WebMD and ME in the same sentence?

Well let's just jump right into this! I received a message from a friend who runs one of the food allergy networks that I am part of in Atlanta. She asked me if she could pass on my contact information for an interview. Honestly I didn't think to much about it (and maybe it was because there was so much going on that day)! I said, no problem, and went on with my day. I received a phone call later on that afternoon/early evening from a lady named Pam. Again, not thinking anything about it, I told her that I was on my way to workout, and that I would call her back later if it took longer than 15 minutes. She said, oh no, this will only take a couple of minutes. Again, not really thinking anything about it, because, well she is only going to ask a couple of questions. Well, she did ask a couple of questions, and then at the end followed up with, "If it is ok with you, we would like to go ahead and film you for this interview." And my response was, "Oh, this wasn't the interview!" Seriously, I was clueless apparently! And then of course, I started cluing in more, and asked, now who are you with again...

Let's pause a second... I have been asked over the years (probably 10) to interview for a newspaper article, tv show, piece on food allergies, etc. I have had phone calls from people that have asked just to talk to me because they are/have been just recently diagnosed with food allergies, etc. So really, when I received the call, I just thought it was another person that just wanted a personal experience, interview to answer some questions... no big deal... right???

Ok, back to the story... So who are you with again? Oh, I am a video producer for stories for WebMD, and we are wanting to do a piece about an adult who has severe food allergies. I just about dropped the phone... SERIOUSLY.. and not only that... I remember the day she called... it was a Thursday. She then said, I think that I could pull together a crew for Sunday afternoon if that works for you. Of course in my head I said yes... but I was now counting hours that there were between Thursday night and Sunday afternoon, and well... there wasn't many! 

Ready or not, Sunday afternoon came, and there it was... Camera, lights, mic, producer and all... yep... this is real... this is really happening... 

 Oh yea, that would be me, just sitting in the hot seat ready for the questions!

 I think I was explaining here how I was pretty much terrified that I was going to fall... but that I would do the best that I could to walk normal ... in heels...in the "woods."

At the end of the questions, and the several takes that took place with outside shots and kitchen shots, it was over.... just like that. If you asked me what I said, I don't know. If I think about it now, I can remember a lot of things, but really I just tried to not think ahead. I just wanted to be in the moment, and soak it all in. And that is exactly what I did! I remember questions, and I remember most of my answers, but really what I hoped after is that I conveyed everything that I was hoping to... to really show me... my journey...

So a majority of you have no clue this even happened. Because I didn't say anything! There were so many logistics, but all of this happened last fall. But guess what, the video came out, and I couldn't be more thrilled with how it turned out! The producer, Pam, was able to capture me... somehow in 2 and a half minutes of the 3 hours they were here, she did it.

If someone would have told me 10 years... wait... 5 years ago... that I would be interviewed by someone from WebMD about my journey with anaphylaxis, I would have laughed and said, yea right... 

This experience though... really there are no words...

It is my hope and prayer that you will be able to watch this video and be encouraged with whatever place you are in, in your life, and know that there truly is hope. Share the video with someone! We never know who needs that encouraging word! You need someone to talk to about what you are going through? I am here! I will listen! I have been there... in more words than a 2 and half minute video can share!

Below is the link to the video... It can also be accessed through the WebMD site--> allergies-->videos (right hand side with resources)

I am truly humbled and honored because I am so undeserving of this opportunity, but I am beyond thankful, more than words could ever say...

Enjoy...

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/life-threatening-reaction-16/video-anaphylaxis-personal-story

Always Going,
Never Giving Up,
Trusting,
Loving,
Believing

Adding in Food??? Is this possible???

Well.. It is about that time...

Allergy Tests...

So what does all this mean, and what to do from here...

About 2 weeks ago, I have some updated allergy testing done. Honestly I was dreading going into it, because I just didn't want to do it. I really didn't see the point. I have been doing this for so long, that my thinking was, is a test really going to change how I do things, or change my life?

Well, the tests came out very interesting... most of the things where still positive, but overall my numbers have decreased. Which is pretty amazing considering I'm 30 years old... nothing should really be changing for me, since they have all been there since I was a child, and never improved.

Well guess what came out negative? Fish! Salmon in particular... so the next step is Open Challenge!

Today's the day... the final test to determine if I can start adding fish in my diet! Honestly, of all the things that I am allergic to, it would be nice to add fish into my diet, just because of health reasons! Fish is such a good protein to have in your diet!

As you can see from the picture below... and 5 hrs later... I PASSED!!! Woohoo!!! I would have never thought that I would be sitting here, writing a blog post about passing a food allergy test, but it has happened! It really is a miracle, especially at 30, to be ADDING something to my diet... I have never been able to leave a doctor's office saying that I can ADD something back into my diet!!! I am excited... a little nervous, but overall looking forward to the beginning of adding fish into my everyday life!!! 

Something that I have learned through this whole thing though is... It didn't really matter what the tests show... I love who I am, and who God made me to be... food allergies and all! I have been focusing on exercise, and eating healthy! 

Thankful and Bummed...

Thankful and Bummed…

For those of you who didn’t know, I qualified for a medication 10 years ago, called Xolair. It is for my asthma and allergies. Won’t go into all the details of it, but it was an incredible blessing just to get on the medicine in the first place! It took so much testing and waiting and praying. I go to the doctor 1 time a month to get 2 shots. Like I said before, I have been doing this for almost 10 years now.

I met with my doctor back in November, and he wanted to take me off of it for several months so that we could do updated allergy testing. I have been doing so well on it, so the thought of getting off of it was so scary, but I do trust him, and I am thankful for having the same doctor all these years!

So we agreed April would be a good time to stop, and then get testing done in August, to see if my allergies have gotten any better, maybe even grown out of some! (I have to be off the medicine for awhile for it to fully get out of my system. It will skew the results of my allergy testing when on it, to make it seem like my allergies are essential not as severe).

So now we are in July.  For the first little while I felt good, really good! Continued with my workout routine, even upping my workouts, and overall just doing well! I  was pretty excited! I could tell that my nasal allergies started increasing about 3 weeks ago, so after about 2 months of being off of the Xolair, I started taking Zyrtec again (which I stopped taking well over a year ago), which has helped some. Last week I noticed my asthma starting to flair up, so I made sure I had an updated inhaler, because I honestly don’t use my inhaler, because I don’t need to.

And then it happened, what I was hoping wouldn’t happen, but it did. I had an allergic reaction last night. Thankfully it wasn’t bad, but benadryl and inhaler were used (so glad I got an updated one last week!). I am pretty sure it was a cross-contamination thing that I ate (at home), still trying to pin point it.  I had a reaction last year, but I knew that was a direct contact with eggs- not eating, but contaminated service, and again, didn’t require a hospital visit, just benadryl and a sleepy Aimee. J Other than last year and now this time, I haven’t had to take benedyl of have any type of reactions in a very long time (I’m talking years, which for someone who went to the hospital several times EACH year, this was life changing stuff!)

So what am I taking from all of this…

1.     Was this a bad reaction? Absolutely not! That for which I am very thankful! I have had way worse, but of course those hives sure are no fun!

2.     I was thankful before to have been on the Xolair, and I continue to be thankful for the medicine!

3.     I’m bummed… yep, I said it… bummed…I wasn’t thrilled about doing testing again, because it goes one of 2 ways- 1: you grew out of something 2: you didn’t grow out of anything. For me I have accepted it. I have accepted my allergies, I have accepted that this is part of who I am! It doesn’t define me, just part of me!  For me, it is opening old wounds… old wounds that I haven’t had to deal with in a long time. For anyone that suffers with allergies there will always be a part of them, hoping, praying, wishing, that they would all go away! But I accepted a long time ago, that mine wouldn’t, I would have these things for the rest of my life. And the thing about it is, that I am ok with it, I have been ok with that for a long time!  It is just the fact that I have to face it again, be reminded again… it hurts, and well, it is just a bummer.

So yes, I am incredibly thankful: for doctors, for modern medicine, for a support system. But I am just feeling a little bummed: I know this to shall pass, and I will continue to thrive, just how God made me to thrive, but He knows too… just bummed.

Will continue updating over the next couple of months as to how things are going!

Always Going,
Never Giving Up,
Trusting,
Loving,
Believing

I'm that Girl...

I’m that Girl

Over the last month or 2 I have really been on a journey to figure out who I am , what I am about, and where I am going. And right now I feel like it is on the fast track…. Really fast… yes I have my job as a teacher and other things I do on the side, but what am I doing to take care of myself, so that I can do my job the absolute best that I can.

So I am that girl that is doing Crossfit… yes, you read that right, Crossfit. Do I know that just by saying those words you might be thinking lots of different things, yes, and that is ok. Crossfit has gotten me to a place where not only am I accountable, but I am surrounded by a community that cares about me, and wants me to be the healthiest me there can be. They are encouraging, but we sure do work hard. And the hard work is paying off. I am down a couple of pounds, but honestly, who cares about the scale. I don’t. All I care about is being healthy, building muscle and stamina throughout my workouts so that it carries over into my daily life.

So I am that girl that is an Ava Anderson Non Toxic consultant. Just the words consultant also has you thinking and pondering I am sure, “what has she gotten into.”  Here is the difference in saying that I am a “consultant” and not that I am “selling” Ava Anderson products…  It is about the message… do the Ava Anderson products go along with the message yes, of course and that is why I am using them, but the things is, it is the message that is important for people to know. The message is about chemicals in our everyday products. You think they are safe, even the “clean products,” but once you start doing the research you realize it is far from it. I decided to become a consultant because of the message and the initiative the company is taking to make our world, us as human beings, and the products we use, safer, without all the harmful chemicals.

I knew that by writing this, I run the risk of judgment or questioning or wondering, or even doubt but here is the thing. My journey is to be the healthiest person I can be, not just for me, but for the people around me, the students I work with, my co-workers, my family, my friends, everyone. If I am not taking care of myself then how in the world can I influence the people around me. If I want to share the message of being healthy, and taking care of this body that was given to me by God, then I have to put action to it.

I am that girl, that has a message, that is not only ready to share, but to encourage.

I am that girl, that wants to make a difference, and I am proud of it.

Happy Birthday to me!

I love birthdays, not just mine, but everyone's birthdays! Might sound weird, but birthdays are a really big deal to me! I know for some, birthdays are just another year after you get a certain age, or it is just another day in the calendar. I almost got into that thinking this year, because to me it is a big year. It took me a little bit to admit it, but this is my last year in my 20's. Even now, I get a little nervous thinking about it. So I decided I needed to do something about this special year...

Birthdays to me are a special time to reflect and celebrate on the last year that was given to me or anyone. Some years can be more difficult than others, that is a fact that many of us have faced. But then there are some years that also were great! Regardless of the year, I can always look back and remember some very special and precious memories.

So where do I go from here... Well since this is my last year in my 20's, I decided that I would make a list of 30 things that I want to do or accomplish before I turn 30. I have been really thinking and reflecting on this for the last week, and I couldn't be happier with the list I came up with! My guess is you would like to read my list... well... here is the deal... I am not going to be posting my list, BUT once something is accomplished or checked off that list I will be blogging about it, to let you know how it happened, details, etc.

Honestly, I couldn't be more excited about this! Ever since I made my list I have felt centered, focused, and just really looking forward to this next year of life! I am looking forward to sharing my journey over the next year!

Happy Birthday to me!

So you think...

Sometimes you sit back and wonder, is it all worth it.

Everything I am going through is it all worth it,

Am I worth all of this.

I am here to tell you,

I am worth it.

Every ounce of unknowns and disappointments,

It doesn’t matter I am worth.

I am not perfect,

I will stumble and fall,

But the difference between you and me,

Is that I will become stronger through it all.

Don’t mistake my kindness and willingness

As a sign of weakness.

I am not weak, nothing about me is weak.

I know who I am,

I know where I belong.

My strength comes when you think I am done,

When you think you have gotten to me,

And used me.

Oh no, that is when my strength shines.

It comes out,

And then you step back and realize,

Oh I wish I had seen that before.

You may think you are right,

You may think you know me.

The truth is you don’t,

And you never will if you don’t try to.

It takes work,

It takes effort,

It takes a willingness to forgo yourself at times,

But the one thing I can promise is this…

It is worth it,

I am worth it…

And if you haven’t figured that out by now,

Then you never will.

And you know, that is ok,

Because not everyone will get it,

But then you appreciate those that do.

So again I say,

It is worth it,
I am worth it.


Always Going,
Never Giving Up,
Trusting,
Loving,
Believing

Moving from 2013 to 2014... Worth it?

2013- Honestly I can say that I am glad that it is over. There were and have been a lot of ups and downs, but more downs this past year. No need to go into all the details, because that would be like writing a book J… but trust me when I say, a lot more downs…

So what would any, shall we say, “positive” person write about then? Well of course the “what did I learn from all of this”… so here goes…

First- People are not who you think they are. People will look you in the face and say one thing, and turn around and do something or say something completely different.

Second- If you have ever said, “Oh, I would never do that,” then you need to really think about what you are saying. When it comes down to it, you never know the circumstances you will be put in that will require you to act in a way that you never thought was possible.

Third- No one has to live my life, I am the only one that does. People have their opinions and that is fine, but when it comes down to it, I am the only one living out my life daily and will be accountable for it in the end.

Fourth- Life isn’t what I thought it was going to be. Even without making plans, I guess I just thought that I would be in a different place at this point in my life in a lot of various areas. Not necessarily bad, just not what I thought.

Fifth (and probably most important)-

            I AM WORTH IT!


Always Going,
Never Giving Up,
Trusting,
Loving,
Believing