Yes, I know

It has been way too long since my last post. I simply haven't had the energy to post. I do love this blog though and I feel better when I have posted something, because it feels like an accomplishment outside of the daily grind of housework and taking care of the kids. Plus, it feels good to get stuff out of my head and written down.

My health has been crappy for the last week and a half. It started last week on Wednesday when I came down with a stomach virus. Ever since I had that virus my pain meds haven't been working as well as normal. Not that they ever worked great, but at least they helped some. This past week, however, they haven't been providing me much relief at all. It is exhausting being in pain most of the time.

I met with my new, awesome doctor on Thursday and she very much believes as I do that traditional Western medicine is not always the answer, and she is very good at thinking outside of the box to come up with a diagnoses and treatment plans. For now we are going on the assumption that I have Fibromyalgia (which by the way I still cannot spell and I have to look it up every time I need to write it). We worked together to come up with a 6 week treatment plan that includes dietary supplements, exercise, and a date night. Yes, a date night. :-) She made Scott and I promise that we would have a date night in the next 6 weeks because she feels that it is so important for my health to stay mentally well, and that needs to include time alone with my husband. Now to find a babysitter! I also have to schedule in regular "me time" like spending times focusing on my photography or even going out with friends, as those are things that have not been happening at all these last few months.

Anyway, so in 6 weeks we will meet again and evaluate where I am. I am likely going to start some sort of physical therapy to help some on-going issues that I am having with my lower back, and hopefully figure out ways to keep my muscles from tensing up the way the have been. While I am still in pain I do feel better knowing that I finally have a doctor who is listening to me and who is on my side. She includes me in the decision making and she asks me what I want to do. This is much unlike the other doctors I have seen in the last year who all think they are "Dr. God" who knows all, and who expect me to just sit back and do what they want me to do without asking questions like a good little patient.

On that note, I do have some good news! I have been hired into a (volunteer) position as the photographer for the local BOLD events coming up at the end of September. I will be documenting through photography everything from the planning, to the rehearsals, to the actual events, which will include a four day run of the play, BIRTH, talk back panels each night after the performances, and the Red Tent event that Saturday. To say that I am excited for this is an understatement. I will be get to be involved with two of the most important things in my life: photography and birth advocacy. I am currently working on gathering equipment and such that I will need to do this right. A friend has offered to borrow me his 70-200 f2.8 lens to photograph the play, which I am so grateful for. (For you non-photog types this is an expensive telephoto lens, so the fact that someone is willing to trust me with this for an entire week is a big deal!) I have a few other things that I will need to gather up, but worst case scenario I can rent them. I just want to make sure that I am able to produce some amazing images for this. If this goes well this could very well be a starting point for me to get my business off of the ground. Yay! (And keep your fingers crossed for me!)

Okay. There is an update for you. I'm off to enjoy the remainder of the day. :-) I am planning to get out and take some pictures this weekend, so hopefully by the end of the day tomorrow I will have some new pictures to post!