Arthritis

I borrowed this from a site on Arthritis.
It's always good to educate.

I've had RA since I was 2 years old. One day I just stopped walking. I didn't cry. I just stopped. Probably because it really hurt. This is what I was diagnosed with 23 years ago...

In RA (as rheumatoid arthritis is often called), the immune system attacks the joints. We don't know why exactly, though it's possibly in response to some trigger (though we don't know what it is). The joints – usually in the hands, wrists, knees or feet, on both sides of the body – swell and become painful and tender. The lining of the joints – the synovium – swells and becomes inflamed. The joints become stiff and harder to move, especially early in the morning. The person feels tired and unwell, especially in the afternoons. Sometimes, lumps appear under the skin near the joints (called rheumatoid nodules).
As the condition progresses, the muscles around the joint waste away, the cartilage in the joint and the bone underneath erode away, and eventually the whole joint is filled with fibrous scar tissue until it freezes completely. Sometimes other organs in the body – the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood and kidneys – are also damaged.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects about one per cent of the population – usually younger women, aged 25 or older, with the peak age of onset at 35-45 years. It's three times more common in women than men. Children and elderly people can develop it, but less commonly.

Rheumatoid arthritis strikes people differently. In some people it can start suddenly, but is more likely to start gradually (the symptoms are often put down to ageing at first). It typically (but not always) starts in the fingers. It can suddenly improve – go into remission, never to reappear. (This happens in about 20 per cent of cases.) In others, it improves, only to flare up again, improve, flare up again, and so on.
Mostly though, it is gradually progressive, getting worse over the years until finally after many years, it sometimes reaches a stage when it becomes 'burnt out – the active inflammation, the pain and the tenderness in the joints disappear, leaving the joints permanently deformed from years of scarring and joint damage. This can give rise to typical deformities, such as the 'Boutonniere' (button hole) and 'Swan-neck' deformities in the hands.

For reasons we don't understand, pregnancy usually improves the symptoms.

Celeb wedding 3: C is for Celine Dion

I loved Celine Dion when I was like 10-12 years old.

And I bet Rhys knows the lyrics to *all by myself.*

Just because I'd sing it when he had to go out on site for work.

I bet she felt like a princess.

The head wear looks just rediculous.

Canadians!

Found it!

The dress that is.
Within budget and I love it!
Poor mum, mum who hates all things wedding, was right there with me when I tried what could have only been dress number 99.
I immediately felt like a princess. I could see mum's face when I said this was my dress, it said:
*Could we please check the price tag first*
I had, it was in budget, and she was happy too.
I stood there in my dress as happy as anything, and mum decided this was the time to tell the sales lady ALL about my traumatic childhood. The wheelchairs, the anorexia, the special school, the many many many abusive teachers. They shared a mutual dislike of teachers. I could only laugh, seeing as my FMIL is a teacher (We all love that teacher).
Now that I've found the dress I don't think I can put it up on the blog!
I'm dying to show my BMs, my MOH and maybe my FMIL when she gets back from the north on the condition that she doesn't mention that she is a teacher.

Celeb wedding 2: B is for Beckham

Hahaha Love the Throne.

Celeb wedding 1: A is for Avril

I was never a massive fan of Avril, but I do remember seeing her wedding on youtube and figured that I might put up celeb wedding photos every week or so...

From instyleweddings...
The Love Story
At age 18, Avril Lavigne told Rolling Stone, "If I had a boyfriend, I would cherish him so much." As it turns out, she wouldn't have to wait long. Soon afterward, her close friendship with Deryck Whibley, lead singer of the pop-punk band Sum 41, took a romantic turn. On July 15, 2006, the couple promised to cherish each other when they exchanged vows at a private estate in Montecito, California. "I might look like a tough chick — and I am," Lavigne once said, "but I'm a hopeless romantic inside." While the punk princess didn’t cry, her groom shed a few tears as he watched his bride, on the arm of her father, John, glide down the aisle in a tissue organza Vera Wang gown as a string quartet played Mendelssohn's "Wedding March."

We're going to a chapel

...get this song out of my head!



Ri and I have decided to BOOK the chapel, so as of today. It's booked; one chapel.
It's a simple chapel.
Plush seats.
Aircon!
and I get to walk down an aisle.
And from what I could see there is only one reference to god and maybe 2 crosses.
I'm fairly sure I saw the symbol for scientology on one of the stain glass windows.
There are a few stain glass windows on each side of the chapel, from different faiths and cultures.

This week in wedding land

The Dress

I found the dress on the left in Melbourne, Sophia Tolli - 'Annette.'

I went to the only place that stocks that brand in Brisbane and they are one season behind.

But I tried on a dress by the same designer and think I may like it better, but Mum HATES it (I guess that only adds to the appeal) and I'm not sure if it suits me (as mums opinion was decidedly biased).

This game is not as fun as I thought it would be.

I thought I would walk in and there it would be.

I guess the last time I looked for a gown I was 40kgs and a size 8. Damn I wish I was her (by that I mean extremely unhealthy skinny weight me of the past).

You know she only ever ate like Maccas and take away (yes I still mean me) and she couldn't really walk so its not like she exercised either. Dang medications!

Enough on weight.

Lets talk height. I had a bone scan yesterday and the lovely lady took my height. Went over to the computer, did a double take. Came back and measured me again. Looked at the computer. Muttered it's impossible.

I've grown 10cm since I was 15 years old. I was 149cm, I thought that I was 154cm now, turns out I'm 159cm! How awesome is that? Thats 5 foot 2 1/2 inches. Go height!

The second photo, currently dress love of my life is 'Irene' by Sophia Tolli.

The florist

Found one! If the quote doesn't make me scream too loud in horror then that is BOOKED!

The Chapel

The Chapel? anyone who knows me from a bar of soap would say.

Yes we're getting married in a chapel that rents the grounds out for civil ceremonies.

Broadway Chapel.

Rhys says

So thats about every thing done then?

Tori says, after her heart starts again:

Baby all we have booked is two venues and a photographer. What about everything else?