I ended my pity party early last night because I got an email from Joe, the Journals Editor, that I am to be this weeks Guest Journal Editor!
Yay! ::: jumping around doing happy dance (think Snoopy) :::
I am quite honored. I assume this has less to do with my writing ability and more to do with my oft written subject, dealing with a chronic illness while being a mom and wife.
Hey, that is okay, I will take it any way I can get it! I am very happy to be able to shed light on my plight, and the plight of so many others with what we like to call "Invisible Disablities".
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus (SLE). They are both auto-immune diseases which means that the body mistakes itself as an enemy and attacks itself causing inflammation.
With the Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA, it attacks joints, specifically and most often, the hands and feet, and for many, the hardest. However, it also can attack, connective tissues, and organs, such as the lungs and heart.
The Lupus tends to attack organs primarily, especially the kidneys. Lupus patients also tend to have cognitive function issues as well. I am simplifying the disease descriptions, just to provide a general understanding.
Both diseases pack a walloping dose of fatigue - which I can assure you first hand is NOT just being tired. It is like moving through a world where the air is pea soup for you, instead of the clear broth everyone else gets.
These are my favorite journals to visit. These journalers all have either RA or Lupus, or both, and some, even more chronic illness to cope with in their lives.
LUANNE'S LIFE LIVING WITH LUPUS
Luanne's journal is a favorite of mine because somehow she is fighting her diseases every day with a smile, and is a mom to teenagers, which gives me a lot of hope!
Karyl's Glimpses of Eternity-- Lupus and Life
Karyl always has some inspiration for me in her pages, sometimes through her faith and sometimes through hers and her family's experiences.
Foxy is twenty years old and just recently diagnosed with RA. She is struggling to find her way with this disease as a young woman and she is very brave!
Tracey is the hippest mom I have ever come across with Lupus and possibly without!!! She is a single mom in her thirties, with teenagers, and fighting to get out of the nursing home this wretched disease has recently confined her into. Yet, she is funny, happy and full of life and shares that with us in J-land each day!
Mariann always makes me laugh. A recent journal entry of hers was about laughter being the best medicine, which she followed with some wonderful jokes!
Loretta is sweet and honest and funny. Reading her journal is like sitting down and having a cup of tea with a friend. Enjoy!
However, my life is not just coping with my illness, even though sometimes, it feels that way! I am a mom to three fabulous, funny, smart kids, a wife to a big huggy bear of a hubby and a daughter and friend to others!
I love to write essays, poems and fiction. I love to read and devour many fiction books weekly and usually a couple of non-fiction too. I love to learn. Recent endeavors of mine have been to learn latin, french, art history and begin piano lessons!
Here are some wonderful journals that I read that with those pusuits in mind:
Confessions of a Madman: Insights into Living and Coping With ADHD
Michael is the most fabulous writer! I feel like I am with him as he tells me stories of his childhood and daily life. I am proud to call him a new friend, as well.
Life in the blue Victorian house...
This is a very cool journal, Friendly Freakdom as the owner has nicknamed it. I love it!
I am a Jersey Girl too, how could I not love this journal! The Jersey Girl is a fabulous photographer and her pictures of the Jersey Shore and her hubby commercial fishing make this a one of a kind.
I am a huge Harry Potter fan. Yes, I have read the books several times, visit Mugglenet.com at least once a day and I am counting down to the big party next Friday night at my local bookstore when the long awaited book 6 will be sold at midnight! How could I not love this journal? The daily spells are personally, my favorite part!
This journaling mom is a wonderful haiku writer and a history buff! Her journal is full of great history information mingled with her family's story. You'll be hooked!!!
This is a fun journal for me because I read many of the same types of fiction that this journal reviews! Unfortunately, you cannot leave comments, because I would say "I love it"!
Pat is a mom from NJ with three kids - hey sounds like me!! Her kids are grown though, unlike mine, yet we both do write poetry too. I love her journal because she always makes me smile!
I hope you enjoy my picks and would love to hear from any and all of you! This has been so much fun, and I would like to thank Joe, the Journals Editor, once again for this great opportunity!
Be well, Dawn
43 comments:
I shall save a space in j-land as long as it takes for you to do another entry. If you need any extra space I have some between my head I don't always put to good use.
"Space the final frontier!"
Dang Trekkies.
Michael
Congrats on you being picked and thanks for choosing me. I try to keep my journal interesting by throwing in some extras. lol. if only my history teachers knew i am using what they taught me. lol
Dawn,
Congratulations on being picked as Gues Journals Editor!!! And, thank you so much for including mine. I haven't really written much lately nor have I been commenting in other journals. I'm trying to come to grips with my new dx. But you including me has made me feel great. Thanks again. Love bunches LuAnne
http://journals.aol.com/thebaabee/LUANNESLIFELIVINGWITHLUPUS
thats great and congrats.
Dawn ~~ Congratulations!!!!
I still have not drawn up the courage to start a journal --- well... that and being such a Procrastinator!!!!!!
Again.... I am so very happy to see you again.... Proud of you, too!!!!!!
You are SO very special, Dawn! Love ya ~~
Dawn!
What an adrenaline rush!!!
YEAH!!!
Thank you so much for including Life with Lupus.
I think this is great... this gives all of us an opportunity to reach other people who may be suffering silently.
God bless!
:)
Loretta
Wow dear no wonder you are excited! Thanks so much for including my journal!
loving you
kary
l
I think they made a really wise choice, Dawn. Good people like you deserve a decent break now and then, and you certainly have the capability of doing an excellent job. It is also an opportunity for those of us with lupus, etc., to tell our story. Thank you for including me. How long will you be the Journal's Editor? My wish is that people will become aware of how we suffer with lupus every single day, and help us somehow. I hope they will finally understand the concept of not looking sick on the outside, but feeling so horrible on the inside that you just cannot enjoy life anymore. Perhaps someone will teach them the concept of spoons. And that we have to laugh, or we will cry. I could go on and on, but that is what journals are for. Right? (((Dawn))), Congratulations!
Mariann
Hey Ms. Princess! Congrats on being the Guest Editor, and thanx for the shout out. :)
Ana~
holy TOLEDO! (LOL) doesn't surprise me that you were picked because you're a great writer ... :0) ... thanks SO much for including me in your journal kudos! :O)
((((((( huge hugs ))))))) one*hip*mama
Hey,
Congratulations on being the Guest Journal Editor!!! You did a good job on the picks. I enjoyed reading through some of them. I'll read more later
http://journals.aol.com/dragonrose637/MyLife/
<3 Felicia
Congratulations on being picked....
http://journals.aol.com/ncarolinasangel/MyThoughtsandFeelings/
Ashley
Well here is an early congrats to you.
:)
Gabreael
Congrats again Dawn! Great picks you have, I had no idea there was a harry potter journal (big fan here too) so will check that out and some of the other new ones...and thanks for the mention as well :-)
~ www.jerseygirljournal.com
I just wanted to congradulate you on your being able to have a family, sle, RA and all that comes with it! You must be a very strong person... I was diagnosed at 11yrs old, but I know I had it longer. I'm now 32, and I was able to work all through high-school, and I was taught typing over 4 years of school. But because of the RA I really have a hard time, I used to be an expert typist, but there's too much damage done. I haven't had a bad flare-up like I used to as a young kid, but this cronic fatigue is killing me, I never knew such tiredness, I was unstopable, It's so hard now, plus the side effects of taking steroids for almost 20 yrs. I refuse too anymoe, even though it was a low dose, any is too much for me now. Well, I was glad to see someone educating people, people think I make stuff up, just because they can't see my pain, but it doesn't mean it's not there. Keep smiling, someone's got to!
Dawn, Congrats on being picked as Guest Journals Editor! All of us from Judes Board are so proud of you. We get to enjoy your wit and wisdom on a daily basis while the rest only get you for a short time. Lucky Us! LupieLove, LadyG
First of all Dawn, congratulations! First female guest editor, and to follow in such big footsteps... but you fit in just perfectly. And I'm so happy to see how many of my favorite journals are on your list. Have fun this week, and the rest of the year for that matter. Dorn
Congratulations to you. I am new to your journal but look forward to reading it. I hope that you have a wonderful weekend.
*Louise*
And I thought I couldn't possibly spend MORE time online reading journals. Congratulations, and thanks for sharing your gems with us.
Congrats! What a wonderful message you have! I have close friends who have a son with Aspbergers...very difficult to detect in him if you are not aware. Awesome little boy...no matter how dang direct he is! LOL C.
http://journals.aol.com/gdireneoe/thedailies
Two thumbs waayyyy up. (pretend they're on fire) Congratulations, Dawn.
-Paul
http://journals.aol.ca/plittle/AuroraWalkingVacation/
I will definitely pick out some of those to visit! Some I already have on alerts of course! Feel free to stop by my journal anytime too! I have you on my alerts.. ;0 Melaney
http://journals.aol.com/myheartsaysso2/WhereTheHeartIs
Great Picks. I suffer from Fibro and Back problems. I have made many Fibro Friends thru the Journals.
Carolyn
http://journals.aol.com/shelt28/MyLife
I read your journal.... I have Kidney Disease, so I feel as though I know all that you worte about.....Keep up the good work
I am so honored to be on a list with so many other courageous people! :)
Wow! I am so very honored to be mentioned in the smae entry with such wonderful, throught provoking, brave souls. Thanks so much for the mention. Congrats on your being picked guest editor, an honor well deserved.
I'll have some new entries by Monday. Till then it's sleep and sweat and sell puppets.
Take care and great job. Can't wait till I have mnore time to delve into these other journals.
CONGRATULATIONS! And you've got so great picks!
http://journals.aol.com/windascoop6/Windysnotsotypicaldays/
Windy
I actually read a lot of the picks you made and I totally agree with you. They are truly awesome! -Dawn-
Congrats on being the Guest Editor for the week!
To bad you can't add video of the happy dance to your journal:o) Congrats. Deanna
http://journals.aol.com/jcrazytrain/healthandfitness
Congratulations Dawn! I pimped you in my journal!
http://journals.aol.com/artloner/SheSaidWhat/
andi
Check this out on Service Dog for Seizures
ah I ll have to checksome of these entries out.
Congrats on being guest editor. Your journal is great. Nice to meet you.
Dawn, My mom has lupus too; diagnosed about 7 years ago when most of her stomach was removed because of osteo poresis (or something like that). It is something you never hear about and as you well know, there is not enough funding going into the research of it to help the people who are suffering. I just hate seeing her sick all the time, and I know she hates it more. It was comforting to hear from all of these people who are in the same boat...its always nice to know you're not alone. Thanks for giving me something to share with my mom, another way to alleviate some of the pain.
so, dawn, enjoying the spotlight this week? just came back to say hello and see how you were doing :-)
~ www.jerseygirljournal.com
My mom deals with chronic illnesses as well :o(
***Many blessings to ya***
~Kandi
Dear Dawn,
(also my name) My son has ankylosing spondylytis (very severe form of arthritis of the spine). We were told at 13 that he had juvenile arthritis & would likely outgrow it by the age of 22. By the age of 22, he had lost his front hip joints (they fill in with calcium like substance, making movement painful & limited), his left wrist joint and most of the movement of his neck, due to improper treatment & diagnosis for over 8 years. This disease is systemic, and can cause digestive, lung, liver & heart problems. My family was devastated! My son is an incredible man (now 32) and has lived with severe pain most of his life. He never let this disease rule him and he never complains about the pain. He is a married man now & is expecting twins with his beautiful wife in January. He has limitations of energy but lives his life to the fullest everyday. I hope you do, too.I don't know why or how God decides who should suffer in this lifetime, but I have no doubt that when my son is gone, he will be an angel. He has been exceptional from the day of his birth. He is a "very old soul" in a young man's body. I'm sure you will be an angel, too. My best wishes go out to you & your family- God Bless!!
Dear Dawn,
I love this entry because you not only tell about your conditions but others as well. I live with a chronic condition as well. Not many people realize what you go through when you have Type 1 diabetes. I've almost died from it once before. I also live in this world as a bisexual which isnt easy either.
Thanks for sharing.
Cherise
aka GothicFairy21
Thank you for sharing these links ~ they are wonderful. And, you did a GREAT job of being the Guest Editor!! :)
Thanks again.
http://ksfinancialprogressreport.blogspot.com/
I just want to express my grattitude to you and the AOL journals editor...and everyone who writes about their (invisable illness) mainly Lupus...in their journals.
I can't express to you the wave of emotion that came over me when I signed on this morning and saw that you were picked as this weeks guest editor and why...
I myself do not have an invisible illness, but my Mother was diagnosed with Lupus in 1980 at the age of 22 (she was actually diagnosed when I was born prematurely because she had a lupus flare up and at that time they couldn't figure out what was wrong with her.)
For 23 years I watched my mother struggle with being a single parent trying to hold down a job and go through the trials of everything that was going wrong with her medically...(lupus flare ups...hip replacements...diabetes...pancrentitus...and finally kidney faliure..)
My mother passed away in 2003. Now that I am 25 and have a family of my own, I don't know how she did it all...and never once complained, My mother is my hero...and I have learned so much from her.
So I just want to thank everyone..for having the courage and the strength to go through what you do day to day and for sharing your experiences with the rest of the world.
Thank you,
Jennifer
HI EVERYONE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO DO FIR AWHILE, JUST TO FIND SOME COMFORT IN WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ME, I'M VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY BECAUSE, I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO MISUNDERSTAND WHAT I'M DEALING WITH,YES I HAVE LUPUS AND LONG WITH THAT COMES-PULMONARY HYPERTENSION I'M ON O2 24HRS, I ALSO HAVE BEEN TOOK THAT I'M IN HEART FAILURE, I'M IN NEED OF AN HEAART-LUNG TRANSPLANT.I HAVE BEEN TOOK NO FROM A COUPLE OF HOSPITALS. NOW ONE CLINCE WILL DO THE TRANSPLANT BUT TO DO IT SAFELY I HAVE TO HAVE A BODY MASS OF 30, I HAVE ALOT OF WEIGH TO LOSE BUT I'M NOT ABLE TO DO MUCH EXERCISE,AND I BEEN UP AND DOWN ON STERIODS,I FEEL LIKE I'M BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.I'M JUST GLAD WE CAN HAVE A PLACE TO JUST OPEN UP AND TALK,I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE, WHO KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS ME
My name is Debi, and I have been diganosed with RA and Lupus
(discoid). But have the anitbodies of the other lupus. I found out about all of this about 8 months ago. And have had to deal with a lot as a mom of 4. And life is challenging and is full of good and bad days. I take one day at a time. And pray everyday that there is a cure. This is all new to me and I hope to learn to cope with lifes challenges for me. Thank you for this opportunity to write this.
THANK YOU
DEBI
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