Magnificent Monday!!!

It is an absolutely beautiful day here in New York, Although I know some people don’t think so! It is HOT outside and inside at some places. One of my friends here is a Pediatrician and I just got a note from her saying that it’s 90 degrees in her office! Whew! Can you imagine all the sick little babies in there and now they will be sick and even grumpier! Poor babies and POOR Elisa! I’ll have it cold enough to hang meat when they come over tonight! 

So! Onto Monday’s Minute and my goals that I have set for myself this week! My “To Do” list of sorts!

1. Go to the gym 5 times. 2 days cardio and 3 days of mild cardio and weights. 
2. Do 5 pull-ups a day (hey, I am trying!)
3. Decrease my sugar intake and drink less Coca Cola!
4. Continue to stay away from the real and fake cigarettes!
5. Figure out WHY my hip is hurting like this...Other than I have EDS. I can usually figure this stuff out but not this one and it’s relentless! Booo you hip!
6. Keep my sanity once Andy leaves on Wednesday! 
7. If it stays this hot I’ll have to manage my time in the sun! My POTS (Dysautonomia) and to much heat don’t mesh well!
8. Drink 2 liters of salt water a day. 
9. Do a minimum of 10 nice and unexpected things for people. 
10. Tell 5 people (that I don’t usually tell) THANK YOU and how BLESSED I am to have them in my life. 
11. Try to drink 3 glasses of red wine this week (I’m working up to 4, per Dr. LaVallee). 
12. Park on the furthest part of the parking lot so I walk further. 
13. Smile more, give more hugs and laugh!

So, those are some of my “EDS” goals for the week. Some aren’t really related to EDS but I put them in anyway! 

I’m looking so forward to my visit with Molly! It’s going to be a great weekend! Can we fast-forward to Friday please? I'm also dreading my honey leaving, I miss him when he is gone! 

As for a prolo update for you “loyal followers”: I am doing well post prolo day 3. I have no pain or even discomfort from the injections. I tried to get Andy to pop my back last night and this morning and he said “I don’t want to hurt your prolo!” I told him to hurt the prolo, I am all out of whack. He won, no snap crackly pop  happening here today!

Have a blessed week and remember to SMILE! 

Simply Sunday

So today is “Simply Sunday”, it’s been a good day but a busy one! Last week was busy and I don’t feel like I have rested as much as I should this weekend! Although, Going full-blast is much more fun than resting. Right? 

I did well last week with my goals. I didn’t smoke the electronic cigarette at all, I drank less Coca-Cola and I went to the gym 3 times. I hoped to make it to the gym 5 times but that just didn’t happen. I did a great presentation on EDS and had a little epiphany  myself. I did nice things for people as usual and I did nice things for myself. Sometimes I get so caught up in trying to make other people happy and smile that I forget I need to take care of me. 

My biggest accomplishment last week was that I didn’t chicken out of Prolotherapy! I did it and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. The procedure was a little uncomfortable but not excruciating. I guess a lot of people request Conscious Sedation for the procedure and that scared me! Well, it in no way, shape or form warrants that type of anesthesia, the Valium and Lidocaine worked well for me. Andy told me yesterday that he did not like me very much when I got home from Prolo, he said I was pretty “out of it”. I told him that was the Valium and he told me that I was like a “shell” or a “ghost”. He said “Your spunk drives me crazy at times but I love that spunk”. I got tears in my eyes! He’s so sweet! I did make it to our Cadet dinner on Friday night and as soon as we got home, I went to sleep on the couch. Other than getting up to eat breakfast for about 10 minutes, I didn’t move from the couch until about 10 on Saturday Morning. Once I got moving I was okay, I wanted to sit but it was very tender to sit, I wanted to lie down but didn’t want to feel lazy and I wanted to walk around a lot. I just went with the flow. My biggest accomplishment for Saturday was going to a track meet, I lasted about 2 hours. 

Today has been an insanely busy day. I got up early and went to church. I get pretty emotional at church so I came home and decompressed for 1/2 and hour or so. Then with the help of Andy yelling, I got up and cleaned a little, cooked lunch-dinner for 10 people and made 2 awesome banana puddings. Yummmmy! Some of our Cadet’s that we sponsor here at West Point came over and we had an amazing time. We played Taboo and that is always good for a few laughs! Oh! I also got my friend Molly’s ticket booked to come and see me next weekend! As far as how I feel... My back has been just a tiny bit tender today but hardly at all.  I have had some “un prolo” related pain that is driving me Nuts!!!! It’s in my left leg and just won’t relent. I’m going to keep trying to ignore it and I am sure it will go away. Having Prolo treatments might just break me of my “Ibuprofen Dependence” !

Now our “Cadet Kids” are gone, our precious boys are in the bed and I am worn out! I’m going to snuggle up to my honey for a few minutes and then I am hitting the hay! I will post goals and ramblings for next week tomorrow! 

Before I close, I want to send a “FEEL BETTER SOON HUg” to my friend Beth and to my Friend Molly. I know they are both having a rough EDS day! Sleep well my friends, tomorrow is a new day! Here’s to y’all! “Pain, Pain, go away and don’t come back another day!”  

Love and Hugs,

~ila~  

Some Photographs.

OI- One of EDS's closest family members! 

I love this quote! I am so thankful that my Doctor doesn't
try to give me a useless pill to try and cover up my symptoms
that can not be covered!

My dear friend Heidi. I wish I also knew her as a Dr but
maybe I'll have that opportunity someday! 

Dr. Rodney, he is the head of the Rheumatology Research Center
In England. I was so honored to spend some time with him and learn learn learn!

Some of my new friends from the conference.
Front: Me, Sweet Molly, Back: Gary-my friend that lives about 20 minutes away!
Let's not discuss the girl in the neck brace! Amazing Paula and Troy Winkler!

Me with Troy Winkler. He's an amazing person!

Me dealing with some issues for Miss Molly!

My dear friend here in NY, Elisa. God bless her for
listening to all of my weird stories, EDS and otherwise! Also with my faux sister-
In-Law, Christina Arce Bagaglio.

The man that keeps me going! Thank you Andy,
You are my biggest fan and I LOVE you!!!

I can still hang!

My Aunt, one of my biggest inspirations. She has severe,
debilitating Rheumatoid Arthritis. You think it stops her? NO WAY!
We talk daily, fight occasionally and love unconditionally. 

I am going to be featured in a poster for EDS Awareness. This is one of the photos,
sorry, they haven't been edited yet. Once they are, you'll only see joints....Hopefully they will
never know it's Ila!