Hi Family and Friends!

Firstly, thank you all for your love and support it has been so overwhelming but comforting to know you are all out there thinking of me and have me in your prayers and thoughts. I can't tell you how much that means to me, my family...and to my health.

Yes, I'm finally getting down to getting you all updated. I'm so sorry for my haphazard and non-communications about what has been happening over the last couple of months. There are even still some of you I haven't had a chance to update on what is currently happening at all, to you, I truly apologize. But I'm going to use the "sick" card here and hope you all forgive me.(I know shameless!). But with that, I promise to do my best to fix this issue. I've begun this blog (thank goodness Stephanie suggesting this solution!). I solemnly swear to update it at least once a week - but I will try and do better than that. Although, not that I'm hoping to go back - the hospital is not wireless...so there might be black-out periods. But keep your fingers crossed that that isn't the case. It might take me a couple of weeks to get my blog to current status...as I'm starting from "what the heck is Lupus (SLE) and moving forward...I have a bit to catch up on.

I'm going to use this blog to update you all, but also to capture my journey I'm currently traveling on. That is my way of saying, it will be long-winded, probably a bit boring and for those of you with ADD - not something you'll want to read very often...and I understand that. I am going to do the blog in chapters, and I'll post the health score at the top - so you won't have to delve in too far - to find out how I'm doing physically each week.

Health Score/December 15, 2008

1. Most of you know I was diagnosed with Lupus at 18 years old. I went through about 3 years in out of the hospital then. Went into remission for 22 years (med free). Of course, I never thought this would visit me again...but more on that in the blog.
2. I found out on 10/13 that I'm in a Lupus flair again. It is a bit aggressive and my immune system is attacking my kidneys. So we are fighting to save them with a very strong cocktail of drugs. Which of course takes time - so we are waiting and seeing how my body reacts.
3. I'm in no pain...mostly...but due to water retention have cankles. well, that is an understatement. I just got out of the hospital and lost 22 lbs of fluids. ACK!
4. From a vanity perspective, I've lost about 1/2 my hair, my face is round as the moon with break-outs and I'm fluctuating about 20 lbs with the water issue. Good stuff, but taking a back seat to the kidney issues.

So a few disclaimers/notes:

• I'm on a lot of medications which seems to be making all my emotions more extreme. (I'll be using this as a shameless excuse quite often:-)
• I'm generally good spirited...although, my family might be the better judge - as again, I'm on a lot of meds. Still in some shock...and really pissed-off every now and again.
• I do use profanity, especially in relation to medical insurance - I will try and forewarn you on my blog.
• I love, love, love visitors. But sadly we are annihilating my immune system so I have to be careful with infections, germs, bacteria, and generally anything that can make me sick. So for those of you with young children, we will have to make some dates in the future, and for the rest of you that would like to visit, as long as you feel good - so do I.
• If you visit...please bring food/drink. My poor, wonderful parents are tired and probably need your support more than me at this point...since they are doing all the work and I'm high maintenance.
• I'm not so good with the phone, (if you all haven't noticed.) This is going to sound terrible - but going over what is happening each day with everyone is just overwhelming. Hence the blog. Plus the emotional thing is harder to deal with when we are talking on the phone...and I hear your voices. That doesn't mean I'll never call you back, just probably not very quickly.
• Also a note on sharing. If I've left a family or friend out of this loop - please feel confident to forward this blog address. If you'd like to share this with people I don't know - I don't mind at all. I'm not a cloak/dagger, keep-it-close-to-the-vest-kind-of-girl...and the more happy thoughts and prayers that come my way, the better

Here is to hope, love & laughter - and happy holidays!

And thank you all again for "carrying me" (can't resist a little U2 quote in a time like this) in your thoughts and prayers. xo