Shame on Me: Being NORMAL takes its Toll

BIG APOLOGIES: I've been normal, or feeling normal. Free from Lupus. And that means I've been busy and active, which means I haven't posted in a LONG time. So for that, I'm sorry. This blog began as a therapeutic way to vent and share my experiences with Lupus. But lately, I find myself symptom free...in remission. So I've been living my life nonstop!!!

I've returned to teaching. First Grade! At a private, Christian school and I couldn't be happier (or busier) okay maybe I could:) 

I have been enjoying my health....and after 5 years of constant poor health and problems (and constant doctor visits- an average if 5 appointments a month) I am truly feeling blessed.

I give all my glory to God! He has blessed me with my disease (and possibly fatal chronic illness) and now blessed me with my health. But honestly, I probably didn't appreciate my health until I lost it. Average I guess. To not appreciate something until its gone. Maybe that's why I view my disease as a gift, because God  granted me the vision of mortality and struggle. My life seems precious to me now. Whereas before, I focused on the daily life I was living and was more focused on what was wrong than what I'd been gifted!

My kiddos have had strep and been feverish for the past week, forcing me to take off and stay home. But they feel better and I try to always see the positive....like the fact that its JUST strep and nothing more serious and that and hat I have.a job that I was looking forward to returning to:) here's a couple pics since last post.....I'll try to post more often even if I'm going 90 miles a minute!!!

I need a new phone

So I have to update about camping...the kids and us, had a great time together. We ended up sleeping in our own beds after Cliff said he had to get up at 5 and the kids were still giggling and whispering at a little before 11, but I think that we would have made it through the night if we were somewhere other than our backyard!! But fun was had...as a family:) Our cousins even came over for s'mores around the fire pit after it got dark! I'd be willing to do it again:)

 I haven't posted in a while for the regular reason, I've been busy and going since I feel well. I've gone back to teaching and finished one full week, going from 6:00 in the morning until 10:30....that would make anyone tired, so I think I'm doing well. It was also the first day of kindergarten for my oldest, Ella McCray and Tip started PreSchool for three year olds and then goes to aftercare until I'm done teaching. A big move for all of us and a bit taxing. I'm due for my infusion this Friday, so things are wearing now anyways. I also need a new phone. My phone's memory is full and I can't take anymore pictures, I'm sure I'm due for an upgrade anyways...too much to do in a day!! But at least I feel we'll and can live a normal life!

Life is Good, Even With a Chronic Illness

My life has been great lately....I would contribute it to having lost my health and livelihood and then, regaining it. If you've read my blog before or you know me then you know it's because of my Benlysta treatments. I go full force now...And I'm a go-getter, especially after being on the sidelines for 5 years.
I also love my home here in Covington, Tn. It's country, and quiet, and God fearing, and hardworking, and everything I didn't have growing up. My children will go to a Christian school and ride 4-wheelers, collect fresh eggs from our Papa's house down our road, grow up with lifelong friends, ride our horses, go fishing and hunting with their parents, get muddy, and camp in our back yard...which brings me to what we are doing tonight...camping in the backyard! We are staycationing in our yard, maybe next year we can take the kids to the lake and camp, but this week Cliff is working and I go back for teacher in-service on Wednesday, so we promised the kids we'd camp this summer and although its not exactly what I had planned, the kids are super excited!! Ill let you know how I feel after a night on an air mattress!

My Blessings: My Babies

I would consider lupus one of my biggest blessings, but my biggest blessings come in two small packages, my babies, Ella McCray and Tip. Here are some memorable moments with these two...they make my life fuller each and every day. Glory be to God.

Ellijay and Stone Mountain

Okay....so I thought I posted this three days ago and just got to thinking anout some of the pics that I thought I'd already shared...thought I was being LUPIE, turns out I did post them, i just never finalized the post! So ignore the duplicate pictures from Stone Mt and my dad's!

Today was a full day. We started by driving up to see my dad and stepmom in Ellijay, about an hour and half from here. We got to visit with my stepsister and stepbrother and two of our cousins. We enjoyed visiting and cooking out, but the kids had the most fun with marbles and a sling shot:) After lunch, we packed up (with an extra cousin in tow), and headed back to my moms for a quick nap and then we decided to go to Stone Mt. to see the laser show....unfortunately, it rained and after getting soaked and hearing thunder, we packed up and left right before the laser show would have started....and we still didn't get home until 11:00. I'm pooped, but the kids had a great time and I'm so very glad to see my sweet nephew, Riley Tate!

Back To Life

We've been busy here. We went to visit my dad and stepmom, went to Stone Mountain fir a laser show (we got rained out), swam, have gone out for pizza and ice cream (it was fun but we got caught in the rain again). I've also babysat these five kiddos for the last three days, from 7:30-3:30....this schedule has been a nice preview of our back to school schedule:) And if you're normal this sounds fine, but if you have lupus this sounds like a flare waiting to happen...I've been fine. No flare, no dramatic fatigue, just a little pain at bedtime...and I'm due for my next IV treatment on Friday. Pretty good. It's nice to be an active, youthful, healthy individual again!!!!!!!!!!!! It's been a long time coming. Sometimes losing something just makes you appreciate it more, like your cell phone, your keys....your health:) Thank you God for all my blessings.