Arwednesdays with Arwen the Wonder Dog

Wow! Mommy and her shop are featured on Indie Smiles! There is a whole article there by Linda of LindaGJ. In it there is talk about fibromyalgia as well as her beautiful jewelry.
High-5 Mommy! We hope you all have a great Wednesday.

Mommy also wants to thank everyone who came out to the Gluten free Baking Exchange cooking class last night. It was so much fun and there were so many awesome baked goods for everyone to take home. Can't wait for next week!
and Arwen

Fabulous Friday Features: Fibromyalgia

This isn't your regular post, I suppose. This isn't about another fabulous artist (though I need more, please!!!), but about a disease I fight every day. I know I sound like I complain about my fibromyalgia and honestly, I don't mean to and I apologize for bothering you with it. I am so grateful to everyone who reads and send their best wishes for my health, I can't tell you how much it means to me!
I thought I would relay this letter from www.fibrohugs.org to show you a bit about my disease. It is called, "A Letter to Normals" by Ronald J. Waller.

The Letter To Normals
Hello Family, Friends, and Anyone Wishing to Know Me,

Allow me to begin by thanking you for taking the time out of your day to spend some time with me and get to know me better. A person’s time is their most valuable asset and yours is appreciated.

I want to talk to you about Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS). Many have never heard of these conditions and for those who have, many are misinformed. And because of this judgments are made that may not be correct… So I ask you to keep an open mind as I try to explain who I am and how FM/MPS has assaulted not only my life but those whom I love as well.

You see, I suffer from a disease that you cannot see; a disease that there is no cure for and that keeps the medical community baffled at how to treat and battle this demon, who’s attacks are relentless. My pain works silently, stealing my joy and replacing it with tears. On the outside we look alike you and I; you wont see my scars as you would a person who, say, had suffered a car accident. You wont see my pain in the way you would a person undergoing chemo for cancer; however, my pain is just as real and just as debilitating. And in many ways my pain may be more destructive because people can’t see it and do not understand....

Please don’t get angry at my seemingly lack of interest in doing things; I punish myself enough I assure you. My tears are shed many times when no one is around. My embarrassment is covered by a joke or laughter, but inside I want to die....

Most of my "friends" are gone; even members of my own family have abandoned me. I have been accused of "playing games" for another’s sympathy. I have been called unreliable because I am forced to cancel plans I made at the last minute because the burning and pain in my legs or arms is so intense I cannot put my clothes on and I am left in my tears as I miss out on yet another activity I used to love and once participated in with enthusiasm.

I feel like a child at times... Just the other day I put the sour cream I bought at the store in the pantry, on the shelf, instead of in the refrigerator; by the time I noticed it, it had spoiled. When I talk to people, many times I lose my train of thought in mid sentence or forget the simplest word needed to explain or describe something. Please try to understand how it feels to have another go behind me in my home to make sure the stove is off after I cook an occasional meal. Please try to understand how it feels to “lose” the laundry, only to find it in the stove instead of the dryer. As I try to maintain my dignity the Demon assaults me at every turn. Please try to understand….

Sleep, when I do get some, is restless and I wake often because of the pain the sheets have on my legs or because I twitch uncontrollably. I walk through many of my days in a daze with theFibro-fog laughing at me as I stumble and grasp for clarity.

And just because I can do a thing one day, that doesn’t mean I will be able to do the same thing the next day or next week. I may be able to take that walk after dinner on a warm July evening; the next day or even the in the next hour I may not be able to walk to the fridge to get a cold drink because my muscles have begun to cramp and lock up or spasm uncontrollably. And there are those who say “but you did that yesterday!” “What is your problem today?” The hurt I experience at those words scars me so deeply that I have let my family down again; and still they don’t understand….

On a brighter side I want you to know that I still have my sense of humor. If you take the time to spend with me you will see that. I love to tell that joke to make another’s face light up and smile at my wit. I love my kids andgrandbabies and shine when they give me my hugs or ask me to fix their favorite toy. I am fun to be with if you will spend the time with me on my own playing field; is this too much to ask? I love you and want nothing more than to be a part of your life. And I have found that I can be a strong friend in many ways. Do you have a dream? I am your friend, your supporter and many times I will be the one to do the research for your latest project; many times I will be your biggest fan and the world will know how proud I am at your accomplishments and how honored I am to have you in my life.

So you see, you and I are not that much different. I too have hopes, dreams, goals… and this demon…. Do you have an unseen demon that assaults you and no one else can see? Have you had to fight a fight that crushes you and brings you to your knees? I will be by your side, win or lose, I promise you that; I will be there in ways that I can. I will give all I can as I can, I promise you that. But I have to do this thing my way. Please understand that I am in such a fight myself and I know that I have little hope of a cure or effective treatments, at least right now. Please understand….

Thank you for spending your time with me today. I hope we can work through this thing, you and I. Please understand that I am just like you… Please understand….

Copyright of www.fibrohugs.org Written by Ronald J. Waller


Thank you so much for reading and understanding, I hope you will join me in having a GREAT day today, and I wish all of my fellow Canadians a Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Turkey Day and all the happiness that everyone can get :)

and Arwen the Fibro Companion and Wonder Dog

Arwendnesdays: Lending a Helping Paw

Hello, Arwen the Wonder Dog here again to show you how I'm helping mommy with her jewelry. She has been really sick lately with her Fibromyalgia and that means I need to be extra cute and helpful. My mom says that she is very, very sorry to have not posted for a few days, but that we are back and we are going to try to post every day again. Don't worry, mom is okay, she is just very sore and her muscles go into spasms, making it hard to do anything other than hold a book or sleep. Still, as mommy says, today is a new day and she says we are going to work on her latest beading project!

Here are the things I helped her gather this morning:
-Beading kit (tray with beading mat, scissors, needle, beading thread, beads, instructions)
-Moisturizer for dry hands (I always try and lick it off mommy's hands, but she doesn't let me!)
-LOTS of movies to stay entertained
-Healthy snacks and drinks
-Laptop and phone to stay in touch
-Binder of projects and to-do lists to keep organized
-Comfy blanket to stay warm
In truth, I only watched as mommy got all of these things, but I did the most important part: I kept the blankets nice and warm, and smiled at mommy when she was ready to sit down.

When you do your art or a craft, what preparation do you do? Do you gather any special items?

Have a great Arwendnesday!!
and Arwen

Almost Wordless Wednesday - My Treasury Revisited

I'm pretty sore today, so I'll copy my blog post from my main blog, Little Studio Photography and Jewellery to this one. Sorry for the cop-out, I've been pretty sick and if one thing has to give, it is my secondary blog :(
I need lots of views, so please click on the image above to go to the site. When you're there, feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of that page :)

Happy Saturday!

My "little BIG thing" today: I took some photos in my yard, and had a blast!
I'm sore (as always) but this "little BIG thing" is actually quite a bit of fun - I'm trying to do one thing each day that (though it may seem small to some people) makes a difference in my happiness. I'll try to post here more regularly, but if I'm absent from here, please do check out my Little Studio Photography and Jewellery Blog
Thanks for visiting, I hope you have a great day!

A Wee Addendum.....

I guess my last post came out a little more negative than I imagined it would....
I have had a very rough time these last few years, but I don't want to sound like I am miserable all the time: I don't like being sick, but I don't regret all of the valuable things I have learned through this illness.
I appreciate everything I have been given as a result of this illness: I have been given a greater perspective on the joys of life in general and appreciate everything I have all the more for it.
I hate being sick, but I LOVE my life.
I love my family, my friends, my dog and my wonderful bloggy followers who put up with my ranting :)
Thank you for reading, and have a great day!
Meghann

Thoughts on Having My 3-Year 'Fibro'versary

~My Faithful Fibro Companion, Arwen~

Today is the three year anniversary of when I first got sick with Fibromyalgia. I didn't know it at the time, however. I went to bed the night before a little more tired than usual, thinking I might be coming down with a cold, but happy that the next day I was off work and would be able to sleep in, work out, tidy the house, and work on my photography. That fateful morning I woke up and felt like I had run face-first into a brick wall: my entire body hurt - bones, joints, skin, hair, nails, everything. My head felt foggy, like lead in a bucket of water, I just couldn't think or make sense of anything. I was definitely coming down with something, probably the flu. I rested and went back to work the day after, thinking I felt pretty horrible, but I needed the money.
I collapsed at work, began shaking uncontrollably and ended up in the emergency room with doctors scratching their heads not knowing what was wrong. After almost 2 years of going through test after test after test, not knowing if I had cancer, ectopic pregnancies, endometriosis, cysts, fibroids, allergies (YES I do), asthma (I always have, but not bad), and many more terrifying things, (including mental illness and wondering if I was, in fact, going crazy...I wasn't) I finally had an answer: Fibromyalgia. I hurt all the time, I'm exhausted all the time, I feel weak, get dizzy, get grumpy (who wouldn't when you don't sleep and hurt??), and many more not-so-fun (!) things, and there is no cure. I've tried over $1500 of medications in the last year alone that have done nothing but make me very, very ill. I've lost friends, jobs, had to stop going to school for accounting, which I loved, and had to give up many other very enjoyable pastimes.
Why do I bring up all of this yuckiness, you ask? I'll tell you.
I have learned so much in these last three years, grown so much, that I have to share.
1. I have learned that being sick is very frustrating and annoying, but not the end of the world. I don't have cancer, AIDS, Ebola, or many much worse diseases that kill. I will not die, despite saying on occasion that I would like to after the pain gets really, really bad. I will not die. That is important.
2. I have learned that real friends are the ones who keep calling and understand when you don't always call them back. They don't just call when they need something. They understand that you are sick but still care about them. That is wonderful.
3. I have learned that not everyone believes in fibromyalgia, many people think that because I look 'normal' (minus the huge bags under my eyes from lack of sleep and my hobbling around in pain), I must be fine and am therefore faking it. I am not faking it. I am very, very sick, but if they don't want to understand after my educating them politely, I am not going to take it personally, or try to make them understand. Life is too short and important to waste it on people who don't/won't bother to understand. You can't see diabetes....are they 'faking' it?
4. A good husband, family and good friends are so vital, even if you don't always see eye-to-eye or meet face-to-face every day. Support is so crucial. A kind word, email, or very gentle hug can make all the difference between bottomless depression and feeling like there is hope
5. Everyone has problems, and we need to LISTEN. If you see someone and ask "How are you?" Mean it. Listen to their answer. If they just say "Fine," they are not 'fine', and something has to be going on. In this day and age of electronic impersonality we lose contact with important human connections. Reconnect. Care. You'll be surprised how much it means to you and the other person.
6. A happy dog's wagging tail, or a cat on your lap can melt away almost every bad thing for a while. Animals are instant stress relievers and the more stressed you are, the more attention you need to pay to your dog, cat, fish, rat, etc. They really do help. Plus, they like the attention - wouldn't you?
7. Distractions are great. Hobbies are essential no matter how healthy or busy you are. Teach yourself to knit, crochet, paint, make tables, anything you like to do. It is also a great stress reliever, and you never know, you might find something you are really passionate about.
8. Talking or blogging is so great. You can vent, cry, laugh, say almost anything and you'll feel better. And you meet really cool people, often sharing your experiences.
Thank you for joining me on this reflective day. I hope it makes an impression on you - it certainly has on me.
My love and positive thoughts to you all, I wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous future :)
Meghann

Christmas Prep

I love the photo above - Arwen loves her stuffed toys, even if they don't stay that way for long! She brings this pepper everywhere with her, even if it no longer has its stuffing since this was taken. I love this photo because it looks like she brought the pepper to look out the window with her while she does - too cute!
Today, though I am pretty sore and tired, I will tidy the house some more (yesterday was a house clean-athon), and hopefully start to put up some decorations for Christmas.
I'm also going to try and get at least one of the new jewel bags I have been planning on making for a while...I am learning to sew and I made some cushion covers last week to try my hand at using a machine...I'll get some pics of those today, maybe with the dog because she makes everything look good :)
I also have to plan my Christmas baking and get the house ready for my mom who is coming for a week long visit next week. I am so excited - we plan visits together a few times per year where we can catch up and have some fun - she really is my best friend :)
I'll post pics of the jewel bags when they are done also, as well as a new necklace for my friend that I made.
Busy busy! Have a safe weekend everyone, don't get mad at holiday traffic! And remember, it truly is the THOUGHT that counts with Christmas (or any) gifts - something small and handmade that requires a lot of thought is better than any gift, no matter how expensive (ok, maybe a really nice engagement ring, or a pair of killer Jimmy Choo's, but those are dream items, lol).
Take care!
Meghann

Sometimes It Works...

~Spices~

Sometimes inspiration comes from the weirdest places. Sometimes the photograph just seems to take itself. This was one of those times when I was waiting most impatiently for the coffee to finish and the sun was coming through the window, right into my eyes. I was sore, half asleep and didn't want to have the sun in my eyes, so I happened to look to my left, away from the sun, and saw the most remarkable sight: my spice jars, only they weren't just spice jars, they looked like bottles of colourful spices in one of those middle-eastern markets where the spices are all laid out for you, begging you to touch them. There they were - warm, inviting, and the lighting made them look almost surreal. The camera obliged by thankfully believing me that the flash would ruin it (I can turn it off, but only if the camera agrees, and we fight about it sometimes, lol), and I got a really cool shot.
I also got a neat one of the pepper grinder, but the cabinets left a shadow behind it, so I'll have to try and get it again, but you can see it here:

~Pepper~

Pretty cool for being half asleep :)
Meghann

Dogon Good!

~Help Me Get a Shelter Friend!~

Hello, my name is Arwen. I am a 5 and 1/4 year old mix of lab, border collie, husky and whatever else God decided to throw in the mix. I love to look cute (see above), play fetch (or keep away, whatever I decide at the time), and nap with my mom. My mom loves me very much, and I love to cuddle, play and chase her (or have her chase me) around the house. I also love to play with other dogs and cats, and I'm finding the house a little quiet since my cat-brother Gandalf went to heaven.
Mom tells everyone she is having a sale on her jewellery and photography to clear space for new items, which is true, but secretly she is doing it so she can get me a friend. You see, since mom got sick with Fibromyalgia, she hasn't been able to work, and she can't afford to get me a new friend and fence in the yard. This means that since we live far away from other people and puppies, I don't have another dog to run and play with. I really need a friend, so please go visit my mom's jewellery site for some great deals (which also benefit charities), and to help me get a new friend from a local shelter!
Little Studio Photography and Jewellery
Also, don't forget to enter the November blog contest to try and win a ring at: www.meglittlestudio.blogspot.com
Sincerely,
Your Furry Friend Arwen