What is PCOS?

Most of you have already read my last post about how I have been diagnosed with PCOS and for those who don't know what it is, I will try my best to explain it to you! PCOS symptoms include:
-Weight gain
-Diabetic issues
-Cysts on the ovaries
-Not ovulating
-hair growth
-Fertility issues
-irregular periods
-Mood swings
-Depression
-Acne
-Water retention
-Skin tags


I also have hypothyroidism and the side effects for those are:
-Fatigue
-Being cold all the time
-Weight Gain
-Puffy Face
-Irregular Periods
-Depression

Out of all these symptoms, I have weight gain, insulin issues, cysts, not ovulating, fertility issues, irregular periods, mood swings, depression, being cold all the time, puffy face, fatique, skin tags and water retention.  Having the weight gain is a super tough one especially having PCOS because carbs and sugar doesn't digest very well. I am not going to go into detail with that as it is very confusing! I am on metformin to help my insulin levels and I am on Synthroid for my thyroid and with my thyroid meds I have noticed more energy which is great. I stopped taking metformin for a while as it is really hard on the body. When you eat lots of carbs and sugar while taking metformin, you get really bad side effects such as constant diarrhea, nausea, sore stomach, sour stomach and sometimes throwing up. I was on a super high dose at first and I was puking almost every night and I was in the bathroom for quite a few hours a day....it was NOT fun! I decided to cut down the dosage and I started it again today so hoping to see good results with that. That is why I am going to start a good healthy diet and start good exercise, I have said that before and I haven't followed through but I am so ready to start healing my gut and start getting on track. Hoping this makes a little more sense to some of you.  Having PCOS is not fun, it's emotionally and physically tiring but I am hoping that in this next year I will have more energy and that I will be on a good track. Since I have PCOS, I have hormonal imbalance and I am hoping to see my hormones balance out this next year!

I am going to go and drink a good smoothie!

Hope you all have an amazing Christmas!

Mikayla

Getting ready for Christmas and the New Year!

Hey everyone! Happy December, can't believe Christmas is two weeks away! We have finished all of our Christmas shopping and I am just finishing up all of my Christmas baking.

Last post, I was wishing and hoping for a period and well I got it! I ended up starting on the last day of November and I am excited to announce that it started and ended on its own! So much excitement here. The day I started my period, I had a health scare, I was in so much pain. The pain wouldn't go away, it was constant and I couldn't even stand up. I was so close to passing out. Anyways, we think I ended up passing my uterine lining and that is why I was in so much pain. Thank The Lord I am feeling better :) I also found out I have hypothyroidism so I am on thyroid pills, and the great thing about these pills is I have so much energy. I haven't noticed much weight wise but am hoping too soon! I got told two weeks ago that I have PCOS which is hard but I know kind of what I have to do. The first thing is to start a good diet and by doing that I have to eliminate the bad carbs, sugar, pop and many more things BUT the good news is, I can still eat most fruit :) My body is in need of so much healing, and I can't wait to start this healing journey and process.  I am going to be a new me in 2017 and I am so excited about it :)

Sorry for the post about my health but things are looking up and it is amazing and we are so excited about it.  I couldn't have gone through all of this without my Husband as well as God. I have a long journey ahead of me but I am excited and nervous to go along this journey.

Thank you for all of your support and prayers!

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas! :)


Mikayla

All I want for Christmas is a.......

Hey everyone! Christmas is just around the corner! Have you finished all your Christmas shopping and decorating? We are almost done shopping and we are all decorated for the holidays. Christmas is my favorite time of year, we reflect on Jesus'  birth and we get to spend time with Family and Friends and there is a special feeling we all get at Christmastime that you just can't describe. Snow, warm apple cider and Christmas Carols are just a few of my favorite things at Christmas.

As most of you know, this year has been crazy for Grant and I and my health has been all over the place. I started bleeding in July and I forced myself to finish at the end of October. I finally saw an OBGYN and he said that my progesterone levels were a 2.4 when they should be at 16 and my insulin levels were high. Since my progesterone levels were so low, I had no uterine lining so my body just kept bleeding because I didn't have a uterine wall to keep it inside. The Dr put me on a high dose of progesterone pills as well as metformin for my insulin. The day I started my progesterone pills, I stopped bleeding which was wonderful and exciting but I haven't had a period since and I don't know when I will get a period again. I go and see my Dr again at the end of November and hopefully I will get some more info BUT all I want for Christmas is a period....yes I want a period. I am tired of not knowing what is going on with my body. If I get a period then hopefully my body will hopefully start getting on track. The side effects of both of these pills are not the best either so that has been another downfall. I am just nervous about what will happen when I get off these pills!!

Anyways there is an update but besides my health, I am so excited for Christmas and I can't believe it's almost here! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas :) 


Mikayla

Health update!

Hey guys, hope everything is going well and I trust that your summer went well! Our summer went by very fast! I had Weddings to photograph and we attended weddings and we went camping, it was also our 1 year Wedding anniversary, my birthday and I got my license. Needless to say, we had a busy summer.

As most of you know I didn't have a period from Jan-July and it was between July 15th-17th that I got my period....out of the blue! Grant and I were so happy because this was a huge step in order to try for a baby! A week went by, then two weeks went by and I was still bleeding, it was veey minimal but I was still bleeding. A month went by, then two months went by and now I am currently going into my fourth month of having a period. The past few weeks have been the hardest, emotionally and physically wise and my period is causing me to have no energy and making me feel sick.  I had went to my Dr and he told me to maybe try birth control (again) or try Metformin but I didn't wait to do either so he booked me for a gynecologist appointment which takes place in a week....Praise The Lord!! We are just hoping to find the right answers.

My bleeding got so bad last week that we decided to go to the hospital and after waiting  for hours, the Dr at the hospital prescribed me these pills that is supposed to stop my bleeding! I started them today and I can't wait to finally stop bleeding!!

Thank you for all of your support and encouragement through this time, it means alot! I will continue to keep you updated!

Mikayla

Bought an Ovulation Kit.....what?!!?!!

As most of you know,  I am not heading to Africa now. I feel like this was the best decision for Grant and I as I can now be home and support him and we also feel like it's the season to try for babies!!! We are so excited, though we still have to get my health figured out. I start my period July 15th which was so exciting but I still have it, and it's been a month. I am seeing the Endocrinologist in September and also I am starting Fertility Acupuncture in the fall! Yippeeeee! This will most likely be a long journey but it may not be either. I bought an Ovulation kit the other day so I am very excited to start trying it and we are just hoping and praying I am ovulating.  We are excited to start this journey together and we are excited to have God leading us. We couldn't do it without him or without all of you guys as well! We are so blessed to have all of you in out lives! We feel like this is the next step and we are so excited and scared but we know that we can do this and we pray that we can be an example and help others who are going through the same thing.




Mikayla

It's not my time yet....

Over the past 11 and a half months, I have come to the fact that it's okay...... It's not my time, not yet. 


As most of you know I was on birth control for a few months and I decided to go off of it about 2 weeks after I get married because I knew it would take me a while to get pregnant. We started "trying" even though it's kind of hard thing to plan as I never knew when my period was going to start and I never knew when I was going to ovulate either. I got so excited when my period was late that we bought pregnancy tests and only to figure out that it would be negative and then my period would start the next day. This happened till January when little did I know that my period would all of a sudden stop! I immediately thought I was pregnant because when February rolled around, I had no period. I took multiple tests thinking this is it, I am pregnant! I then took a test and it looked positive so I told Grant that we were expecting....I ended up getting blood work later that day only to find out it was negative again. The second line was an evaporated line. My heart broke because we got so excited! A few weeks later, still no sign of my period so I took another test and I ended up getting more blood work done again just to make sure....and again it was negative. I had planned out all these ideas about how we were going to tell family. Usually the first sign of pregnancy is a missed period and well a few months had gone by and I had no period. My heart kept breaking and I was crying so much because I wanted to be pregnant so badly and I see all of my friends getting pregnant really fast and I questioned myself..."why" "why wasn't I getting pregnant?"

I was still wondering why I haven't gotten my period or why I am not ovulating. We still don't really know why I am not getting my period. It may be due to my Thyroid or PCOS. Hoping to know soon.

I have came to the realization that it's okay. As much as I want to be pregnant right now and to have a baby, it's okay. God has a bigger picture and he knows better than Grant and I do. It's still hard for me seeing my friends getting pregnant and having kids but I am happy for you! Children are a blessing. I know my time will come but it's not time yet. I have to wait patiently and trust in His timing.

At church on Sunday, Pastor K was taking about Sarah and Abraham from the bible and how they were unable to have children but God blessed them. ~Genesis 17 & 18 talks more about it.

While he was preaching on this sermon, I felt peace and I told Grant after the service that I felt like God was talking to me. God is telling me to wait patiently and to trust Him. While I wait, I will go to Uganda and see all the Children God has blessed me with there. They have my heart and I love each and everyone of those Children. I can't wait to hug them all. They call me Aunty and Mommy and they have the most beautiful smiles and the most contagious laughs ever. I can't wait to squeeze them and to hold their hand :)

"Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place." ~Just be held by Casting Crowns.

"Rejoice in Hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12

Just because we are going through this, doesn't mean we should be sad all the time and discouraged but we should be thankful and praise our wonderful Lord and Savior for blessing Grant and I with one another as well as the gift of hope, love and faith!  Remember, He knows what's best for us even when we don't.

Mirrors lie

This is a tough topic for me to write as I still struggle and will most likely continue to struggle about how I look. 

Here is my story:

About 3 years ago, I weighed 94lbs and I was able to look good in everything and then I went on birth control (March 2015) a few months before I got married (July 2015) so I wouldn't get my period for my wedding and a few months in, taking these pills, I checked my weight and I was at 115lbs which I was fine with but then when July came around, my wedding dress barely fit and I went up 3 bra sizes. I went off the pill just two weeks after the wedding because I wanted to start trying for kids even though due to health problems (cysts on my ovaries) I wouldn't get pregnant for a while. I checked my weight and it was at just over 130lbs which was crazy and I kept gaining weight and now I weigh 160lbs which I absolutely hate because my clothes don't fit anymore. Anyways, I haven't had a real period since January but I did have a forced period in May due to progesterone pills I was taking for 5 days and after that period I still don't have one. I had a radioactive iodine treatment on June 15th to see if this will regulate everything but we will see what happens. The past few months have been super tough, my self confidence has gone down hill where I just want to wrap myself in a blanket and hide in a hole and never come out. Whenever I look into the mirror I hear "You are ugly, you have a fat face, you have a double chin, you're not skinny enough, your husband isn't going to love you, you have too many stretch marks." Let me just begin with this, I have tried tons of diets, I have fasted from certain foods, and even though me gaining weight isn't really in my control as my health is triggering it, it doesn't make it any easier. Hopefully soon, I can figure out why I am gaining this weight.

I break down in tears and I become depressed and I usually am like that after I try and go shopping or after I look in the mirror.  Yes, I believe those lies. It's easier to believe lies than the truth isn't it?  We are so hard on ourselves because we believe everything the mirror says and we don't believe in ourselves.  I am going to be honest but it makes sex harder and it makes it harder to enjoy sex because we are so focused on our bodies and are scared to share our bodies with our husbands as we are afraid they aren't going to love us. I know all about that, I experience it all the time and it hurts me because I want to look skinny and perfect for my husband but the truth is NOBODY is perfect. Fake people and barbies are made out of plastic and botox!!! My husband doesn't just love my body but he loves what's on the inside; the heart! He protects me, and guards me. He cherishes me because I am made and designed by the creator of this earth.

Usually I will walk out of the bathroom in tears but my hubby always says this to me " You are God's daughter, he makes EVERYTHING beautiful and I love you and my love will never change for you. I am here and we are going to work this out and I will be by your side through it all." Is that hard for me to believe? Yes it is because I want go give him a good looking tall, skinny woman and I am none of those..... I may struggle with self confidence all my life but I know this for a fact, I am beautiful, I am unique and I am made in God's image. God doesn't make anyone or anything ugly because He makes everything in His image.

Next time you look in the mirror, tell yourself that you are beautiful, that you are worth more than Gold, that God loves you and that He created you in His own image.


1 Peter 3:3-4 "Your beauty should not come from outward appearance , such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is great worth in God's sight."

Psalm 139:14 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

You are beautiful!!!!

God's timing is perfect

Hi there,

This post will be about events that have happened this past month!

I don't quite know where to begin but on June 4th, my hubby and I photographed out first wedding. It was an exciting, joyful, tiring and amazing day. Needless to say, I think I will go into wedding photography because I loved it so much. That same weekend, my parents got a new puppy "Sasha." She is a 2 month old black lab and is the most adorable thing ever. With that being said, Grant really wants a dog haha!

That week consisted of editing photos and getting things ready for a birth I was going to photograph and the baby was coming any day so I had to be prepared. On June 12th I got a call saying my client's water broke and she was about to give birth, so I booked it out of the house and photographed the most beautiful thing ever....Weddings are beautiful too but do not compare to seeing a baby entering into this world. I can't even describe the emotions that I felt as well as what my client's felt. It was a totally unplanned birth, as she was supposed to have a hospital birth but the baby was coming so fast, she had to deliver at home. She gave birth to a healthy baby boy who might I add is the cutest thing ever! Afterwards, I had to process everything because it went so fast as well as I couldn't believe I actually did this! Not only did I photograph a birth but I watched it and it was so beautiful. Later that evening, I, of course had to start editing, and couldn't sleep until I got most of the editing done because if you know me, I can't sleep until I edit. Tuesday rolled around and I got to photograph their Family/Newborn photos. Through this, some amazing things have happened, for one, I have made a friend and I am so blessed because I have been having a hard time for the past year as I haven't really made any friends and I get emotional talking about it but I am so happy and blessed to say that I have made a lifelong friend. Isn't it amazing and yet mind boggling that God's timing is always perfect!! Ecclesiastes 3:1 says it all "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."

God is just SO amazing, I feel humbled, blessed, overjoyed, and full of emotions when I think of how amazing He is.

As I get ready to photograph another wedding in two weeks, I have to make sure I take the time to breathe because before you know it, summer will come to an end.

As you read this, remember that God's timing is always perfect even when it feels like it isn't and it feels like your life is falling apart, there is a bigger picture and we may never find the answers to why certain things happen but remember "Thy will be done." (Check out Thy will by Hillary Scott).

Mikayla Sawyer

Let's face it....Sex in the movies, it's not real!

O.k don't freak out! Of course sex in the movies is not real because they are acting for the camera and they usually don't have an intimate connection with each other. This topic has been on my mind lately about how sex in the movies makes it look so romantic and how everything goes smoothly...pfft! Give me a break! Yes, sex is supposed to be an intimate adventure between a Husband and Wife and you have that connection and bond between each other that makes you stronger as a couple as well as it makes you love your spouse more but let's face it, things happen and there are a lot of things that the movies don't tell you about sex.
1. It's messy!
~Be prepared to clean up after! Don't fall asleep right after sex like they do in the movies, because it's messy and you don't want to have to change your sheets every time you have sex!

2. You're body can make weird noises!
~Yes, it's not all quiet, your stomach can growl, you may burp or fart (depending on what you just ate before having sex). It may not be attractive at all but it's funny and you just have to laugh. Don't be embarrassed!

3. You don't always get turned on at the same time!
 ~ If you have heard "Women are like crockpot's and Men are like light switches," it can be true! Woman can take time to heat up. Take it slow and enjoy it.

4. It can be awkward...and it can hurt. Just sayin'
~Yes, that's right, it can be awkward! This kind of ties into #2 about how your body can make weird noises. Trying new positions, or you forgot to put deodorant on...oops! If you can get past these awkward stages, you're good to go! There are days where it can hurt and it can totally be a turn off. Relax and enjoy!

Making love to each other is another great blessing that God has blessed us with to be able to share it with your spouse. Try something new, spice up your marriage and just have fun.

I can't believe I just wrote that and I have only been married for 8 months...I have learned a lot and I will continue to learn more and more.

 Have a blessed and wonderful day!

Mikayla Sawyer
xoxo

Starting a new journey

This is it, usually if I start a "diet" or I start to change my eating habits, I end up going back to the way I used to eat. I don't eat terrible, I eat my fruits and veggies, I barely drink pop/juice and I don't eat a lot of chips or chocolate bars but starting Monday Feb 1st, I am starting a new journey. I won't be eating, breads such as tortillas, bread, waffles, pancakes, crepes, pizza pops, noodles, etc. I won't be drinking pop, juice or alcohol of any kind and I won't be eating sweets such as chocolate, baking, candy etc and I am going to fill my plate with more protein, gluten free foods, fruits and veggies. I will also be working out everyday, I have multiple routines that I am excited to try to help me get fit.

The reason I am doing this is because I have health issues that the doctors still can't figure out and It's hard for me to lose weight and It's hard for me to have lots of energy. I get about 8-10 hours of sleep and I usually have a nap in the afternoon at some point and I am tired of being tired, literally. I want to get processed junk out of my body and fill it with good and healthy foods.

When I have temptations to eat junk food or cravings just to have one sip of pop, I will fill that time with prayer and give it up to God, I want to be full with the Holy Spirit and I want to, want to crave for his word. Reading the bible and praying shouldn't be a chore, it should become part of our daily routine to spend time with God, he loves it when we spend time with him.

I don't know how long I will be doing this for, it could be a week, a month or a year. I will be starting with a week and then after a week, I will write a post about how I feel and go from there. I am excited and nervous to start this new journey! Prayers would be appreciated. Thank you


Mikayla Sawyer

Preparing for a mission trip as a Married couple

Warning: This post will be a long one!  I can't believe I am writing this and even though it's still a year away, I am trying to get into the mindset of going onto another mission trip and this time I am going with my husband. How amazing is that? I am super excited and thrilled to go back to Africa and to serve God with my husband. This is going to be a huge marriage strengthener! This next year is going to be crazy, busy and yet amazing. As we get prepared to go onto this mission trip as a couple, we need to first fully commit ourselves to God and let him take control. He is the one that is going to do the work on this trip, we are his hands and feet so we will show God's love through his actions. Isn't God amazing?!

"Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God"

"Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
No one like you
None like you" ~Our God/Chis Tomlin~

God has a plan for each and everyone of us, and he a has a purpose for everything we do , even when it doesn't make sense. God puts certain people together to do his will. We are going to meet new people and we are going to do new things but as we embark on this journey, God is going to be with us and he is going to do something amazing. I can feel it already! Yes, this trip is going to be so powerful in so many ways. 

We are going into the darkest places but through God we are going to rise up and show God's love in the darkest moments and we are going to see people get transformed; not just the people that we are going to see but the team will also get transformed.  

I can't prepare for the return to come home because it is painful and emotional (I will write another post abut that). 

Are you rooted in Jesus Christ?

"Greater is He, that is living in me. He's conquered our enemy. No power of darkness, no weapon prevails, we stand here in victory" ~Same Power/Jeremy Camp~

Wow!!!! When we arrive in Africa and we see the hurt and the sickness, we know that this is not the end! We stand in victory because we know that God conquered our enemy a long time ago.  God is bigger than any disease! God is healing, he is using us to again to be his hands and feet. 

As we get prepared a year in advance, we just pray that everything will come together, and if it's God's will, things will come together and It's going to be amazing. We are super thrilled and so excited! I am so anxious because I just want to go now, I have been to Uganda three times and I can't wait to see their beautiful faces again!! Eeeek! As we wait for next January/February, we remember that we can be witnesses here and we can share God's love here also as we wait.

Well, I could go on and on and I could keep typing forever but I will be writing another post soon anyways if ya'll could pray for us, that would be amazing!

Remember, God loves you :)