Suit up and show up for life, my friends!

Hello my friends ~
I know it has been a long summer and
I've been away from all of you a lot.
Due to the fact that I was applying
for help, I couldn't even show that I could
type once a day or a week.
Good news is that I finally have security.

Not what I went to school 11 years at night for...
but, "Life Happened" to me.
Now I am learning to deal with it
like a women with dignity and grace.
Throw in a few crying bouts and
thoughts of what if's, and "wish I could..."
and there you have it.

So, many of you have been asking me ~
"what the heck has been going on?"
A LOT!
My doctors and I just also learned that
while I have been on 3 excellent drugs
~the MRI was expected to show that
after one year on a DMARD, a new
Biologic, and Methotrexate, I should
be stable or a little better.

Are you ready for this?
Can you say Erosion ~ Joint destruction
tearing of ligaments ~
As my PCP said, It is a systemic disease,
and if it is eroding your hand, and you have
symptoms in other places, absolutely, you could
have potential joint erosion/ligament tearing
in other places.  (like my feet/hips/shoulders).
JOY.

Her goal is to get me to take advantage of ALL
that Boston Rheumatology has to offer, to keep me
functional and mobile.  

I nearly always wear my sneakers...without laces.
Not even my Naturalizer sandals.  My heels hurt
walking.  So wearing them really help.

I haven't even been able to do yoga.
My dear friend Elizabeth, who is my yoga instructor
said, "come to the studio - even in your sneakers".
Bless her heart.

It is a new day, a new start, new outlook...
I went for a nice walk with my dog and cat today.
It is beautiful out here.   I am doing ok.   Spine is
yucky, but oh well.   Feet are good.   Going to go
to gentle yoga Wednesday and see my old friends.
Can't wait.

At first the news, in black and white, scared the
sh*& out of me.   Now, I am praying that the
infusions and Methotrexate are going to get me
into remission...or at least to be able to do yoga
everyday again (modified to heck!)

So, my friends...life is a journey.   You can piss and
moan about taking a pill, or 27, or taking a shot or
infusion, but at the end of the day...
we are on the right side of the daisies.

What are you grateful for today?
I am grateful for financial security...however small it is.
The ability to reach out to my friends and family again
on FB.
Everyday, knowing I have a choice to suit up and show 
up for life...and take beautiful souls with me on my journey.
So grateful for my family that has really rode this rollercoaster
with me...and even chops the fruit & veggies and waters the flowers!

How about you?

Healing hugs,
Alicia

PS...I really missed you all :)