The Gentle Barn

www.gentlebarn.org

This is an amazing program that I recently found via the Ellen Show.  I only wish I lived closer to be able to help hands-on!!!     

The Gentle Barn Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1999 as a safe haven and place of recovery for abused farm animals and children. We are home to over 120 rescued animals and we are host to at-risk, inner-city and special needs kids.

Our unique treatment philosophy rehabilitates animals and connects their stories of survival and healing to the personal experiences of at-risk and special needs children who have suffered physical, mental or emotional trauma.

Through the interaction with our animals, the children learn forgiveness, courage, strength, leadership skills, trust, empathy and kindness. The healing that takes place is truly miraculous!

Be sure to click on the link below and meet the guests of the Gentle Barn and read their stories!!!  :o) 

http://www.gentlebarn.org/virtual_barn.php  

Infusion Day

Infusion Day. Not always the best day for me but necessarily the worst day either.  This particular visit has me 2-weeks past my regularly scheduled appointment, due to a recent strep/sinus infection.  For those who don't know,  I get an infusion of Remicade every 6-weeks.   "REMICADE is a biologic therapy that recognizes, attaches to, and blocks the action of a protein in your body called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). TNF-alpha is made by certain blood cells in your body."   Most days, since my diagnosis, I'm have a pretty up-beat, easy-going, deal-with-the-cards-I've-been-dealt kind of attitude but today, not so much.  


"Mrs. Baumann", the nurse calls as she opens the door.  I smile.  "You ready?"    "As I'll ever be." I say.  So with that, I put on my "happy face" and walk into the infusion room.  The infusion room isn't much to brag about.  It's a small room that holds 4 hospital-issued, blue recliners, a couple desks for the nurses and a nurse workstation.  For our entertainment, however, they have a 13" tv mounted on the wall which, btw, doesn't get the best reception.  We make small talk while they are taking my vitals, poking my left arm with the IV needle (I prefer the left side so I can still use my right hand) and setting up my IV stand with my meds.  The drip starts and now I sit.  Being hooked up to an IV machine for 2.5+ hours was not in my "long-term",  or "short-term" for that matter, life plans.  I didn't ask for this.  I don't want this.  I'm certainly not feeling sorry for myself because that isn't going to make me feel better or make this RA go away.  I just get ANGRY at what this "disease" can do to people. 


I also watch.  I watch people come into this small room with pain on their faces.  Some walk with a limp because RA has effected their hips.  Some use a walker because they just can't walk without help.    Others have issues with their hands, back, and shoulders.  And then there is me.  I can walk fine.  I can still use my hands, with some limitations,  so I should be thankful, Right?!  But  I can't help but wonder what lies ahead.  What is going to be taken away from me as I get older?   Will I be able to do ALL the things  I enjoy most?  Running?  Stand-up Paddling? Yoga?   Are my hands going to be deformed?  Will it make me ugly? (Yes, I know that sounds vain but... )  Deep sigh!  My thoughts are taking me down a road I don't like to visit often.  Now I'm sad.   I hold myself together until  the infusion is finished but when I get into my car, the tears begin to fill my eyes.  They start slow but then quickly it turns into a good ol' fashion, sobbing, soul-cleansing  cry.   


"Damn it, Kelli", I say, "pull yourself together!"    And just like that, I wipe my tears and pull myself up by my running shoes.   


I believe that I have been given a voice to raise  the awareness of rheumatoid arthritis.  Now, how I'm going to use that voice?  That is what I'm going to figure out but I'm pretty sure it will have something to do with running and our stand-up paddling!   


to be continued.....  

No Ordinary Day

Sometimes I have to go to the doctor.  You know, the "primary care" doctor.  This probably happens twice a year at most, but yes, it does happen.   Though my throat had been hurting for a couple days, I went about my life, ignoring it;  thinking it would just go away.  But then, the unthinkable happened. I woke up with more than just alittle throat pain.    I couldn't smile or even open my mouth to make more than an "ahhh" sound.  Crap!!  Not today I thought. 

Let me back up just a bit.  This particular day was no ordinary day.   This particular day was my daughter's 10th birthday, my niece was coming into town for a week and on THIS particular day, we were heading out for an  overnight camping trip in our new travel trailer.  NOT the best day to try and squeeze in a dr. appt let alone be sick.

Dr. confirmed my worst fear!  Strep throat and a sinus infection.  Great!  Prescription in hand, I head to the pharmacy for a z-pack and a couple boxes of kleenex.  Relief is on the way.  Right?!

Feeling like I had been hit by a ton of bricks.  Scratch that.  Feeling like I had been  hit by a dump truck full of a ton of bricks, I get home and continue packing up the trailer for our birthday outing  with a smile on my face, head full of "gunk" and my ears echoing every sound anywhere near me.  

A week has since past.  My ears are still echoing, my head is still full of gunk but the strep has cleared, the camping trip was a huge success (a little wine helped that happen) and my daughter had a great birthday!   Yeah.  No ordinary day but a pretty good day over all. 

 

What's your wager??

The school year is winding down yet it seems my schedule is busier than ever.  I am looking forward to the lazy days of summer.  No set schedules and pajama days however, I have a gut feeling those days will also be filled with complaining, whining and pouting.   
I am willing to bet that the statement, "I'm bored" will escape from my kiddos mouth within one week of summer vacation.   Do you have children?  How long do you give them before they say they are bored??   

SUP

Today was a gorgeous day.  Lots of sunshine and temps in the high 80's. (it's great living in Texas!) A great day to be on the water and SUP.  What is that you may ask?  Well, SUP is short for Stand Up Paddling and  it has quickly become my new water sport obsession.  

SUP'ing is an awesome core and upper body workout and you get to enjoy some time with your freinds on that lake to boot.  The experience is very zen on a calm day or a bit more of a challenge on days with some wind. 

Looking forward to my next SUP workout! 

30-day shred

here we go! I'm going to document my workouts for the next 30 days (well, actually until Memorial Day Weekend) as well as my diet to see what happens. Sticking with it is going to be my biggest challenge but I'm hoping that by keeping my blog updated, it will keep me accountable as well.

Make it a great day!

Me and RA

Prior to my diagnosis a few years back, it wasn’t uncommon for me to be up at 4:00 AM to make the 5:00 spin class, rush home to get the kids ready for school then meet a friend for a run and a coffee.    Life was good.  I was on top of the world!!!  Then it stopped. 

First on my list was to find a rheumatologist.  Easy, right?  Ya, I thought it would be too.    Who knew they were so busy?  I was put on three different appointment schedule books at three different offices and whoever called me first is where I was going to start.    Just call me a gambler!  A few weeks later, I’m off to meet my new doctor.    

My Rheumatologist and I hit it off immediately.  Comes to find out, he is also a runner so he totally understood the importance of getting me back on my feet as soon as possible.  However, this turned out to be a little more of a challenge then I/we were expecting.  I had a year of ups and downs, different medications, and regular cortisone shots in my feet and in my hands.   And as any runner knows,   when you can’t get that rush of endorphins, you tend to get a little cRaZy (or in my case, a LOT crazy!) My outlook on life was not as bright and cheery for this little miss sunshine as it used to be.   

Patience was something I had to learn when it came to my RA.  I wanted instant results.  I didn’t like hearing that it will take a couple months to build up in my body before they start to work.   I was starting feel like Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka.  I WANT IT and I WANT IT NOW!!! 

But let’s fast forward to now and things are better.  My current medication consists of Remicade, Methotrexate, Folic Acid, and some “happy pills” to keep my mind sound.    My flare-ups are rearing their ugly head a little more frequently these days but nothing to get too stressed about just yet.    I keep my outlook positive and take each day as it comes!   Off to my infusion.