I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength. ~ Philippians 4:13
Talk About It Tuesday: How’s the weather?
Can your body tell you when bad weather is on its way? I know mine can! And we ARE NOT crazy!
The skies can still be blue but the achiness starts as soon as the barometric pressure in the environments starts to drop. Why does that happen? Does anyone believe you when you tell them “Bad weather is on its way.” They should listen to you!
A post I never finished in February: Trying to stay positive in a sea of bad news
This was originally written in February, 2012, but was not posted:
One of my main goals with this blog is to encourage others that deal with RA and other chronic conditions. To be honest, I wasn’t feeling like writing after my bad news at the eye doctor earlier this month. 🙁 I just couldn’t get my mind in gear. I was stuck in “woe is me mode.”
Then, I saw my rheumatologist for my quarterly check-up, which came with more bad news. 🙁 I talked to my husband after the appointment, and I was crying. I didn’t know how I could gather my composure. I didn’t know what to do to get back to thinking positive. Then, my husband said, “It’ll be okay. Its always worse in the winter. Spring is coming soon.” [Read more…]
Up Days & Down Days
It is so easy to overdo it with RA. It happens to me all the time. When I feel good, my symptoms are under control for a day (or maybe two if I’m really fortunate), and I have more energy. Those are my “Up Days.”
On those types of days, I find myself working extra hard to get caught back up on things around the house and for my business. I feel like I should go with it and get as much accomplished as I can. I feel almost normal again…
But then… I start to feel a “Down Day” coming on.
Yesterday was an Up Day. I got caught up on laundry, dishes, organized my daugher’s closet, helped her clean her room, polished wood furniture, cooked dinner from scratch, planned the family meals for 3 weeks, and more! I even ironed my husband’s work clothes. He was in shock; I haven’t ironed anything in the better part of a year! I felt like the energizer bunny. [Read more…]
Work a little, Rest a little

Today, I had a good reminder of how NOT to overdo it. There are times with my RA where I simply cannot push myself too hard. It happened again today while I was helping my children clean out their guinea pig cages, as well as later on when I was helping my youngest clean and organize her room.
[Read more…]
Its “THAT” time of year again :(
Winter + Rheumatoid Arthritis = My Annual Season of Sickness…
Every winter I find challenges in managing my RA and staying on my meds. I take Enbrel and Methotrexate shots weekly, which help control pain and inhibit joint damage. Every Spring, Summer & most of the Fall, keeping on my meds schedule is not too bad. But Winter… Winter time means sickness time, which in turn means skipping my shots more than I care to.
The number of times I caught illnesses last year led to many missed dosages. The result? Permanent damage to a thumb joint and a middle finger joint on my right hand, made worse by the fact that I am also right-handed. *sigh* So frustrating.