Beauty is Not ONLY Skin Deep

This week has been busy adjusting back to normal life, adding a few new nebulized medicines, and other mishaps. There was one night where Luke and I both fell asleep he nearly in tears, and I definitely in tears.

Another trial had come upon us. A small one,semmingly insignificant to so many in the world,but to us ... It was ANOTHER thing. We both decided that the saying "when it rains.... It pours" is true.

It all started with me being hospitalized, and Luke's job. At the company he works at there are only three managers. There must always be one present. Well... The week I was hospitalized, Luke's other co-manager's wife had a baby. He took the week off to be with her, and that made it so Luke was unable to come up and see me for 4 or five of the days. (PS... Totally awesome dad of his coworker to take off and spend with his wife. I am not in any way complaining about that. Just explaining the details. Anyways carrying on...not having him with me all the time was hard. I am always with him. He is my best friend. We kept holding strong though and obviously we got through it, and were Sooo thankful for the times we got to see each other...

Moving right ahead, we get home and Luke had a small medical emergency and then we both were missing our church callings, and felt really bad...

So... Wednesday morning we woke up, and said our prayers and again were strengthened by a loving God. Although we have been stressed out of our minds, we still are so thankful because the blessings we recieve , completely out weigh the trials.

I titled this beauty is not just skin deep because the facts are these: what makes you beautiful is your strength. The strength to overcome all weakness,self doubt, fear, etc. What makes you beautiful is your background. What you have fought through to get where you are. What makes you beautiful is the service you render with each giving day.

Its not about how skinny you are, or how cute your hair is, or how wealthy you are. Really??? Do you think that at the end of this life God is going to judge you on your outward appearance?! I say this because today I felt so beautiful and lucky because I got to get my hair colored, and a manicure and pedixure. Thanks to my lovely neighbor polish and pipsqueaks and my loving husband. I felt so pretty for the first time in a while. I put on make up and a cute outfit and even had my mom snap a picture and thought..... Behind that smile is not only lipstick, mascara, and a cute bow... Its me. Mindy Marie Catmull.

I am beautiful because I have overcome hard things, and have learned from them. The beauty from my life comes from not only the good memories,but the bad as well.

What makes you the most beautiful ?! Inside and out ?!

Xoxo
Minds

Built Cf Strong

I consider myself incredibly blessed. I have a more mild version of Cystic Fibrosis. Although that presents itself with many challenges daily I don't find myself in the hospital as much as a lot of other people for which I am truly thankful. I started feeling sick in May. I couldn't quite exercise like I normally do, struggled to find the energy to keep up with my every day activities, and was more short of breath. That is when I started my Cayston from the earlier post "28 days". It is a strong nebulized antibiotic used to try and kill and or minimize the infection Pseudomonas Ariguinosa. I felt better but not quite up to par. On July 28, 2014 I went to CF clinic at the University of Utah for my normal check up and my Pulmonary Function Testing. (PFT's are used for lung volume measurement, how much air you can breathe in and how much you can breathe out. pretty much a whole bunch of other things as well but that is the readers digest version.) Usually if your lung volume drops 2-3 percent it indicates some sort of infection. Mine had dropped 11%. Hence the feeling crappy part. 

~~~ also note that my dropping 11% would still be some CFers dream lung function and I still got hospitalized how sad is that? ~~~

Anyways carrying on, they decided to admit me for a 14 day course of heavy antibiotics to help get my lung function up, and kill infections through IV therapy. That is where I have been for the past fourteen days.. but dont you worry, I am back, feeling better, and life is beautiful.

(During one of my breathing treatments)

My mom would come visit me and watch "our show" Witches of East End. You should check it out its a way good show. (Netflix, and Lifetime special of course.)

One of the days was my dear friend Astra's birthday. Astra passed away three years ago from Cystic Fibrosis. Her mom asked this year that we all send pink balloons to heaven in her honor. 

My cutest sisters came to visit, and my niece addysen. She was sooo cute. She would snuggle with me and then sit up and laugh and smile like crazy and then snuggle again. I love her. I remember the day she was born was so special. ( Thats a story for another time but I could go on for days.)

I don't know why I didnt get a picture of them, but Melissa and Dave my incredible in loves. (in laws) came and visited a lot. I love them so much for being so supportive and they watched our dog the full two weeks while I was at the hospital. Can you spy zooey???

One of the days I got a surprise visit from some girls in my ward. It was so awesome to have their wonderful spirits. Funny story the woman to the very right is Lanae. I was supposed to visit teach her the week I got admitted, and instead she came and "visit taught" me with Jen ( on the left) and her cutest little girls Gracie and Leah. I am so thankful for them and their effort to come all the way down from Saratoga Springs.

Every week they do PFT's to see how you are doing. I had a chance of going home on day 10 and i honestly thought that I was going to. But my lung volume had only improved by 4% which is not enough to get me back up to my baseline, so they decided to keep me the full two weeks. I was really disappointed that day, but then I had a change of attitude and thought... I don't have to be here as much as a lot of people I know, so at least I can keep my chin up and be happy that I am pretty healthy for someone with my disease.

With the IV therapy they administer very strong antibiotics. They have side effects such as nausea, diarheaa, headaches, and many more. So to off set those I had zofran (a lot!!) and other medications to help me not be quite so queezy or have such a bad headache. Ice packs also helped soooo much. Fun Fact: if you put an ice pack behind your neck while you have a headache, it helps constrict the blood vessells so that the pain will lessen. 

I loved my visits with karacat. My beautiful sister.

I am now home, and resting up so I can get all the way better. I am so thankful for every card, treat, prayer, and visitor. Many of the people who visited were not pictured here but know this. I genuinely I am so thankful for you. I am thankful for so many amazing and intelligent doctors and nurses who helped me to feel better. 

Breathe Easy Everyone.

God is good

xoxo

Minderella