Chronic Migraine Awareness Day

Today is Chronic Migraine Awareness Day! (Almost as fun as National Donut Day, but without the pastries.) It's a day to make people aware that Chronic Migraine is a disease, caused by a condition known as Migraine. Yep, it's the way my brain is wired. Lucky me! 
Millions of people suffer with this disease, which is more than just a headache, but a condition that is, for me, accompanied by daily nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to light and sound, sometimes imitating stroke symptoms with difficulty concentrating and speaking and numbness on one side of my body. It's not fun, but it's my life. I have learned to ignore what I can, and cut down on activities when I can't ignore other symptoms. I am better friends with my bed than I ever thought I would be at this age, but I am also better friends with my Savior, Jesus Christ, and I suppose all of this is a tiny price to pay if I get that benefit. 
Thankfully, thanks to some very aggressive doctors, in the past few months, with a cocktail of five preventatives, four vitamin supplements, nerve blocks, and three abortive medications, I have been able to reduce my symptoms a bit, and it's been nice! 
People say it's very hard to describe Migraine, especially Chronic Migraine. And it is.  I think the best way to describe it is basically this:  I feel like I have been miserably sick pregnant every day for about five years.  I have some better days, and some worse days.  But, instead of having a baby at the end of my never-ending pregnancy, what I get almost every day instead is a giant ice pick stuck into the back of my head.  Fun stuff.
So, my advice is, be kind. Someone you know may be suffering from another invisible illness, or maybe Chronic Migraine, and your kind smile or word may be just what they need to make it through a day of pain and illness. Thanks for listening. Carry on! :)
(For more information, you can go to http://chronicmigraineawareness.com/)

DC Day 4

Sunday Grandma had to leave us.  So sad.  We were so glad she came.  We had enough time to go to see Arlington National Cemetery before she left, though.  We had walked so much, so we decided to buy tickets to go on the tram that takes you around the cemetery.  Best $8 each ever spent!  It is huge, and we never would have had time to see what we wanted to had we not had the tram to take us around.  There is such a special feeling there.

My favorite part was the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  They show such respect and dedication.  It was so neat to see.  I felt so blessed to be there.

We then headed to Maryland to take Grandma back to the airport.  Even though it wasn't morning anymore, we did our share of singing, "Good Morning, Baltimore" in our best Tracy Turnblad voices. :) And then we went back to the hotel and rested our poor aching feet while we watched "Life of Pi".  Another great day!

DC Day 3

I started the day a little slowly, but everyone else got up and went to the National Archives and saw the Declaration of Independence and the other displays there.  Awesome.

Then we met up at The National Museum of American History.  So many great things to see here, but I have to say that my favorite thing was the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner.  Amazing.  I also loved the first lady dresses.  It was fun to be with our friends all day.

After an ice cream snack (it was a HOT day) we went to the Freer Gallery of Art.  The four girls really got into this one.  They were imitating the art and paid special attention to any that had four subjects they could model as.  Funny girls.  I love them.

Then, the girls bought matching Chinese friendship bracelets and we split up.  Daddy and Grandma went on a delicious Mexican dinner adventure and we went back to the S's hotel and found a Johnny Rocket's to eat in.  The girls had so much fun and W and I loved talking.  Little Miss M was worn out and fell asleep on the Metro train with her "Cherry Bear".

It was so, so hard to say goodbye to the S family, but we loved spending time with them.  We are so glad they came!!

DC Day 2

We started at Ford's Theater with a tour.  Our guide was great, and we learned a lot.

Then we hopped over to the National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum.  Again, Snow White loved this best, but the other girls enjoyed it as well.  Much more than they would admit, I think.  

I'm really not sure what SW is doing in this picture. :)

Then a quick Metro trip over to the Old National Post Office Building for lunch, and a ride up the bell tower for views of the city.  Reports are that Donald Trump has signed a 60 year lease with them to build a hotel inside this building, which is cool, and sad, as I think less people will visit.  But, the tower and it's bells are a National Park, so that part will stay open to the public at least.  

Up next was the National Museum of Natural History, which we thoroughly enjoyed, me enjoying it partly from the comfort of an air conditioned bench.  Hence, not many pictures, but I know SW took a few pictures.  I did manage to snap a picture of the The Hope Diamond, though not a good one.  Some amazing jewelry there.  Whoa.  

Then, the best part of the day, our friends from Virginia came.  We had so much fun with the them.  We walked with them to see the Monuments in the evening when it wasn't too hot.  It was beautiful. 

And this is the only picture I got of us on the Metro...exhausted after a long, fabulous day.