Running to Catch Up...

I'm still trying to catch up on blog posts, art, etc. Does you ever feel that you're always falling farther and farther behind when something unexpected happens? "The forwarder I go, the more behinder I get"?

Last month, my son spent 4 days in the children's hospital for dehydration. Of course, during that time, my priority was my son...bar none. As a mum, I put my kids' welfare above almost anything else (even my own). Worrying over Internet posts fell by the wayside. It really didn't matter at that point. I sat by my son's beside, watched cartoons and sports with him, and spent the night on a (rather uncomfortable) padded bench.

But at that point, nothing else mattered. Even after he was released to go home, I was still hypervigilant.

A couple of weeks ago, a bad storm tore through Charlotte. Trees fell on driveways and power lines, hail damaged roofs, and people lost power. Almost everyone I knew lost electricity, Internet, phone or all three. Luckily, I still had power and phone, but the storm burnt out the modem on the home network. So again, I had no Internet.

Yeah, inconvenient, but it could have been much worse. I did manage to let people know what was going on (taking my laptop to the local Barnes and Noble to get access). During the three days, I spent more time with Baby Girl and did more sketches. Looking back, a brief time away from my computer benefited me in the long run.

Of course, trying to get back to 'I need to go back to work' mode is easier said than done. So, I'm running to catch up. The life of a mum writer.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2011

Swollen Hands a Difficult Post Dost Write...

...and very little art doth make. :-(

Having rheumatoid arthritis can be more than an inconvenience. It can be downright crippling, especially when you depend on your hands to write and paint. Although I do take medicine for it (methatrexate and prednisone), some days are worse than others. Unfortunately, it seems like this is one of those times. The side-effects from the meds can often be worse than the actual pain itself. Saturday afternoons are my "methatrexate coma days". I'm usually out for the count for several hours after I take it. It puts a dent in my weekends, but it's the only time I can take it. I need to be fully cognizant during the week, with three kids.

This past month marks 5 years that I've been living with RA. I was diagnosed not long after my older daughter Christina was born in 2005. My elbow froze up on me while I was driving my son to school. At first, the doctors thought it was tennis elbow. Then it was 'De Quervin's Syndrome', a nerve thing that affects people who use their hands, like typists and mothers. The treatments weren't effective, so the osteoarthritis people sent me to the rheumatologist.

And that was when they finally gave me the correct diagnosis: rheumatoid arthritis, with secondary fibromyalgia. And medicines. A lot of medicines that made me sick to my stomach.

A couple of years ago, I visited the rheumatologist's officer every 6-8 weeks for an infusion session. Their infusion room was actually comfortable, with leather recliners, pillows and blankets. My sessions lasted 2 hours and I was one of the last patients to leave. Honestly, it was a break in my hectic routine. Nine times out of ten, it was naptime. The nurses were awesome and helped me not be so nervous about needles.

Upside: my RA improved while I was having the treatments. Downsides: they weren't cheap, and insurance put it in the 'experimental medical treatment' class and therefore (according to them), they weren't required to pick up any of the cost. The Remicade suppressed my immune system to a point where it wasn't attacking my own joints. But it also meant my resistance to other infections was almost nonexistent.

In May 2008, I was hospitalized for bronchitis that had progressed to pneumonia. I don't remember most of that ordeal, but it was really bad. I ended up in the ICU (with a blood pressure that had crashed...all the way down to 80/60, I was told). Complicating things was the fact I found out I was pregnant with my third child...despite the fact the doctors told me that wasn't possible being on methatrexate at the time.

Um...yeah. Oops. But I had Sarah, and she's a joy, so at least some good came out of the bad.

I still struggle with it, especially when the weather's loopy like this. It affects everything from my energy level to my ability to type and paint, and my general emotional mood. I do get "it's only arthritis" from people...like it's 'only a minor condition'. I've also heard, "Are you sure it's only in your head?" See my lab tests and tell me THAT again.

One more time: it's a CHRONIC and PAINFUL condition. It's a part of my life that I have to manage in order to function day to day. And there are times when I feel like I can't do that, but three children force you to do as best as you can. You don't have the option of wallowing in self-pity. You can't just curl up in bed and cry, though you want to. You have to live.

I have to write. I have to paint. It's just me. And RA can try to destroy that, but I won't let it.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2011

CSI: Mumville...

Yeah, apparently one of a Mum's skills is "home forensic investigator". Specifically, I have to survey, analyze, and find the culprit of various 'crime scenes', including spilled milk on the kitchen floor, ketchup in a little girl's hair, shampoo in the toilet and unraveled plastic wrap in the living room.

Unfortunately, my CSI life isn't as glamorous as the T.V. show. I'm no Gil Grissom, Catherine Willows or Horatio Caine. I don't have a crime lab or a special team. Mysterious stains on my kids' clothing are usually identified as tomato sauce from the day's lunch at school (pizza, lasagna or spaghetti). Squashed fruit bars, pop tarts and gummy bears make their marks on the kitchen floor. The crayon scribbles on the wall are examples of self-expression and not a cryptic note to solve some all-important case.

My ballistics caseload includes pieces of hot dog, cereal, green beans, and toys that end up airborne for whatever reason. If I could run all the stray pieces of hair that get stuck in the vacuum cleaner through a DNA analyzer, I'd find the same culprits time after time. And who would have thought that ramen noodles can be used as a semi-effective disguise?

CSI: Mumville. At least I own one pair of cool-looking shades.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2011

A Slice of Life of a Mummy Writer

This was my "writing morning" this morning:

7 AM: Kids are up, Wiggles are on, coffee's in the pot. Son powers up my laptop (good boy!). Breakfast for all.

7:15 Daughter has meltdown, need to calm her. Son cuts power to laptop, must reboot.

7:30 Finally check E-mail Older daughter decides she doesn't need diaper...putting diaper on moving target very challenging.

7:45 Reboot computer. Again.

8:00 Pinky Dinky Doo on Nick Jr. Son decides he wants to put DVD on, turns it on, his sisters howl in protest. Must settle argument. Son sulks because he doesn't get to do what he wants to do. Decides to throw tantrum. Time-out in room.

8:30 Jack's Big Music Show on Nick Jr. Again, replay of incident at 8 AM. Sorted out halfway through the program.

8:45 Look over friend's draft, make notes about revision. Look over other writing, makes notes on round-robin chapter.

9:30 Kids playing quietly, I run a load of laundry, and write. Find Baby Girl's blocks the hard way by stepping on them. Implement clean-up.

9:45 Son wants to get out. Dress kids, shoes. Takes much longer than it should..

10:05 Load kids in car. Also takes much longer than it should.

10:25 Arrive at Northlake Mall. Kids play in the playplace. Get a couple of chocolate chip cookies in honor of National Chocolate Chip Day.

11:30 Find out Charlotte DOT is repaving usual way home. Must take long way around.

11:45 Lunch. Chicken sandwiches and tater tots. Check e-mail. Older daughter decides she wants Baby Girl's lunch instead. Chaos ensues

12:10 Afternoon Wiggles on. Manage to finish edit draft and send it.

And that was my morning. Right now, the kids are taking naps/quiet time so I can finally catch up on writing

So...how's your writing day been so far?

All writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Favorite Song Lurics: Siuil a Ruin

I love listening to Celtic music when I write. Here are they lyrics to an Irish traditional song called "Siuil a Ruin". ("Go, my Love")

I wish I was on yonder hill

'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill

And every tear would turn a mill

Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán

Chorus

Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin

Siúil go socair agus siúil go ciúin

Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom

Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán

I'll sell my rock I'll sell my reel

I'll sell my only spinning wheel

To buy my love a sword of steel

Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán

I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red

And round the port I'll beg my bread

Until my parents shall wish me dead

Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán

I wish, I wish, I wish in vain

I wish I had my heart again

And vainly think I'd not complain

Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán

And now my love has gone to France

to try his fortune to advance

If he e'er comes back 'tis but a chance

Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán

One translation of the Irish chorus is

Go, go, go my love

Go quietly and peacefully

Go to the door and flee with me

And may you go safely my dear.

l

All writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010