And a new journey begins!

I can't believe it has been over a year since my last blog post. ALOT has happened. Well, one major thing has happened! This is what happened to me July 20th, the day before my birthday. He totally shocked me. The day before, July 19th, my cousin Lauren and I were at his place to watch a movie. Her and I were talking that he told a timeline of when he will propose to our good friend Katie Pena. She told me that she wants to go fishing with him to get his timeline as well. Well, Saturday when I came to his place from dialysis I told him all about what Lauren and I were talking about. He looked at me and said, "How about this for a timeline?" Holding the ring in his hand. I looked at it, did a touble take. Looked at him and said "Are you serious?". He said yes I am serious. "Will you marry me?" I said yes of course. He put it on, and then I couldn't stop shaking for like an hour or so. I was flying high. Still am. Can't believe he asked me to be his wife. Now I since the beginning of November, I have been looking at dresses. For me and for my girls. Well I found both. Mainly I found my dress, and I can't wait to Say Yes To the Dress. It is so pretty, and the main thing. I feel pretty in that dress. I will knock Ryan's socks off his feet. Or blow him away. I will blow everybody away in that dress. My grandma will be making my veil and the ring pillow for us. Which will make it extra special. Plus she is going to help me with doing the flowers. We are doing fake. I want them to last. So we have our bridal party picked and asked. Even the mini bride and groom. Mini-bride: Olivia Nysse(our bestman and bridesmaid's daughter, our good friends), and mini-groom: Logan Kling (my god-son, our nephew, and our little buddy). Both of them are super excited to be in our wedding. Also, when we get married my new niece or nephew will just turn 1. That's right. My sister-in-law is pregnant right now. Found this out after my birthday. So our little family that my dad and mom created is starting to grow. With another son-in-law and a new baby. Exciting times. That is it for now. It is almost Christmas. Happy times for our family are ahead. Hope you all have a blessed and safe Holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family to yours. Jodie

And the journey begins.........

Well, tomorrow I will begin a new journey. If you don't know yet, I will start watching a precious little boy tomorrow for a wonderful family. I can't wait to get to know the little guy and to know the family better. So excited for that. I will be able to put my years of experience to practice and what I have learned in my classes. Plus on top of working I will working to finish my class. I also found out that I need to take one final class to be fully licensed if I ever so choose to work in a daycare facility. That may happen in the future down the road, but not any time soon. Not even in the next couple years. I plan to stick with this family for as long as they need me. Other things are also starting to fall into place as well. But not saying anymore on that right now. New and exciting things are in the works with God's help. God sure is awesome in helping me find this job, adn to have these awesome hours. That is enough for now. Until next time.....enjoy! Jodes

What will 2012 bring?

Hmmm! I am hoping, which I am 80% certain, that 2012 will be a great year. Hoping everything stays good and even gets better. Certain things will happen this year that I am very excited for. I am happy to report that Ryan's sister got engaged over Christmas. Her wedding will be March 9, 2013 in Chicago. Can't wait to see my love in a monkey suit, and to be smack dab in the middle with his family. I love his family so much, I feel so loved when we are all together. I am so excited for her. Hoping March 31st this year to go to Gurnee Mills with Ryan to meet up with his sister and her fiance. We will obviously go to the Bass Pro Shop. Maybe we will eat at the Rainforest Cafe. Who knows. I can't wait. My health is doing good. Dialysis days kinda suck, but I muddle through it. Yesterday my arm mildly hurt due to them digging around trying to find the tunnel, they created this with my vein. They went a little to far towards me. But all was better once I put ice on my arm. Then once I got off and all my blood got back to me. I stood up to my standing blood pressure. Well, I crashed BIG TIME almost close to passing out. Not cool! Sat down quickly, put feet up, and drank some water. Got better once I left. Other than that, all is good. Just taking it one run at a time. That is all I can do. What will 2012 bring for you? Or what do you hope to accomplish or happen? Stay posted!! Jodes

2012

I hope 2012 will bring some exciting things. One thing is my nephew (#2 man in my life) will be turning 1. Can't wait. He so loves using Auntie as a recliner and a chew toy. Yes I said chew toy. This past weekend, little monkey, grabbed ahold of my cheecks rather hard and pulled my face to his mouth. Then sucked away. He tried to detach my nose as well. It was cute though. He can use and abuse me all he wants. I am okay with it. He is the only one that is allowed. I told him that, and he smiled at me. It is so cute also, watching him interact with my dad or Ryan. Logan found out that grandpa has something funny on his face that feels weird. It is his beard. And as for Ryan he just grabs ahold of his shirt and pulls. Trying to give him wet sloppy kisses. Too cute. This summer or so he will use Uncle Ryan as a human jungle gym. He can do this since the is so freakishly long. Plus Logan can beat up Uncle Ryan. He will let him. Can't wait until they start to wrestle each other. The anniversary of my mom's death came and went without any bad feelings. I stayed busy and didn't dwell. I was determined to not dwell. My dad even seemed like he was in a rather okay mood. Not extra moody like in years past. I hope from 2012 and on, her anniversary can come and go with no real issues. My health is doing good. Dialysis is going great and still one of the healthiest patients on dialysis.

Oh here is what Ryan got me for Christmas! That is all for now. My brain is fried. I had a very productive day. I made white bread in the bread machine, I just got done making banana bread, and also made dinner. Pfew! Now time to relax! Until next time! Jodes

Logan's Baptism!

Recently we had my nephews baptism. Granted it was a Catholic baptism, and I wasn't the sponsor. But I was the witness. Deep down in my heart though, I am his sponsor. Don't care what the church says. I think my brother and sister-in-law see in me that I go to church frequently, I am active in my church, and I try to live a God pleasing life. I do so with the very best of my ability. I know I am not perfect. No one is but God. That is beside the point. Anyways...... The baptism was very good. Mister Logan was napping when they arrived at the church. Then monkey awoke and was fussing a little. Got bottle, and was a happy munchkin. The sermon from the Priest was long and boring. Sorry to say that! Didn't really pay attention. Was looking at my nephew. The the priest said something that made Ryan's ears perk up. He said "there are things that Catholic Priests can do that Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian Pastors can't do." Ryan said this to me during church, but we discussed this further once we got in his truck. Ryan didn't catch what he said after that due to my nephew making noise. Basically Logan was telling the Priest to hurry up and get a move on the baptism. Once at the baptismal font with bottle in hand, all went great. Was very cute. Bottle got taken away, Logan just stared at my brother when he got blessed. Looking at my brother like "why did you take my bottle away, I want it back, I am hungry." Then he got his bottle back, and the priest placed on my nephew an embroidered bib. My nephew was cute. He pushed it away. Sheri (the other godmother) and I just smiled and laughed. No tears though when he got "dunked". Once he was all fed. he was a happy camper. He was getting burped and decided to talk to Grandpa Jim (my dad). He was sitting right behind my brother. Too cute. And Logan was not talking quetly. Once pictures were all done, we moved onto brunch. Yum! We went to Colonial House in Freedom. Very good buffet. If I get copies of pictures of the baptism I will post them in a later blog. I will definitely take pics either at Thanksgiving or Christmas (of course). Not sure if we will see him on Thanksgiving. I love holding my nephew. He is such a cute monkey. I can so tell he is a Kling as well. I looked at my baby pics, and some of his facial expressions match mine when I was that age. Some of them he looks like my dad. Just like I did. Still can't tell who he looks more like. I don't care. He is cute either way. Now onto more news. Our good friends Nate and Jill had a bouncing baby boy. Weighing in at 9lbs, 2oz, and 21 inches. Born Saturday 11/12/11 at 6:17am. Name is Ethan Eugene Nysse. He is such a cute monkey. Not a peanut, he is not small. He is 2 ounces bigger than my nephew, but matches in every other way. Logan was 9lbs even and 21 inches when he was born. We are Uncle Ryan and Auntie Jodie to three of the most amazing children. They are Olivia and Ethan Nysse, and Logan Kling. We are very proud of them. Also we are like an aunt and uncle to Haylee and Nathan. Pictures will be posted once I get or take some. Until then! Have a good day! God's Blessing! Jodie

What a weekend I had!

Well everyone, I am feeling 100 times better than I have been since being in the hospital over Easter. I can walk with no issues, sleep through the night, and not as tired as I was before. So my stint in the hospital was the cause of me getting pneumonia. I proved my kidney doctor's PA (physician's assistant) wrong. hahahahaha! She thought ademently that I had a blod clot in my lungs causing me to breath hard. I told her no it isn't that, I have no pain, and my chest doesn't hurt. I said it has to do with added fluid. I know this since when I got to the dialysis center, my nurse listened to my lungs. She told me that there is crackling back there. So I went off of that. I went to the ER right from dialysis, but no flashing lights. Thank God! With having a chest X-ray done, the ER PA told me that it was indeed pneumonia. Her and I both said that if it is a blood clot, we will cross that bridge if we have to. But her and I weren't sold on the blod clot issue. So I got admitted to the hospital with IV antibiotics. I was in the hospital from Thursday to Sunday afternoon. On Friday I was told that I looked 100 times better, and I felt the same as well. Just wasn't able to get all the rest I needed to recover. Which is what I am doing here at home. This week I am dialing back a little on all I am doing. I am passing myself so I don't over due it. Oh! While being in the hospital, there is this hospital doctor called a hospitalist. First off, before I go off about her. I will tell you that I had a chest x-ray, and CT scan of my heart (i think). Now with that, the hospitalist thought that since the rate my heart was pumping on the right side was high. (sorry if that is confusing) She thought I had CHF (congestive heart failure). I said no I don't have that. The reason my heart is like this, is because of the added fluid and pneumonia. She was not satisfied with this. She said that since I am immunosuppressed, have lupus, and on dialysis. That she needs to make sure. Whatever!!!!!!!!!!!! That is what I thought. Then that day, on Friday, I was visited by a Pulmonologist and heart doctor. Ugh! Those two doctors and I were on the same page. That all this has to do because of the added fluid I have. And if hitting me hard on Saturday for dialysis doesn't work, then we will cross the bridge dealing with my heart. Well, guess what? Taking off 6.5 kilograms (or 15 lbs) on dialysis of added fluid, worked. My chest X-ray from Thursday to Saturday improved. So I was right. Now on discharge I have to have a follow-up appointment with the Heart Institute, eventhough, I don't have anything wrong with my heart. But like my dad and Ryan said. Do this just to make them happy and to shut them up. Now with that dealing with the doctors, I was also at my wits end with the people in the kitchen. I was ordering food, and I always order iced tea with my meal. The lady on the other end of the phone told me that I have reached my max with iced tea. I was like "what?" I know I am over my fluid restriction. So what the french toast? The lady proceeded to tell me that iced tea is high in potassium. I was like no it isn't. I only have lipton or normal flavor tea. That is all. So I only got one glass instead of two. Ugh! I still don't get it. I wasn't able to ask my dietian today at dialysis. So hopefully I can ask her on Thursday. Right now with being home I am doing good, taking it easy, and getting a good night's sleep. I just have to take 2 pill antibiotics. All is better though. I am off my soap box. I will talk to you all later! Jodes

I am an Auntie!

Woo hoo! I am aunt to the most handsome little man. His name is Logan James. He is so precious. I know I am prejudice when it comes to him. But in all honesty all little one's are cute and precious.

I just wish when I see him or hold him that he opens his eyes to look at me. So far all he did was sleep. But I got him to smile, kick me (with a smile on his face), and massaged his head were he was in heaven.

Here is a picture of him. I am done rambling about him for now.



Isn't he cute? Done now! More pics of him to come once I get to see him next.

Jodes