I’ve had this blog for 12 or 13 years, and I don’t really know how much I’ve talked about my autoimmune disorder on here (without scrolling back and taking time to read), but I suffer from very, very bad Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). I’ve also been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis because, honestly, I don’t have the exact hallmarks of either disease. But what I do have is horrible, debilitating, painful arthritis that I do not wish on anyone.

We bought this beautiful home in May 2021, and by August, we had signed a contract to have the tub/shower combo pulled from my bathroom and a Kohler walk-in tub with stone surround installed. My husband made plenty of jokes about my “old person” tub, but then I had a PsA flare in my knee in December and couldn’t even step over the regular tub to take a shower for more than a week. Our tub was installed the first week of January, and just six weeks later, I was hit with the single worst flare I’ve ever had, and with which I am still dealing. Thank God for good timing!

Talk about divine timing. This tub has been nothing short of a godsend to me since the moment it was installed. Bubbles, massage, a heated seat – it has it all! It also has a very low step-in, so I can maneuver with ease even when I’m in a lot of pain.

This current flare has encompassed my right ankle, top of my foot, toes, and the tendon that runs along the arch of my foot. It hit on Valentine’s Day and three days after it started, I lost all ability to walk. It’s now been more than three weeks and, while the active flare has subsided somewhat, my mobility has been severely impacted. And the thing about autoimmune arthritis is that the damage is permanent, so I don’t know how much mobility I will be able to regain or if I will be able to walk without some type of aid or assistance ever again. I bought a mobility cart yesterday so that I can get into stores and doctor’s appointments and stuff – otherwise, I’m a prisoner in my own (wonderful) home. I have to figure out how to get it in and out of my Trailblazer because it’s heavy, even in pieces, but I need to get some independence back. Tim has had to drive me everywhere, and I haven’t been able to go anywhere on my own.

In other news – we planted seeds today. Bunches and bunches of seeds! More on that later!