Happy Easter!!  :) :)

Started out with saying good bye to my son who is going back to college from spring break. My husband driving him back 8 hours drive

The boys friends on road trip

today.

 :o

His twin brother is sick wit high fever and I took him to Urgent Care yesterday after trying everything over the counter for 1 1/2 weeks.  Antibiotics not really helping, he seems to be getting worse.  Probably viral. (hopefully not going into pneumonia.)  He goes back to college tomorrow, hope he gets better fast.  :0

Third son torpedo sneezing from allergies, gave him one Benadryl and he has been sleeping all day since Mass.  Trying to get him up now to go out to eat.

Been quite busy helping my Mom with Alzheimer's.  She keeps me on my toes, no time to rest.  Don't know what I would do without my bro Joe that helps!

So tired at Easter Mass today, tried to stay focused but could not.

Going to take the family out for an Easter Dinner (first time I haven't cooked in years!) Only half of us home at this time.

Trying to catch up in my Computer Networking class.

Got in trouble at work because I did not update one of my certifications being so busy with the family I forgot (this weekends:  between swim meets, the twins concerts, my youngest's performance at the Jazz festival, sick kids, my Mom, my class, work and cooking/cleaning for my family --- let's just say I am just hanging by a thread!)  Need to learn to say no.  :O

ONE POSITIVE: a ran a 5 K yesterday with my hubby and my dog. :)

Interesting article in the American College of Sports Medicine Journal regarding strength training  and that it helps improve glucose tolerance.

To read it, click on link below...

http://www.multibriefs.com/briefs/acsm/active3-26.htm


So not just aerobic exercise helps improve IGM (impaired glucose metabolism), but strength training does too.  They studied the data on 5,831 adults  in Australia.  This is with strength training just twice a week can help you too.  

Sounds good to me because I know there are also many studies that show that strength training helps peoplle with arthritis as well.

Have a great day peeps :)

Random pic....

Kevin and Garrett at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Future Architetctural/Civil Engineers :)

No excuses! 

  Got in my workout at 1145pm last night after work.  :)  Only did 1.69 miles though.  But I did it :)

Looking forward to running the Santa Anita 5 K this April in Arcadia, CA.  :) :)  Going with one of my sons and my hubby.  Should be fun fun fun.

Random pics of Mammoth Lakes trip in the beautiful Sierra Mountains, CA with the family...

Hi all.  Hope everyone is doing well today.  It is beautiful here in California dessert today, going to be in the 70's.

I am a little worried today.  I am starting to get pain again at 3 am in my joints like clock-work.  It is not as bad as it was before Enbrel but it is in my shoulders, fingers, balls of my feet and it is waking me up out of my sleep.  I HOPE Enbrel is not wearing off!!! 

BUT, I heard the stress hormone "cortisol" can bring on a rheumatoid flare. I have been a little stressed.

I have been taking care of my sweet mom for a few weeks.  She has Alzheimer's.  She is usually at my sister's house but I wanted to see  her more, so she will be at my house indefinitely. 

I don't know if anyone of you have had any family members with Alzheimer's but as much as you love them, it can be quite stressful.   I have to make sure she uses her walker because she had fallen and broken her hip before and that required surgery.  She forgets a lot.

I have to monitor her night and day.  Usually my brother is here to help me but he is at my sisters helping them paint the inside of the house and put in new carpet.

With Alzheimer's as it progresses the have almost no short term memory.  You have to remind them of things almost every 3 minutes at times. She will even forget how to sit in a chair, go to the bathroom, how to brush their teeth, what to wear for the day versus the night. 

It is very heartbreaking to see my Mom like this because she was actually a valedictorian in high school. She was very sharp.  Now I have to tell her who I am.  She thinks I am her sister most of the time. Sometimes she doesn't even know I am related. :o

Anyway, maybe the stress of this has brought on the pain?

She is worth it!

Thanks for listening all.

Random pics from San Diego

 Garrett and me

Jeff and Garrett



Celebrating St. Patrick's Day with my Son Garrett Patrick and my friends Atzimba and Ambar :)









On the set with Garrett at Disney Studios :)
Way to go Garrett!!




Still keeping up with daily runs. Yesterday I ran another 5K on the treadmill wahoo!  It was exceptionally tough but I made it.  :)


Until next time.

John 15:13 ""Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends"

Remembering Rudy, my nephew, killed in in Afghanistan at only 19 years old two years ago.

Here is a video of the overwhelming support that the Santa Clarita gave our family at Rudy's funeral.  Thank you Santa Clarita you are all such amazing people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tmDIE3h5a2Y

It still hurts as if it was yesterday. I will never understand why.

God's angels watch over you, and may God give you the pure happiness that only God's heaven can bring.

Rudy, Aunt Marie loves you!!!

Hello All.  :)


I am starting now to get the American College of Sports Medicine's journal. It has the latest studies. There is an article in there about running barefoot, hahaha. Something that I know I will never be able to do. But I will read it and/or post it for you.

Finally the weather is a little warmer here in the high desert and my hubby and ran three miles yesterday evening. Broke my 10 minute mile at 9:56, slow for some, but very good for me. Woo hoo.

On another note, it was so fun on the set of Mixology at Disney Studios with Garrett. He got his own star wagon and star chair. The director/producer Larry Charles said he did real well. The main character "Tom" played by Blake Lee, he was very personable and sweet person. Garrett played "Tom" too but when Tom was 15 years old. The crew were so nice. It was great experience for him (and fun for me too). I'll post pics from the day real soon. I believe now Garrett has been bitten by the acting bug. :)

Having a little insomnia right now :o Been up since 3 30 am. I know that can be from over doing it on your workout... so maybe I overdid it somehow

Random pics of my three sons and their friends, good times...

Top of the morning to ye!

Happy St. Patrick's day.  :)

My Great grandfather James McDonough during the Irish Potato famine, came over here to America, and he homesteaded a piece of land in Nebraska.  Then he had my Grandfather, then he had my dad Steve McDonough who moved to California when he was in his 20's. :)

Still completing my mile in between my 5 K ' s, each day even if it is after work at 11:45 pm.   Feeling good.

I can't seem to stop thinking about how horrible experience was at the Dermatologists the other day.  Yikes!

Have any of you out there experienced hair loss with rheumatoid?

Just wondering


Random pic....

Fun with the ladies :)
 

Great news!  My son booked the part on the ABC's pilot!  Congrats Garrett !!!!

Don't read if you're squeamish....

Needle in my nipple!!! OUCH

Went to Dermatologist appointment today for skin cancer on my nose.  It looked just like the Basal cell cancer I had to have removed from my lip:  a shiny why circle with a tiny scab that never seems to heal. 

She said because it was so tiny and just starting out that she could just freeze it and she did, but she also found another one on my nose and froze that too.  I should have a pretty ugly nose in about four days when it blisters and scabs up. :O  Just happy I didn't have to have it surgical removed like when I had my lip done.

BUT....

She did a full body check and she didn't like a bump she found on my right nipple. :o
So she had to numb it first with a needle/syringe.... I thought I was strong and could take it but I jumped a mile!  Talk about pain! I do not wish that on anyone.  It was just for a split second thought but whew!!! Well a biopsy was sent, I'll know in about 4 weeks.

BUT also...

I managed to get my 1 mile run in today at 1145 pm lol.  woo hoo :)

Have a great day.....

and WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN when you run!!!

Worked till 11:30 pm again and but managed to get my one mile before midnight!

Had to get the mile on the eliptical though because I forgot my running shoes.  :(

The ball of my feet are very sore!

Anyway, enough complaining. I'm fading fast.  Good night all. 

Ha ha. Last night after work ended at 11:30 I managed to drive to the gym and get my mile in on the treadmill before 12 midnight :)  (Still trying to at least do a mile a day for March Madness )

Keep on, keeping on !

I can be in pain and UNfit, or I can be in pain and FIT...

that is the way I see it.

Garrett and Kevin

bros

Yesterday I managed to run 5 K, 30 minutes of strength training and started a long neglected flexibility routine ( I am so far away from touching my toes!).

When I was running, it was real difficult to keep going because of the nagging shoulder and foot pain...so I had to play games in my head like ....

"well if you can just do a mile" then you can stop".....

... I got to a mile and I thought..."well you really should have a least 20 minutes to really get a good training affect"...

so then I reached 20 minutes and thought "well you might as well go all the way to 30 minutes because you are almost there"...

then I reached 30 minutes and see that I am almost to a 5 K and think "well keep going then you can at least say you did a 5 K".

Ha ha...that is what goes on in my head almost every time I do a 5 K.

Have a fantastic day all :)  Keep on keeping on!

My Dad , my hero

 

                                                        My Hero My Dad
                                                        Steve McDonough



My Dad , my hero.

He used to tell me,  "Marie, it's only hard for the first 100 years".  :)  He had a great sense of humor.

He loved to mess with words...Light bulbs were "Light Blubs"

 He suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since the age of 50.  His fingers, feet and spine were severely disfigured.  BUT he showed me that RA would not stop him and he lived a full life to the age of 88 years old. He drove a car to the age of 87. He kept very busy with playing music, teaching music, church activities, family activities, inventing and helping people all the time.

 He was a brilliant business man, giver and inventor.  He invented parts and diagnostic tools for the transmission service business and sold them all over the United States (and this before the internet!). He ran a transmission shop in the San Fernando Valley called Steve's Transmission for 26 years. He cared so much for his customers and employees and when I was a teen I had complete strangers come and tell me how he helped them in some way or another.  He was a giver of time and money to people in need.

He played the trombone and brought music and life everywhere he went. He brought all his piano and music students to the convalescent homes and brought the gift of music to cheer up the lives of the elderly. 

He also sooooo loved his wife Joan!  He showed me what a good marriage is all about. They were always together. 

I love you Dad!! You are the "light blub" of my life :) :) :)

So if you all out there have rheumatoid getting you down, know that you can keep going despite the pain.  My Dad showed me you can!   I know and hope you all can too!

 big day yesterday helping my boys with their concert in Long Beach but I managed to run my mile with intervals up to 7 mph!!! Wahoo :) :)  Revolt With Reason rocked the beach!!

 This afternoon going running a 5 k with the hubby outside.   :)

The desert pic taken By Cassidy Stull

 

Kind of mad that I had the stomach flu it ruined my "March Madness Run Every day even if it's a mile thing" but I got over myself and started up again.



Workout Time: 32 minutes
Speed: 5.0 mph with 2 minute cool down
Miles:  2.5 ish
Pain scale prior to exercise: 7 (very hard to get on treadmill today)
Pain during             "          : 6-8 (mostly shoulders and back)
Pain 30 min after    "          : 3 :)


Random Pic...

My son Garrett below is auditioning for a ABC pilot show called Mixology today... Good luck Garrett!!!

 

 

Happy day :)

"keep on, Keeping on"

My son Tyler and me after running 5 K at the YMCA Lancaster, CA 2012

 

Great article I found in Runner's World :) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! click on link below..



http://www.runnersworld.com/health/does-running-cause-arthritis

conclusion:  runners in a longitudinal study were found to have 25% LESS arthritis according to this article. 


:) :) :)

Below Buttons the dog made me feel better when I was sick yesterday...

(above Santa Anita Racetrack 5 k April 2012) 

 

   Still a bit queasy from stomach flu yesterday.  Well I don't know whether it was the stomach flu or because I drank a chocolate protein shake with banana, and coconut oil. . . AND then I took some supplements I don't normally take...  green coffee extract (to help burn fat), a memory pill (to help prevent Alzheimer's supposedly) and some old "leg vein" supplement I had but kept forgetting to take.

     I figured wow, I spent so much money on these supplements (at different times) I might as well try to remember to take them.  Well, so much for that. I am never drinking that protein drink again because that was all I could taste when I was "losing my cookies".

Hoping to at least do a mile today.  We'll see.



Hope you all are having a great day :)

Random pic of Santa Anita 5 K Race in Alta Dena California last year in 2012--- Beautiful day...

Husband coming up to the finish line...

Husband and boys :)

stomach flu! ughh!

Yesterday (had to force myself to exercise)..

Time: 32 minutes
Ran 1 mile walked 2nd mile:  (did less because of pain) 
Pain scale prior to running: 4 (ball of feet) (shoulder) 4
                   during running: 8  "                                 " 4
                      after running: 8   "                                " 6
       one hour after running: 1  "                                  " 0  :)




I believe my new shoes irritated the balls of my feet.  I am going back to my older pair until I can find the right ones.  :o


Keeping up with at least one  mile a day in March, yay :) 
(Still doing the 5 k from 3 to 5 times a week though)



Random pic of my twins :) graduated 2012 

 

 

Hope to do a 5 k today.  :)  Talk to you later

RA hits you in the darnedest areas.

I've not only had swollen and painful joints in my toes, balls of my feet, ankles, knees, hips, hands and fingers and shoulders but I've also had it in....

               My jaw, very painful and unable to chew food

               My rib cage, making it very tender to touch

               My sternum, throbbing severe pain in my sternum has actually
                      makes me feel like I was having a heart attack!  (The only
                      reasons I know I wasn't having a heart attack was that my
                      Dad used to get it all the time there, so I just knew)
                  

               My eyes are affected, as I have not tear production at all in one
                      eye and just a tad in the other eye. Opthomologist said this
                      was from my auto immune disease RA.  Also blurry
                      vision at times she said from iritis.

               Fatigue.  My RA has caused me much fatigue before I was
                      treated with Enbrel. I felt like someone gave me a
                      sleeping pill.

I am positive for Epstein Barr though as well but the doctors aren't to worried about that.

I don't know if it has anything to do with my RA but I also have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) which puts you at a much higher risk for heart attack and diabetes.  So, this is one of the main reasons I don't want to stop running despite RA.  Got to keep exercising!

Anyway, it's beautiful day here in California, have many errands, talk to later.


Random pic of my beautiful sister-n-law and brother-n-law.

:)


"Keep on keeping on"

              
       
              
              

Ran:  3.2 miles today on treadmill
Speed: 5.0 to 5.5 mph

Pain before running scale:  2/10 on the balls of my feet/  shoulder pain 2/10
Pain during running scale:  7/10 on the ball of my right foot 2/10 on the left  shoulders 2/10
Pain after exercise:  5/10 , 0/10 and 0/10 respectively
Back pain (from old injury):  0/10

Wahoo made it my 4th day of "running everyday during March" madness.  :) :)

Just got off the treadmill feel really good!


Just some info for you.  A real motivating book to read is called "NO Excuses" by Kyle Maynard.  A young man with congenital amputee who played football and wrestled to the championship. :)

Thank you Kyle for sharing your most motivating story!!!



Hope your day is going fantastic.  

Going to work now. :)

My Story of First Symptoms of RA:


First symptoms started when I was 44 years old.  I kept getting tingling in my arms. I recall one day at the beach sitting in a chair , talking to my sister, and both my arms began to tingle strongly.  I knew it probably wasn't a stroke because it was on both sides. So I ignored it at the time.

When it kept returning on some days,  I went to my primary care doctor at the time and he sent me for an MRI of my spine looking for MS I guess.  Said I was normal and acted like it was all in my head and due to stress. :( 

(Later I learned it was because my RA was swelling in my shoulders and although I didn't have pain quite yet it was enough to press on the nerves and cause a strong tingling in both my arms).


  One day on the set of "A Night At The Museum" where my son was a "stand in" , I went to get up to leave and I had severe pain in my right ankle.  I couldn't even walk, had to get a cart ride to my car. :o  Went to the docs and they put me off for two weeks for a "sprained ankle".  THE ONLY THING WAS the pain was completely gone in two days. Hmmmm. Well I enjoyed the two weeks off.

One night I woke up at 3 am with a knife piercing pain in my right hand. I was in tears. I turned on the light and saw that my entire hand and wrist were swollen and red. I was thinking , is my circulation cut-off or something?................ I ran down stairs and got ice and taped it to my hand, took a Motrin and after 30 minutes of writhing and wondering if I should go to the emergency room I fell back to sleep as the pain subsided.  My hand was completely normal when I woke up later.

One day I noticed my skin was turning red and heated on my wrist and was starting to swell. I went to the docs and they said "you have cellulitis (a skin infection) of the wrist"  and they gave me antibiotics.  The next day it was gone. Knowing what I know, cellulitis does not go away that fast.  So I was baffled.

Another day I couldn't walk at my kids school open house. It was after sitting and listening to the teacher my right knee swelled up and it was very painful.  That lasted about 2-3 days.  The doctor said well you may have "polyarthrits" a arthritis that goes from joint to joint not on both sides. I didn't think much of it.

When I realized I obviously had something wrong with just my joints was when I woke up at 3 am with severe shoulder pain and stiffness. I painfully and barely got myself dressed.  I was in tears.  Realizing I could not even turn a steering wheel on a car I called my friend Laura to take me to the doctors. There I just cried and said "Obviously I have something wrong with my joints!"  He wasn't a very warm and fuzzy doctor, he seemed very annoyed that I was in tears and in pain.  The weird thing is, he could lift my shoulders up for me and it didn't hurt, but when I tried to lift them it was searing pain!

He prescribed me Prednisone. 

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh   I never felt so good in my life. I felt so good and had so much energy for once, that  I cleaned my entire house the next day.  He also sent me to a Rheumatologist who did some testing.   I was not RF positive, but I was VERY positive on the
ANTI CCP test, which is known now I guess to be a better indicator of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

I cannot believe how clueless I was !!!!!   My father had suffered since age 50 from RF positive RA and his fingers were severely disfigured AND my grandmother (his mother) was bedridden with disfiguring RA for the last 13 years of her life from Rheumatoid Arthritis!!!

I just want to say.  If you think you may have RA don't be fooled by some of the descriptions of RA like "characterized by stiffness lasting more than one hour in the morning" more like "severe onset of pain at 3 am in the morning with red and swelling joints".

Also, another description is "a stiffness in the joints that is on both sides of the body at the same time"  Well, if you read the above you would know that it takes some time to get where it is on both sides of your body.  It may not start out that way.


Random pic of me and my husband on vacation for our 25th wedding anniversary in San Diego...

 

Hope my story helped anyone who may think they have RA. 

Remember to get your anti-CCP done if your RF is negative!

see ya'  :)

Random vids of my son Garrett...








Hello all. Hope you are having a great day. 

 

 

 

 

I am keeping up with running everyday in March at least one mile a day.
:)


Did 3 miles today on the treadmill, it was difficult today due to a flare up in the balls of my feet and both my shoulders. :o

I ended walking with incline 2 miles and running at 5 mph for one mile which was much more difficult then usual due to the pain. :o

BUT.... as usual felt much better afterwards and I would say my pain scale now is only about a 1 of 10  (4/10 when I walk).

Trying to figure out a quick format on these blogs.  One that is short sweet and to the point.  So, I will be trying out different formats.

BTW I have been working more hours lately and I was sooooo glad to finally have a day to just sit and relax with my fam....so I forgot about the "gait analysis" at Sports Chalet!  :O   So mad at myself. 

I will call and try to reschedule.

Just joined the ACSM The American College of Sports Medicine. Love their conferences. :)




"Focus on what you CAN do not what you cannot."