April 😊

This is #29! I have another nephew due any day now, start a massive project on the 27th, and have my grandma living 5 miles away from me now ☺️ 28 was great and I learned a lot from some unlikely sources, but I’m ready for this next step! Here we go, ready or not! 🎂🎁🎈🛍🥳 #happybirthdaytome #daddygang #timetocelebrate #ireallyneedtostartusingfilters #givememyfreestuff (at Columbia, South Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7lPdM7Hth1/?igshid=17u41b47oa90c

Annual “Tiger Burn” for #rivalryweek!! Love being a Gamecock AND got to meet the new university president @bob.caslen to top it all off! LET’S GO COCKS!! 🐔🏈💖 #burnbabyburn #cocksby90 #forevertothee #clemsux #alumni (at University of South Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5TvmBxHyrO/?igshid=wvsaf2xbiivy

Always remember that you are never alone. There is always hope and we can’t EVER give up. 💚💚 #Repost @projectlyme with @get_repost ・・・ An estimated 1200 suicides take place each year in the US due to #lymedisease and other tick-borne diseases. If you know someone who is struggling, please let them know that they aren’t alone. We know that Lyme Warriors are some of the strongest humans alive, and it’s okay to stumble, to feel alone but help is out there. Text HOME to 741741 to have a confidential text conversation with a trained crisis counselor from the Crisis Text Line. 💚 https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Pv98mHE7p/?igshid=1vzqkh1my5zjy

This Saturday! #Bama #Hilinski #ForeverToThee #3 🏈❤️3️⃣ https://www.instagram.com/p/B2KmiAsHQGe/?igshid=fu3qwltjtcmw

First Eagle win in the books!! 🦅💙🏈🥳 #NCCS #1-0 #DLineCoach #BigBroCoach (at North Cobb Christian School) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1z3bipnn_V/?igshid=36kthhcvb9sj

Happy Birthday to my big brother, Zack! I am so proud of you and the man that you’ve become. God has truly blessed you and I’m happy to be a part of your life and to be able to continue watching His blessings flow. I hope you have a wonderful day and I love you always! ❤️🎂🥳 https://www.instagram.com/p/B1oV_UmH0sk/?igshid=1m05tcc5r1iok

My face is one of many faces with “Chronic Neurological Lyme Disease” and co-infections. May has been a horrible month for me health wise along with other things, but a beautiful month spiritually 🙏🏼⭐️ my faith has been tested, y’all - something fierce! I wanted to post this to remind others (sick AND healthy) that there is NEVER an excuse to give up fighting; whether for yourself, your community, or others in a vulnerable position 👊🏼 - I came face to face with one of my biggest doubters this week; a doctor at my local ER who has dismissed me and my illness over and over 🤦🏻‍♀️and through our hours-long interaction in the ER, she began to question her own judgment and knowledge, actually say she “didn’t know” 😳, put her hand on my shoulder when I was crying in pain, and even called me April 🥰 (all she’s ever called me is “Miss Edwards”)! I truly believe God used this past health crisis encounter with her to soften her heart and open her eyes. Not only to me, but other chronic illness patients - and for me, that’s an answer to prayer. So, although I didn’t get around to doing all the fun stuff I had planned to do for #lymediseaseawareness month, softening the heart of an ER/trauma doctor is by far the most important thing I’ve done this month and I count that as a win 🥇. I understand people don’t get it, I understand it’s hard to even fathom, but you CAN make an effort to understand us. You don’t need to “know” in order to understand or be empathetic - there’s no excuse for ignorance. Now, to my fellow Lymies, we’ve had a lot of air time this month - from the Senate floor all the way to Instagram posts with limes - nothing ever goes unnoticed, so keep it up 💚👌🏼 I have lots of exciting stuff planned for this summer for myself and my Lyme community and I’m ready to get started...just as soon as I rest up from this past ICU stay and let my body relax and heal 🤒🏥 thank y’all for all the love and support I’ve received, and everyone at Parkridge for being on my side and listening to me with care and compassion. I can’t wait to be back to where I was and start back work and continue my health journey🌻Stay hydrated💧stay humble 🙏🏼 be kind ❤️ @lymewarrior_life (at Palmetto Health Baptist Parkridge) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByJIcphH9MWKuMQhSlPpb9shZP-5P0AfNURqX40/?igshid=a8wib2u5eosz

When you never have good luck with anything, and everything seems to be going a little TOO well while you’re overnight watching your nephew for a few days... 🤞🏼👀👶🏼❤️🍼🙇🏻‍♀️🤫🙏🏼 #WaitingForChaos #ImTerrified #HesNotEvenOneYet #Anxiety #INeedAnAdult #ShouldIEvenSleep #NotMomMaterial #GodThrowMeABone #AuntLife #BabsAndLocke #Overthinking101 #SomeoneSayTheRosary

My favorite kind of Saturday! 💀❤️👩🏻‍🔬☕️📓✏️#alwayslearning #forensics #anthropologist #npa (at Columbia Conference Center)

Bath bombs...a cookbook...and a beanie?! OH MY!! I absolutely 💓 LOVE 💓 my Christmas gifts from Steven! I can tell he really listens to me (I have zero idea how to cook) and pays attention to the little details in my everyday life (e.g. I obviously need to calm down and de-stress 😂)! I can’t wait to ‘attempt’ some of these recipes, use one of my bath bombs, and rock this beanie that just so happens to be in my favorite color 😍🙏🏼 You 100% nailed Christmas and I am SO happy I get to spend the holidays with someone as amazing and caring as you - you’re the best! 🎄🎁🙌🏼🎅🏼🤩 #papabless #ifeellikehilawithmybeanie #laterhaters #shoutouttoashley4helping❤️ (at Irmo, South Carolina)

First signature Christmas time Starbucks!! I always wait for my “Christmasy” bucks until AFTER thanksgiving...this will be the first of MANY this season! ❤️🎉🎅🏼🎄☕️#chestnutpralinelatte #tistheseason #christmasismyfavorite #itsaskinny #soyummy #happygirl #basicwhitegirl #finallynomorepumpkin

🌈🐶 Momma Edwards 🐶 🌈 soar high my beautiful girl. You were put in my life by the same beautiful soul who I'm sure was there to greet you as you came home, Mrs. Lori. You enriched my life in so many ways, from being my "couch buddy" whenever I was sick, to making me laugh when you'd "talk" to me, or just cuddling up to me and keeping my feet warm. I already feel you with me always, but will always have a void in my heart and soul that only the 'momma dog dog' can replace. You fought hard, loved even harder, and made every single persons life brighter just by being there. I will miss you forever and I'll love you always. Rest easy and I'll see you later my sweet girl!! ❤️❤️ #furbaby #myheartisheavy #findyourfriends #alreadylostwithoutyou #fighter

The day has FINALLY arrived!! #solareclipse2017 #family #wearyourglasses #columbia #southcarolina #onceinalifetimeopportunity (at Chestnut Hill Plantation, Columbia)

HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY 💗🎁🎈🍭 to this goon right here!! It's been touch and go here and there, I'm not gonna lie hahaha and boy have we had our moments, but I can't imagine my life without you!! I love you and can't wait to see what your future holds. Cheers to you and here's to many more beach road trips with impromptu jewelry stops, "family outings", pool days, and Three's Company adventures! 🎂🎉❤️🍾🐱👸🏻🇺🇸‼️✌🏼 #loveher #checkmeowt #stayfresh #doyouwantmetokillthem #molotovcocktail