Thanks AZ-Di. I'm feeling a little better. Last night I finally slept through the night since I lost my Great Aunt. I miss her alot but am coming to terms with the fact that she's gone. I know she's in a better place now and would want me to be brave and live my life to the fullest. That's the way she lived her life. So I'm going to get off my butt and start looking for a tree. I'm glad you got yours. You've inspired me to get one myself. First I need to break out my voltaren gel for my wrist and then off I go! Watch out trees, here I come! Take care my friend. From your friend, Renee.

Welcome back Renee! You are very brave, indeed.

Thanks Lottie. I'm trying to be brave, but my Great Aunt was a lot better with dealing with life's challenges than I am. She always was a very positive woman even when times were tough. I'm trying to be more like her and face the world with a more positive outlook. I have been sleeping a little better at night and my pain level from my rsd isn't as high as it was last week. That was a rough week both mentally and physically.
I appreciate your kind words and I hope you're doing okay. I am trying to get ready for Christmas now and still have to get my "table top" tree! It's snowing a lot here in New Jersey today for the first time and it's getting me in a festive mood. I'm going to see if my husband with take me to get a tree tonight after he gets home from work.
Then I need to just get a few more things like some stocking stuffers and wrapping paper. Thanks goodness for online shopping!
I wish you and your family a very happy holiday season, as well as the rest of the kind people on this forum. Take care. From your friend, Renee.

I know it will signal colder weather and not help the pain levels, but I do love snow!!! It always cheers me up watching it fall...mind you then I'm afraid of falling when I go outside Ah the festive fun of it all...

Take care everyone, and enjoy your day if and when you can.

Bram.

I was able to revive my decorating spirit after a nice break and a nice soak in a hot bath with Epsom salts. Yesterday was my birthday dinner with my boyfriend's family and they all came to our house after dinner for cupcakes. My boyfriend's 5 year old nephew (who I love to death), accidentally kicked my left ankle (where my RSD started and by far the spot where I have it the worst) while he was rough housing with my boyfriend. Wow...that was BAD. I did my best over the next two hours to hold it together and try not to make either the 5 year old or his parents feel bad (don't even know if they know what happened). My boyfriend saw right away though and brought me a heating bad and made sure I didn't have to get up at all while everyone was still there.

It was a BAD night. Couldn't sleep much at all and the pain has spread through my entire leg up to my hip (never had it go that high in my leg before...just above the knee is as high up as it has travelled in that leg before). Had to call off work this morning and am pretty bummed about it. Can't even it up...just lay on my right side. My boyfriend put my phone, computer, and the tv remote next to me before he left for work.

So what am I watching on tv? The yule log on On Demand...lol! Nothing like a crackling fire on tv, Christmas music, and all the Christmas decorations to lift my spirits a bit in the midst of this terrible flare up. At least I have that going for me.

Hi everyone, I have still not gotten my table top tree yet. It's just sad. I wonder if I can still order one from a catalog. Hmmm. I'll have to check and see. Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well and has a great day. We have some snow on the ground so it's starting to feel more like Christmas now. Take care.

I'm sure you still can. It might cost a little more for shipping...but maybe not. We still have 2 weeks until Christmas.