Look what a year in a half difference makes..

This was November 08' at my highest dose of steroids:

1.5 years later: steroid free, flare up free, kidney problems free! (and no puffiness in my face and body!:))

I just found that old picture and just had to re-post it. It reminds me how blessed I am and how far I have come in such a short period of time.

Next Sunday, I'll be defying the odds of people with Lupus and the comments of previous doctors and will be running my first half marathon! Though I'm nervous as can be, I'm so excited and feel so privileged to be able to have this second chance in my life to run again. I feel like I'm not only running this race for myself and to prove something to myself, but I'm running it for every person with Lupus and kidney disease. Though the diagnosis seems grim, there are good things that can come out of it. I do not know the next time I will be sick, but I'm sure thriving on these good days I'm having and pray there are many more good days to come!

I will post the results of the race when I get back next weekend! Wish me luck!!

Almost passing out episode

Pretty sure this doesn't have anything to do with Lupus or Kidneys, but I'm blogging it to journal it so if it happens again, I have a record of when, how, etc.

Tuesday at 10am I was sitting at my desk at work typing and noticed all of a sudden the screen was blurry and I was light headed (note I was also sitting down at this time which is weird). I turned away from my screen and almost felt "out of body" experience like. I yelled for a co-worker to come in as I thought for sure I was going to pass out and didn't want to be alone. I was sweating and shaking. My Co-worker gave me a granola bar and water and within the hour I was fine. I called my doctors and they both thought glycemia. Now, I'm not diabetic or anything but apparently this can happen to perfectly healthy people without any diabetes. It's basically just low blood sugar. The thing that is weird about this is that I had a good breakfast. Bagel w/cream cheese and orange juice and water. I wasn't dehydrated or hungary. I did have a medium skinny vanilla latte from Starbucks, which isn't too unusual for me. I usually have 1-2 of them a week but am taking a break from them for a little bit. I have since been drinking more water and eating something every 2 hours and *knock on wood* it hasn't happened again. Again, journaling this event just in case it does happen, I have a recollection of it.

Other than that, feeling great! When I called the doctor about this episode they looked it up and I guess I was supposed to come in in April but missed scheduling an appointment so they are going to hold off until June. As much as I love my doctors, it sure is nice to not see them as much. And much easier on the pocket book too:)

It's been awhile!!!

I guess it is hard to keep up two blogs!! I've been updating my running blog pretty frequently. You can read that at www.anneburau.blogspot.com if you haven't checked it out yet. Countdown to my half marathon is a about 4.5 weeks!!

Healthwise, I've never been healthier! (knock on wood....) I haven't been to the doctor in months and don't have an appointment until June! I only got ONE cold this whole winter/spring and it only lasted about 5 days. It's been amazing!

Nolan is growing and changing like crazy! He now stays 3-4 word sentences and repeats EVERYTHING!! He also says "mom, what's that?" to just about everything. He's super stubborn with everything and his personality has came out full force. He is also very obsessed with Daddy right now. Daddy has to give him a bath, daddy has to read him a book, daddy has to tuck him in. I should take advantage of this "free time" i have but it makes me too sad!! This "stage" has been going on almost a month now! I hope it ends soon...I miss being the favorite person in my little boys eyes!

Were also back to getting a cleaner for the house. During the summer months, I would rather be spending time at the cabin, running, playing with the kids, etc than cleaning the house!! We're excited to have some help around the house again. Now, if only someone could cook meals, do laundry, and mow the lawn we would be good to go:)

The next time I update will probably be pretty close to marathon date or afterwards so I'll update with how that goes!!

New Blog!

I decided to start a new blog to keep a journal of my half marathon training. If you want to read it you can click here.

It will be interesting to see if I can keep BOTH blogs up to date!

Random Updates!

Nolan's 2nd Birthdy party was a success. We ate train cake, unwrapped a ton of presents, and got our pictures drawn by a caricature! I think he had a great time. He sure was pooped when it was all over. AND we think he had an allergic reaction to the raspberries. His face turned brigh red after he ate them...we are going to try them again in a few weeks and see if he gets another reaction. Very weird!!!

Nolan just got diagnosed with RSV and double ear infections yesterday. He had been coughing, low grade fever, runny nose, etc for a week so we finally took him in. Both things he has never had, guess it's a first for everything. He's on a neubulizer every 4 hours and antibiotics twice a day. He seems to already be feeling better and coughing less so hopefully he will be better by Monday! I have been coughed on so many times it will literally be a miracle if I don't get sick. So far (knocking on wood) i feel great and have no signs of getting it:)

I am up to running 5 miles and my offical training starts in just a few weeks. I have my running watch ordered and need a new pair of shoes, and then I will be set. Now that the snow is melted, I am pretty much ready to start running outside! I am very excited to get off the treadmill!!! Praying for a healthy 10 weeks of training!

Ok I finally have some time to write about our trip!!!

First, I have to admit. It was probably one of my favorite trips of all time. It's funny though. The weather pretty much sucked, Nolan's diapers leaked on the plane, we never got to use our water park tickets I bought, we got locked out of our hotel room once, and had some fun tantrums on the plane! But none of this stuff mattered because we ended up turning this stuff upside down and having such a glorious time!

We went to Seaworld, Busch Gardens, Cocoa Beach, and visited a bunch of family and friends! It was wonderful to spend a whole week with the whole family. Not interrupted by work, phone calls, or dishes. It was awesome. In fact, it was so great, I am still having a hard time coming back to reality.

Nolan got to spend his 2nd Birthday in Florida. How cool is that? How am I ever going to top that? Next year I'm going to have to take him to Europe or something! His birthday party is on Sunday. How cute is he?!

Cocoa Beach...Nolan was so scared of the waves! We kept trying to take pictures with the ocean in the background, but he kept turning around looking at the waves and screaming so none of the pictures really turned out. We settled for sand pictures:)

This is one of my favorite pictures. It's so innocent. It's so real. A little boy about ready to chase a duck/goose type bird. I say that because I really don't know what it was. It was very weird looking and Nolan was very interested in it!
Ok, now I want everyone reading my blog to go "awww...." :) I love this picture too. I enlarged it and hung it in our bathroom.

Here's a picture of the boys and I at Seaworld. Ian played a basketball game and won two "Shamu's" for Nolan and him. These were the hit of Seaworld. The boys carried their little "Shamu's" everywhere.

I can't wait until the next trip! I just hope I'm as healthy as I was for this trip for the next one. I noticed while I was on this trip that I was constantly thinking about how this could be my last trip healthy so to enjoy every second of it, and never turn down anything. I made sure I did every ride, took every picture, tried any new food. Hopefully there are many more, but you never do know! Live life to the fullest:)

Memorable

Florida was beyond memorable and amazing. More to come on that........