Your Future is as Bright as Your Faith

I've felt impressed lately that I need to take a risk and be more personal with my blog entries. Although I haven't posted in awhile its not because of lack of significant events, probably more because of them. I thought I would share a little more about whats been going on at our house rather than just the usually funny things the kids say and tell everyone about some lessons I've learned lately too.

As many of you know the first Sunday in March my dad received a much awaited liver transplant. A tumor was found on his liver last fall and it was determined that a transplant would be the best option in preserving his health and his life. We are very fortunate that the surgery went well and he has recuperated very well since then. He's been walking everyday and got the go ahead from the doctor to return to work and running next week sometime. Although hearing the news about my dad's condition last fall was scary for all of us, I  always felt that God had more for my dad to do in this life and he would be okay.

Around the same time as my dad's surgery, Andy was having periodic episodes of pain and numbness in his right arm. We thought originally it was caused from a pinched nerve or carpel tunnel from typing too much. He went to many different doctors and nerve specialists over the past few weeks and months to figure out what was causing the pain. During one doctors visit where the pain was causing him to become dizzy and nauseous they even thought he might be having a stroke and he was immediately rushed to the ER for a thorough evaluation including a CT scan and EKG. Luckily the tests came back negative for anything life threatening But we still didn't have a good answer for what was causing this. After a second ER visit after an episode at work one afternoon, Andy and I went back to the spinal specialist who told us this was much more than a simple pinched nerve and we needed to see the primary care physician. After an hour of explaining everything to the doctor he told Andy that because the tests didn't show anything life threatening - his default explanation was that it was being caused by stress or anxiety. Instead of his body having an emotional response to stress he was having a neurological one. Since that time Andy has taken a pretty in depth look at his life and habits and really taken a proactive approach to reducing some stress in his life. He exercises more, drinks less caffeine, gets more sleep and is attempting to simplify and reduce stress at work. He's realizing that he has to take a more proactive role in his own health. We also found out from a physical therapist that the muscles in his right side have become extremely tight over the past several weeks and months which are causing the pain and numbness in his right side and he's in the process of retraining his body to not tense up so much in response to stress.This is a lengthy explanation but its been a really emotionally draining ordeal for us over the past month. Visiting your husband twice in the ER in one week was not exactly good for my stress or anxiety level either. I feel confident, however, that we're on the right track and that with establishing good habits and a bit of patience he'll be okay.

Along with my dad's transplant and Andy's health problems, we also were having some really positive and good realizations regarding Andy's career path. Its always been his dream to one day open up a private practice of his own. We always said it would happen one day, but not yet. This past month Andy also finally received his LCSW and can now independently practice as a social worker. To make a long story short - everything kind of came together for us and we decided that now is the time to start the private practice. The idea of being his own boss and having the freedom to run a therapy office the way Andy feels it should be done has been very freeing and exciting for Andy. I don't think I've ever seen him this motivated or excited about something. He's been working so hard this past month and seems to have so much extra energy for it. We have also felt strongly that we should move closer to my parents to open the practice. So...beginning about the second week of May we will be moving to Frederick, Maryland. Andy has already put in his notice at work. I feel like posting this here makes it really official.  I must admit I have some fears of the unknown and have had a lot of anxiety over it in the past few weeks. I don't doubt Andy's abilities, in fact I know he's a great therapist. We just have to get people in the door and I know they'll like him. Its just the short term - its going to be a lot of work.
 
I feel like I have come to a better place with this decision this past weekend. I really feel like we have been led to this decision over the past year(s). Things that at the time we saw as set backs were really moving us towards this move, I believe strongly that there is a plan for each of us and if we are open and in tune to it, we'll be guided on the right path. President Thomas S. Monson, president of our Church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) once said "Your future is as bright as your faith." I feel like this is my motto right now. I've been repeating it to myself a lot. If I believe this will work out and this is the right thing for my family right now then it will all work out. I know this post will bring mixed emotions from friends and family here in Utah who we will be leaving behind and friends and family in the East who I will see more of in the future. I'll keep you posted!