the autoimmune hippie.

Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful though you have considered all the facts. . . Practice resurrection. – Wendell Berry

our fam jam

  • just heartbroken for Aniah.

    In October, when precious Aniah Blanchard was reported missing, like so many other people, I was immediately heartsick. I could not stop thinking about her and her family. Her mother and I are nurses from the same community. And my beautiful oldest daughter, Laura Anne, is 19. We all so hoped and prayed for the… Read more

  • fabulous road tripping, visiting my beautiful bestie, accepting disability accommodations – and knowing that staircases are my mortal enemy now.

    We are in the middle of a wonderful road trip to see my bestie/sister friend, Ginny, in Tennessee and it has been just fabulous. Of course, as my CRPS has taken on a life of its own, I’m having to learn to live and travel differently – and this trip I had booked a room… Read more

  • changes.

    As y’all can see, things are different here today, and, after saying for so long that I wouldn’t be a chronic illness blogger, I’ve realized that it is time to let go of those ideas. When I was reading through my friend Sara Frankl’s book, Choose Joy, a few weeks ago, she wrote this about… Read more

  • christmas gratitude. and pj’s.

    Yesterday, Sara, Henry, and I were out in the sleigh, listening to Christmas music, and running some errands before our first real cold blast of the year comes through, as my CRPS legs don’t take very well to cold and we plan to be home and warm during it.  Henry was wearing his first Christmas… Read more

  • the land of almost

    I’m up really early this morning getting ready to return for my follow up appointment with my orthopedist from the surgery 12 days ago that helped to save my life – and I don’t say that lightly. before & after Looking at the photos of my – misdiagnosed – left foot, before and after, honestly… Read more

  • going home, starting iv’s, & getting better.

    It has been a wild ride these past several days, y’all – but all is well and I’m still kicking.   PICC Placements & Antibiotic Changes. On Monday, I was scheduled to have my PICC line placed so I could go home. Being a nurse for these 16 years now, I have assisted with many… Read more

  • facing a serious health crisis.

    This post I have to report a serious health crisis – but, thankfully, we are making it through. ❤ Initially, my left foot flared pretty nastily last month with my CRPS and my Rheumy tried a huge dosage of prednisone daily to see if that would knock it out – and it appeared to do… Read more

  • a happy pupdate

    It’s going to be a two post day here at the autoimmune hippie and I wanted to be sure to first let everyone know about Henry the Wonderpup. I am so so happy to report that his CBC yesterday afternoon showed that his white blood count had turned downward for the first time – which… Read more

  • living in the upside down

    On Friday morning, I took Henry for what was to be the last day of his glucose curves at the vet. He had been doing really well but had seemed really tired Thursday night. I figured the poor lil’ fella has been through a lot. As we were standing for a nurse to come get… Read more

  • a terrible seven days comes to an end. and more gratitude than words can hold.

    Last Tuesday, July 23, Sara and I took Henry in for a seemingly routine cataract surgery. I was a bit concerned about having it done, just because. . . surgery, but the surgeon came highly recommended, Henry was almost completely blind due to the rapid onset cataracts related to his diabetes, and she assured me… Read more