Snow!

We have a Christmas snow in the forecast. I love snow on Christmas :)

Four days until Christmas and I am still not finished shopping. Webkinz have taken over underneath the tree, they each have gotten 8! The prices were awesome though, ranging from $2 to $5 each, normally being $12-16. Next year for gifts I am going to do some patchwork quilting - blankets, pillows and curtains. I found a great deal at the fabric store on random patchwork material. The Wii is being put on hold, and Lily is getting a Nintendo DS. She loves her Gameboy and she takes the batteries out of everything around the house for it. Lacey doesn't enjoy solo games, but I found a great deal on a 4 foot doll house complete with furniture.

My first day at Sycamore was yesterday. I LOVE it! I am able to self schedule, choose the days I'd like to work for the week. Day one insurance which I took great advantage of. Ryan was nearly out of insulin and at the Apothecary I was able to purchase $1200 worth of medicine for just $10. I will be able to get certified in Chemotherapy administration in the future, and also ACLS, BLS and PALS certifications. (Pretty much just extra life support credits in addition to CPR)

We are going to take the girls to Fort Saint Clair tonight to see Santa and the Christmas lights. Pictures to follow!

Scleroderma..in reference to last post

Scleroderma is in actual fact not a single disease, but a set of related disorders involving a similar set of symptoms. This makes a concise definition – and diagnosis –difficult. All forms of scleroderma do, however, share the basic characteristics of fibrosis (an excessive accumulation of tissue) and inflammation.....

Pain, ranging in severity from uncomfortable to debilitating, is a common characteristic of the
disease. Other symptoms can include, but are not limited to the following:....

General fatigue....	Joint or bone aching....	Stiffness of hands and feet....
Skin Discoloration ....	Swallowing difficulties....	Skin thickening, tightness....
Dry mucus membranes....	Calcium deposits under the skin....	Raynaud's phenomenon (described below)....

Recent research suggests that scleroderma is not only a rheumatic disease, but also has a blood vessel component. Inflammation in the body's blood vessels leads to their narrowing. Further damage from the inflammation and impact of the increased blood pressure can lead to destruction of smaller arteries. As a result, or perhaps as a parallel disease process, fibrosis takes place This process can have devastating implications and the heart and lungs can suffer a significant loss in efficiency. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is the leading cause of death in scleroderma patients..... The first documented account of scleroderma was by Dr. Carlo Curzio of ....Naples.... in 1754, who described his patient as a 17-year-old Neapolitan woman afflicted by a disease of "extraordinary nature." "Her complaint," wrote Dr. Curzio, "was an excessive tension and hardness of her skin over all her body, by which she found herself so bound and
straightened that she could hardly move her limbs." Nor could she fully close her eyelids or open her mouth, due to "the firmness of the skin and membrane." The fibrosis witnessed by Dr. Curzio is the most noticable feature of the disease. In fact, the word scleroderma is Greek for "hard skin," although it is much more than that, often affecting the internal organs with life-threatening consequences. ....Hundreds of thousands of people suffer from the various types of scleroderma, and as many as 10,000 patients die very year from the most serious form of the disease. Eighty percent of those afflicted with the disease are women, though scleroderma also strikes men and children across all ages and ethnic boundaries. Unfortunately, the disease typically strikes in the prime of patients' lives, when they are 30-50 years old..... The cause of scleroderma is unknown. It is not contagious and it is rare for direct family members to manifest the disease. However, there is increasingly strong evidence of a genetic predisposition to scleroderma. There is an approximately two-fold greater likelihood that a close relative will be diagnosed with scleroderma – thus explaining the genetic link. Some scleroderma cases have been linked to environmental factors such as silica dust, organic solvents, and certain drugs, though the cause for most cases of scleroderma is still not known..... Significant progress has been made in managing the symptoms and some of the most serious complication of scleroderma, so that people with the disease are living longer, fuller lives. Still, no therapies yet exist to halt or reverse the disease process. Patients continue to experience pain, deterioration and debilitation – and many patients die. ....The Scleroderma Research Foundation is devoting every possible resource to solving the mysteries of scleroderma. A collaborative approach to research is opening doors to therapeutic development and ultimately, a cure.....

There are two major types of
scleroderma—localized and systemic. Localized scleroderma affects
only the skin and is, generally, not as destructive or debilitating as systemic
scleroderma, which is a multi-system disease often involving the skin, blood
vessels, heart, lungs, kidneys and other major organs.....

Localized scleroderma....	Systemic scleroderma (systemic sclerosis)....
Localized morphea.... Generalized morphea.... Linear scleroderma....	Limited systemic sclerosis.... Diffuse systemic sclerosis.... Sine sclerosis....

The skin is typically the only organ involved in localized scleroderma. In extreme cases, however, the muscle below is also affected by a hardening of the tissues. Because internal organs are not affected by localized scleroderma, it is not a life-threatening illness and can
be considered a less serious health threat than other forms of the disease. Symptoms of localized scleroderma will, in many cases, improve or go away on their own over time, but there is frequently permanent damage in the form of residual scar tissue. For some patients, localized scleroderma can be disfiguring and painful. In rare cases, it can be disabling. There are three major sub-types of localized scleroderma

Morphea (mor-FEE-ah) is derived from the Greek word "morfi," meaning shape or structure. With localized morphea,
the body shows one or several patches of scleroderma. Symptoms include reddish patches of inflamed and discolored skin, usually on the chest or back, but sometimes on the face, arms, and legs. These oval-shaped patches are limited to
certain areas on the body and range in size from a half-inch to approximately 12 inches in diameter. Localized morphea is further pronounced by the absence of sweat glands and very little, if any, hair growth in affected areas.....

Generalized morphea is a more severe, although less common, condition than localized morphea. Large dark
patches of thick, tight skin form on the trunk, arms and legs, and can be so extensive that they merge into one another. These widespread plaques closely resemble oversized patches of localized morphea, but are usually ivory-colored
and sometimes have a distinct violet-colored border. Patients with generalized morphea do not suffer from the internal life-threatening features of systemic sclerosis, but the disease can result in severe scars and physical disability.
Generalized morphea has been known to appear on areas of the skin treated by radiation therapy.

Linear scleroderma, also known as bilateral scleroderma, is characterized by a highly visible band or bands of thick, tight skin on the arms, legs, chest, stomach, back, buttocks or face. It is often considered a pediatric disease as it usually manifests itself within the first 10 years of life. ....

When affecting a limb, linear scleroderma can cause arms and legs to develop at noticeably different rates. It is not uncommon for the disease to extend down to the bones and muscles underneath it, thus damaging their structure, limiting motion of affected joints, and interfering with normal growth.....
When linear scleroderma occurs on the face, it is often referred to as en coup de saber French term for "a strike of the sword," due to its appearance. Linear scleroderma may be disfiguring, but is not life threatening and rarely
progresses to systemic scleroderma.....

Systemic scleroderma, also known as systemic sclerosis, is a multi-system disease with numerous manifestations that can affect not only the skin, but also underlying blood vessels, muscles, and joints, as well as the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, lungs and heart. There are two subsets of systemic scleroderma, limited and diffuse – both are
characterized by vascular injury, as well as severe inflammation and fibrosis.....Systemic scleroderma causes a loss of circulation that can result in painful skin ulcers occurring on fingers, toes, and other extremities. Joint pain caused by inflammation and swelling can be chronic. Loss of flexibility in the hands and severe skin tightening can impair the use of fingers and toes. The skin of the face may also tighten and harden, especially around the mouth, making eating
and drinking difficult.....Systemic scleroderma (both limited and diffuse) is the most dangerous form of the disease and the primary focus of research funded by the Scleroderma Research Foundation.....
It is estimated that approximately 90% of systemic scleroderma patients experience Raynaud's (ray-NOSE) phenomenon as a primary symptom. Named after the French physician who discovered it more than a century ago, Raynaud's is a condition in which the small blood vessels of the hands and, sometimes, feet contract in response
to cold or stress. The process makes the hands/feet extremely sensitive to cold and causes their pigmentation to blanch from white to blue. As blood flow returns, they become red. With scleroderma patients, tissues in fingertips, especially the capillaries, may suffer damage. This damage can lead to ulcers, scars, or, in severe cases, gangrene.....

It should be noted that Raynaud's phenomenon is quite common, affecting approximately 1 of every 20 people in the United
States..... Research suggests that only 5 – 20% of people with Raynaud's phenomenon will go on to develop a form of systemic scleroderma.....

Systemic limited scleroderma affects approximately 2/3 of the systemic population. Although the progression is typically more indolent, too many patients succumb to fatal disease as with the diffuse form of the disease. It is imperative to treat
these symptoms and carefully monitor for end-organ damage. Chronic pain, loss of mobility and disfigurement are possible. There is also the potential for serious complications related to the esophagus and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as pulmonary complications leading in some cases to dangerously
high blood pressure. Systemic-limited scleroderma is often referred to as CREST, an acronym for several of the most prominent symptoms

C alcinosis....	Painful calcium deposits in the skin....
R aynaud's phenomenon....	Blanching of feet and hands from white to red to blue in response to cold or stress....
E sophageal dysfunction....	Problems with swallowing caused by internal scarring....
S clerodactyly....	Tightening of the skin on the fingers and toes, progressing to the hands and face, and sometimes the neck and feet....
T elangiecstasia....	Red spots on the hands, palms, forearms, face and lips....

Diffuse scleroderma is typically characterized by a early internal inflammatoryphase. Also, unlike limited scleroderma, the onset of symptoms that significantly impact quality of life can be rapid and severe. In most cases of diffuse scleroderma, there is extensive skin fibrosis covering large parts of the body and extremities. Even cases without significant skin involvement can be life-threatening, depending on the type and magnitude of organ damage.....

Problems of the digestive tract can make eating, nutrient absorption and elimination difficult.
The most serious complications of diffuse scleroderma involve the kidneys, lungs and heart and may include renal failure, pulmonary hypertension and the potential for heart failure.....People with diffuse scleroderma are often chronically tired, have a diminished appetite, show weight loss, and suffer from joint swelling and pain. Changes in the skin can include swelling, tightening and chronic itchiness.....

It is not uncommon for people with diffuse scleroderma to enter a phase where disease progression stabilizes for varying lengths of time. This stabilizing phase often begins within 3 to five years after onset and can last for varying amounts of time.....Unfortunately, there is no cure for scleroderma. Although the disease may continue to lie dormant for several years, there can be no certainty as to whether symptoms will improve, remain stagnate, or worsen.....

Early diagnosis and symptomatic treatment, and frequent visits to a physician for monitoring are critically important for diffuse scleroderma patients.....

Sine (SEEN-ay) sclerosis is a term used by many physicians to describe systemic scleroderma without the characteristic skin involvement. In fact, the word "sine" is Latin for "without." Patients with sine sclerosis may have symptoms of either limited or diffuse scleroderma, causing damage to the internal organs. Because there are no external manifestations of the disease, it can be difficult to diagnose. As with other forms of systemic sclerosis, however, the presence of Raynaud's phenomenon and positive autoantibodies can be useful indicators. Complications of the internal organ systems can be serious and often life threatening.....

In the following reports you are going to learn about scleroderma and autoimmune diseases in general. Many things that your doctor never told you because he didn't know. About what may be happening to your body when you have it. What the underlying causes of it may be. And what may need to be considered in attempting to deal with it. So that you may have a better understanding of what to do to fight it. ....

Scleroderma shares much in common with other autoimmune diseases. Research on any particular one usually applies to the other autoimmune diseases to some degree. They have similar underlying causes and conditions, and consequently similar ways of dealing with them. ....

The main symptoms that label an autoimmune disease as scleroderma include the thickening and stiffening of the skin, lungs or other organs. MSM has been used for years by Dr. Jacobs to help increase flexibility of organs and lungs. Researchers in the ....UK.... are experimenting with Nitric Oxide to prevent the thickening. It is one of the autoimmune diseases that often has a bacterial or mycoplasma component so that the use of antibiotics or natural products that kill pathogens may prove to be of much value. ....

Many issues in scleroderma are common to most autoimmune diseases. ....
The malfunctioning immune system is a major problem in autoimmune diseases so let's first look at why the immune system starts having problems and what those problems are. ....One point. Some researchers feel that sometimes an autoimmune illness (and Parkinson's disease) may be caused by consumption of aspartame (in diet drinks, Equal, Nutrasweet) and/or MSG. If you drink diet sodas or commonly consume either of these two chemical excito-toxins, Stop. They may be a major cause of your problems. ....There are two general immune system issues in an autoimmune disease. Poor cellular communication because there is a lack of cell markers on the cell walls. And an over-activated, out of balance immune system that attacks those cells.....

Oxygen, or rather the lack of it at the cellular level, may cause many problems in autoimmune diseases. Decreased oxygen to the left side of the brain can result in the short term memory loss. And may be a factor in the long term malfunctioning of glandular and hormonal systems in the brain. ....In addition, buildup of fibrin on the walls of the blood vessels creates low oxygen areas where cells cannot produce an adequate amount of energy. And may be the reason a common symptom in autoimmune diseases is cold fingers or feet, tingley legs and that type of thing. Oxygen is also needed to oxidize and detoxify toxins. When cells don't have enough oxygen, they are not be able to detoxify themselves adequately. And they won't be able to produce adequate amounts of energy, which may be a major cause of fatigue. ....

Oxygen kills anaerobic bacteria, mycoplasma and viruses. It works so well it is used to purify water in many cities. (Ozonation.) Why isn't it used more often with autoimmune diseases? ....

First breathing it in, you are limited by the amount of oxygen that can be picked up by the hemoglobin in the blood. So it may be difficult to increase oxygen levels dramatically that way. And the drawback to oxygen supplements, the reason they have proven not to be very effective, is that your typical liquid oxygen supplements such as hydrogen peroxide or Vitamin O or whatever, have no way to get oxygen into the cells. The delivery system is lacking. And as the mycoplasma and virusesreside primarily inside cells, and as it is cells that need the extra oxygen the most, these products are limited in their capacity to help. ....

If you want to fight mycoplasmas and viruses with oxygen, you need to produce oxygen inside the cells. Get enough oxygen into the cells, and it may help with the whole range of oxygen deficiencies.....

Digestive enzymes break down food food, and metabolic enzymes are involved in virtually every interaction in the body. When RNase L destroys enzymes and reduces protein digestion, the consequent lack of enzymes affects digestion and just about everything else too. ....

When you eat cooked and processed foods, the enzymes in the food are destroyed. The digestive process needs those now dead enzymes to break down food in the upper stomach. It naturally produces only enough enzymes to finish breaking down the food in the lower stomach. So when you eat foods which no longer have live enzymes, the food doesn't break down in the upper stomach. And the body has to produce extra enzymes to try and break down the food in the lower stomach. And if you have an autoimmune disease and don't have many enzymes, how are you going to produce extra enzymes? You can't easily do so and digestion may suffer. .... Something else happens. Enzymes are proteins. When you aren't able to digest the proteins in your food because you don't have enough enzymes, your body won't be able to make as many enzymes as it should. So will have an even harder time digesting proteins. ....

By the way, most people, especially those with acid reflux, do not produce enough acid in the stomach to digest protein. As a consequence, the stomach churns up the food, working hard to try and break it down. And splashes this mixture up the throat, causing acid reflux. Taking additional Betaine HCL and digestive enzymes, not anti-acids, are the combination which can take care of this problem. ....

16 days!

16 days until Christmas. I feel like I'll never be done with shopping and wrapping presents! I have been thinking about getting Lily and Lacey a Wii game system. I know that it will get a lot of use and there are a wide variety of games. I would love to try the Biggest Loser game! Ryan's brother, JM gave us a super Nintendo system a few years ago and they play Mario Cart and Donkey Kong when we're forced to stay inside on cold days.

We have been battling illness again this week. Lily had a fever and Lacey has a horrible cough. We went to Childrens Urgent care last night and they were given cough suppressants and excuses to be out of school for two days. Lately, at least one person in the house is sick with some kind of illness and we just keep passing it around. I am keeping Clorox and Kleenex in business.

Ryan started a new shift at work. He is working 6pm - 230am. I miss him already and it is just the second day. His travel to work takes nearly an hour and it is mostly country roads. I am going to spend a lot of time staying awake worrying about him going off of the side of the road, as those roads do not get winterized for black ice, sleet or snow.

I have my physical for Sycamore on Friday at 745am. After I will get my badge, immunizations and information about the loan repayment program. I am so grateful to finally have a job. The student loan repayment program is awesome! They will be paying for my student loans, not %100 but when $20, 000 is owed, any assistance is greatly appreciated!

Tomorrow is Dad's 49th birthday. We are celebrating on Friday with cake and dinner of his choice. I am amazed by him, and his ability to survive. He is a walking skeleton, standing at 6ft tall and down to 82 pounds. Scleroderma will not win. He was diagnosed when he was 19, shortly after my birth and physicans prepared him and our family for his death within a few years.

Scleroderma will NOT win.

Digital Scrapbook

I've been working on digital scrapbooking projects and I am improving. I am using Photo Impact instead of Photoshop just because the functions are a little easier. I found an awesome site, Shabby Princess, that has free digital scrapbook pages and accessories.


We finally put up the Christmas tree and holiday decor. I thought that I had a lot last year, but having it spread out in a much larger area makes the decorations seems scarce. Our wiener dog, Rusty is very happy now that the room is arranged in a way where he can sit on the back of the couch to look out the window. He hasn't moved in hours!






The best news since the last blog is that I interviewed for a position on an oncology unit yesterday and I was offered, and of course accepted, the job. Orientation process begins on December 14th and I am very excited to finally have my first real job as a registered nurse.

The weather is getting colder very quickly. The low tonight is 22 degrees and snow is in the forecast. We are trying our best to conserve on gas by using our wood burning fire place, and I do not know how we ever lived without it. I love the smell of the cedar logs burning, and I am going to try the scented logs soon. There are mocha, vanilla, peppermint, coffee, and a few others.

At the girls' school, they are having a fundraiser to raise money for needy families in our area. Lacey was given a form to complete that asked her to state a chore she would be willing to do and the amount of money she wants to be "hired" at. The money she makes will go to the needy families. Her form read:

"I, Lacey, would like to fold towels, for $100. This money I earn will be helping children and their families have all they need for the holiday season."

She has such great intentions, but folding towels for $100 is stretching it! We laughed, and agreed on one basket of towels for $5.

Finally I was able to see New Moon. I believe it was better than Twilight, and I am anxiously awaiting the release of Eclipse. I am still not able to say I am "team Edward" or "team Jacob".

Plans for this weekend are to finish the Christmas shopping, and make gingerbread house with the girls. We love this season!

Stoner

I have been listening to John Mayer's new album titled Battle Studies. I usually listen to it while the kids are at school while I do housework, or play around online. Last night before the girls went to bed it was playing and the lyrics to one of his songs, goes like this: "who says I can't get stoned". Even though that song is the single hit for the album and it is all over the radio, it is my least favorite song. Anyhow, Lily asked me what getting stoned means. She is 10 years old, and pretty soon the peer influences about this topic will have an impact on her, so I explained to her that being stoned means that drugs have messed with brain cells and it causes a person to act silly. I must say that I am a little disappointed in John for insisting that he is a stoner!

Today is Monday, and I have a second interview for the surgical unit in a few hours. I am kind of nervous, but I have a really good feeling about this position. After my interview I am going to light a fire in the fireplace with the cedar logs, make chili and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner, and relax with the girls. Lily has five assignments due by Wednesday we have to work on and I am certain that Lacey will have a few also. Mondays are rough!

Thankful

I am thankful that Thanksgiving is over, and the left overs are gone! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays but we're never able to resist the Black Friday shopping which in turn means no sleep! A Tryptophan overload and not being able to at least squeeze in a nap isn't any fun! This year the shopping wasn't as vigorous, as we only went to a few places in search of Webkinz. Lily and Lacey are really hooked on them and they each have a large collection. Webkinz are virtual pets, and sometimes the games are even tempting for us, too! I was able to find 8 Webkinz at Walgreen's and Toys R Us for less than $40. Normally they are between $9.99 and $17.99 each.
After the early morning shopping on Friday, I had an interview for a surgical unit at Sycamore Hospital. I believe it went really well, and I was called in for a second interview on Monday. I am really looking forward to working, and putting my degree as a registered nurse to use. I am going to work for about a year and then begin working on my next degree degree. Eventually I'd like to become a certified nurse midwife and possibly even a nurse practitioner. There are so many options available to me and with higher education I will able to retire peacefully and always provide for my family in the future. Ryan started his new job last month as a digital technician at a place called Technicolor. He interacts with movie theaters and recording studios, troubleshoots theater problems and other technical stuff. The drive he has to make each day is very long, unfortunately. Nearly an hour each way! He enjoys his job and we're blessed that he is finally employed again.
Saturday we cleaned out our barn, and brought in the Christmas decor. We hung the lights on the house and I plan on getting the tree up within the next few days. The girls are very excited to be able to drink egg nog, listen to Christmas carols and decorate the tree as we do every year. This will be our first Christmas in this house, and I am really excited to see how the tree looks in a room that will accommodate its size! I was really looking forward to a real Christmas tree but I have heard horrible things about the dangers of dogs eating the pine needles, Rusty the Dachshund is always into something!
Tomorrow is back to school for the girls and we always dread those first days back! Getting them up and motivated after having extra days off is really challenging. I must go get lunches packed and clothes laid out so that my day will go a little smoother.