I've been on Kalydeco for five years (August 30th)! I can't believe it's been that long. This "miracle drug" has definitely changed my life for the better, but it hasn't been a cure, especially lately.
I've had a rough month, well, a difficult last 7-8 months, really. Ever since Calvin was born, I've struggled to get my lung function back up to my baseline of mid-80s - it's been hovering in the high 70s the last two times I had my PFTs done (which really isn't that much of a decline, but it is to me). I've been on Cipro twice, May and August, Cayston doesn't seem to be working as well for me (causes hemoptysis), Tobi makes me feel super tight and makes me cough all night long. I'm getting frustrated and I feel like I'm slowly running out of options (that aren't IVs). I've also been battling on & off hemoptysis for the last month which has been really annoying. I don't feel terrible, but I don't feel clear either. I just want to go back to feeling normal (my normal). I'm a little nervous about my appointment next week, especially since our whole family has this disgusting productive cough.
Overall though, I feel like Kalydeco has been amazing for me! Before I started taking Kalydeco, I really struggled to gain and maintain my weight, I was around 108-110 lbs. My lung function fluctuated between high 70s and mid-80s. Today, my weight is steady around 130-135 lbs and my lung function has been in the mid-to high-80s until earlier this year. Considering that the average CF patient typically loses a bit of lung function each year, the fact that I've been stable for the last five years is a huge success!!
I've had two full-term successful pregnancies (and our angel babies), maintained a full-time career of teaching, started my Master's degree and maintained my health.... I'd call that a win! All thanks to two little blue pills per day (plus all of my other treatments). Unfortunately, it seems like CF is starting to show its ugly head while I'm trying to be busy living my life lately. I hope that my doctor and I can come up with a new plan of attack because I have way more living to do and I'm not going to let this hiccup bring me down!
**Oh, and one of the CF nurses just emailed me on Friday asking if I wanted to do another round of genetic testing to see if they can figure out my second mutation (I have G551D & the other is unknown). Of course I enthusiastically replied YES! I'm so curious to know what the other mutation is and if we'll get anymore information when we find out. :)
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
2017
We began this year excited for and anticipating the arrival of our twin little boys. We just purchased a larger vehicle to accommodate three car seats and slowly started discussing nursery plans. Unfortunately, this opportunity was ripped away from us in the early morning hours of February 5th, when little Baby A decided to make his arrival (and Baby B just a couple hours later) at just 19 weeks and 4 days. It was absolutely one of the hardest things I have ever been through, truly awful. But we very thankfully had wonderful family, friends, and work-family supporting us and are able to look back on our little guys, now 10 months later and remember their sweet little faces. Some days/moments have been harder than others, but I think that Tim and I are healing well.
This tragedy was not going to stop us from expanding our family, in March we continued the discussion with our fertility doctor about trying to get get pregnant again, this time making sure there was just one little baby when the time came. At the same time, I was learning how to cope and deal with my mixed emotions about losing two babies in such a tragic way.
April was a very memorable month for me because my sister-in-law, Katrina, and I decided to get tattoos to remember the children we've lost. I still am so grateful to have my boys' little footprints on me every single day. It reminds me what we've been through and what I'm so lucky to have now.
May was filled with fertility treatments, shots, appointments and ended with our first IVF transfer and four frozen embryos. It was an emotional month because I was also wrapping up a school year with several coworkers who would not be returning the following year.
In June we found out our IVF was successful, and the worry set in immediately. I was terrified of losing the baby again; I was afraid to get attached to the pregnancy only to see if fail; each doctor appointment was more stressful than the one before as I anticipated bad news each time.
In July, I was grateful to see my pregnancy progress normally and was so anxious to spill the beans! Anna and I spent lots of time together, doing fun things and soaking up the joys of summer.
August brought mixed emotions and back to the grind of busy schedules - six months since delivering the twins, Anna turned three, we shared the news of our Rainbow Baby & a new baby cousin due only weeks apart, Anna started preschool, we found out Rainbow Baby is a BOY, and I started my Master's.
In September, the MFM team began to monitor my cervix to make sure it was staying strong (no issues, thank goodness!) and I began my appointments every two weeks. We also went on our annual family camping trip which was really warm this year, but as always, so much fun!
October was Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. Tim, Anna, Katrina, Isaac and I attended the SHARE Walk in Missouri to remember our boys. Their support has meant the world to me this year! To end the month, I started insulin and was officially diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
November was fairly uneventful. I was super busy keeping up with teaching and Master's homework, but also had the opportunity to attend a National Science Teacher Conference in Milwaukee with a few of my awesome coworkers.
December was busy with end of the semester projects and homework, but it was worth it because I passed both classes with an A! We continued to make some progress on Brother's room in between all of our family Christmases.
This is a year that we will never forget. Tim & I's lives were forever changed this year after losing two of our children. I am so thankful to have such a wonderful, supportive husband who helped get me through this awful time. I'm also super thankful to be ending this year on a positive note. Brother is now 33+5 weeks along and developing beautifully. Anna is thriving in school, growing and maturing right before our eyes. We are very lucky! I hope that our biggest challenge this upcoming year is raising two kids while working full time and while I continue my Master's -- that sounds like enough for me! Every year for the last four years, I've had to report the death of a loved one on my annual review, and I'm hoping that this year will bring health and happiness to all of those around us!
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
29 Years
I've now been on this earth for 29 whole years. I'm sure when I was born, I wasn't "supposed to" live this long....take that CF! Right now, the median life expectancy for someone with CF is about 40. Better live up these last eleven years....kidding! I plan to surpass that "limit" too. It's weird to think that next year I'll be 30. I thought we'd be done having kids by now and just spend the rest of our lives raising them, but obviously that's not the way things are going, and that's okay!
I'm very lucky and thankful to be as healthy as I am today. Ten years ago I never imagined I would be where I am today. I thankful to have Kalydeco to help keep me stable so that I am able to raise a family, work full time and live a full life. So, for the next year, I plan to be 100% compliant with my treatments. I want my last year in my twenties to be a positive push in the direction of my health. I'd really like to start regularly exercising, but that one is always harder for me for some reason. One step at a time, back on track with 100% compliance (although, I'd say I've probably been around 90-95% lately).
Thanks to everyone who went out of their way to tell me happy birthday today - you sure know how to make a girl feel loved. Anna and I spent the day with Tim's grandma while Tim was at work. We went to a baseball game last night with his sister, her husband and their two boys. After the game we were able to see an excellent nearby firework show. Since we were going to get back late, it was smarter for us to stay in town for the night. Today we had a nice, relaxing day, and then a long crabby evening from all three of us! We're all exhausted and worn out, but I wouldn't have it any other way....well, maybe without the two hour meltdown from the almost three year old!
Love my life. Love my family. Here's to another healthy, happy year. :-)
I'm very lucky and thankful to be as healthy as I am today. Ten years ago I never imagined I would be where I am today. I thankful to have Kalydeco to help keep me stable so that I am able to raise a family, work full time and live a full life. So, for the next year, I plan to be 100% compliant with my treatments. I want my last year in my twenties to be a positive push in the direction of my health. I'd really like to start regularly exercising, but that one is always harder for me for some reason. One step at a time, back on track with 100% compliance (although, I'd say I've probably been around 90-95% lately).
Thanks to everyone who went out of their way to tell me happy birthday today - you sure know how to make a girl feel loved. Anna and I spent the day with Tim's grandma while Tim was at work. We went to a baseball game last night with his sister, her husband and their two boys. After the game we were able to see an excellent nearby firework show. Since we were going to get back late, it was smarter for us to stay in town for the night. Today we had a nice, relaxing day, and then a long crabby evening from all three of us! We're all exhausted and worn out, but I wouldn't have it any other way....well, maybe without the two hour meltdown from the almost three year old!
Love my life. Love my family. Here's to another healthy, happy year. :-)
Friday, March 31, 2017
Health & Great Strides
I haven't posted about my physical health in a while, so I figure I may as well update you. The good news is that I haven't been on antibiotics since mid-September, which means it's been 6 & 1/2 months!! Bad news (or...not so fun news) is that the streak ends now. Over the last few days, I've had a sore throat and stuffy nose. I was hoping it was possibly just allergies, but today the frequency and consistency of my cough changed which told me it was time to bring in the 'big guns' - aka: Cipro.
I tried being proactive and got in contact with my doctor yesterday in case my allergy symptoms changed and I needed to begin Cipro over the weekend when she's out of the office. Of course, that couldn't go as smoothly as planned....I didn't get to the pharmacy until this afternoon to pick it up (because I wanted to start tonight after having crappy lung day today) and they told me they had no record of it - grrr!! So I called and texted my doctor who was as equally frustrated, but she kindly sent in the script again. Now I'm finishing up my treatments and plan to call Walgreens when I'm done to make sure it has arrived and has been filled before I go to the pharmacy this time.
Weight-wise, I think I'm hanging around the same weight as before I got pregnant with the boys. I know after I had them, I lost a few pounds, but the way clothes are fitting recently, it seems I've gained it back. I do not own a scale because otherwise I'd obsess over my weight, so we'll just see at my next clinic appointment.
Finally, I wanted to share about my Great Strides team this year. Colleen's Friends & Family will be walking at two walk sites this year - DeKalb and Bloomington. Every year our friends and family join us to walk and show their support for all people with CF and the CF Foundation. I'd guess we've raised close to $10,000 over the last five-six years together. The CF Foundation puts 90 cents of every dollar donated towards educating families, new programs and research for new drugs. Just this week, the CF Foundation release information on a Phase 3 Vertex study drug combined with Kalydeco has had very positive results!! This is where your donations go!!! This is why donations (and awareness) are so important! They're actually going somewhere and accomplishing things!
It's so exciting to hear of new drugs coming down the pipeline to hopefully be available soon for more and more CF patients. Unfortunately, all of these wonderful new drugs are still NOT a cure! I still have to do all of my treatments and take the same amount of medications as I did before I began Kalydeco (plus the two K pills daily). But the Kalydeco has helped keep my lung function stable for three and a half years, and helped me get to and maintain a healthy weight.
Anyway, my friends and family and I will be participating in Great Strides this year to help raise money for the CFF and more clinical trials! We'd love for you to join us! If you're unable to walk with us, and would still like to donate, all information can be found using the links below. :)
DeKalb info: http://fightcf.cff.org/
Bloomington info: http://fightcf.cff.org/
*All donations are 100% tax-deductible and truly, EVERY DOLLAR MAKES A DIFFERENCE!
I tried being proactive and got in contact with my doctor yesterday in case my allergy symptoms changed and I needed to begin Cipro over the weekend when she's out of the office. Of course, that couldn't go as smoothly as planned....I didn't get to the pharmacy until this afternoon to pick it up (because I wanted to start tonight after having crappy lung day today) and they told me they had no record of it - grrr!! So I called and texted my doctor who was as equally frustrated, but she kindly sent in the script again. Now I'm finishing up my treatments and plan to call Walgreens when I'm done to make sure it has arrived and has been filled before I go to the pharmacy this time.
Weight-wise, I think I'm hanging around the same weight as before I got pregnant with the boys. I know after I had them, I lost a few pounds, but the way clothes are fitting recently, it seems I've gained it back. I do not own a scale because otherwise I'd obsess over my weight, so we'll just see at my next clinic appointment.
Finally, I wanted to share about my Great Strides team this year. Colleen's Friends & Family will be walking at two walk sites this year - DeKalb and Bloomington. Every year our friends and family join us to walk and show their support for all people with CF and the CF Foundation. I'd guess we've raised close to $10,000 over the last five-six years together. The CF Foundation puts 90 cents of every dollar donated towards educating families, new programs and research for new drugs. Just this week, the CF Foundation release information on a Phase 3 Vertex study drug combined with Kalydeco has had very positive results!! This is where your donations go!!! This is why donations (and awareness) are so important! They're actually going somewhere and accomplishing things!
It's so exciting to hear of new drugs coming down the pipeline to hopefully be available soon for more and more CF patients. Unfortunately, all of these wonderful new drugs are still NOT a cure! I still have to do all of my treatments and take the same amount of medications as I did before I began Kalydeco (plus the two K pills daily). But the Kalydeco has helped keep my lung function stable for three and a half years, and helped me get to and maintain a healthy weight.
Anyway, my friends and family and I will be participating in Great Strides this year to help raise money for the CFF and more clinical trials! We'd love for you to join us! If you're unable to walk with us, and would still like to donate, all information can be found using the links below. :)
DeKalb info: http://fightcf.cff.org/
Bloomington info: http://fightcf.cff.org/
*All donations are 100% tax-deductible and truly, EVERY DOLLAR MAKES A DIFFERENCE!
Saturday, December 31, 2016
2016
Wow, what a year this has been for our country and the world. It seems like everyone is quickly ready to say good-bye to this "terrible" year and have a fresh start tomorrow in 2017. I can't say I'm feeling the same hatred toward this year that I'm picking up on social media.
We did have some very tough times this year in our family, especially with the unexpected passing of our two year old niece, Alayna. That was absolutely one of the saddest and difficult things I have ever experienced. But I feel like our family has been really strong, and I am incredible proud of my sister- & brother-in-law for how they've dealt with the entire situation. I love that we can talk about Alayna, share videos and pictures all the time. I love how much our family loves her and that we will never, ever forget her beautiful smile and heart.
This year wasn't easy on Tim and I either, fertility-wise. We (mostly me) struggled emotionally with my body not cooperating month after month, feeling like it was just not going to happen for us again. Thankfully, my body decided to get in gear and even gave us a pleasant surprise of two little beans! :)
Tim and I ended the year by going to purchase a new (used) car today to accommodate our growing family. We're also in the beginning stages of reorganizing our house and preparing for the babies' nursery.
Health-wise, this has been a decent year for me. I was surprised to see my lung function get back into the 90s, although it didn't last as long as I wished it would, it's still stable and "normal". I plan to stay compliant with my treatments as long as it'll fit me and after the babies are born. It is my job to stay healthy for them and my family.
Overall, 2016 wasn't too bad, but I have no doubts that 2017 will be even better!! :-)
We did have some very tough times this year in our family, especially with the unexpected passing of our two year old niece, Alayna. That was absolutely one of the saddest and difficult things I have ever experienced. But I feel like our family has been really strong, and I am incredible proud of my sister- & brother-in-law for how they've dealt with the entire situation. I love that we can talk about Alayna, share videos and pictures all the time. I love how much our family loves her and that we will never, ever forget her beautiful smile and heart.
This year wasn't easy on Tim and I either, fertility-wise. We (mostly me) struggled emotionally with my body not cooperating month after month, feeling like it was just not going to happen for us again. Thankfully, my body decided to get in gear and even gave us a pleasant surprise of two little beans! :)
Tim and I ended the year by going to purchase a new (used) car today to accommodate our growing family. We're also in the beginning stages of reorganizing our house and preparing for the babies' nursery.
Health-wise, this has been a decent year for me. I was surprised to see my lung function get back into the 90s, although it didn't last as long as I wished it would, it's still stable and "normal". I plan to stay compliant with my treatments as long as it'll fit me and after the babies are born. It is my job to stay healthy for them and my family.
Overall, 2016 wasn't too bad, but I have no doubts that 2017 will be even better!! :-)
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Thankful November, Week 4
Each day in November, I'm taking the time to post something that I'm thankful for - no matter how big or small - then I'm posting them at the end of the week. Click these links to see week 1, week 2, and week 3.
17) Today I'm extra thankful for the roof over our head! There were a lot of severe storms that tore through the Midwest today, and thankfully they stayed clear of our town and house.
18) Pandora radio - sounds silly and insignificant, but I love it. I don't want to have to pay iTunes a dollar per song to download (legally). I love that I can change the station depending on my mood (ie: Michael Buble Christmas - I'll have to bust that one out soon...after Thanksgiving!) and that it introduces me to new songs. If you haven't caught on - I love listening to music! :-)
19) I'm very happy to be done taking my Cipro! Although I'm still not feeling 100% (I need to get better about doing extra treatments), I'm just glad that I'm not taking Cipro anymore. I am also happy to report that this was the first time, that I can remember, that it didn't give me huge tummy troubles! I'm wondering if that's because I'm now taking daily probiotics....which leads me into tomorrow's post.
20) I'm super thankful that someone created probiotics!!! They've completely changed my life! I am no longer extremely gassy and/or bloated daily....or ever! I feel like a "normal" person as far as that's all concerned! I now go to the bathroom once...did you read that CFers, ONCE a day and feel SO much better! If you are not taking them, I strongly recommend talking to your doctor about what benefits they could have for you!
21) Modern Medicine/Research - I'd probably be dead if it weren't for all of the advances in medicine and research today. I know that sounds terrible, but it's true. If I were born with CF 50 years ago, pretty much all of the medication I take wouldn't be around. I'm very, very lucky and thankful to have access to the medications, and team of wonderful doctors and nurses, that I need.
22) I'm thankful for a night out. I'm not usually one to go out much, I tend to be a home-body, but I'm glad I went out tonight with some teacher friends. We had a lot of laughs and a great time. :-)
23) Today I'm especially thankful to have heat! With it being about 30 degrees today, I'm very glad that we have that luxury. And congrats to my cyster, Megan, who ran her first 5K today in this terrible weather!! So proud of you! :)
17) Today I'm extra thankful for the roof over our head! There were a lot of severe storms that tore through the Midwest today, and thankfully they stayed clear of our town and house.
18) Pandora radio - sounds silly and insignificant, but I love it. I don't want to have to pay iTunes a dollar per song to download (legally). I love that I can change the station depending on my mood (ie: Michael Buble Christmas - I'll have to bust that one out soon...after Thanksgiving!) and that it introduces me to new songs. If you haven't caught on - I love listening to music! :-)
19) I'm very happy to be done taking my Cipro! Although I'm still not feeling 100% (I need to get better about doing extra treatments), I'm just glad that I'm not taking Cipro anymore. I am also happy to report that this was the first time, that I can remember, that it didn't give me huge tummy troubles! I'm wondering if that's because I'm now taking daily probiotics....which leads me into tomorrow's post.
20) I'm super thankful that someone created probiotics!!! They've completely changed my life! I am no longer extremely gassy and/or bloated daily....or ever! I feel like a "normal" person as far as that's all concerned! I now go to the bathroom once...did you read that CFers, ONCE a day and feel SO much better! If you are not taking them, I strongly recommend talking to your doctor about what benefits they could have for you!
21) Modern Medicine/Research - I'd probably be dead if it weren't for all of the advances in medicine and research today. I know that sounds terrible, but it's true. If I were born with CF 50 years ago, pretty much all of the medication I take wouldn't be around. I'm very, very lucky and thankful to have access to the medications, and team of wonderful doctors and nurses, that I need.
22) I'm thankful for a night out. I'm not usually one to go out much, I tend to be a home-body, but I'm glad I went out tonight with some teacher friends. We had a lot of laughs and a great time. :-)
23) Today I'm especially thankful to have heat! With it being about 30 degrees today, I'm very glad that we have that luxury. And congrats to my cyster, Megan, who ran her first 5K today in this terrible weather!! So proud of you! :)
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Thankful November, Week 3
Each day of November, I'm going to take some time to recognize at least one thing I'm thankful for, no matter how big or small, then I'll post them at the end of the week. Go here for the first week, and here for the second week.
9) I'm thankful for understanding friends. Today, we spent the day with our friend, Tony because he lives about five minutes from where we're doing our CLIMB tomorrow. This evening, another one of our friends, Chris, came up to hang out with us, too. The guys decided they wanted to go out to an arcade bar, and I decided I was going to call it a night - and I didn't get any crap from them this time! They understood that I wasn't feeling well and wanted to catch up on my sleep, especially before a big day and I just really appreciate that! I also love that Tony was asking me all about how I've been doing and everything I've been taking, like my Kalydeco. He works as an athletic trainer at a high school and is very health-conscious (he's completed TWO Iron Man events!). We compared digestive enzymes (mine are way more powerful!) and he asked lots of questions about how K has been helping me. I love educating others more about my CF, and I appreciate that he cares enough to ask. And thank you, Chris, for letting me sleep! :)
10) "I'm alive and well." Today, Tim and I completed the CF CLIMB! And although I'm in the middle of a nasty cold/sickness/infection - whatever it is - I was reminded that I'm still doing well. I'm still well enough to complete a physical challenge such as climbing 58 flights of stairs. I'm very thankful to be as healthy as I am today. Today was also a huge reminder for how much exercise is good for my health. I'm really hoping I can get back into an exercising routine to make myself even healthier. :)
I heard this song on the radio a week or so ago and I can't get enough of it! Here's my favorite part:
11) Today I'm thankful for motivation, especially from my CF friends! After posting about our CLIMB, I got a lot of awesome feedback, and it made me want to do more. I miss the feeling of setting a fitness goal and the best part - the feeling I get after I accomplish it. So today I set a new goal and that's to run another 5K. But not just any 5K - this one is the Rock CF River (half marathon or) 5K in Michigan, put on by a great motivator, and fellow CFer, named Emily Schaller. Today I learned that several CFers that I've 'met' online from around the country are all coming out to either run the Half or 5K, and I'd love to join them. So my motivation for this winter is to get my butt back in shape for this race at the end of March! :-)
12) I'm thankful for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and anyone and everyone who has ever donated to them! Without your monetary support, I would not have many of the medications that I take today. Nearly 90 cents of every dollar donated to the CFF goes directly to CF research and education. That research (which is extremely expensive) is for all the new medications that go to years of clinical trials before becoming available to patients. Read this article to learn much more about the CFF and how far they've come - it's a great read! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! You're helping to keep the CF community alive! :-)
13) I'm thankful for a HUSKIE victory tonight!!! GO NIU!!
14) I'm thankful for the roof over my head! I love our new house and we're very lucky to be able to own our own home. It's an awesome feeling to finally not be renting anymore, and to be able to do whatever we want to our house.
15) Tonight, I'm thankful for YOU, that's right, you, reading this blog right now! Without you (the readers), there'd be absolutely no point in blogging. I love knowing that people care to read what I have to say, whether it's about my CF, teaching, or just life in general. I hope that with this blog, someone somewhere is connecting with what I have to say and not feeling like they're the only one out there. I hope that someone somewhere is learning about CF through this blog. I hope that someone has benefited/gotten some advice from any of my posts. Just like the CF Living videos, I do this blog not only to raise awareness about what CF is and how I deal with it, but also to hopefully be that resource that someone needs. I was there once and I was looking for something like this - to tell me I'm not going through this crazy thing called cystic fibrosis alone - and I hope that I can be that for someone else. :)
16) Today, I'm thankful for weekends. Tim and I are enjoying a nice relaxing day filled with errands this morning, a late lunch, and a lovely nap on the couch! It's really nice not having anything planned this weekend, finally, and to be able to spend some relaxing, stress-free time with my husband. :-)
9) I'm thankful for understanding friends. Today, we spent the day with our friend, Tony because he lives about five minutes from where we're doing our CLIMB tomorrow. This evening, another one of our friends, Chris, came up to hang out with us, too. The guys decided they wanted to go out to an arcade bar, and I decided I was going to call it a night - and I didn't get any crap from them this time! They understood that I wasn't feeling well and wanted to catch up on my sleep, especially before a big day and I just really appreciate that! I also love that Tony was asking me all about how I've been doing and everything I've been taking, like my Kalydeco. He works as an athletic trainer at a high school and is very health-conscious (he's completed TWO Iron Man events!). We compared digestive enzymes (mine are way more powerful!) and he asked lots of questions about how K has been helping me. I love educating others more about my CF, and I appreciate that he cares enough to ask. And thank you, Chris, for letting me sleep! :)
10) "I'm alive and well." Today, Tim and I completed the CF CLIMB! And although I'm in the middle of a nasty cold/sickness/infection - whatever it is - I was reminded that I'm still doing well. I'm still well enough to complete a physical challenge such as climbing 58 flights of stairs. I'm very thankful to be as healthy as I am today. Today was also a huge reminder for how much exercise is good for my health. I'm really hoping I can get back into an exercising routine to make myself even healthier. :)
I heard this song on the radio a week or so ago and I can't get enough of it! Here's my favorite part:
"But not me, I'm alive
And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessin' can't you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
And I'm alive, and well.
I'm alive, and well."
~I'm Alive by Kenny Chesney & Dave Matthews~
11) Today I'm thankful for motivation, especially from my CF friends! After posting about our CLIMB, I got a lot of awesome feedback, and it made me want to do more. I miss the feeling of setting a fitness goal and the best part - the feeling I get after I accomplish it. So today I set a new goal and that's to run another 5K. But not just any 5K - this one is the Rock CF River (half marathon or) 5K in Michigan, put on by a great motivator, and fellow CFer, named Emily Schaller. Today I learned that several CFers that I've 'met' online from around the country are all coming out to either run the Half or 5K, and I'd love to join them. So my motivation for this winter is to get my butt back in shape for this race at the end of March! :-)
12) I'm thankful for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and anyone and everyone who has ever donated to them! Without your monetary support, I would not have many of the medications that I take today. Nearly 90 cents of every dollar donated to the CFF goes directly to CF research and education. That research (which is extremely expensive) is for all the new medications that go to years of clinical trials before becoming available to patients. Read this article to learn much more about the CFF and how far they've come - it's a great read! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! You're helping to keep the CF community alive! :-)
13) I'm thankful for a HUSKIE victory tonight!!! GO NIU!!
14) I'm thankful for the roof over my head! I love our new house and we're very lucky to be able to own our own home. It's an awesome feeling to finally not be renting anymore, and to be able to do whatever we want to our house.
15) Tonight, I'm thankful for YOU, that's right, you, reading this blog right now! Without you (the readers), there'd be absolutely no point in blogging. I love knowing that people care to read what I have to say, whether it's about my CF, teaching, or just life in general. I hope that with this blog, someone somewhere is connecting with what I have to say and not feeling like they're the only one out there. I hope that someone somewhere is learning about CF through this blog. I hope that someone has benefited/gotten some advice from any of my posts. Just like the CF Living videos, I do this blog not only to raise awareness about what CF is and how I deal with it, but also to hopefully be that resource that someone needs. I was there once and I was looking for something like this - to tell me I'm not going through this crazy thing called cystic fibrosis alone - and I hope that I can be that for someone else. :)
16) Today, I'm thankful for weekends. Tim and I are enjoying a nice relaxing day filled with errands this morning, a late lunch, and a lovely nap on the couch! It's really nice not having anything planned this weekend, finally, and to be able to spend some relaxing, stress-free time with my husband. :-)
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