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My son made this image several years ago, with me holding a soccer ball and him splicing in the actual Times Square New Years Eve countdown ball.
I think he was so clever doing this :)
Now let's see if I can stay awake to see the actual event!
A happy and (more!) healthy New Year to all!
haven't been feeling up to keeping my blog current, many apologies. ;) I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year!
I'm actually doing quite well right now. Have you ever been afraid to say something out loud just in case the world might hear you and everything would go to hell in a handbasket? *ducking*
Right now I am in enrolled in a medical study on heart disease in women with low estrogen and I'm hoping that my participation helps. I also enrolled in the genetic study portion. Do people really refuse that on a regular basis? They seemed delighted that I agreed to join in. ??? I have two daughters and anything I can do to help resolve this mystery medical nightmare is a "good thing".
Have a happy and safe New Year!
This anonymous doctor posted here: http://some-elsie.blogspot.com/
S/he said in part
I think there must be a huge transition point when you realize that chronic relapses and remissions are going to be part of your life - with a lot of struggle and distress beforehand. Also there is the hope things will get better, with just a little more rest, etc. But then you plunge into anger and loss of what was, not knowing what exactly will be.
I continue to work part-time, but I am in a fairly constant state of low grade pain which is incredibly wearing and draining.I've been on full disability for over 5 years, and it was an awful decision to make, but no real choice due to severity of my symptoms. I have kept my license up, hanging on to the thread of hope that some great biologic will come along and put me back in the game.
It is incredibly challenging to look well and have others expect you to function like a normal person. Most people don't know that my round face is not robustness, but Cushing's secondary to long term steroids.
I know how this doctor feels for sure. I don't have what he/she has but I know the feeling of not being able to function well.
I'm hanging on to only 2 piano students, who I usually hope will cancel - or I cancel them - but I'm scared to death of quitting teaching altogether. What if, by some miracle, I do feel better someday? In my mind I know that this is so unlikely because I've felt like this for nearly 30 years but somehow, maybe?
My temporary job is cutting into my energy, too. People just don't understand the need to nap NOW, that I can't do just this little one more thing.
My husband still doesn't get it, either. If not now, when?
I don't think at this stage of the game the Cushing's will come back but there are those aftereffects. The panhypopituitarism, low growth hormone, adrenal insufficiency followed by the removal of one of those low-functioning adrenals.
Whenever there's an ache or pain, I wonder if there's a cancer growing somewhere else, ready to grab my other kidney or worse by moving somewhere else. Will my parent's colon cancer finally strike?
Growing older is the pits but, as they say, it beats the alternative!
Originally posted on Cushings & Cancer
Many of us who face Cushing's know what happens to our vitamin D levels. They drop and we experience the problems caused by the low levels. Many of us fight a lowered immune system and low calcium because of it. It really hampers us and in ways we probably don't even realize. Dr Friedman from Good Hormone Health writes:
Vitamin D appears to have many effects besides being related to calcium and bone health. Some patients with low vitamin D levels have fatigue and bone pain, which is easily reversible with proper replacement of vitamin D. Vitamin D may protect against heart disease and some types of cancer. Vitamin D may also have some role in regulating the immune system and also reducing blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes. Proper vitamin D levels are needed to prevent osteoporosis. In conclusion, proper vitamin D levels are essential for one’s health, especially if you have thyroid problems. Unless a patient is exposed to sunlight or foods containing vitamin D, screening for Vitamin D deficiency is recommended for all thyroid patients.
This new drug caught my attention. I have a disease that suppresses the immune system. The longer it goes on, the worse the immune system can become. Naturally I am quite interested in anything that could possibly help. This drug is a long way off from the average patient. Just knowing that something like this is being worked on is a good feeling. Hopefully it works well and reaches those who need it quickly and safely.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Dec. 19, 2008 - The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Scottsdale Healthcare and Mayo Clinic are testing a new drug that could help cancer patients by stimulating the immune system.
Ever since I can remember, making ornaments for our Christmas trees has been a family tradition. Walk with me down memory lane while I share some of the ornaments which grace my tree this year.
This ceramic angel is probably one of the oldest ornaments on the tree. There were 7 at one time, but one did get broken through the years. I don't remember how. I just remember that it did. There are now 6 of them on my tree. I made these when I was about 11. My mother took a ceramics course and I tagged along with her when she went. At one of the sessions, I was invited to participate and I made the angels with a mold. They were fired and the next session I applied the gold to them. They hung on my parents' tree until I had my own family, and have since hung on our family tree.
My mother is a gifted artist. She is also a gifted seamstress. She combined those to make many ornaments for us through the years. When my daughters were 2 and 5, she made them these beautiful, quilted stockings. It isn't Christmas without them. That's the first thing they grab EARLY on Christmas Day and delight going through now at 23 and 26 just as much as they did when 1 and 4.
Mother's also made many other ornaments on our tree through the years. Most have a special meaning. For instance, the quilted and stuffed cats and rabbits are reminiscent of my girls' love of animals through the years. They had many of each, and I'm surprised there aren't ducks, geese, turkeys, dogs, mice, hamsters, fish, chickens, turtles, frogs, and more. They had those, too.
Other quilted ornaments were lovingly made as the years went by. Quilt squares of all sorts, stuffed and quilted trees decorated with buttons, and many more. Each button on the trees has a story, too, and came from some garment of significance or were leftovers after making such a garment. I smile as I write this because it reminds me of the button jar my mother has full of very old buttons. I started to write I used to love to play with those buttons, but honestly, I still love to play with them.
There are also several cross-stitched pretties on our tree. Again, my mother spent many long hours on those. The angels were made for my girls, one for each. She used her embroidery machine to make some pretty ones, too. Adorning the tree are two sets of ballet slippers which remind us of the years those little feet tripped along the dance floor, gradually growing into much larger feet.
The stained-glass ornaments (see below) were made with kits bought for the girls one year. They glittered softly in the light and fascinated them after they were done. They had to place them "just so" for the most effect.
A long time ago, when I was a child, my maternal grandmother embroidered Christmas balls for each of us. Years later, we made Christmas balls using fabric and styrofoam.
And there are more...so many more. I feel so blessed this Christmas when I remember all the love, sharing, caring, and laughter that has surrounded my family. Our Christmas tree symbolizes that. May you be surrounded with love and laughter this Christmas.
God bless you.
