Journal - January 19, 2009 (Monday) Day +191

Hey Everyone! There’s not too many updates right now, because I didn't have an appointment today due to the holiday. The last two weeks have been okay, I'm still dealing with the major pain in my fingers, especially with all the snow we're having – the moisture seems to be affecting the pain. And I'm still dealing with the ultra-puffy ankles and extreme tired-ness. Today I tried to get up but had to go back to bed I was so tired. I didn't get up until 12:30 in the afternoon, which was scary because we had students coming at 1! I managed to pull myself together but it's been a tough day to get through.

      Last weekend was really exciting for me. Lucien asked me what would make me really happy, since we were heading towards the one year mark of diagnosis. I knew right away what I would love, and that was to finish painting and decorating the foyer, waiting room and downstairs bathroom. So we painted the foyer a deep gold color, and I decorated it with some iron pieces like a table and a candle holder that I had in the bedroom. It's so pretty and inviting now!  We also did the downstairs bathroom a deep red color. I absolutely love it! It's a shame I don't use that bathroom though because it's considered a "public bathroom". So I have to enjoy it by standing outside and looking in. Works for me!  Next week Lucien is going to paint the waiting room for me, I'm so excited! We even sold our old waiting room chairs and got a great deal on blemished black leather chairs from a hotel supplier. So the makeover is costing us nothing, except maybe a gallon of paint. It's amazing, I feel so fresh by looking at the new decor, it's completely a new beginning for this year!

     We had little Lucien and Justen this weekend for their visit. We had a blast playing Rock Band 2 for three days straight! We actually beat the game which we were so excited about! We were all sore from playing for so many hours, but it was so much fun! Luciana also slept in her little toddler bed for the first time. She was so cute, she didn't move *at all* she was so afraid. When we went in her room after her nap she was laying there in the same spot and said, "Help me!" It was precious!

    Everything is so exciting right now, I mean, it's just exciting to wake up in the morning and know that I have a full day of work ahead of me. I look forward to answering the phones and doing my job, working with Lucien's record company again as we prepare for photo shoots and video shoots coming up in the next few weeks. Yeah, I'm exhausted and worn down and dealing with my joint pain and everything, but my excitement to live my life again over rides all of that. The support from *everyone* and the kind words from our students week after week, really keep me going and put a smile on my face. And Adrian and Luciana are so amazing, their little faces are so beautiful and I just want to stare at them and sit with them all the time. They are my two little guardian angels, and I look forward to watching every second of them growing and becoming the amazing people I know they'll be. For all of this, life is wonderful and it can only get better and better from here.