A "Moldy" Holiday and Other Related Thoughts

Since we are in the middle of the holiday season, I thought I would share a few thoughts on hosting a "Moldy", a loved one with Lyme or other chronic illnesses, or a chemical/environmentally sensitive loved one.

There are lots of articles out there on how to survive the holidays as a person with a chronic illness (like this one), but not many for their loved ones.

The holiday season is full of wonder, excitement, family, friends, presents, parties, and a billion activities to go to and do. Friends and families host parties, there are school and church Christmas programs, local Christmas events, Christmas concerts, company dinners, Christmas light displays, parades, shopping, eating, well...you know! I am a HUGE lover of the Christmas season and have always loved to cram as much into the season as possible.

But, the holidays look and feel entirely different to a chronically ill person. Everyone is different and I can not speak for everyone. But, I have some thoughts from my personal experience and from picking things up from fellow sufferers.

Traveling With A Chronic Illness

There are many times I wish I would have blogged more about our most trying times with living with a chronic illness. I find it really helpful when others do, maybe I could have done the same. But, then I remember that during the worst of it all, I did not have enough energy. I could barely move some days. But, I remember. I remember what helped, what made things worse, and have learned a lot along the way. I am still learning. We are still learning. Chris and I are a team and we are learning together.

 

So, I will blog about things off and on. Things that come to mind that may help others or help bring more awareness about living with a illness that is invisible, annoying, and just won't go away.

 

Today I would like to share a few thoughts on traveling.

 

 

Jacksone Hole & Yellowstone Take 2

Jackson, Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park, October 26-28th.

We were determined to go back and see Jackson and Grand Teton National Park as soon as we could. We ended up with three days of free time and decided to head back up before winter settled in..

This time we stayed two nights in Jackson and explored the town, the Tetons, and a bit more of Yellowstone. The weather was amazing and we woke up one of the mornings to a light dusting of snow and ran into some snow showers while in Yellowstone. It was much colder that we anticipated, but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

 

Here are some highlights of the trip.... 

Adventutes in Big Sky Country

Montana and Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - October 5th-6th.

We drove up to the Bozeman, Montana last month to visit with my doctor. I needed to get some tests done and an in person visit was well over due. We checked out flights and they were not the greatest, the drive looked more appealing since it was one of the best times of the year to drive around Montana. So we drove. North through Utah, Idaho, a quick side step into Wyoming and then into Montana.

The most important thing I have personally learned from traveling....always bring Superman.

 

September

September 2015, Salt Lake City, Utah 

 

This September we lived a quiet life at home for most of the month. Chris worked, I rested and worked on getting better, we got out as much as we could and enjoyed the beautiful September weather.

 

Wedding in August



 August 2015 - Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Baltimore, Maryland

This August we dashed to PA for a wedding I was not going to miss. My beloved brother got married to his lovely girl and it was marvelous! Here is a quick recount of our whirlwind trip with many adventures.

First up, a totally unflattering picture of the two of us. This is us at midnight, on our way to make it to PA in time for the rehearsal dinner....

A Hike on a Mountain

July 2015

 

During our week of celebrating our first anniversary we drove up Little Cottonwood Canyon and explored. We had no plan in place, just a packed lunch, water, and a little guide book on local "easy" hikes.

1st Anniversary

 

July 15th marked our 1st anniversary. Its been one crazy year. We have gone through and learned so much. We pray that this next year will be a bit more gentle on us. :) Even though this past year was painful, confusing, scary, and pretty much hell....there were moments of happiness, joy, and pure bliss. Our trials were health related and our relationship only deepened and became more precious. Married life is awesome and I am so happy to be traveling this crazy hard and awesome road with Christopher.

 

Here we are, on top of a mountain at 10,000 feet, celebrating one year of marriage. It's a rather symbolic picture. We have been through some dark and deep valleys this past year, and just now we have been able to reach the heights that once seemed so far away.

 



 

This Is My Type Of Place

July 2015 

During our time celebrating our one year anniversary we visited This Is The Place Heritage Park. This park sits across from the zoo and only a few minutes up the road from us. I have to admit, I was totally surprised by how awesome it was. I think I was trying not to get my hopes up and be disappointed by the buildings or general historicness. This Is The Place does a fantastic job. It reminded me a lot of Old Town San Diego, but without the commercial shops. It also reminded me of Landis Valley in Lancaster...but only very western and not a Pennsylvania community. The village is  nicely organized, signs and maps explaining what is what and why it is there. A really nice mixture of original buildings that were moved to the site and reproductions of buildings that once stood in Salt Lake City (and the Salt Lake Valley.) There were interpreters in practically every building. All welcoming us in and cheerfully telling us about the building or craft they were working on. The park had many activities for children and adults alike to participate in.

Ruth's Diner

July 2015
Ruth's Diner, Emigration Canyon, Salt Lake City Utah

I first read about Ruth's Diner in our Utah Curiosities book. After I read the fascinating and amusing story about Ruth, I just knew we had to check this place out. Check out Ruth's history here....she totally cracks me up.

Temple Square

July 2015
Temple Square, Salt Lake City Utah

For our anniversary we decided to stay close to home and celebrate by exploring the city we live in. There was a chance Chris would have to go away over our anniversary, so we started to celebrate early. I was feeling AMAZING that week and wanted to go go go...but Chris, being to wise man he his, made me pace myself and we explored our city safely and smartly.

The Month of June

The month was June was very full. Chris was away training and I was back in PA with family and friends. June came and went, full of a WWII event, a carnival, a baseball game, a wedding, a funeral, and a much needed day at the beach. But, June also came with a few health set backs, separation from each other by several states, and half a load of clothing being stolen from a hotel dryer (who does that?!)

Here are a few pictures from our June....

Flexibility

Sometimes life throws you a few curve-balls. Some times you can see them coming, most of the times you don't. You take a deep breath, close your eyes (or don't), and swing with all your might. Some times you miss and sometimes you hit a grand slam.

Other times...seats fill up on airplanes and you have to turn to plan B or C or D or Q.

When people hear I am married to a pilot, one of the first things people say is "I bet you guys can fly anywhere you want for free". Yes and no. Sometimes you hit that gram slam and sometimes you strike out. Sometimes it would just be easier to purchase a ticket. But each time we fly standby...we walk away with a story.

Nourishment

May 27th, 2015

There are times in most peoples lives when they have to make a change and adjust to a new normal. Jobs, living situations, children, a new pet, heath, food, and so on. It is just part of life. 

When people face a heath issue and are told they need to make some dietary changes, many feel a sense of panic. Let's face it...we humans do not like change and heaven forbid you mess with our daily food rituals! As Americans, it's rather embarrassing to see what the "norm" is in the area of food these days. But, we are working on it and things seem to be changing for the good (I hope so anyway.) 

That first feeling of panic seems to be a common reaction when told to make some diet changes. Most of the time it's met with opposition...depending on the persons disposition and on how stubborn they are. But, for the people that faithfully follow the needed changes, they see results or feel so much better. Sometime those faithful followers discover that their body can indeed communicate with them on what needs it has (and no, a call for refined sugar and sugar laden breads is not a positive call.) Sometimes those communications indicate deeper issues, damage, intolerance, allergies, and imbalances you never ever knew you had. You slowly go layer by layer, uncovering secrets that your body was too weak or suppressed to communicate...until you started to unload burdens. 

At The Zoo

In April, Chris and I went on a little adventure at Utah's Hogle Zoo. The zoo is literately minutes away and in a fun location. We originally planned to meet up with friends from Oregon that were driving through, see the zoo, and come back to our place for lunch. We were half way through the zoo when our friends called and said they had some unexpected car trouble right within the city limits. So we finished up as we walked back through and left to rescue our stranded friends. We ended up seeing everything expect the reptile house (which is perfectly fine with me.)

Gilgal Sculpture Garden

We have been laying pretty low these days. Enjoying Spring and Chris's extra surprise days off. We are also still avoiding "mold hits" and working hard at making progress with my illness. 

A few weeks ago we made a quick trip to Oregon for a friend's wedding. But, lately we have been sticking close to home and exploring the local sites when able. 

Enter Gigal Sculpture Garden. I first read about this place in a fun book called Utah Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff . It sounded a little odd...but interesting. Months later I realized that we live very close to this hidden park and drive by it on the way to pretty much wherever we go. The garden/park is hidden between two houses on a relatively quiet street...just before Trolley Square. This garden/park definitely is a bit quirky (and you will see why), but when you learn the history behind it...its rather impressive. The man who owned the land and created the garden was visionary, passionate, devout, and impressively creative. I am sure he raised a few eyebrows in his day, but he kept working on his sculptures. 

Here is a little tour of the garden from our point of view. You can read all about it and what each sculpture means here - Gilgal Sculpture Garden.

Pop-Pop

Man of few words, but a fountain of knowledge. 

My Grandfather was a quiet man, you had to work a little to get him going. But, once you did....he was a jolly conversationalist. He was very knowledgeable in so many areas and was always reading and learning more. I always looked up to him and we had a very special bond. My Grandmother too. 

  

Encounters in the American Mountain West, A Review

Encounters in the American Mountain West: A Sinner Amonst the Latter-Day Saints by Ian R. Michell. Encounters (which is how I will refer to this book from now on) is a book that I recently finished reading and semi read aloud or regurgitated to Christopher.

We were visiting the library several weeks ago to re-issue my library card. I had a temporary card in August and needed proof of address. Lalalala...and I finally got around to proving I lived in SLC and they let me have a permanent card.  SLC has many lovely looking libraries. The main library downtown is, is....very modern and futuristic. Chris thought it was cool.....me....I was actually frightened by it. It reminded me of some futuristic movie where everything is glass and metal. Cold. Sterile. But, that's just me - an old fashioned gal who's brain automatically reverts back to the 1920s or before. :-P So, when I discovered the library down in Sugarhouse, I was overjoyed. An actual 1920s library, small but overwhelmingly charming. It reminded me of my two favorite library buildings  - The Wyomissing Library and the Beach Haven Library (both early 1900s buildings.) I was enchanted and when I feel the need to haunt rows of book shelves, I plan to go there. Yes, I will do the 10 minute or so drive verses the seven minute drive (haha) and park in a real parking lot. Folks from SLC may laugh. But I am, deep to my core, a country girl.

Just Breathe

February 16th, Salt Lake City 

I would if I could. I mean, I am breathing, but not like I want to or like I did in the good old days. 

Lately, I have been pondering reality. What does reality mean? Webster (1828) says "1)Actual being or existence of any thing; truth; fact; in distinction from mere appearance. 2)Something intrinsically important, not merely matter of show..." 

'Not merely matter of show'... My last illness related post was written to help fellow sufferers be heard - to have a voice. This post - is on the reality of it all. Our reality is very different from you who call yourselves "normal" or "healthy". What makes it even more difficult to live in this reality is... it is a new reality, a new normal. We remember how we felt before. We remember feeling good. The rug was taken out from under us. Our lives are radically different that they were a week ago, a month ago, or several years ago. 

Recent Travels

February 9th-13th  

Our most recent travels were a result of the passing of my (Elisabeth's) beloved Grandfather. We were blessed to be able to travel to Pennsylvania for his Celebration of Life service and that Chris was able to get the time off from work. Health wise...it was not something I should have done. But, there was no way I was not going to not be there. My doctor said..."do what you have to do." So, I did it. 

Our travels from late Monday night through early Friday morning, took us through five states in one week (and six states for Christopher - he just got back from California Monday afternoon.) 

"Hidden" Chronic Illnessness

Or...

What to Do With Your Sick Loved One When They "Look Fine"....

Lately, I have been putting pieces together and slowly understanding what has been happening to me gradually over the last year and beyond. Crazy revelations and I am so thankful for more brain power to stand up for myself, read, research, and to find out what was wrong.

We experienced a newlywed nightmare: newlywed life abruptly interrupted with a health crisis and then being marooned and separated for four months! NOT fun or in the plan. But, there is a reason and Chris and I are growing and learning in amazing ways.

Here are some thoughts on my biotoxin journey as well as a few thoughts on how to reach out to others with illnesses you may not understand. I really hope this may help someone out there that is dealing with something like I am or someone trying to understand how to care for their sick loved one.

Well....That Was A First

January 26th - Bozeman, Montana

Ok, I have driven an hour or so to visit doctors before...but flying to see one? Sounds crazy right? But, we did it! It was that or driving north for 6 or so hours (and right past or through Yellowstone National Park). We chose to fly - 1) it's winter and we did not want to risk it. 2) We did not want to do too much all at once and go backwards energy wise. 3) Because we can. :-P

A Victorious 6th Month Anniversary Trip

San Diego, California  - January 18-20th 

Technically I (Elisabeth) should not travel until I visit with my doctor in Montana next week. But, after that horrible week in bed, we decided to take advantage of Chris's four days off and find some sun and warmth. We knew San Diego would be the best choice to go on a travel trial run. I always thrive in San Diego and this trip did not disappoint! Plus - we wanted to go and do something exciting to celebrate being married for six months, me being home for a month and improving, and just to celebrate the victories we have been achieving.

It's Been Awhile

January 16th, 2015

It has been some time since we last posted on our blog. So much has happened the last two months and we press forward, ever forward. Here is a little update.

Many good things have been happening. On December 14, Christopher was able to bring me home to our new apartment. Many victories, small and large, have been made. A few set backs, but we are learning to learn from those. Christopher is working and enjoying his office in the sky.