Babies, babies, oh my!!

It's starting to feel really real. The whole baby thing. Not that it didn't feel real before, but something has been solidified. We had an appointment with my regular doc yesterday with the focus of informing him of our plan, asking a few questions, and asking for a referral to an ob/gyn (with whom I already have an appointment!!! Fast work, indeed!).

Now, it's not like I'm expecting the pregnancy to automatically be difficult, or scary. But, I want to be prepared in case it is. What if I'm not in the high percentage of women whose RA gets better? What if it gets worse? What meds are safe to take? Any??? I just want a good established relationship with an obstetrician BEFORE I get pregnant to avoid any delays when I get pregnant.

I just spent an afternoon in the company of some great women, and especially, some great kids. It was really nice getting the phone call from the doctor's office with my appointment date, then going back out and seeing these cuties and thinking, "this could be me, soon" :) Now I get to spend an evening with some great friends, good food, and one rockin', stompin' baby.

Happiness :)

Sunday Snow

We've had a couple of snowfalls this year, little ones. One in particular a few weeks back that involved waking up to some white on the ground. However, today is THE snowfall! Waking up to that hush, where all sound is masked by fluffiness. Where, even when it is cloudy (obviously! It's snowing!), the light is bright, filling the house. When, as we speak, the neighbours snowblower is going, and the steps and driveway need to be shoveled, to clear away the hump left by the plow.

I, being ever the lazy one, have chosen to stay inside and admire from a distance. We've had a busy weekend, volunteering friday evening and all day saturday at a local fair-trade sale. I'm not sure if it should even be classified as volunteer work, what with our gift certificate and a chance to look around before the masses descended. It was an awesome day, energizingly busy, and a chance to help out with an organization that promotes fair-trade. Time to walk the talk, I guess. But, I need a recovery day. And that day is today.

As I type, the smells of homemade spaghetti sauce and home baked bread are filling the air. What a perfect accompaniment to the weather. I know that the winter here is unbelievably long. That the days are going to continue to get shorter and shorter, to the point of nearly being invisible, and that snow shovelling will not be anywhere near endearing.

But, I love it. I love winter. The snowshoeing, fishing, going to the cabin, ski-dooing, throwing snowballs at the dog/boyfriend :) Winter is just not the same in a city, and for me, life is just not the same without winter.

I've had a rough couple of days, RA-wise.

I had been doing super well. Minimal pain lasting about a week. The Frankenstein/Hunchback of Notre Dame walk was not quite as noticeable. But, the RA monster has returned with a vengeance. In the ankle, shoulder, wrists and elbow :( Not to mention lovely side-effects from meds. Needless to say, I'm feeling a little negative. But, I don't want to. I want to feel positive. So, despite the pain, despite the med-induced nausea and fatigue, I'm going to think about positive things:

Road trip camping on a beach. The sound of the waves and sleeping on soft sand was just enough to erase the millions of mosquitoes:

Living in a part of the country with views like this:

The only form of exercise I can do these days :) :

Great friends who let me hold their really, really cute babies!:

All in all, life is pretty sweet. Sometimes you just need a little pick-me-up telling you that. So, maybe I have to hold down a job, but when I get holidays, they are filled with nature and amazing experiences shared with someone I love. I may not live in a cool, convenient city, but the wilderness and beauty around me far outweighs any convenience. Maybe I do walk like Frankenstein/Hunchback, but, boy can I ride a stationary bike! And, maybe I don't have my own babies yet, but I have many friends who do, and are all too happy to share the love and squishy-time :)

I feel better :)

Okay, so I am very new to the world of blogging. It's been something I've been thinking about for a while. I've come to realize it may be just the forum to meet women who are going through the same issues that I am. I hope it works :)

I have had very aggressive rheumatoid arthritis for the past 9 years. In that time, I have been on countless medications, have had many ups and downs, faced big mobility issues, and have had two surgeries (one total elbow replacement, and one resection to FIX that replacement. Fun times). My disease has not been under control lately, and I'm aiming to fix that.

See, here's the thing: I've got babies on the brain. Big time. Ask my boyfriend, he'll tell you :) And the thing with rheumatoid arthritis (aka RA) is that you can't just get pregnant any ole time. There has to be planning, around meds, flares, surgeries, etc. So, I'm really hoping to find other women in the blogosphere that knows what I am going through (and other cool people, by the way. I do have other interests: food, the environment, books, movies). So, I know you're out there, lets support each other, mmmk?