London: Sending condolences and prayers

I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family, and friends of those who died and were injured in the London Bombings on Thursday. 

It is so sad that we, as humans, can do such horrific things to each other in the name of God.  The fact that any person could ever believe that God, Allah, Buddha, The Supreme Oneness, whatever your name or concept for the Creator, would ever desire one human, to cause harm or kill another human, in His or Her name, just boggles my mind. 

No Creator could possibly ever want that, and to believe otherwise is just a man-made delusion that certain misguided individuals have chosen to believe.

The impact here in the NY/NJ Metropolitan area was instantaneous.  The city immediately went back to Orange Alert and there are police with machine guns all over Port Authority and the subway and train stations.  The military presence is much more obvious, too.

My hubby happened to travel by car Thursday and Friday and I was so glad.

September 11th is still something we deal with every day.  My kids and I still fear something horrible happening in the city and coming close to losing Daddy again.  We don't let it cripple us, we don't avoid the city completely.  I go every month for my Remicade infusions for my RA.  We go as a family to the museums and shows and sometimes shopping and to eat.  If we stopped doing the things we loved before in NYC, well, then the terrorists would have won.

They will not win.

I may worry more, since my hubby usually travels mass transit every day in NYC.  I may have to help my kids cope with that worry, too.  BUT, I will not allow them, the terrorists, to take away NYC or any part of my life, my freedom.

My kids and hubby and I always stop and thank the police officers and military men we see on duty, and living here, we see them a lot.

I ask you to do the same. 

If a bomb does go off, they will be running toward it.  They will shielding you with their body.  You need to say thank you, NOW, when you see them, because they may not be here to thank after terror strikes.

Because that is their job.  

 

Picked as Guest Journals Editor! Standing in Light!

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's RA Journal  

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!  

one*hip*mama  

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 On Lupus and Life  

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!   

Life with Lupus  

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!  

JerseyGirlJournal.com  

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.  

Seriously Severus  

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!  

My family here and abroad  

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!!!  

 Book Lover's Journal  

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"!  

Mom's Laughing Garden  

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

Rain Rain go away... and take my Rheumatoid Arthritis with you...

So, it is raining, yet again. 

I should not complain since we had a glorious weekend, no rain and low humidity.  It was probably the mildest 4th of July weekend (as far as blazing heat goes) in at least 20 years of recent Northern NJ history.

The humidity, so thick you can chew the air, returned yesterday afternoon and with that comes the rain.  It rained all night.  It rained this morning.  It drizzled at 4pm and then began the all out deluge at 5:30 pm.

All last night and all day today my hands and feet have been screaming.  I went to bed early hoping to stave off some of the agony.  No go.  I napped this afternoon, also hoping for some relief.  No go.

UGH.         This rain is wreaking havoc on my joints.

Yesterday, one of my RA email loop friends reached out via email about how fed up and tired she was of being tired.

I responded with this following email:

"I think our only choice is to psyche ourselves up mentally when we wake up, that we are excited, that we are happy to greet the new day with a bounce in our step.  I haven't felt that way in a long time.  I know you haven't either.  I doubt many of us have at all.   

Mentally, or emotionally, I can get myself revved up about something (like the cruise) and then I can push the nagging swelling and pain to the back burner.  It is still there, I just deny it and chose to ignore. 

I have come to believe that this is in fact, the best I can do.
And it sucks....and some days on the roller coaster of dealing with this stupid disease I am cruising up the hill on a high, pushing the shit to the background and able to ignore. 

Other days, I am crashing down the hill and hitting rock bottom, fed up, tired of being tired, and pissed off to hell that it has to be this way.   We all ride this coaster, but at least we have eachothers hands to hold.  

Thanks for reaching out and grabbing mine...let's try to climb back together!!!!"

Damn, I write a good "chin up" speech don't I? 

Too bad today I am not doing very well at taking my own advice.

Today, I, too, am tired of being tired,  sore of being sore.

I know I should probably reach out to my email loop for some of the same medicine a good dose of optimism via email, however, I am too cranky to even do that.

Instead, I am going to eat some sugar-free Peppermint Patties (thanks to RA/prednisone - I am watching the sugar thing) and play an online game like Phlinx.

Be well everyone,

Dawn

 

Now, to things RA related

Hello again!

I decided to break this up into two journal entries...

So, yesterday I had to take my methotrexate and in general, my body was just wiped out from the busy weekend.  I needed some rest.  I started watching the Yankees game with hubby and kids and then I went to lay down.

I had a nice long nap.  My feet and hands had been swollen and sore and they felt better afterward.  We all (with my parents too) went to dinner at Houlihan's and it was nice to be waited on!

I am doing ok today, still feeling tired.  I had a good night sleep, and the kids and I slept late.  I guess after such a busy few days my body is fighting back.  I just feel wrung out...if that makes any sense. 

So, I will lay low today and try my best to rejuvenate both body and soul!!!!

Be well!

Dawn

The Tiki Party and other goings on

Hello!

I am so very sorry that I have been gone for so long!

Thanks for all the positive comments on my haiku!  First time for everything, as they say!

The Twilight Tiki Buffet was a blast!  Everyone loved the wings, the salad, the shrimp cocktail, the heroes etc.  The kids made the Smore's over the fire pit at about 11pm.  It was fun!  The kids played, the adults yakked and drank!  lol  The wiffle ball game was fun too!  The kids lost to the dads 5-3!  Very close!  We even had some fireworks!  The party finally broke up at about 12:30am.  All our friends have since said that it was so much fun they can't wait to do it again! 

Maybe we will do a Pre-School Twilight Buffet on Labor Day Weekend...we will see!

Sunday my cousin came up to visit for the afternoon before taking her son home.  She came with her other son who is 8 years old, so the five kids ran around and played all day and then we all had a nice barbecue dinner of hot dogs and hamburgers before they headed out!  My nephew had a great visit over the weekend and wants to do it again!  I think I will wait a while on that one, though.  lol

My hubby was great and took care of all the clean-up on Sunday while I visited with my cousin and dealt with the kids.  I was tired from the late night and probably a bit too much Margarita.  I was naughty and drank.  Not good for my blood sugar, I know, but I didn't eat dessert.  In my mind it was a fair trade!

Yesterday, the 4th, was parade time!  The morning came early for everyone but we all shuffled out to the parade on time!  Ds10 and hubby walked with the Cub Scouts and dd8 walked with her grandpa with the school float.  They were celebrating 50 years this year.  After the parade we went to the firehouse for a sprinkler wet down for the kids and free hot dogs and beer and soda.  I ran into lots of friends and lots of old friends and neighbors I had not seen in a while which was very nice!

So that was that...

Dawn

 

Crazy Busy!

Hello!

I am so busy, busy!  My cousin's son, my nephew (as I refer to him) has been visiting since Thursday evening!  He will go home tomorrow.  An extra kid definitely amplifies the noise!

Tonite we are having our First Annual Twilight Tiki Buffet!  We have 8 adults and 10 kids should be fun!  My hubby and I bought lots of colorful decorations and margarita glasses and plates and bowls!  We also got one of those metal fire pits and we are going to do marshmellows later tonite!  The men and kids are going to have a big wiffle ball game, too.

We ordered in all the food, so no work for hubby or me!  I don't know if all of you have heard of Hooter's, but they have fabulous buffalo wings, so we are getting 2 big trays of wings.  Also a big tray of cut up italian hero and a salad.  Oh yeah, and we are going to order 2 pizzas for the kids too.

I also bought fruit salad and veggies with dip to put out, and I bought the kind already cut up so I won't aggravate my RA in my hands at all.

Short cuts like that can make all the difference sometimes!  There have been many parties and occasions that I have put so much into the prep work that I did not enjoy them really.

This one I will have fun! 

Gotta go...we are all busy getting ready!  ;-D

Be well, Dawn

Weekend Assignment #66 - Holiday Haiku

Weekend Assignment #66: July 4 Haiku! A 17-syllable holiday poem, please!

Fireworks in the sky

Loudly flashing up above,

Kissing with my love.

 

Time passes quickly

children running 'round our feet,

laughter our life's beat.

 

July 4th cook outs

kids challenging baseball fun,

Have the parents won?

 

We are so lucky

Hearts bursting, a girl, two boys,

Unimagined, joys.

 

Well, there ya go John!  Four haikus as a little story, I hope you enjoy.

 

Be well

Dawn