This Is My Fibro

We're Getting A Baby Girl!

2013-04-05T18:32:00.000-07:00

On Friday, a week ago today, our caseworker was at our house during a regular visit for our foster child T-Hug, affectionately named for online purposes. During the visit she said that she needed us to think about something. There is a baby girl, 3 months old, who was being adopted by a military family. They got orders to move overseas. No matter what way they worked the adoption with expediting it, mom staying being, etc., the adoption could not be finalized in time. They have to give her back. We were the agency's first choice to take this child. It is almost certain that she will be adopted and they would not give her to us if they did not think it would go that way. They knew that we have our hands full with T-Hug. He has a lot of special medical needs and a very full schedule. It would be hard and he is not expected to go back to his family until he is at least a year old. They gave us the weekend to think about it. We knew that it would be a struggle, but we did not want to turn down what is almost a sure adoption just because it will be a challenge. There is always a chance that it will not go through, but that is with every adoption. We have chosen not to share her birth mom's story and why Baby Girl ended up in the adoption loop. Baby Girl has a right to know what happened before everyone else knows. So it is her decision. When she is old enough to ask and understand, we will tell her. If she wants to share, she can. What you need to know is: 1. She was not an accident. 2. God has her right where He wants her, even if it is not forever. Are we scared? Yes. Are we overwhelmed? Yes, just at the thought of it all. But as I recently read in our ladies Bible study book 7,

"Obedience isn't a lack of fear. It's just doing it scared."

PubCrawling

2013-03-18T17:36:00.000-07:00

pubcrawling

On St. Patrick's Day I went with a group of friends to Austin to ride the PubCrawler. It was so much fun! It was my first time to do it. I will admit that I was a little nervous because it is a physical activity. But I've always wanted to do it and they were going with or without me. And for me it happened to be a good time because I was actually on all my medications. So I'm at my best right now. So what's a pubcrawler? It's a bar on wheels. A tandem bicycle to be exact and you have to pedal to make it move. You can take kegs, boxes or wine or ice chests of whatever drinks you like as long as there are no glass. You pedal and drink as you crawl Austin. They make a couple of stops and give you time to go into a few bars if you want. We chose to eat. I had the best turkey reuben I've ever had at Opal Divines.

me and my husband

It was so much fun! SO MUCH FUN! Yes, parts of it were difficult but we did have several people on board that were not pedaling at all. So I definitely would not suggest booking it full of a Fibro convention. Afterward and the next day my butt hurt. It was like where the seam or edge of my underwear had been pressing into the seat. I thought that it was my sensitivity to touch, but my husband said that his hurt too. The front of my legs were a little irritated where the edge of my shorts had rubbed while I pedaled.

Absolutely no visible sign of anything just, again, my sensitivity to a touch that is not normally there. I would not recommend going in the summer because we got warm, from the sunshine and exertion, even though it was not a hot day for us. If you're ever in Austin it is a must do!

Kristine Cheney Contest Winners

2013-03-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Heather and Connie! You are the winners of the Kristine Cheney Contest. You will each receive your choice of one of her e-books. Please send Kristine a personal email referencing the Famous Faces of Fibro interview and informing her of your choice of ebook title to Kristine at tisatrix@cox.net and she will forward your .pdf ebook. (Please note that the first book to begin the Spartan Heart Saga is Spartan Heart Part One, and the single title novella is Secret Santa.) You can also contact me at ThisIsMyFibro@gmail.com and I will forward your information and selection to Kristine. Congratulations and enjoy your reads!

Famous Faces of Fibro: Author Kristine Cheney

2013-03-01T16:53:00.000-08:00

I was very excited to learn that a real author followed my blog. So when Kristine Cheney agreed to do an interview I knew that my Famous Faces of Fibro was not a single post but a series. Please welcome our first female Famous Face of Fibro.

Q: So you're a writer. How long have you been writing books?

A: Yes! I absolutely love writing and pride myself on writing stories that are non-erotica. Based on my own preferences, it would be fair to say that I strive to be noted as a sensual writer. I completed my first book in 2010, and was published by Astraea Press in February 2011. I have released three books in my Spartan Heart Saga, namely, Spartan Heart Part
One, Spartan Heart Part Two, Spartan Surrender, and my Christmas novella, Secret Santa. My goal is refuse Fibromyalgia from making my writing a part-time job.

Q: When I heard you were an author my first thoughts were, "I couldn't do that because
my Fibro fog keeps me too incoherent and my hand and finger pain would not allow me to
type enough." Has your writing been affected at all by your fibro?

A: It’s a daily challenge that often leaves me hanging on by the skin of my teeth. I think
the hardest part of Fibromyalgia, outside of the pain, is simply the exhaustion. Sometimes
several weeks go by before I open up a waiting manuscript. I’m thinking about roughing it
up with a new plan to assign certain nights to Brett so I can take off to the library for some
quiet and inspiration. My biggest muse is water. Love the sounds of the ocean, the waves,
the streams and the rains. These are certain to make this girl wish for her laptop.

Q: What genres do you write?

A: I love to write paranormal and contemporary romance, but I will write any genre that
calls to my heart. I have several stories that are waiting to be finished. I love allowing my
stories to write themselves into being.

Q: What does a daily schedule of Kristine Cheney look like?

A: I can’t help but smile on this one. All I can say is that I must be a sucker fish for cruel
and unusual punishment. *laughs* Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., I work
as a paralegal secretary to an estate planning attorney in Phoenix. Then, every Monday
through Thursday evening, my husband and I babysit our granddaughter Evie from 5 p.m.
until my daughter pulls her out our bed (about 10 p.m.). By Friday evening, I could use a
good coma until Monday morning rolls around. I think my schedule would test the likes of
those fortunate who dwell without a chronic illness, but it’s a silent testament to myself of
what I miraculously achieve despite my body’s war against Fibromyalgia.

Q: Being a mom is hard. Being a mom with Fibromyalgia sometimes seems impossible. Do
you have any advice or tips to give on balancing motherhood and Fibromyalgia?

A: For me, it’s having to take the extra steps to put myself in the center of the action. I
don’t want to ever be a disassociated parent. I think knowing my limitations and sharing
those expectations with others have helped to usher in a level of needed understanding.
I refuse to do anything that I know my body can’t do. I believe it’s easier on everyone
if we’re just honest about it. Now I ask for help if I need it. I don’t always have to do it
myself.

Q: How has Fibro affected your daily life?

A: I have a very full day, and work steals the majority of my energy. I can honestly say that
it’s by the grace of God that helps me survive every passing moment…every single minute.
It’ helps me to try and keep my mind trained that I only have to live this life one day at a
time. Fibro is a thief. This illness is stealer of joy. I feel robbed of my enjoyment from the
blessings in life that should offer such solace, contentment, peace, and happiness. This is a
personal struggle that I often wrestle with, and again, this is where abundant grace proves
again that God’s mercies are indeed new every morning.

Q: How old were you when you were first diagnosed with Fibromyalgia?

A: I was diagnosed in 2003, at the age of 32, and my diagnosis reconfirmed in 2013.

Q: What were your first symptoms of Fibro? Did you know what you had before the
doctors diagnosed you or was their diagnosis a new revelation?

A: I had absolutely no idea what was wrong with me. I remember feeling absolutely
overwhelmed and terrified. My first symptoms came on suddenly during a car ride home
from a week-long Mexico vacation I had taken with my husband and some friends in 2003.
In the blink of an eye, I was slammed with severe debilitating vertigo. Nausea, weakness,
and some hearing loss became the blasted companions of my dizziness. I believe that trip
was the worst, most torturous car ride of my life. I never thought we would make it home.
Lucky for me, we live in Arizona. The vertigo battle lasted over seven months, and I ended
up losing my job due to my incapacity. My whole life was turned upside down in an instant.
I still struggle with the effects of vertigo, but thankfully now, it’s limited to short infrequent
spells.

Q: Do you feel your symptoms are progressive in nature or just the same issues that come
and go? Have you developed any new symptoms since being diagnosed?

A: Without a doubt, progressive. Vertigo and nausea soon became accompanied by severe
constant exhaustion, frequent headaches, and sinus infections due to constantly irritated
allergic rhinitis. And who can forget that that lovely “fibro brain fog?” I also have freakish
episodes where my skin would flush crimson out of the blue. Looking back now, I see why
I had to have that emergency hysterectomy the year I turned 30 (1991). Uterine fibroid
tumors are an associated symptom of Fibromyalgia. Now I can easily connect the dots.

I still suffer bouts of all of these ailments, and am constantly resisting the immersive drown
of fatigue. My current list of symptoms has grown into a macabre textbook: memory
loss, small water blisters on my face, tremors, muscle twitches and cramps, nystagmus,
pain-ridden insomnia, rib cage pain, neck and back pain, walking and movement
difficulties, muscle weakness, mysterious dents in my lower legs, joints that often “pop
and crack,” pain in face and jaw, tingles, hums, and burning in my extremities and back,
toe numbness, difficulty catching a breath, pain induced high blood pressure and anxiety,
heat intolerance, sensory malfunctions, broken blood vessels in the eye and a reduction
in my vision rx of 125% in the last year, blurred vision, word and mouth confusion, dry
mouth, chronic dry and itchy skin, inability to lose weight, bruise easily, swelling in feet
and ankles, difficulty in swallowing at times, drug sensitivity, but most of all have severe,
excruciating, bodywide pain that never leaves me. Trying to sleep while your body feels
consumed by an invisible fire is comparable to some medieval torture device.

Q: Do you mind sharing with us what your Fibro treatment and management is? Are you
on any medications and how do they affect you?

A: I am currently taking gabapentin 300 mg, three times a day, for pain and am taking
Ambien to help me sleep. Without the ambien, I’m up all night in severe pain. With the
ambien, it forces my body to get the deep sleep that I so desperately need and I feel no pain
while sleeping on this medication. I am certain the neurologist will increase the gabapentin
when I go to see him next week, especially since the current dose has helped my pain levels
to reduce by about 30%, which is fantastic! It has taken the edge off. Now if I can get a
more regulatory dose to try and control the pain a little better, I’m all for it. My primary
doctor wants to add an anti-depressant called Lexipro, and so I’m a little nervous about
this. I’ve tried Trazodone for a few days (it worked great for sleeping and great for extra
pain relief, but I got AWFUL headaches that lasted all day long. Needless to say, I aborted
the Trazodone medication therapy quickly, and I’m sure I’ll relent and try the Lexipro.

Q: Are there any tricks that you use to help pull you through the rough patches?

A: Prayer…prayer…and more prayer. Did I mention prayer?

Q: How did you find my blog? Would you mind sharing exactly what you were searching
for when my blog appeared in the search results?

A: I was fortunate enough to find one of your blog posts while searching for information
relating to the crippling effects of Fibromyalgia, specifically for those who are pondering
the use of a wheel chair for days when the pain leaves one debilitated to the point of being
unable to walk without assistance. I noticed one of your blog topics on the search results
and clicked on a link that directed me to your page. Although the topic wasn’t related to
assistive devices, I was intrigued by your post article and admired the heart behind your
prose, so I left a comment to join in on the conversation. Needless to say, I was delighted
when you quickly responded and have enjoyed our new friendship tremendously.

Q: I like to put "solutions" in my blog. When I find a product or a trick that just makes life
easier for a person with Fibro. Share with us a solution that you have found or a trick you
have learned that just makes life a lot easier.

A: I hate the way clothes feel resting against my skin, so I always wear long flowy skirts
and slip on shoes. I hold onto my husband’s arm often.

Q: I wrote a post about not letting Fibromyalgia keep us from doing the things we wish to
do, like sky diving. I called it the Buck It List. Like, "Buck It, World. Fibro can't stop me."
What is on your Buck It List?

A: Quit my day job, buy a little motor home, and Go! O! Go! I’m a huge history buff. I
want to fly back to England, Ireland, and tour Europe so badly. I also would love to take a
trip with Brett back east and see all the historical revolutionary war and the civil war sites
and bring a good metal detector with me. I would also like to go to Arkansas, and see that
diamond state park, and go hunting for some beautiful baubles!

Q: Will you let us know when you've done that?

A: I most certainly will! Thank you for my awesome interview.

Kristine has been generous enough to provide some prizes for a little contest (rules at bottom.) The winners will receive their choice of her ebooks. It'll be a hard decision choosing a book so here are some back blurb teasers:

Spartan Heart Part One and Spartan Heart Part Two:

Sent away to college in America, Evangeline swore she would never return to England.
Anger loses its value when tragedy forces her home to assume ownership of the family's
beloved Greco-Roman museum.

Placing a foolish, drunken kiss on a Greek statue in the museum's basement, Evangeline
unknowingly frees a Spartan prince from an evil oracle's curse. Suddenly, her lonely life is
invaded by the rakish man with knowing emerald green eyes who never eats or sleeps, and
seems to know her every thought and feeling.

Falling in love is dangerous, especially when it's with a man who has already been claimed
by the bitter oracle, Demona. From the moment of her kiss, Evangeline is swept into
Dorien's world of mystery, danger, and passion. The oracle's fury only mounts as they
unravel Demona's darkest secrets, but not before Demona finds out about their unborn
half-breed immortal twins.

Demona uses her knowledge of the future to manipulate and destroy, but sometimes love
has a will, and a heart, of its own.

Here’s the blurb for Spartan Surrender:

The exciting Spartan Heart Saga continues!

Stubborn and independent, Taryn Hampton takes a calculated gamble. Despite the dangers
of a half-breed birth, she’s run off to Blackpool Sands, determined to deliver Thessalus’
baby alone. But when complications arise, desperation soon sets in. With no one around to
save Taryn and her unborn child, she’s forced to barter with an evil nemesis for the safety
of her newborn. Cursed to endure the consequences of her foolish decisions, she must face
this eternal punishment with a mother’s sacrifice.

Thessalus Agiad wants only Taryn, but the willful woman refuses to submit to her feelings.
Finding out about his unborn, half-breed babe, he’s aware that Taryn loves him, but she’s
still terrified of his immortality. To make matters worse, she now fears his child that grows
within her belly. Tired of her repeated rejections and the endless game of chasing after her,
Thessalus gives the woman he loves an ultimatum.

The Oracle Demona is wretched, as ever. Tipped off by one of her visions, she awaits
the day to retaliate against Dorien and Evangeline. Aware of Taryn’s impending folly,

Demona exploits her mistakes to the point of utter devastation. The Witch hires the rakish
immortal, Dastan, to carry out her evil plans, knowing well that he’s just another pawn in
her self-rigged game.

Enamored with Taryn Hampton, Dastan wants the feisty vixen for himself. Thessalus
Agiad is the only man who stands in his way. Hired by Demona to kidnap Taryn, Dastan
decides it’s an added bonus to torment his enemy. But Taryn is sick with fever, and he gets
more than he bargained for when she becomes a tempting siren in his bed. It matters not
that his comely hostage believes that he is Thessalus.

Curses, manipulations, and fears may decimate everything that lies between Taryn and
Thessalus, but sometimes love can balm the scars of a wounded soul, and force the most
stubborn heart to surrender.

Here’s the blurb for Secret Santa:

Holly Gordon’s estrangement from her family makes loneliness of the Christmas season
hit close to home. Volunteering for the annual Ashton Falls Secret Santa Program is
more than a comfort, it’s a blessing. Just knowing she’s able to help another hurting soul
experience the joy of a heartfelt Christmas makes her own reality a tiny bit sweeter, that is,
until Marcus Jenner ends up on her list.

Marcus Jenner is more than a bronze, muscled looker. This Chickasaw loner isn’t happy
being placed on the town’s Secret Santa list. Suffering from the blow of a devastating loss,
he has chosen to withdraw from living almost completely. For the life of him, he can’t
figure why this pretty little blonde keeps bumping into him, calling him by name, and
insisting on giving him presents. Unfortunately for Marcus, every time she does, a billowing
cloud of havoc seems to ensue. Why can’t this uninvited vixen leave him alone?

They say time and fate have all of the answers. Holly, in all of her innocence, is drawn to
Marcus like a moth to the flame. But Marcus has no intentions of submitting to the threat
of his newfound feelings. A painful exchange pushes their lives into a pendulum chaos. His
demand for privacy is granted by Holly’s hidden illness. Her sudden absence hits him hard,
especially when the arrival of a stranger delivers the rest of his gifts. Right away, he knows
something’s horribly wrong.

Love and selfless giving can rouse a wounded, sleeping heart. But sometimes a Secret Santa
gets a few unexpected gifts of her own.

This Is My Fibro with Kristine Cheney Contest

Everyone who leaves a comment is registered for an entry into the contest. Winner(s) get their choice of any one of Kristine's books. Kristine will choose a handful of winners. For every friend they refer to visit the interview and then leaves a comment (stating the name of the friend who referred them in their comment, then the person who referred them will get an additional entry in the contest. Visitors can have as many referrals for extra entries as they like. The person with the most friend referrals will get two signed bookmarks for being so awesome! In honors of Kristine's Irish roots, winners will be chosen on St. Patrick's Day, March17, 2013. May the luck of the Irish be with you. Winners will receive the .pdf ebooks (winner's choice of ebook) via email.

Stress and Aging

2013-02-20T11:07:00.001-08:00

I had my follow up appointment with the ob/gyn after my dramatic period in October. I had been keeping a journal of my periods, flow and pains, etc. The good news is that for now I'm not bleeding to death. So I will not be having a hysterectomy. However, the doctor says that I'm aging faster than I should be. He was concerned that the stress of fostering was mostly responsible for it. He wanted to know how much longer this child was going to be with us. I told him 6 months to a year. He looked displeased. He said that I really needed to have a complete blood panel work up, but that if it was to be done now it wouldn't tell us anything. I'm so stressed out that my results would be skewed. He postponed my well-woman exam. So I'm supposed to go back in six months, continuing with my journal. He said we'll talk about hormones. He knows that I don't want to do hormone therapy because my mom had breast cancer from early menopause and hormone therapy after a hysterectomy. He said that we're not just going to be talking about estrogen. That there are a lot of chemicals that can be adjusted. I said, "Well, now I'm just gonna worry until then." He said, "good." I guess that means this is supposed to be a wake up call or something? I am a natural worrier. How is worrying going to de-stress me? I'll tell you how. Because I always forget about myself. Give me a few days and I'll be back into the role of mom of a special needs baby scheduling umpteen medical tests, doctors and therapy appointments. I can barely remember to write in my menstrual journal, much less worry about what the doctor meant about . . . What was it he said again? I don't know. . . something about . . . me.

My Funky Blues

2013-02-15T19:52:00.000-08:00

It's been hard lately and I've been under a lot of stress. The other night I was talking with Rob and he said I had to get out of the house. He didn't care what I went and did, but I had to get out. So I called my friend and we batted a few ideas around. Honestly the idea of being out late was not appealing to me. And after being up well over 24 hours straight with the baby I didn't have the energy to dance. And I don't go places where I have to stand in line for
someone to tell me that I may not get in. I don't think so. We ended up going to Painting With a Twist for that night's class doing The Funky Blues. They had an awesome play list and we were singing along.
When we were finished we weren't tired . I don't know how. I must have been running on pure fumes. So we decided to go karaoking. As we were walking out the front door of the studio we heard this horrible wailing coming from the bar down that sidewalk. We looked at each other and said, "They have karaoke." We didn't stay long. We embarrassed ourselves pretty well for ladies who weren't drunk. We brought ourselves home and I was still tucked into bed by midnight. The next day my spirits were more lifted. The night out was much needed.

My First Contest

2013-02-14T10:14:00.003-08:00

One day I was publishing the comments on my blog. There was a comment from an author. A real life author. Like, an award-winning, published, person, who writes stories that other people actually pay money to read them, author. At first I couldn't believe she would actually read my blog. But then I remembered that we are all just people. She too needs a place to go to share her experiences with Fibromyalgia and find out how it affects others. Her name is Kristine Cheney, award-winning author of paranormal and contemporary romance. I asked Kristine if she would be willing to be another Famous Faces of Fibro for my blog. Not only will she do an interview but she would like to offer some pdf ebooks up for grabs as prizes.

Kristine Cheney Interview Coming Soon!

Interview March 1st

Contest Winners Chosen March 17th

Everyone who leaves a comment is registered for an entry into the contest. Winner(s) get their choice of any one of my books. Kristine will choose a handful of winners. For every friend they refer to visit the interview and leaves a comment (stating the name of the friend who referred them in their comment, then the person who referred them will get an additional entry in the contest. Visitors can have as many referrals for extra entries as they like. The person with the most friend referrals will get two signed bookmarks for being so awesome! In honors of Kristine's Irish roots, winners will be chosen on St. Patrick's Day. May the luck of the Irish be with you. Winners will receive the .pdf ebooks (winner's choice of ebook) via email.

I Fear I've Fallen

2013-02-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

"I chanced upon your website today while I was reading up on Baltic Amber. I accidentally pressed the "next page" button and read about your entry the day they took your baby to live with his grandmother........ I wish I have the right words to say. I cannot fathom all the emotions you must have gone through. I very much admire your spirit and love you have, and the inner strength to decide to foster again. I was hooked on your blog and wanted to read more, only to realize that entry has ceased sometime November last year. I hope that you are well and know that someone is thinking of you and draw strength from your spirit." Missy - January 14, 2013

You said that you "chanced upon" and "accidentally". But I don't think either of those is true. For some reason I didn't find your message until today. I could think that was chance or an accident. But today is the day that our caseworker is coming at 2pm. I was going to tell her that this baby (our fourth) is our last. That I cannot do it anymore. But I got your message. I thought that I wasn't making a difference because all I was doing was getting the children healthy and then giving them back to the same people who hurt them just to let them do it all over again. But maybe the difference I'm meant to make is still out there. Maybe it is in you or in someone else that just reads about me trying. Maybe that's all I'm supposed to do is try.

"Fear may fill our world, but it doesn't have to fill our hearts." - Max Lucado

My GERD Diet

2013-02-09T21:11:00.000-08:00

It's been a year and a half since I started the GERD diet. I did it because I was having stomach problems as a result of tearing up my stomach using Aleve. It took a long time to recover. During that time I also had my gall bladder out. Between the pain of my stomach and my gall bladder I could barely eat. Plus, the diet was so restrictive that when I did eat it was so low fat that I wasn't consuming many calories. I lost 55 pounds. After losing our baby, I have gained back 10 pounds from emotional eating and starting to eat things that are not on the diet. Okay, it's probably 10 pounds of sweet tea. But I'm from the south. Sugar is in our blood. Whether it's mimosas, mint juleps, sasparilla, or sweet tea. You've heard of southern hospitality. How do you think we got so sweet? Of all the things I missed, sweet tea was one of the most. When I felt better and became more relaxed I started hitting it hard. If I can kick it again, I'd probably continue to lose. I've been asked several times how I lost the weight. I'll admit it is a hard diet. As soon as I start with it people immediately say, "I can't do that." I always start with the things that people love the most so they can reject it immediately. NO beef or pork, no alcohol, coffee, soda, tea or chocolate. That's usually where people tell me to stop. Well, it required no exercise. So here's the full extent. Basically you are avoiding all fat and acids. Nothing that can aggravate the stomach. So no vinegars (pickles, dressings, olives), citrus or tomatoes, fat of any kind. No carbonation (sodas, beer, champagne, sparkling waters). And look at the labels because almost everything has citric or absorbic acid in it. Basically you have to cook everything from scratch and just drink water.

FOOD GROUP                               AVOID                                              SAFE

Meat                                     No beef, pork, or other red or fatty                   Turkey, Chicken, Fish
                                              meats. Lunch meat, processed meat.                 Grilled, baked, roasted
   Fried foods, fat & skins on meat.
                                             Sausages, hot dog. Anything brined.

Dairy                                  All Dairies must be low fat. Sour Cream           Low-fat products, Egg
                                            Ice Cream, Eggs,                                                    Substitute, Mozzarella
                                                                                                                              Cheese, Chocolate Milk

Grains                               All breads must be low-fat.                                   Rice cereals, oatmeal,
                                                                                                                              Quinoa, rice-pastas

Fruits                                 No citrus in any form, tomato or tomato          apples, melons
                                            juice, cranberries or cranberry juice                bananas, pears, grapes
                                                                                                                             peaches, strawberries,

Vegetables                        Anything Fried Raw                                              Most stuff as long as it
                                           onions, peppers, radishes                                     has not been fried,
                                                                                    pickled or brined

Beverages                       Caffeine, Alcohol, Carbonated                            Water, Skim Milk
                                          Beverages, Tea, Coffee                                           Pure juices with no acids

Fats/Oils/Condiments   Anything with fat, vinegar, pickles,                   Seasonings that aren't too
                                           No animal fat products, Butter, vegetable        spicy, about 2 Tbls
                                           oils                                                                           extra virgin olive oil a day
                                          Mint, Curry, Black Pepper, Some Strong
                                          Spices

Misc.                                Hard Candy, Gum, Chocolate

This is the diet my GI doctor gave me. You will see different versions in your research.

Famous Faces of Fibro: Morgan Freeman

2013-02-09T10:53:00.000-08:00

"Every so often he grabs his left shoulder and winces. It hurts when he walks, when he sits still, when he rises from his couch, and when he missteps in a damp meadow. More than hurts. It seems a kind of agony, though he never mentions it. There are times when he cannot help but show this. 'It's the Fibromyalgia,' he says when asked."

I've always loved Morgan Freeman as an actor. I've known little about his private life. I was surprised to learn that he has Fibromyalgia. I was shocked to hear people's reactions. I learned about his condition on ProHealth's Facebook page. ProHealth stated, "Morgan Freeman admitted to suffering from Fibromyalgia, and now the largest Fibromyalgia organization has reached out to him. Will he become a national spokesperson? Hang on to your seats, as Fibro could get it's 'Michael J Fox' and the disease could get more respect--and funding."

I read every comment to date and was appalled at what people were saying. Some were questioning whether he actually had it because of his symptoms. How many of us have suffered because people did not believe our symptoms or did not believe Fibromyalgia existed at all. And now we are going to turn on one of our own? If we have learned anything it is that Fibromyalgia is vast and symptoms vary from person to person. When Mr. Freeman stated, "Up and down the arm. That's where it gets so bad. Excruciating," I'm sure that he was not saying that he only had Fibromyalgia in his arm as one of the Facebook critics suggested. But symptoms can be worse in certain parts of the body. The brain is telling your body something hurts even if it doesn't have physical reason to hurt. But if you've sustained an injury which really does hurt, then the brain's signals of pain would be far more than in their "normal" Fibromyalgia overdrive.

My second aggreivement on behalf of Mr. Freeman was when people questioned whether he should be a spokesperson for Fibromyalgia on two accounts. His credibility as a person. And because he's a man! First, there is no one who is holy enough to meet everyone's expectations. He played the part of God, but it was a role. He is an actor. And the man has not even started the job as a spokesperson, so quit criticizes him for things he has not done yet in the role of a spokes person. I'm sure that in his 30 second commercial for Fibro he will not tell you who to vote for. Mr. Freeman has been unfairly compared to Michael J. Fox. I do not personally know Michael J. Fox, but I do know that he is not perfect because none of us are. We have put him on a pedestal because we watched him grow up as a child actor and we hated to see his suffering. The second reason critics have suggested Mr. Freeman cannot be a spokesperson for Fibromyalgia is because he's a man?! Oh my gosh?! Are you serious people? How long have we fought for women's rights? How long have we fought for everyone's rights? And now he can't be a spokesperson for Fibromyalgia because he's a man? Fibromyalgia does not discriminate! Despite what people believe this is not a women's disease. Men do get it. And the results are probably skewed because men are not coming forward because we portray this as a women's affliction. If we want proper research and a cure we need a greater sampling of people and this includes the men. Ok, yes, I would love for a famous woman saint to come forward and be our spokesperson, but she hasn't yet. He was brave enough to admit that he has this. It has changed his career as you can see in the movie The Magic of Belle Isle, which I loved.

And, on that topic. Some people were saying that now the "normals" are going to complain that if Morgan Freeman can do all he does with Fibromyalgia then the rest of us should get off our duff and do something. This is another chance to teach the public that Fibromyalgia is different for everyone. Some people can still function and some people are completely debilitated. Mr. Freeman should be considered an inspiration. He has had to adapt his lifestyle and his career because of this. He was brave enough to let Esquire post a video of him playing golf, which he now does with only one arm because his left hand is pretty much useless. But he didn't just give up what he loves. He adapted. What does my blog header say? I only have one life and I will not let Fibromyalgia take the joy from my living it. Well done, Mr. Freeman. He is one of us. Let's not treat him the way we have been so cruelly treated. Fibromyalgia is an unfortunate community to be in, but if you are here I would like to believe that you will be supported no matter what your gender, symptoms or person history because none of those things matter. It certainly hasn't stop Fibromyalgia from invading our lives. But we can learn one thing from Mr. Freeman. Live your life even if your swinging with only one hand.

RIP Ellie

2013-02-08T16:15:00.000-08:00

I've always been inspired by this young man and his dog. My heart is broken to learn that she died this morning. This is what my friend said: "Seth's service dog, Ellie, was hit by a car late last night and died early this morning from extensive internal and external injuries. Our heart aches for Seth and our family. No 22 year old college kid should have to make the decisions he just had to make. We are so grateful for his friends that helped him last night. We will miss her so much. She was a world traveler, Luke's best friend, a steal your food when you aren't looking kind of gal, even a few months shy of graduating college, and just over all fantastic seeing eye dog. If there is a doggie heaven then I know she is receiving some amazing angel wings for the outstanding work she did keeping our Sethy safe from harm. RIP Ellie. we love you".

Please keep Seth in your prayers. Few of us ever know what it is like to truly depend on another. For many years she gave him a great life. He should never have to have been put in the position to have to end hers. This was truly a tragic accident. Please pray for his healing and that of his family. God bless all his friends who will help him through this.

Moms with Fibromyalgia: Solutions for Birth to 6 months Old: PART 2

2013-01-20T13:45:00.000-08:00

Now that we are on our fourth foster baby, second preemie I am remembering all these little products that I love and should have added to my first list. I said that as I remembered them I would add them to that list, but I kept getting so many I decided it was just time for a new list because you probably would not go back and see the old list. However, if you have not seen the first list, click here. These are products that I love because they make being a mom easier, especially if you're already dealing with Fibromyalgia. Yes, I know our parents didn't have them and we turned out fine. But really? Did we? Turn out fine, I mean. I'm just kidding. We're fine! But just because they didn't have access to them doesn't mean that we shouldn't use them to make our lives easier. It doesn't mean that we're totally spoiling our kids. We're spoiling ourselves. We're grown, we can do that.

Boppy Protective Cover

Boppy Protective Cover is a liner that goes underneath your cutesie cover. That way when the little angel pukes all over your pretty one, your can change the outer cover and wash it and not have to worry about the whole pillow being soiled. You do have a stack of cute covers don't you? You need one for the wash and one for the pillow at all times. And remember I recommend two pillows. Or you'll end up carrying this thing all over the house. The protective cover is about $11 at Babies 'R Us and Target.

Swaddlers

Yes, you will learn to swaddle your baby. Some babies hate it. But some babies gotta have it. And it can be challenging at times especially when they are fighting you. But just because they are fighting doesn't mean they don't want it. As soon as they are are tightly bundled, they settle right down. They trick is to be able to do it efficiently and tightly and as quickly as possible in the middle of the night with someone screaming at you. Some people recommend the ones with the long arms that wrap around. Well, my child isn't insane and I don't need a straight jacket. If they insist on having their arms out then I figure they don't want to be swaddled. My favorite brands are Summer Infant, Swaddle Me and Kiddopotamus. These all have the same basic design. The feet go in a pouch at the bottom. It Velcros to the left wing that wraps around the arms. The right wing wraps around and Velcros on top. These wings along with a hole in the back allow the swaddlers to be used in car seats, swings and bouncies, etc that have a five-point harness. Our first foster baby had the jitters from drug withdrawal and had to be swaddled for 4 months all the time.These were a life saver.

Sleep Sacks

Sleep sacks, sleep blankets, sleeping bags. They are all little bags that the babies zip up in to sleep. It reduces the risk of SIDS by replacing blankets which can become entangled around the baby and causing suffocation. They come in many forms from light weight or fleece to short or long sleeve to the one pictured above. It is an Aden + Anais muslin, sleeveless. I love it because it gets very hot here where we live and I can just put the baby in a onesie with this sack.

Tiny Love 3-in-1 Mobile

Love this mobile. It has an arm for the crib, but can also attach with the Velcro to the car seat or the clip to anything like a canopy. We have used it everywhere. Even hanging it on the clothes hook in the van for long trips. It will play classical music for 30 minutes before turning off automatically. It will also spin without music if you choose to not want to listen to it. For when the baby needs to watch it while laying awake for umpteen hours on end while you try to get some sleep. This mobile also comes in pink. And it's affordable for most friends to buy off your registry!

BooginHead PaciGrip

Most babies will come home from the hospital with a Soothie brand pacifier. If they are already attached to this pacifier it is hard to get them to change to a different one. And the only way to attach a pacifier to that particular pacifier is through that tiny little hole. Note: this is not the Soothie pacifier in this picture. But the BooginHead PaciGrip has the little chord on the end that will thread through that little hole. It's one of the few mass marketed ones that I've found that do this. And I love the metal clip on the end because they really hold on well. You can buy them online or at Babies 'R Us. At the stores they are in a very generic looking package that just says "Paci Grip". It does not say BooginHead. They are only $4.99 and come in lots of cute patterns. Using a pacifier clip keeps the paci cleaner and keeps you from breaking your back because you're bending over picking it up all day. I keep one clipped in the car seat and the swing. Once the child is old enough to go out like to the church nursery and be handed around from person to person, if they are still using a paci, I clip it to them.

iHome iH15 Color Changing 30-Pin iPod Speaker Dock

This speaker dock has replaced our baby's radio, sound machine and nightlight. You can dock an ipod, touch, phone, shuffle, ianything that will fit and it will charge it. I generally play a white noise app with the rain sound or Pandora. The cube light can be on or off. The light has different settings. It can slowly change colors or quickly change. It can fade or be set to stay on one color. When you turn the power on, it automatically turns the iwhatever back on and directly into the app you where playing so no need to fidget everytime you're putting the baby down. You can find it on amazon.com. I bought mine at Walmart, but I don't know if they still sell it. It's between $50-75, but worth every penny.

Garanimals - Shampoo Rinse Cup

When bathing an infant you want to work as fast as possible because they get cold quickly. You can keep a warm wet washcloth over their body to help keep them warm. But I find that using this rinse cup allows me to wash and rinse so fast that the wash cloth isn't even needed. This cup is designed for older kids. It has a silicone edge so that you can lay it against their head creating a seal so the water doesn't run over their face when rinsing the shampoo out of their eyes. But I just leave it under the running water while I shampoo the baby's body and with one or two fills you can have the baby completely rinsed off and out of the tub. The handle just makes it more convenient than a cup from the kitchen. And you know I like convenience. It's available at Walmart and is about $5. You can get a similar cup made by Sassy that is all silicone. It is a little smaller and doesn't hold as much water. It doesn't stand up as well by itself under the faucet until it has some water in it. So that means that for a few seconds I have to hold onto it when I could be shampooing. And when bathing a screaming baby, every second counts. You want them in and out as fast as you can. That's why I recommend this one.

Diaper Rash Cream

My favorite diaper rash cream is Baby Anti Monkey Butt. I think what works so well is the calendula and the calamine. My second favorite is Burt's bees which also has the calendula. My third favorite is Dr. Smith's. The trick to diaper cream is to put it on so thick that you cannot see through it. And when you're changing the diaper, if it's still on there don't wipe it off unless there is poo in it. Only add more if there is a spot that needs it. You don't have to put cream on a healthy booty unless they are going to be in their diaper for a long time and possibly wet for a long time such as overnight. Doctors do not recommend power because it can be harmful for their respiratory function. However, our doctor did say that if we "preloaded" the diapers in another room and gently put them on it would be OK. I have found that in some cases the only thing that seems to work is the powder. In which, I recommend that Baby Anti Monkey Butt Powder. I have found it at some Walmarts, Babies 'R Us, and H-E-B.

Pandora

This is an app that I use on my iPod and iPad for music. I'm sure you know what it is. What I want to share is the stations I use. "Rock A Bye Baby" is the rock music that I grew up with arranged into lyric-less nursery songs. Have you heard the sayings "the devil's music" and "sex, drugs and rock 'n roll?" Well, this takes the the devil out of the music and makes it safe for baby. My husband was changing a baby one day and said, "Is this 'Sweet Child of Mine'?" The other station that I love is "Praise Baby" It's encouraging, uplifting music for baby's soul and spirit teaching them to praise God from an early age.

Walking the Dog Is No Yo Yo Trick

2013-01-15T09:49:00.001-08:00

I have started to walk. As in around the neighborhood. I haven't been able to do this in awhile. The Fibro was a factor and honestly my weight was a factor as well. I've lost enough weight and my Fibro is doing fairly well considering it's winter. Bradley is my walking partner. He is my three year old chocolate lab. Yes. That's the answer to the question that I know popped into your head. Yes, he pulls on the leash. Like he's a husky and I'm a sled. That's why I don't walk both our labs at the same time. I would have road rash from my chin to my toes. So I bought the Gentle Leader by Premier. You've probably seen it. It's a little harness that goes over their nose. The leash attaches to the bottom of it instead of to their collar. The idea is that it works like a bridle on a horse. If they pull, then the leash pulls their head down. Typical stubborn lab on a mission, when Bradley's head gets pulled down, he keeps on with the mission. They are work dogs and evidently the goal of a "walk" is to get back to the house as quickly as possible. It does work because he doesn't pull as bad. But he does pull it taut. Of course, with a dog as big as him we have had one occasion when I thought I would not be able to control him when a cat was underneath a car and he really wanted to chase it. I used to walk them with a traditional harness where I could have much more control in stopping them by planting my feet firmly in the ground. As well behaved as they are, they do have their moments.When I first started walking I was getting shin splints from pounding the ground when he was pulling me. That was before the Gentle Leader. Then I started getting blisters. But I bought new socks, laced my shoes to the highest hole and put Vaseline on the blisters before walking. I don't walk very long or fast. But I can tell that it does help both me and Bradley.

Allergic to My Home State

2012-11-26T12:28:00.000-08:00

I traveled home for the week of Thanksgiving. We left the Saturday morning before. I realized a few hours into the trip that I had forgotten my pill organizer but I didn't want to turn back (again). I thought that maybe one in week the meds would not have time to get out of my system and I would be okay. Sunday morning I started to get car sick on the way to church. I basically stayed sick the entire week. I tried dramamine, meclazine, saltines, candy canes and sprite. By Sunday morning I had only missed one dose basically because I take Lyrica at night and Cymbalta in the morning. Although I do take Topirimate at both and it is for vertigo and nausea. But that's awfully quick to get sick. And I was nauseated the entire week. I decided it had to be the climate. I used to be sick all the time before we moved to Texas. One of the things we considered about San Antonio was that the weather is much more stable. It's not as humid. It's always worse in the winter because the sun sets early and the car headlights are difficult with my sensitivity to lights. My sensitivity to smells and sounds was flaring up. I was miserable. We came home early. I never thought I'd be so glad to get back to Texas. I did get some Phenegran from my aunt to get me home. I was sick and had to take the second Phenegran only 2 hours after the first one. But we made it back. Sure thing, when I woke up on Texas soil the next morning I was fine. Can you believe that? Totally fine.

Can A Hysterectomy Help With Fibromyalgia?

2012-10-31T09:17:00.000-07:00

This is one of those graphic post so if you are squeamish, don't read it. And I'm going to just jump right in. I've had a rough week. Tuesday began with lower back pain like I haven't had in years. I started my period last Wednesday. On Thursday I went to the mall because I had to get dog food so Bradley didn't die. Just before I left the house I had put in a super tampon. When I got to the second store I felt something. So I went to the bathroom and realized I had not put in a tampon. I couldn't believe I had left the house like that. How careless. So I put in another one. I took off my panties because they were messy. That store did not have what I needed so I left and went to the next store. They also did not have what I needed so I went into Ross. So, I've only been going for about 30 minutes maybe since I left the house and I feel it again. I go into the bathroom and my shorts are completely ruined. I go to put in a new tampon and realized that I had put in one when I left the house so now I actually had two in. So I pull them out. Blood just starts going everywhere. It's all over the toilet, running down the outside of the toilet. I get scared and start shaking. Sometimes, it's good to have a baby with you. I use the baby's wipes to clean myself and the toilet. I put in a new tampon and I put a diaper in my shorts. Ross is among many things, a discount clothing store. I go straight to the pants section. I grab a couple pair of pants that might fit and go to the changing room. I call my friend and tell her that I think I'm having a miscarriage. I didn't know I was pregnant and we were not trying, but what else could it be. She comes and gets us. She tells me that I am completely white. I was weak and shaky. I just wanted to go home. So I get home and go to change and clean myself up. Then I pass this huge piece of tissue with a few more pieces to follow. I didn't know what to do so I fished it out of the toilet and put it in a diaper. It was after business hours and I didn't want to go to the hospital. I knew they couldn't do anything for a miscarriage. So I decided to wait until the next day to go to the doctor. The bleeding slowed but I continued to pass small clots into the next day, but I was still cramping. The doctor did urine and blood tests along with a pelvic exam. He said that he did not believe that I had a miscarriage. He described a scene like this. When a farmer harvests his field he may miss a spot. The next year he may miss a different spot and certain areas become overgrown. The uterus is similar. The lining may not completely come out with each period and parts may become overgrown. Parts can even become bottle-necked near the entrance. Then with a dramatic period where there is lots of blood loss the excess tissue can come out which is what happened to me. The tests confirmed that I had not been pregnant. The exam left me in more pain. I finally quit bleeding on Sunday, but was still sore. On Tuesday I had a trans vaginal sonogram to see if I had anything left that needed to be cleaned out or if I had any cysts, etc. Everything was clean which is good. However, he said that these dramatic periods could continue and even get worse and become a problem with blood loss. Considering my medical history and complications, my inability to take birth control, my desire to not take it due to wanting to avoid hormonal treatments he said that I may end up needing a hysterectomy. He is having me keep a journal of my periods for the next few months and then I go back for a follow up. I asked about ablation. He said that he could stop the bleeding with that, but not the pain. There is only a fifty fifty chance of the pain stopping after an ablation. I asked if I just felt the pain more because of my Fibromyalgia and he said that he has several patients with autoimmune disorders who do much better after a hysterectomy and are able to come off their medications such as Lyrica and Cymbalta. That would be nice to come off of those. I am young and do have concerns about the long term affects of their use especially on my liver. He said that they cannot tell if I have endometriosis until I am in surgery. They cannot see it on the sonogram. If I am covered with it on my ovaries, they could take those out as well. I feel like this "dramatic period" was an isolated event. But maybe he's right and they are going to get worse. And the thought of possibly getting off the meds would be nice. But this is a huge decisions. Of course, we would get a second opinion before having surgery. Does anyone know anything about this? Has anyone ever gone through this? I value your suggestions and knowledge.

Healthy Halloween Snack

2012-10-24T14:44:00.001-07:00

On Sunday nights, my husband and I host a small group of teenagers in our home from our church. So this weekend I wanted to do a little Halloween themed snacks. I decided to share the healthiest one with you. Not that it is that original or difficult. You've probably seen it all over the Internet. But just in case you haven't, here it is. Whatever your choice of orange citrus fruit, just use a permanent marker to draw the faces on them. The night of the event you can cut the tops off if you want then prop them back on to make them look more like jack-o-lanterns. I want to serve them from a bowl so I probably won't do that. And I've seen tiny pieces of broken pretzel stuck into the end to look like a pumpkin stem. If you do it, post your pictures on the Facebook page.

Honey Baltic Amber

2012-10-18T13:58:00.000-07:00

I was looking for more Baltic Amber on Amazon to help with my migraines. I was looking at a piece that I liked, but noticed that it didn't say "Baltic" it just said "honey." So I googled to find out the difference. Evidently each color of amber helps with different ailments. And the Baltic Amber has more of the succinic acid than does the amber from other regions. So when choosing your amber for medicinal purposes, choose Baltic. And here's a little guide to help you choose your color courtesy of this website which also had some other great information on this topic. So check it out.

Listed is the preferred Baltic Amber type next to each ailment:
Sensitive skin – Ruby
Eczema due to allergies - Lemon
Fatigue and Chronic fatigue syndrome –Ruby or multi Baltic Amber 
Migraine Headaches –lemon or honey Baltic Amber
Menstrual Cramping – lemon or multi Baltic Amber 
Back Pain – ruby or cognac 
Chronic Pain –lemon or honey Baltic Amber 
Muscular Pain – ruby, cognac or multi Baltic Amber 
Morning Sickness,etc – lemon Baltic Amber 
Acid Reflux – lemon or honey Baltic Amber 
Rheumatoid Arthritis –lemon or multi Baltic Amber 
Stomach problems and upset – honey Baltic Amber 
It also helps calm and decrease stress –honey or lemon Baltic Amber

Then I ran across a pendant that I liked and the listing indicated that it was Certified Genuine Baltic Honey Amber. So look for that too.

Chicken Noodle Soup

2012-10-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

Here's another recipe for those of you who use the Candida diet to treat your Fibromyalgia. It comes from my friend Sarah's blog.

I've recently discovered Chef Anne Burrell on Food Network and her recipes make my mouth water. Of course, the majority of them contain ingredients I can't eat but there are several recipes where substitutions can be made. I was thrilled to find that her Chicken Noodle Soup was one of those. I only had to substitute Tinkyada rice pasta for regular pasta. I also only used a pinch of red pepper flakes instead of 2 teaspoons...what can I say - I'm a whimp! It was absolutely delicious and it was even better the second day.

Ingredients
Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed
1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch slices
4 ribs celery, cut into 1/2-inch dice
3 carrots, cut into 1/2-inch dice
Kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, smashed
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
1 bunch thyme
3 pounds bone-in chicken legs and thighs, skin and excess fat removed
Water, as needed
2 bay leaves
1 lemon, halved
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 grates fresh nutmeg
Freshly ground black pepper
2 cups small pasta, preferably small shells such as orecchiette, or orzo
1 (15-ounce) can white beans or chick peas
1 bunch cilantro, leaves coarsely chopped

Directions
Coat a large stock pot with olive oil and add the onions, celery and carrots. Season with salt, to taste, and bring the pot to medium-high heat. Cook the vegetables until they start to soften and are very aromatic, about 10 minutes. Add in the garlic, crushed red pepper and thyme and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chicken and fill the pot with enough water to cover the chicken. Add the bay leaves, bring the ingredients to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes and skim off any particles that accumulate on the surface. Squeeze the juice of the 2 lemon halves into the soup and drop in the lemon halves. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg and taste for seasoning. Adjust the flavors with salt and pepper, if needed. Simmer the soup for an additional hour.

While the soup is simmering, bring another pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until "al dente," firm but not crunchy. Drain the pasta and transfer to a medium bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil and toss. Reserve.

After the soup has finished, switch the heat off and remove the chicken to a cutting board. Discard the lemon halves, thyme and bay leaves. Let the chicken cool, then remove the bones and discard. Pull the meat into bite-sized pieces and return them to the pot. Taste the soup for seasoning, which should be spicy with a bright lemon flavor and a warm cinnamon chicken feel. It should be very full-flavored and warm your soul. Rinse the beans and add them to the pot. Adjust the seasoning, if needed.

Spoon some of the reserved pasta into the bottom of each serving bowl and ladle the hot soup over the pasta. Garnish with the chopped cilantro and serve. This soup is perfect for a cold day! YAY!

**remember all recipes should be adjusted to meet your specific dietary needs, please consult your physician.

Breaking Dawn: Team Mom

2012-10-04T06:49:00.001-07:00

It finally happens. When you think you really are about to die. Consciousness and dreams trickle together until you can no longer tell whether you are actually awake or asleep. Hunger is denied for lack of energy to bother eating. You hear crying in the distance knowing that it is just echoes in your mind that won't let go. This really is the end. I can't do this anymore. And then it happens.

You wake the next morning and the baby doesn't cry all day like she has every day previous. And she goes three hours in between bottles instead of one hour like every day previous. And she starts to actually go down to bed at a reasonable hour instead of being coaxed to sleep for three hours before being able to lay her down. Then she starts to sleep four to five hours at a time through the night. And you're able to move her to the nursery instead of the bassinet in your room. Can it be that she is getting better? That we've gotten through the colic? Am I jinxing myself by even daring to write this?

Moms have an amazing ability. Their bodies go the distance. Sure, I couldn't tell what day of the week it was or remember my husband's name. But I took good care of that baby. And now that she is settling in to this life here on earth and not quite so needy my body is feeling the effects of the last month and a half of being a new mom who also has Fibromyalgia. My muscles are sore, my joints hurt, I'm fighting migraines. My IBS is flaring. Of course it hasn't helped that I strayed from my diet after Quito left. I ate what I wanted as a result of emotional eating and gained ten pounds in two months. I didn't eat when I wasn't hungry I just ate things I shouldn't eat whenever I did eat. Now I'm trying to get back on track not just to lose the weight but to lose the pain in my stomach. And my memory is suffering something terrible. Of course right now everyone is understanding because I have a baby. They don't understand that it's like this all the time and only worse right now. Having a baby with colic was hard. It was more emotionally draining than having a drug baby. The drug babies keep us physically busy, but the constant crying of a colicky baby can wear down even the most decorated soldier. So here's to all the moms out there. Especially those who have battles of their own, but still manage to put it all on hold to care for the needs of the little ones.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Tulle

2012-09-05T07:06:00.001-07:00

We've had our little foster baby girl for just over two weeks now. After the first week I would have said that it was a lot different having a healthy child. But this time it only took a week for my Fibro Mommy Foggy Brain to kick in as I was already forgetting things. However, she became increasingly agitated and seemed to be in great pain. They changed her formula to soy and that has seemed to help along with the gas drops. Yet she is still colicky and wants to eat every hour. By that I mean that she wants to be "topped off" every hour. She's not hungry, she's just not full. I know how much her belly can hold now. If she goes 2-3 hours she can take 3 to 4 ounces. Alas, she demands one ounce on the hour, every hour at least during the day. At night she can make the 3 hours at a time. But the days are hard. She will not be soothed with a pacifier or swaddled. She cannot go to sleep unless there is a bottle in her mouth. If she wakes up after 15 minutes of sleep she has to have that bottle to go back down. The doctor says she's two young to start a dependency on the bottle to get to sleep but I'm not so sure. Someone suggested that she has growing pains since she has had quite the growth spurt since coming to live with us when she was 13 days old. I have ordered her a Baltic Amber necklace. It worked for Quito and me so I'm willing to give it a try on her. Whether it's growing pains, gas pains, or just uncomfortable maybe it will help her. I'm not going to let her sleep in it though. I'm afraid her little hand will get up under it. I'm only going to let her wear it during the day when I'm watching her. I'll let you know if it makes a difference.

One month old. Wish I could show you more but I can't post anything that would identify her. She was wearing butterfly wings. So cute!

It's a Mom!

2012-08-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

One year ago today I received a call to pick up a baby boy from the hospital. That is the day I became a mom. Even though he is no longer with us, he changed my life forever. You never go back to NOT being a mom.

New Baby Girl

2012-08-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

Last night we received a new foster baby. She's a two week old healthy baby girl. She will probably be with us for a few months. She has siblings who have all been adopted out of foster care. The plan is for her to be adopted by one of those families. Until then, we will grow her :o)

21 Best Fibromyalgia Blogs of 2012

2012-08-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

I am so honored for my blog to have been selected as one of the Best Fibro Blogs of 2012. It makes me feel good to know that I have something to offer others and that I can make a difference in others' lives even if it's just with the stroke of a keyboard. Thank you all for your feedback, comments and emails. I value them all, positive and negative. And thank you to those who check on me when I'm not blogging to encourage me to continue.

Check out the other 20 blogs here.

Windchimes

2012-07-23T14:17:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I know this isn't the typical Buck It list item. But, if you've got a fascination with wind chimes then you'll love this. It is so cool! The world's largest tuned wind chime still in production. They only make one when you order it. And it's $3,000. I had to stand on a rock and reach up to pull this rope that was hanging down to ring it. My brother-in-law was helping me not to fall. Looking up and seeing the wind chimes move kind of made me dizzy though. It's located at the Black Swan Antiques in Gruene, Texas.

One Month Gone

2012-07-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

It's been one month since our little foster baby went to live with his grandmother. It still feels like a piece of me is missing. For those of you who don't know, he is different than the other foster children because we were trying to adopt him and thought that we were going to be able to. We brought him home from the hospital at birth and it wasn't until about 7 months old that we were told anyone from his family wanted him. By 10 months old, he was gone. One of the hardest parts has been not being able to get any updates on him. He had tests scheduled, that I scheduled, and now I can't know the results. The family had told CPS they would let us have contact, but now that they have custody of him they have evidently changed their minds because they have refused any contact so far. We decided to take a two month break before we take in more foster babies. And then I am only going to take girls for a little while because I can't bear to put his old clothes on another little boy. I have been writing my prayers in a journal and that does seem to help. I flew home to see my family and friends. I am taking my time in packing his things away and transitioning the nursery from his nursery back into a foster nursery. But we know that God has called us to foster. We can't not do it. He would not have lived if he had not come into foster care. And I know there are other children in the same situation.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

James 1:27