Category Archives: Fibromyalgia

7 Quick Takes: 50 Shades of Guest Posting

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Beth Anne at Beth Anne’s Best allowed me to take over her blog this week. I’m not sure she’s going to let me do that again but hey… I did make the point that we can all help each other out. Maybe I should have published the parody of “The Farmer and the Cowman Should Be Friends” about Catholics and Lutherans?

— 2 —

Thomas at Listening for the Shepherd is having me post his Quick Takes. He didn’t entrust me with his password which might be a good thing. It would be bad if I did a post of sheep jokes there. (Not that I would…) He and I did have a lovely snark fest on the Twitter regarding fundie things like eschatology, the creation/evolution debate, and The Da Vinci Code.

— 3 —

Something occurred to me regarding 50 Shades of Grey. If we as a culture stopped acting like sex was this big mysterious thing that is totally subversive and adopted the attitude that it has its place in the context of marriage, we probably wouldn’t bat an eyelash about the stuff in that book. Meanwhile, it’s a bestseller and there are off-color jokes made frequently alluding to it because we treat sex as this totally evil thing. I do like this Amazon.Com review though, especially the part where she summarizes it as “Twilight, plus some spanking, minus the sparkly vampires.”

— 4 —

I had to have my quarterly stabbing for blood on Tuesday and the venti mocha coconut frappucino with 2 shots blended in and protein power was both a good and bad thing. The good thing: it kept my blood sugar up so that I wouldn’t start puking during Morning Prayer, it helped me be productive, and it kept away the migraine that can happen when a fibro flare starts. The bad thing: it made me twitchier than a ferret and while I was able to be productive that morning, I completely crashed that afternoon and it triggered an IBS flare that I’m still fighting. (Blood work can trigger a flare of fibromyalgia and associated conditions in me.)

— 5 —

I’ve actually been turning the TV off at 9 p.m. lately. This means no “CSI” and no “The Mentalist”. I’m actually kind of enjoying it right now because it’s some quiet time which my soul has been craving. Instead, I listen to music or podcasts while working on writing, web stuff, or playing Facebook games.

— 6 —

Brett’s Blogathon 2012 is coming! It will be taking place at http://peacefulwaters.org/brett on July 27th starting at 7 a.m. I’ll have all my messengers posted and information on how to sponsor me next week.

— 7 —

Anderson Cooper is gay. Really? Huh. *goes on with the rest of my life*

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: May 21, 2012

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY May 21, 2012

Outside my window… dark. I think it was hot today — I didn’t go outside until 5:45 pm. Just saw on the news that it was in the 80’s today. This is an improvement over the 90’s this weekend. I hate heat.

I am thinking… that this migraine/neck pain has worn out its welcome.

I am thankful… for my family coming up to celebrate the communal birthday this weekend. (I’m a twin and my brother lives 45 minutes away.) We went to the town festival and the Relay for Life event at the high school. Dinner was a Mediterranean orzo dish and salad. Dessert was brownies that my mom made.

In the kitchen… I made the orzo on Saturday as well as some boxty for church.

I am wearing… navy blue maternity shirt and blue plaid boxers.

I am creating… this entry and a topic list/posting schedule for Brett’s Blogathon.

I am going… to hopefully feel better and less achy tomorrow. Fibro, you suck!

I am reading… not enough these days.

I am hoping… the pain in my neck and shoulders goes down with some ice.

I am looking forward to… a weekend without things to do. There’s also my

Around the house… it’s clean after having company this weekend.

I am pondering… various ways to publicize Brett’s Blogathon.

A favorite quote for today… Another song this week — “Jesus, Friend of Sinners” by Casting Crowns. I heard it on KLOVE this evening and immediately decided to get it off of iTunes.

One of my favorite things… my beautiful house panther who decided to settle on my chest while I am working on this. 🙂 Mommy loves her Edda cat.

A few plans for the rest of the week: whatever errands come up and a massage on Friday.

A peek into my day… The view of the eclipse from my porch.

The view of the eclipse from my porch.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: February 27, 2012

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY February 27, 2012

Outside my window… sunny and neutrally warm.

I am thinking… about too many things to list.

I am thankful… for one of my teenagers who is going to baby-sit Daniel tonight during Bible study.

In the kitchen… I’m liking Bertolli’s frozen soups. Their florentine soup with chicken and tortellini was excellent.

I am wearing… blue maternity shirt, sweats, and my Jameson fleece.

I am creating… just this entry right now and later tonight, I’ll work on my Occupying Lent entry.

I am going… to Bible study tonight. Again, so grateful for one of the teenagers at church who can baby-sit because I don’t have the energy to chase Daniel.

I am wondering… when Daniel will fall asleep so I can wet-jet the Pediasure off the floors.

I am reading… nothing at the moment. I just finished Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis by Lauren Winner which was EXCELLENT and highly recommended.

I am hoping… everything falls into place that needs to this week.

I am looking forward to… being able to eat meat again on Fridays. I miss going and reading at the local sushi/teryaki place which had gotten to be a Friday habit.

I am learning that I am so incredibly out of practice in discussing theology — something I’ve studied at a graduate level.

Around the house… waiting to wet-jet those floors. Woo.

I am pondering… too many things. I’m a hugely introverted person and I think my mind has ADHD.

A favorite quote for today… “When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less.” — C.S. Lewis in “Mere Christianity”

One of my favorite things… good church music. I’m loving the non-contemporary classical stuff coming out of Unapologetically Episcopalian.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Bible Study and “Hart of Dixie” tonight, PT on Tuesday, speech and mid-week Lenten soup supper on Wednesday, OT on Thursday, speech eval on Friday, and hopefully nothing on Saturday.

A peek into my day… The “Occupy Pack n’ Play” movement started by my boys. In this picture, it’s my sissy tabby cat Cullen.

Cullen occupying the pack n' play.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

7 Quick Takes — The A Word

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7 Quick Takes

We’re almost 6 days into January and already I want a restart on the year. This can’t be good.

— 1 —

It’s looking like Daniel has a diagnosis someplace on the autism spectrum. The appointment on Tuesday morning did not go well as he did not cooperate for the pediatric developmental fellow who was administering a developmental assessment. Everyone came in and talked to me afterwards and explained the reasoning for their suspicions. It makes sense and would explain the language delay, the problems engaging with people, and the obsession with doors and drawers. Their pediatric resident came in afterwards and gave me hugs. She had been the one who coordinated all of Daniel’s care in the PICU in March so I was really happy to see her again and I hope she had gotten to play with Daniel a little bit when he was out of the room and I was giving the pediatric developmental fellow his health history. Jon is happy with the fact that we likely have a diagnosis and some answers. I was truthfully pretty devastated though I managed to make it out to the car before crying.

— 2 —

Please, for the love of [insert deity], do not tell me about your mother’s cousin’s neighbor’s college roommate’s husband who has a child with autism. Seriously, I get that you’re trying to make me feel better but unless you have the kid with the condition, I honestly just wish you would stop talking. The spectrum is pretty big and unless you have the kid, you don’t know really where on the spectrum they are. It’s also a whole lot more helpful for me to hear from someone who is raising a kid or two with said conditions.

— 3 —

It’s actually quite rude and incredibly tactless to butt into a conversation and ask nastily, “Why are you so surprised?” (Yes, this actually happened to me last night and it took every ounce of self-control not to toss the contents of the pot of tea between us across the table at her.) This person had already gotten herself on my spit list in the first five minutes of dinner last night and that comment was really inappropriate. I responded politely because I was flanked by the person’s step-sister and our council president (as this was at our monthly Ladies’ Night Out where all the church women go out to dinner). Otherwise, she would have had hot tea flung at her and I probably would have slapped the living daylights out of her. (I’m seriously trying to avoid foul language on this take because this is a family-friendly blog.)

— 4 —

The diagnosis isn’t the worst thing on the planet but it doesn’t make it any easier. I’m fully aware that Daniel isn’t going to die from being on the autism spectrum and thankfully California has laws in place requiring insurance companies to cover autism therapies. (I love my socialist paradise at times as well as Governor Moonbeam.) It was devastating because I thought we were done with obstacles being thrown in our path and it’s ONE. MORE. OBSTACLE. that we have to tackle. Thankfully, he qualifies for a lot of programs and we’re hooked up with a group at UCD Medical Center who actually does autism specifically. He hasn’t had the ADOS administered yet (that will be Monday) but it’s almost a forgone conclusion that he’s on the spectrum… though you could put anyone on the spectrum on any given day given how broad it is. And yes, I do know about the website Autism Speaks.

— 5 —

In addition to all this, I’m having fibro pain. Last week, I lost a battle with my parents’ ice maker and had a gouge taken out of my hand. Well… said injury is causing hand and finger pain — not a good thing when you’re a blogger and have to use your hands as much as I do. Add in tendonitis in my thumb from a Cipro or Levaquin prescription, and you have a grumpy Jen. Whine whine whine WHINE!!!!

— 6 —

I apparently witnessed part of a high-speed chase last night without knowing it. I was in the parking lot finding a parking space when I saw a low-flying chopper with its searchlight on. I hadn’t seen one of those since I lived in Pomona and we’d get them lighting up the apartment and rattling the walls. I wondered what was going on and saw this story on several news stations when I got home. Duuuuude…

— 7 —

Yesterday, Daniel and I headed to Miwok Park in Elk Grove after doing a Target run. He did really well on the big kids’ playground and conquered the 2-5 year old area as well. The only downside was a really rude little boy who went on the suspension bridge and started jumping up and down to try and knock Daniel off. I told him to cut it out and play nicely. He replied that he didn’t have to listen because I wasn’t his mother. So… I went and found his mom and told her what had happened. Daniel and I headed out and when I looked over my shoulder, his mom was putting him in a time-out. I do appreciate it when parents actually discipline their kids.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

7 Quick Takes — Brought to You by Fibromyalgia Grumping

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7 Quick Takes

I haven’t gotten half decent sleep since… yeah, it’s been that long but it’s been especially bad this week which means that my fibromyalgia is flaring up. This means that I’m in a boatload of pain and in an extra cranky mood. Jon had to be in the office and doing visits today but his day off is tomorrow and that means I get to sleep in guilt-free. (OK… so I also slept in on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but that had to do with having problems sleeping and having to be more than semi-comatose to take care of Daniel.)

— 1 —

I still have remnants of the mutant death cold from Thanksgiving. I still have random coughing spasms that wake me up and keep me up at night. I was almost coughing to the point of vomiting on Tuesday night and my dad ended up bringing a couple packages of Ricola to the guestroom — I guess I was waking him up and keeping him up. I don’t know what specifically is irritated and causing it — it’s not asthma-related so my inhaler and nebulizer are useless against it.

— 2 —

I see that the Rose Parade is being held on Monday. The joke is that it (almost) never rains on the Rose Parade because the organizers have a deal with God: they don’t hold it on Sunday and God gives them good weather. It illustrates the fallacy of prayer making God into the Cosmic Vending Machine but it is curious that they usually have amazing weather even though it falls during the rainy season.

— 3 —

There’s a new season of The Biggest Loser starting. The only problem is that it’s on at the same time as NCIS:Los Angeles. I missed pretty much all of last season — I only caught the Thanksgiving show where they showed who kept the weight off. I think I’m going to have to pick a night to watch it online or something.

— 4 —

My resolution for 2012: be more active. Fibro can be a catch-22. It helps to be active and get moderate exercise but… the pain makes doing so difficult, especially with me because I’m also under a huge amount of stress and that exacerbates things. I think I’m going to have to be super intentional about taking the time out to go for a walk, do playground stuff with Daniel, or just… DO SOMETHING.

— 5 —

I’m getting a ton of political fundraising emails. Apparently, there’s a huge FEC deadline on December 31, 2011 and all the political stuff I support are hitting me up for money. Can I honestly say that I’m really not looking forward to all the politics and media crud that will be coming soon?

— 6 —

I had to put down The Magicians by Lev Grossman. It was interesting in the beginning but it seems like Grossman took the whole Harry Potter thing and twisted into this dark and fatalist thing. It did sort of keep my attention but it was also depressing how hopeless the characters attitudes were. I still haven’t used up my whole gift certificate from my birthday and I have an additional one from my sister-in-law that she gave me for Christmas so I think it’s time that I invested in some stuff that I do want to read. I also finally figured out how to “close” books on my Nook. Go me!

— 7 —

I did the Saint’s Name Generator again this year. For 2011, I had St. Gianna Beretta Molla which was good because I did need to get to know her better, especially as she also had a killer pregnancy (which unlike me, did eventually kill her). My saint for 2012 is St. Luke which should be interesting. I think this will be a year of reading his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. As a Lutheran, we don’t revere saints in the same way as Catholics or Orthodox do — for us, it’s more of “this is a person we should emulate”. I think I’ll be pondering some of these things internally for awhile.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

7 Quick Takes — Whine and Maybe Some Cheese

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7 Quick Takes

Hopefully, I’m at the Sacramento Zoo as most of you are reading this and we haven’t had to cancel again due to weather. The Sacramento Zoo trip is on!

–1–

I got my flu shot on Wednesday. (I also keep being tempted to add an “e” to flu.) It was my annual exam and they were already doing unpleasant things to me so I figured that one more wasn’t going to make the occasion any less wonderful. At least mine is out of the way now and I can focus on making sure that Jon and Daniel (especially Mr. No-Immune-System-To-Speak-Of) get theirs.

–2–

I probably could have avoided going in for my annual exam. One of the FNP’s at the practice (which is huge — 12 providers) had called in a year of refills on my birth control pills. (We’ve been through this.) The only reason I’m so good about going in for my annual exam is so that said doctor will refill my birth control. After all, I believe that I should be monitored by a doctor if I’m going to be on a medication like that. It was so tempting though to cancel the appointment because the refills were called in anyway… (Can you tell how much I hate my annual exam?)

–3–

I hate Lion Brand Homespun yarn. If the super-secret project(s) I’m working on didn’t call for it, it would still be in its bin at Michael’s. The only benefit is that it crochets up relatively fast. (I’d post pictures except that people close to the recipients read my blog and I don’t want the secret to get out.) My doctor did also criticize my mad crocheting skillz.

–4–

Crocheting with fibromyalgia is an adventure. I have a prayer team dedicated to praying for my joints as I work on these projects. So far, I’ve been amazingly lucky and the arthritis in my right thumb isn’t messing with things too much. I have to be aware of what I’m doing as far as my wrists, fingers, and elbows but my thumb has behaved.

–5–

I still haven’t caught an episode of The Biggest Loser this season. Tuesday has become NCIS night for me and I’m too addicted to switch. I’ve been meaning to catch The Biggest Loser online but haven’t yet. Uff da!

–6–

I have a strange craving for Brie on crackers. (I needed some cheese with my whine, right?) Seriously, I do crave Brie right now. I could theoretically pick some up at Trader Joe’s (along with some crackers) but I haven’t because I don’t usually think of it while I’m there. There’s also the lactose-intolerance issue and the fact that it would probably cause some major IBS issues.

–7–

I’m craving stinky cheese in general. If I had my druthers and could eat anything in the world without gaining a pound or adding to my liver damage, I’d be noshing on some Pub Cheese and vegetable chips from Trader Joe’s. *sighs*

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.