tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27553066461931467052024-09-16T03:38:05.532-04:00Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-31035178519840546532012-01-13T16:40:00.000-05:002012-01-13T16:40:26.145-05:00

 Today marks 1 year since my life turned upside down and ultimately resulted with the following diagnosis': RA, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Fibromyalgia, Raynauds and Sjogrens and they aren't sure they have them all yet. Still undergoing more tests! It amazes me the way auto-immune diseases cluster in individuals. If you think about it though there is really one one auto-immune disease and

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-1370645308184054072012-01-12T18:49:00.001-05:002012-01-12T18:49:11.134-05:00

 Well my RA and Depression have combined against me to make my goal of writing 30 Blogs in 30 days a little more challenging than it already was. I was hoping for one blog each day. Some days I am just incapable even with the voice activated software. I cannot thin clearly enough to express myself let alone in writing. It wouldn't be fare to subject anyone to those ramblings..lol It also

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-339960670550153932012-01-12T17:56:00.002-05:002012-01-12T17:56:27.057-05:00

The holidays have passed and the winter is cold and dark. It is no surprise that the depression is back to dominating my every waking moment with a vengeance. Winters are usually the worst for most people who suffer with depression or S.A.D (Seasonal Affective Disorder). We don't do well with the lack of sunlight that occurs in winter. I have for most of my adult life gone through periods of

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-16470539840509468932012-01-08T16:51:00.000-05:002012-01-08T17:32:32.332-05:00

January 13th, 2011 my life turned upside down. I have spent the better part of the last year waiting. Waiting to get into see specialists, Waiting for test dates, Waiting for test results and waiting for Dr's appointments. Having been diagnosed with Auto-Immune Diseases in the time of the social media has been a blessing. I am sure not many people stop to think about that but then again I am not

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-42656849825047693362012-01-05T13:01:00.003-05:002012-01-07T13:08:57.496-05:00

This Christmas my husband took note of the fact that I had stopped reading. I LOVE reading and can't put a good book down until it is finished. So why would someone just quit reading you might ask? Rheumatoid Auto Immune Disease (RAD and formally known as RA) has made such a mess of my hands that I had no choice. I did not have the strength to hold a book in order to read. It hurt my fingers to

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-78161024779833012802012-01-04T14:39:00.001-05:002012-01-05T12:41:49.466-05:00

Support and Understanding are two very important pieces in the life of an individual with a chronic illness. Support and understanding are important to every one to some degree or another but they take on a different role in those will chronic illness. A number of people are blessed to get their support and understanding from loved ones. This may be friends or family and when one is truly blessed

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-88856723207140172082012-01-03T15:24:00.000-05:002012-01-03T15:24:17.494-05:00

 Today is a bright sunny, crisp cold, cold day here in Southern Ontario. Our temperature is -16C and with the windchill it feels like -27C. For my Amercian friends that is 2F and feeling like -17F. No matter how you cut it, it is darn cold here this morning and getting colder as the day goes on...brrrrrrrrrrrr That makes today absolutely perfect for staying indoors! I cannot be out in this

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-48366906717493984702012-01-03T11:24:00.000-05:002012-01-04T21:05:00.494-05:00

 I have been spending a lot of time putting together the lesson plans for home school for the remainder of the 2011/2012 school year. We have 24 weeks of school left when it starts back up on Monday January 9th, 2012. There are a  number of those weeks that are short weeks due to a holiday Monday or Friday but that's no big deal. I plan to sit down and talk to the kids today to get

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com0Ontario, Canada51.253775 -85.323213938.541732499999995 -105.5380574 63.9658175 -65.1083704tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-2363260099245277452012-01-02T22:37:00.001-05:002012-01-03T10:33:50.319-05:00

 On January 13th, 2012 I will have been living with Chronic illness resulting in chronic pain for exactly one year. Not one day in that entire year have I been pain free. It is a daunting statistic and if that isn't bad enough I know that there is a very high probability that the remainder of my life will be lived in pain. It is no wonder that Chronic Pain often coincides with chronic

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-50965181262136190592012-01-01T20:12:00.000-05:002012-01-01T20:12:25.363-05:00

 Today is the first day of a brand new year. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and from my family to yours we wish you all the best for the coming year. The past year I have spent so much time worrying about what was wrong with me, when they would find a diagnosis, having tests, seeing dr's, waiting for test results, seeing specialists and before I knew it a year had past. I

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-526363144205330802011-12-30T15:25:00.002-05:002012-01-01T20:12:54.466-05:00

Quotes have a wonderful way of inspiring individuals in many different ways. Over the years there have been a series of quotes that have stood the test of time and helped me to find strength I needed to carry on. I thought these might be a wonderful way to end the year and to prepare for the upcoming year ahead. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-30974043094859593662011-12-30T14:56:00.000-05:002011-12-30T14:56:44.244-05:00

 The house is quiet for the first time in a very long time. My husband and children have headed north to spend the day tobogganing with my husbands oldest daughter, her hubby and of course our grandchildren. I am sorry to once again stay home but I just don't do long drives very well. Not to mention it is one day where they can escape my illness and not have to consider my ability into their

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-49200905985350582102011-12-14T12:02:00.000-05:002011-12-14T12:02:26.013-05:00

It is amazing but it has taken chronic illness to get me organized around Christmas. Every other year I am still out there a week before Christmas and I am up wrapping gifts into the wee hours of Christmas morning. This year I was done all of my shopping by the end of the first week in December and last weekend my kids spent the night with my mom and dad and I got all of the gifts wrapped...

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-10290132824347801982011-12-14T11:17:00.000-05:002011-12-14T11:17:15.459-05:00

We are now into our fourth week of homeschooling. I love seeing the changes in my kids. The confidence, starting to take risks again and self esteem are all slowly returning from non existence. Wanting to work longer and harder. They are having fun learning and are feeling better about learning in an environment where they are safe to make mistakes. They are not teased, not called stupid and not

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-45050553309550160882011-12-07T20:43:00.000-05:002011-12-07T20:43:36.356-05:00

 So much has happened since I blogged last I don't know where to begin. I have not been doing well hence my absence. I have a new Rheumatologist at Sunnybrook hospital and she is AMAZING. She actually listened to me for two hours in her office. Just the two of us with no flunkies (students/interns) to be seen. She did a through examination. She asked me where my meds were fore my Raynauds

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-13954171649883382802011-11-13T13:43:00.000-05:002011-11-13T13:43:54.094-05:00

On Wednesday I developed a sore throat. Thursday my throat was feeling a little better but now I had a head cold. Friday it moved from my head to my chest and by Saturday I had pneumonia! I have never seen an illness come on so mild and end up so serious in such a short period of time! My family Dr's words came back to me once he learned what my Rheumy prescribed for my RA medications. He said I

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-3273329388726021652011-11-13T13:30:00.000-05:002011-11-13T13:30:24.698-05:00

 On November 21st, 2011 will begin my children's change from public education to being home schooled. I am beyond excited in the opportunity that I am about to afford my children. They are going to be educated according to their strengths, passions and in ways that bring out the best of their abilities. On November 17th the last day of school will be the day that my daughter goes off of

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-45845787594712089712011-10-28T11:35:00.000-04:002011-10-28T11:35:17.198-04:00

Tuesday November 1, 2011 is the day that I take the first steps towards making a dream come true. A dream I have had since I was a child was writing a book. It was also a dream that I gave up over the past year of illness. My illnesses became a thief and stole my dreams. Fellow blogger and friend Deb of The ABC's of RA reminded me of the importance of having dreams. Two dreams that I have had

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-75318845136827825072011-10-26T15:15:00.000-04:002011-10-26T15:15:12.964-04:00

 On Wednesday October 5th one of my favourite blog authors Deb from the ABC's of RA wrote a blog called Hocus, Pocus, Refocus!  I'll wait right here while you read this brilliant blog and then we can continue! Welcome back...told you it was a very worthwhile read :-) Deb really hit the nail on the head. October 2010 is when my health started to fall apart. Then I had the first two

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-28865415521914386902011-10-26T13:24:00.000-04:002011-10-26T13:24:50.574-04:00

My children have a job. Their job is to be a student. They are to go to school each and every day that school is open in order to get their education. It is this education that is going to allow them to be whatever they want to be in life. Education opens doors and in today's society you won't get very far without one. We are so very lucky to live in a Country where education is provided and is a

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-35665213936371939582011-10-14T11:19:00.000-04:002011-10-14T11:19:50.584-04:00

 Frustration is the name of the game. I saw my Rheumatologist yesterday and I have come home very unhappy with the outcome of the appointment. My first appointment was an assessment and tests. At that appointment she diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. My second appointment was a result of my test results and I was called in and diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis after I had a High Anti-CCP in

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-88666936617919836852011-10-12T15:29:00.000-04:002011-10-12T15:29:48.395-04:00

 Today is World Arthritis Day any other year I would not even known this little fact. Not surprised, there is a day for everything it seems. However this is a cause that has become near and dear to my heart. In one short year my life has turned upside down and inside out and it is in large part to my Rheumatoid Arthritis. I knew next to nothing about RA before I was diagnosed. I was called

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-34028762936375426402011-10-04T20:04:00.000-04:002011-10-04T20:04:09.822-04:00

  This afternoon while reading the latest blog entry from RAGUY I learned that Wednesday October 12, 2011 is World Arthritis Day. I went to their website , clicked on the purple tab: WAD Around The World and clicked on the link for Toronto, Ontario (Canada). I was directed to our local provincial chapter of the Arthritis Society...to my surprise there was NO MENTION of World Arthritis Day

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-64839577546179760532011-10-04T12:44:00.000-04:002011-10-04T12:44:28.149-04:00

Having RA and Fibromyalgia I am learning to adapt. Since these diseases are not going any where it is important to learn new and improved ways of doing things. Before I got creative I was reduced to tears each and every time I tried to do something and found that I no longer had the ability. Then I realized I do have the ability it is just the HOW that had to change. I thought I would share with

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755306646193146705.post-68818379107585592992011-09-21T12:31:00.055-04:002011-09-21T20:18:45.546-04:00

Not long after my diagnosis my brother came to see me. He spent a couple of hours reassuring me that while these diseases may ravage and take my body that I am so much more than the body I reside in. Nothing can take away who I am. I believed him and took great comfort in those words. I was indeed more than my shell, I was more important than my ability to do housework, do laundry etc. ...

Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129393501487235970noreply@blogger.com0