Anniversaries

A couple of weeks ago Jon and I had our 12 year wedding anniversary, on August 7th.  We didn't do anything special this year, since, of course, I wasn't feeling well!  Two years ago we really celebrated by taking an amazing "second honeymoon" trip back to Aruba, where we had spent our honeymoon.  It was amazing, even though I was, even then, sick!  Luckily the trip fell during a time when I wasn't as bad as I had been (in the past I was virtually symptom-free during the summertime, but I was still on tons of meds).

Another anniversary that I am marking (although decidedly NOT celebrating!) is that of the beginning of this illness.  Four years ago, on our wedding anniversary, I reacted violently to the beautiful bouquet of roses I was given.  That was the beginning, and it just got worse from there.  I had never been allergic to anything before, so it was a weird event that we attributed to my being pregnant.  A month or so later, another severe reaction to cigarette smoke, and my sinuses filled with fluid and intense pain and pressure that did not subside until over a year later when I had my first sinus surgery.

The truly strange thing about this four-year anniversary is that it surpasses the age of my youngest child, which means I have been sick for her entire life!  And for my older kids, ages 6 and almost 8, it's been more than half of their lives as well!  Four years ago, no one would have imagined I would still be struggling with sinus issues and chronic fatigue.  It's just sinus issues!  It's just fatigue!  How could that be so devastating?  Well, it is.  Our life is on hold this year as we are finally doing something to interrupt the vicious cycle I have been in.  So far, it is too soon to tell if anything is working for the long-term.  If it does, then I will start celebrating THAT anniversary!  But, skip the flowers (just in case!).