Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Just woke up about an hour ago (9am) to the much loved faces of Kman, Hannah, and Chuck. How sweet it is to look upon such love.

For breakfast the kids are having Jr. Nutty Buddies. They did have some sliced cantaloupe, so, rounding out their meal. LOL!

Chuck had a large slice of Black Walnut Cake and hot black coffee.

Me, it takes awhile for me to eat after waking.

Going to campground later today. Just chuck, Biff/Odie(little dogs), and me. We will stay for 3 days then come back Thurs to take Hannah to gymnastics and bring her/Kman back to campground for overnight.

I have made alot of goodies to take: Black Walnut Cake, Mexican Soup, Juicy Steaks (to be mixed in rice...my fav Steak/Rice dish), gallon of sweet tea, and a pan Chuc's excellent cornbread.

Hoping to make a pan of Chocolate Almond fudge. If I do that will finish up what I had planned to prepare ahead.

Oh well, just have to wait and see.

am tired since I was up all night cooking. But, I wanted to and had a great time chefing. I will sleep once I get to RV and then wake to a delicious meal for supper.

Now, for a bit more serious news.

I was in hospital Thursday and Friday. Many tests were preformed: MRI, Cat Scan, Stress Test, 11 vials of blood taken, cath urinalysis.

Team of docs came up with final dx...RAD has progressed.

My enternal organs are doing ok, just a question of UTI System pending.

I figured it would progress faster without RAD meds, but really didn't want to hear it.

It is hard for me to wrap my mind around even more pain, overwhelming fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and more homeboundness. But, I have no choice.

I have been feeling the progression for awhile, so wasn't a huge suprise just a bitter pill to swallow.

Friends, always keep in mind RAD is a chronic, "PROGRESSIVE" disease. Even with successful treatments it still progresses only at a slower rate.

Some of us can go years with very slow progression. Some of us have fast progression.

If I could I would take any RAD med given me. The meds are our big guns against a moving target.

I intend, as have been, keeping a clear head and heart no matter what.

Will I rise above this?

Of course, i have had too much training dealing with RAD issues not to.

I am a RAD Warrior. It's in my bones.

Hugs

So sad to hear of the stay in the hospital and the conclusions of the tests. God is with you and will bring you peace beyond all understanding.

Gentle hugs

Libyana

You are very intelligent in your approach to RAD. You have a remarkable connection to your body needs and wants. You are flexible. You are inventive to find new ways to do things. You are resourceful in finding tools to help. You have awareness of the limits. You have developed great trust with a very good team of drs, and you are a good patient because you follow their directions, and take very good care of your physical body. This is a full time job and you are a professional.

And you don't give up, it is not in you. Always up again. Strong heart and mind.

And even bigger than all of that combined, you are loved, so loved. And you love as much. Here we love you so much. Your family loves you beyond measure.

And you are very aware of how much God loves you and each one of us. You don't just know it, you feel it.

You can't have RAD meds for now (i will never give up hope in science to come up with an option) but you have all the rest. You are well equiped for this battle my dear friend. Many hugs

You are wonderful and so inspirational to a newbie like me. I don't see how you manage to do all that you do. I whine about whipping up some scrambled eggs for myself (it really does hurt!) and yet look at all the cooking you do! You are amazing.

Anne

You will rise above with God's help, all things are possible. You are a true warrior,inspiration and beautiful person who is well loved by all who know you, who know your heart.I am sorry to hear about the test results and the progression of this devastating disease. We are all here fighting with you dear friend.

Stay strong,keep fighting, many hugs,

scorpioj

Kim/Petey

Sorry about your sojourn in the hospital (yet again). I know it IS hard to wrap your head around the things this ugly disease does to your body. But remember that it doesn't define YOU. You do what you can, devise ways to get around your problems, rest a lot, and keep that brain active and bright!

I try hard to remember that I have RA - it doesn't have me. It doesn't define me, and doesn't defeat me - it just challenges me. Sometimes I could do without all the challenges. It takes a fighter to persevere, so I guess I'm a warrior, too. I can wrap my head around that better than I can the fact that I have a chronic, progressive, not-going-to-get-any-better disease. It helps that I am Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw with a tad of Scots-Irish thrown in for good measure! I'm stubborn, but I like to laugh!

My mind/heart/soul have accepted and settled down with the prognosis. Just takes me a little while to do things like this.

We are back (for a few days) from camping. It was lovely.

While there, Chuck hung a hummingbird feeder on the tree right next to my window. Now, I can watch them while having to sit inside. We have another one that will be hung on another tree that is close enough to view from my sitting position as well.

I took 3 plants and sat them around the deck. When we go back, in a few days, I have a hanging tomato plant and one on a big bucket to take. There is more spots of sunshine there than here at home. Hannah planted some cantaloupe seeds a few weeks ago and they are growing.

I have so many ideas for our little camp yard and beautiful large deck. Lots of plaants/flowers. birdfeedere, birdhouses, birdbath. solor lights.

Hannha and I drove the golfcart to the open field and watched the deer. It was beautiful to see them in nature.

I know this is strange but it did happen. The last bunch of deer we saw, 4, watched us as we watched them. All of a sudden 3 of the deer charged us. We quickly turned the golfcart around and floorboarded it.

Those 3 deer actually chased us for several seconds before they stopped.

Well, it nearly scared us too death. LOL!

All the good foods I made were not eaten by me. Appetite decided to turn off for awhile. I sure had been looking forward to eating the good foods.

But, I am going to eat a bowl of my Mexican Soup topped with chopped red onions, cilantro (love it),lime juice, greek yougurt(plain), and tortilla strips in it for a late lunch today. I wish i had some avacodo to put in it....Mmmmm...

My strength has always came from God. My love has always came from God.

Thank you Jesus, I love you, too.

Hugs