I Want Enlightenment!

I love the feeling of enlightenment, a sudden instance in which you fully understand the world around you and your role in it. You see the wicked clearly for who they are as clearly as you see the righteous standing behind you!

Ah...yeah, I dont think so. If anyone felt emboldened by that second sentence, you need enlightenment. -Dalton

Normal

So, I am pretty sure I'm done with the whole 'having CF' thing. It is getting old now. Tired of sitting around waiting for life to happen. Tired of sitting around waiting for a miracle drug that's going to cure us all.

Party!

We have had a couple going away parties. There was one in Missouri when we went to visit for the last time and then we had one a few weeks ago at my aunts house here in Kentucky. We aren't really sure when we are leaving so we just want to make sure how much everyone knows we love them before we go. Soo, if there are more parties, don't be surprised!!

*Friends

*Kyle and Dalton

*Cousins

 

*Dalton and I

 

 

 

And also, Dalton threw me a surprise graduation party!! I was seriously so surprised! He is the best! -Katie

*We almost never wear o2 in our pictures.. Doesn't suit us well!

*My little brother and I- my rock!

*Mommy/Daughter

*I graduated!!

*Family (look at my little cutie Bo in the bottom left)

Good Day..

Today was a good day. Been doing a lot of crafts, just keeping my mind occupied. God is great. -Katie

If you want to order a Dalton & Katie t-shirt or purple rubber 'Love Conquers All' bracelet the on the right side of the page there is a place you can choose what you want to order. When the paypal window pops up make sure you click on 'Continue Shopping' if you want to get more than one thing.. <3

Feeling

Just really feeling discouraged about things tonight. My bracelets, fundraiser that I'm trying to plan, everything. Good night. -Katie

Just a Friendly Note...

When you walk in to Wal-Mart or most other stores here in the US, there is usually a trash can and an ashtray. The ashtray might be tall with a hole in the top and sand in the bottom or it might just be a tray where everyones smoked cigarettes are there to look at (sick!). Anyway, most stores have some type of ashtray in front of their business. While said ashtray is there and very helpful to put your cigarette out before you walk into the store, it doesn't give you permission to stand there in the DOORWAY of the business and smoke and flick your ashes in the tray (and most get on the ground anyway). I honestly don't care if anyone smokes but when I am trying to walk into a store and I get the pleasure of walking right through smoke, I not only get disgusted but the slightest whiff usually makes me cough my head off. If you really want to smoke go ahead and do it somewhere other than in front of a business. Please. And when I please ask you to not smoke in front of the said business, please don't look at me and my oxyen tank and tell me to go blow up... -Katie

Emotional Night

I have been crying tonight and I am crying for a lot of different reasons.
One because I am just so blessed to have met such a wonderful man that I call my husband. I wouldn't be the same person if I hadn't have met Dalton.
Two, I am so blessed to have such amazing people in my life. I never would have dreamed so many people would have crawled out of the woodwork to support and shower Dalton and I with all of their love. From all of our family, to people at church, to people who have been buying my bracelets, to people who just volunteer for whatever is going on, it is honestly amazing.
Three, I just want insurance to work out, I want to move forward and I want to get this done with. Dalton and I have to live separate and we can't be together while one of us is transplanted and the other isn't so we aren't sure how long that will be. We could be apart for a year, it could be a few weeks. We really don't know. Maybe that's what I don't like, not knowing.
-Katie

Sleep Study

Dalton has an appointment tonight in Cincinnati at a sleep study office. He will hopefully be approved for a bi-pap machine. This will only be worn while he's asleep and should help greatly with his sleeping and tiredness issues. Pray that everything works out! <3 -Katie

Makes Sense to Me

In between naps, treatments, and making bracelets, Dalton and I do actually spend quite a bit of time talking. We talk about all sorts of things; life, transplant, school, work, death, family, love. Nothing slips under the radar. But yesterday, Dalton and I were talking and after the conversation I just couldn't stop thinking about what we talked about, in fact, it has been on my mind since.
No matter where we are, I almost always have my phone with me. I feel that it is how I stay connected with the world. I can easily access facebook, I can call anyone, if someone buys a bracelet I can take their credit card information and send it straight to my bank account, I can literally do anything with the touch of a few buttons. While sitting down about to eat Dalton picked up my phone and said this isn't reality. I was so confused. What was he talking about? But the more he talked, the more I realized he was right. Nothing exists outside of what we can touch and see and feel. Nothing. Sure it's out there, but it doesn't exist. It isn't here, I am not experiencing it, therefore why does it matter. Honestly, the only thing that should matter is what is happening in the here and now. Even God can't go back and change the past and nobody seriously knows what is going to happen in the future. The only thing that is for sure, the only thing we are 110% certain is happening is what is going on right in front of our faces. Why do we spend so much time on our phones looking at facebook? Why does it matter? The pictures and comments that we see on there are completely irrelevant to our lives and what is going on in the here and now, what is going on in real time where you are.
<3 -Katie

Associates Degree!

I graduated in high school in 2009. I went on to college that August and in September, my whirlwind of hospital stays and health problems began and have yet to let up. Four years later, here I am! I am a graduate of Maysville Community and Technical College with an Associate in Arts degree. I was feeling down about two weeks ago because it feels like most everyone that I graduated with is graduating with the bachelors degrees this year or are moving on to bigger and better things such as med school. But, then I took a second and realized, all of our paths are different. Nobody that I graduated with has dealt with what I have the past four years and I haven't dealt with what they have either. We are on our own roads and my road has finally led me to receiving my degree! I have worked SO hard for this degree. There have been teachers who haven't understood, ones that have worked with me to help me through, tons of make up work, tons of missed work, and my advisor that I have been so blessed with to help me get through it all.
My advisor, Wendy Noble, has been my rock this past semester. She has been there for me, fought for me, helped me, talked me through problems, and walked with me every step of the way. I don't know how I got so lucky to have such an amazing advisor, but she is honestly one of a kind. Thank you Mrs. Noble!!!
I am going to leave you with this. Never give up. You can do whatever you set your mind to. I have been through everything to get this degree that would normally only take two years but here I am four years later and I am beyond happy. "I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me" Philippians 4:13

 

Congratulations Are In Order

Today was Katie's college graduation. Despite everything we're going through, Katie worked hard and persevered through the pain to earn her Associates Degree.  I'm so proud of her! She's living proof that anything can be overcome with enough determination. I love you Katie Prager. You're my hero.
-Dalton

Follow Up Appointment

So, yesterday Dalton and I were seen for our follow up from IVs. We are pretty much the same as the last time. PFTs are down slightly and I gained one pound. Our doctor wants me to get a feeding tube again. I don't really want another one. I had one for like 3 years until it fell out and then didn't want to replace it. But I guess if I have to get one it wont be anything new since I have had one in the past. Today we had another appointment in Cincinnati for a pain doctor. I have never been one to take pain pills if I don't have to. Well, today at the pain clinic it just felt sketchy. Dalton and I do have pain problems but we both felt so uncomfortable at that place so we left. There were people sitting in the waiting room that looked so high on drugs, it actually made me nervous to be in there! I am going to talk to our doctor and see if we really have to go there anymore. Our doctor also started both of us on inhaled ceftazadime. So, I am ready to get that started when ever we can. I am also getting a lot of bracelet orders and I still haven't figured out a cost efficient way to send them. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know! Going to bed. Thank you once again for all of your love!<3 -Katie

Eyes To The Ground

Katie and I had a CF appointment in Cincinnati today. They decided to do another five days of IV antibiotics for us both, as well as nebulized ceftazidime for me when the IVs are finished. In other news, we're still banging heads with insurance regarding my transplant. Their nickel and diming is all that stands between me and that list. I don't know how long they think I can wait, but I can't play their little game anymore. It's time for results on their end. In the mean time, we're just trudging on, eyes down watching one foot step in front of the other. It is nice, however, to see Katie stepping right beside me. I would be long gone by now if not for her.  -Dalton

A Good Weekend..

Dalton and I had a good weekend. On Saturday my friend, Kelsey, and I got pedicures. We both got purple polish because May is CF Awareness month. Later on Saturday my family had a BBQ for Dalton and I and some friends came too. It was really good seeing some people that I used to be close to for a final goodbye. Transplant is getting closer. I can feel it. As soon as insurance gets settled for Dalton, I will begin working on my insurance. There are so many problems with both of our insurances it's unreal.
We will keep everyone posted as something happens. -Katie

Bracelets!

I have been working on bracelets all day! I have so many to send out and can't wait until everyone gets them!
Dalton and I have a BBQ this weekend at my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jeffs house. It will be mostly family and we invited some friends.
Dalton and I are still on IV antibiotics. We have a doctor appointment on May 7, so I guess we will see how we are doing then. We are both so ready to move to Pittsburgh.
-Katie