Time Flies...

 So I didn't exactly *Forget* This blog...I just set it aside and let it get a little dusty over the last 10 years...

Updates on everyone and where they are and what they are up to now...Victoria is a Nanny for a surgeon here in Knoxville, living with her best friends in a house not too far from my apartment and becoming more independent and self assured each day. She is on the board of Foothills Community Players and frequently does shows with them. She has found her tribe and has some of the most amazing friends who are a second family to her, and I'm grateful every day for their love and support of my Bohemian girl.

Brianna is at Cambridge getting her MBA, she has a job offer from a company in London that will start when she finishes classes up in September, and they will be expediting her visa and sponsoring her. She has a lovely boyfriend named Matt who we love, and is working hard to get her startup, Invsted, off the ground. They will pilot programs at both Harvard and Cambridge this fall- its amazing to see how things are just falling into place for her. She is thriving on the travel and challenges her life has brought her.

Elizabeth just moved into a house with a new roommate, named...Elizabeth. LOL. Its a great space, with plenty of room for her Great Pyrenees, Hope to enjoy and run around. She is working as a social worker at the Domestic Violence Unit in Charlotte, NC, and she is starting her Masters program in a few weeks part time at the University of Tennessee- online. She has a great group of friends who love to play and enjoy life the same way she does, and she's finally feeling "At Home".

I started attending a local church in October when a friend took the music minister position and put a plea out mentioning he needed choir members. I went to visit, quite apprehensive, as I had been locked away for the better part of 21 months due to Covid, and wasn't sure I would feel comfortable in an in person worship setting. Not only was I welcomed to this church family with open arms, but they took Covid very seriously and I felt safe around others who distanced and used masks and were some of the first in line for vaccinations and boosters. After attending the church for about 7 weeks, I was approached about the administrative assistant position as their current Admin person was leaving. They offered me a job with 20 hours a week, with time off for my health, Dr's appts and transfusions as needed- no questions asked. It felt like it was meant to be- so I accepted. I have enjoyed feeling needed and helpful again, and although there are definitely weeks where it takes all the energy I have- most weeks it makes me feel useful and a part of the world again. So I rest and do my best to listen to my body. I am back in a choir, and have even been given opportunities to sing again! And they don't look at me as someone who has scarred vocal chords, 60% lung capacity and no immune system, they see a friend who enjoys singing and can hit most of the notes, most of the time (especially if you let me sneak breaths when I need to!). There is a joy I can't even describe which is a direct result of that.

I am still on the transfusions every 4 weeks, Dupixent every other week and Fasenra once every 7 weeks, but these have allowed me to be around people and to be off the steroids a majority of the time- one of the biggest blessings of all. I've lost almost 50 lbs, and have been able to either get completely off medication for diabetes or blood pressure- or at least been able to reduce the dosage of some of the meds I'm on. 

Overall, I am feeling so blessed. I have new friends in the members of the church, and have been able to get out and renew some of my old friendships since being in isolation during the height of the Covid pandemic. On top of that I am so blessed that I raised 3 of my best friends. I absolutely LOVE the women I have raised. I like who they are as people, and I love that we can talk about anything, can laugh and cry together- and that I am one of the first people they want to call when something significant happens in their lives. I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world.