We had a crazy snow storm here in the northeast last weekend!  Lots of trees down and no power for a while. I had to help my Dad out with moving branches and stuff and over did it some (being only 7 days post op) but he has no one else to help.  It felt good to get outside and do something physical despite the sore muscles.

Here are some recent pics from Halloween fun and the snow!

Hunter and his friend from school

10/29/11

Oh how I love my little silly boy….he makes my life so happy  More soon…..

Enjoy the purrrssss

AHHHHH i feel better, kitties are my cozy place.  They just make me smile

I’m not sure who to call or where to start to get a diagnosis though…..hmmmm I have some research to do.   This could also explain why I “get” my son so well and others dont seem to.   Anyone else out there on the spectrum diagnosed as an adult?

Hunter not wanting me to take the Chipmunk's picture

I have not chosen JOY in my life thus far….and I don’t know why.  My disease is not nearly as advanced as some, I have a wonderful son, loving family great friends and a roof over my head.  So why can’t I see all of this?  Why do I dwell on the negative and get all angsty and rebellious?  I dont know.

The date for my Lap-band surgery is getting closer – within the next 3-4 weeks.  I can’t wait to lose this weight.  I need more energy, less pain so I can exercise, less depression, lesss……of me! LOL

It really amazes me that anyone actually reads/follows my blog….and its an unexpected good feeling to know people out there maybe understand a little of why I am the way I am.  I am still trying to figure it out myself.

I am very random today so I am gonna post some random pictures I like too…

I am going to finally get my Lap Band placed at the end of September.  I am very excited that I can finally be at a normal weight within a year!  Its been a LONG time coming and my state health ins. will actually cover it!  It will help me get a job too, I know people are prejudiced against overweight people, and it will be one less thing to hold me back in my life.

My son, who is now 5 yrs old, will be starting Kindergarten in the Fall.  I cant believe my baby is 5 already….I hope he will do well in a main stream class with only a couple therapy sessions a week…we will see and I will post more on that when he starts.

I also just turned 39 :-p  My last year of my 30s, Sad kinda, but refuse to feel old yet…. we will see what the next year brings LOL

I am a 38 year old (currently unemployed) single mother of my 4.5 yr old son Hunter. I was diagnosed in January of 2009 through  the Rheumatologist my Mom goes to who also has AS (diagnosed 1995).  She has both hips and knees replaced and has lots of trouble with her eyes and lungs due to AS.  I am hoping that since I was diagnosed at a much younger age, I can possibly avoid so many problems.

At first the doc didn’t think I had AS, but after blood tests (I am HLA-B27 positive) and full body scan showing lots of inflammation in my lumbar back and pelvis, I was able to get diagnosed and start Enbrel in February of 2009.  So my therapy is Lexapro 20mg daily and Enbrel 50 mg once a week.  I also go to aqua therapy at a local rehab center and it does help with my pain and stiffness.  BUT – I still have lots of pain in my neck, right shoulder (injury in 2006 from carrying too much baby stuff) lower back, both hips, knees and feet.  I am hoping working out in the pool will help me get some strength back and maybe lessen the pain.

The Rheum. and my family doc think my symptoms were triggered by my son’s birth in 2006, after which I had lots of pain in my feet, knees, hips, lower back, neck and shoulders that never went away.  I descended into post-partum depression that was not treated until 2009 due to an unsupportive, verbally & mentally abusive husband who I divorced in May 2009.  My son, who has high functioning Autism is my greatest joy and my greatest challenge.  I tend to have flare ups when he tantrums a lot and has lots of trouble with his father.  He does NOT like his father at all.  He is only 4 and already tells me “Daddy is mean all the time, I don’t like him, I want him to be lost.”  It breaks my heart to have to force him to go with him 2 evenings a week and every other weekend.

Having so much stress in my life does not help with my AS at all.  I am also trying very hard to find a job (I worked as an Administrative Assistant in both a Medical and Aviation setting).  I have been unemployed since January 2009.  My benefits run out this January and I am getting scared!  If the economy does not pick up soon, I don’t know how I will be able to make ends meet.  I am very thankful that my son and I am living with my parents, otherwise.  They took us in and are my god-send.

My son and I are a team and we help each other cheer up on difficult days with tickles and sillyness building with lots of legos!  I hope you all have enjoyed hearing my story.

I have been away for a long time, thinking, increasing meds and I finally am feeling better but still unemployed and feeling mostly annoyed by that fact >:-(

I have still not had ONE interview in over a year.  Many people tell me this is not uncommon right now with the economy how it is, but it sure makes you feel like — worthless!  Anyway, my son is doing much better and likes his school, even rides the bus in the morning now even though I feel he is so young to be on the bus…..sigh my little boy is growing so quick, Kindergarten next year ! :-O

His father continues to be a SOB, now since he is potty trained, the X has found new things to bitch about.  Now he is pushing that Hunter needs to dress himself with no help (Autism??? helloooo!!!) he is getting better, but still needs my help with his shirt but the X is not happy unless he makes my son miserable so he is forcing him – as always >:-(

The weekends with the X are still full of stress for Hunter, he always comes home at his breaking point and immediately has a HUGE meltdown when he comes home. :’-(  I just hold him and tell him, he is home now, Mommy is here, Its ok and after about an hour, he is better and can play and eat some dinner.  I just burns me up to see my child go through this every other week!

But other than that, my outlook is improving with an adjustment to my meds.  Spring is coming too, which is even better!  All of the 3 feet of snow we got in the northeast this winter is finally almost gone!  It was a crazy winter and now I am looking forward to warm days, flowers, and getting back into hiking and walking, it sux being snowbound.  I need to seriously take off some pounds this year.  I feel like a hippo :-p  I wonder if my state insurance would cover the Lapband………sigh

I just can’t wait to get out into the sun again and breathe the fresh air of spring.

SIGH — more later…..

Anyone who remembers this video in their youth, please comment, and tell me your memories.  Also, the movie 13 going on 30 really brought back all the fun of the 80′s – I miss those carefree days…..

My all time favorite Halloween video!  RIP – MJ