Please Support My Team for the DC Lupus Walk

Steph's Support Squad Website

I have started a team for the DC Walk to End Lupus Now in the end of April.  My goal is to raise $500 for the team and to get 15 people to walk with me.  We are already on a great start!

I would appreciate ANY help possible.  Maybe you would like to walk with us, or maybe you can donate (anything would be great).  The donations are tax deductible.  Or maybe you can just share the link through social networking sites or email.  Even sharing awareness would help a lot.  I know times are tough so please do not put yourself out.  I am very grateful for all that everyone has done for me already.

Today's Blessing:  Getting admin leave from work to stay home for the packing company to come estimate boxes needed for our move.

Dedicated to My Brother

The other night I posted and I completely forgot to mention the awesome time we had last weekend when my younger brother and his girlfriend came to visit us.  It is hard for me to remember what I want to say when I write these but be assured my brother called me out on it the following day.  They were here for a long weekend to help out and visit Jackson. 

We went downtown San Antonio to the Riverwalk and Alamo.  I am so glad I was able to take Jackson before we move and we got a cute picture in front of the Alamo.  Of course, Jackson didn't seem to be interested in anything but watching the ducks and pigeons.  We drove out to the "Cowboy Capital" Bandera and watched horses on main street.  We went shopping and rented movies.  We went to yummy restaurants and watched the Ravens beat New England.  It was wonderful and I miss them being here to help out.

Special Visitors

Jackson's First Alamo Visit

Playing with Uncle Rob

They were also life savers because they flew my cat back to Maryland.  It is heart breaking to have to give up a pet not because you want to but need to for medical reasons.  I am so thankful he is in a place where he is loved and cared for.  Thanks Mom!

Today's Blessing:  I had a strawberry margarita and it was awesome!


Doc's Last Day in Texas



A Healthy Heart and Liver

Last Friday I went in for my cardiac cath.  I was nervous like I always am when I have to go in for a procedure and it was without reason.   The whole procedure took less than an hour.  It took longer to prep.  I was the first appointment but an ICU case had to kick me back by 20 minutes.  My doctor went in through the artery in my groin (awesome because part of the prep is shaving... yes, its embarrassing but I  was prepared for that).  They gave me some meds to calm me and it must have worked because the whole thing was over before I noticed.  I watched the screens and talked with the techs.  There were about 8 people in the room not including myself and the doctor so needlesstosay I have to add about 11 people to the list of who has seen me naked! 

The worst part of the whole thing is laying flat on your back for so long.  The funniest part was taking my walk around the recovery room with the nurse and seeing about 5 rooms with old men watching me.  I guess I was the only one to keep my curtain pulled... they acted like it was a social gathering.  So, yet again, I am the youngest person at my appointment. 

The doctor also ordered my Echo and it turns out I do have a small whole in my heart.  Apparently a small portion of the population has a whole that doesn't close up after birth.  She also said the pressure between my heart and lungs is 20 (normal is 15-25) so I am good.  Wish the first Echo didn't say it was 50!  So, I should be good to wait for the pulmonary specialist in a few weeks.  Still doesn't explain the pressure in my chest.

My liver doctor called yesterday too.  She says I have a fatty liver and all I can do is loose weight.  I will have to start eating better and working out I guess but maybe my liver hasn't caught up in the fact I just lost a ton of weight!  She said she was concerned about a possible autoimmune hep but that I do not have that.  Still doesn't explain why my stomach always feels full.

Today's Blessing:  My coworker who is watching my pup and our dear friend who is watching my cat while we go find a house!  Very blessed with great friends!

I Love Sundays

This might be my favorite day of the week.  Sundays are super relaxing around here.  This morning Jackson slept in until 7 and then we went on a walk around the block.  I enjoy morning walks because it is still cool outside and no one else is out and about.  Today we walked by the mailbox and around the block the long way.  I was pretty tired when we got back but it felt good.  So two days of walking (outlets yesterday) has got to be good for me.  I made sure to use a lot of sunblock and covered up.  Still getting used to by unhealthy relationship with the sun (thanks Lupus).  On the plus side, I got a new hat at Ann Taylor; it's so cute. 

Sundays are great days to catch up on house cleaning and laundry.  I get a lot of satisfaction when my house is clean.  I guess cleaning makes you feel good because you can see fast results and have control over the process.  With Thanksgiving this week I wanted to make sure our house is at least presentable. 

Wearing sweatpants and slippers all day.  Everyone needs a day a week to do that!  Plus, football means sitting back with the hubby eating some yummy snacks.

It doesn't get better than a lazy Sunday.

Today's Blessing:  I forgot to add a blessing to my last post so I will give two today!  First, having the ability to walk.  Being able to move makes you feel good and its good for you.  Second, finding a few pair of pants that actually fit for work.  I have lost 50 lbs since I had Jackson in April (7 months ago).  I think it is the best thing about getting Lupus.

What a Week

Wow, it was a long hard week.  Just as I am getting rest and recovering from last week I am getting ready to start a new week that will be just as long and hard.  Thank God we have off on Monday so I can get an extra nap in. 

Let me catch you up on some great news.  Friday we took Jackson in for his check up to see how much longer he will be needing to wear his helmet.  He is growing so fast that it looks like he will only need it for 6 more weeks.  If he was a first time patient, they wouldn't even recommend the helmet now because his numbers were so good!  I could tell his head wasn't as flat as it was but it was GREAT to have the doctor confirm it.  Now that will be a wonderful Christmas gift.

Yesterday my husband and I went to our first Lupus support group and it was a good experience.  There were about 10 people and one other guy whose wife was diagnosed with SLE a month ago.  I really enjoyed listening to the ladies share stories about there Lupus.  Some things I haven't experienced yet (hopefully never will) but a lot of the ladies had very similar issues that I have.  We will definitely keep attending. 

And we made it to the zoo.  Jackson was more interested in the kids running around than all the new animals.  He enjoyed the flamingos and alligators.  It was nice to be out walking around and getting fresh air.  We learned that Jackson loves the baby food in the squishy bags.  It is much easier to use those than to have to carry food and a spoon.

Today's Blessing:  Having my Mom here for the weekend.  It was really nice having her here to help with Jackson.  Too bad she is leaving tomorrow.

It's Dracula, No Just Momista

Happy Halloween at Sea World San Antonio

 

This afternoon my husband and I took our 6 month old to Sea World.  Sea World does a nice job for the holidays but I will say this year was a little disappointing as they were lacking some decorations.  I wish there were move characters to get pictures with.  At night the really spooky stuff comes out but would it hurt to have a few more characters for the little ones?  And, what happened to dressing up for the holiday?  I think I could count on my hands how many children had costumes on yet everyone loved Jackson's costume.  That's all part of the fun.

Today I was outside walking for 2 hours!  That's pretty impressive considering I have been pretty much in the house for 2 months (except running some errands here and there).  It felt great to get out in the fresh cool fall air.  I remembered to use my sunblock but I also realized I will probably smell like sunblock for the rest of my life.  Maybe they could make a sunblock that smells like something other than what it is.  Michael Kors sunblock would be wonderful. 

I was pretty worried about the sun but as you can see, I sported a nice hat.  I worry that my fear of the sun will turn me into a vampire lady never wanting to leave the house, waiting for the sun to fall so I can go outside and not worry about a flare up.  I was going to call this post "turning into a lady of the night" but realized that's probably not a good idea.  Definately not what I am going for.

Time to cap off the night with a little American Horror Story (my DVR is going to explode soon if we don't get some shows watched).  Boo!