God is Good

Today, I have decided to be thankful. Each day with a chronic illness is hard. Every minute is painful...and with each hour you have to decide to block out the pain and continue to live. You have to decide to not complain. I have decided to trust God and keep my eye on my purpose each day, this helps take the focus off of my problem (no matter how physically painful it is). God has been good to me...my husband and my children are healthy...and that is what my pain reminds me each day...that they are healthy and God is good because He will get me through this with dignity and grace and in the end it will make me a better person. Today, I need to remember this.

I have also committed to exercising and eating healthy. I can control these factors of my health, but I can't keep waiting for medicine to make me feel better. I am going to take control of my life as much as possible and trust that God will take care of the rest.

There's No Place Like Home

Just like Dorothy...I'm glad to be home!!! There is not a replacement for home. Having your own bed, a closet to put your things in, and the familiarity of your own space with your order!! It's priceless. When we pulled into Covington, I snapped this picture coming through our town square as I thought "I'm glad to be back in Covington, TN!"

I'm glad to see this sweet little face again! Oh how we missed our boys.....

I felt great this morning...I slept well (compared to the last week) and only had to get up once with Tip. By 8:00 this morning, I already had the house back in order...toys were in their appropriate places, laundry was washed and put away, the house was straightened, the toilets scrubbed, the candles lit to give our house it's "familiar" smell. I had enough energy to coupon and get the bills in order! But then nap time came and the children slept...and then I began to crash. My energy fell out, I don't know where it went but it has left the building. Needless to say, dinner is still on the stove, books were read, children were played with, artwork was produced, folders were signed, and I still have to conquer the grocery store tonight! I do NOT want to!!! And yes...I am breaking in Daddy's new coozie we brought back from our trip. I NEED IT!

The Disney Life

So I have to give a huge thanks to my mom...our trip to Disney World was her Christmas gift, and it was magical. We drove 6 hours into GA and stayed the night at home, then we drove 7 1/2 hours to Disney with 4 children. They did great though! We stayed in the Art of Animation Hotel and stayed 4 days. We went to the Magic Kingdom two days and the Animal Kingdom on our last day. They had a blast, as did I. I had to stay hopped up on pain meds and a little alcohol to numb the pain from three full days of nothing but walking. But I tried not to focus on it and trusted God to get me through...and He did!!

Art of Animation pool...the kids loved it and since it was 80degrees and higher, they swam everyday!

Our first day!

We ate in Downtown Disney the first night at The Rainforest Cafe.

Took a picture with Lightening McQueen for our brother, since he didn't get to come on this trip;(

What a chubby face....but I'm trying to take more pictures with me in them! This made me realize its time to start dieting and exercising!

All four of the kiddos with Sheriff at our hotel.

Taking the Ferry to Magic Kingdom.

First day, we kept the kids out late to watch the fireworks...they all fell asleep on the way home!

Lunch at Cinderella's Castle with the princesses was the highlight of the trip! Here is Jasmine.

And Snow White!

Riding Dumbo....I remember this ride from when I was little!

Dumbo!

The girls got their faces painted in the Animal Kingdom.

Loving the pool and water park at our hotel.

On the way home, we stopped in Marietta again so that I could have my Benlysta infusion. I didn't have anyone to leave Ella McCray with, so she went with me.

 

Funny, this time the fatigue hit during my infusion instead of the next day...maybe because I was already so worn out from our vacation and vigorous activities!

Off To Disney

The drive with 4 small children begins...7 hours:)

Relaxation

Today we got to relax a bit. Our cousin, Caroline, came over and we had a girls day. We painted nails and ran errands to get ready for Disney tomorrow, then we ate Mexican at our favorite restaurant and played at my sister's house. It was a nice day:)

Georgia on My Mind

Today was a driving day. We got up and packed for our drive to GA and then on Wednesday, our drive to Disney World. I decided this morning that this week is going to be a grand adventure for Ella McCray and me. We enjoyed driving and singing together, then we stopped a Steak 'N Shake for hamburgers and milkshakes. We saw a homeless man and Ella McCray insisted we take that "hopeless" man some lunch, so we did! Then we loaded back up and drove the rest of the way to Marietta.
This was the most painful trip I've had, I'm not on any more arthritis meds and I hurt all the way from TN to GA. My joints hurt to bend and driving means my fingers, my elbows, my hips, and my knees stay bent for all 6 hours....But the good news is that we made it and and had great mother-daughter bonding time:) Makes this "us" worth the pain in LupUS!

Getting Ready for Disney

I'm trying to get excited because tomorrow Ella McCray and I leave for GA to see my family. Wednesday we will leave for DISNEY WORLD with my mom and my sister and the kiddos!! This was my mom's Christmas gift...and Tip and Cliff are not going. So it's a bit bitter-sweet, but I'm trying to get pumped! It's hard now that I'm hurting so much and that I know Disney is going to be hard on my body (I've already looked into renting a wheelchair)....I'm having horrible headaches today and tired...beyond tired, I almost fell asleep in church today.
I hate Lupus today...I want to say "Go away." I would love to scream at everyone I know right now. I am hurting horribly (I'd rather give birth again!)...my lip is split and I have little blisters on them. My joints are my worst enemy. My head hurts. The pain meds are not enough to take the edge off of the pain. I just want to scream.....and on top of that no one seems to notice that I could use a break or some help or a little consideration. I am fed up with other people that are selfish. How can so many people be so very self involved and inconsiderate??? I know I'm more irritable, with due right, and more sensitive, but come on....

Party Day

So yesterday was a crash....today wasn't much better. Lots of pain and exhaustion. I had a clothes show party at my house (this is how I earn free clothes for my kids since I stay at home and have lots of medical bills). It went well but it took cleaning the house, cooking, and getting the kids and my husband ready and out of the house as well as getting myself ready! Lots of spoons were used this morning!
Then we had a birthday party at my sister-in-law's house for our cousins. Not to mention there was drama amongst my girlfriends today...drama, even when I'm not in the middle, wears me out....I'm glad today is over.

The cotton candy was their favorite part of today!

 

 

Visit: Shrimp & Grits Kids to order

Crash

Today was a crash day...I've done too much and now I get to pay!!!!! This is my life's battle!

 

 

 

Valentine's Day: What Is Love?

Today is Valentine's Day....And when we got up this morning I told my husband and my kids how much I loved them. I woke up this morning not only with love, but with a bit of vertigo or dizziness. This happens from time to time with my Lupus, I'm not really sure why, but I know it will last for a couple hours or a couple days. Because of this (and our recent Sunday school lesson), I decided to begin this morning with my quiet time with God reading "Jesus Calling" and to make sure I read my kids their devotional BEFORE we left for school this morning. I will admit I was in a mad rush this morning getting Valentine's ready for Ella McCray's class and the thought crossed my mind that we might not have time before we had to leave and I hate being late...But I decided that I WOULD make sure to make time for God this morning and that I knew He would take care of the rest of the day for me. The kids devotional was about showing God how much we love him by obeying Him and talking with Him. My devotional was about God getting you through whatever challenges you have...Yesterday was a BAD day for me physically. I hurt worse then I have in years. I felt overwhelmed and disappointed with what my pain is going to be like in the near future. But I have to say that today is better. I feel better...I think it's because I started off putting God first and the rest He got me through!

 

Tip and I ran errands this morning and did all of our couponing. Funny, we also had time (and I had enough energy) to take a trip to the park. He had a great time and got to run around and be a little boy after doing so well for two hours worth of grocery shopping! And yes, it takes that long to coupon and shop when you are going to three different locations and matching coupons and deals!!

 

Here is the Valentine that Ella McCray brought home from school today....it just melts my heart.

I also managed to put together the kids a Valentine's Basket for less than $4!!!! (Yes they are sharing a basket because I think it's important for them to learn early on that everything that we get we should share!)

 

I also bought a little something for myself. Lindt chocolate is my absolute favorite and I have learned that if I want anything for Valentine's Day, I have to buy it for myself!

 

So to answer my question, "What is love?", I'd have to say that love is what and who you need in your life that makes you feel good. God is love. My husband and my children hold my heart in their hands. There is nothing I wouldn't do for them.

 

 

Here's what we will be having for our Sweetheart Family Dinner tonight!!!

 

 

Update: It's 8:30 and the kids are in bed, here is what tonight looked like for our family:

We made a poster with different reasons we love each other- I am a verbal person and sometimes we forget to tell each other what we appreciate and today is a perfect day to get and give compliments.

Cliff brought Ella  McCray home a rose since she is his only daughter, and she could not have felt more special! If he would do this each year, I never need flowers again, because seeing how special it made her feel is worth more than receiving them myself.

Tip got some bubbles in his basket and in less then 10 minutes the container ended up spilt and in his hair..boys.

Here they are getting ready to help cook supper and make desserts.

Ella McCray and Daddy scooped the red velvet cupcakes together!

Cliff played his guitar (his newest love) and sang for a bit. I'm glad it makes him happy.

We ate dessert on the sofa and watched Wall-E on Disney.

Ella McCray took this picture and I'm glad it wasn't in focus...because will all I did today, I didn't have enough spoons to take a shower!!