I didn't fall off the face of the earth

Happy 2010 !
Inspired by the movie Julie and Julia I have decided to try and get back to some more frequent blogging. I Loved this Movie !

You are not alone if you didn't hear from me in 2009.
Unfortunately I was extremely ill for most of the year.

To make a long story short, I went to the Dr. in April because I was not feeling well and found out I was severely Anemic. My year consisted of many, many tests ~ typically I was going in every 2 - 3 weeks for blood work as my Dr. was trying to figure out what caused me to be so anemic. I also had an Endoscopy and Colonoscopy which showed nothing, then my Dr. Suggested Novasure AKA Ablation surgery to permanently stop my menstrual cycle since I had no blood to spare(I know that sounds terrible but it's the way it is).
I was also taking huge amounts of iron and eating a disgusting amount of red meat. In the mean time I was continuing to become more and more anemic. I felt horrible, as it got worse I was becoming more and more tired, so short of breath, confused and depressed. I fell down the stairs and blacked out for about 20 minutes. Luckily I was not severely hurt but had dark purple bruises all up and down my left side. After that I pretty much stayed upstairs as much as possible fearing another fall. This kind of isolation caused more depression and I was so looking forward to the Nova sure surgery as my Dr. felt it would really turn things around.
I wound up with Pneumonia and my surgery was postponed 2 weeks. Finally I had the surgery and hoped it would be the magic cure. It wasn't. My Dr. called me with the bad news that I was significantly worse and sent me to a Blood Specialist(hematologist) at the Cancer center. The dreaded "C" word had come up a couple times and now I was really frightened.
Mike went with me to the appt. and we were ready to hear the worst. Instead he told me he didn't see any sign of cancer or an exact cause for the anemia. What he did tell me was that and Iron transfusion would most like take care of the problem. He also told me that my iron was down to Nothing !
I was scheduled for the following week (the week before Thanksgiving)for the all day treatment. My Dr. told me that it would cause muscle pain for possibly the next 4 ~ 6 weeks as the iron settled in but that I would begin feeling better very quickly. It took all day and I was feeling so fortunate. I was at the cancer center in a chair in a long row of chairs in the middle of numerous others getting their chemotherapy. The muscle pain started right away but by the following day I had so much color in my face I looked like I had been on vacation. Wow it was working. Then another setback Pneumonia the night before Thanksgiving. This sucked ! It was September when I had it the last time. My immune system had turned to crap. Even though I was sick I felt like I had a bit more energy.
By the time I went to my 1 month follow up I found out my iron was up to normal. The Dr. said I may need another transfusion in the next year Or I may not. Finally Good News ! After months of not crafting I was back in my studio a little more each day. I was wanting to do so much once I started feeling better but my body still keeps making me slow down after spending most of the year in bed.
I am hoping for a Fantastic Year in 2010. I have had lots of guilt over not being there for my family for so many months even though I know it wasn't my fault. I have realized though that I can't beat myself up and it's just time to move forward.

Reading this back makes it seem like it was over quickly but it was truly an agonizing year. I hope it sums up for any of you that have not heard a peep from me what has been going on.
There were of course some good times and I will try and get back soon with some of those highlights and some pics.
One more thing ~ I am so Thankful for my Amazing husband, who patiently took such good care of me and the kids through all of this. I Love you Mike !