Going Steady

Funny, but now that I'm normal my thought process has changed from my "lupus mindset". I find myself doing things like I did before my diagnosis and sometimes even forgetting that I might have/need to limit myself. My husband just commented, "Honey, you seem to still be feeling better." Still is the main word here. And this was true, and remarkable too! For five straight years, I had only a day or 30 minutes here and there that were pain free, not fatigued or weighted down by my body's own limitations. But right now, I've had a good three months! With lupus, I had begun to view my days differently. My days were ruled by what I couldn't do and what I had to limit...now, I can do what I need to or what I desire to do without thought.

So obviously you can tell from my spiel, that I have been "doing" today. I went up to move furniture in my classroom today. I had to switch furniture in two classrooms (by myself) and then place my furniture where I wanted it, bring in boxes from my car, and then go through all of the materials that the sweet teacher who retired left behind, and then move all that to my room. Needless to say, I am tired tonight, but not exhausted enough to miss our churches VBS. Altogether, I was very active and productive today...and that felt great! I am a driven individual and it was nice to not NEED anybody to help me on a day like today. It's been a long time coming;) Today, I'm thankful to be able to do for myself. Thank you God.


Face of Jesus Christ, Head of Christ Artist is: Akiane who is a young girl who painted this when she was only 8 years old.

GA on our minds

We've had a great time in Marietta. Infusion....check, swimming....check, garage sale at my sister's....check, day at the zoo...check:) I couldn't have done this all last summer without causing a flare. Now, we are heading home today!! On the road again.

Livin' on GA time!

So far it's been a relaxing trip. We are playing with our cousins today and my Mom cooked last night...and who doesn't love their Moma's cookin'? I love coming home:)

Georgia Bound

So today we left for GA:) This is our 6 hour trip for my infusion of Benlysta this Friday. A 3 and 5 year old in tow, but it's sure worth it for the effects of this miracle drug! So my phone's memory is full and in having trouble loading any more pictures, so the next few days posts might be short and picture less. Even though I drive to Atlanta for my medicine, I also get to visit with my family here in Marietta, Ga...so these trips are a wonderful time for my "medical spa treatment" and family time, especially during the summer when we can stay for a week:) I'm off to visit with my family!!!

Summer time

So yesterday was a success! I made it through our anniversary without a problem from my Lupus! And thanks to my mother-in-law, we had a night alone!! This was only the second night we have had no kids over the past 5 years!!!! And I wasn't too tired to stay up! And my stomach wasn't the cause of dinner being cut short. We went out to eat and then drove through the corn fields and listened to all the songs we listened to over the past 13 years that we have been together (we've only been married for 7 of those years). It was wonderful. I actually felt young again. I felt like my old self, my pre-lupus self;) I truly hope that everyone who has Lupus can have days like this. To remember what it feels like to feel good...I am truly blessed. I have had a couple months of feeling "normal" again, and I hope that it keeps on like this. Again, this is all due to my treatment of Benlysta. If you are not on it and you have Lupus, talk to your doctor as soon as possible...it makes life livable and enjoyable (although it took one full year of treatments to get where I am now). I feel like I can be me again and not have to consider my Lupus in every decision I make...so this summer, we are going to go camping with our 3 and 5 year old, and swim...in the sun...as much as possible, and I'm not napping, and I will do as many things in one day as I can fit in!! I am loving this summer! Glory to God for all the blessings He has given me!!

 

Anniversary

This year has marked two anniversaries for me...the first was May 24th, the day I was diagnosed with Lupus 5 years ago and then today, June 17th, my 7 year wedding anniversary. It would be dishonest to say the first didn't effect the second! Last year, our anniversary supper was cut short because my NSAID's had eaten away the lining of my stomach and I couldn't keep anything in my stomach. So it's a big jump to say that this year, for our anniversary, my lupus will not effect what we will do tonight! It's great to feel good. Each time I get up in the morning and I am pain free, I stop and thank God for my blessings. Not just the blessing of being pain free, but the blessing of Lupus and for enduring the pain so that I can appreciate the days when I feel none! God is so very good to me. I hope that I am obedient enough to my Lord that He continues to bless me and that I continue to see the blessings in everything.

Happy Father's Day

Our dads are great contributors to our lives and to who we are as adults. They help decide not only our genetic makeup, but who we want to be as an adult and what we look for in a spouse. I love my dad very much and would credit him for a lot of who I am today. Because of my dad I am loving, neat and cleanly, not caught up in money, committed to my marriage, stubborn, competitive, and so many more things. He also taught me that I could do anything I wanted, and that I could do it just as well as a boy, if not better;) Thank you daddy for everything you have done for us growing up. I know that you made many sacrifices and that it wasn't always easy. Today, I hope you see how much you mean to us and how you have helped to mold each of us in so many ways. Happy Father's Day!