Happy Mother's Day

Weeping Cherry tree in full bloom a couple of weeks ago in our front yard.

Mother's Day blessings to all of the wonderful and loving mothers I am blessed to know, to all of the amazing women who mother me, to all of the women who long to be mothers themselves, to all of you missing your own mother, to all of you missing a child how has passed on too soon, and most of all, Happy Mother's Day to my own mom.


I have been blessed with Abbie, aunts, friends, grandmothers, and so many beautiful women who have mothered and continue to mother me. I thank you all for this. I am wiser and more fully myself because of you. 


At the end of every day, no matter how hard the day, someone has always mothered me. I am a very, very, very lucky woman. I am also getting to watch many of my friends grow into amazing mothers themselves.


Each day, I feel brought down to my knees with gratitude and appreciation for all that my own mother does for me. My mom plays more roles than most moms do for their 35 year old daughters from chef to friend to occupational therapist. Just the other day, she bought a bunch of pansies and potting soil. She filled a large pot with the potting soil so that I could plant the pansies. While I planted the pansies, I realized that Mom had basically come up with some fun occupational and physical therapy for the day--she had gone to the store, bought the supplies, and made the activity doable for me. This may seem simple or insignificant. But such gestures, that occur day in and day out, change the course of my days, especially because they are done with such intuitiveness. Planting the pansies was my main activity for the day.


We've found a way to take an unexpected and difficult situation and love each other more deeply and more fully. She's my closest confidante, my mother, my caregiver, and my role model.


Day in and day out, intuitively, selflessly and lovingly I am nurtured, I am cared for, I am hugged, I am fed good food, I am listened to, I am encouraged, I am asked what I need, I am loved.


I love you Mom.




Blessings,


Emily

Happy 'Gotcha Day' To My Favorite Little Guy!

Kisses from my favorite little guy.

Today, May 6th, is Asher's 'Gotcha Day'. Other than a little taste of some leftover fish from dinner (which Asher LOVED!), the celebration here was low-key.


Still, the significance of the day and the joyful spirit that is Asher did not go unnoticed. 


Mom snapped this photo of me and Asher last weekend in our yard after we had been on our little picnic. I was trying to get him to pose for a photo, but he wasn't sitting still!


As you can see, he makes me smile fully and completely.  Even on the days when I don't think I have it in me to smile or laugh he finds a way to make me--by digging for just the right toy in his toy boxes, by reminding us it's time to eat darnit, by galloping around the house squeaking toys, by jumping up on 'his' ottoman/throne and sitting there as if he is king, by needing to be wherever we are at all times even if it means we trip over him, by snuggling in bed next to me snoring, by enjoying a really good scratch on the toosh, by thinking going for a ride in the car is the best things since that fish he had for a treat tonight.


  In the mornings when I am trying to wake up, Asher is usually waiting outside my door for me to get up. I say: "Good morning Sunshine!" He responds by shaking off, sitting down to scratch, looking at me, and finally jumping up on the bed to smother me with kisses. How can that not make me smile?


We have had three dogs now, all of them wonderful, but none with the super-sized personality that Asher has. 


Asher: We hope your nine years here with us bring you as much joy as you bring us. We think you are a bit dramatic when you act as if you've had a rough life!


Blessings,


Emily

Under Our Skin to Air on PBS

As of now, there really is no medicine for someone like me. The reasons why there is no medicine for Lyme disease are complicated, overly-politicized, and outrageous. For me, seeing Under Our Skin was the first time I truly understood the complexities of this illness and the powerful ways in which patients are being neglected and doctors are being kept from treating people like me. There is a reason the production company for Under Our Skin is called Open Eye Pictures. This movie will move you. 


As part of Lyme Disease Awareness Month, PBS stations across the country will be airing a shorter version of the film Under Our Skin.


Click here for a schedule and list of stations.


For those of you who haven't yet seen the film, I highly recommend watching it. The film is also available on demand from iTunes, Netflix, Comcast and many other ways. I still have copies available to lend and it is probably at your local library.


Interestingly, the decision by PBS stations to air the film has been met with resistance by the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA). The IDSA has been working hard to get PBS stations to pull the broadcasts, claiming the film is "dangerous for viewers" and full of "conspiracies."


So far, one Minnesota PBS station did pull the airing of the film after discussions with the IDSA. Thankfully, most stations have not changed their decision to air the film.


As stated on the Under Our Skin blog post on this topic: The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) was created in 1967 to "provide a voice for groups in the community that may otherwise be unheard," and serve as "a forum for controversy and debate" by broadcasting programs that "help us see America whole, in all its diversity."


I am so grateful to the people of Open Eye Pictures who were willing to shed light on such a controversial subject. I'm grateful to PBS for staying true to its mission, for making this film available for viewing to so many more people, and for allowing those of us who feel unheard to be heard. 


On the subject of gratitude, THANK YOU so very much to those of you who have pledged to support me in the 1st Annual International Virtual Walk to Turn the Corner!!!! Because of your generosity I have more than doubled my fundraising goal of $250! I've been so lifted up and encouraged by your support. (Click here for my blog post on the topic and click here to go to my fundraising page.)


With efforts from so many people on so many fronts to raise awareness about Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses our hope is that someday soon there will be a medicine for someone like me.


Blessings,


Emily

Picnic

LOTS of dandelions.

"Make hay when the sun is shining" is definitely a favorite phrase of Mom's. When I woke up on Saturday and asked for a 'weather report', Mom said it was 'perfect' outside. 

I had just written my blog post on loss of freedom and finding ways to make choices within my constraints. On Saturday, I felt that I got to freely choose some things during the day that made me happy. I decided it was most important to enjoy the beautiful weather (of which we haven't had much!).

We quickly made some sandwiches and headed to a little park that is just five minutes away, where we had a picnic lunch and Mom pushed me for a short ride in the Rolls.

Asher was very excited about the outing too!

I think Asher can be so clown-like, so I like this photo of him with his tongue hanging out. He might not think it is the best of the photos I got that day, though.

Barn and community garden located in the park.

Lots of people were out in the community garden planting. 

Mom and I rarely take a day just to 'have fun'. (Neither of us is very good at 'fun' these days.) We spent the afternoon outside and that evening we had Thai food delivered. I took a bath and watched part of a movie. Mom pretty much never takes a night off from cooking and we rarely take a whole day to just relax. 

I did pay a price with autonomic symptoms in the afternoon, but overall the day was a happy one. I felt a lot of freedom in my choice to enjoy the beautiful day, spend time with Mom, and ditch the to-do list. We had our own little Staycation.

Blessings,

Emily

Virtual Walk to Turn the Corner on Lyme Disease

Me and Mr. Fuzz outside in the yard today.
Sadly, it is easy enough to get a tick bite in your own backyard.

Today is May 1st. May Day. The 2nd birthday of one of my favorite little boys. Time for the May flowers that come after April showers. 


Today is also the first day of Lyme Disease Awareness Month, in which I am very excited to be participating for the first time this year. I have decided to be a part of the 1st Annual International Virtual Walk to Turn the Corner on May 15th, 2011. 


Please check out my very own fundraising page to learn more about this event and to read my summary of why I am participating in it. I encourage you to visit my page even if you are not able to or are not interested in making a donation.

As much as we all love Spring, it brings with it the unwelcome presence of ticks. Throughout this month, and beyond, I hope to continue to blog more about Lyme Disease and why I hope to become more involved in speaking up about it.  (I do not have the intention of changing the focus of my blog, only to add another dimension to it over time.)

For now, please consider joining me on May 15th, 2011 by making a small donation ($5 or $10) and cheering me on with your Lime green pom poms! (I'd pick pink, but that's just not the color for Lyme Disease awareness!).


Today, Mom and I will also engage in our ritual of applying Asher's monthly dose of Frontline to keep him as safe as possible from Lyme disease and ticks. Please keep yourself and your loved ones as safe as possible from ticks, Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses during what is looking to be a prolific year for ticks all over the country.


Blessings and Thank you in advance for your support!


Emily

Another Visit at Rebekah's...

On Tuesday afternoon, Mom took me over to see Rebekah, Kale, Quinn...

and Daisy. She is one hard-working dog! (She was listening in case the phone rang.)

I haven't seen Kale for quite a while as he was napping the first time I went to see Quinn. When I got to Rebekah's house, I came in through the garage door. As soon as Kale heard the door opening he came running and yelling: "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" I think he was a little surprised to see I wasn't Daddy. He wouldn't hold still (or pretended to be bashful) for the camera, so this is my best shot of the little blossoming personality. No more Mr. Serious. This guy is Mr. Smiles now.

Someone else is learning to smile too!

I am 8 weeks old now! I weigh 13 pounds!

Look at me smile!

The first time I visited, Quinn slept in my arms almost the entire visit. This time, he was a little less into sleeping, but we did get to end the visit with some nice cuddle time. I love this photo Mom took of me with Quinn and Daisy. Daisy was perfectly content underneath my legs! I really didn't want this moment to end.

I had grand plans of getting to see Rebekah more than twice while she was on maternity leave, but it just didn't work out. I'm so grateful for the two visits we did get!!!!!

Blessings,

Emily

Lyme Disease Awareness Car: Please Vote!

Today, I'd like to ask you to take a few seconds of your hump day to VOTE for the Lyme Disease Awareness Car. 

Doing so will take will take you less than ten seconds. You do not need to enter any personal information. Just go to this page and click VOTE. 


You can vote one time per day until May 1st. So, keep voting the rest of the week!


If our car wins, the design will be printed on a car in an upcoming NASCAR race! How cool is that? The winner will be announced in Charlotte, NC during Lyme Awareness month (May).

To read a bit more about this campaign and car please check out this short blog from CALDA (California Lyme Diseases Association of America).

The car is really cool.

Voting is a simple way for you to speak up for Lyme disease awareness. (The fact that the spellcheck in Blogger doesn't recognize Lyme as a word shows we have a long ways to go! :P)


Thank you in advance for voting! And thank you to all of you who have already been voting this week when I post the link on Facebook! I have rockin' friends and family!


(If you have little kids who love cars, they will probably like the Vrrooommmm noise and the spiffy car on the website!).


Blessings,


Emily