SITS Day!
9 Jun
Today is my SITS Day! “The Secret is in the Sauce” is a wonderful group of women bloggers who support each other through comments. I have come in contact with so many great bloggers through SITS and received encouragement, support and advice. I highly recommend you check them out.
If this is your first time visiting my blog, Welcome! I’m Ashley, a young wife. I’m married to David. We have a dog named Henry.
Henry says hi.
As you might have noticed from the banners, I love Diet Coke. I even did a vlog about Diet Coke. I also love dessert, reading and wakeboarding.
In 2008 David was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis. It has completely changed our lives. I started blogging as a way to cope with the arthritis.
We’ve tried all sorts of things to ease David’s chronic joint pain from a Back 2 Life Machine, a Sleep Number Bed, chiropractic care, acupuncture, reducing David’s animal protein intake, to going gluten free. If you have a chronic illness, you know how it is. Everyone sends you information on “cures” and “remedies”. In fact, there is no cure for arthritis. There are several things that help David, but there’s nothing that completely heals him. Trust me, we’ve tried it all!
These days I write about living with chronic illness, my TMJ Disorder, how we really want children, being a caregiver and a homemaker.
In March, David accepted a new job, and we moved from Dallas, Texas to Camden, New Jersey. I’ve been blogging a lot lately about the culture shock and the challenges of taking a 70 pound dog from a four bedroom house with a yard to a two bedroom apartment.
Our backyard in Texas on one of Dallas' rare snow days.
Thank you for reading and commenting! I’d love to keep in touch through Twitter or Facebook. Love ya, sitstas!
Sorry to hear your husband has chronic pain.
Glad to hear you are open to alternative relief too.
Has he tried raw apple cider vinegar? (2 tablespoons to 6 ounces of water 3 times daily)
It does not taste so great at first but is great for relieving various inflamation in the body.
Also TART cherry juice is popping up in grocer isles to relieve arthritis. It is found in the refrigerated section and is a concentrate.
Happy SITS day and give good old Hank a scruff on the head for me.
Happy SITS day!! I’m so sorry to hear that you are guys are having to deal with Psoriatic Arthritis. I wish I had some ideas, but I got nothing. I will keep you guys in my prayers.
Have a great day!
As a fellow NJ resident, let me first say “welcome”. I know it can be hard to adjust to the Northeast, but i hope in time you and your husband will be able to enjoy a lot of the great things our state has to offer.
I do truly commend you for your strong spirit. My mother in law has rheumatoid arthritis and MS. She’s in her 60′s and has actually often remarked that even though she’s ill, at least it came on later in life after she had raised her family. So to deal with something like this in your prime is certainly all the more difficult.
I wish you and your husband all the best and of course Happy SITS Day.
Good luck with David and his arthritis.. love the dog.. and if you want snow come to New england. :0
Happy SITS Day
Happy SITS day. It’s amazing how many people try to offer unsolicited advice for a variety of things! I hope you guys find something that works.
Congrats on your SITS day!
Wow, you mentioned TMJ and I Just did a post about it…cue spooky music
Enjoy your day
Congrats on your SITS day! I am sorry about what you are all going through—will be thinking about you!
Hi Ashley! Congratulations on your SITS day! I hope you get lots and lots of comment love on your special day!
I totally understand your frustration with your husbands chronic illness and all the well-intended ‘help’ people try to give you. I was diagnosed 3 years ago with a very rare and very serious neurovascular disease that has left me completely homebound and bedridden. It has been a HUGE change of life for my family and me and it causes a lot of stress. I deal constantly with family, friends and strangers trying to ‘help me’ with their remedies and possible different diagnoses. I know they mean well but it is very frustrating. I’ve even written about it several times. HERE is a post I did about it recently.
I wish you and your husband all the best and will keep you in my prayers. In the meantime, I hope you might take the time to drop by my blog and visit sometime soon. I would really like that.
I hope you have a blessed day!
Teresa <
Happy SITS day! Congrats. I wish you and your husband well with everything, and I look forward to reading more… I was just telling a friend today that you never know how your story might help someone else (she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer). I suggested she start a blog. It’s nice when you can meet others who may have gone through the same thing or who are dealing with illnesses as well, but still living life to the fullest! Congrats again.
Just had a friend diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis also so I’ll be following your blog to keep up with your journey. Found you through SITS and so glad I joined today! Interesting, isn’t it?
Blessings to you and yours~
Happy SITS day!!! Sorry to hear about the chronic pain you husband has to deal with. Your blog is very cute, I hope you are enjoying your day! I also love me some diet coke! =]
Congrats on your very own SITS Day!
I hope to have one myself someday.
My sister has the same chronic illness as your husband and so I know how debilitating it can be.
Prayers to you both!
I too am a newlywed and blog about it. Love married life. Stoppin by from SITS. congrats on being featured.
Happy SITS day! Praying for you and your husband!
I’m so sorry to find that your blog includes pain, and I hope that you find something that will severely reduce David’s pain…in the meantime my congrats on your SITS Day!
Happy SITS day!
I live with chronic pain from a stomach condition, so I know how frustrating it can be.
Henry, along with his people, are adorable!
Click over to my blog to enter to win a 3 qt. colander in your choice of 15 colors!
Congrats on your big day!! I hope you have fun in the spotlight!
Happy SITS Day! Thoughts and prayers for your husband, it can’t be easy dealing with something like this on a daily basis!
I just got done reading ALL of those links! I enjoyed them all! I’m right there with ya with wanting the kids. But I think you should just go with your gut instinct and go for it if you are both ready and you have the support of your family. The more you wait, the harder it will be. Happy SITS Day!!
Happy SITS day! I too would like a kid but I need a father for them first
Happy SITS day. Wow, what a journey. I am sure you are experiencing a bit of culture shock in NJ after living in TX! I don’t know if I could handle being without Sweet Tea like we have in the South. Good luck to you & your husband. I too have a husband with a chronic health condition & I know it is challenging. Keep your head up!
Happy SITS Day. I hope your dog has adjusted to apartment life.
Congrats on your SITS day! I can’t even imagine what the culture shock is like moving from Texas to New Jersey. I live in North Texas myself. I love my hot BBQing summer nights!
)
Happy SITS day! We have a fur baby too. Looks like yours is as spoiled as ours. Liked browsing through your posts!
Happy Sits day! It is amazing what life brings that one would not expect to deal with at such a young age ~ walking a path you did not expect ~ Blessings can be found & laughter too ~ even in the midst! bless you!
Congratulations on your SITS day! I know what you mean about chronic illness and advice, my daughter was born with this condition and psoriasis covering 85% of her body. I also have a chronic condition I live with, but most people are just trying to be helpful and just don’t know what else to do but give advice!
Good luck to you and your hubby.
Yes I understand this all to well. Happy SITS Day and I hope you guys are recovering from the move ok. I pray for both of your strength in dealing with this chronic condition.
Happy SITS Feature Day!
Interesting about the psoriatic arthritis. I had never heard of it before. It matches many of my symptoms, I’ll have to do more research. I hope that it has been manageable for your husband.
Happy SITS day! Thank you for being so open and honest.
Happy SITS day! I agree, it must be quite a change to go from Texas to NJ. My husband and I are thinking about moving from Cali to IL and I afraid of the culture shock as well!
Happy SITS Day!! (Or happy one hour left of SITS Day!) It took me all day, but I’m so glad I made it over here. I can’t wait to look around your blog more. You guys have been through a lot. Henry is too cute and I look forward to reading more about your adventures with chronic illness, planning for a family and more!
Happy SITS day- I know what living with chronic pain is so I really feel for you.
Hehe I moved from NY and NJ to everydangwhere and finally ended up in the middle of no freakin’ where so I get the culture shock too.
Just do the best you can to enjoy the moments along the way and you’ll realize you have a very fine life indeed.
Happy SITS day! Your blog is so cute. So is your dog! hehe.
Wow, you’ve got a lot on your plate, but you have such a positive attitude! Good for you. I hope you are blessed with a child when the time is right!
Happy SITS day!
Congrats on your SITS day! Sounds like you’ve faced some challenges in your life to date, but are learning to manage/overcome them with a great attitude.
Congrats on your SITs day! I LOVE that you took Henry with you on the big move — it’s hard for me to believe, but some people don’t take their animal companions with them when they move.
As one diagnosed with a chronic disease (rare cancer) at age 23, and having lived with it through 11 major surgeries longer than I’ve lived as a ‘normal’ person, I do understand your health challenges…good luck and god bless both of you…
My cousin has RA and she does take the cider vinegar/honey drink every day…I’m sure you are pursuing all the options….
Happy SITS day! Henry is gorgeous!
Happy SITS day! I have had psoriasis since I was a teenager. Several years ago my husband developed psoriasis and in the last year developed psoriatic arthritis. I do have joint pain also just never have gone in for an official diagnosis. Living with a chronic condition is tough.
Congratulations on your SITS Day!
My husband and I both live with chronic pain too, it’s definitely a challenge. I hope you find a home church soon, it helps to have the support of a church family, especially in a new area.
I’ll be back to visit again, I’m enjoying reading your blog.
Happy SITS Day to you.
I also love Diet Coke. In fact, I’m sipping one right now.
Congrats on your SITS day. So exciting.
You are an amazing woman, having to deal with such a difficult situation, and doing it with such love. I hope that your husband is able to find ANY kind of relief or change.
Love your “Urge to procreate rising” post! Thanks for sharing and being an inspiration to the rest of us wives. Happy SITS day!
I’m late, but hope you enjoyed your SITS day.
Enjoyed reading your blog!
oops. i thought i’d commented already. sorry!
happy sitsday!
duh. i had already commented…
Hi Ashley! My husband was also diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. It goes hand-in-hand with his chronic psoriasis, which is an autoimmune disorder.
He has been on many medications and tried a plethora of therapies and treatments since 1990, but the ONLY thing that helps with both conditions is Embrel, a systemic immuno-supressant.
I just thought I would mention it as something you might want to look into further. It has been the best course of treatment for my husband.
All the best!
Melissa
Awwww…..you two are so cute and I’m loving your blog! Congrats on your SITS day and thanks for stopping by my blog on SITS Pot Luck Friday!
Dang! I’m so sorry I’m late to the party, but I am sooo happy you got your SITs Day! I hope it was wonderful beyond your expectations and that you made tons of new friends from it.
Sorry this is late but I’ve gotten behind on my blog rolls! Happy (late) SITS Day! Chronic arthritis is so painful, I’m so sorry to hear you dh has it. My mother has Rheumatoid Arthritis so I’m well familiar with how such a debilitating disease can be hard for the whole family to cope with.
TMJ is no walk in the park either, from what I understand. Still your blogs so bright and cheerful and happy!