Tuesday, February 23, 2010

I need your input

I'm working on an article that has to do with self image. So I would like your input to see if I'm on the right track.

When you hear the words self image ... what do you think? (this is for Lymies and Non Lymies)

Sunday, February 21, 2010

trip to Target

I didn't mean to take a break from blogging. It just kind of happened.

My magic drops came in, but I haven't taken the new version of my old drops yet. My husband has started them and he's doing well on them. I did chuckle when he showed me his "dry patches" of skin and said he had a slight headache. Whenever we're on the same supplements, they give me the worst side effects and he has none. So he finally got a small taste of what I get.

Speaking of my husband, yesterday we went to Target to pick up our dog's antibiotics for a UTI. Usually when we're shopping, we start counting. If we get to 10, we drop our stuff and leave. If we get to 5 before we've even entered the store, we just get back in the car and go somewhere else. He can get to 10 much quicker than I can as his patience isn't as refined as mine.

We didn't count at all while we were there, but it was terribly busy. We pretty much just picked up the dog's medicine and walked around just a little bit before we decided to leave.
Well as we were walking out of the store, he looked at me and asked me, ""So is everyone annoying you today or is it just me?" I'm sure you can see where this is heading, but I'll go ahead and paint the rest of the conversation for you.

I looked at him trying to decide if I was going to enter that door he left wide open for me to enter. I hesitated and then responded, "
It's only you ... (dramatic pause) ... that's annoying me." Then, we both laughed.





Sunday, February 14, 2010

Valentine's Day

I'll be completely honest for a moment.
(Like I am ever anything other than honest)
I dislike Valentine's Day.
A Retailers Holiday

Teachers forced everyone to purchase
said Valentine's Cards
And a Dentists Worst Nightmare if you desired
for every single person in the class.

At some point in school, they stop
making you send cards to everyone,
Which makes some feel like
third class citizens of the room.

Some children received cards
from every person in a flash
while others sat there
clutching their minimal stash.

Giving out a class full of Valentine's
wasn't my biggest hate.
It was watching my friends clutch
onto 2 or 3 cards that made my heart ache.

It wasn't going through a box of cards
picking out the awesome card for my best friend
and the least awesome card for the dirty kid.
(let's be honest .. there's one in every class)

It was the year they decided
not to require a full set of cards
that I realized that not everyone is inspired
to give a card from their heart on this "special day."

I dreaded watching each giver go around
to pass out their Valentine's in each friend's bucket
because of the knot in my stomach when
they kept going pass a person they didn't like.

I dreaded going around myself passing out
a room full of cards because even though
it wasn't required I felt a sense of duty to
make sure the dirty kid got a card to clutch onto.

It wasn't before long when I realized
I was one with fewer cards than most.
I almost felt sorry for myself
until I realized something extraordinary.

My cards weren't given to me
out of a sense of obligation.
They were given to me
out of a sense of love.

I looked at every signed card
and realized they were my
best friends in life.
My best friends forever.

It wasn't required yet those people
felt so much love that they
gave me a piece of their heart.
They desired to send a message of love

It was also about this same time where you were
cautious about sending the opposite sex
a Valentine's card because it might
appear you like them more than just friends.

I realized very quickly that
I didn't care if I sent my guy best friend
a card because he was just that
my very best friend.

But it got "oohs" and "aahs" from others
because they assumed that
I had ulterior motives for sending
him the metallic piece of paper.

What they didn't realize
is that love comes in so many forms.
Love can not be
boxed in by parameters.

Love shouldn't be given on
February 14th.
Love should be given
EVERY DAY!

I will never forget the emotions
I received the first time
I received a token of love.
This token wasn't given on February 14th.

In fact, I don't remember the day.
BUT, I remember the feeling.
I felt a little nauseated,
little scared and a lot Overwhelmed.

At the time, I didn't even want the feelings.
I wanted them to go away.
But over time, I realized
those feelings are wonderfully awesome.

To have someone
profess their love
with something simple
is the best kind of love.

That simple gesture
made me realized that
I hate Valentine's Day
A Retailers Holiday.



Saturday, February 13, 2010

Completely Awesome!

I can not even begin to describe the awesomeness of the Alumni Game last night. Everyone knows my favorite player ever is Eric Montross. E.M. played a LOT in last night's game. I decided against taking my great camera because I knew there was a slight possibility of snow. I thought it would be easier to protect my tiny canon from moisture if there was snow. I'm saddened that my photos aren't the best in the world, but I did get a lot of shots with E.M. in them. First time I've seen Eric with a basketball in his hands since 1994. It was AWESOME!

My best friend & I trotted off to the Dean Dome to watch 69 former players participate. There were many really awesome players from recent years, but the best part for me (aside from seeing Eric Montross play, Phil Ford play, Dean Smith being Honorered) was watching the players from the 40's play at the opening of the game. 3 on 3 1/2 court only.



At the end of the game, they had all the players that were there with their jersey's in the rafter set up on the floor. Each player passed to each other until they got it the hands of the the player with his jersey recently retired: Tyler Hansbrough.

Here Phil Ford has the ball near center court.


Goosebump moment.



I absolutely love this place.
All troubles go away when I'm here.

My favorite moments:

Dean Smith being honored at 1/2 time
Phil Ford playing (awesomely I might add)
Roy Williams Interview by Woody Durham
The eldest players playing for the first
two minutes showing off their still very agile bodies.
ERIC MONTROSS playing and interviewing
Hearing the crowd root for every shot attempted.
Watching Dewey Burke hit a three!
Seeing Tyler Hansbrough make
one last bucket in the Dean Dome
Enjoying a Tarheel Moment with my best friend.
Walking in the SNOW on the
way back to the parking deck
Yes I said SNOW.
2.12.10 we got
SNOW
I'll post more
basketball photos later!

The Tree Outside the Dean Dome


Friday, February 12, 2010

I'm *ready*



Oh btw: Can it get any worse this season?

We have Ed Davis who is out for 6 weeks for broken wrist.
We have Tyler Zeller who has been out for a stress fracture.
We have Travis Wear who is out for a severely sprained ankle.

Ugh. I'm already looking ahead to the 2011 season.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Something old

So while the husband was going through the closet, he found something old of mine.

It was from June 27, 2006. Now keep in mind I wasn't officially diagnosed until March of 2007. It was a list of symptoms of Lyme Disease. I had circled in green the ones that I had. Here they are:

1. Rash at site of bite
2. Rash on other parts of body
3. Rash basically circular and spreading out
4. Rash that disappeared and recurred.
5. Headache (mild to severe)
6. Pressure in Head
7. Twitching of other muscles (legs & arms)
8. Tingling of nose, cheek and facial flushing
9. Stiff Neck
10. Sore throat, clearing throat a lot, excess phlegm, hoarseness and runny nose
11. Eye lids felt funny
12. Oversensitivity to light
13. Decreased hearing in ears
14. Buzzing in ears
15. Pain in ears and over sensitivity to sounds
16. Ringing in ears
17. Diarrhea
18. Upset stomach (nausea and pain)
19. Bone Pain, joint pain, swelling
20. Stiffness of joints, and neck
21. Muscle pain and cramps
22. Shortness of breath and coughing
23. Night Sweats, unexplained chills
24. unexplained shaking
25. burning sensation in the body
26. excess fatigue
27. Numbness in the body, tingling, pinpricks
28. Poor balance, dizziness, difficulty walking
29. Increased motion sickness
30. Lightheadedness, wooziness.
31. Mood Swings
32. Getting or feeling lost
33. Over-emotional reactions
34. Too much sleep and at times Insomnia
35. Difficulty falling to sleep and or staying asleep
36. Anxiety over symptoms
37. Short term memory loss
38. confusion, difficulty thinking
39. going to the wrong places
40. changing symptoms, come & go
41. pain migrating from one part to another
42. felt flu like symptom after bite
43. increase chemical sensitivity


Those were the symptoms I had felt the 6 months prior to printing the list off. There were symptoms I had that I didn't check off that I *know* I had well into the mid 90's. There were also symptoms that I didn't check off (rather list here) because they were too personal.

Also there are symptoms on the paper that I got AFTER I checked the list.

June of 2006 is when I started really researching the possibility of Chronic Lyme. It took almost a year for my husband to convince me to go see a specialist. I wonder how quickly I would have gotten better if I had just gone in June of 2006 instead of March of 2007.

I LOVE that I have only three of those symptoms ... and none of them at the same time!

Headache (very rarely - but today I have one), Buzzing/ringing in my ears (occasionally) and sometimes fatigue.

Yeah me!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Cheese Glorious Cheese

I love Cheese.
More specifically, I love Mac & Cheese:



Speaking of cheese:



Love it!

Monday, February 8, 2010

I love Vitamin C

I loved it even more when I got it like this because it was more effective and killed lots of things. (one of which I personally believe* is Lyme Disease)



*it's not medically proven to be true .. ya know FDA rules and all, but I believe it.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

I love that

One year ago today my PICC line was pulled! It means for the last 365 days I have not been limited by the PICC. I have been able to lift what I want to lift, go outside without covering completely up when it's snowing or raining, take an unlimited shower, go bowling, sleep without pain and so many things! I love that it assisted me in getting well. I love that I didn't have to get stuck with a needle for every blood draw or IV. I don't necessarily love getting stuck now, but I do love that I save at least 400 dollars a month (sometimes it was closer to 700 dollars) in dressing changes! :o)


Feburary 7, 2009 - before


February 7, 2009 - afterwards

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Interupting I love series

for an I hate moment:

PICC scar closer to the edge of the shirt and the two bumps out closer to the crook of my arm



Bumps like those are getting on my ever lasting nerve!

I thought they were improving. Last month, I had (as far as I know) three total. All at the beginning of the month. So I went almost 25 days without one (as far as I know). Reason I say (as far as I know) is that unless they wake me up in the middle of the night, I am not aware whether they are there or not. Also if they show up in the middle of the day and don't itch, I may not realize they are there (especially since I typically wear long sleeved shirts and don't see the area).

So far this month, I've had 8. EIGHT! Eight bumps in 6 days! I had one on the 2nd, FOUR on the 3rd and THREE tonight! I woke up with an itch and knew just by feeling my arm that it was huge. I always reach there and feel for the spot and then feel around the area to find out whether there is an actual bump before turning on the light to verify.

There is no rhyme or reason for the bumps. There is no particular fabric I am wearing to cause it or the time of day. Some happen in the morning, some in the afternoon and some very late at night. Some go away after 30 minutes while others last hours. (typically though they happen during hours my doctor's office is not open or last short enough when they are open that I can't get there in time to show off these bumps)

It's extremely difficult to take a photo of the bumps. You can see the bump, but this is the best photograph I could capture. Close to the edge of the shirt is my picc line scar .. closer to the cook of my arm is the massive bump. If you see it in person, you would see the huge bump plus two smaller ones near it. My smart doctor has NEVER seen anything like it. Leave it to me to be unique in this way.



Your regularly I Love Series will return later today! Crazy picc bumps. I hate em!

I love UNC

Even if they aren't doing well right now, I still love my Tar Heels!

I'm going to see a special performance on Friday where I get to see my favorite Tar Heel play.

Friday, February 5, 2010

I love my new ...

Check out my newly designed banner!
I got a huge surprise when I got home from work yesterday.
My GRACIOUS friend Dawnua made me something.
She actually made me two somethings.





So let me tell you a story.
The past few weeks I've been going through what I would call a funk.
It's been a funk that I am trying to
pull myself out of by posting all the things I love.
Wednesday night I made a simple request to God and wouldn't you know
that on Thursday morning he answered it through Dawnua.

I would love for all of you to meet Dawnua.
She has a heart of Gold and the most beautiful family
and a desire to promote Lyme Disease Awareness.
She has a cafe press shop where her
designs are for sale.
Here is an example of one of her shirts.
If you click the shirt,
it will take you straight to
Cafe Press to buy it.




Check out the Lymies Unite Cafe Press Shop
and help her raise funds to pay for
Lyme Disease treatments for her husband
which are insanely expensive.

Also if you go to her Lyme blog
by clicking her banner below




there is a special donation box to the right.
Any little bit helps.

Where does the header come in?
Well Dawnua designed it.
And make a donation for Scott's treatment
you could get a custom made banner too!
Check out her blog.
I love it.
I love my new header.
I love Dawnua.
She's AWESOME!

You'll hear more about her in the future.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

I love my husband

I absolutely adore my husband. He's the kind of man that will do anything to make sure that I am well taken care of in so many ways. He's the one that convinced me to see the specialist that didn't take insurance because he was one of the best physicians in figuring out strange illnesses.

He takes me to the beach when I am stressed.


He shovels the sidewalk after a winter storm.


We have fun together at places like the fair!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

I love my dogs part 2

Our red headed baby girl is over 10 years old. I just love her. After we nicknamed our black & white lab Bark E Bark & the Funk Butt, it was inevitable that this beauty would have her own nickname. When we realized quickly that if your mouth is even a mm open, she'd lick until her heart was content (or until we said, "stop that.") .. the name Sure Licks a Lot suited her. That little crab there? It lasted probably 10 minutes. Poor little stuffed crab.

We got Sure Licks a Lot a few months after Funky Butt. I had gone with a friend to one of her friend's house. I will not dwell on the dwelling she lived in, but let's just say there were a bunch of kids and a bunch of animals. It was not conducive for this little red head. (or should I say BIG red head). Sure Licks a Lot was at least 26 pounds when we got her. She was never fed dog food, but ate Spam instead. I found her under the couch shivering at the dwelling (can't even call it a home). They gave her a way. They gave away this beautiful little (er big) red head. I was going to take her to the same SPCA we got Funky Butt from, but fell in love over night. We had to put her on a strict diet. She didn't like that so much, but she's not slim & trim.



She is not too fond of this white stuff we call snow though. She goes outside though because she knows when she returns inside she'll get to eat. She loves her stomach. She thinks about her stomach 99 percent of the day. I love her! :o) She spent practically all weekend on the couch with me. Because of her crazy first 2 and 1/2 years of life, she would prefer to be in her crate so when she chooses to spend time on the couch snuggled up it's so relaxing.


Tuesday, February 2, 2010

I love my dogs (part 1)

We have a unique nickname for our black & white lab mix. Bark E Bark & the Funky Butt. I love this knucklehead especially when he's licking himself and suddenly passes gas. It scares him and makes me chuckle.

See those two black spots on his head, I love it!


He used to love to play in the snow. Now he prefers to be on the porch so his paws won't get wet until he realizes his buddies have come to play.



We picked out Funky Butt after a snow storm. We (read I) surprisingly fell in love with a pregnant dalmation that had been roaming the neighborhood looking for a place to have her puppies. Her owners finally found her and promised us one of hte puppies for taking such good care of her. Well she ran away again. So we wound up a short while later at the SPCA trying to find an "older" dog that had been there a while. We came up with 2 1/2 year old Funky Butt (no that's not his real name) only to find out instead of being 2 1/2 years old .. he was probably at the most 8 months. *gasp*

Stay tuned for tomorrow when I introduce to you

"Sure Licks a Lot!"

Monday, February 1, 2010

I love my children

I love the children I teach so much that I drove out in this so that I could care for them. I was on the road about 30 minutes when my boss called saying our district manager had a change of plans. Our center would be on a delay instead of opening regular hours. I slowly turned around and went home, but I so would have been there at 6:30 just because I love my children so much. As long as there isn't another change of plans, I'll be there at 10am with bells on!

PS. I made it to work and back from work very safely.

I love Snow



See the sheet of ice behind me ... that's the road. I have to drive on it today. I don't love that so much, but I love the snow! :o)

Sarcasm love: What I love even more is being on the icy roads for 30 minutes and getting a phone call from my boss saying the big boss decided to delay after all. So I had to turn around and go back home. *AHHH*

I'm safe ya'll.