Test Results

Today Jonathan and I got our test results from our doctors, so here is the news:

Jackie:

• My triglycerides are high, so they told me to watch my diet.  My mom suggested I take some Fish Oil, so I picked some up.
• I have a urinary infection from working out.  They called in some antibiotics for me to take, then get retested after I finish the antibiotics.
• My TSH (the thyroid hormone) was high, but they did not up my meds.  Hopefully when I see the endocrinologist next month they will.

Jonathan:

•  Well, apparently he is not allergic to Walnuts or Almonds.  The blood test came back and they were negative, so we are back to square one.  For now, we got a EpiPen refill and have put one by the bed, at his work, and he is starting to carry one on him all the time.  For now, we are doing preventative maintenance so that this doesn't happen again.

Prayers for answers and good outcomes to arrive soon!!

Jackie's Doctor Check-Up

On Monday I had my yearly check up with my local physician to get prescription refills and do a yearly physical.  I had talked about how my thyroid medicine might need to be adjusted because more of my symptoms have come back like major fatigue, hair loss, weight gain, etc.

We also talked about my constant weight gain.  Since I have been diagnosed with my thyroid disease I have consistently gained weight.  I use to weight 140 in my good old days about 7 years ago.  Once I started my anxiety medication that hasn't helped either.

He referred me to see an endocrinologist since I haven't seen one in a long while.  I made an appointment in June so hopefully they can help me get my thyroid and weight regulated.

I also did some routine blood work which wasn't too much fun.  I have two bruises on each arm because the lady couldn't find the vein.  I'll know the blood results in a couple days.

Since I'm on summer break I have started exercising again as I have more free time now.  I hope this will help with my weight as well.  I hope I can count on your encouragement!!

Jonathan's Reaction Day #2

Jonathan is feeling better today.  He says that his throat is sore from being swollen yesterday and is feeling weak.  He took the day off from work today so he could recuperate and get in to see his allergist.  I woke up about 5-6 times last night just to make sure that he was still breathing.

We saw his allergist today and discussed the possible allergies that could have caused his reaction.  He told the allergist what he ate yesterday and the doctor's face lit up really quick when Jonathan told him that the sandwich he ate yesterday included walnuts and almonds.  The allergist said that walnuts are highly allergic but he was not tested when he was skin tested last year.  The doctor gave him orders to get a blood test to test for walnuts and almonds.  Also, the doctor wants him to get a more extensive food allergy skin test this summer.  When they tested him last year they only 8 most prominent food allergies like peanuts.

We will know in about a week what the blood test says and will do skin testing after our Iowa trip in June.  For right now, Jonathan is to swear off walnuts and almonds, but he has assured me that he is swearing off all nuts!  He has to carry around his EpiPen and benadryl on a constant basis.  He got another prescription of his EpiPen so he can keep one in his desk at work.

Jonathan in Hospital

I had received a call from Jonathan today around 1:15 PM saying that he was not feeling well and wanted me to pick him up.  He was attending a safety training course on the outskirts of Houston.  He said that he was feeling shortness of breath, the feeling of passing out, and really jittery. I drove down to pick him up and proceeded to drive him to his allergist where he had made an appointment for later in the afternoon just as a precaution.

As we were driving down I-45 he told me to pull over and that something was not right.  I pulled off and immediately said that his throat and tongue were swelling up, the severe sign of an allergic reaction.  Luckilly before I left the house I had grabbed his EpiPen pack just in case.  I quickly called the allergist and spoke to the Nurse On Call; she told me to administer the EpiPen in his thigh then call 911.

I told Jonathan "are you ready"....he said "yeah".....then I stabbed him with his EpiPen.

I called 911 and they sent out an ambulance to our location.  A sheriff officer pulled up behind us as he saw we were pulled off on the highway to keep traffic away from us.  The ambulance came and picked up Jonathan and took him to Northwest Houston Medical Center.  In the ambulance they gave him some benadryl and a high dose of steroids to counteract the allergic reaction.  I followed him behind in my car to the hospital.

 

They got him checked in and in a room, but he was still feeling jittery and his throat was still swollen a bit.  The doctor came in and checked him out.  They gave him some Valium to calm his jitters and to relax him.  After they gave him that he started dozing off to sleep and stopped shaking.

After the Valium had a chance to work and the steroid/benadryl had a chance to tackle the reaction, he started feeling better pretty fast.  He regained the color in his face, his blood pressure and pulse came down, he was breathing better, and his throat was beginning to stop swelling.  They discharged him after about 2 hours in the ER.  We paid our copay then drove home.

He is resting now and feeling better.  I went and filled a prescription they gave us from the ER for Predinose (steroid) and picked up some more benadryl as the doctor said to keep giving him some until his symptoms are completely gone.  I made him an appointment to see his allergist tomorrow afternoon since he has never had an allergic reaction attack at all.  They said that they might need to up his medications since he reacted to something pretty severe (which we still can't figure out!).  He is not allergic to any food, just trees, pollen, grass, mold, and everything nature wise.  I think that it was the smog/smoke or some air pollen or element that caused the reaction.  Hopefully we will know more tomorrow.

More info and updates tomorrow once we visit the allergist.  I know that God had to be at work today because He made me think to grab Jonathan's EpiPen, and just be at the right place at the right time.  Keep Jonathan in your prayers and I will let you know more tomorrow!

Click here for more info on allergic reactions - WebMD - Allergic Reactions
Click here for more info on EpiPens - Wikipedia - EpiPen

New Job!

If many of you have not heard yet, I got offered a job at the beginning of April as a church choir director at April Sound Church in Montgomery, TX.  The church is about 15-20 minutes away from the apartment and is apart of a housing division.  The location is right off of Lake Conroe, a very pretty area with lots of trees and nice houses.

The church is located inside the housing subdivision called April Sound.  The members of the community wanted a church that was included in the division, that's how the church was formed.

They had been out a choir director for about 3-6 months so they were looking for somebody to start soon.  They interviewed several candidates but I was the only one who took the initiative to audition for the pastors with their choir.

The position is part-time, so I'm still able to finish school while I'm working.  I have enjoyed working with the choir already.  It has been such a blessing to receive this job; it is what I have always wanted to do.  The pastors are really nice to work with, giving me quite a bit of leeway when it comes to music in the service.  The choir and the accompanist are very sweet.  It's a growing choir program so it will be a challenge at some times but I'm hoping that this will be a great experience nonetheless!

Hello All...

We have received a few "complaints" from family members saying that we don't update our blog, so in order to fulfill your blog-following needs here are the top 15 things that have happened since our last blog posting 7 months ago....

1) We got new a new washer and dryer to replace the ones that we rented from the apartment.
2) We celebrated our first Christmas together as a married couple
3) Celebrated our first Valentines Day as a married couple in Galveston, Tx
4) Jonathan went to Australian......twice!!
5) Jonathan's car had transmission problems, but all is well now
6) Jackie had her Master's Conducting recital, copies will be available during our roadtrip in June to Iowa
7) We became Godparents to Jenny and Dwight's new baby girl, Allie Swanson
8) The blu-ray player broke....Jonathan tore it apart....we bought a new one
9) We visited Jonathan's parents for New Years, banging pots and pans galore!!
10) We traveled to Denver to see Jonathan's grandmother and other relatives for Thanksgiving
11) We got a new piano for our apartment, now it is a full 88-key keyboard, not a half-size
12) I still rule Jonathan in thumb war!!  HAHA!!
13) My car is over 180,000 miles and running strong....knock on wood!!
14) I was costume designer for our university opera program for one of their productions
15) I became a life member of Sam Houston State University

We will try to keep our blog updated more often.  Hopefully this will keep you full until next time!!

Love to all.....The Kiefers

Honeymoon - Day 5

 

This morning we ordered room service breakfast and tea to start our day.  We got dressed then got off the ship to walk the streets of Nassau and shop ‘til we drop!  After posing for a couple of pics we walked through the streets looking for some Bahamas gear at a good price and also a new pair of sunglasses for Jonathan (his cracked and the lens kept falling out).  We found 4 shirts and a pair of sunglasses.  

Once the shopping was over we headed towards Senor Frogs restaurant and shop for some refreshments.  Jonathan ordered the Steak Sandwich and I got a Beef Burger.  The food was excellent and so was the entertainment!  The bar was hopping right away when it opened so after we finished lunch we headed towards the bar to join the fun.  We ordered a Strawberry Daiquiri while we laughed the afternoon away.  

Once we finished our drink we headed back to the ship for showers and relaxing.  I packed up our bags so we were not in a big rush tomorrow to pack.  After the packing was finished we headed up for the Mr. Sexy Legs Contest on the pool deck then headed down for our last dinner at Crossings.  Since the restaurant is in the back of the boat we could see the propellers really moving.  The main propellers had not been used until now so the boat was really rocking.  I was beginning to not feel well so we asked for our food to go and took it back to the room, in the middle of the boat (no rocking here).  We were going to attend the farewell variety show but did not make it because of my motion-ness.  We camped out in the room for the rest of the evening.