Ketchup

Hello great big world.

I disappeared!

We have family in town.

Then we have friends in town.

Then we are leaving for a week.

So basically, I'm going to be a little crazy until after the first week of March.

Catch ya then!

Here's a little to prove we are alive:

I discovered a few nights ago that my flashlight app makes the perfect shadow puppet lighting. Aaron busted out this amazing old man, with only two hands. I never knew he had such talent:

My lunch date:

Happy Valentines Day!

***I wore red, in honor of the day. I was quite proud of myself.***

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Aaron and I were not very into Valentine's Day this year. No particularly reason, I think we were just being lazy!

But I always love Valentine's Day because it reminds me of the sweet moments when Aaron and I fell in love. He kissed me for the first time a few days before Valentine's Day, and then worked REALLY hard to make that first Valentine's together special, and it was. I will never forget it.

This year, we exchanged sweet love notes, and ate cupcakes for breakfast.

We somehow ended up at Arby's for dinner (don't ask). I've eaten there twice in my life, and this was #2. But we were together and that's all that mattered. And man, those mozzarella sticks are soooooo delicious. Fo' real.

I think I've gotten more of a sugar buzz this Valentine's Day than Halloween!

Now, I shall go eat MORE and watch a movie with my love.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

A Day on the Water

Watch it in 720p, it's worth it.

A day in the backyard, on the water. Also, Swede's first kayak adventure.

It was beautiful and hot and a wonderful way to spend our afternoon.

A Thank You

***A symptom of Graves Disease is bulging eyes, which thankfully, I DO NOT have and DO NOT want to have. Only when I see Thai food; an excitement I can not contain.***

Thank you, sincerely, to every person who cared enough to comment, email, facebook, call, or text me your support, love, kindness, and own experiences with Grave's. I cannot adequately explain the joy that has come to my heart, and the weight that was lifted off my spirit.

I think one of the most wonderful parts of our existence on this earth is to love and be loved. And boy, I've felt the love. It's humbling and kind. And I feel undeserving, but I thank you all, again, for such unconditional support and love! Hearing of others journey's with Grave's has helped bring clarity and hope to mine. I knew it was fairly common, but I had no idea so many people around me and around those I know had encountered it!

Coincidentally, I had a follow up appointment with my ENDO this week--and I feel 100% awesome about the direction we have chosen to go. She is great and wonderful and fully on board with my concerns about RAI. For now, we have left RAI out of the equation; an answer to my prayers.

So, little thyroid, I'm the boss around here. No more misses nice girl.

And again, THANK YOU.

PS. I retain my loyalty to google. A lot of people have wisely told me to stay away, but I'm a little looney and LIKE knowing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Weirdly--it makes me feel like I am in control, because I have all the info, at my finger tips. In the same breath, I am fully aware of the damage such an overwhelming amount of information can do. For example: I have been, in the past, accused (thanks aaron) of googling symptoms and concluding that I will most certainly die within the next 5 minutes (for things unrelated to graves; the common cold, a splinter, a headache, and most comically anaphylaxis shock 6 hrs later......).

20 seconds

**Me and my friend the thyroid ultrasound-scanner-and a blanket.**

"All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, and I promise you, something great will come of it."

I saw "We Bought a zoo" (I was just reminded that the capital z on our keyboard doesn't work) a bit ago with the elderly lady I work for. I enjoyed it.

Especially the part where the dad tells his son "All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, and I promise you, something great will come of it." He, of course, is referring to his snap decision to talk to their mother for the first time, and again, when he decided to buy a zoo.

I'm taking this advice and I'm going to open up my little heart and let you all in. And I type pretty fast, so hopefully I can get it in. I don't normally share information of a personal nature on such an open medium-but it is time.

20 seconds starts now.

Did you know that in Sept 2011 we had made the decision to move to Fiji, through summer 2012 in response to some work opportunities? Did you know that moving to Fiji would require a work permit-which required a physical? A physical that I got- and a blood test that came back abnormal?

And I was sent to a specialist. And diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder called "Grave's Disease." Great name right, grave? death.

Basically, my immune system is attacking my thyroid--causing it to be HYPER (overactive)--for life. Most people will have some sort of hyperthyroidism in their life that will resolve itself--this is different in the sense that mine will never balance out on it's own, it may never go away without assistance--because it involves more than my thyroid; my immune system and antibody levels. Fairly common--fully controllable-if treated properly. Left untreated--it will get worse and led to other health problems--obviously.

Curable? That's up for debate. How long till 'under control?' Days? Months? Years? It's unclear. I will most likely be hand in hand with Mr. Grave my whole life.

And that's when we knew we wouldn't be moving to Fiji-with my new found nerdy need to be seen by a doctor every 6 weeks for the next little while. Bye Fiji. POOF. Gone.

Recovering from that wasn't easy. But we must press on.

For those unaware, there are 3 treatment options. (my doctor is very fond of #1. Me, not so much)

1. Take this radioactive iodine pill (a small scale form of radiation- I'm not supposed to touch anyone after I take it for a few days). That will kill my thyroid and production of TSH (thyroid hormone) in my blood. Forever. Which will eventually cause me to dip into HYPOthyroidism--thus resulting in supplementing with a thyroid hormone, daily, for the rest of my life.

2. Anti-thyroid drugs--taken daily for an amount of time (1-2 yrs) which could lead to remission of the disease, but could also not.

3. Surgery to remove my thyroid (my doctor hasn't suggested this)--but I know it's an option.

And considering we don't have children yet, I would like to do the least amount of damage possible--in all senses of this situation. Who knew a little thyroid could cause such havoc?

So I'd like to just throw this out there.

Do you have experiences with Grave's disease? Do you have advice? What treatment worked for you? Didn't? Complications? Other options? Any sort of input would help my confused mind.

Although google has been my best friend lately and I have heard the good, the bad, and the ugly about EVERY option, I would like to learn from the experience of others (obviously to be discussed at length with my poor doctor. I AM one of THOSE patients.)

20 seconds over.

Let's see what comes of this.

Pushing publish took WAY longer than 20 seconds--I'm sheepish to be so personal on this little bliggity blog. What will people think? I don't want people to feel bad for me or take pity on me or worry about me. Will I push it?

I guess you'll know if you're reading this.