hello

My sleep pattern is still off which means I am a little "off" too! 

(Ask my family and they would say that I am a little "off" whether I sleep or not.)

Yesterday, I just started crying and it felt really nice. That may sound strange but I am a very emotional kind of person and I cry a lot. Always have. And sometimes, when I go to long without a good cry it catches up with me. 

When I haven't had a good cry in awhile, the tears are usually triggered by the tiniest little thing -as was the case yesterday- and then a tidal wave comes. I felt better after it was over so that was a good.

source

All the dots on my iPod calender are making me look like I am cool, again! Except this month's dots are not for television shows but lots of doctor's appointments and birthdays.
It is a busy month. (According to my iPod.)

I do have an important appointment on Tuesday. I go every 4 to 5 months and I have an occipital nerve block done to help my migraines. It sounds much more intrusive than it really is. Basically, the doctor injects a mixture of steroids and lidocaine into each side of the base of my head. It literally takes 60 seconds.
I have a terrible time recovering from these blocks but they are worth it in the end because they help my migraine pain so very much! I am not sure what really happens but my Dysautonomia just doesn't like the blocks. I don't mind having a few tough days for fewer migraines. I consider it a fair trade.

Anyway, I probably won't be blogging this week but I plan on being back and in full force next week for sure.

Hi Friends.

Well, you would think that I had packed my bags and moved away. I haven't been online in over a week. (Well I have been online a couple of times but I haven't been to my blog or visited any of you!) Boo for that.

I haven't packed my bags and been on some fabulous trip...that would be nice. Instead, I have been in pajamas for a million days and curled up in my bed. Headaches are just a terrible thing to have, you know?! So, I have been watching lots of movies and listening to my iPod. I even listened to a couple of really good books that I bought from iTunes. I miss reading a good book but these days, reading makes me so tired and gives me a headache. So, I have opted to listen to books instead. If you haven't  read Sarah's Key, you must. It is soooo good. Sooo good!

And Holly is as cute as ever. See for yourself. She is the best little companion.

And my sweet friend, Kat sent me my birthday present!! She is the sweetest friend. You all must go visit her blog because it is just heavenly!

She sent me a handkerchief (because she knows I love them!) with Paris scenes on it, a lovely necklace that she made herself and the sweetest smelling sachet that I stuck under my pillow. My bed smells so woderful now!

Speaking of my birthday...my family and I were orginally going to celebrate this Saturday. I have been having my birthday at home for several years now because I always seem to feel bad on birthday. I don't mind at all because everyone goes out of their way to make it a super special day. So this year, I am planning on having cupcakes and Lorina lemonade...need I say more?! :) Anyway, we were going to have my party on Saturday but we have had to re-schedule because I am going to have a nerve block done on Thrusday (to hopefully stop these headaches!) and they usually make me feel pretty bad. So, I am super happy to be having the block done but a little disappointed that my party will be delayed. Oh well, there are worse things that could happen!

photo credits:here and here

Well, since I don't have a lot anything going on. How about a fun Q & A! Maybe this way we can get to know each other a little better. I hope to hear from you all!

Have a great week, everyone!

1. What is your name & where are you from?
Hello! I'm Heather and I am from Birmingham, AL.

2. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
I have one sister, Haley. She is 23 and a nurse. I love my Hay! :)

3. Do you have a favorite book?
My favorite book is The Hiding Place Corrie ten Boom and Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. The movie is amazing but the book is too! You just have to get through the first 70 pages and it is the BEST book!

4. A favorite movie?
I love the movie Dancing with Wolves and also like The other Sister.

5. Since I have talked about birthdays in this post, do you have a favorite birthday memory?
My favorite birthday memory is from my 7th birthday. My Mom was great at coming up with "birthday themes"! She combined my sister's birthday (her birthday is in June) and we celebrated in May. We had tons and tons of kids over and we played old games like wheel barrel race, dropping the pins in a bottle, sack races...all sorts of fun games that none of us had played before. Our color theme was red and brown. We wore red shirts and red bandannas. We had bales of hay to sit on and open presents and big brown paper sacks that made the happy birthday banner. Mom even made our invitations out of little brown paper sacks. She was ahead of her time. ;)

6. Favorite blog(s)that you like to visit?
Kat's blog (Secret of a Butterfly) and Fiona's blog (fee-amore), Alli's blog (Hooray Design) and Breezy's Blog (A bowl of moss & pebbles).
I also enjoy A Field Journal, Gitz and Enjoying the Small Things.

And really, the list could go on and on!

Okay, it's your turn. You can leave the answers in the comment section or do a blog post and leave me the link...whatever you want!

two good movies. two 'blah' days.

I just rented Love Happens, with Jennifer Aniston & Aaron Eckhart. It was really good. It deals with a lot grief and suffering and overcoming but it was also such a sweet love story. (Plus, Jennifer Aniston's name is Eloise & she is a florist.) Sweet. Emotional. Love story. I liked it. Let me know if you see it and what you think.

The other movie was Julie & Julia. Mom and I went to the theater to see it when it first came out and we really enjoyed it but I had forgotten how cute it was. Meryl Streep was just great and I am a big fan of Amy Adams. It just made me happy. I love the party scene on roof top when Julie completes all of her recipes. It is so pretty.

Isn't it pretty? This photo just makes me happy and makes me want to throw a party!

Migraines, people! Migraines! I think they are the devil, himself! Ah! I have appointment with my neurologist in March and I am trying to be patient but goodness... it is hard to be patient when you are in pain, isn't it?
I have been kind of sad the past few days. I saw my counselor Kelly yesterday. I am always a little bit more emotional after I see her. I think it is because we bring up lots of tough topics that I don't always like to deal with head on like that. I know I sound like a broken record but I can't say it enough. My family is awesome and I am so thankful that at anytime of the day, I can go and talk to them about anything. We cry together, laugh together, and pray together...I have 3 part-time therapists living upstairs! I am so very blessed.
Kelly and I talked about perspective and the importance of gratitude-especially if you are struggling with any type of pain.
So, today I am grateful that I have a wonderful pharmacist who takes care of me and does ALL the hard work that it takes to get me my medicines on time and most importantly, always takes care of the insurance company so that my Mom doesn't have to. Mary is angel!
Is there anything that you guys are particularly thankful for today?

Thou who hast given so much to me, give me one more thing - a grateful heart!

-George Herbert

My Daily Rescue Kit...of sorts.

Well, here it is, everthing that is currently getting me through my day (minus my heating pad and rice wrap). Of course, my darling mascot and ring leader, Holly is first on the list. She and I are really bonding and she is learning, once that heating pad comes out, it is quiet time! Have I said that I loved her? Yeah, I didn't think so!

Next, would have to be Teddy. Teddy and I have been through a lot together. He is slowly falling apart but I can't bear the thought of giving him up. Stained, threadbare and all-I still love Teddy; even if I am nearly 27 years old! ha!

I love my journal. It isn't so much a journal as it is my own quick, personalized reference guide for favorite verses and quotes. Anytime I come across a bible verse or quote that I like, I write it in that journal. I use it has a reference a lot. I am so glad that I started doing that. When I need a "pick-me-up", I have hundreds at my fingertips.

Of course, there is my big bag of medicines. Pills...I have pills for everything. I really wouldn't mind so much if I felt like they were helping. Oh well, I faith that God will heal and they will start to help me soon.

Netflix! Ah! Greatest thing...EVER! Seriously, I can't wait for Mondays and Thursdays...those are my Netflix delivery days. (I tend to rent movies that I have seen before because I want to be sure that I enjoy them!)

Last but certainly not least is my iPod. I think I may be addicted to that little gadget. I listen to it all the time. It has seen better days. When I have headaches (which have been numerous and horriffic lately) the only thing that I can handle is some soft, comforting music. I think it is almost time for a new one. The battery won't even last 10 hours, these days! Oh, but how I love my iPod!

I must say, having a bad migraine isn't so bad when my sweet puppy curls up under my chin like that! Now, I have reason to look forward to them...umm, not really but I think you get what I am saying. If I am going to have a bad headache, this is the way to do it: with a sweet puppy sleeping next to you.

sweet simple things.

My photo has nothing really to do with my post. I just love that Anthropologie teacup and I was so excited that it was cool enough to drink some hot Tazo tea! Yes, hot tea makes my weekend complete. What can I say? I am simple girl.

In far more exciting news, I was able to see my two best friends last night! (I am so tired and very sick today but I don't mind; last night was well worth it!) Kim moved to Maryland two years ago to teach high school math because she just rocks! My friend Becca and I cheered together in high school and I haven't seen her since February. And my dear blogger friends that is just a crime! So, I rested up all day on Thursday and Friday. My sweet Mom carried me to Tuscaloosa amidst the Homecoming traffic and I had dinner with Kim at place called, Tokyo. I had Sushi and and I loved it! I also had Edamame (steamed soybeans with course sea salt) for the first time. They were actually good! My Mom is used to driving me places and waiting in the car for me. (She is so good to me.) After dinner, Mom carried me over to the University of Alabama campus where Becca's in-law's were tail-gating in their motor home. And to top all the excitement, Becca's sweet baby Jay was there! He has gotten so big! He will be 1 on December 10. I got to feed him and we played "This Little Piggy".

I haven't seen any people besides family and doctors in months. Last night was like Disneyland for me! I cried after I got home and got in the bed. I was so happy.

Although fatigue has set in and a monster of a migraine is knocking on my door, the euphoria from last night has not worn off. Best friends. Babies. Cold Weather. Hot Tea. God is so good!

"Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and all comfort." - 2 Corinthians 1:3

A headache a day makes for a terrible outlook.

"i'm so DIZZY. my head is spinning. like a whirlwind it NEVER ends!"

lyrics to a song. not sure which one. but mom always sings it when i feel bad. it is appropriate and makes me smile. :)

where i am.

where i want to be.

the university of alabama. it is truly beautiful in the fall. my prayer is that God restores my health and i will be able to return vey soon.

Roll Tide!