update

I hate talking about my health issues but Dad and family I know you want to know :) I saw the Rheumatologist and she says I have crest, no not the toothpaste, haha. It's a auto immune that has four parts that a person may have one or more. I have the Scleroderma and Raynauds and may get the others. Each letter stands for a different part of crest. She put me on methotrexate and will gradually increase the doseage. The name soumds familiar, Greg did you get this at some point? It's hard on the liver, too; so not to many beers in my future. Glad I got down to the brewfest before I got on this new med. She sent me to the lab for more blood work and then for a chest xray. I'll be getting a heart ultrasound in the near future. The wierd thing is when well rested I don't feel too bad. She said I've prboably had it for a while so I don't know any different. They have to watch for damage to internal organs from the scleroderma, but my kidneys are fine.
Love, Cathy

Reilly

They were our guest band at Church today. They're pretty good. I'd never heard them before. I bought one of their cds. Todays Message in a nutshell: Joy is finding a way to be happy even when things don't go your way. Joy is not immdedaite. It comes from taking a long look and keeping the right perspective.

Fun day Friday

Me, Alicia, Jolene and Joan spent the day at the Zoo, then I tagged along with Alicia and Jolene and friends at the Oregon brewfest at Waterfront park. A little over priced for my tastes, but a chance to hang out with Alicia. I only had a little beer cause of my medication. Her boyfriend drove me back to where my car was. A fun day all in all :)

Bring me rain

This song spoke volumes to me today. I find that my faith hasn't wavered. I know that God has a beauty waiting for his children that we can't even fathom. I draw my strength from the Lord.

Acceptance

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. – Romans 8:31-34
I struggle with people accepting me the way I am. Then I read this today and reminds me that God loves me just the way I am, tha's why I love him so much, and want to live a life that pleases him. It doesn't matter what people think, it's what God see's me doing that matters the most. I have an ipad now and it will be a great help with the speech issues. So glad I got one! More about that later.
PS: Dad and Alice we enjoyed our visit with you both. Thanks for being there and for all the love. It means more to me than you will ever know.  Greg I hope you continue to improve. The pic is Dad and Alice at the  Saturday Market. We had a fun afternoon!
Cathy

Lupus?

I have had many blood tests run this week, at my request.  I want to know 100% what the heck is going on. Well I tested positive for Lupus, an auto immune disease. Now I don't know if I ever had als, or have both? Let's pray that it's only Lupus, at least they can treat that. I will let you know more as I see the Neurologist next week.
Cathy

Proud to be an American

This song still chokes me up! Let's be proud of our Country and all she stands for!

All you need is love

Hello family and whoever else reads. I hesitate to share on here sometimes because I don't want to be a whiner or cause my loved ones to get upset. But reading David's Jaynes blog this morning (he has ALS and has for some 22 years) Makes me wonder why some people survive so much longer. That's for another day. Anyway, he said "ALS has taught me I can live without anything but love. " As with this disease a person loses the use of their muscles, talking, eating, walking, breathing. It would be so easy to morn the loss of these; easy to envy people with a sound body. But David's right, the most important thing we have is love; that's what keeps me going. Knowing that there are people who love me, and that God loves me and has a plan for me. There are lessons to be learned if we are willing to listen. Also please pray for Kyron Horman and his family he has been missing for about three weeks. That has to be the most horrible pain for his Mom and Dad. Have a great day, Cathy