Update

Really. I am out here, just not finding much time to blog. I hope to go back and fill in some gaps, but I thought I'd take time to say hello to anyone out there who misses me. Both trips are over, business is off with a huge BANG. I've done three shows so far, my Premier debut was over $800, my sister's show was just over $500 and the next one I'll close will be at least $600. If I have two or three more shows like those, I will have my start up kit paid off and be on the way making some profit. In the meantime, I have stocked up on Creative Memories supplies and tomorrow I meet a new consultant who signed up under me. Then I head to the Roanoke area to do a show for my mother and sister-in-law.

Meanwhile, I am sad to report that our dear B is sick with yet another scary combination of diseases. The night before our trip to Florida, we found a tick on my niece. D took care of it and we checked all of our boys and sent them to get showers. B and I left the next day, traveled 800 miles. That night I felt something on his head but when I checked it, it appeared to be a mole. The next morning just before church, I saw it again and this time...it moved. Ugh, even now I get CHILLS just thinking about it. I removed it and kept an eye on the site for the next few days. On Sunday, B wasn't himself. By Monday, he was burning up with a fever. The area on his neck where he had been bitten had pus and was causing him a lot of pain. On Wednesday I noticed the bull's eye target and my heart sank. From everything we've heard about Lyme's Disease, that is the telltale trademark. An hour later, I was at the doctor's office with my boy. The same doctor who hasn't shown much excitement or concern over the past four months, despite all that has been going on with him, was now very concerned. When she said the words "Staph infection" and "Lyme's Disease," my heart sank. I didn't hear another word and I forgot all the questions I had. I brought him home, my dad picked up his antibiotic and applied the ointment...and went to a quiet room and cried. I cried a lot off and on for the next 24 hours. How in the world can my boy fight off this new round of sickness, when his body is already so weak from the Mono. I know he needs the antibiotics to fight the sickness, but that will also destroy any good bacteria in his body. We have been given several suggestions of what to do to help increase the good bacteria in his body and we will begin that as soon as I can get to the health food store.

Now, Brandt has been on the antibiotic for 48 hours. His fever is being controlled by Ibuprofen and he has spent most of the week in bed. We plan to keep him home and quiet for the next week or two. He cannot be exposed to a lot of sunlight, as he will have a reaction with his antibiotic. We will return to the doctor Wednesday for a follow up and to have blood work done.

I am grateful to the many friends and family who have prayed, called or emailed. I feel the prayers and I know they are the reason I am still going. My sister picked up some groceries for us yesterday and then my Grandma sent leftovers last night. Another friend is bringing a meal over the weekend. I have not been to the store since before my last trip, so the cupboards are low. We have enough to "fake it" until Monday.