Vlog #1 - Introduction

I twittered/facebooked yesterday asking if there would be any interest in vlogs about my journey with fibromyalgia. There was some interest, so here is the first video. This one is pretty much just a basic introduction about me. Already looking forward to recording the next one soon. Let me know what you think!
P.S. Gotta love the video still YouTube used for the video. Sorry about that!

PLEASE UNDERSTAND FIBROMYALGIA

Please Understand Fibromyalgia
Author Unknown

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ME
My pain is not your pain. Taking your arthritis medication will not help me. I cannot work my pain out or shake it off. It is not even a pain that stays put. Today it is in my shoulder, but tomorrow it may be in my foot or gone.

My pain is not well understood, but it is real.

My fatigue - I am not merely tired. I am often in a severe state of exhaustion. I may want to participate in physical activities, but I can't. Please do not take this personally; it isn't because I don't want to. I am, most likely, paying the price for stressing my muscles beyond their capability.

My forgetfulness - Those of us who suffer from it call it brain fog. I may not remember your name, but I do remember you. I may not remember what I promised to do for you, even though you told me just seconds ago. My problem has nothing to do with my age, but may be related to sleep deprivation caused by chronic pain. I do not have a selective memory. On some days, I just don't have any short-term memory at all.

My clumsiness - If I step on your toes or run into you five times in a crowd, I am not purposely targeting you. I do not have the muscle control for that. If you are behind me on the stairs, please be patient. These days, I take life and stairwells one step at a time.

My depression - Yes, there are days when I would rather stay in bed or in the house or die. I have lost count of how many patients suffered from Chronic Pain as well as other related illnesses. Severe, unrelenting pain can cause depression. Your sincere concern and understanding can pull me back from the brink. Your snide remarks can tip me over the edge.

My stress - My body does not handle stress well. If I have to give up my job, work part time, or handle my responsibilities from home, I'm not lazy. Everyday stresses make my symptoms worse and can incapacitate me completely.

My weight - I may be fat or I may be skinny. Either way, it is not by choice. My body is not your body. My ability to control my appetite is broken, and nobody can tell me how to fix it.

My need for therapy - If I get a massage every week, don't envy me. My massage is not your massage. Massaging out is very painful, but it had to be done. My body is knot-filled. If I can stand the pain, regular massage can help, at least temporarily.

My good days - If you see me smiling and functioning normally, don't assume I am well. I suffer from a chronic pain and fatigue illness with no cure. I can have my good days, weeks, or even months. In fact, the good days are what keep me going.

My uniqueness - Even those who suffer from chronic pain are not alike. That means I may not have all of the problems mentioned above. I do have pain above, below the waist, and on both sides of my body that has lasted for a very long time. I may have migraines, hip pain or shoulder pain, or knee pain, but I do not have exactly the same pain as anyone else.

How I Feel Today

I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok
I just want to be ok today
I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok
I just want to be ok today

I just want to feel today, feel today, feel today
I just want to feel something today
I just want to feel today, feel today, feel today
I just want to feel something today

Open me up and you will see
I'm a gallery of broken hearts
I'm beyond repair, let me be
And give me back my broken parts

I just want to know today, know today, know today
I just want to know something today
I just want to know today, know today, know today
Know that maybe I will be ok

Open me up and you will see
I'm a gallery of broken hearts
I'm beyond repair, let me be
And give me back my broken parts

Just give me back my pieces
Just give them back to me please
Just give me back my pieces
And let me hold my broken parts

I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok
I just want to be ok today
I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok
I just want to be ok today

I just want to feel today, feel today, feel today
I just want to feel something today
I just want to know today, know today, know today
Know that maybe I will be ok
Know that maybe I will be ok
Know that maybe I will be ok

BE OK - Written by Ingrid Michaelson

2011 - 52 Weeks of Photos

If you are a frequent reader of my blog, you know that in 2010, I did postings of 365 days of photos. This year, I am doing things a bit differently. I'm posting 52 weeks of photos.


You can see all the photos from this year individually by going to the Picasa Album I created for this project. Picasa Album - 2011 - 52 Weeks of Photos

Welcome New Year - 2011 on lorelaicc.com

So 2010 is gone and 2011 lies ahead of us, fresh, new, clean, with so much potential. I have been asked by several people if I plan to keep going with my year of photos as I did in 2010. As much as I enjoyed it, there were days it got to be a stressor as I struggled to find a picture for the day. Because of that, I have decided I am not going to do 365 days of photos. However, I am going to do 52 weeks of photos. Once (or more) a week, I will post at least one photo (maybe more) that is representative of the week. I think this will be less stress for me while still allowing me to share with yall a glimpse into our lives.

In addition, I have decided I am going to do 52 weeks of gratitude. Once a week, I will be posting a list (maybe one item, maybe ten items, who knows????) of simple gratitudes I have experienced during the week. This is something I have been doing sporadically in my journal, but I want to share with yall, so I will start sharing some of those on my blog. It will help me be more consistent as well.

As for what else the new year holds, I do not know at this point. I might add something else, but at this point, I am excited for what I plan to share with yall in 2011.

As I close, I found this poem and felt it was a very accurate representation of my wish for myself and for yall in this new year. Peace be with you!

Another fresh new year is here …
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest …
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!
~William Arthur Ward

Damaris' 11th Birthday Sleepover

I posted a couple of these pics in my pictures of the day, but thought yall would like to see all of them. Damaris wanted a PEACE party for her 11th birthday.

Happy 4th of July!

"My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of & which no other people on earth enjoy!" ~Thomas Jefferson

Damaris asked me to post this video again this year. She really likes it!