In the Middle of His Will: December 2007

Thursday, December 20, 2007

News from the Rheumatolgist

I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. It explains my many years of chronic pain, that in the past few years has become worse to the point that I cannot sleep. However, it does not explain why my cervical issues persist. One thing at a time, I guess. My doctor said that is from prolonged periods of high stress and anxiety, along with inconsistent exercise. This is me...! So I have been put on medicine that I will start taking tomorrow (didn't do it during finals because it makes you drowsy.) It will help my joint pain...help me sleep and also will give me the relief I need to endure working out again. Did I say..it will help me sleep - YEAH - more than 4 hours at a time will be great.

Here's some information for those of you who are not familiar w/ Fibromyalgia:

*Fibromyalgia is a physical condition that can also affect your mood. It is not "all in your head." However, like many people who have chronic pain, people with fibromyalgia are more likely to have depression and may require specific treatment for it.

*Stress and depression can often make fibromyalgia worse. Dealing with the symptoms of fibromyalgia can itself cause stress and depression. This cycle can become very frustrating.

*Fibromyalgia does not cause permanent damage to the muscles or joints. For some people, however, chronic pain does disrupt daily life and makes certain activities more difficult. Home treatment to control your pain and other symptoms may allow you to continue your usual activities.

*Most people can manage their symptoms with the help of their regular doctors. If necessary, seeing a doctor who specializes in treating conditions that affect the joints and muscles (rheumatologist) or a doctor who specializes in physical rehabilitation (physiatrist) may be helpful.

Snow, Snow and More Snow...and oh yeah.. Finals

So it really snowed in St. Louis. More than I have seen since I was a kid and everything seemed big. Here are some photos of our fun in the snow.

Seven Inches.....turning into 9 inches

Chewy...Digs his head into the snow like an ostreich.

Michael is just a big kid.

Shak'n it Covenant Style...Christmas Banquet

Michael and I got the chance to go to the Covenant Christmas Banquet. Here are some pictures.

Michael and I

Isn't He cute...

Laura, Kristy and I....smiles all around.

Our First Christmas....

Christmas is my FAVORITE season! I usually make my house look like christmas threw up in side. Every room has decorations. I love Christmas. So naturally the weekend after Thanksgiving, I was begging my husband to go get a tree.

I would have put up the fake tree I had for 4 years but my cat destroyed it last year. So this year, our first Christmas ....we were going to get a real tree. This I thought would be so fun as I remembered back to when I was 7 years old and went out with the whole family to find the perfect tree at the Tree Farm. We'd cut it down, bring it home and in my mind, it was always perfect.

Many of you might not know this but my husband is brilliant yet has the HARDEST time making decisions. I mean he can pick out a movie or his meal at a restaurant but we spent about an hour going back and forth trying to pick a tree in the FREEZING RAIN. This was not optimal tree picking weather. But gosh darn it ... Thanksgiving was over and I wanted my tree.

We found our tree, stuffing it into the back of my Ford Focus... of course it was hanging out the window... oh yeah ... remember it was raining...and cold and we had a the window down. I love my husband, because at this point he could have been really cranky but he was a trooper for me, because I LOVE Christmas.

We decided not to have them mount our tree in a tree stand. Why pay them $20 to do it when we are two capable college graduates? Its a tree stand... how hard can it be?......Famous last words. This became the decision we wished we could take back. It took us a good hour to get the tree in the stand and wiggling it and moving it to make it straight. I also didn't estimate the size so it took some time to find a place where it would fit and then have to rearrange the furniture so it would fit.....Our tree ended up in the dinning room.

Michael had a volleyball game that night. We started to decorating and I was going to demonstrate my tree decorating skills that I bragged about. I have Christmas music on.... pulling out all my old ornaments. Michael at this point was not so happy and full of the spirit as I would have liked but he did spend 1 hour wrestling the tree. Needles were all over the floor. I had imagined our first Christmas tree as such a joyous time... but it was something Michael was begrudingly participated in. Michael put the star up and then got ready for his volleyball game. ..........

I put the finishing touches on the tree and Michael left. I noticed the unstability of the tree as it was crashing to ground. I think the straw that brought the tree to the ground was the Star. I fell to the ground in a puddle of tears. Our first Christmas tree was in shambles on the ground, ornaments thrown about (some broken), and I didn't know if I could get it back up by myself. In utter frustration.... I threw the tree up, leaning it into the corner and I was Flaming MAD. I tried calling him as I was crying... but he was already playing and didn't answer. It was probably a good thing.

I gave up and picked up the ornaments and waited for Micahel to get home. Michael came home and saw how distraught I was and just laughed and patiently helped me get the tree back up. We really rigged this tree. We put weights on the back to keep it from tipping over and even put pieces of wood under it to see if we could even it out. We started to decorate again... Michael now in the mood I hoped be in when we first started this process. We laughed, told Christmas stories, and hung ornaments. We finished the tree. It had a "gangster lean" to it but it was up.

So we got it up.... got a do over for hanging the tree and survived. I think we're going to get a fake tree for next year though.....

Friday, December 07, 2007

I Know there is a lot I should blog about BUT....

I have so much to blog on ... Mizzou loosing, Michael & I and our first christmas tree, our 6 month anniversary.... but I am feel led to blog about this FIRST....