Bryan and I got married on Sept 22 at the Space Needle.  We had a rocky start to the day since I was running late and everyone seemed to be super charged with hormones and emotions.

It went really well and I am very happy with the way it turned out.  We loved all of our vendors (expect the cake lady, those cakes were not very good and we think they made us sick) it was great to see our family and friends and we are so happy we decided to keep it small (only 65 guests).  (If you're interested there are a TON of pics in my pictures section, let me know if you like any of them in particular, I'm currently trying to figure out which ones I like best to use in our Wedding album)

Immediately after the reception we took the monorail over to the Mayflower Park Hotel (they are literally connected to the monorail via the Seattle Center) and just kicked back, relaxed, and enjoyed finally having some time to ourselves.  We went out to the Metropolita Grill that night for dinner and the steaks and the drinks were fabulous.  Overpriced yes, but good.

The next morning (we had to get up at 4 am to get to the airport on time and run by our house to get our camera, and have Karen my Matron of Honor sign our marraige certificates).  Soon we were on a flight to Honolulu and the next thing you know we are checking into a very nice hotel.  They upgraded us to the honeymoon suite and our room was at least twice the size of our condo.  (There are pics of it in the Honeymoon album in my pictures)

The next day we boarded our cruise ship and had 8 days/7nights of relaxing, fun, and just down right needed down time cruising 5 islands.  Since I can't be in the sun (because of my lupus I'm allergic to it) we did a lot of excursions and learned a lot about the islands.  We had a great time , and we had booked 2 extra nights after the cruise at the same hotel and we got the Honeymoon Suite again!  Ahh, luxury.  So we also spent some time in Honolulu (we stayed right on Waikiki Beach).  We tool walks on the beach, walked around and explored, saw Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial and just had a great time all around.

It is nice to be home, but it would be great if I could just blink my eyes and go back to that Honeymoon Suite whenever I wanted!

We're still planning to move to GA in March so we are super busy trying to finish up remodeling my (our's now I guess!) so we can put on the market in January or early February.  We are counting on a quick sale since real estate, especially for condo's under 200K has been really hot lately.  The cool thing is that the real estate market in GA is in the toilet.  We'll make a good deal from the sale of our place, and then apply that to the purchase of a real home, with a real yard and everything, and still only come out with a mortgage payment of 500$ or so.  Hell yeah!

I've been feeling pretty sick lately, my lupus is seriously kicking my ass right now.  I'm having seizures approx 2-5 times a week and if you've never had a seizure I highly recommend it, it is even more fun to experience it that what it looks.  I've got good docs and they are really trying to work together to get all this under control.  I'm getting burned out on taking on all my meds and only having a little improvement. 

B is pretty happy.  His job is taking a toll on him but he really is happy there.  He is so good to me, and is so supportive of me with all the stuff going on with me. 

That is what's up with me in a nutshell.  Take care everyone, and to everyone in GA-I'LL SEE YOU IN MARCH!!!

Heather

I finally got up the nerve to do it.  For approx 10 years I've wanted to try it but I decided 2-3  weeks ago to start letting my hairs grow out (sasquatch style) so  yesterday I went to the salon, layed down on their table. closed my eyes, and let them do what they had to do.

For anyone who has never had their legs waxed before, but has had their brows done before, it was no more painful than waxing the largest eyebrows you could ever imagine.

At this point I recommend it. 

I did kind of cheat though.  I went in there armed with a can of Solarcaine Burn Releif Spray with Lidocaine (to use as a slight numbing agent)  and I do think it helped a bit. 

All in all, ladies, if you're thinking about doing it contact me and I'll walk you through my terrifying yet rewarding journey of waxing!

So I officially quit smoking on Sunday, September 2.  Not one since then.  I swear on my life. 

It is hard, oh god is it hard.  Everywhere I turn  I see people smoking on TV, movies, in their cars, in the parking lots...you get the picture.

I think I had an epiphony today though.  I am a non smoker.  If I just keep telling myself that enough, maybe subconciously I will start to believe it. 

In the meantime, I think I'll just keep eating my peppermint candies (got to replace one addiction with another that's not too fattening) and trying not to go even more insane planning my wedding. 

I know can do this.  I have the will power.  I am strong, although I appear weak at times.  In the mean time I am proud of myself for staying totally smoke free for four (agonizing at times) days.  Wish me luck everyone, actually on second though, send me all your will power your way.  I need it. 

I am quitting smoking (yes, I know, shame on me for not doing this sooner, BUT I AM DOING IT NOW SO LAY OFF MAN!)

My official quit date is set for August 25th, it seems like a while off but I'm giving myself time to emotionally sever the bond I've had with my friend of 11 years.  I'll also be trying out the new drug Chantix so if there are any other smokers out there (come on, you can admit to me who you are, I won't tell...) I'll let you how it helps once I start taking it.  I'm supposed to start taking it approx 1-2 weeks prior to my quit date. 

My quit date is just a month shy of my wedding day.  Coincidence, No.  I am not marrying a non smoker as a smoker.  The way I see it is either we both smoke or neither of us do and since he already quit two years ago, now it is my time to quit.  He will be my biggest cheerleader and so proud of me once I do it.

I just hope I can handle any nic fits on my wedding day with grace and dignity and not tears, fists and shouting matches. 

We shall see.  Believe it or not, I DO have will power. 

Please don't taking this as whining, although I'm sure it will surely come out that way.  I just reallly need to vent right now.

I've often wondered "why me" when it comes to having lupus.  I know that is a completely selfish mode of thought as there are litteraly millions of Americans out here living with a chronic illness. 

Right now I'm going on my 4th night of having a major (tonic clonic/grand mal) seizure in a row.  What the hell? Why now?  Why me?  Why on top of having lupus do I now need to have a condition (Epilepsy, jeez just saying that word scares the hell out of me) that scares the shit out of my mom, my dad, Bryan and my best friend.  Why is it I feel I know what my body is responding to as far as treatment but my Neuro is "reluctant" to rx it and instead rx's meds that carry serious side effects and some serious co-pays.  Yes I realize Clonazepam carries dependancy issues, but I would rather be dependant on a med and feel more control of my life than take some other meds that may or may not help me, and be forced to take a two month we'll have & wait and see.  And these 2 drugs are know to cause infertility, numbness and tingling, insomnia, nausea, the list goes on and on and on.  

I can't go to my doc and say "Doc, I know what's best for me so I need you to rx this".  She'd send me packing so fast I wouldn't even feel the door hit me in the ass.  BUT I KNOW it is helping.  Maybe not in preventing the seizures, but it is certainly helping with the after effects of one and if you've never had a seizure it is just hard to explain.  Imagine a Panic attack, asthma attack, heart attack, and migraine all at once.  And then you come to realize that by taking a drug that doc's are too scared to rx on a regular basis can and will make you feel better within 20-60 minutes.  It's miraculous. 

Stress causes seizures, seizures cause stress, stress causes seizures, seizures cause more stress.

I really didn't mean to sound to whiny on this, I am just so dumbfounded as too why the med that is actually making me feel better is not rx'ed the way it should be.

Argghhh.  Life goes on. 

OK, so I've known I've had lupus for 8 years now.  Time flies when you're having fun :)

So while I was in GA I found out my lupus has been progessing quite aggressively lately and I must say in all honesty it is scaring the shit out of me.   

For the last few months I've been having issues with alterened conciousness, shaking on one or both sides of my body and a generally feeling of exhaustion after the "episode" subsidided.  Well, mystery solved.  I'm having seizures and from what I have been able to understand they are pretty common with lupus.  As a result I am facing losing my Drivers Liscense for at least 6 months, and my Neuro isn't quite sure how to treat me.  Until the lupus is under control, the seizures likely won't get under control either, regardless of what medications I'm on. 

To add salt to the wounds I was also dx with Lupus Nephritis which simply means Lupus is attacking the blood vessels in my Kidneys.  Although we are currently treating it with steroids and low dose chemo, I can't help but fear the day that I'm told I will need dialysis or a transplant. 

I know Bryan loves me and will support me however I need him too, but at the same time I have some doubts as to asking him to commit to me in marraige is more that he originally bargained for.  He claims that none of this matters, he loves me unconditionally no matter how hard things may be for us in the future. 

I don't know why I felt the need to post this tonight.  I saw my Neuro today and although I am a little hopeful for the future, I can't help but be overcome with anxiety about the future.  I'm in one of those moods where I just don't know what I can expect out of life, but who really can? 

OK, I am known for having strange dreams that I can generally remember.  Some of them end up being some sort of premonition, some of them end up being random thoughts all strung together from the days, weeks, months or years events before. 

I just woke up and this dream was particularly strange, and some of you on my friends list were in it so I thought I would post it here. I think this one was a random compilation of thoughts, people, and food.  Also, being on drugs (the medically prescribed kind, not the good ones people!) probably didn't help.

For some reason, almost anyone I considered to be a friend in high school and beyond were at a cabin.  We were only going to  be there from like 8 at night until 8 in the morning.  I can't remember what the purpose of this "get together" was, but I do know that it was a lot of fun!  Suzanne forced everyone to eat RAW cinnnamon rolls, Shannon made us some sort of green drink that supposedly cured anything and everything under the sun, and Rachel ran around in an old school 40's type bathing suit the whole time.  Kari was there, and she was dying her hair like 17 different colors.  Anna was there, but she was sad.  I kept asking her what was wrong and she kept saying "the purple on my toast isn't dark enough".  Randee was trying over and over again to make Anna the perfect purple toast.  Someone was running around in a purple mask and cape (I think it was Chuck) and Anna wanted her toast to match that exact shade of purple. 

WTF???

There were so many more people in this dream, people I haven't even thought about in YEARS.  So weird.  I can't even begin to explain the whole thing. 

To sum it all up, I think we all ended up having travel plans that coincided with each other at this cabin type house.  I don't even think it was planned, I think we all just ended up there for some reason.  I don't know where it was, and I'm certain that in real life all of you don't know each other as well as you did in my dream.  Everyone seemed to get along really well, except for Suzy forcing raw cinnamon rolls down our throats for breakfast.  I think a few of us pretended they were delicious.

Suzy, darling, you have to cook them first!  Do you even eat cinnamon rolls? 

Shannon, do you have a miraculous green drink?  If you do, I'd sure like to have the recipe! 

Anna, your toast is not supposed to be purple.  If your toast is purple it is probably a sign that it has gone bad...

The whole thing was just totally random.  The only thing that made any sense was that when I used to hang out with Kari she once dyed her hair purple (I think it was purple!). 

OK, that is all.  For now...

So I went to get my eyebrows done today.  The place I normally go to was closed, so I went to a little Indian shop next door.  They were using the threading method on the woman next to me so I thought "What the hell". 

Turns out I LOVED it!  I have very sensitive skin on my face anyway and wax usually leaves me dry or scabby, depending on how hot the wax was.

It was also less painful than waxing.  I am so glad I tried it!

To anyone who is considering trying threading, I highly recommend it!  Also, as a bonus it was only $4.  I gave the lady a $10 cause I felt guilty about only paying 4 plus tip.  Around here, it's a bargain if you can get your brows done for less than $15-$20 after tip. 

I will definitely be going back.

My dad is having back surgery on 5/25, he has asked me to come home to help take care of him for a couple of weeks while he is recovering.  I am totally excited about the trip; not only will I be able to help my dad ( I know he would do the same for me) but I'll get a chance to see my mom and friends as well as see my Rheumatologist while I'm there.  If you're still in the ATL and want to get together, let me know and I will do my best to arrange something with you!

I'll be there from 5/21-6/13, kind of a long trip but it will be worth it.  I most likely won't have access to a car while I'm there so some coordination may be needed. 

Look forward to seeing you!  Take Care and be sure to let me know if you want to get together. 

Love,

Heather

I will try to do this in chronological order, but who knows how it will come out.  I know there are many more but these are the ones that come to mind right now as being just down right stupid and avoidable.

I don't really remember much before the age of 10, so let's begin there.

Age 10-I was riding my brand new scooter down the driveway and had an accident.  My family has never stopped teasing me for telling all the doctors and nurses at the ER that "I hurt my cooter on the scooter!".

Age 13-Stabbed a pitchfork through my pinky toe on my right foot while taking care of the neighbors horses.  I didn't need to use the pitchfork for this, I just thought it would be fun to  play with (which it was).  When I was done I stabbed it back into the ground (or so I thougt).  My right Ked turned bright red and I hobbled home crying to tell my mom.  Kids there's a reason your parents tell you not to play with sharp objects!

Age 15 or 16-I broke my left foot (it's really not suprising is it that it's called a "Jones Fracture")  Square dancing to a rap song with my best friends boyfriend.  Enough said.

Age 24-My sensible friend Karen and I were leaving a store from shopping when we discovered our car was parked down below.  She is smart so she walked around.  I am not so I jumped it.  Jones Fracture #2

Age 29 (just last week actually)-I tripped over a cord.  For anyone who is not as clumsy as I am this would be no big deal, for me it means I broke my 2nd metatarsal.  4 days later I accidentally kicked my wedding planning book and ended up breaking the toe that is connected to the same damn part of my foot.  So this means 2 seperate breaks in less than 5 days.  I are smart.

Edited 4/29 to add-Age 29, 2 days ago.  I bought a pack of Strawberry Mentos (yum...my favorite) and proceeded to eat them on the side of my mouth I had oral surgery on (actual surgery where they removed part of my jaw and filled it with the stuff you fill cavities with, not just a root canal).  I was told MANY times not to eat anything sticky, hard or sweet on that side, but for some reson I felt I was exempt from this rule and did anyway.  As a result, I broke off the back quarter of one of my teeth, and I've had a headache ever since.  Why didn't I just follow the directions the doc gave me???  Geez.

This is why I say I am well on my way to officially being declared retarded. 

I truly fear THEY will be coming for me any day now.