Sun Sun Sun... how I hate the Sun

Hindsight is 20/20, or so they say.  I can't say that everything has truly come into focus for me yet because I'm still learning about this disease every day.  One thing that is crystal clear for me is how much I loathe the Sun.
Obviously I appreciate the good things about the Sun, like its use as a greener-energy and photosynthesis because I like strawberries and tomatoes. Blah blah blah. Plus the fact that it'd be -459.67°F here without it.

As it turns out, when I was floating in the crystal clear waters at Half Moon Cay, I was making myself sick!  I mentioned in the previous post that David and I were floating (well I was floating, he tried).

I debated posting these pictures, but they illustrate my points: 

1. David can't float.

2. Obviously I am as pale as they come.

3. The water really is that clear!

The Best Worst Cruise

This month (May 20th to be exact) David and I will celebrate 12 years married.  We've been together for 15.  When we had children we made a pact to each other that we would take 1 week of vacation a year with each other and without children.  That one week has been an invaluable blessing to our relationship with each other.  We are blessed to have family that can help us accomplish that week by helping out with our boys.  In the beginning we used to head out to Las Vegas or Colorado, but in 2005 we took our first cruise and we've been hooked ever since.

One of my biggest challenges with Lupus is photosensitivity.  It is easier to tell people I'm allergic to the sun.  So it's rather ironic that I love cruising so much.  UV exposure is such a big trigger for me, I'll explain it in a separate post.  

I'm Coming Out!

I'm coming out and I named my Blog "The L Word."

What could this mean?  Obviously, this is me telling the world that I have Lupus -- a disease that's highly misunderstood and difficult to diagnose.  I intend to use this blog as an outlet and a tool for my own good health because being ashamed and hiding it is slowly killing me.  I have been reluctant to share my diagnosis, but I know I'm not alone and I don't want to feel like I have this giant black cloud that follows me everywhere. Everyone sees the cloud, but no one talks to me about it.  It feels very disingenuous.