Health Update: Going Private

Last week we saw a private doctor (cardiologist) in Cambridge for a second opinion.  It was a good visit overall with good and bad news.  The benefit of going private for this opinion is that we knew a cardiologist would take the time to go through Matthew's test results and fully examine Matthew.  The downfall is you have to pay for it but for peace of mind it would be well worth it!

Anyways when we arrived they ran an EKG on Matthew.  On the NHS it took Matthew two months to get this done.  Then we got to meet with the doctor.  It was very helpful as he listened to Matthew, asked questions and examined him.  The doctor then went onto explain all the different tests Matthew has taken over the past few months and their results.  He came to the same diagnosis that Matthew had myocarditis following a flu from July that went and infected the area around the heart.  This was reassuring to hear just to know we have been on the right track.

The good news:
All the damage done to the heart has completely healed with little to no scarring. 

The bad news:
The electrical system of Matthew's heart hasn't quite fixed itself leaving Matthew with an irregular heartbeat.  The EKG showed Matthew was having more abnormal than normal heartbeats. 

The cure:
Again...there is none for this.  He is taking medicine and right now it is just finding the correct dosage to lessen the symptoms of the irregular heartbeat.  He was on a low dosage of the medicine which has now increased.  Best case is that the heart fixes itself and the irregular heartbeat goes away.  Worst case is that Matthew could be on medicine the rest of his life for the irregular heartbeat.

So even though it wasn't the cure all I was hoping for it was good news overall.  The damage done to the heart has healed itself.  Now we are just trying to get the correct dosage for Matthew to lessen the symptoms of the irregular heartbeat which in time will help him to feel better and function at 100%.  Matthew is still having good and bad days but we are finally having more good days than bad which is a massive improvement from where we were a few months ago.  He still isn't 100% but everyday getting stronger and able to do more.  Prayer would be appreciated as he continues to heals and slowly gets back to working full-time and back into the ministry.  Thank you for all those that have been praying for Matthew during these last six months.  They have not been easy but our great Father in Heaven has been with us every step and lifting us up in those down moments.  I'll be sure to update you when we have the next appointment in a few weeks time.

2011: A Year in Review

First off I am very sorry for the lack of posting this year.  There were many times I thought about posting something but got busy doing something else and never got around to doing it!  I will try much harder this coming year to post more about our lives here in England but moving on to the main reason for this post...

2011...another year has come and gone!  How quickly time seems to pass.  Here is our year in review...

January 2011

*Began working full-time as Year 4 Teacher in a maternity position

*Matthew finished exams and interviews to be ordained into the Presbyterian Church

*Our old car died so we had to get a new car.  Matthew kindly got an automatic car so I could learn to drive more easily over here....he does miss having a manual though!

February 2011

On the 5^th of February Matthew was ordained into the ministry and joined the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales.  This was a very special day and one that we will always remember.  We are now officially Rev. and Mrs. Matthew Jolley.

March 2011

*I applied, interviewed and was offered a full-time teaching position at my current school. 

*Matthew got contacts/Kristen dyed her hair red

April 2011

April brought Easter break and a few travelling opportunities with it. 

*Travelled to Cadbury World to see how the company got started and operates today.  Lots of chocolate was sampled during this visit!

*Kentwell Hall

*Wimpole Estate

The highlight of this month was the Royal Wedding.  It was a Bank Holiday which meant no school.  We had a few people over to watch the wedding and partake in a Tea Party!  It was a fun day and an occasion I won’t be forgetting soon!

May 2011

*Kristen began driving lessons and took her road theory exam

*Kristen took practical exams for Biology, Chemistry and Physics test

*Matthew prepared final details for mission trip of Americans coming to England

*Visited Framlingham Castle

*School Trip to the New Olympic Village with my Year 4 students

June 2011

June was the busiest month of the whole year...where to even begin. 

*31 students arrived from America for a mission trip in Bury St Edmunds

*Matthew turned 30!!

*Celebrated our 5^th wedding anniversary

*I took my big science exam - managed to get a B.

*We moved house.  J  Finally have parking and yard for the dog!  And an awesome kitchen!! 

My awesome new kitchen!!

July 2011

 *Got my English driving license!  I passed my test!!  :)

*Had a lovely visit with Matthew’s cousin Phil and family

*Holiday (vacation) to Dorset with Matt’s mum, Pat

*First two A&E visits for Matthew with flu with an irregular heartbeat

August 2011

*Highlight of the Year: my parents came for a visit.  Things we saw: Riverboat cruise, Orford Castle, Burghley House, Peterborough Cathedral, Lavenham, Cambridge, Canterbury.

*Visit to Dover Castle

*Visit to Leeds Castle

*I got a chance to visit family and friends in Indiana.  Always a good time!!

September 2011

*Florida to see my friend Amanda (my maid of honor) get married on the beach!

*Start my new teaching job as a Year 3 teacher

*Matthew falls even more ill and spend one week in the hospital.  Get the diagnosis of myrocarditis.  The flu from July went to his heart causing damage around the muscle tissue of the heart.

This was the hardest and worst month of the whole year.  I was working full-time in a new job and Matthew was really unwell...bed rest for most of the days during the whole month! 

October 2011

*With increase in medication Matthew begins to feel better but still not working and doing great

*Visit with Matt’s mum and sister, Pat and Ruth

November 2011

 *Matthew’s health remains about the same still not working and mostly resting at home

*Church Thanksgiving dinner

December 2011

*Another increase to his medicine and Matthew begins to show signs of recovery.  Begins working again.
*Kristen visits Ruth in London - Hyde Park Christmas Market and Wizard of Oz

*Lovely Christmas and New Year’s with Matt’s mum and sister

Mattthew and I got to visit some lovely places over the course of the year and had some great time with family and friends both in the UK and US.  September and onward have been hard months with Matthew battling an illness but as we enter 2012 things are looking up.  God has graciously seen us through a difficult time and it is He who strengthens us.  Matthew is on the road to recovery and feeling better everyday.  Hopefully his full strength will return soon and he will be able to get on with things that he hasn't been able to for the past four months.  This was our 2011...looking forward to the things 2012 brings!

The Cuteness of Kids

School is officially in swing and off to a busy but good start.  My class this year is well behaved and general make me happy with no major behavior issues thus far.  In Sepemteber we have been studying 'Authors and Letters' in English.  We have read two books by Roald Dahl, The Twits and Esio Trot.  The students then wrote a letter to the author about The Twits and then wrote a letter to a character in Esio Trot.  One of my students really cracked me up with his letter...its not the content but his spelling...its just too cute!  You can at least make out what he was trying to spell (which is better than some kids) and I just had to share.  I have changed the name to keep it confidental but I hope it brings a smile to your face as it did mine!!  :)  The words in italics is the word he means in case you cannot make the word out. 

His first letter was to Roald Dahl about The Twits which we read in class.
Dear Mr Dahl,

I apslootlie (absolutely) love yore books  theay ure (are) brilonte. but wote (what) is yore favrote book.  wen you wose (was) lite ole (little) wote was a nice book you read.

I read the twits  I fote (thought) it wose good.  Spashaly the bit wen the boys gote sduck (stuck) in the big ded tree.  And thay tock ov ter tralses (took off their trousers).  I dont like mise is twit (Mrs Twit) baseae she keeps plaine tricks on a chuver (each other).

yore sinsily

William
Age 7

His second letter was to a character in Esio Trot another Roald Dahl book.
Dear Mr Hoppy.

I am ritine because we just red your book Esio Trot.  I like flowors  a rose is my farote  wote us youres?  Bie (By) the way hall (how) wase the wedin.  I am shore it wase brilont?

I rill wont a totes (tortoise)  please can you get me wane (one).  Hall is youre with (wife).  I shore she is grate.

your sincerely.

William

A Dorset Holiday

The day after school finished Matthew, Pat (mum-in-law), Solomon (the dog) and myself traveled to the area of Dorset (south England) for a week's holiday.  Matthew was quite under the weather the week before and was still feeling poorly so I drove all the way there.  This was just two weeks after getting my driving license and first time to drive on the motorways here in England.  The drive there went smooth.  We had rented a lovely little cottage in the country only a few miles from Dorchester.

 Hardy's Cottage

Lovely view of the country from our deck

Due to Matthew's ill health, he spent several days in bed while Pat and I did a bit of sight seeing.  Pat and I went to a lovely stately home called Athelhampton House on Sunday afternoon.  It was a lovely house with a beautiful garden....and the best bit it wasn't busy.

 Althenhampton House

Exploring the beautiful gardens

On Monday, Pat and I explored the area of Weymouth (home to the 2012 Olympic sailing) and had a nice morning walking around the beach side and harbor.  We visited Fort Nothe and that made for an interesting visit. 

 Waiting for the boats in Weymouth Harbour

Nothe Fort

Tuesday Matthew and Solomon got out of the house and joined us for a day on the Isle of Portland.  We got to go to Portland Bill and see the lighthouse at the tip of the island and then went to a Henry VIII castle.  This was also Solomon's first time in the ocean (and castle) so it was fun to see him act like a puppy!  :)

 Portland Bill Lighthouse

A beautiful view over the town of Portland and overlooking the famous Chesil Beach

Solomon enjoying his first time in the ocean!

On Wednesday Pat and I traveled to Sherborne.  This was a cute little village and well worth a visit.  Lots of cute shops, a cathedral and even a castle.  All in all it was a great day out.  As a bonus we got to see a cute little place called Cerne Abbas and got to see the ancient giant drawn into the hill....I wouldn't exactly call the giant cute as he is a bit rude!

Sherborne Cathedral

Sherborne Castle - home of Sir Walter Raleigh

The Cerne Abbas Giant

On Thursday Matthew joined us for another fun day out.  We caught a steam train to Corfe Castle.  I felt like I was in a Harry Potter film aboard the Hogwarts Express on the steam train...we were even in a carriage like the ones in Harry Potter!  :)  Corfe Castle was beautiful sitting atop of a hill and had some very interesting history.  We then carried on the steam train to Swanage and had a walk along the beach front eating fish and chips.  We then headed back on the steam train to our car.  On the way home we decided to make a stop at Monkey World.  Monkey World is a centre to care for and rehabilitate monkes from all over.  It was fun getting to see all the different monkeys.  This was the longest day but it was a lot of fun and got to see a lot of cool things.

All aboard!!

Corfe Castle

Chimp in Monkey World - lost his right arm from humans

On Friday we had a smaller day of traveling out to Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door.  This was another opportunity for Solomon to get in the sea and we even got Matthew out in it (well his ankels at least).  We then rested up at home and packed up preparing for our journey back home the next day. 

Solomon playing in the sea with 'daddy'

Durdle Door

Saturday Matthew was feeling better and decided to drive back.  Pat and Matthew humored me and stopped by Stonehedge on the way home as it was only 30 minutes extra to our journey home.  I'm glad I got to see Stonehedge as it was quite interesting but at the same time its a a bunch of rocks and quite expensive to get into for what it is.  It was fun and another thing to check off the list.  We were making good time home....that is until our car decided to completely die on the M25 (motorway that goes around the whole of London).  This was really scary sitting there (middle lane) and unable to do anything about it.  We called the RAC (motor help company that we are members of) and got towed to a local recovery center where they looked at the car for over an hour.  We knew what the problem was (electrical problem with shorting out brake lights which affected our car switching gears) but not the source of the problem.  Luckily, we were able to get towed back with our car to Bury St Edmunds and home safely.  What was a good journey and should have only been five hours turned into over nine hours.  I have to say Solomon was a trooper through it all and was very proud of him. 

At Stonehedge with true British weather

The wonderful RAC man trying to fix our car at the recovery centre

Overall we had a great trip.  We got to see lots of interesting things but still plenty of time to rest and not do much at the same time.  We had great food at local pubs almost every evening.  It was great going with Pat as it gave me someone to sight see with while Matthew was resting or staying back at the cottage.  I feel very blessed with all that we got to see and with the family I have.  It was a great holiday and I look forward to the next one.  :)

 (: Some of my favorite people :)

Driving on the wrong side

Well...good news!  I am have officially passed my driving test.  Last Wednesday 6th July at 9:37am I began my half hour driving exam.  My manoeuver was reverse around a corner.  In the English system you are allowed up to 15 minor faults before failing your test and I managed to get 8 minor faults.  It was a bit nerve racking as I was driving and I could see the examiner making ticks on his board.  But it was good news in the end as I can now officially drive on my own as I now have my own English driving license. 

 No longer a loser....I mean 'L'earner driving anymore!!

It's official....I passed!  :)  I have a certificate to prove it!!

My two months of super busyness is now over.  I should get my science test results back in August and then we will know if all the stress over the past two months was worth it all.  Now I  have one more week of school left and will continue to unpack and settle into our new house.  Then it is the summer holidays....which I will now be able to help with the driving especially when my parents are here visiting.  Matt is already thankful for me being able to drive to school instead of him having to take me!!  Until next time....watch out England....American woman on the roads!!