Fibromyalgia...

I am in a severe Fibromyalgia flare right now so I thought it would be appropriate to share some things. I came across a video a few weeks ago that was very interesting about Fibromyalgia and chronic pain. It is a long video but worth watching. If you know anyone with Fibromyalgia or chronic pain you should watch this video. Since you are reading this blog post you most likely know me so that means you should be watching this video!! I worry often that since fibro can't be seen, people think I am being lazy, overreacting, making excuses, or complaining too much. Those are usually people that are not educated about fibro and what I am actually experiencing. There are many many people with fibro that are on disability and in bed on a daily basis. I am thankful I am not that severe. I try not to complain and then people think I am doing ok. Most do not know what my life is really like. I just want to educate as I am sitting here with leg pain, knee pain, hip pain, side pain, rib/sternum pain, arm pain, back pain, and a migraine. The "fibro fog" is so bad I had to email my professor to have her explain a sentence in a paper I have to write. It took me 20 minutes to write it. I don't understand anything that I understood a few days ago. I can't spell (thank goodness for spell check). My professor is giving me an extension on the paper if I need it even though it isn't due until December 8th. She is educated about fibro and totally understands. That is great! Being too active, not getting enough sleep (I have a sleep disorder), and stress are major triggers for a fibro flare. My sister and step dad have chronic pain so some of the video relates to them as well but it focuses on Fibromyalgia.

You can click on the video to get to it directly on youtube if you want to see it in fullscreen.

The Keeper of the Stars...

I have a little more than one month of school left this semester! It has been a whirl wind of a semester. A lot of things have happened....

• Starting an internship has been super exciting and of course stressful. I love it though. It is hard balancing school and an internship but I'm starting to get the hang of it.
• I managed having cancer and all the scary waiting for test results after each test.
• I got through IV treatments following which I vomited in my car on the way home. It made me quite ill.
  
• I was in the hospital more times than I can count having every test done known to man. You know that when the pain is so bad that Dilaudid (10x stronger than morphine) is used instead of morphine that they knew I was in horrible pain. I get through it! I have such a great support system.
• Charlie developed a very large mass on his belly area and had to have major surgery. He is still healing and has been doing great but he is hanging in there. Both the vet and the pathologist had never seen anything like it before. It was not cancer though!
• Through all this I have been able to maintain my straight A status in school! Don't ask me how. I guess I would just have to say, day by day. I just registered for my last semester of school. Graduation in May! WOO HOO
  
• Also through it all I have had my awesome Brian! He is my rock. Through all the hospital trips I was constantly telling him not to come or to leave when he would show up. I was worried I was going to end up being a burden to him or that he was going to be tired of me being sick all the time. Been there done that. He made it very clear that it would never happen. He would find out where I was and show up and made me promise I wouldn't go to an IV treatment or to the hospital without him again. He has stayed and taken care of me, he has slept on the couch, and even stayed up all night just to check on me.
  
• So Brian and I have an unofficial UN announcement. HA HA Most of you know this anyway. Brian and I are not officially engaged because he has not gotten down on one knee yet (though I expect it in the near future). However, we have tentatively talked about getting married on Friday July 8th at the Mesa, Arizona Temple! Our anniversary is May 8th so the 8th part will be easy to remember and July 8th is on a Friday. We want to get married on a Friday morning. It will be hot outside for pictures so the earlier the better. We will also have time to spend with family on Saturday. For those unable to attend the temple ceremony we will have a ring ceremony before the reception Friday night. We are hoping to go to Prescott Arizona for our honeymoon. We just totally changed our plans on this a few weeks ago. There is a nice Marriott there with gorgeous views and rooms with fireplaces. It will be nice and cool up there during July and great to get out of the heat. One of the coolest things is that Brian's wonderful mother offered me her wedding and engagement rings. Brian's mom and Dad were married for almost 25 years until Brian's father passed away 5 years ago. Brian's mom is now remarried. I am incredibly touched and honored to be able to wear those rings that represent his parents love.
  
• WOW this is getting long. Not blogging for so long and being overly stressed is making me go nuts on here! Finally, the song that Brian and I will most likely dance our first dance as husband and wife to (yes we have a lot planned for not be "engaged")! :) The words are at the bottom for those of you who get a headache from country music (Sisser).
  

Tracy Byrd--The Keeper of the Stars

It was no accident me finding you
Someone had a hand in it
Long before we ever knew
Now I just can't believe you're in my life
Heaven's smilin' down on me
As I look at you tonight

I tip my hat to the keeper of the stars
He sure knew what he was doin'
When he joined these two hearts
I hold everything
When I hold you in my arms
I've got all I'll ever need
Thanks to the keeper of the stars

Soft moonlight on your face oh how you shine
It takes my breath away
Just to look into your eyes
I know I don't deserve a treasure like you
There really are no words
To show my gratitude

So I tip my hat to the keeper of the stars
He sure knew what he was doin'
When he joined these two hearts
I hold everything
When I hold you in my arms
I've got all I'll ever need
Thanks to the keeper of the stars

It was no accident me finding you
Someone had a hand in it
Long before we ever knew

This weekend is actually going to be one of my busiest I've had all semester until finals. I needed a little me time while Brian worked on some homework. He made dinner tonight as well. Well, he put a salad in a bowl for us. I made steak and corn bread last night, but he did do the dishes two days in a row. We make a great team. Good night.