A New Year....

Happy new year family and friends.
Not much has changed since I last reported in. I did go ice skating with Bill and the kids on Sunday afternoon. I don't remember the last time I skated, it was definitely before children and I think it might go even farther back then that, though Bill insists we skated together at least once. With that being said, we met in 1989....so who knows.

I wasn't going to go. I was afraid that if I fell I would break something or worse yet, wouldn't be strong enough to get myself back up. It's a lousy way to live really, not doing something just in case...
Then I asked the kids if they wanted me to go and they both said yes (which also kind of surprised me because they love time with Bill). It was an opportunity to be together as a family and I wasn't going to miss it, so I went.
We had a wonderful time and I did it. I was wobbly. I was scared. I did it anyway. I marked that down as a success for the day.
We should all have a success for the day and something we hope to do better tomorrow. Funny how the "doing ________ better tomorrow" is easier to identify.
Please don't forget about the successes.

For the past two weeks or so I have been struggling with severe hand pain. The good news it isn't constant and it's only achy most of the time. The bad news is it happens every night between 1-4 in the morning and it is really painful then. Last night while I was awake trying to breathe through it I realized the best way to describe it really is it's similiar to a charlie horse you might get in your leg. There is just no way to get comfortable and no way to make it go away except to wait it out. Last night it lasted for quite awhile and this morning I was wiped out. I decided it was time to call the doctor. Her assistant called me back fairly quickly and said the doctor could get me in for wrist injection. WHAT? A wrist injection...did it really hurt that bad? Bad enough for a couple of cortisone shots? Well, last night, absolutely I would have done anything to stop the pain...this afternoon, a couple of cortisone shots sounded like a bit much, maybe it will go away on it's own.
I made a second call to Dr. Sweeney. He is the doctor I credit in helping me rid myself of most of the prescription medicition I had been taking. Primarily, he helped put an end to the prednisone.
I have an appointment to see him tomorrow and he may need to adjust or prescribe a new remedy. I know, I know....my kids call them sugar pills, Bill sometimes refers to this as going to see the witch doctor, but really, if it helps, isn't that what is important. Remember, Dr. Sweeney is first and foremost a traditional doctor of medicine and it wasn't until he found himself helpless in getting treatment for his young son severe asthma that he began to incorporate eastern medicine into his approach. I hope he can find something other than cortisone to help me out.

So, that's the scoop for now. I will fill you in more after my appointment tomorrow.
Thanks for checking in.
Kris

Away in a Manager...take care Tim.

Yikes, so soon....and after weeks, I am posting twice in one day.

Well, it's late at night and I am just home from a Christmas party so my typing might be slurred...

I just got home from a party and before calling it a night I had to check my email. I received a "caring bridge" update from a friend who is battling cancer. He has a wife and two beautiful daughters and of course, this is nothing he "signed up for".

This past weekend I was with my family and my mom and sisters and a group of wonderful ladies enjoyed lunch and a Lorie Line concert. During the concert I found myself reflecting back on the many concerts we had seen together over the past 12+ years.
One moment, of one concert, over the many, many years came to mind....
"Away in a Manager"...one year this song was especially hard to sing.
I remember holding my mom's hand and praying with her (or maybe silently in my head)..."please dear God, not this year."
"Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay. Close by me forever and love thee I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care...and take us to heaven to live with thee there."
I was sick. I still am...but not nearly as bad as it was. I really did not want it to be over and three years later I am planning to celebrate with family and friends another wonderful birthday of Jesus.
I AM BLESSED.
Merry Christmas...a couple of days early.

Yikes...December

December is taking it's toll on me. 30 hours at work, in addition to the extra running around that this time of year brings has brought some challenges. Last night, was ladies Bunko and I had to listen to my body and stay home and rest. I love Bunko night. It's a great group of friends who get together once a month and laugh and talk and share and I really look forward to these gatherings. Last night the kids and I were all in bed by 8:15. I needed it.

I have to share something very special that happened today though....
We have Secret Santa exchange at work. I know it's a secret, but I really wish I could say "Thank you" to my Secret Santa. My "Santa" made an honorary donation on my behalf to the Myositis Association. You can't imagine how very special that is to me. Well, I bet you can.

Just six more days until Christmas eve. I will never forget a message our pastor shared with us a few years ago on Christmas eve. I hope it sticks with me forever.
He talked about how at this time of the year we are all striving for "perfect"...the perfect gift, the perfect decorations, the perfect cookies or perfect dinner, etc... We often fall short, but that is all part of God's plan. The only thing about Christmas that is perfect is Jesus. If we let go of "perfect" we remember to see that gift and how "perfectly perfect" it was.

If I don't find the moments to log back in and post before Christmas...Merry Christmas everyone.
Kris

PS - A quote from my December work calendar "Possibilities - The rock that is an obstacle in the path of one person becomes a stepping stone in the path of another"

Just a few milestones...

Milestone Number 1
This morning was "payroll Monday". Basically this means that managers review timecards to be sure time in and time out is reporting correctly. It was here that I noticed that I worked two 30 hour work weeks, back to back and that included making up for a three hour appointment at Froedert Hospital (that had a happy ending).

Milestone Number 2
This evening I facilitated the first Wisconsin KIT group meeting for the Myositis Association. There were five people on the conference call and three people that called me in advance of the call to let me know they were very interested in participating but just couldn't make the time that was chosen. The call was very interesting, the people that participated were great and they want to meet again in a month. Although the holidays are crazy busy, they all felt it would be a good idea to come together and support each other during this hectic time. Apparently going outside of the daily "norm" wipes more than just me out.

Milestone Number 3
I received my first check from "CafePress"/the BeeMarket for profits from sales. It was for $53.00 and as promised on the shop site, will be sent to the myositis association as a donation toward myositis research.

Thanks for checking in on me.
I appreciate you.

Good night.
Kris

Quote from Laurie's facebook page...

The best things in life are unexpected - because there were no expectations.


and a note from my sister-in-law Kithy...
Kithy is going to the Packer/Viking game and she hopes that Brett throws a few completions to the old Green and Gold and that the Vikings lose of course.

:0)

Update....

Just a quick note to let you know that the doctor was very pleased with how I looked and the strength tests were either unchanged or improved over my last visit.
I can now see her every FOUR months and have lab work every TWO months. This is a vast improvement over seeing her and having lab work done every month which is how it was in the beginning.
She also approved an increase to my work day and work week. I can now work a 7 hour work day and have an approved range of 25-30 hours per week. It's hard for both of us to move confidently to the next level as in the grand scheme of things, our formula is finally working.

I wish I had a lovely quote to share....let me bop over to my friend Laurie's facebook page and see what she has to share. I'll be back soon with one of hers.

Another month...

Hello friends,
I can hardly believe a month has passed without a post to my blog. For those of you that have been following my journey you know that means I must be feeling pretty good.
I do. I am feeling good.
There is a way of living that has been gone so long, I don't even know how to get back there.
How to go about each day, doing what needs to be done without fear of how I will feel tomorrow...
I tried this over the weekend and it went pretty well. I did rest for much of the day on Sunday, but I think that being out late on Saturday night and getting up early Sunday morning would probably make just about anyone need a rest on Sunday.

Tomorrow I have my next appointment with my rheumatologist. I plan to ask her if I can increase my work day from a maximum 6 hour day to 7 hours and/or from 25 hour work week to 30 hours a week.

I will keep you all posted on how that goes....

Other updates:
I have new job responsibilities effective today. My new job title is Retail Sales Coordinator.

I will begin volunteering with a group here in Milwaukee called "Making a Difference". I will be meeting with a local high school and helping the juniors learn about working with a budget, how a checking and savings accounts works and how to obtain and use credit wisely.

Just sent out a couple of emails to people with Myositis that have reached out to me and announced that the first WI Kit Group meeting will take place via conference call within the first two weeks of November.

Emma is practicing and practicing for the upcoming Midwest Oireachtas being held in Columbus, OH over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Jake is learning to read, loves lego's and recently joined Bill for his first cub scout meeting.

Bill is still amazing us with his cake creation hobby, and all the things he can accomplish on any given day for his family, our school district, work, church, etc...

Our lives are blessed.
I will post another message tomorrow and update you on my appointment. Thanks for checking in.

Kris