I have Lyme Disease.

Yep. So basically, from our first appointment we knew it could be transmitted to me from Clay. We didn't tell anyone really because if I didn't have it, we didn't want to worry anyone. But, I did get tested and we just found out yesterday morning that I do infact have Lyme Disease.

I've had symptoms for the past like...6 months probably. I've tried to convince myself that I just need to go to the chiropractor, or just have a lot of stress or something...but the first symptom I can clearly remember is when I was trying to do this exercise tape and I had to jump up for it, and my hip KILLED! Like, I seriously couldn't do it. It hurt so bad and so I had to stop. I tried again the next day and same thing happened. Then I started noticing my joints would just randomly hurt. The other thing is, I get exhausted REALLY easy. Like, I noticed it a lot at our family reunion last weekend- when I saw most of my sisters doing lots of things and not looking tired or anything. I would make my apple pies and feel SOOO tired afterward. I am not nearly at the level Clay is at. It is clear that this is early on for me-therefore not as bad. Which thank goodness we are getting it now rather than 5 years from now when I'd be in bad shape!

Our doctor suspected I had it, and said that it will be a LOT easier to get rid of. It's hard to explain but basically it sounds like when you get Lyme disease from a tick, it's like it's pure form and a LOT stronger and smarter and harder to kill. But if you get it the way I did, it's like I got a portion of it that is weaker and easier to kill. Also, because Clay got his from a tick, it multiplies and grows quickly- mine not so quick. So she said it SHOULD be a lot quicker and simpler to cure me. So that's good news. But we'll find out a bunch more after I get all the blood work and testing done so she can see what shape my body is in.

I tell ya, this Lyme disease is just killer. I wish so badly that people were more educated about it. The medical field in Idaho and Utah don't believe Lyme disease exists in this area. THEY ARE WRONG! Our doctor has so many patients from Idaho and Utah and it's just so silly to think that it doesn't exist. And just the mere fact that this disease can be transmitted sexually, shows that it can be ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!

I was very proud to be a Mormon this week. Our doctor was talking about how important it is to have a good support system, and she said, "You live where there are lots of mormons right?" and we said yes. And she said, "That's good. Mormons are so nice. They are really there for eachother. Every mormon I've met is so nice and it seems like mormons are so into families and helping eachother. It's good for a lyme patient." haha! It's true though. Our families have been so supportive and so sweet and kind. It is so nice.

Clay and I talked about how Heavenly Father is with us always. Through this big trial in our lives we see soooooooo many blessings. We talked about that poem "Footprints"- where there are two sets of footprints, one a man's, one the Lord's, and then they turn into one set of foot prints...when the man wondered why the Lord left him by himself, he realized that the Lord was carrying him. We feel that is the case in our life right now. I can't really believe how blessed we've been. I'm so grateful. It makes it easier to bear this trial.

24 days till Christmas! YES!