Life is not always perfect

Hello Friends!

It's been a tough couple weeks for me.  I first found out that I have Arthritis in my back, shoulder and knee.  Finding that out makes sense on why I have been in so much pain lately.  😒  My doctor had me start physical therapy.  Getting old sucks sometimes.  The following week my life became more challenged for me.

I have catheterized for the past 24 years to be able to go to the bathroom.  I had a bladder reconstructive surgery when I was 11 years old and when the surgery was performed they rerouted my bladder, so I now catheterize through the navel.  

For the past week, I have been having trouble getting my catheters in (I use a new catheter each time).  It would take me 30+ minutes to just get my catheter in.  By Thursday afternoon, I wasn't able to get my catheter in at all.  I ended up cancelling my physical therapy appointment and going to the Emergency Room.  After waiting hours in the waiting room and getting back to a room, I hadn't gone to the bathroom  in over 12 hours.  They did a bladder scan and said I had 720 milliliters of urine in my bladder.  😳  After hours of pain, I finally had relief at 12:50am on Friday morning.  They sent me home with a catheter and an attached urine bag.

The following morning I went to a new Urologist, which happens to be the Head of Urology at Loyola University Medical Center.  Him and his staff were amazing and so nice.  He would like me to come in and get a Cystoscopy done on Tuesday.  They are going to try and get a bigger catheter in me and have me go home with that for a week.  Once the week passes, if all goes well, they will take it out and everything should be back to normal right before I leave for my vacation on the 11th of October.

Even though it's been a tough couple weeks, I am trying to continue to stay strong and positive.  I will hopefully be out of the woods in about 10 days.  

I wanted to end this blog by posting something I read just this morning.  It really put everything that I've been going through these past couple of weeks in perspective for me and it really made sense.  

Happy Sunday, Everyone!! 💜

Three life lessons from a pencil: ✎✎

1.  Pain can sharpen you.

2.  Everything you do leaves a mark.

3.  What's inside of you is more useful than what's               outside.

Much Love,

KJA

Happy Fall, Y'all!!!

Hello Friends!!

Happy First Day of Fall! I hope everyone enjoys their weekend spending time with their loved ones.  We will be spending our weekend having some fun.  My husband's work has a Family Day every year with food, music and fun activities so we'll be doing that today and then tomorrow we'll be going on our annual apple picking trip with the rest of the family.  We can't wait to eat way too many apple donuts and go have our annual fried chicken lunch at Mad Dan's in Twin Lakes, WI!

Much Love,
KJA

Bullying

Hello Friends!!

I recently watched, Sierra Burgess Is A Loser on Netflix.  It was a wonderful movie and I highly recommend it to anyone that has faced bullying in their life.  I was bullied as a child and it was no fun.  I've always felt like an outcast in my life and still do at times.  This movie made me cry, laugh and everything in between.  It really made me think about how it was for me when I was in school.  

I could totally relate to the main character.  She was me and with social media, smart phones and all the technology they have nowadays, I can only imagine how much tougher being bullied is now.  If you have the opportunity, please watch this movie.  It truly is great one, plus the song at the end it so beautiful and it's called Sunflower.  :)  

I've posted the lyrics to the song below.  I've also attached an article explaining how the song was a standout anthem in the movie.  AMAZING!! 

Enjoy,
KJA

How the Song 'Sunflower' Became the Standout Anthem of Netflix's 'Sierra Burgess is a Loser'

Sunflower

Rose girls in glass vases
Perfect bodies, perfect faces
They all belong in magazines
Those girls the boys are chasing
Winning all the games they're playing
They're always in a different league

Stretching toward the sky like I don't care
Wishing you could see me standing there

But I'm a sunflower, a little funny
If I were a rose, maybe you'd want me
If I could, I'd change overnight
I'd turn into something you'd like
But I'm a sunflower, a little funny
If I were a rose, maybe you'd pick me
But I know you don't have a clue
This sunflower's waiting for you
Waiting for you

But I'm a sunflower, a little funny
And if I were her, maybe you'd pick me
But I know you don't have a clue
This sunflower's waiting for you
Waiting for you

09/11/01

I’ll never forget this day. I was a junior in high school doing OTJ training in my schools mail room. I heard on the radio when the first plane hit. It was this surreal silence throughout the school that day. Thinking of the men and women that we lost this day, 17 years ago. You are in my thoughts and prayers. 🙏🏻❤️#neverforget #9/11

On this day, 17 years ago...

On this day... 17 years ago 246 people went to sleep in preparation for their morning flights. 2,606 people went to sleep in preparation for work in the morning tomorrow. 343 firefighters went to sleep in preparation for their morning shift. 60 police officers went to sleep in preparation for morning patrol. 8 paramedics went to sleep in preparation for the morning shift of saving lives. None of them saw past 10:00am Sept 11, 2001. In one single moment life may never be the same. As you live and enjoy the breaths you take today and tonight before you go to sleep in preparation for your life tomorrow, kiss the ones you love, snuggle a little tighter, and never take one second of your life for granted.

9/11/01 Never forget.

Happy 40th Birthday, Theresa Marie!

Hello Friends!!

Today is one of my good friends 40th birthday! I posted on Facebook this morning 40 things that I love about her.  She sobbed! She was so thankful for the post and gave me the most genuine thank you's I've ever received in my life.  You are so welcome my friend!  I love you! I posted those 40 things below so you all can see. 

Enjoy!
KJA

📸 taken in November, 2017

40 reasons on why I love you on your 40th birthday…..

1. I love you because you make me smile
2. I love you because you are so funny
3. I love you because you love bubble teas like me
4. I love you because we make dancing in the car so fun
5. I love you because you sing so incredible
6. I love you because you are an angel that was brought in
my life
7. I love you because you are beautiful inside and out
8. I love you because you are so loud when you laugh
9. I love you because you are so loud when you talk
10. I love you because you love my son as much as I do
11. I love you because you are honest
12. I love you because you are loyal
13. I love you because your love for reality television is just
like mine.
14. I love you because you love honey boo boo
15. I love you because when I need to talk to you, I get your
full attention
16. I love you because you and your mom have a special
bond like I do with my mom
17. I love you because you always smell good
18. I love you because you make me feel so welcome
whenever I step foot into your home
19. I love you because when you love, you love hard
20. I love you because you appreciate the little things in life
21. I love you because you introduced me to Santa Fe
Mexican food
22. I love you because you introduced me to Santa Fe’s
margaritas
23. I love you because you introduced me to the Wheaton
farmers Market
24. I love you because you are my farmers market buddy.
25. I love you because of your faith
26. I love you because of the wonderful blessed cross you
gave me last year. I will cherish it forever. It’s helped me
when I was at a low point in my life. Thank you!
27. I love you because you drink the right amount of water
everyday
28. I love you because you want me to drink the right
amount of water everyday.
29. I love you because you want your loved ones to always
be happy and healthy
30. I love you because of your hugs
31. I love you because you are high maintenance when it
comes to what you want
32. I love you because you love fresh flowers
33. I love you because even though we are so different, we
are so the same
34. I love you because you are never boring.
35. I love you because we can get together at Starbucks
and talk for hours (or until they say they are closing in
20 minutes) and never want to leave each other
36. I love you because you have a really COOL name
(Hahahaha, get it?!?)
37. I love you because you’re awesome
38. I love you because you love tea
39. I love you because I got to spend the last evening of
your 30s with you.
40. And I love you because today you are 40 and you deserve nothing but happiness in your life!

Happy 40th Birthday Theresa!! You are one of the most precious human beings in this world and it is a privilege to have you in my life. I love you so so much and I hope you have the most beautiful day today!! 

Getting Older...

Hello Friends!!

One of my closest friends will be 40 this week!  Thinking about her turning the big 4-0 got me thinking about how I'll be turning the big 3-5 in a couple months.  I will be 35 this year guys!  I can't believe it.  I remember being a kid and my mom and her friends were the age my friends and I are now and I thought they were so old. 😆  

I have gone through so much in my life and one thing I have learned is that you should embrace your age.  Age is just a number.  Do what makes you happy, no matter how old you are.

YOU be YOU, no matter the age ALWAYS!

Much Love,

KJA

Happy Labor Day, Everyone!!

"No work in insignificant.  All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence." 
                                                         -Martin Luther King Jr.

I hope you all are enjoying your holiday with friends and family.

Much Love,

Kristin

Beautiful Video

Hello Friends!!

Below I linked a beautiful video that made my heart so happy!  I hope you all love it as much as I do.

Enjoy,
KJA

Click link below:

Beautiful Video

Hello September!!

HAPPY SEPTEMBER, EVERYONE!! 🍎🍎🍎