Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Best. Breakfast. Ever.


Well, now.

A whole bunch of beautiful ripe tomatoes were waiting for me on their vines this morning. I stood out in the yard and ate several for breakfast. Delish.


I bought organic tomato starts this year. I wonder if that's why these plants are amazingly healthy? The tomatoes last year were pretty scrawny. Maybe the organic compost that John spaded into the garden spot had plenty to do with those happy plants.


Happy Julia.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

I Know Who They Are, Really.

I should never type in a brain fog.

I have edited the previous post to indicate my daughters by their correct numbers.

Daughter #2 has no desire to leave Seattle and the picture atop the skyscraper is of her and her current workplace.

Daughter # ONE moved to San Francisco.

Sheesh.

The nap will now resume.

No more moving. For at least six months.

To my children: Are y'all happy now? Everyone settled in the perfect apartments? Love your jobs? Yes?

Good. Because your dad and I are NOT moving anyone for awhile.

What a busy weekend. Friday, John and I and Daughter #1 and her boyfriend loaded up all of her STUFF for the final stages of her move to California. The road trip started in Seattle early Saturday morning and ended up in San Francisco late Saturday night.

Yes, this was a crazy idea, but.....it worked. Probably because I invoked good travel vibes by wearing THE NECKLACE. (Shut up, Terese.)


After packing up the vehicles, we took a quick tour of Daughter #2's workplace high atop a downtown Seattle skyscraper. Here's pics from her workspace.


Lake Union in the distance.


Mount Rainier.


Puget Sound.

Yes. Pics all taken from her firm's windows. Yikes. I don't think that I would get any work done if I had an office there. I'd spend all my time gawking out the windows.

We rolled into San Fran later that evening, and began unloading stuff into Daughter #1's new apartment on Sunday morning.


Her windows face this lagoon off of the San Francisco bay. I took this pic from her patio.


Some...or should I say....lots and lots of assembly required.

As every mom knows, it's phenomenally hard to leave your kid in a new place. And although it could be worse, my kids are still scattered from one end of the West Coast to the other. Sniff.....sob.....snerk..... But even though they're far away, I feel so much better about it all when they choose to live in beautiful places.

I left smiling.

By Sunday night, John and I began the trek home but stopped for one night near Shasta Lake. Ahhh. I really want to go back to that area and explore when we have time. I was so zonked after all the hubbub that I couldn't muster up the energy to take pictures. Now that's a real indiction of my energy levels.

On Monday, it was back on the road again. Our final detour of the day was in a small town about two hours south of Portland. The conversation went something like this:

Julia: Are you hungry, honey? We could stop for supper and then be home in no time. Driving driving driving driving...

John: Good idea. What do you want?

I have no clue. Just pick something. Anything. Find it on the navigation thingie and just tell me when to take the exit.

Beep....scroll scroll scroll.....click click click.....How about a BBQ place?

Sounds great. Set it as a destination on Garmin and let's roll.

Drive drive drive drive drive......

We should have been there by now. What?! Garmin says ARRIVING AT DESTINATION? Good grief. There's no restaurant in sight. Restaurant? Do YOU see a restaurant?!?

Grumble grumble grumble grumble.

Hey! There's a covered bridge! Oooohhh. Aaaahhhh. Wait a MINUTE. The sign said that it's a centennial bridge, but it also says that it was constructed in the 1990's. Hm. Not old - but gorgeous.


The bridge has a restaurant named after it, let's eat there.

Suspicious silence.

Oh, c'mon. I don't trust Garmin to find us another restaurant. Let's give it a shot.

Good choice: Local, fresh, pan-fried oysters, crisp warm baguettes, spring greens salad with fresh raspberry vinaigrette, perfectly steamed asparagus spears, and followed by a chocolate ice cream sundae topped with candied almond slivers enjoyed with steaming coffees. The bonus? Early bird special prices at eleven dollars a meal. Unbelievable.


No other food pics. I gobbled it up all too quickly.


Gorgeous cool evening. Do I HAVE to get back in the car?

Drive drive drive drive drive drive....

Fabulous to be home. If there's not a new post tomorrow, know that I would still be drooling and snoring into my pillow.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Cruisin'

John and I are zooming our way back home from California.See y'all tomorrow.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Sunday Chuckle

Enjoy this tribute to all of those As Seen On TV products: Doing It Wrong:

Saturday, August 27, 2011

iJulia

I decided to include the power cord in this pic since I run the battery out twice a day. 

Yes, it's true. I've officially joined this decade and am now the proud owner of an iPhone.

Wait. Maybe the word confused should be substituted for proud in that sentence.

These things are amazing, as everyone else in the whole wide telecommunications world knows. My friend Bev and I met for lunch yesterday and I waved my phone at her in frustration.

How do these stinkin' things work?!? I can make a call and I can send messages but there's so much else I could be doing with it but I have absolutely no clue!

Bev snorted in agreement. We were eating at her favorite restaurant, El Pollo Loco. She and I are some of the original members of a mom's group dubbed the Mocha girls from about twelve years ago. We decided that since we were charter members, we have the right to rename our coffee group the Loco girls instead. We've moved on from mochas...

As usual, I digress. Sorry.

Anyway, we both confided that we were slightly intimidated to ask our tech savvy families and friends more about the workings of these ridiculously talented phones. We figured they didn't need any more proof of our battiness than they already knew. So we sat sipping sodas and handing each other's phones back and forth over the shrapnel of our lunches.

So how do you un-install that thing I bought from the app store that was really stupid? Oh, cool!

Wait....you have Angry Birds? I want that!

Have you actually turned your phone all the way off? Oh, hey! So that's the way you do it. Girl.....you're a lifesaver.

We started speaking in low conspiratorial tones, but as our discussion went on and we realized that we could swap info with each other without feeling too stupid, the volume of our voices went up and up and UP and........then I realized that the two tables near ours was filled with teenagers. Very amused teenagers listening to us shout with glee over each new tidbit of information.  I can just image what they were thinking: Get a load at the two senior citizens figuring out their phones. Hilarious.

They're right. But we had fun.

Powah to the iPhone-toting-old-ladies! There should be an app for that....

Friday, August 26, 2011

Thursday, August 25, 2011

What Else Are You Looking For, Little Guy?

Image found here. 

A few days ago, I found myself in the candy aisle of the Dollar Tree store. 

Imagine that. The candy aisle. Just browsing, you understand.

As I stood there debating whether to take home the gummy bears or the Snickers candy bars (the Snickers won), a little four or five year old boy raced up the aisle. He was followed by a young woman who looked very tired and very pregnant. The blonde haired little guy tugged at his mom's t-shirt and waved a cellophane bag of brightly colored gum balls in the air. "Mom! I found 'em! I found 'em! I've been looking for these for my WHOLE LIFE!" he shouted.

I chuckled. Now that's one of the cutest things I've heard a kid say in ages, I thought. And certainly one of the best arguments ever for buying candy.

"Put that down!" said the mother angrily. "I'm not gettin' you nothin'. We can't afford it."

The little boy looked briefly disappointed but not surprised. He circled his mom's shopping cart continuing to chatter. It seemed that he had heard that response before.

I took a dollar out of my purse and walked toward the little boy. I bent down and handed him the bill while looking questioningly at his mother. "Here. Go buy what you've been looking your WHOLE LIFE for!"

The young woman reluctantly nodded her permission to the child and shrugged her shoulders. "Take it. But I didn't give it to you, remember", she said crossly.

"Gramma!" he shouted as another woman walked up to the pair. "Look what that GIRL gave me!"

Girl. Hah!

I quickly pushed my cart around the corner and strolled through the store while listening to Gramma explain to the little boy that he could only have one thing - but that one thing could be anything in the store. Anything. Little Boy squealed with excitement and raced between the toy and candy aisles.

So: If anyone posts a "Wow what a wonderful thing to do, Julia" comment regarding this, I swear I'll delete it.

Because I didn't feel wonderful at all.

As I headed for the cashier, I felt incredibly sad. I don't know if this mom actually didn't have a dollar to spare. I don't know if Mom was just having a really bad day. I don't know if Mom was worried what someone else would think when Little Boy came home with candy. What I do know is this child is accustomed to being treated by his parent as though he didn't deserve a dollar's worth of treats, which seemed to me one of the most tragic situations that I could imagine.

I left the store helplessly wondering if I should have given that mom a stern child-rearing lecture. (Yeah. Inappropriate, I know...). Or given her money to buy groceries. Or the phone number of our church's food pantry and gas voucher program. Or the number of a domestic abuse hot-line.

But I didn't do any of those things. What is wrong with me?

And us?

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Daughter Number Two

Photo by Pat Little found here. 

My daughter number two shared a story with me recently, and it's too good not to share.

It has occurred to me that I have written very little about Daughter #2. Which is not to say that she's any less loved or chock-full of personality than my other two kids.

Quite the contrary.

D2.....ah, D2...... defies description. She's just a little bitty thing graced with glossy dark brown hair and beautiful brown eyes. At first glance, she appears to be a very docile young lady. But look closer - yes, yes...there it is.....the twinkle in her eyes. This kid is the embodiment of the word impish. Always has been.

The youngest of my three, she has been fussed over and yes, spoiled rotten. She walked and talked later than my other two because there always were four other people in the house at her beck and call. All she had to do was point in the general direction of whatever she wanted and we all went running.

But in spite of all of our attention, she remains remarkably un-diva like. And, like my other two kids, has developed her own brand of wickedly sharp humor, which contrasts with her demure looks.

D#2 told me this story which is a perfect example of our family's weirdo brand of humor:

This little imp works for a large company in downtown Seattle in a very, very tall building near Puget Sound. The firm takes great interest in a peregrine falcon pair that nests on one of the ledges of their building, which is pretty danged awesome, if you ask me.

So she and a co-worker were preparing a conference room for an important meeting hosting several employees from across the country. It was a beautiful day and the large windows in the conference room showed a spectacular view of the Seattle skyline.

The meeting commenced with introductions and pleasantries, and as the group moved into some serious discussions, one of the peregrines landed on a ledge directly in front of the conference room window.

Awwww.......said everyone. Until.....

....the peregrine began disemboweling it's prey. The group watched in horror as the falcon happily eviscerated a small grey pigeon.

D#2's shoulders shook with laughter as she described the scene. Our family collapsed into guffaws as each of the kids began to theorize business lessons to be learned from this display.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH US?!? Sigh.

I recently asked Daughter #2 to write a guest post. And although I would disagree with her about her bratty teenage years (she was typical of all three of my kids), here is her post in it's entirety:

Hello fellow wanderers of the endless blog-o-space! This is Julia's daughter number two.

As many of you will undoubtedly notice, my writing skills aren't nearly as up to par as my mother's or sister's. Readers, the writer of this post has the attention span of a small insect. There may be some tangents. Perhaps. Maybe.

I'd like to begin by saying that my mother, to me, is amazing. An amazing nurse, piano teacher, Halloween costume maker, gingerbread house decorator, inconsolably sobbing daughter consular, earwax swabber, Christmas Butt wiper (ask my mom about that sometime), and mother.

By the way, did I mention that my mom made me a teenage-mutant-ninja-turtle suit one year? Awesome.

One thing that makes my mom particularly incredible is the fact that, as she was feeling the worst of the effects of Sjogren's, she was taking the time to raise a particularly surly, boy obsessed, self-conscious, drama-plagued teenage girl (me).

I specifically remember the day when I realized that something was seriously wrong with  Mom. She had come home from her job at the Alzheimer's facility, completely exhausted, rubbing her neck.

"I think I may be coming down with the mumps," she muttered.

At the time, I was a sophomore in high school. Along with the loss of energy, dry mouth, and other symptoms,  my mom had to deal with all the things that come along with raising a teenage girl: the arguments over the neckline of a dress, ("It's NOT too low, Mom!!") to finishing schoolwork ("I'll get the report done, Mom, I swear!") to a never-ending river of teenage drama. (HEEEE DUUUMMMMPPPPEEED MEEEEEEEE!!! ILL NEEEEEVER LOOOOOVE AGAIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNN!!!!!)


Through it all, even through her "low energy days," my Mom was there for me.

I do remember it being hard. For both of us.

One of the things that was hardest was simply not knowing what was going on. I remember overhearing conversations between my mom and dad; catching bits and pieces, "Syndrome," "Auto-immune", and such, got me really scared, and I knew that my mom was scared too.

Now that we know what is going on in that immune system of my Mother's, things are considerably less scary, although I do admit to being the queen of worrywarts. My mom has taken this disease with grace, patience, and a great dose of humor.

My sister wrote earlier that the dark thought of possibly getting Sjogren's some day enters her head. I also occasionally get a scary idea...that my Mom's Sjogren's syndrome was a direct result of the stress I had put her under.

I know now that, while I was quite the brat, that notion is totally not true.

I can kind of, KIND OF, understand what Momma goes through. About two years ago, I was diagnosed with BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo). Knowing that nurse Mom was only a short drive away, I came home for the "mom exam."

I remember whimpering, "I just want this to go away! Why won't it go away??", and my mother saying to me, "Honey, trust me, I know. It's probably not going to go away. But it's going to be okay."

After two years, with the help of nurse Mom, I've been able to learn what triggers my vertigo and what can help it. I take comfort in knowing that BPPV is supposed to get progressively better, rarely ever requires the use of heavy medication, and has the advantage of an entertainment value: when I get a bout, I can sit on my bed, tilt my head back and toward the affected ear, put my hands in the air and pretend to be on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride :-P

I'm not going to even dream of equating the fact that the room spins for about thirty seconds if I tilt my head up and to the left, to the fact that my Mom's immune system is attacking her body. But at the very least, knowing that my mom GETS it in regards to having a chronic illness (although I'm not sure I could refer to vertigo as an illness) is a great comfort.

Ladies and gentlemen, the woman who writes this blog is the greatest mom ever. On behalf of all of us, I want to thank you all for being all so awesome! Reading your encouraging and insightful comments is a joy for me, my mom, and our family.

DNT out.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

More on Generics vs Name Brand Drugs

Photo mine. I should have taken off all the stupid foil from the top of the bottle. Dang. 

My post Go To Be in the Know was gifted with this useful comment yesterday. A reader had asked a question regarding the side effects of name brand vs generic drugs. I was able to supply a few sources that I use to do medical literature research, but had very little personal experience with the issue. Ah, but it's a very good thing that my readers are such knowledgeable people:

I am a certified managed care nurse and worked pharmacy prior authorization for a few years. When it comes to approving brand name over generic, we would ask if the generic had been tried by at least 2 manufacturers, as the inactive ingredients would be different. You can ask your pharmacy to look back in the claims to see if you have tried more than one manufacturer. If you try another and still have GI symptoms, your insurance company may grant an authorization for the brand. You can call them and see if this would be acceptable. If this doesn't work, I would recommend the appeals process, as I saw a lot of denial overturned on appeal. 

Thanks for the information.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Fault Lines

Seismograph image found here. 

Sheila left this comment on yesterday's post:

..........Wow! Do you ever feel overwhelmed? Just reading about it made me wonder how you stay positive.

It's kind of ironic that her comment about my positive attitude was made on a day that I was throwing another of my I hate my disease hissy fits.

I've been teetering on the edge of a nasty fare for the last few days, and sleeping a zillion hours a day isn't making things better. I'm cranky and grumpy and forgetful and, well.....Sheila....trust me.

I'm not always positive. Some days I'm a literal black hole of negativity.

I hope that I haven't given the impression that things are always sweetness and light over here at my house, because in all honesty they're not. Low energy may make me appear happily goofy in it's early stages, but if I hit rock bottom on the energy meter, let me make it clear that my behavior becomes downright cantankerous before I fall into bed and become comatose for several hours. And when I'm cantankerous, I am irritated by everything and everyone. I hate my body and despise my disease at the top of my lungs.

It's not nice and it's not pretty. Seriously.

Early on, I used to look back on my tantrums and feel guilty, but actually I don't anymore. I have learned that this is something that I need to do - to blow off steam. To stomp and roar and let my frustrations out. I am certain that if I didn't tantrum occasionally, eventually I would explode somehow, kind of like a geologic fault line that lets rip with an earthquake. Hm. An earthquake is actually a very good metaphor for this discussion. I wonder if I'm a subduction tectonic plate? Or a dip-slip, strike-slip, or oblique fault?

I figure as long as I do it in private and I don't inflict mental, structural, or bodily harm to myself or others as a result of my hissy fit, well..... I'm just doing what I need to do to stay sane through it all. I have my moment of rage and then take a long nap, after which I inevitably wake up feeling better.

My point is, and actually I do have one, is that if you feel overwhelmed or angry or frustrated by the changes in your body and life, these emotions are normal. Anyone who claims that they have never had a moment of anger or frustration as a result of their disease simply isn't telling the truth.

I try very hard to have my seismic incidents out of sight and ear-shot of others, so for those that don't see me regularly, I may appear cheerful and calm overall. Don't be deceived, however. I have my moments, and so should you. Head into your closet, shut the door, and yell into the stack of winter coats stashed in there: THIS IS NOT FAIR AND I AM NOT HAPPY! Take a deep breath and let all your tensions release.

Well, take a deep breath if your winter coats smell pleasant, that is...if not find a different closet in which to vent.

A post-hissy fit piece of chocolate is also quite therapeutic.

I think I'm glad that we have earthquake insurance.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis And Autoimmune Disease

Public domain image found here. 

I am a collector.

Of autoimmune diseases. I've posted extensively about my Sjogren's syndrome, psoriatic arthritis and asthma. But I haven't discussed the very first item in my collection: Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

I was tested for and diagnosed with hypothyroidism - a condition in which the thyroid gland produces less than normal levels of thyroid hormone - about two years before I was tested for Sjs. It's interesting to note that several of the symptoms of hypothyroidism are similar to those of Sjs:


  • Constipation
  • Being more sensitive to cold
  • Depression
  • Fatigue or feeling slowed down
  • Heavier menstrual periods
  • Joint or muscle pain
  • Paleness or dry skin
  • Thin, brittle hair or fingernails
  • Weakness
  • Weight gain (unintentional)


One of my doctors has speculated that the causative factor for my lazy thyroid is probably Hashimoto's thyroiditis, especially since I began accumulating other autoimmune diseases soon thereafter.

The association between thyroid disease and systemic autoimmune diseases has been well studied and documented. You can read more about this relationship here. In a nutshell, the research showed an increased incidence of thyroid disease in those with autoimmune diseases as compared to the general population.

In my case my TSH - or thyroid stimulation hormone - and T4 - thyroxine - labwork indicated hypothyroidism and I began taking medications to boost my thyroid hormone levels. My TSH levels are re-tested annually to monitor my thyroid function and determine my Synthroid (levothyroxine) dosage.

Womenshealth.gov, a project of the U.S. Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health, has created an excellent fact sheet that discusses all things Hashimoto's. I have copied it within this post, but a PDF version can be seen here.

Hashimoto's Disease


The information on our website is provided by the U.S. federal government and is in the public domain. This public information is not copyrighted and may be reproduced without permission, though citation of each source is appreciated.

What is Hashimoto's disease?

Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. It also is called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (theye-royd-EYET-uhss). The thyroid is a small gland in the front of the neck. The thyroid makes hormones called T3 and T4 that regulate how the body uses energy. Thyroid hormone levels are controlled by the pituitary, which is a pea-sized gland in the brain. It makes thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which triggers the thyroid to make thyroid hormone.

With Hashimoto’s disease, the immune system makes antibodies that damage thyroid cells and interfere with their ability to make thyroid hormone. Over time, thyroid damage can cause thyroid hormone levels to be too low. This is called an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism (heye-poh-THEYE-royd-ism). An underactive thyroid causes every function of the body to slow down, such as heart rate, brain function, and the rate your body turns food into energy. Hashimoto’s disease is the most common cause of an underactive thyroid. It is closely related to Graves’ disease, another autoimmune disease affecting the thyroid.

What are the symptoms of Hashimoto's disease?

Many people with Hashimoto’s disease have no symptoms for years. An enlarged thyroid, called a goiter, is often the first sign of disease. The goiter may cause the front of the neck to look swollen. You or your doctor may notice the goiter. If large, it may cause a feeling of fullness in the throat or make it hard to swallow. It rarely causes pain.

Many people with Hashimoto’s disease develop an underactive thyroid. They may have mild or no symptoms at first. But symptoms tend to worsen over time. Symptoms of an underactive thyroid include:

Fatigue
Weight gain
Pale, puffy face
Feeling cold
Joint and muscle pain
Constipation
Dry, thinning hair
Heavy menstrual flow or irregular periods
Depression
A slowed heart rate
Problems getting pregnant

Who gets Hashimoto's disease?

Hashimoto’s disease is about 7 times more common in women than in men. It can occur in teens and young women, but more commonly shows up in middle age. People who get Hashimoto’s disease often have family members who have thyroid or other autoimmune diseases. People who get Hashimoto’s disease sometimes have other autoimmune diseases, such as:

Vitiligo (vit-ihl-EYE-goh) — a disease that destroys the cells that give your skin its color

Rheumatoid arthritis  — a disease that affects the lining of the joints throughout the body

Addison’s disease — a disease that affects the adrenal glands, which make hormones that help your body respond to stress and regulate your blood pressure and water and salt balance

Type 1 diabetes — a disease that causes blood sugar levels to be too high

Graves’ disease — a disease that causes the thyroid to make too much thyroid hormone

Pernicious (pur-NISH-uhss) anemia — a disease that keeps your body from absorbing vitamin B12 and making enough healthy red blood cells

Lupus — a disease that can damage many parts of the body, such as the joints, skin, blood vessels, and other organs

What causes Hashimoto's disease?

Many factors are thought to play a role in getting Hashimoto’s disease. These include:

Genes. Some people are prone to Hashimoto’s disease because of their genes. Researchers are working to find the gene or genes involved.

Gender. Sex hormones also might play a role. This may help to explain why Hashimoto’s disease affects more women than men.

Pregnancy. Pregnancy affects the thyroid. Some women have thyroid problems after having a baby, which usually go away. But about 20 percent of these women develop Hashimoto’s disease in later years. This suggests that pregnancy might trigger thyroid disease in some women.

Too much iodine and some drugs may trigger the onset of thyroid disease in people prone to getting it.

Radiation exposure has been shown to bring on autoimmune thyroid disease. This includes radiation from the atomic bomb in Japan, the nuclear accident at Chernobyl, and radiation treatment of Hodgkin’s disease (a type of blood cancer).

How do I find out if I have Hashimoto's disease?

If you have symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease, your doctor will do an exam and order one or more tests. Sometimes, routine screening of thyroid function reveals a mildly underactive thyroid in a person with no symptoms. Tests used to find out if you have Hashimoto’s disease include:

Thyroid function tests.  A blood test is sent to a lab to see if your body has the right amount of TSH and thyroid hormone (T4). An above normal level of TSH is a sign of an underactive thyroid. When the thyroid begins to fail, the pituitary makes more TSH so as to trigger the thyroid to make more thyroid hormone. For a while, the thyroid can keep up, and the blood test will show slightly higher TSH levels with normal T4 levels. This is called subclinical hypothyroidism. But over time, the damaged thyroid cannot keep up, and T4 levels will drop below normal while TSH levels are high.  
Antibody test. A blood sample is sent to a lab to look for antibodies that suggest Hashimoto’s disease. Most people with Hashimoto’s disease will have specific antibodies that people with other causes of an underactive thyroid do not have. Some people have the antibodies seen with Hashimoto’s disease, but have normal thyroid function. Having only the antibodies does not cause any symptoms.

Hashimoto’s disease can be harder to diagnose during pregnancy. For one, Hashimoto’s disease has many of the same symptoms as normal pregnancy, such as fatigue and weight gain. Yet untreated underactive thyroid during pregnancy may affect the baby’s growth and brain development. So make sure to tell your doctor if you have symptoms of thyroid problems.

How is Hashimoto's disease treated?

Hashimoto’s disease responds well to treatment. It is treated with a single daily tablet of levothyroxine (lee-voh-thye-ROKS-een). This is a manmade form of T4 thyroid hormone. It also is called thyroid replacement therapy because it restores back to normal the T4 that the damaged thyroid can no longer make. It almost always needs to be taken for the rest of a person’s life and in the same manner each day.

Thyroid replacement medication comes in different amounts. The exact dose depends on:

Age
Weight
Severity of the underactive thyroid, if present
Other health problems
Use of other medicines that can interact with levothyroxine

When you start treatment, you will need a follow-up TSH test so your doctor can fine-tune your dose. Thyroid hormone acts very slowly in the body, so it can take several months after the start of treatment for symptoms to go away and goiter to shrink. If the dose is too strong, thyroid hormone levels will become too high. This is called hyperthyroidism. Too much thyroid hormone can cause heart problems and bone loss. So finding the right dose is important.

Once the TSH level is normal, your doctor will need to see you less often. Most people have a thyroid checkup and TSH test once a year. Usually, the same treatment dose works for a long time and often does not need to be adjusted until a person’s 70s or 80s. Yet, the dose may need to be changed in some cases, such as with pregnancy, heart disease, or if using menopausal hormone therapy.

Whether to treat a mildly underactive thyroid without symptoms is an area of debate. Hashimoto’s disease is the cause in most cases. Many doctors feel that treatment can help these patients. Treatment will keep symptoms from starting. Also, some studies have shown that a mildly underactive thyroid can increase the risk of other health problems, including heart disease. We don’t know yet if treating a mildly underactive thyroid will lower these risks. But some studies have shown thyroid hormone treatment might protect against heart disease. If a screening test reveals you have a mildly underactive thyroid without symptoms, talk to your doctor about your options.

What would happen if Hashimoto's disease is not treated?

Without treatment, Hashimoto’s disease may progress and symptoms of an underactive thyroid can get worse. An untreated underactive thyroid can cause further problems, including:

Infertility
Miscarriage
Giving birth to a baby with birth defects
High cholesterol

Severe underactive thyroid called myxedema (mik-suh-DEE-muh) can very rarely lead to:

Heart failure
Seizures
Coma
Death

Does pregnancy affect the thyroid?

Normal hormone changes during pregnancy cause thyroid hormone levels to increase. The thyroid may enlarge slightly in healthy women during pregnancy, but not enough to be felt. These changes do not affect the pregnancy or unborn baby. Yet, untreated thyroid problems can threaten pregnancy and the growing baby. Symptoms of normal pregnancy, like fatigue, can make it easy to overlook thyroid problems in pregnancy. So if you have symptoms of an underactive thyroid or notice a goiter, make sure to tell your doctor.

Thyroid hormone is vital during pregnancy. The unborn baby’s brain and nervous system need thyroid hormone to develop. During the first trimester, the baby depends on the mother’s supply of thyroid hormone. At 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy, the baby’s thyroid begins to work on its own. But the baby still depends on the mother for iodine, which the thyroid uses to make thyroid hormone. Pregnant women need about 250 micrograms (mcg) of iodine a day. Some women might not get all the iodine they need through the foods they eat or prenatal vitamins. Choosing iodized salt — salt that has had iodine added to it — over plain table salt is one way to ensure you get enough iodine. Also, prenatal vitamins that contain iodine are recommended.

Some women develop thyroid problems in the first year after giving birth. This is called postpartum thyroiditis (theye-royd-EYET-uhss). It often begins with symptoms of an overactive thyroid, which last 2 to 4 months. Mild symptoms might be overlooked. Most women then develop symptoms of an underactive thyroid, which can last up to a year. An underactive thyroid needs to be treated. In most cases, thyroid function returns to normal as the thyroid heals.

Do I need a thyroid test if I become pregnant?

Experts have not reached agreement on whether all pregnant women should be routinely screened for thyroid problems. But, if an underactive thyroid with or without symptoms is found during pregnancy, your doctor will treat you to lower your risk of pregnancy problems. An underactive thyroid without symptoms occurs in 2 to 3 in every 100 pregnancies. If you want to become or are newly pregnant, talk to your doctor about thyroid screening.

I have Hashimoto's disease and want to have a baby. What should I do before I try to get pregnant?

Women being treated for Hashimoto’s disease can become pregnant. But make sure your pregnancy is planned. Thyroid function must be well-controlled before you get pregnant.

Untreated or poorly treated underactive thyroid can lead to problems for the mother, such as:

Preeclampsia (pree-ee-CLAMP-see-uh)
Anemia
Miscarriage
Placental abruption
Postpartum bleeding

It also can cause serious problems for the baby, such as:

Preterm birth
Low birth weight
Stillbirth
Birth defects
Thyroid problems

Talk to your doctor about how to prepare for pregnancy or about birth control if you do not want to become pregnant.

How is Hashimoto's disease treated during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, you may need to see both your OB/GYN and an endocrinologist (en-doh-krih-NOL-uh-jist), a doctor who treats people with hormone problems. Levothyroxine is safe to use during pregnancy and necessary for the health of the baby. Women with Hashimoto’s disease or an underactive thyroid who are taking levothyroxine before pregnancy may need a higher dose to maintain normal thyroid function. Thyroid function should be checked every 6 to 8 weeks during pregnancy. After you have your baby, you will likely go back to your pre-pregnancy dose.

Can I breastfeed if I am using thyroid replacement therapy?

Levothyroxine does pass through breast milk. But it is not likely to cause problems for the baby. Also, you may not be able to make breast milk if your thyroid is underactive. Your doctor can help you decide what is best for you and your baby.

More information on Hashimoto's disease:

For more information about Hashimoto's disease, call womenshealth.gov at 800-994-9662 (TDD: 888-220-5446) or contact the following organizations:

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc. 
Phone: 586-776-3900; Toll-Free: 800-598-4668 (for literature requests)
American Thyroid Association 
Phone: 800-THYROID (849-7643)
National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service, NIDDK, NIH, DHHS 
Phone: 888-828-0904
New York Thyroid Center 
Phone: 800-543-2782; 212-305-0442
The Hormone Foundation 
Phone: 800-HORMONE (467-6663)

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Study Links Stroke to Processed Meat Intake

Image of wienermobile found here.  

I read with interest the results of this study posted on Medscape Medical News yesterday:
August 19, 2011 — The largest study to date on the relationship of stroke to red meat consumption suggests higher intake of processed meat, but not fresh red meat, is associated with an increased risk for stroke, including cerebral infarction.....The findings suggest meats that consumers often think are healthier, such as low-fat deli turkey, ham, and bologna, may actually increase the risk for stroke if intake is high enough, the study authors note. 
Interesting. And to think that as a kid, my siblings and I would complain about the home grown foods gracing our family's dinner table.

What? Roast beef (Grass fed, antibiotic and hormone free black angus, raised by Dad on our farm and neatly packaged in white paper parcels by our local butcher) and potatoes (grown without pesticides in Mom's garden behind the tool shed) again?? Aw, gee...

Hot dogs were a rarity at our house. As was bologna or ham loaf that came out of those square yellow and clear plastic containers hanging enticingly in the grocery's deli section. All the other kids get to eat bologna. And on Wonderbread, too, not homemade bread! (made from scratch by Mom twice a week). Grumble grumble grumble.

Do we hafta eat this chicken? (free range, antibiotic and hormone free, and butchered by Mom plus whatever kid she could intimidate into helping) But my friends are going to McDonalds!!

It was abuse, I tell ya. What were my parents thinking?

Friday, August 19, 2011

Real Strength

Yesterday my friend Bev called. She wanted to know if she could kidnap me for the day. I said, Heck yeah! And so off we went.

Bev is one of the busiest women I know these days. She's mom to six adult kids, has a zillion grandkids, and has her mother living with her. Bev's mom is in the middle stages of Alzheimer's disease and requires 24/7 monitoring.

I can't imagine what it must be like to be on that kind of schedule. Bev's mom actually follows her into the bathroom some days....she needs constant reassurance and attention. As does Bev's husband and family, five chickens, two mini daschunds, and one border collie puppy.

Zoiks.

Overall, although stressed, somehow Bev manages to keep her head above water and her sense of humor intact. But then there's days when her life's stresses accumulate and she knows that she needs a hall pass to spend a whole day doing whatever she wants.

Lucky me, she always opts to take me along once she's arranged care for her mother.

We headed out in the morning, grabbed a Starbucks, and then pointed her car south on I-5. It was a beautiful sunny day, we were chattering non-stop, and for just a few hours, I could see her cares and worries just melt away.

Later that afternoon as she pulled up into my driveway, I hopped out of the car and hugged her.

What an amazing woman. I'm so lucky to be her friend.

Image found here.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

It is NOT a bottle opener...

And it doesn't look like a referee whistle, either. Image found here. 

About a month ago, my friend Susan and I went shopping.

Susan is one of those people that always look disgustingly good. Her hair always looks good, her nails manicured, has beautiful jewelry, her makeup perfect, and she wears coordinating outfits EVERY SINGLE DAY. If she's out in the grocery store, she looks good. If she's doing housework, she looks good. I can't say for certain, but I'd guess that her jammies, bathrobe and slippers match too...

If she wasn't such a nice person I'd hate her.

I asked her how she always manages to look so put together. She said, "It's easy. Just have some basic wardrobe pieces that you can count on and then accessorize, accessorize, accessorize."

Accessorize?

"Yeah. A good blouse and well fitting pair of jeans will look totally different if you add scarves or necklaces or whatever. Makes it looks like a completely new outfit. Just switch up your accessories."

Hmm. Good idea.

I asked her to be my personal shopper for the next hour or so and we had great fun picking out a few pieces of inexpensive jewelry and a couple scarves. The next day I slipped one of my new necklaces over my head and strutted off to church.

Hello, everyone. Notice I'm wearing a silver necklace? Yes, yes, y'all may bask in my fabulous accessory-ness.....

So later that day, Terese asked me why I wore a silver referee whistle to Mass. I indignantly replied that I DID NOT WEAR A WHISTLE. Greg volunteered that he thought my fabulous new accessory was a bottle opener hanging around my neck.

Good grief in a bucket. Har, har, har, guys.

They could. not. let. it. go.

So when Terese and Greg showed up the next day to eat my fabulous lemon merengue pie (see my previous post with the fabulous picture...), this was hanging around Terese's neck:


People. Do YOU think that this:


...looks like this?


Um. Actually, I guess it kind of does. Although I think that the dental floss pick is a bit much.

I love my weirdo friends.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Go To Be In The Know

Image found here

A reader recently sent this interesting question:
I was reading your blog today while completing a search for information on increased patient reactions -- GI, skin, etc -- to hydroxychloroquine vs. brand name plaquenil. I am currently in an appeals process with my insurance to obtain the brand over generic for this drug.  I was hoping that given your background and interest in sjogrens and other autoimmune topics, you might know of a journal article relating to this topic. I have seen lots of individuals blog in various areas about problems that they have had with the generic that are not a problem when their physician switches them to the brand. 
I was diagnosed with sjogrens about 9 months ago and was stable on Plaquenil. However, with the insurance not covering the brand, tried the generic and then suffered GI problems that were absent on the brand. Any suggestions of places to look for validated information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Great question.

Have you ever used an internet search engine to find answers to medical questions? Well, of course you - and I - have. It's a logical and an easy way to begin the search for those answers.  But we all know that for every reputable medical information source, there's at least ten other questionable sites.

It appears to me that the reader is looking for reputable studies that confirm or disprove her experience that the generic version of plaquenil caused increased GI side effects.

Here's some of my favorite go-to sites when I begin a scientific literature search. Keep in mind that these sites are written for medical professionals and the terminology reflects this. It's a good idea to print out a copy of any study information that you wish to discuss with your doctor, so that she/he can see the date, study authors, and journal that published the study, in addition to the study methods and conclusions. Your doctor will be able to help you correctly interpret the data presented in these studies.

ALWAYS discuss your concerns with your doctor, and never stop or start taking medications or supplements based on information from these studies without your health care provider's permission.

PubMed: US National Library of Medicine/National Institutes of Health: "PubMed comprises more than 21 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites."

Google Scholar: "Google Scholar provides a simple way to broadly search for scholarly literature. From one place, you can search across many disciplines and sources: articles, theses, books, abstracts and court opinions, from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities and other web sites. Google Scholar helps you find relevant work across the world of scholarly research."

The Rheumatologist: "An official publication of the ACR and ARHP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals."

For those of us looking for articles written specifically for  patients and families, these sites provide excellent information:

MedlinePlus: MedlinePlus is the National Institutes of Health's Web site for patients and their families and friends. Produced by the National Library of Medicine, it brings you information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language you can understand. MedlinePlus offers reliable, up-to-date health information, anytime, anywhere, for free. You can use MedlinePlus to learn about the latest treatments, look up information on a drug or supplement, find out the meanings of words, or view medical videos or illustrations. You can also get links to the latest medical research on your topic or find out about clinical trials on a disease or condition."

Mayo Clinic: "More than 3,300 physicians, scientists and researchers from Mayo Clinic share their expertise to empower you to manage your health."

What are your favorite sites for health information?

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Three Words:

Lemon. Meringue. Pie.

Unbaked six-egg meringue over lemon filling and shortbread crust:


Finished product:


Must.....resist....until....Greg and Terese arrive......

Monday, August 15, 2011

Density Decrease


I've written several times before about my friend, prednisone. While I've lamented the fact that it's major side effect for me seems to be the irresistible need to plant my face squarely in the middle of a large chocolate cake, all in all I've tolerated taking this medication long - term pretty well. When I was first diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, my rheumatologist commented that I probably would have had much more severe and earlier symptoms if I had not already been on prednisone.

I can't imagine what that might have felt like. Ouch.

So, aside from living day to day with either Oreo or chocolate cake or various flavors of pie crumbs goobered down my front, every morning I slug down that little white pill without reservations.

Until Saturday, after I opened the mail. A slim white envelope addressed to me from my clinic contained the results of a bone density test. My doctor had highlighted the results which said: Significant bone mineral density decrease in the spine and hip regions. 10-year fracture probability for major osteoporotic fracture: 9%. Risk factors: Age, gender, glucocorticoid use. He had scribbled a note that we would discuss this at our upcoming appointment.

Well, dang. If I have to lose a significant amount of density of something, why can't it be adipose tissue? Or shoe size?

I began madly clicking away on Google Scholar. As expected, I found numerous studies confirming the decrease in bone density related to corticosteroid usage. But I was surprised to see this study, which concluded:
.....patients treated with prednisone ≥ 5 mg/day, combined treatment with MTX and prednisone was associated with greater bone loss in the lumbar spine than treatment with prednisone without MTX.
MTX in this study is methotrexate, which I am taking weekly along with my daily prednisone. Zoiks. A double whammy to my bones.

I have always considered myself to have strong and healthy bones largely due to my childhood on a dairy farm, which meant consuming lots of fresh milk along with living a very physically exerting and active lifestyle. My previous bone density exams over the last ten years have been perfectly normal.

It will be very interesting to hear what my doctor recommends after reading this report. And although I already am supplementing with vitamin D, and can't take calcium supplements since I have a yukky painful history of kidney stones, I predict some kind of medication regime change appearing soon.

Stay tuned.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Doggy Days of Summer

Two rambunctious schnauzers. One beautiful day.



One schnauzer per chair works pretty well. Two? Not so much.


Lulu's hogging my side of the chair, Julia!


Get me off this stupid thing!


Let the bitey-face games begin.


Wait - do you hear something?


Seargents McSchnauzerpants on squirrel patrol.


No squirrels? Let's get our duck!


Saturday, August 13, 2011

Readers – Help Improve My Blog & Share Your Thoughts!


I wanted to share this new project I’m working on with WEGO Health to learn more about my blog and about all of you who read it!

First some background: For those of you who aren’t familiar with WEGO Health, they’re a different kind of social media company focused on helping Health Activists – folks like me who use the internet and social media to connect with others around health topics.  WEGO Health’s mission is to empower Health Activists to help others, and they offer Health Activists the chance to get involved with video through WEGOHealth.tv, to learn and connect through webinars and chats, and to gain a voice in the healthcare industry through insight panels and the Health Activist Speakers Bureau.

Now WEGO Health is launching the Reader Insight Program – helping Health Bloggers like me to gather feedback from their readers, while telling you a bit about yourself.  At the same time, WEGO Health has a chance to see if any of you are Health Activists eligible for their programs.  I know many of you out there are as dedicated sharing health info and I have a feeling you’re Health Activists too.

I agreed to try the Reader Insight Program because I’m excited to learn more about why you visit my blog and how I can make it even more valuable for you.  I hope you’ll take a moment to share your thoughts with me by taking WEGO Health’s Quick Quiz. By taking the quiz, you’ll help me learn what you need – and you’ll also receive customized social media tips for yourself!

A few things to know about the program:
WEGO Health will gather your quiz responses and feedback for 2 weeks starting today. After the 2 weeks are up, they’ll create a Reader Insight Report for me (then I’ll share it with you.)
Your responses will be shared with me anonymously – please be candid!
Your information will not be shared or sold by WEGO Health.

Thank you for helping me make my blog even more engaging.  I can’t wait to see you what you think!

Friday, August 12, 2011

Stupid - O - Meter

So while we seem to be discussing fatigue this week, I thought I'd share my latest fatigue assessment tool.

I've always wished that I had some kind of gauge located on me somewhere. A gauge that would measure my energy reserves similar to the gas gauge in Goldie. My body sends me cues when I'm overdoing things, but if I've had a double shot espresso latte, I'm zooming along on fake energy and blithely disregard my symptoms.

It's so important that I know how much energy I have because, as we all know, a TIRED JULIA = STUPID JULIA.

It's so, so true. Last week during my impressive crash and burn state, I was talking to Terese and Susan about....I don't remember...whatever. But I opened my mouth and said something, and the two of them looked at me incredulously.

Do you realize that sentence didn't make a bit of sense?, Susan said. And we all laughed because, thank goodness, these two understand the TIRED JULIA = STUPID JULIA equation completely.

However. I may have stumbled onto a remarkably accurate energy gauge, or as I like to think of it, a Stupid - O - Meter. It doesn't have a readout or empty and full markings. No, this thing is in a very surprising form.

Have you ever played the Facebook game Bejeweled Blitz? It's a game in which the object is to line up three matching jewels and score points.


Well, there you go. It's perfect. My ability to conceptualize the configuration of the jewels is an astoundingly accurate measure of my TIRED = STUPID levels.

Score 100,000 points and blowing up jewels like crazy: Green light. Go do whatcha need to do, girl.

Score 50,000 and panicked when that annoying game guy voice says TIME UP: Yellow light. Proceed with caution.

Look at the screen and think blankly, Wow. That's a lot of pretty colored rocks: Aooogaaa! AAAoooggaaa! Warning, warning! Stop immediately! Step away from the computer and fall into bed!

So far, it's been a pretty accurate indicator.

John: Hon, are you feeling up to doing a few errands for me today?
Julia: I'm not sure. Let me consult my Stupid - O - Meter. (play play play play play) Hmmm.....only scored a 20,000......sorry Babe. Wouldn't be prudent at this time.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

The Shower VS BICJ

Image found here. 

Well. I got up today feeling smugly confident that my energy reserves were sufficiently replenished to the point that I could consider going out and about. Hm, I thought. Bev asked me to drop by today, and then after that I could do some shopping, and run those books back to the library, and then.....

I was musing in the bathroom just as I was getting ready to take a shower. Since I was preoccupied with planning my day, I didn't take off my glasses as I usually do when heading for the shower.

This was problematic. When I don't have my glasses on, I seriously can't SEE how yukky the shower is. But today, I had the 20/20 vision thing going on. Oh, gross. When did the shower get so pathetically grimy? Ewwww.....

I turned the shower off and grumpily went looking for cleaning supplies.

Aw, gee.....We didn't see anything, really! Just ignore um...the whole pink slime thing. Take off your glasses and take your shower and head over to Bev's. Or better yet, let's just skip showering today..

Dang. I stopped in my tracks. She's at it again ......


Get BACK into your time-out corner, BICJ!

I thought I had that bratty inner child corralled for awhile after her last stunt...geez.

Sulk. Pout. Don't want to clean the shower.

I know. I don't want to either. But one of us has to be a responsible grownup here.

No we DON'T. And if we clean the shower, we'll be done for the day. It takes up way too much energy. Bev thought we should do luuuunnnncccchhhh together today....(wheedle wheedle wheedle).

Back! Back, girl!!

Oh, c'mon! Look, just grab some clean underwear and your jeans and walk away. Just walk away Julia....you know you want to.

Drat. BICJ has a point, I thought.

Yeah!

Shut up, you.

So, what she's right about is that if I clean the shower and then actually take a shower, I will be sweating like crazy for a couple hours, and be all quivery shaky and completely mindless. And even if I am able to stand upright after cleaning the shower and getting dressed and doing my hair and putting makeup on and I make it out to Goldie, I'll probably be so brain foggy that I won't even remember how to drive to Bev's house, I thought.

I took a look again at the pink slime thing living in the tracks of the scummy glass shower doors. Sigh. I decided that Bev or no Bev, I simply couldn't just run off and leave it there. (And what IS that stuff, by the way? This is the first house that I've lived in that grows pink slime under the shower doors, no matter what cleaning product I use).

Grumbling, I stuffed my hands into my Playtex Living Gloves  while thinking about how I would phrase my excuses for not appearing at Bev's house.

Can I just say something here?

No.

Whatever. Listen, why don't we just do the pink junk today, and maybe tomorrow do the shower walls, and the day after that we'll do the glass doors.

You mean, like, pacing my activities to conserve energy? I can't believe that I'm hearing a logical suggestion from you.  Girl.....you may have just redeemed yourself.

Woo!! Does this mean we can stop at Krispy Kreme on the way over?!?

GET BACK IN YOUR CORNER. NOW.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation Patient Education Sheet: Fatigue



The Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation has several excellent patient education sheets available to it's members. Take a minute to review this one, focusing on fatigue. I was gratified to see that the opening sentence gave emphasis on the significance of fatigue in Sjs. If you have significant others, co-workers, or friends that don't understand how profoundly fatigue can impact a sjoggie, suggest that they read this and  any other of the extremely well done SSF patient education sheets found on my sidebar and at the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation website. 


Patient Education Sheet:
 Fatigue Fighters in Sjögren’s Syndrome
The SSF thanks Frederick Vivino, MD, FACR, University of Pennsylvania, Penn Rheumatology Associates & Sjögren’s Syndrome Center, Philadelphia, for authoring this Patient Education Sheet.



Fatigue is one of the most prevalent and disabling symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome. Here are some tips that can help you cope with the problem:
  • Work with your doctor to find a specific cause and treatment for your fatigue. The possibilities may include systemic inflammation, poor sleep, fibromyalgia, depression, hypothyroidism, muscle inflammation or side-effects of medications.
  • Know your limits and pace yourself. Plan to do no more than one activity on your bad days. Try to do more on your good days, but don’t overdo it!
  • Listen to your body and plan to take a 20-minute time-out every few hours to help you get through your day.
  • Educate your friends and family about what you are going through and how the fatigue in Sjögren’s syndrome can come and go.
  • Develop a support system to help you with tasks. Ask friends and family members to be prepared to do one or two chores for you on your fatigue days. Give them specific instructions in advance and be reasonable with your expectations.
  • Get at least eight hours of sleep every night. If you wake up at night, plan extra time for sleep.
  • Get your body moving every day! This may help not only your fatigue but also your chronic pain, poor sleep and depression. Start with five minutes of aerobic exercise daily (e.g. walking, biking, running, elliptical, treadmill) and increase the duration by an additional two-to-three minutes each month up to a maximum of 25 minutes daily. If you have a heart or lung condition, consult your doctor first.
  • If you are still employed, ask your employer for accommodations because you have a medical condition. Try to work from home if possible to gain more flexibility with your work routine. Check the following resources (search “chronic fatigue”) to get more information on work accommodations and/or career options: Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center at www.dbtac.vcu.edu and Job Accommodation Network at www.jan.wvu.edu.
  • Identify the major stressors in your life and work with a mental health professional or your support system to minimize their impact.

For more information on Sjögren’s syndrome, visit the SSF Web site at www.sjogrens.org, call 800-475-6473, e-mail ssf@sjogrens.org or write to the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation, 6707 Democracy Blvd, Suite 325, Bethesda, MD 20817.

Clinicians: Please make multiple copies of this Patient Education Sheet and distribute to your patients. If you have an idea for a topic or want to author a Patient Education Sheet, contact us at sq@sjogrens.org.

Know The Nose

Image found on the Harry Fredman Method site. 

Wow, guys. Thanks for the comments and suggestions for art books and classes. I'll check them out.

I wonder if one of those resources will tell me how to draw a NOSE....

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

It's Harder Than It Looks

We all have those moments. Well, I do. Today was one of them.

It's called a delusion of grandeur moment. Which means that for some unknown reason, I decided that I was capable of drawing a sketch of myself.

It all started about a year ago, when I noticed a couple of blogs that had a sketch instead of a picture of the author. Cool! I thought. I'd like one of those.

I brought up the subject to my artist daughter. She agreed to try to make a sketch, but confided to me that she thought portraits weren't her strong suit. Pshaw, I said. So she told me that she would indeed draw a sketch of me.....when she got around to it.

I haven't seen it yet. And now that she's busy with a new job and has moved and....well, I understand, sweetheart.

Today, I was shopping at Wal-Mart, and noticed the school supplies lining the aisles. Wow. Pencils just 49 cents. And lookee here - sketch pads.

I threw pad and pencils into my shopping cart. Well, now. I'll just do my own self-portrait, then, I thought.

How hard could it be?

Yes. Those definitely are famous last words.

Later, I sat down in front of my laptop. I pulled up a picture of myself from my computer files, and with pencil in hand and sketch pad on the coffee table, attempted to began to draw.

Good grief in a bucket. Hm. Somehow what I drew didn't look even remotely like the picture. Go figure. I kept scribbling, and erasing, and scribbling, and erasing until I gave up. How on earth do you draw a nose? Or wrinkles.....not that I want to draw MINE. But maybe if I needed to sketch someone else's...


This smudged, nose-less, face and neck wrinkle-free pencil drawing won't be appearing in the ABOUT ME sidebar of Reasonably Well anytime soon.

Some things should definitely be left to the professionals.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Critter Therapy

I'm kitty-cat sitting for my daughter until she does her final move-in in San Francisco.

Genevieve is such a sweetie. A bit intimidated by Lulu, tho. I tell her, Girl. You are running on four wheel drive! Just pop out those claws and give her what she deserves!

But, she prefers to scamper out of sight when Lulu heads her way.

I love having her around. When I camp out on the couch for a nap, I love having all my furry critters around me. We nap together. I rarely need to put on a blanket since I have the body heat from two schnauzers - and now one kitty - keeping me warm.

Maggie likes to curl up wherever my feet are. Lulu wedges herself between me and a sofa cushion, preferably right around my belly button. Genny curls up on my head.

On my head. Yes.


Every time. And if she's not on my head, she plants a paw on me so that Mags and Lulu know that she's calling dibs on my person.


I was a little weirded out by a cat sleeping on my head initially, but now I like it. She's cozy. And vibrates when she purrs. It's kind of like wearing a fur hat with a massager in it.

Pets are such good buddies.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Be Like Me. Waste Time Watching This.

Seriously.

Cute Overload. I'm so addicted.



Awwww......

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Learning My Lessons



Y'all have been entirely too sympathetic and kind in response to my medication confession.

While I appreciate all those warm fuzzies, in all actuality they are not what I need right now. You guys are far too nice to actually deliver the response that I deserve.

No, in order to prevent this from happening again, I need a very good talking-to. An attitude adjustment that my friend Carla would call a Come-To-Jesus discussion. Something along the lines of:

What on earth were you thinking? You KNOW better than to skip your meds! So you're still feeling like you've been hit by a bus? Still aching and tired? And you're moping around because you're missing a DESSERT party because you feel like crap?

You are? MmmHmmm. Well

It's exactly what you deserve, missy! So suck it up and learn from your mistakes, Miss BICJ. Now go sit yourself in the corner and put your nose on the wall and THINK ABOUT IT. And if you don't put that tongue back in your mouth, you'll be sitting there feeling like crap for a whole MONTH. Don't you be sticking your tongue out at ME, young lady.  

Yes, Ma'am. I will, Ma'am.

Can I come out of my corner now? Please?

Image found here.  

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