Tomorrow I will be 22 weeks out of 40. Here is a picture of me this week, I don't like my hair or smile but oh well. They were a little concerned early on because I was so sick and not gaining but let's just say the last day I threw up was Thanksgiving and I have a healthy appitite back and my parents put SO MANY candy bars in my stocking. Again let's just say that low weight is no longer a concern.

Mike and I look forward to a new resolution for the new year...WE LOVE RESOLUTIONS. Like our good friend Rob, said in his sermon this week... we categorize and type out our goals.

Anyway our biggest health resolution: Lay off the fructose corn syrup. I know it is impossible to never have any, but we both have so many health issues that are proven or suspected to be caused by sugar that it is a logical step towards health for us. We are not eating fast food as much lately and that has made us feel better too. My mom and dad were pretty good about not letting us have junk all the time growing up that I think I need to be an example in that with our kids. Depriving them is not cool I don't think but, having junk food all the time is not cool either.

And you know what else is not cool, I think...the fact that I still say "cool". Sheesh, I am nerd.

Three Things I'd Rather Not Do:

1. Exercise
2. Refrain From Sugar.
3. Refrain From Caffeine.

Three Things that Make My Rheumatoid Arthritis almost Forgettable:

1. Exercise
2. Refrain From Sugar.
3. Refrain From Caffeine.

A Cosper Family Nike Collection

The four year old in me is jumping up and down pitching a fit, but it is official. I have done informal testing and numbers 1-3 make me feel much better. During the weekend I relaxed and ate a lot of birthday cake, drank a lot of cokes and coffee, and most importantly didn't work out (because I am NOT one of those who is naturally drawn to strength training and cardio). Anyway, it creeps up on me, this auto-immune disease of mine...aching in a wrist and then by the end of the day it can be everywhere. So I did my strength training again last night started monitoring my water (good), and caffeine(bad), and sugar (very bad). And most of my aches are gone just in 24 hours.

But I know that just monitoring these items is not my fix all. I still have to maintain my stress, sleep well, take my medication, and the weather, well I can't control that one. So all that is to say, I can't control this stupid disease completely BUT, I have a little more control over the disease when I practice self control.

I heard a wonderful speaker, Betsey Ricucci say recently that when you work on one discipline in your life it can't help but spill over into other aspects. So this idea of self control, without being legalistic, I am working on self-control with eating and exercising and it's spilling over into my self-control with anger and speech. Praise God!