Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Liebster Blog Award...I am blushing


I am doing the I won dance! I have been awarded the Liebster Blog award by Make This Look Awesome by Pamela Curtis. She suffers with Autoimmune hypophysitis and does a fantastic job of chronicling her illnesses and the ups and downs of living with chronic diseases.  In her case it is very tricky as her particular primary autoimmune disorder plays havoc with the endocrine system which regulates just about everything.  This chronic autoimmune disease attacks your pituitaryy and can have devastating effects on many areas of the body including horrific pain at times. Her strength, courage and determination have inspired me.

In taking a clip from her own words, "I've had a lot of really scary experiences in dealing with my chronic illness. I battled MRSA for a year following a surgery. I've experience chronic levels of pain most people don't even know exist. I've beaten the odd many, many times over. And I'd be lying if I said I came through it unchanged in who I was."

This award is bestowed to bloggers who inspire you and have less than 200 followers. As Pamela explains, "the Liebster Award takes its name from the German word meaning ‘Beloved, Dearest or Favorite’." Thank you Pamela for honoring me in this way!

And so now, it is my turn to honor those bloggers that have become part of my online family and that I have enjoyed reading and getting to know.  As part of this tradition, I pass the Liebster wand to them in recognition of their contribution to our online health community (family) and for their courage and strength to continue on.
To accept the award you should:

1. Link back to the person who gave it to you and thank them.

2. Post the award to your blog.

3. Give the award to 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers that you appreciate and value.

4. Leave a comment on the 5 blogs to let them know that they have been offered this award.

I am happy to nominate the following bloggers (part of my online family) for this award and to recognize all that they do to inspire and contribute to the online health community.


Lyda is a  "20-something girl who grew up with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Now I'm married, we have two kitty children and I get myself into all sorts of shenanigans. This blog is about those shenanigans".  She is also trying the Paleo diet currently to improve her health. And oh, did I mention, she is living in Hawaii and I can vicariously visit there daily through her lovely blog...pictures included.  And she shares some yummy recipes as well :-)



In her blog, Adrienne chronicles her life with ra and what goes along with it. Her blog is "a place of education, advocacy, storytelling and humor".  I have no doubt I enjoy her blog so much because we see eye to eye on many things including that humor is the best medicine.


This blog details the practical and often sometimes emotional part of living with chronic illness and in particular ra and fibromyalgia but almost all of her blog posts will help anyone with any chronic illness.  She says it best...

"Like many of you, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia have touched my life.  They have changed my life and they have made it crazy at times.  When I look in the mirror, I don’t see the same person I saw four years ago. I have changed in more ways that I could have ever imaged before chronic illness came into my life.


What I am is a mother, a legal assistant, a health blogger, and patient advocate.  What I am not is superhuman. I am here to give an honest view on live with RA and FM from my perspective.  If it helps just one person, I have done more than I thought I could."
You have helped many more then just one!
Jan writes soulfully about her day to day trials with ra. As she explains it...


"In May 2011, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, after six months of suffering from joint pain and fatigue with no known reason. It seems best to put thoughts, information, and my complaining on a different blog than one supposedly dedicated to my yearning for God."  


Personally I think God knew exactly what he was doing when he sent you online with your ra Jan.  You have been not only a personal inspiration but you have brought a light into the often dark ra world for I am sure many more then just me.


On this blog, we are constantly transported away via a motorcycle and Tharr's escapades on his good days with ra.  Besides working a full time job, having a family, Tharr still has the energy to take to the trails. I love his inspiration and determination to recapture everything that ra might have taken away from him. He has learned to adapt, medicate when necessary, and above all ride on into life. For this I admire him and I love to ride along with him. I am by no means a motorcyclist myself but I still enjoy the ride and gain knowledge and power through his blog! Ride on Tharr...ride on!
I hope by sharing some of my favorite blogs, you too will begin to enjoy all that these bloggers are and all that they do for our online community. Hats off to all of you that continue to blog daily and share your world online!


I need to beat myself with a wet noodle...I almost forgot one of my most favorite bloggers...


Living with RA


Nan has been there so consistent and writes with such feeling and knowledge about chronic illness. Yes, I know that this makes six but oh well, no one said you can't do more :-)  Besides, I tend to break the rules. Nan deserves this award and of  course I just had to add her. I have no doubt that if you peek in on her blog, you too will grow to love her blog as I do.