Life Updates

It appears that every year, typically around January (due to the “new year, new me” mindset), I find myself motivated to venture back into the world of blogging. This time, however, I am genuinely optimistic about having the additional time to follow through with this aspiration, given that I am currently on leave from work after being diagnosed with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in November 2023. My days are now split between Oklahoma and Arizona for my cancer treatment, following the closure of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America location in Tulsa. I had the choice of completing treatment in Chicago, Georgia, or Arizona, and personally opted for a warmer winter climate. With one round of chemotherapy completed and the second scheduled for January 9th, I’ve been informed that a mid-treatment PET Scan will be conducted to confirm the effectiveness of the chemo. However, I can attest to its effectiveness, as the prominent spots on my neck, which were biopsied for diagnosis, have noticeably shrunk to the point of being unnoticeable. Despite the fact that the journey with chemo has only just begun, and there are undoubtedly tougher times ahead, I am resolute in my determination to conquer this challenge. In preparation for the expected hair loss, I proactively cut off 2 feet of my hair before starting treatment. Although I have always been adamant that I would not shave my head, I am now prepared for that possibility, given that my hair is already falling out and I continually come across it on my shirts and hoodies. Enough about the cancer though.

I began two new jobs in August, one is working night shifts at a mental health crisis center as a Family Support Provider. During my shifts, I assist children in mental health crises by helping them find placement at inpatient facilities. This role is close to my heart, as it addresses a service that my own family has required in the past. I am hopeful that my leave will be extended, allowing me to return to work after completing my treatment and further develop my ability to support children in crisis. If my leave isn’t extended, I completed my paralegal classes in October and obtained a paralegal certificate, so I’m considering pursuing a career in the paralegal field once my treatment is finished if unable to return to my current position.

I work at a family-owned 24/7 medical cannabis dispensary with my mom, brother, and husband. It’s a real family affair! Now, I know not everyone may see eye to eye with us on this, and that’s okay. I’m all ears if you want to share your reasons, but hey, everyone’s entitled to their own opinions, right? On the bright side, I’ve spent hours nerding out on the medicinal benefits of cannabis. And no, I can’t partake while on the job (thanks, professional ethics!), but I’ve picked up a ton from our patients and my own research. Have any burning questions? Fire away, and I’ll do my best to help, or at least crack a joke or two!

As for the kiddos, our oldest, KayLynn, is now 13. Yes, we have a teenager now. She was recently diagnosed with Autism. It’s a diagnosis that we thought she had for years, but when we had her tested by a professional, we were told she just has anxiety because the professional wouldn’t listen to anything my husband had to say. He is not her biological father, even though he was the one that was home with her day in and day out, did her schooling with her, and attended all her appointments with her. Her counselor that she is seeing suggested that we get her tested again, as she sees several of the attributes in her. So, we went to another professional, and she is definitely on the autism spectrum, she’s just higher functioning than some. She is still doing home-schooling. We are struggling a bit with staying on task. The current professional that tested her thinks that she might have ADHD as well but it was hard to tell with her anxiety that she has as well. She is currently hyper fixated on starting her bracelet making business, it doesn’t have a name yet but we are currently waiting for the storage and other supplies to come in so that she can start it. So make sure you check back to get updates on how that adventure is going. She has a YouTube channel that we are working on starting as well called Absurd Strawberry where she will be doing gaming clips from games like Roblox and Minecraft. This girl is also an amazing baker. She can bake anything and also she’s really good at dad jokes.

Our middle kiddo, Braydin, at just eight years old, has been the driving force behind the creation of this blog. His battle with arthritis has been nothing short of grueling, but we’re beginning to witness some encouraging signs. Yet, the introduction of Humira alongside methotrexate has sparked deep concerns about his mental well-being. Some medical professionals have suggested that these medications may be linked to the decline in his mental health, triggering hallucinations and even suicidal thoughts when he was only six years old. Braydin spent 10 days in an inpatient facility, where he received a diagnosis of schizoaffective bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety (particularly separation anxiety), and depression. In addition, he has been diagnosed with ADHD and is awaiting an autism assessment as recommended by his pediatric behavioral professional. Juggling numerous doctor’s appointments and therapy sessions while trying to maintain my own sanity has truly been a rollercoaster ride. I cannot emphasize enough how TimeTree has been a godsend in managing our appointments. This calendar app, available for both Android and iPhone, has been a lifeline for me and my loved ones. Thanks to this incredible tool, my friends and family can all contribute to the same calendar, enabling me to coordinate support for appointments and events. Whether it’s ensuring someone is available to accompany me or one of the kids to crucial appointments, TimeTree helps us navigate life’s challenges, especially when time and resources are scarce. It has truly revolutionized life for our family! Braydin has recently started a new medication called Xeljanz. However, the specialty pharmacy we must use to obtain his medication is proving to be quite a challenge due to multiple insurance requirements for prior authorizations. While there has been some improvement on this new medication, he has also experienced multiple instances of waking up in the middle of the night in pain since starting this new med. We are hopeful for relief for him soon, but may have to switch to infusions if this medication is not approved promptly. His pediatric rheumatologist left us in August, taking him off methotrexate and Humira in April. It took until August for us to find another pediatric rheumatologist, as there is only one in the state of Oklahoma. From the beginning, he was supposed to start Xeljanz, but we only received the sample last month. He has a follow-up appointment on January 9th, and we are hoping for positive developments and swift insurance approval, as neither he nor I want him to undergo infusions. Currently, he is focused on his Pokémon card collection, devouring any literature he can lay his hands on, and anything related to electronics. He is excelling in his home-schooling as long as we time his medication correctly, ensuring he takes his time and focuses on his schoolwork instead of rushing through it.

We also have our youngest child, but as she is only 4 years old, she is not able to provide consent for me to share details about her life here. I can, however, express that life with her is always dynamic, and I eagerly anticipate creating numerous cherished memories with her.

That’s it for the life updates at the moment. Keep your eyes peeled for more juicy details. I’m looking forward to sharing after my next chemo appointment and hopefully getting back to hustling on the deals front. 🙂