School, work, and visiting the doctor

Hello, I'm not exactly sure how to start this entry to my blog. I guess I can start by summing up everything new that is going on in my life. Well, I've already shared the bad news (my mom having cancer) so everything else is good or just normal.
School started last week and so far its going well. I like my professors and have classes where I enjoy the material. I am grateful for that because it makes it easier to go to class. I guess that is what is supposed to happen when you are only taking classes for your major, right? That is a good sign anyway.
I also went to the doctor last week. I don't know if anyone is familiar with Doctors of Osteopathy. I don't particularly understand the difference between DOs and MDs (except letter differences). I read about it online, but it didn't make too much sense. Anyway, you can look it up if you want, but when I saw DOs on my insurance's list of providers, I decided that since a regular MD couldn't figure out what was wrong, maybe a DO could. I am so glad I made that decision. Not only did this doctor have an answer for me the very meeting, she has several treatments options. This doctor has dealt with several other people with similar symptoms and it was caused by stress. That may sound like a poor diagnosis, but when you think about it, it makes sense. What does stress do to you physically? What happens when too much stressed is placed on a person and his or her body can't handle the stress?
Well, as far as we know, that is what happened to me. She drew blood and ran some tests, and gave me an andrinocortex test to take (I had to bring it home to take it, spit analysis basically). She also started me on a treatment to treat the symptoms that I have so I can start feeling better sooner. I have been put on a yeast control diet. Basically, that means I can't eat any of the things that I love to eat: bread, sugar, fruit or fruit juice, and cheese are the main ones, but I can't use margarine (only real butter), or vegetable oil, white flour, rice, etc. I CAN eat brown rice, whole wheat tortillas (but only if there is no yeast in it), oatmeal (without any flavoring), vegetables, meat, milk, and eggs.
At the same time, she put me on this medication that is supposed to kill everything in my stomach and intestines. Then, because there is bacteria that is supposed to live in your intestines, I have to take a complex that replaces that bacteria.
She also wants me to come in for a glucose resistance test just to see how I am doing in regards to diabetes. There are other treatments that she wants to pursue, but they are unconventional treatments and my insurance wouldn't cover them. But, she told me that I can still get better without them, it will just take longer. The three treatments are: intravenous vitamin injections to give my system a jump start (total cost would be $600), Goji juice which is a high-vitamin content nutrition drink ($600), and acupuncture to treat infection and I forget what else ($200). So, there you have it. I could do one, or all, but the problem is, I don't have money for any. I normally would talk to my parents and see if they could help so I could do at least one . . . but with my mom's cancer and her still being in the hospital, I don't think that is really an option. I guess I will have to suffer it out and hope that I don't get worse with the added stress of my mother's illness.
This is turning in to a really long entry and I don't want to bore anyone, but I got the results back from the blood work my doctor did. I have too low: cholesterol, vitamin B, white blood count, and thyroid hormone and too high (barely) sugar. I am going in for another visit today. Hopefully I will start to feel better soon.
Other than that, work is going really well. It makes me tired going to class and working, but I'm glad I have some kind of income. I don't know what I would do without it, and plus, I love my job.

Currently Reading:
The Postmaster
by Aleksandr Pushkin
The Overcoat
by Gogol
Poor Folk
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Diary of a Madman
by Gogol
The Nose
by Gogol

No news . . . is the absence of bad news . . .

Well, I guess its about time I wrote again, though hopefully I will be better about writing now that i have things to write. This last week has been interesting, full of ups and downs. I've been working the last few days trying to make some money before school starts. I'm back in the computer labs on campus and all I can say is that I LOVE my job. I really do. Its the kind of job where I actually look forward to working because the people are great and so is the environment.
Anyway, I've also run into a few friends on campus, and that is always great. I was able to do something with one of my MTC companions, and that was so much fun and it was just great to see her.
Those are all the good things that have happened. Unfortunately, one really bad thing has put a damper on all the good. My mom went into the hospital on Wednesday. Since then I have been waiting to find out what is wrong (she's been sick since the beginning of August). I hate waiting under the best of circumstances, but under the worst, it is complete torture. Finally, today my dad called, but not with good news. My mom (the doctors are pretty sure) has cancer . . . They can't do anything for her in Bismarck, so she has to be transfered to one of two other hospitals. I don't know where they are taking her yet. I feel so helpless and like I don't know anything that is going on because here I am in Provo, a thousand miles away and soon to be even more.
I don't feel like writing anything else, but I guess you can tell why.

Currently Reading:
Russian Culture

Back in Provo

Well, I am once again back in Provo. I moved into my new place on Wednesday, and have been here by myself since then, until yesterday. Now one of my two roommates is here, and we have already had some interesting experiences. I can tell that we are going to have a fun year.
Anyway, I'll start by sharing the reason I am writing so early on a Sunday morning. Last night we had a few windows open because it is so hot here in Provo (my roomie is from California and she thinks its hot, too, so that's not just because I'm from North Dakota). Several of our windows didn't have screens on, so we called the landlady, found out where they would be, and put them on. We thought everything was fine and went to bed.
At about 4:30 this morning, my roommate woke up in pain after being bitten or stung by some kind of insect. This eventually woke me up, and we started trying to figure out what it was. After some time, we saw some kind of wasp (we think) on the wall. So we killed it. We figured out that it must have flown in between the time we opened the windows and were able to put the screens on. So, now I am awake.
Anyway, I've still been having the same problem with exhaustion, I don't want to say too much about that because there isn't anything new. The only thing is, I'm starting to think I might have a sleep disorder, since all other tests have come back normal. So, I am in the process of finding a good doctor here in Provo. Wish me luck!

Currently Reading:
Russian Culture

Bridal Shower for Heather

Erin, Danielle, and I have been planning a surprise bridal shower and bachelorette party for Heather all summer. (Above - Making the cake, Erin was obviously having a lot of fun). We had a hard time getting her here to Bismarck, but we finally got it all worked out. The night before, Erin and I spent hours working on the decorations and cooking the food. We made BBQ chicken for the main course and then cake for dessert. (Right - Erin putting the cupcakes into the oven) Erin and I decorated the cake ourselves. I think we did a pretty good job, but you can judge for yourself. We also blew up balloons for decorations and wrapped presents for prizes for the games we had planned. (Left - Wrapping gifts). It was a lot of work, but it was worth it to us.
The next day, we got everyone together that we could. We ate together, and then had games. Finally, after the bridal shower was over, we also had a bachelorette party. It was kind of short because Heather had to leave, but we still had a few games before it ended.

Decorating the Cake

The finished Cake

Setting the table for the next day.

Erin and I decorated this chair as Heather's "throne"

Erin and I after finishing the preparations
Having Lunch

One of the games we played: Heather had to guess Mike's answer to a question. If she got it wrong, she had to put a piece of gum in her mouth. For this question, she was especially bewildered . . . great facial expression!

One of our games: toilet paper veils!!

Beginning of presents!

The BRIDE!

Its been awhile

I know, I know, it has been a long time since I have written (more than a month actually). Unfortunately, that doesn't mean I have a lot to update. Let's see, my birthday was this month and I had a pretty good one. I heard from several friends, but one of the people who should have remembered my birthday (namely my sister) didn't. It has been nearly three weeks since my birthday and she still hasn't thought to call or send a card. I guess that shows where I stand with her.
Other than that, I had a good birthday. My family had a BBQ, just like I like to have, though we ate inside to be air conditioned. I got presents, but mostly I just enjoyed being with the people I love.
Since then, I have been relaxing and getting ready to go back to school. I leave in about three weeks. Crazy! I've been waiting for this for 7 months and now that it is coming, it feels weird. I haven't been to school in 2 years and so I'm not sure what is going to happen when I get there. Most of my friends have already graduated and the ones who haven't are married and won't have time for little old me. Oh well, I guess I'll have to make new ones.
Oh, I went to the doctor again. This time my tests came back normal, but I feel the same. So, I'm not sure exactly what that means, though I know I have to go back for more tests soon.
That's it for me.

Currently Reading:
Poems
by Alexander Pushkin