A Long and Happy Life

This summer has been nothing but crazy! Work has me bogged down, moving to a new town and getting ready for the ultimate adventure; university. Not to mention that T is back. I'm sure if you follow my Instagram you would already figured that out. I figured we could take this time to catch up on what you've all missed out on. So how are you? How's summer treatin' ya'?

At the end of May my old city apartment was full of boxes and a one way ticket out of town. I was ready to take on the next chapter of my life in Conway; single, ambitious and a little anxious. I had to work the weekend of Mother's Day so I didn't have a chance to go visit my mom, but I was also not expecting to wake up to "Hey Stranger?" My guards were high and my blood was boiling and my responses wasn't exactly inviting. What my mom was not expecting on Mother's day was a call at 8 in the morning with me freaking out and admitting that I was still in love with the guy on the other end of that text. I was also a little dumb founded in that realization.

It took a good week for me to realize that this is in fact the right thing to do. Take him back. I now realize that it was the best thing I could have ever done. We have both grown as people, relationally and mentally. I am not here to speak for him, but I do believe that he would agree with all of this. The one thing we both lacked the first time around was communication. Whoever said communication is key was no liar. We are still working on this, but I feel that we are doing a fantastic job at it thus far!

Meredith and I are finally getting settled in to our new home. I am still driving an hour in to work every day which is bound to change soon we all hope. This past week I celebrated my 23rd birthday with a couple of my close friends, family and T, of course! It was nice and laid back which I have very much so learned to love. In less than a month I will step foot back on a college campus and every bit of me is excited about this!

I guess the moral of this story is that its okay to give things in life a second chance. They may come back to bite you, or they may be the best thing that has ever happed. Either way trust your own gut. Don't let others try to steer you away from what you feel is right for you. It may surprise you in the end.

Until next time,

Stephanie

Living with HIVES

*WARNING: this post contains some graphic pictures taken from my personal case of CIU*

So this isn't something I normally talk about, but it's really been bugging me lately. HIVES. Itchy little red sores that keep me up at night. My body can't fight them off no matter the amount of Benadryl I have poured into my body, or lathered on my skin. Oh maybe I should introduce what I'm meaning by all this medical babble; hi, I'm Stephanie and I suffer from Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria, or in a generic term chronic hives. You think when you are stressed and a small cluster of hives pops up you are annoyed well try having yours last for 7 to 12 days, turning into black bruises and your skin being paper thin. Let me just show you the journey.

Christmas Eve 2015 I came down with what stared as a stomach virus that lead to a fever during the candle light service at church and then the hives. After hiding out after the last Silent Night my mother looked over at a pail version of myself and knew something had to be done. So this begins the never ending cycle of ER visits, thyroid checks, gallbladder examinations, steroid packs, an unlimited amount of medicated ointments, and EpiPens.

 

Looks painful? It is. It burns, it's tender and can make you the most self cautious person on the planet. Working in the pharmacy I can't help but think that these people don't want me touching their medications because I'm "infected". People ask, "isn't there something your allergist can do to help you?" Yes, and she is following all the protocols for my insurance. We started out on Allegra and Zantac, yes a stomach medication can be used as an antihistamine, and the occasional Benadryl when needed. Well, Benadryl was still needed multiple times a day with the new medications. I felt like a zombie. Our next step was to have me sleep through the outbreaks so Doxapin was prescribed for sedation. This served its purpose but now I would wake up with swollen lips and not being able to breathe; meaning more trips to the emergency room. Our last step for medication was Singular. This did absolutley nothing and something had to change as the hives only seemed to affect my everyday life more and more. 

We've finally come to our last resort, Xolair. It's a fairly new drug that is used only for patients who continue to suffer from hives that can't be controlled by H1 antihistamines. I read multiple pamphlets that suggest all the worst possible outcomes like cancer and parasitic infections. Bug infections are not particularly something I want in life, but the hives are unbearable. I was tired of living my life indoors for the soul fact that I knew people would look or ask question or whatever, but also you have no idea the pain of hitting your leg ever so slightly on the corner of a table and now your pants leg is covered in blood because your skin was so fragile. Now I live a happy, hive controlled life that I am very thankful for. This is just something that I was compelled to share with the world. Why? I don't know, but I hope this helps someone in the world. 

-Stephanie

Pre Date Jitters

As I'm sitting in my vintage 1960s yellow La-Z-Boy rocker, dressed and ready for a night out with a boy, a very cute boy at that, I'm trying not to vomit. My nails have a fresh paint of "Let's Playa" by Sinful Colors, I've drowned my body in my favorite Tory Burch perfume, and brushed my teeth nearly 12 times since noon. I realized it's  been almost a year since I've been on a real date. Honestly, I'm not sure if I've really been on a "real date" ever.

I figured the best way for to calm my nerves was to blog, or apply more foundation, but I'm already looking a little orange so I better stop now. I'm pretty lost for words right now other than I'm just ready to get there and hug this boy! Let's be honest I'm too awkward to just walk up and hug a person. I instead sit in my car debating weather if I should say hi or heyyyy, but we all know my lips will start moving and nothing will come out and I'll look like an idiot no matter how hard I try. Wow that was lengthy sentence about literally nothing.

I guess the moral of this blog about nothing is that I'm nervous about literally nothing! It will be great, I can already tell as long as I don't do something stupid; but that's pretty inevitable being the clutz that I truly am. And yes, I know that my date for the evening will probably read this and find it completely hilarious or very truthful when this is posted. Hope you guys are having a good weekend!

-Stephanie

Blog Takeover: Chloe Mae's Cottage

Hey y’all! It’s Chloe’ from Chloe' Mae's Cottage! Stephanie was so kind as to let me take over her blog this week! Before I tell y’all why I began to blog, I want to tell y’all a bit about Steph. We’ve known each other for a while now and I can honestly say that she is the best friend I’ve ever have. She’s been with me through thick and thin and has shown me what a true friendship is about and I’m so incredibly grateful for her!

So now let me tell y’all about why I began to blog. I actually started blogging many years ago on Blogspot and had a blog titled “My Lady Reenactor.” That was mainly a reenacting/sewing blog. After a while I switched over to Wordpress and started the blog “Chloe’ Mae’s Cottage.” I began to blog about everyday life- sewing projects, baking, trips, reenactments, everything I do. It began to be a way of expressing myself and once I realized that people actually liked what I wrote I began to write more.

I began to blog as a way to save reenacting pictures and to show sewing projects I’ve done, but now I blog for so much more. I want to inspire and to encourage others through my blog. I’m using the blog as a way to put myself- my true self out there. For as long as I remember I’ve been a private person, but when I’ve opened up I’ve been able to help people with things they’ve been going through. So blogging has helped me learn to open up more and I think it’s been the best way for me to learn to do so.

Steph, I’ve enjoyed taking over the Tumbleweed! I love you, your blog, and of course Mer! You are welcome to take over the Cottage anytime you want!