My Sister Was Here – Hallelujah!

In my April 6 post, I talked about looking for infections.  If I believed strongly in jinxing myself, I would be freaked out, because on April 7 I had to start antibiotics for strep throat.  I have a swollen, red tonsil with a pocket of icky white stuff that isn’t better yet.  I emphasized vigilance [...]

Prednisone, Infections & the Organizing Elf

While I’m thinking about the symptoms related to my therapy, I have to mention the things that I look for after a big prednisone taper.  Every flare gets one, this time only to 25 mg, sometimes to as high as 60 mg, and the side effects are significant. 
If the taper works well it can be [...]

what i’m not doing

“Most of the stuff that got us into trouble was perfectly legal…”  President Obama said that last night.  I missed him on the Tonight Show.  Sleep is very high on my agenda during this flare.  I’m sorry I missed his appearance, because I always feel reassured when I hear him speaking to the public.  I [...]

Uncovering the Elephant

Yesterday a friend announced that she had received her emblem for losing 10% of her body weight in the Weight Watchers program.  First thought, congratulations!  Second thought, why haven’t I been going?  Last summer I looked for a local program and found one a mile from my house.  I checked the meeting times, thought about [...]

…and Then the Bed Fell

Some days I feel heavier than others.  I’m not talking about the number I see on the scales, but the impression my heft makes on the world around me.  Today I made a big impression.  My bed fell.  It went like this:  my daughter asked for some help shaping her eyebrows.  I sat down on [...]

Hummus, Cotton, and the Second Debate

I’m watching the debate.  I’m eating garlic hummus.  I’m thinking about where my Sublime cotton yarn with the low-impact dyes could be.  If Tom Brokaw appeared in the room and told me to prioritize my evening activities, it would start with selectively tuning out McCain.  I don’t need a large television set, or one with [...]

Coming Out of Flare for a Sick Child

I’m watching America’s Got Talent.  The judges and admin have changed the rules, narrowing the field of people who have traveled all the way to Vegas, sending some home before they even perform.  It’s a reminder for me of real life.  Sometimes the rules change.  Sometimes the landscape changes.  Sometimes we change.
 
Last week, my household [...]