heart calve next week increases. I'm praying that I did pass my stress test, I really don't feel like having that calve done. So pray, pray, pray...that's all I can ask for. Well, that's my update for now. Until next time...


* Daddy getting on a chair to help Bradley put Santa on the tree.
* Bradley loves putting ornaments on the tree. I find him taking some ornaments off just so he can put them back on.
* Bradley and his cousin Colin. They were down last weekend.

I'm only behind by one month!!!

Thought you would like to see what Bradley was for Halloween. This was the first year he finally got the whole concept and had fun. He got TONS of candy...and still has tons of candy. Again, sorry for being so behind on this. I figure I'm doing pretty good since I'm only a month behind.

My Health

Well guys, I landed myself back in the hospital the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. It seems that my heart is giving out...well maybe not giving out but giving me issues. My heart rate isn't what it should be, according to the doctors your heart rate should be below 100, but mine is ranging from 95-150 (roughly). The main concern is when my heart rate goes up while I'm asleep. I ended up going to the BSA emergency room last Tuesday. I got there about 9:45 a.m. and was there till 6:00 p.m. They were going to discharge me with Acid Reflex but while I was sleeping my heart rate jumped to 140. I was really lucky that my heart decided to act up while I was at the hospital or else I feel it would've been a never ending circle. Kind of like taking your car to the mechanic but it won't act up for them. I feel that my symptoms have been the same for the past couple years but due to my age they have always been overlooked and associated with some other medical issue. Well, I saw Dr. Riviera that Wednesday and he put me on a 30 day heart monitor (24 hours a day). I have a Heart Echo tomorrow, December 2nd and a stress test on Friday December 3rd. The following Tuesday after my tests the results should be in. I'm just trying to take it easy, I'm on a NO caffeine diet and it's killing me!! You don't take a woman's choc late away from her, bad things can happen. LOL! Well, that's the update...that's all I know for now. I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I can't believe Christmas is around the corner. This year has just flown by for us. Well, until next time...

More Catching Up!!!

Hi to all who find interest in our lives! We have been SO SO busy. I can't believe that the end of November is already around the corner! Well, our lives have stayed busy but nothing changed. I'm still working at AIG and Chris is still working at the mail shop. It was decided this month for him to get a 2nd job so he is now pulling one part time one full time every day. Tired is his middle name and exhausted is his last. I've been debating for a couple of days if I should go ahead and get our Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving. I haven't put it up yet but maybe I can tackle it this weekend so we can enjoy it longer. We are staying here for the holidays, both Chris and I have to work the day after Thanksgiving. If you don't have a place to go for Thanksgiving, I was told to invite you to ours! Bradley is getting big...he's at my waist now. The other day he took some scissors to his hair and was actually able to hid it for a whole night!! I went into the bathroom the next morning and couldn't figure out where all this hair came from...perfectly cut little pieces of hair...hmmmm?!?!?! I called Bradley into the bathroom and by looking at his face, I knew immediately who's hair was on the sink. The excuse he gave me was, "Mamma, I wanted to go see Mandi (she's the family hairdresser). Ugh...he didn't get in trouble but he now knows next time the scissors are mine. Bradley still is at Miss Kathy's...our God send angel. He just loves and adores her. Well, like I said, we've been crazy busy. My business is doing well. Has picked up a little bit due to the Holiday greeting cards. If you haven't seen my website, you can go to www.imagesbylauren.com. Well, I have to make this the end...Chris and Bradley are looking at me with puppy eyes cause they're hungry. Guess that's my job...I'm the only one who can open a can of soup and turn on the stove...go figure. Well, sorry it's been so long. Hopefully I can keep you all up to date...or as Bradley would say "ya'll". Hugs and kisses to you all. May God shower you with blessings as you shower Him with thanksgivings.

"Give thanks unto the Lord for He is good..."






These are just some templates I designed.

My Photography Website is up and Running!!!

go check out my new business website...www.imagesbylauren.com

My Little Chef

Bradley has really been doing a lot of cooking with me. He loves stirring, dumping ingredients, and of course, tasting while he thinks mommy isn't looking. Here are some brief pictures of him and his favorite food.

S*J*C*A...S*J*C*A FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!

It was homecoming week at San Jacinto Christian Academy. Of course, I am a graduate and didn't get to enjoy all the fun things you do during "Spirit Week" but I did have the joy of watching my sister have a blast. We enjoyed the Homecoming Pep Ralley and the Homecoming Game.

You can also go to http://picasaweb.google.com/audienceof3 to see more pictures.

Major Catching-Up!!!!!

Hey Guys,


Sorry it's been so long since I last wrote anything. I can't tell ya'll how busy it's been around the Taylor household. We are obviously now heading towards the end of September and I can't believe how fast these last 2 to 3 months have just flown by. We have been going through very draining weeks of pure work and hardly 'no' play. Bradley is still our little pill. He's been learning how to help around the house more than usual. Mainly because Mommy needs the help but I figured he can start helping with small things outside of cleaning his room. He's really been helping me cook dinner (VERY supervised...trust me) which helps him eat the foods he usually wouldn't even touch. He can make a mean scrambled egg!!! Chris has been busy with his work also. Working odd hours and long days on his feet make him exhausted at night. As for me, my company AIG almost tanked this last week. Very hectic at work making me tired throughout the day. We've been trying to make the most out of our weekends but it's mainly made up of laying around the house. Don't you hate it when you have the hardest time waking up during the week days but during the weekend you're up before the sunrise? Huh!!! Has happened to me way too much lately.

This last Wednesday, Chris and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary...three years of dating and three years of marriage. We didn't do any celebrating Wednesday because Bradley got sick on us so we decided to take ourselves to Kabuki Friday night. We enjoyed a 'no' kids dinner and watched movies all night. Here we got for FOUR years!!!

This last Saturday we went to the Tri State Fair. You can click on the link to go see the pictures. We went with Uncle Andy and Aunt Helen, have been going with them for years, and we had a blast! We all were intrigued by this monkey that took peoples money for either a hand shake or a picture of the monkey...depended on how much you gave the monkey. Bradley's Aunt Teresa has given him the name "Monkey Man" from the day he was born so it was really neat to see an actual monkey at the fair and Bradley right by him.

Also, both Chris and Bradley got hair cuts this last week. I can't believe the difference a hair cut makes when it comes to Bradley. When he gets a shorter hair cut, he ends up growing up from toddler to Pre-Schooler in less than an hour. :( No longer my baby. None the less, he is so handsome and he knows it. Quite the lady charmer.

Well, there's a quick update in the "Life of the Taylors". I finally uploaded some of our most recent pictures, enjoy.

Well,

Ta Ta for Now!

**Chris's smashed finger** (Graphic)

So, Chris picks me up from work...gets out of the car and asks me to drive. I said I'm not supposed to but then I saw his hand wrapped up in paper towel with blood all over it. I guess what happened was Chris was leaving work and caught his hand in the heavy door as he left. I see the blood, I get on the phone with Bradley sitter, Miss Kathy, and ask her to get the First Aide kit out and ready. So on our way to get Bradley, Chris is trying to maintain the blood flow as I am trying not to pass out in the car (I don't do blood all that well). Got to Miss Kathy's and we get him wrapped up but of course he soaks that stuff up with blood within minutes after leaving. I go to Wal-Mart and drop $20 on gauze, finger splint, tape, and of course Advil Liquid Gels but he still is soaking up the gauze with blood. Thinkin we need to visit a doctor, eh?

So, here's pictures...weak stomachs do not look at!!

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Back to 'The Office'

Today was my first day back to 'The Office'. Kinda sad but I was glad to get back. I was really getting bored around the house and very tired of not having complete independence (meaning no driving, no working, no nothing). I am totally worn out but it felt really good to get back to my 'norm'.

Shout Out: I have to thank the two best guys in the world, Chris and Bradley. They both helped me so much and kept the house clean so I didn't have to. Chris did TONS for me and Bradley helped me to the potty...hehe. Thanks guys, love you both!

Christian Music Rocks TOO!!!!

So, I've put together just a pinch of my favorite Christian music. Since I've been inactive, I find myself searching for music and dancing in my living room. What better way to praise and worship while dancing!?!?!?! So, here's 12+ songs that will inspire your day! If you're in the kitchen cooking or cleaning the house, these are songs that will keep you up beat and happy.

SOUNDS LIKE AN INFOMERCIAL.

Anyways...Miss. Kathy-there is a song called "Cartoons" by Chris Rice and it talks about 'what if cartoons got saved?' It is the cutest song ever! If you haven't heard it, find it on the play list and blast it through your computer!!!!!

Guys, enjoy because this has kept me some what sane and some what exercised!! LOL!

**Yes, there are a couple of songs that are considered "Rock"- a little louder and little bit more yelling. What can I say, gotta keep it interesting.**

BORED!!!

I can't tell everyone how bored I have been. I got out a little bit yesterday which completely wore me out! I've been restricted to limited activity and it's driving me insane. There's so much I could be doing right now so pray that I keep my cool and follow doctors orders so I don't end up back in the hospital. Still haven't heard anything on my results yet but it's just the beginning of the week. I'll let people know as soon as something comes in! Thanks to all who are still keeping me in your thoughts and prayers.

The 411

Beginning of the Journey:

• Wednesday August 13, 2008, 3:14 p.m. feeling sick, clamy, tingly, and numb. 3:45 p.m. friends talk me into leaving work. 4:00 p.m. Chris shows up and we head to the ER. 4:15-9:30 I do NOTHING but get poked at. 9:35 a.m. I am told I can go home but have to have a followup appointment with my doctor the next day. Please know that I was told nothing and every question I had the nurses and doctors said that I should be fine but need to do a followup.

Day 2:

• Thursday August 14, 2008, 10:30 a.m. at Dr. Mahdi's office. 10:46 a.m. she admits me into the hospital because something isn't right with my Adrenal Hyperplasia or something else is wrong. 10:52 a.m. receive a steroid shot into my hip bone while at the spcialist office...OUCH! 1:00 p.m. finally get into a room (Room 883). 1:01 p.m. first draw of blood (more like first 5 tubes of blood). Throughout that day & night: I get more blood drawn every other hour (usually 3 tubes at a time), I had an EKG and a CT scan done and had a heart monitor on throughout the duration of my stay. Had a IV along with steriod shots every 4 hours and my vitals taken every 30 mintues. Throughout the entire time I felt very dizzy, sick, and naseous. I didn't get much sleep at all. Oh, and did I mention from 1:00 p.m. until about 10 p.m. I coudln't have any foods or liquids!!! UGH!

Day 3:

• Friday August 15, 2008, 2:02 a.m. Vitals taken, blood drawn, and steriod shot. 7:00 a.m. Dr. Nickelson finally comes by the room to tell me the heads up. He said the blood that they took yesterday was normal, all my levels were fine. So then he decided to precide to tell me that this may have nothing to do with my current condition and that it could be something totally different....so he feels that a 'study' is needed. 7:31 a.m. Study starts. Blood drawn in the same place every 30 mintues and all kinds of different steriods and medicine are being pumped into my body through my IV. That lasted for about 2 hours making me feel OH SO SICK! Nurse gave me medicine for my stomach and that totally knocked me out! 2:35 p.m. Nurse tells me that the doctor is going to release me and call me with the results. I guess they think I'm doing well enough to recover at home but I still can't do much (such as work, shopping, etc.) until I have another dr. appointment .

It's been a long 3 days needless to say. I'm very tired and having a hard time keeping my eyes open as I write this blog. Hopefully I will know something soon. Thank you to all who came to visit me, dropped off baloons and flowers, and of course for your thoughts and prayers.

Night Out!!!!

Chris and I enjoyed a wonderful and fun evening with our best friends. Oh...and we enjoyed ourselves w/out the kiddos!!!! YEAH! This really was the first night Chris and I enjoyed our friends w/out Bradley. We don't get out much. Don't get me wrong, we love our son but if you're a parent...you know what I'm talking about. It was our good friend, Kim, birthday dinner. Mark and Kim, Andy and Helen, and of course Chris and I had a wonderful dinner at the Olive Garden and then went to the movies and watched The Dark Knight. I have to say, we were probably louder all together than when we have our kids with us. We had so much fun!! OH...and when we went to the movies, we got out of there SO SO late that I don't even think I've been at the theater like that that late! I set a self record Lauren leaves moves at 1:00 a.m.----never been done before. Can't wait to do it again, definately have to do it more often!!!

* Both in black is Mark and Kim (the birthday girl)

* Green shirt is Andy and Helen...I'm not so sure what Helen was doing when I was taking the picture. I think she was surprised with as many flashes go off on my camera. LOL.

Getting through this last week!

Well, we made it through the first week of being back from vacation. It was definitely hard to get up early and sit at a desk for 8 hours. I think it was the hardest on Bradley. Vacation which includes swimming, water skiing, and boating verses reality including work, work, oh and did I mention work? I think I'd take my fantasy vacation over work EVERY day!!! Ugh, but we're back to reality now and getting back into the groove of things. All I have to say is TGISaturday!!!!

This is just how much rain we got last night!! We sure needed it.

Yeah for Missouri Pictures!!!!

So I'm finally able to get my pictures from our trip uploaded and put on here for you all to enjoy! We got home from Tulsa around 3:15 p.m., not bad timing at all. It's going to be hard for us this coming week seeing as 6:30 a.m. wake up was never even seen during our vacation-it was more wake up whenever usually around 9:30-10:00 a.m. Thank you Jesus for giving us a safe trip there, during, and back. Enjoy the pictures guys!

There's more picutres of the trip, just click on the Missouri Trip 2008 link on the right.

Tulsa, OK

Hey guys, we are currently in Tulsa, OK staying with Helen's family. We had a fun week but now it's deffinately winding down to the end. We are all still burned but now peeling and we have had a nice week of fun and relaxation. I promise as soon as I get home I will put pictures up from our vacation. There are TONS of pictures you'll be able to enjoy. Bradley is ready to get home and sleep in his 'own' bed and I'm ready to get home just to be home. Love you all and will post something again soon!

Thank You Jesus

Friday night Marky and the Gomez family got the "okay" to go home. Remember Marky was flown into Amarillo on the Flight for Life due to seizures. When we were at the hospital the doctor came in to talk to everyone. Apparantly seizures do run in the family so it really isn't un-common for Marky to have the same genes, it's just scary. Marky had to drink 8 oz. of liquid before he could go home, so that might've been a challenge in itself. We all thank our Heavenly Father for keeping Marky out of the hospital for a long period of time. Thank you Jesus, thank you for always taking care of us, thank you for your everlasting love!! Only with You can we get through the rough times here on earth. Marky, we're so glad you're okay...Kim and Mark we are so glad you can finally get some peace and some rest. We love you guys so much...we cannot wait to see what the future brings us.

"I will give you back your health and heal your wounds," says the Lord." -Jeremiah 30:17

Quite a Scare

Bradley and Marky dancing ...June '08

Our good friends had quite a scare today. Their son, who is younger than Bradley, had a seizure on their way up to Oklahoma for their family vacation. It was bad enough that they flew Marky back to BSA on Flight for Life. Unfortunately, neither the mom, dad, grandparents, aunt or uncle could ride on the helicopter with him. Chris and I headed up to the hospital to meet the helicopter because the family was still about 2 to 3 hours away from Amarillo (remember they were on their way to Oklahoma for their vacation when this happened). About 45 mintues after waiting we heard the helicopter come in and were notified 15 mintues later that Marky was off the helicopter and into an ER room. It wasn't long afterwards when the family arrived (remember...2 to 3 hours out going about 90 miles an hour will get you back fast). After everything... the waiting game began. They ran tests but then had a scare of meningites. The tests results were coming back with negative/positive results-either way they were coming back in good news- but the meningites test was the last one to get the results on. Around 10:30 p.m. Marky was in the clear...thank you Jesus no meningites. So not only was Marky in the clear but everyone else who had contact with him, including baby Ava who is brand new to the world. It was quite stressful on everyone, especially the parents. Poor Kim (mom) couldn't help Marky like any mother would want to because he's plugged in and wired up and then she couldn't help baby Ava because of the meningites scare. Thankfully when that last test result came in-a huge burden was lifted. Although the test didn't explain his seizures-it made everyone breath easier. Tomorrow they will be running an EKG and a cat scan. Because he didn't have the meningites he was able to be transferred to the Pediatrics part of the hospital and not ICU. Thank you Jesus for keeping everyone safe-helping Marky get through today- and keeping everyone as sane as possible. We give this day, this night, and our lives to You!!!!

Family from Okie Land

Heather, Caiden, and Collin came down to Texas for the weekend. We had such a blast. Here are just some of the pictures and the fun times we had this weekend

Father's Day!!

We celebrated Father's Day at Medi Park. We played baseball, fed the ducks, and grilled hot dogs. We had so much fun!

R.I.P. Monique Ballard

Monique Ballard passed away on June 13, 2008. Monique was a follower of Christ, daughter, sister, friend, listener, and so much more while she was with us. She will be greatly missed. If you ever met Monique, even once, you are likely to never forget her. She had an infectious personality, and a smile that brightened any room. Monique accomplished so much in her short time with us, her memory will live on forever in our hearts. Please keep her friends and family in your prayers.

Rest in peace Monique, we love you.

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." (John 11:25-26)

Bradley's First Birthday Party

Saturday Bradley attended his first non-relative birthday party. It was a little boy from his daycare and they had SO much fun. There was a big blow up water slide, a small wadding pool, and a fun sprinkler. After getting all wet and cold, the kids had a chance to break open a spider man penyata. They ate a delicious cookie cake, opened presents, and then got wet again. I can't tell you how much fun Bradley had. It was telling everyone--family, friends, and even strangers at Wal-Mart.