Pumpkin Patch

Allison and I went with Jo and Scout to the Pumpkin Patch in Flower Mound this week. It was really a lot of fun. There were many bounce houses and there was a hay maze and hayride. There were also many areas set up with cartoon characters and pumpkins. Jo had a great time and loved the bounce slides. Scout really liked the Phineas and Ferb cutout. She and Perry the Platypus were about the same size. She did not like the hay as is obvious in the one picture. I think she found it way too rough and poking into her little legs. Even though it was very hot we had a great time.

World "Arthritis" Day

Today is World "Arthritis" Day. The term "arthritis" is generally used by people to refer to any form of arthritis. Types of arthritis include Juvenile Arthritis, Autoimmune Arthritis, and "Arthritis" which is commonly called Osteoarthritis. Of the three only the Osteoarthritis has localized pain and only affects the joints. It can be controlled with over the counter medications. Juvenile and and Autoimmune Arthritis both are systemic meaning they affect the whole body system. Out of over 100 types of arthritis only 7 are classified as Autoimmune Arthritis diseases. These are serious and can include organ involvement. Autoimmune Arthritis typically occurs between the ages of 0-40. The above information was taken directly from the website http://www.iaamovement.org/ When I was growing up arthritis was known as an old person's disease. Statistics show that 80% of people will experience this type of arthritis at some point in their life. This type is called "degenerative arthritis". It comes from the wear and tear to our joints over the years. Only a small percentage of people will develop the serious form of arthritis known as Autoimmune Arthritis. I am one of those people. Although I was not diagnosed by a rheumatologist until 2001 I displayed the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis in 1974. I was 21 years old newly married and in college. What most people do not understand is that Autoimmune Arthritis is not just the aches and pains in your hands, feet or hips. It is throughout the whole body. You feel tired and constantly ache. Even with wonderful biologic drugs like Remicade which I take, you feel like you have the flu all the time. One of the most frustrating things for person with an Autoimmune Arthritis to have to deal with is not the pain of the disease. It is the lack of understanding from other people over how this disease affects our lives. It can control how and what we are able to do. I get frustrated over seeing commercials on TV that say you can "cure"arthritis with this or that medication. Or well meaning people who have come across a "new and improved way" to cure arthritis. Those of us who deal with Autoimmune Arthritis know that while those "cures" might work on "old fashioned arthritis" they do nothing for what rages through our bodies. Lest I sound like I am going on a tear let me say I am blessed to have found a fantastic rheumatologist and great biologic meds that keep me functioning. Please visit http://www.iaamovement.org/ . There is so much information available there. Do you know the differences in the types of Arthritis? Go there and find out.

Laryngitis

I have laryngitis. I have never had it before and let me tell you it is weird. I had been having bad allergies all last week. The pollen count was high so of course there were the sneezes, itchy eyes and nose, plus that lovely sinus drainage. Ah, North Central Texas in the fall. Now the weather has been more pleasant temperature-wise but that is jut to trick you into forgetting that with that wonderful weather comes the dredded allegry season. Friday we went to the State Fair of Texas. I was fine until about mid-afternoon when I started sounding "throatish" for lack of a better word. By the end of the day I could not talk very well at all. I was hoping that by the next day after some rest that it would be better. It wasn't. I was watching the grandboys on Saturday so that their mom & dad could go and watch the Texas Tech/Baylor game at the Cotton Bowl. Do you know how hard it is to talk to 2 1/2 yr old twins and a 10 month old baby and you have basically about 1/4th of your normal voice? By the end of the evening I had barely a whisper of a voice. Sunday morning there was nothing. I looked up laryngitis on the Mayo Clinic website. So it is most probably caused by allergies and voice strain. Ya think? The best thing I can do is not talk and drink a lot. No do not think they meant rum. What I have found out is that if you have no voice you can't do anything. You can't talk on the phone, order from Sonic, go through the drive thru at the bank or even go to the grocery store unless they have self checkout. I did go to Kroger yesterday because I needed some Diet 7-up, my choice of liquid. I have been very lucky that I have not had a sore throat so I am able to swallow fine. Even the stupid dry cough that I have that comes from the sinus issue has not given me a sore throat. Hopefully I will be able to talk by the end of the week but having no voice has given me a new and interesting perspective on communication with others. No matter that we can text or email we still need that good old fashioned ability to be able to physically talk to other people. Once I am better I have some phone time to make up.

Where is Scout?

Drew is Army man crawling everywhere. He ended up under this chair. I think he is hunting for Scout who also likes to be under stepstools.

Everybody Needs a Soft Pillow

Dudley, a much loved soft pillow.