Trisha Wilson's Blog

On January 3, 2012, I woke up to an excruciating migraine. I'd had migraines for years, so I was accustomed to them. However, this one felt different but I couldn't figure out why. Usually when a migraine would hit, they'd last anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. This one, though, it didn't seem to want to go anywhere. Two weeks passed and it just kept getting worse and worse. Since I had no health insurance, my only medical option was to go to the local health department. The doctor there checked me out and told me it was just a classic migraine, then gave me a prescription for a pain reliever that's specifically designed for migraines. I can't remember what it was called now, but that medicine wound up making the headache even worse (which at that point I really didn't think was possible). I went back in for another check-up and to see if there was anything else she could do. She told me point blank that there was nothing else and the only thing she knew to tell me is if the headache continued or worsened, go to the local ER. At the beginning of February, it HAD gotten worse and I was at my wit's end! I drove myself to the hospital and signed in to see the doctor on call in the emergency room. They done a CT on my head and they said it had came back clear. They gave me 3 shots - I'm not sure what but sometimes I want to go back just to get those again! No, they didn't help the pain BUT they did knock me out for several hours, which in turn caused me to forget about the pain for those few hours. 

The next morning when I woke up, the pain was as unbearable as before - no relief whatsoever. Everyone kept trying to pressure me to go to another doctor, but since I had no insurance and flat broke, I knew no other doctor would see me if I couldn't pay. So I suffered. As a couple of more months rolled by, a few more symptoms began cropping up. I didn't have any idea all of this was connected so I just kept pushing forward and suffering in silence (sometimes not so silent). 

Mid-June arrives and suddenly the headache disappeared. I was more relieved to finally have that pain gone than words could ever express, even though some of the other symptoms had stayed with me. On the first Saturday in July we moved, so being pain free for that month was a blessing in more than one way. It allowed me to pack and do everything I needed to do. On August 7th, I had to go grocery shopping. I was still feeling great! As I was putting up groceries, I accidentally bumped my head on the freezer door. My head began hurting - but not that bad - nothing compared to what it had been a few months before. I went about my day in the normal fashion, trying to fit everything I possibly could in those few hours. That next morning, the migraine had returned - full force.

By this time, the other symptoms had progressed even further and I was beginning to get really concerned something was drastically wrong. A few weeks went by and I finally got up the nerve to talk to my mom about everything I'd been dealing with. She'd only known about the headaches - nothing else. She tried to talk me into going back to the health department and I told her I just couldn't do it. They wouldn't help me. 

I'll break in here and tell you two of the symptoms that were progressing rapidly -- my vision was one (but I was just starting to account that to my growing older). The second was severe tingling/numbness in my arms & hands. About the middle of October, the headache had gotten so much worse that I was wearing sunglasses anywhere & everywhere, just so the simplest light wouldn't make it even more dreadful. Mid-afternoon, I was laying on the couch with a wet cloth on my eyes trying to hold the nausea and dizziness at bay. Suddenly, my left hand and arm went completely limp. I couldn't feel it. I couldn't move it. I had been dealing with this for a few months but these episodes would only last anywhere from a few seconds to no more than 5 minutes. I looked at the clock and waited for 5 minutes to pass. Five minutes passed -- then 20. Thirty minutes rolled around and I started bawling, thinking that something terrible had happened and that paralyzed feeling was going to be permanent. My mom was sitting there reading and she looked up, asking me what was wrong. Through the sobs, I finally managed to get across to her what was going on. She came closer and started moving my hand and arm in every which direction - trying to see if she could "help" bring the feeling back. Nothing worked. Suddenly after about an hour had passed, the feeling slowly returned and I was able to move my hand & arm like nothing had even been wrong in the first place. I knew, then, that I definitely needed to seek medical help, one way or another.

My appointment at the health department was that Thursday morning. The doctor done several "tests" - if you want to call them that. She checked my eyes, reflexes, balance and a few more - hand to eye coordination type things. After she finished, she told me I could sit back down and without any warning, she spouted off, "I'm 95% sure you have a brain tumor." I know I went slack jawed and began crying. She said, "I'm not saying this to scare you but if it's not on your brain, it's on your spine. I'm only telling you so you'll know how serious it is for you to go to a more qualified place for tests." So I asked her if there was any way she could set me up an appointment for an MRI or something like that at the local hospital. She said, "No. Since you don't have insurance, they won't perform an MRI on you without you paying up front first and that's several thousand dollars worth." Then she suggested that I go to a "big-city" hospital to the ER and they'd run every test on me till they could conclude what was wrong. When I told my best friend, Bridget, what the doctor had said, she took off work the next day and drove me and my mom to St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. They scheduled an MRI and put an IV needle in my arm while I was waiting to be taken back. After the MRI was finished, a nurse put about 3 different medicines in to the IV needle. He said one was for pain, one was for nausea and I can't remember what he said the 3rd one was for. I don't remember much after that - you guessed it - it was the same medicines as they'd given me a few months before in shot form at the other ER. Next thing I know, we're close to being home and Bridget filled me in on what the ER doctor had said. The MRI had showed that my sinus cavities were completely blocked but there was no sign of a tumor. However, he had spoken to a neurologist and said he wanted to see me before any other test were run on me. I had to wait till Monday to make an appointment since it was nearly 6 pm when we got home that evening. Then, I had to wait a couple of weeks before I could even see him.

The day of my appointment, I'm scared to death of what he's going to tell me. WHY would a neurologist want to see me if it's just my sinuses? A million questions were going through my head. He checked my eyes and some of the same things the health department doctor had checked. He, then, told me that he had a feeling he knew what it was but he was going to do a couple of more tests just to make sure. He scheduled me for an EEG and an LP a.k.a. spinal tap. The EEG was to test to see if I had a damaged nerve somewhere that was causing the paralysis episodes. He discovered I had a bad nerve in my neck but he went through with the LP. A few minutes after he inserted the needle into my spine, all I heard was, "oh my goodness! I was right! You have Intracranial Hypertension." Of course, my mind was boggled so I had no idea what those words were. After he finished the spinal, my friend and mom came back to the room so he could talk to us all. He told us that I have Pseudo-tumor Cerebri or IH (Intracranial Hypertension). He told us that normal pressure level was 10-15 & my opening pressure was 41. He explained that IH is where the Cerebral Spinal Fluid doesn't drain properly and builds up to add pressure on your brain. The reason that the health department doctor thought it was a brain tumor is because IH has all the symptoms of a brain tumor without an actual tumor being present. He also told me that since my opening pressure was so high and my optic nerves were already quite damaged I have a higher chance than some patients for losing my vision altogether. He prescribed me a few different medicines and I was to go back in a couple of weeks for another spinal to see if the medicine was working. The second spinal, my pressure had already increased to 27. So, he upped my dosage and scheduled me for another just two weeks later. Two weeks later, my pressure was 25. He told me that he was going to try the spinal a few more times - try a few different combos of medicine and if nothing seemed to be working he was going to send me to a neurosurgeon to begin talking about a shunt that would help drain the excess fluid.

I went back January 21 (for what I thought was going to be another spinal) but turned out he just wanted to talk to me. I suppose the fact that I don't have insurance (even though he had said at my first appointment that didn't matter & he just wanted to help me get some relief) has finally kicked in. He told me he couldn't help me anymore and he wasn't going to give me another spinal. However, he did tell me to come back in about a month to see how I was doing. Well - I cancelled that appointment. Why? I didn't see the point in driving two hours there (& 2 hours back!) just to "see" him when he had already told me he wasn't going to help me anymore. Plus, he didn't have a nice thing to say to me at all that last day and I wound up feeling worse emotionally & physically than when I went in. So, I feel like I should get the same personal treatment as the next patient would, regardless of my financial status, gender, race, looks -- whatever the case may be. 

Currently, I'm trying to get insurance - I have been for a few months but it's a long and slow process. I'm hopeful that if I get the insurance I'll have more options of doctors I can go to and hopefully to one that is much closer to home.

If you, or someone you know, have IH and you don't know where to turn...don't know who you can talk to, I have found a wonderful group of people on Facebook. It's called the IH Support Group. It's a private group so only members can see posts. They're there to give encouragement and advice to each & every one of the members, regardless of who they are. You can find the group HERE to request to join.

Some people seem to go on to live normal lives after they get their symptoms under control...and there are others who never seem to get anything to work for them. I don't know which group I'm in yet, but I do know some days are better than others - those are rare but I know I'm blessed to have one here & there.

My vision has gotten increasingly worse - there are days that all I can see is a big blurry blob....there are some days when I have complete blackness....and there are a few where I can see clearly (even if it is mostly just tunnel vision - imagine looking down the tubing of an empty ink pen...that small speck is all you can see - no peripheral vision whatsoever - that's what I see every day, when I can see.) Every day I have anywhere from 10-15 dizzy spells. Some days I can't move my head an inch without vomiting or feeling like I'm going to pass out. The tingling/numbness/paralysis has gotten worse -- they can last hours now at a time..and it's not just my hands & arms now - it's grown to my feet & legs. Several times a week, I get so sick I can't move a muscle to even wet my face to keep me from passing out. Luckily though, my dog Snickers is very protective. When he senses it's about to happen, he goes to get my mom - even if she's asleep, he'll still wake her up. She'll come bearing a cold, wet cloth to wash my face over & over till I regain some color and the tremors aren't nearly as violent. Those nights are when she sleeps on the couch so she'll be closer if I need her again. She's a Godsend! I don't know what I'd do without her or Snickers. They both take very good care of me! There are other things I face on a daily basis but I think I've shared more than enough for today.

Today, February 28th, is Rare Disease Day so please wear Blue & Green to help raise awareness for this debilitating disease called IH. Hopefully soon, there'll be a cure found and we can get back to our lives.

There are so many illnesses out there that are invisible. You never know what someone is dealing with.... I found this picture online & speaking from experience, these sentences hurt more than any healthy person could ever understand. So please read them, understand them and take them to heart for the next time you meet someone who does have something wrong with them. Even if you can't "See" their disease, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
To all of my readers out there - I hope to someday soon to be able to get back into writing. I had been working on book 2 of the Indigo Girls Series (Ellen's story) when all of this hit and I hope so much that I can get back into it again VERY SOON!!! Thank you for bearing with me.

To all of my family & friends who have stuck by me through this entire ordeal - I thank you and I love you. There are times I do feel all alone but knowing I have you all in my corner supporting me, loving me and praying for me means more than words can say. So again, I thank you!!

And to anyone out there who doesn't know what IH is, please go HERE to find out more or to donate to the cause for research of finding a cure. Thank you to Brooke from the IH Support Group for making this picture for me! :) ♥

On January 3, 2012, I woke up to an excruciating migraine. I'd had migraines for years, so I was accustomed to them. However, this one felt different but I couldn't figure out why. Usually when a migraine would hit, they'd last anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. This one, though, it didn't seem to want to go anywhere. Two weeks passed and it just kept getting worse and worse. Since I had no health insurance, my only medical option was to go to the local health department. The doctor there checked me out and told me it was just a classic migraine, then gave me a prescription for a pain reliever that's specifically designed for migraines. I can't remember what it was called now, but that medicine wound up making the headache even worse (which at that point I really didn't think was possible). I went back in for another check-up and to see if there was anything else she could do. She told me point blank that there was nothing else and the only thing she knew to tell me is if the headache continued or worsened, go to the local ER. At the beginning of February, it HAD gotten worse and I was at my wit's end! I drove myself to the hospital and signed in to see the doctor on call in the emergency room. They done a CT on my head and they said it had came back clear. They gave me 3 shots - I'm not sure what but sometimes I want to go back just to get those again! No, they didn't help the pain BUT they did knock me out for several hours, which in turn caused me to forget about the pain for those few hours. 

The next morning when I woke up, the pain was as unbearable as before - no relief whatsoever. Everyone kept trying to pressure me to go to another doctor, but since I had no insurance and flat broke, I knew no other doctor would see me if I couldn't pay. So I suffered. As a couple of more months rolled by, a few more symptoms began cropping up. I didn't have any idea all of this was connected so I just kept pushing forward and suffering in silence (sometimes not so silent). 

Mid-June arrives and suddenly the headache eased considerably enough that it was just a "nagging feeling". I was more relieved to finally have that indescribable pain gone than words could ever express, even though some of the other symptoms had stayed with me. On the first Saturday in July we moved, so being mostly pain free for that month was a blessing in more than one way. It allowed me to pack and do everything I needed to do. On August 7th, I had to go grocery shopping. I was still feeling pretty great! As I was putting up groceries, I accidentally bumped my head on the freezer door. My head began hurting - but not that bad - nothing compared to what it had been a few months before. I went about my day in the normal fashion, trying to fit everything I possibly could in those few hours. That next morning, the migraine had returned - full force.

By this time, the other symptoms had progressed even further and I was beginning to get really concerned something was drastically wrong. A few weeks went by and I finally got up the nerve to talk to my mom about everything I'd been dealing with. She'd only known about the headaches - nothing else. She tried to talk me into going back to the health department and I told her I just couldn't do it. They wouldn't help me. 

I'll break in here and tell you two of the symptoms that were progressing rapidly -- my vision was one (but I was just starting to account that to my growing older). The second was severe tingling/numbness in my arms & hands. About the middle of October, the headache had gotten so much worse that I was wearing sunglasses anywhere & everywhere, just so the simplest light wouldn't make it even more dreadful. Mid-afternoon, I was laying on the couch with a wet cloth on my eyes trying to hold the nausea and dizziness at bay. Suddenly, my left hand and arm went completely limp. I couldn't feel it. I couldn't move it. I had been dealing with this for a few months but these episodes would only last anywhere from a few seconds to no more than 5 minutes. I looked at the clock and waited for 5 minutes to pass. Five minutes passed -- then 20. Thirty minutes rolled around and I started bawling, thinking that something terrible had happened and that paralyzed feeling was going to be permanent. My mom was sitting there reading and she looked up, asking me what was wrong. Through the sobs, I finally managed to get across to her what was going on. She came closer and started moving my hand and arm in every which direction - trying to see if she could "help" bring the feeling back. Nothing worked. Suddenly after about an hour had passed, the feeling slowly returned and I was able to move my hand & arm like nothing had even been wrong in the first place. I knew, then, that I definitely needed to seek medical help, one way or another.

My appointment at the health department was that Thursday morning. The doctor did several "tests" - if you want to call them that. She checked my eyes, reflexes, balance and a few more - hand to eye coordination type things. After she finished, she told me I could sit back down and without any warning, she spouted off, "I'm 95% sure you have a brain tumor." I know I went slack jawed and began crying. She said, "I'm not saying this to scare you but if it's not on your brain, it's on your spine. I'm only telling you so you'll know how serious it is for you to go to a more qualified place for tests." So I asked her if there was any way she could set me up an appointment for an MRI or something like that at the local hospital. She said, "No. Since you don't have insurance, they won't perform an MRI on you without you paying up front first and that's several thousand dollars worth." Then she suggested that I go to a "big-city" hospital to the ER and they'd run every test on me till they could conclude what was wrong. When I told my best friend, Bridget, what the doctor had said, she took off work the next day and drove me and my mom to St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. They scheduled an MRI and put an IV needle in my arm while I was waiting to be taken back. After the MRI was finished, a nurse put about 3 different medicines in to the IV needle. He said one was for pain, one was for nausea and I can't remember what he said the 3rd one was for. I don't remember much after that - you guessed it - it was the same medicines as they'd given me a few months before in shot form at the other ER. Next thing I know, we're close to being home and Bridget filled me in on what the ER doctor had said. The MRI had showed that my sinus cavities were completely blocked but there was no sign of a tumor. However, he had spoken to a neurologist and said he wanted to see me before any other test were run on me. I had to wait till Monday to make an appointment since it was nearly 6 pm when we got home that evening. Then, I had to wait a couple of weeks before I could even see him.

The day of my appointment, I'm scared to death of what he's going to tell me. WHY would a neurologist want to see me if it's just my sinuses? A million questions were going through my head. He checked my eyes and some of the same things the health department doctor had checked. He, then, told me that he had a feeling he knew what it was but he was going to do a couple of more tests just to make sure. He scheduled me for an EEG and an LP a.k.a. spinal tap. The EEG was to test to see if I had a damaged nerve somewhere that was causing the paralysis episodes. He discovered I had a bad nerve in my neck but he went through with the LP. A few minutes after he inserted the needle into my spine, all I heard was, "oh my goodness! I was right! You have Pseudo-tumor Cerebri." Of course, my mind was boggled so I had no idea what those words were. After he finished the spinal, my friend and mom came back to the room so he could talk to us all. He told us that I have Pseudo-tumor Cerebri or IH (Intracranial Hypertension). He told us that normal pressure level was 10-15 & my opening pressure was 41. He explained that IH is where the Cerebral Spinal Fluid doesn't drain properly and builds up to add pressure on your brain. The reason that the health department doctor thought it was a brain tumor is because IH has all the symptoms of a brain tumor without an actual tumor being present. He also told me that since my opening pressure was so high and my optic nerves were already quite damaged I have a higher chance than some patients for losing my vision altogether. He prescribed me a few different medicines and I was to go back in a couple of weeks for another spinal to see if the medicine was working. The second spinal, my pressure had already increased to 27. So, he upped my dosage and scheduled me for another just two weeks later. Two weeks later, my pressure was 25. He told me that he was going to try the spinal a few more times - try a few different combos of medicine and if nothing seemed to be working he was going to send me to a neurosurgeon to begin talking about a shunt that would help drain the excess fluid.

I went back January 21 (for what I thought was going to be another spinal) but turned out he just wanted to talk to me. I suppose the fact that I don't have insurance (even though he had said at my first appointment that didn't matter & he just wanted to help me get some relief) has finally kicked in. He told me he couldn't help me anymore and he wasn't going to give me another spinal. However, he did tell me to come back in about a month to see how I was doing. Well - I cancelled that appointment. Why? I didn't see the point in driving two hours there (& 2 hours back!) just to "see" him when he had already told me he wasn't going to help me anymore. Plus, he didn't have a nice thing to say to me at all that last day (& he was always insulting me & degrading me each time he was doing the spinal tap anyway) and I wound up feeling worse emotionally & physically than when I went in. So, I feel like I should get the same personal treatment as the next patient would, regardless of my financial status, gender, race, looks -- whatever the case may be. 

Currently, I'm trying to get insurance - I have been for a few months but it's a long and slow process. I'm hopeful that if I get the insurance I'll have more options of doctors I can go to and hopefully to one that is much closer to home.

Some people seem to go on to live normal lives after they get their symptoms under control...and there are others who never seem to get anything to work for them. I don't know which group I'm in yet, but I do know some days are better than others - those are rare but I know I'm blessed to have one here & there.

My vision has gotten increasingly worse - there are days that all I can see is a big blurry blob....there are some days when I have complete blackness....and there are a few where I can see clearly (even if it is mostly just tunnel vision - imagine looking down the tubing of an empty ink pen...that small speck is all you can see - no peripheral vision whatsoever - that's what I see every day, when I can see.) Every day I have anywhere from 10-15 dizzy spells. Some days I can't move my head an inch without vomiting or feeling like I'm going to pass out. The tingling/numbness/paralysis has gotten worse -- they can last hours now at a time..and it's not just my hands & arms now - it's grown to my feet & legs. Several times a week, I get so sick I can't move a muscle to even wet my face to keep me from passing out. Luckily though, my dog Snickers is very protective. When he senses it's about to happen, he goes to get my mom - even if she's asleep, he'll still wake her up. She'll come bearing a cold, wet cloth to wash my face over & over till I regain some color and the tremors aren't nearly as violent. Those nights are when she sleeps on the couch so she'll be closer if I need her again. She's a Godsend! I don't know what I'd do without her or Snickers. They both take very good care of me! There are other things I face on a daily basis but I think I've shared more than enough for today.

Today, February 28th, is Rare Disease Day so please wear Blue & Green to help raise awareness for this debilitating disease called IH. Hopefully soon, there'll be a cure found and we can get back to our lives.

There are so many illnesses out there that are invisible. You never know what someone is dealing with.... I found this picture online & speaking from experience, these sentences hurt more than any healthy person could ever understand. So please read them, understand them and take them to heart for the next time you meet someone who does have something wrong with them. Even if you can't "See" their disease, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
To all of my readers out there - I hope to someday soon to be able to get back into writing. I had been working on book 2 of the Indigo Girls Series (Ellen's story) when all of this hit and I hope so much that I can get back into it again VERY SOON!!! Thank you for bearing with me.

To all of my family & friends who have stuck by me through this entire ordeal - I thank you and I love you. There are times I do feel all alone but knowing I have you all in my corner supporting me, loving me and praying for me means more than words can say. So again, I thank you!!

And to anyone out there who doesn't know what IH is, please go HERE to find out more or to donate to the cause for research of finding a cure. Thank you to Brooke from the IH Support Group for making this picture for me! :) ♥

The Tide Breaker by Sonya Watson

Blurb: Once upon a time, there was a sixteen year-old girl that lost both her parents under unusual circumstances. Abrianna was lonely and found some comfort in the arms of her boyfriend, Michael. Life turned grim when she realizes that a man, who was once the enforcer of fate, wanted her to die. The disgraced enforcer had taken great steps to ensure Abrianna’s death and planned to do this by enlisting the help of humans and creatures without their knowledge. Evil had washed over the land the humans named Dainesville. Abrianna had the power to heal the land and when she did she would return prosperity to the lives of the townspeople. When the time came for Abrianna to stand alongside her half-brother, Stephen, to fight the coming evil she did so without hesitation. Life ended. Darkness fell. Love faded. The End?

Amazon UK

Amazon USA

Smashwords

Barnes And Noble
Author Bio: Sonya was born in Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica but moved to Canada eleven years ago. She discovered writing when she was eleven. However, was unable to pursue it since she lived in a country where writing was impractical. She rediscovered the art during third year at York University. Kinesiology, the program she was enrolled in, was no longer simulating and found herself questioning her purpose in life. This led her to poetry and poetry led her to writing novels.

Goodreads

The Tide Breaker by Sonya Watson

Blurb: Once upon a time, there was a sixteen year-old girl that lost both her parents under unusual circumstances. Abrianna was lonely and found some comfort in the arms of her boyfriend, Michael. Life turned grim when she realizes that a man, who was once the enforcer of fate, wanted her to die. The disgraced enforcer had taken great steps to ensure Abrianna’s death and planned to do this by enlisting the help of humans and creatures without their knowledge. Evil had washed over the land the humans named Dainesville. Abrianna had the power to heal the land and when she did she would return prosperity to the lives of the townspeople. When the time came for Abrianna to stand alongside her half-brother, Stephen, to fight the coming evil she did so without hesitation. Life ended. Darkness fell. Love faded. The End?

Amazon UK

Amazon USA

Smashwords

Barnes And Noble
Author Bio: Sonya was born in Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica but moved to Canada eleven years ago. She discovered writing when she was eleven. However, was unable to pursue it since she lived in a country where writing was impractical. She rediscovered the art during third year at York University. Kinesiology, the program she was enrolled in, was no longer simulating and found herself questioning her purpose in life. This led her to poetry and poetry led her to writing novels.

Goodreads

Hi y'all! Welcome to day 7 of Read 2 Review's Easter Egg Treasure Hunt! Find the Easter Egg on this page and click on it. Once that page loads, look for the "secret letter" highlighted in RED. Then visit Read 2 Review for a complete listing of the other places to visit and collect the other letters in the tour for a chance to win an awesome grand prize. You must be able to collect ALL 39 letters in order to be eligible for the grand prize drawing.

Now for my own personal mini-giveaway, I'm giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card to one commenter. All you have to do is tell me your favorite Easter memory. I will enter all participants into random.org to select the winner on April 9th. Be sure to leave your email address with your comment so I can contact the lucky winner.

I will begin today's contest by sharing my favorite Easter memory. I don't recall the exact year but I do remember my nephew was about 4 or 5 years old. We were outside hiding eggs for him to find and my dad insisted on my mom hiding some. She hid a complete dozen. Samuel could only find 7 of them and after much searching, we all gave up. Samuel went in to the house to find "Ma" and ask her where the other 5 were. She went to all the places she remembered hiding them, but those were the places we'd already searched. She couldn't remember the other hiding places, so we were beginning to panic because we dreaded that smell our yard would be getting in a few days, ha! We continued searching for several hours with no luck.

The following morning, they were found. Where? In the refrigerator…in the egg carton. She discovered them when she was getting eggs out to make breakfast. I will never forget the look on her face when she opened the egg carton and saw the various decorated eggs staring at her. It was a priceless moment and in hindsight, I wish I'd had my camera to capture it forever…If I'd only known what was coming… J

Now what's your favorite Easter memory? Remember to leave your email address with your comment to be entered into the giveaway. Also, don't forget to click on the egg somewhere on my blog to take you to another page where the secret letter is hiding in RED for the grand prize giveaway.

After you've finished here, click back to Read 2 Review for more details on the giveaway and the next stop in the bunny hop.

Bella Street nominated my blog for  The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award . Maybe I have her fooled? ;) Thanks, Bella - You're a doll! :)

The rules state that I'm to list 7 random facts about myself so here they are: 

1. I'm a sleepwalker. It's scary but I think the most dangerous thing I've done in my sleep was start to take a shower. Luckily when the spray of the water hit my face, I woke up. Ha! (I guess I thought my nightgown needed washing, too... I was taking the shower fully-clothed!)

2. I've recently discovered that Dish Network has Sirius XM radio available... So I've become addicted to channel 6058 - Prime Country. Country music from the 80s & 90s...I've been rediscovering songs & artists that I'd completely forgotten about from that time period! I LOVE it! (Sawyer Brown is still my all-time favorite though!) 


3. My biggest dream (for as long as I can remember) was to get married & have kids. I'll be 33 this year, so my New Years resolution this year was to accept that's not what God had planned for me and focus on being a better person (Christian, daughter, sister, cousin, friend, niece, aunt, & writer). Some days are better than others and other days I struggle with that realization...



4. Some people may find this one hard to swallow but: I'm extremely shy. In writing & "chat", I'm good to go...but in groups of people or even around one person I don't know, the walls come up and my mouth slams shut. I've been trying to break out of my shell and I think I'm slowly getting there...







5. I hate shopping...period. I don't care what kind of shopping it is, I detest it!







6. I'm not a shoe lover. I know most women will be gasping at that, and wondering WHY NOT?!?! but I have my reasons. If you want to know those reasons, I'll tell you privately to save everyone else from having to listen.



7. & Finally the last random fact about myself...this one will come as no surprise to some people, but I'm a crier. I cry at sad commercials, mushy songs, dramatic movies & TV shows... It doesn't matter - If it's the least bit emotional, I'll be crying. I've always been that way & I hate it. If I try to "fight" it, I just wind up crying harder, so I've stopped fighting it and let it "flow" naturally! Ha! (Although, I do hide the tears as much as possible from everyone around me, even if that requires excusing myself to the bathroom when I feel the tears coming on!)




Now I'm supposed to nominate 10 blogs for this award...so stop by and visit each of them. I'm sure you'll love them all, just as I do!

 Jolyn Palliata
K.E. Saxon
Joan Reeves
Lisa Mondello
Christy Hayes
Tracy Sumner
Carrie Ann Ryan
Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Imavoraciousreader
Bella Street (Had to nominate you back :) ) 

Bella Street nominated my blog for  The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award . Maybe I have her fooled? ;) Thanks, Bella - You're a doll! :)

The rules state that I'm to list 7 random facts about myself so here they are: 

1. I'm a sleepwalker. It's scary but I think the most dangerous thing I've done in my sleep was start to take a shower. Luckily when the spray of the water hit my face, I woke up. Ha! (I guess I thought my nightgown needed washing, too... I was taking the shower fully-clothed!)

2. I've recently discovered that Dish Network has Sirius XM radio available... So I've become addicted to channel 6058 - Prime Country. Country music from the 80s & 90s...I've been rediscovering songs & artists that I'd completely forgotten about from that time period! I LOVE it! (Sawyer Brown is still my all-time favorite though! I think I've mentioned a time or two that since I was 5 years old, I've had 2 dreams concerning Sawyer Brown - #1. To see them live in concert. & #2. To meet them in person. I just want/need them to know how much their music has touched me and has helped me through some of my darkest times...maybe it'll happen...someday. :) )


3. My biggest dream (for as long as I can remember) was to get married & have kids. I'll be 33 this year, so my New Years resolution this year was to accept that's not what God had planned for me and focus on being a better person (Christian, daughter, sister, cousin, friend, niece, aunt, & writer). Some days are better than others and other days I struggle with that realization...



4. Some people may find this one hard to swallow but: I'm extremely shy. In writing & "chat", I'm good to go...but in groups of people or even around one person I don't know, the walls come up and my mouth slams shut. I've been trying to break out of my shell and I think I'm slowly getting there...







5. I hate shopping...period. I don't care what kind of shopping it is, I detest it!







6. I'm not a shoe lover. I know most women will be gasping at that, and wondering WHY NOT?!?! but I have my reasons. If you want to know those reasons, I'll tell you privately to save everyone else from having to listen.



7. & Finally the last random fact about myself...this one will come as no surprise to some people, but I'm a crier. I cry at sad commercials, mushy songs, dramatic movies & TV shows... It doesn't matter - If it's the least bit emotional, I'll be crying. I've always been that way & I hate it. If I try to "fight" it, I just wind up crying harder, so I've stopped fighting it and let it "flow" naturally! Ha! (Although, I do hide the tears as much as possible from everyone around me, even if that requires excusing myself to the bathroom when I feel the tears coming on!)




Now I'm supposed to nominate 10 blogs for this award...so stop by and visit each of them. I'm sure you'll love them all, just as I do!

 Jolyn Palliata
K.E. Saxon
Joan Reeves
Lisa Mondello
Christy Hayes
Tracy Sumner
Carrie Ann Ryan
Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Imavoraciousreader
Bella Street (Had to nominate you back :) ) 

This is my recipe for the Book & Cook Holiday Blog Hog. I began making this several years ago, and it's a big hit (Usually gone in a few hours!) Considering we only have a small group for our dinner festivities, that's saying a lot! :)

Upside-Down Cherry Pudding Cake
Bread:

1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
½ cup butter or other shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg, unbeaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup milk

Sauce:

¾ cup sugar
No. 2 tin sour red pitted cherries undrained (2 ½ cup) <<< 2 cans does it
½ cup boiling water

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Sift flour, measure & resift 3 times with baking powder & salt.  Cream butter, add sugar gradually & continue creaming until light & fluffy.  Beat in whole egg.  Stir in vanilla. Add sifted ingredients alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with flour & beating well after each addition.  Turn into a greased 9-inch square pan 3 inches deep. Prepare sauce by heating sugar, cherries, juice & boiling water.  Pour it over batter.

Place in oven & bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until pudding just begins to shrink from sides of pan & top is golden brown.  When baked, cherries & sauce will be on bottom.

Serve warm by spooning into individual dishes with some of cherry sauce over each serving.  Top with whipped cream if desired.

Makes 8 servings.

Are y'all ready for the biggest even of the season?

Great books + Great authors = Each book only $0.99!

Load up - You won't gain a pound! is the slogan and I think it's awesome!

There's some awesome authors to choose from:
Alicia Street & Roy StreetAmanda BriceAmber CarewAnya WinterBarbara McMahonBarbara PhinneyBella StreetBev PettersenCalinda B.Carey CorpCarly CarsonCat KalenCathryn FoxChristy HayesCJ LyonsCynthia JustlinCynthia WoolfDale MayerDeb SandersDebora DennisDeborah HaleDebra HollandDebra MaherDenise Grover SwankDonna Marie RogersE. AyersEdie RamerEilis FlynnElysa HendricksEmma JayGemma HallidayGeorgina LeeGina BlackHeather HiestandHelen Scott TaylorJ.A. TempletonJ.D. FaverJ.E. HopkinsJacqueline DiamondJamie Lee ScottJana DeLeonJenna BennettJennette Marie PowellJennifer ColganJill JamesJoan ReevesJordan SummersJoyce DeBaccoJulia Phillips SmithJulianne MacLeanKandy ShepherdKat BrookesKate KellyKathleen LongKathy BennettL.j. CharlesLaurel O'DonnellLD MadisonLeslie LangtryLia SlaterLinda AndrewsLinda HallLinsey LanierLiz JasperLiza JamesLynda HilburnMaggie ToussaintMaree AndersonMargery ScottMary MarvellaMinx MaloneMisty EvansMJ FredrickMona RiskNikita BlackNina BruhnsNina PierceNorah WilsonOpal CarewP.R. MasonP.T. MichellePaty JagerPepper PhillipsPJ SharonRenee PaceSophia KnightlySteena HolmesStephanie QueenSusan SpeersTamara HunterTara ManderinoTawny StokesTea TrelawnyTheresa RaganTori ScottTrisha WilsonVivi AnnaVivienne WestlakeWhat are you waiting for? I've already got my eye on some of these, so I'm on my way there now to buy some! This is so exciting! 

What books do you have on your wish list that is listed on this sale? 

Hey y'all -

I apologize for not writing any new blog posts lately. I've been suffering through some major migraines, and I kept slipping further and further behind on my WIP (Work-in-progress).  So, I am taking a time out from blogging (except for my guest appearances on other blogs) until after the holidays. I really need to finish "Daring To Love", my next release.

I had put a self-imposed deadline on myself to be finished by the end of this month... but, unfortunately, these migraines are keeping me from meeting that deadline! Plus, with Thanksgiving and Christmas both fast approaching, it's going to get even more hectic.

I just wanted to take a moment to apologize and inform you of my absence for the next two months. However, if you "fan" me on Facebook or "follow" me on Twitter, you will see where I share my guest blogging and/or interviews so you can catch me on those sites. Or you can email me, with any questions or comments you may have. I will get back to you as soon as I can!

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to catch my latest updates! 

I hope y'all have a wonderful Thanksgiving AND Christmas... Stay safe!

Tell the ones you love what they mean to you;  tomorrow is never guaranteed!