When I was a young girl I had this fantasy about what my life would be like when I was "OLD." Things never do turn out the way we fantasize they would.

A new page has been turned as far as my illnesses are concerned. I previously wrote about the seizures and that is still happening. Life is what it is. But I am not 100% positive that they are seizures. I believe that it's Lupus Celebritis rearing its ugly head in a huge way. I do not know how much longer I can write posts that would make much sense. I'm falling quite a bit and my eyesight is blurry most of the day. Hubby and the kids tell me I do things that are not normal. I cannot control this and when your brain is diseased there is no way to get a handle on it. I have a call into my doctor and am waiting anxiously for him to return it. So far he hasn't.

Please pray for me.

Again, I am going to quote my good friend, Lorettta........ I am not complaining........ just making a statement of facts. Thanks Loretta for that one.

On Thursday I will turn 52. For me this year it is nothing special except that I am still alive. And for that I am thankful.

Lupus has come back and reared it's ugly head once again. I am trying to deal with this the best way I know how to. Most of the time it works well. I manage to get through my day without much thought about what life has thrown my way. Lately I have been having a hard time with it. Things have been happening again. Flares have been coming more often and lasting a lot longer. The seizures have returned. That part is the hardest for me. Here in South Carolina (as I am sure it is in all the states) a person cannot operate a motor vehicle unless they have been seizure free for at least 6 months. Therefore I am confined to my home. My independence has been taken away from me. Where we live is very rural. There is no city transportation. Walking to shopping areas is unthinkable because they are so far away. I am left to depend upon others to drive me around. This makes me sad beyond sad. Not a day goes by that I do not end up crying. It has gotten to the point that when I wake up in the morning and after my meds take effect I get into the shower to let the hot water pound on my back to alleviate some of the pain and stiffness. Then I wash up. What am I going to do tday, I ask myself? I never have an answer because there is never anything to do. I get back in my pajamas do what little has to be done aroaund here and then I sit around. Sometimes I venture outside to weed and water my garden. Or I make a wreath or back something. Then it is still early so I sit and watch TV. Believe me there is nothing on worth watching during the day. But I watch it anyway.

I try not to complain. I try not to dwell on this stuff. But it is so very hard. I want my life to be the way it used to be. It should be the way it used ot be. I loved getting up and going to work. Not I feel useless.

Please check out the following blog........ It will break your heart.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=489a4ee0-057e-4303-b558-3edb18c95eba

IT IS WHAT IT IS

Life is what it is. Sometimes you can go to the left or to the right. I believe that it must be taken head on and we need to go straight ahead. Life may not necessary be the life I wanted. It is what has been intended for me. But whatever it is, my life has been predisposed. It is what it is.

My life is not what I had expected it to be at this age. I had never in my wildest expectations thought that I would be chronically ill at almost 52. Having a disease that there is no cure for and the treatment for is imaginative at its best. But I go on, or at least I try to go on. It is what it is.

Don't get me wrong, I still get depressed over this. But those spells are far and in between. They usually occur when I am in a particularly horrible Lupus flare. Otherwise I wrangle through my days. Taking solace that at this point what the universe has thrown at me is not yet life threatening. Painful yes. Brain draining, definitely. Confusing and disturbing, most assuredly. It is what it is.

Because I do live with this eventuality deep down in my psyche I am suspicious and at times I am waiting for the next shoe to drop. But it does not define me. It is what it is.

I maneuver through this life with a sense of tenacity. Recognizing my inability to veto any of this. It is what it is.

Overall, I am a exultant woman and attempt to navigate easily through my life. I may not always succeed, but I do try.

Therefore, even though my life is not what I had planned it to be .... I am accepting of what it is. Again.... It is what it is.

And, as a very dear friend once wrote..... I am not complaining ......... just making a statement of facts.

Every other aspect of my journey through this thing we call life is wonderful.

I was asked if I could check my own INR. There was a time when I did do just that. But with the new health insurance I have now, they do not pay for the supplies unless you have an artificial heart valvue. I have the machine but those supplies are very expensive. I used to check my own by doing a finger stick and then call in the numbers to the local anti coagulation clinic and they would go over my dosage and make any necessary adjustments. I wish I could do that again.

Good Evening Friends!

I have been fighting the battle of Low INR. For those of you who do not know that is the number explaining how thick or thin my blood is. Too low and my blood is thick. Too high and my blood is too thin. It's been low. I've had about two or three TIAs this week. Finally this morning I ended up calling my doctor who told me to get right over to the hospital and get evaluated. I did that. They did the usual stuff. Took blood. Gave me a head CAT Scan. And, adequately treated the horrific head pain that always accompanies these episodes. I was referred to a Neurologist. I haven't been to one since we moved down here. I will call tomorrow and make an appointment.

Otherwise.........

I am HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY! Life is good. Hubby and I celebrated our Silver (25th) anniversary on the 16th. We went out for lobster (a gift from my son). My daughter gave me a gift certificate and gave her Dad a brick of bullets. He is into guns and has a carry permit. Then they surprised us with a party. We were really surprised. We got back from dinner and walked in the house and heard 'SURPRISE'. My brother and sister in-law gave us the best gift. It was a light weight vacuum so I don't have to sweep. It picks everything up. I suggest you get one. Mom gave us a few beautiful gifts and cash. It was wonderful.

That is not all that is making me happy. I am just feeling very content with my life. And, this is a good thing.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Meme
Snagged from JoAnne...

Saturday, January 17, 2009
Just boldface the items that you HAVE done, and leave the rest normal…

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world

8. Climbed a mountain.

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping.

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33 Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Gotten flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee