POTS Treatment Center

As most of you know I will be heading to Texas tomorrow to start my two week treatment program to help me learn to manage my P.O.T.S symptoms a little bit better and hopefully slow down the progression of my illness. I will be trying to post updates as often as I can to make sure to keep you all in the loop but I'm not too sure how often it'll be .Thank you all for your encouragement and interest in reading about my journey. 

On a different note , I had purchased a new product a few weeks ago called the chemo cozy . It's a sweatshirt that you can wear when you are getting infusions via port (a central line located in your chest ) or PICC(a central line placed in your upper arm. The creator of the product is a cancer survivor who came up with the idea for the sweatshirt during his chemo infusions . For those of you that aren't familiar with ports or PICCs , the line is an internal line with the tubing on the outside (kinda like an IV) since the lines are located in the chest or in the arm it makes it hard to wear any kind of jacket and as we all know hospitals can be freezing ! So he came up with a fleece sweatshirt with zippers in all the access areas that way you just thread the iv tubing through the zipper and you can stay warm! Genius! The jacket itself looks a lot like a comfy north face sweatshirt ,so it's cute and casual and doesn't scream medical supply lol .Mine came In the mail today and since it was my infusion day I thought I would try it....highly reccomend it ! It made it  so much easier than sticking the tubing down the sleeve of my sweatshirt and having the cold tubing against my arm . It would be a great gift for people getting chemo ,transfusions, or medications on a long term basis . 

     Thanks for reading ! Talk to you all soon :) 

Put a smile on someones face this holiday :)

Holidays are all about family, friends, and celebrating. We often get so caught up in buying and receiving gifts that we forget what it's really all about. We give gifts to put a smile on the faces of our loved ones. Seeing them happy makes us happy. Every year I try to help out by donating to different organizations in order to put a smile on the face of a needy child. My church participates The Angel Tree , an organization that gives gifts to children who's parents are incarcerated during the holiday season. Last year I was able to pull a tag from the Starbucks Tree (help a kid and grab a coffee at the same time..easy as can be). They participate in the  Aspiranet Gift Drive , collecting gifts for kids in foster care.

This year I have decided to give back to people that are in the hospital or struggling with health issues. As a nurse, I always tried to do a little something extra for my patients that were in the hospital during the holidays. Our hospital has carolers that come on Christmas and it really makes our patients feel special. Last year I got a small taste of what it feels like to be stuck in the hospital on a holiday. I was still recovering from my stroke last year and was on the Stroke /Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery Unit when Fourth of July rolled around. I was so sad that I was going to be stuck in bed in the hospital, fortunately it was getting close to my discharge date and I was able to go on a home visit for a few hours to eat with my family and see everybody. This was only fourth of July and I was able to see my family, I can only imagine how tough it is to be hospitalized during the holiday season .

HERE ARE 3 ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO WITHOUT HAVING TO EVEN LEAVE YOUR HOME

Amazon Shoppers : Before making your purchase click on this link. The Amazon button is located at the top right of your screen and you can search any item that you would like ( just like on the amazon site). 4-6% of your total purchase will be donated to Dysautonmia Research  to help fund new research projects in hope of find new treatment options and a cure for those of us suffering from Autonomic Dysfunction. Just search each item on the Dysautonomia page before adding it to your cart.This is the easiest way to give back, make your normal purchases and help out at the same time! Thank You supporting me and others like me :)

Sacred Heart PICU Gift Drive : Fellow blogger Amber  at Averie Lane started a PICU gift drive three years ago in honor of her beautiful daughter Averie. You can read Amber and Averie's story Here . For three years Averie's family has been collecting Kohl Cares gift sets to give to each child in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Sacred Heart Hospital during the month of December. You can contribute by spending just $10 to help brighten a little boy or little girls day. Your ten dollars will be used to purchase one book and one stuffed animal. The Kohls cares program gives 100% of the profits to kids healthcare and education initiatives. Top that with giving the gift to a sick child and you've helped out not once but twice!CLICK HERE TO CONTRIBUTE

Go Fund Me:Many of you have read my story and know that I have been looking into getting treatment to stop the progression of my illness. Earlier this year I found the POTS Treatment Center in Dallas, Texas but wasn't able to afford the expensive program. With the help of family and friends I started my donation page and was able to raise the money for my treatment which starts next week! Go Fund Me is a fundraising website that helps people spread their stories and raise money for various needs such as medical bills and treatments, funeral costs, houses to support those who have been affected by natural disasters ect.. You can find people in need of money in order to get POTS treatment by searching "POTS" or "Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome" in the search engine on the go fund me page. You can search for specific needs to donate to if you have a different cause that is near and dear to your heart.Even the smallest donation helps :)

Thank you for reading and contributing what you can this holiday season

Take-Over Tuesday: Kelly

This weeks Take Over Tuesday is Kelly from Big Apple, Little Bites. She is a sweet blogger from Manhattan  who's beautiful photos give me the ultimate travel envy! ( I mean how FABULOUS is she..little black dress with Champagne in hand..yes please)

Name: Kelly

Blog name : Big Apple, Little Bites

Country and state: NY, USA

Favorite quote: "The expert in everything was once a beginner "-Helen Hayes

How'd you pick your blog title?: I live in Manhattan (the Big Apple) and I'm trying to be more fit (little bites of healthy food!). 

What topics made you want to start your blog?: Fitness and Fashion. 

Where do you finding inspiration for blogging?: Other blogs, especially crafty blogs.

What are your 3 favorite blogs to read? :

1. Skunk Boy --I love Katie's blog because of her amazing fashion sense. She also extremely talented and makes the most adorable creatures for home decor, wedding topper, ornaments..you name it!

2.Sincerely Kinsey--I love reading her blog because of her DIY creations. She's also an amazing photographer

3.Scathingly Brilliant--I regularly read Kate's blog for her creative illustrations and unique fashion sense. Her new apartment is so colorful and perfect !

Why do you read Fabulously Faint ?: Because I like Brittany's message and how she is sharing her story. I have a chronic illness (ulcerative colitis) and I admire her strength. I find her story to be an inspiration. 

5 random facts about you: 

1. I am a vegetarian (and have been for 6 years) 

2. I don't currently have cable in my apartment (too expensive) 

3. I recently got into running and am hoping to do a half-marathon next year and a marathon in         2015 

4. I majored in Chemical Engineering but currently work as an Environmental Engineer 

5. I've been to 17 countries and counting...I absolutely love to travel!

Thanks so much! What a great idea :)-Kelly

Check out Kelly's Blog for Faboulously Faint's answers. Let me know if you would like to participate in a future Take-Over Tuesday :)

Foodie Friday: Double Tomato Bruschetta , Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms , Pumpkin Perfection Bars

First of all , I must confess...I hardly cooked at all this week but with Thanksgiving fast approaching I figured I'd share some of my favorite go-to appetizer recipes. These are actually a few that we took to Thanksgiving at my Aunt's last year. I made two batches of each appetizer and they were gone in no time and we have requests for them again this year. Hopefully your family will love them as much as mine did.

Ingredients

6 Roma Tomatoes -Chopped

1/2 Cup Sundried Tomatoes

3 Cloves Minced Garlic

1/4 Cup Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar

1/4 Cup Fresh Basil-Chopped

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

1/4 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper

2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1 French Bread Baguette

Instructions

1.Preheat the oven on broil setting

2. In a large bowl combine tomato,sundried-tomato,garlic,olive oil,vinegar,salt,pepper,and basil. Allow the mixture to set for 10 minutes to allow flavors to combine and marinate.

3.cut baguette into 3/4 inch slices and arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet

4.Divide the tomato mixture evenly and spread on top of the baguette slices

5. Top slices with Mozzarella cheese

6. Broil for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted

Ingredients

24 Medium Mushrooms

1/4 Cup Green Onions -Chopped

1 Clove of Garlic-Minced

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

1/4 Cup of Cream Cheese-Softened

1/3 Cup Dried Breadcrumbs

3 Tablespoons Grated Parmesan Cheese

Ground Italian Sausage-1 Package

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Instructions

1.Remove the stems from mushrooms and chop up about 1 cup of the stems

2.Brown the sausage in a skillet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil

3. when sausage is almost browned add in the mushroom stems, onion, garlic, salt, pepper and cook on med-high heat for 2-3 minutes 

4.Remove from heat and stir in cream cheese and breadcrumbs

5. Spoon the mixture into mushroom caps, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil

6.place on a baking sheet and bake at 425 for 15 minutes until mushrooms are soft and heated through

It wouldn't be my kind of Foodie Friday without at least having one dessert. Even though I had no time to cook dinners this week I somehow found the time to make a sweet treat ;) Blame it on Linzi at Little Gem , her baked goods always send me into a dessert craving lol These Pumpkin bars are a perfect fall dessert and it has a total of 6 ingredients and 4 steps so it's a good last minute treat.

Ingredients

2 Cups Sugar

1/2 Cup Oil

4 Eggs

16 Ounces of Pumpkin

2 Cups Bisquick

2 Teaspoons Cinnamon

1 Can Cream Cheese Frosting

Instructions

1. Cream Together oil,eggs, and sugar

2.Add Pumpkin, Bisquick, and Cinnamon

3.Bake for 350 for 20-25 Minutes in a long glass pan

4. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting and cut into bars

Try out these recipes and let me know what you think! If you tweak the recipe a little bit let me know what you did to make it even better :) Feel free to share the link on your page (please credit my blog and foodie fridays)

It's OKAY...

Over the past few years I have learned that nothing is really set in stone, things change, to expect the unexpected, and that  chronically ill patients are generally the exception to the rule. The ups and downs of having a chronic illness can sometimes feel like a crazy roller coaster ride that affect you not only physically but emotionally. Here are my top 5 ITS OKAY'S ...the things that I've learned to accept as normal and the philosophies that have made life easier

Its OKAY:

1. To grieve-- when you have a chronic illness you suffer a lot of loss whether it be relationships, work, home, finances, ability to take care of yourself and others, and the biggest one of all your OLD LIFE. In the beginning I tried the tough guy approach to everything , I wasn't going to let my illness get me down. I slowly realized that in order to move on you have to acknowledge your loss and take the time that you need to get over the sadness. Most of us connect grief to the 5 stages 1. denial 2.anger 3. depression 4. bargaining 5. acceptance and think of it as ending with acceptance. I have learned that grief is cyclical , it comes and goes with each new challenge.

2. To ask for help --this was a huge obstacle to overcome for me. I am very stubborn and prideful and asking for help has always been difficult for me . I am fortunate enough to have family and friends that are beyond amazing who always ask to help . My immediate family and best friends know how I can be so they helped out even when I said I didn't need it. Most of the time I actually did need it but was too embarrassed to ask .Sometimes when your pride gets too big it can actually hinder you. I was searching for treatments that could help my condition and came across a treatment center but it was very costly [ I start treatment this month and will keep you all updated  :) ]. My family and I decided to start a donation page  to help cover treatment costs and medical bills and the response was incredible and heartwarming. It taught me that people are willing to help and support you but you have to give them the chance. Embrace it.

3.To feel contradictory-- There are times when I feel like I can conquer the world and days when I feel like everything is crashing around me. Some days I want to continue to search for new treatments and there are days when I'm "over it ". Just when I think I want to give up on work completely I think I may have a shot at going back someday. Contradicting yourself is not crazy... it's normal. Its your way of processing what has happened and figuring things out as you go along.

4. To say no-- If I think that something or someone is important enough I always say yes no matter whatever else I have going on. The week that I had my first seizure I had worked 65 hours followed by a weekend packed with a graduation in the bay area, a drive that same night to another graduation in the valley about an hour and a half  away, hosting a baby shower, driving back to the bay for a graduation party, back to the valley for a 30th birthday , and finally back to the bay to go home and sleep before my next work week started. All of the people were very special to me and how could I choose what was more important. Looking back, that was crazy! Now that I am sick I could never keep up with that kind of physical demand and I have learned that the people who love you don't expect you to. Sure they would love to see you but if you can't do it that day they would much rather you stay home than cause more harm to yourself. It was hard for me to give into the truth that YOU are important too and you need to make decisions that will benefit your health.

5. To "give-in"-- The idea of going out in public in a wheelchair was one I grappled with for a while before I finally decided to "give-in". A lot of it had to do with humility. By not succumbing to the idea of using the chair I missed out on activities that I enjoyed. No shopping,no going to my brothers baseball games,  no going out to dinner if I knew the parking wasn't so good. Now I am able to celebrate with friends and do the things I want to do and in the end...who cares if I'm in a wheelchair.Besides my niece has offered to "bling it out" so how could I pass up that opportunity ;) 

Takeover Tuesday: Kayla

Today I am hosting my very first Takeover Tuesday, a day where I will feature bloggers that I love so that you too can get a taste of why I love their blog so much !Please comment an let me know if you would like to featured on next weeks post ;)Today I have the pleasure of introducing my lovely friend Kayla at Boy Oh {Mamas} Boys She is the amazing mama of two little handsomes and her blog is all about the mama life

Name: Kayla Christine Dolen (My friends call me Kay)

I'm from: California

Blog Name: Boy oh {Mamas}Boys!

How'd you choose your blog title: ....It is what they are ;)

What was your inspiration to start a blog: I started out wanting to share moments with everyone I know because I was asked multiple times through my FB posts to tell my stories through blogging and it turned into falling in love with people I've never met! I love my IG/Blogging mama group!

Where do you find your inspiration for your posts: through other moms that are similar to me

Three favorite blogs and why :
1. Little Baby Garvin -- Jessica is so creative and such the ultimate supermom! She recently started following me through IG and that might have just made my blogging/IG life;) 

2.Hello Newlywed Life--Megan is a sweet mama to Sofia, the best meal planner around and she gives me some good laughs through her blogging stories!!

3. Little Gem --This mama cooks, bakes and shares all her goodie recipes!! Her life as a mama is so precious and fun to read about!!  

5 random facts about you:
1. I'm a neat freak.
2. I love being on the go.
3.I live off of coffee.
4.I'm not a chocolate lover.
5.I could get lost in a good book.

What's your favorite quote: The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more,that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds .and that's what you've given me.That's what I'd hoped to give to you forever -Nicholas Sparks

Why do you read FabulouslyFaint: to keep up with Brittany's story and because I love her Foodie Fridays

Missing out and Making up for it

The most annoying part about being sick is missing out on things that you want to do. I have always been a planner through and through. The kinda girl that has a to-do list for everything and never is too busy to say yes to more plans. Unfortunately, this just isn't the case anymore.

Last week was extremely rough symptom wise and I spent most of the week in bed trying to avoid the inevitable fainting spells. I was hoping that after my IV Infusion I would start feeling better because I had plans for the weekend.My little brother had to go up to University Reno Nevada for a baseball camp to show off his skills to the University coaches ( basically, he's a stud !) and I had planned on going up with he and my mom so I could visit with my cousin and her sweet baby girl who live in Reno. Well, infusion day came and went and no improvements in how I felt. A few months ago I would have pushed my stubborn self to go but I have learned that sometimes it just makes for more of a hassle for everyone and I would end up feeling even worse. So instead I decided to stay home for the weekend. At first I was bummed out of course but thanks to my amazing friends I was still able to have a great weekend.

When I decided to stay home a few of my friends came over to have sushi and watch movies for the night. Plans changed a little bit when the UPS guy showed up with my latest Scentsy order which included 5 different parties! We definitely had our work cut out for us lol. So we created a little assembly line and cranked it out while watching Law & Order SVU re-runs(all three of us are pretty much obsessed and yes sometimes I think Olivia and Elliot are my friends).One of my girls decided to spend the night and the next morning we layed low since I wasn't feeling too hot. By afternoon I had enough strength to grab lunch and take a quick shopping trip in my wheelchair. I was on a mission to find some scarves that would allow me to cover up my port without sacrificing fashion and of course I ended up at MAC and snagged a gorg new lipliner "Currant" to match my current favorite lipstick "Rebel".

       

Sunday I got out my Cricut-an absolute must have for the avid crafter or scrapbooker!-and worked on my brothers junior scrapbook .He's a senior now and it's almost baseball season again so I gotta hurry and catch up! Even though it wasn't exactly what I had planned I was able to still have a good weekend without pushing myself to the next level of sick.

Moral of the story : staying home doesn't mean you have to miss out completely

Thank you for reading and following along :)

Foodie Friday: Chicken Rollatini, Stuffed Spaghetti Squash,Lemon Ricotta Cookies

As you can probably tell based on last weeks Foodie Friday recipes, I'm pretty much obsessed with any type of cheesy ,buttery dish (I'm pretty sure I was meant to be a southern belle), This week I tried out this Chicken Rollatini recipe which is basically an inside out Chicken Parm minus the frying . It was a big hit with the whole family. This would be a good way to disguise veggies for those of you that have picky eaters to cook for :)

INGREDIENTS:

4 chicken breasts pounded thin

1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs

1/4 cup + 2 tbsp grated Parmesan

3 egg whites

1 package frozen spinach(squeeze out all of the water)

6 tbsp ricotta cheese

6 oz shredded Mozzarella

1 cup marinara sauce or fresh tomato topping

FRESH TOMATO TOPPING:

2 cups cherry tomato sliced in half

2 cups fresh spinach

1 tbsp chopped garlic

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Pound chicken breasts until they are thin enough to roll ( wrap them in saran wrap when you pound them to avoid the mess) and sprinkle with salt and pepper

2. Mix breadcrumbs and 2 tbsp of Parmesan cheese in a bowl and set aside

3. Whisk egg whites in a separate bowl and set aside

4. In a third bowl mix frozen spinach( with all of the water drained out of it),1/4 cup parmesan cheese,mozzarella cheese,ricotta cheese, and 3 tablespoons of your egg whites

5. spread mixture on the chicken breasts (thin and evenly)

6. Fold chicken breast over and secure with a 3 toothpicks ( each end and the middle)

7. Dipped the rolled up chicken into the egg mixture then into the bread crumbs

8. Bake at 450 for 25 minutes

9. Remove from oven and cover with sauce and more cheese if wanted . Broil until cheese is bubbly

I skipped the jar sauce and made a tomato mixture while the chicken was cooking

1. Heat a little bit of olive oil in a skillet

2. Add chopped garlic and tomato

3. Once the tomatoes have cooked down ( about 4 minutes) add the spinach and stir together so the spinach can wilt. Top your chicken with this mixture for a fresher alternative to marinara sauce

The  later part of the week I was having a pretty bad POTS flare up and didn't feel like being creative or having to cook an elaborate meal. Plus I had a few leftover ingredients from the chicken that I made earlier in the week. I've been wanting to try out Spaghetti squash for a while and bought one last week . So since I had the spaghetti squash and leftover cheese, sauce, and tomato I decided to try to throw something together. Here's a picture of my little concoction which turned out pretty good I must say :) It's so weird how much this squash looks like a bowl of pasta when you serve it

INGREDIENTS:

1 spaghetti squash cut in half

cherry tomatoes cut in half ( I prob used about 2 cups)

mozzarella cheese-as much as you want to top it with ( you've prob already figured out that my philosophy is the more the better)

a few tablespoons of marinara sauce

dry italian seasoning

garlic powder

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cut the squash in half  . I cut it across the middle but I think it would cook faster if you cut it length wise ( top to bottom)

2. Drizzle each half with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder

3. Place halves flesh side down in a pan with a few inches of water

4. Bake for 30-45 min at 350 . the squash should feel soft and it will be easy to scrape the "noodles" out of the squash with a fork

5. Mix the tomato, Italian seasoning, and marina into the squash (it'd prob be even better with fresh basil or oregano)

6. Top with cheese and broil til bubbly

A few years ago for Christmas I put together a Family Cookbook for my Great Grandma. I collected recipes from all the women in my family and used www.tastebook.com . The book is bound in a beautiful hardcover  and the format is really cool because you can insert photos and stories for each recipe. For example every year we go to my Great Grandparents and the boys pick the apples with Grandpa and the girls spend the day in the kitchen with GG (great-Grandma)baking  lots of goodies ; pies, breads, applesauce, apple crisp ect. So when I put my Great Grandma's apple pie recipe in the book I mentioned this tradition and inserted a photo of her baking and next to the apple sauce recipe there is a photo of my brother climbing the apple tree to get the highest apple. It turned out to be a great gift that we all still use. I would definitely checkout the website if you have a mom, aunt, sister or grandma that you want to give something special and sentimental to for Christmas. 

So the purpose of the long ramble about the cookbook is that I remembered my cousin putting in a recipe for lemon ricotta cookies and since I had ricotta left from the chicken recipe and some lemons on hand I decided to try them. I will admit I was a little leery of how ricotta in a cookie would turn out...imagine a lemony Madeline with a glaze on time...yummmm!

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

15 oz ricotta cheese

4-5 tablespoons lemon juice

1 lemon zested

1 stick of butter softened

GLAZE:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 lemon zested

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.In a bowl mix flour, baking powder, and salt. set aside

2. In a large bowl combine butter and sugar and mix with an electric mixture until fluffy

3. Beat in eggs one at a time

4. beat in ricotta, lemon zest, and lemon juice

5. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients

6. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop spoonfuls of batter onto cookie sheet

7. Bake @375 for 20-25 minutes until edges are golden brown

8. Leave cookies on hot baking sheets for about 20 minutes before transferring to cooling rack

9. Apply glaze to cookies using the back of a spoon

GLAZE INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Mix lemon juice, lemon zest, and powdered sugar in a bowl with a whisk.

Enjoy these fun recipes and if you get a chance to try them let me know what you think  
<3 Share your thoughts <3 Follow me on Bloglovin <3 Share your blog <3Thanks for reading <3

Supporting your loved one

Having a chronic illness affects many aspects of your life but I think one of the key players is relationships.I have found that it is really easy to lose touch with friends because of a variety of reasons. I used to be the text book definition of Type A, super outgoing, friends with everyone, goofy, always had more plans than time, the life of the party type. Now I am physically just not capable of living that lifestyle and it is hard to connect with certain friends because we no longer have much in common. For others , I think its easier to distance themselves than see me the way that I now am. It's easier to not see "sick" Brittany and remember "fun" Brittany. Although a lot of people with chronic illness say that having friends that don't understand leads to lost friendships I honestly think that most people don't mean any harm by it , they just don't how to respond to their friend or family member getting sick. 

Here are a few things that you can do as a family member or friend to support your loved one:

• Participate in activities that they can be part of. Hang out at the house , watch movies, paint your nails, low key activities that won't cause any extra stress.
• Little pick me ups - I was having a terrible flare up last week and was unable to leave bed for two days. My mom came into my room with a bouquet of gorgeous hydrangeas that matched my room perfectly. When I asked her what they were for she said " because you are having a crappy day and I thought they would cheer you up." Exactly what I needed! The flowers couldn't take away my sick day but they turned my entire mood around.
• Take the time to learn about their illness .understanding is a huge part of being able to continue a relationship with that person. It shows them that you care enough about them to put in a little work so that you two can connect.
• Offer rides . Many people with chronic illnesses are unable to drive but are still able to go on outings if they have a way there.
• Offer to help cook or clean . These activities are difficult for most people with chronic illnesses.
• Invite them places. If they aren't feeling strong enough that day they will let you know but it is nice to be included. My best friend makes a huge effort in this department. She is constantly asking if I want to come hang out at the house with her and my nieces or if I want to do a target run with her even if that means she has to push a stroller and a wheelchair simultaneously.On the contrary don't send them invites to places that you KNOW they can't go. For example please don't  invite me to go skydiving... I will not feel included I will feel sad lol ( sometimes a little common sense is all it takes ) 
• Just be you. Tonight I was talking to a friend on the phone . She asked how I was feeling and I told her today wasn't the best day. She gave me support and love and we moved on to the next topic.Knowing that you have support does wonders for the soul but it is also important to just be you. Talk to your friend just like you would before they got sick. Life may have thrown them an obstacle, things may have changed but they are still the same person you have always loved.

<3 Share your thoughts <3 Follow me on Bloglovin <3 Share your blog <3Thanks for reading <3

Foodie Friday: Creamy Spinach & Sausage Pasta, Resurrection Rolls, Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies

In honor of all of those "I really could use a nice hot meal but am too busy,sick, or tired" days I decided to dedicate my Friday posts to delicious meals that are quick and easy ! Because lets face it, most of the time we just don't have time or feel like slaving over the stove for hours ! This weeks post features a hot hearty meal and a couple of fall sweet treats :)                                                             

I tried out this Sausage and Spinach Skillet dish last night. Super simple one pot wonder that I will definitely be making again ....who doesn't love only having to wash one pan?!

Ingredients

• 6 oz. smoked sausage 
• 1 Tbsp olive oil 
• 1 medium onion 
• 1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes w/chiles 
• 2 cups chicken broth 
• 8 oz. pasta 
• 3 cups fresh spinach 
• 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded monterrey jack 
• 1 whole green onion

Instructions

1. Thinly slice the smoked sausage and add it to a large skillet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Saute the sausage over medium heat until it is nicely browned (about 5-7 minutes). Drain off the excess fat.
2. Dice the onion and add it to the skillet. Continue to saute until the onion has softened (about 5 minutes). Add the can of diced tomatoes with chiles and the chicken broth. Stir to combine and dissolve any browned bits off of the bottom of the skillet.
3. Add the uncooked pasta to the skillet and make sure it is all submerged under the liquid. Place a lid on the skillet and allow the mixture to come up to a boil. Once it reaches a boil, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for about ten minutes, or until the pasta is tender. Stir once or twice while the pasta cooks to keep it from sticking.
4. Stir in the fresh spinach, one cup at a time, until wilted. If you add it all at once, the skillet will be too full to stir. Keep the heat on while adding the spinach, so the liquid will continue to simmer and thicken.
5. Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top,i love ooey gooey cheesey goodness so i may have doubled that part ;) replace the lid, and let it sit for a few minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Slice the green onions and sprinkle them over top. Serve hot!

                                 CAN'T FORGET THE SWEET TREATS!

These Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies are to die for! They are the perfect fall treat and they are pretty simple to mix up.

Ingredients

3 cups Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

½ teaspoons Baking Powder

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1 cup Butter, Softened

1 cup Sugar

½ teaspoons Salt

10 packages (.74 Oz Each) Apple Cider Drink Mix

2 whole Eggs

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

14 ounces, weight Package Of Caramel Squares

Instructions

In a small bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon. Set aside.

With your mixer, cream together butter, sugar, salt and all 10 packages of apple cider drink mix powder, until light and fluffy.
Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and mix well. Gradually add flour mixture into the butter/egg mixture, continuing to mix as you go. (I had to add a teeny bit more flour to make the dough less sticky). Mix until just combined.

Refrigerate dough for about an hour. It makes the dough SO much easier to work with.

When you are ready to bake, unwrap your caramels, and preheat oven to 350° F. Line cookie sheets with parchment. (You really need the parchment!).

Scoop out cookie dough balls that are about the size of a walnut. Flatten the ball of dough slightly in the palm of your hand. Press the unwrapped caramel into the center of your dough and seal the dough around it, covering it completely. Place the balls on the parchment covered cookie sheets 2 inches apart.

Bake 12-14 minutes, or until very lightly browned around the edges. Please don’t over-bake! Once the cookies are done, slide the parchment off of the baking sheet right out onto the counter. Allow cookies to partially cool on the parchment. When cookies are cool enough to be firm but still slightly warm, carefully twist them off of the parchment and allow them to finish cooling upside down (either on the parchment or on a rack.)

Makes roughly 4 dozen.

This is the perfect treat to have to kids help with. I've also heard to these being called "Rabbit in the Hat Rolls" and "Hocus Pocus Buns". The names all come from the magic that happens during the baking process. I personally love the resurrection rolls because it serves as a fun and delicious way to share scripture with little ones in a tangible way that they can understand and remember.

Ingredients

• 1 can refrigerated crescent roll dough
• 8 large marshmallows
• Melted butter
• Cinnamon
• Sugar

Instructions:

1.Dip a marshmallow in melted butter ( represents the body of Christ)

2.Roll the buttery marshmallow in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar (The oils and spices to prepare Jesus for burial)

3.Wrap the marshmallow in one triangle of Crescent Roll(The tomb) Seal really well. I also sprinkle a little cinnamon sugar on top

4.Bake according to the package directions

5. When the kids open the tomb Jesus is no longer there!

Enjoy these fun recipes and if you get a chance to try them let me know what you think  xoxo Britt

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But you look fine.... The perks and pit-falls of Invisible Illness

Living with an invisible illness can be both a blessing and a curse. An invisible illness or disability is one that can not be "seen " by looking at the person with the condition. The fact that most people can't tell that I am sick is pretty refreshing sometimes. It's nice to be able to leave the house and not be looked at as the sick girl. The days that I am able to do a little something with my hair, throw on jeans and a cute shirt, and a bold ,bright lipstick I feel like my old self again. These days are nice because no one knows I am sick, there is nothing to give it away and no reason to bring up a long drawn out conversation about illness.

On the other hand it can be very frustrating at times. Since I look completely healthy people don't understand how bad I may be feeling at that exact moment. The chatty lady in the bank line in front of me has no idea that I am seeing stars and on my way to hitting the floor and causing an unwanted scene.The most frustrating thing is definitely  when people stare when they see me in a wheelchair, like I am the lazy girl who wants to use the motorized cart at Target. Ummm ...hello I'd much rather be driving my Camaro than this bright red cart that makes beeping noises when I back up haha. Friends that I once went out with have said things like " you look so good now. I'm glad your better. When are we gonna go out?". Its hard to explain that even though I look fine I am still battling a chronic illness especially when I know their intentions are good.

I think the most important thing to do as a friend or family member is to avoid assumptions.Just be there, and if you aren't sure how we are feeling just ask. Most people with chronic illnesses know their body pretty well and know their limits. If you ask us if we are feeling up to a certain activity we will be able to give you an honest answer. I can't speak for everyone but its a lot easier for me to be honest if you just ask if I'm able to do something. If you assume I'm fine and able to go somewhere or do something I'm more likely to not say anything and try to  push through which eventually ends in me feeling worse.I am the first to admit that you can't really have it both ways. Either I look fine and avoid all the questions or I get misunderstood for looking too normal.Can't have the best of both worlds but a girl can dream can't she ?! 
As a rule of thumb: Just Ask and I will share :)

After writing this post I came across a website that is extremely informative . I would encourage you to read it . As a chronically ill person , it has a lot of information on how to discuss touchy topics with family and friends. For those of you that love  someone with an invisible illness there are postings that may help you gather some more information and insight on what its like to live day to day life in their shoes.http://invisibledisabilities.org/

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What is Dysautonomia? What is P.O.T.S? Is it the same thing?

       

When I was diagnosed with P.O.T.S I had know idea what it was. Even as a nurse, I had never even heard of the condition let alone know what the acronym stood for or what in the world I was in for. P.O.T.S is a much shorter and less complicated way of saying Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. So lets break it down here:

Postural:is a change in position
Orthostatic: related to or caused by standing upright
Tachycardia: a heartrate above normal
Syndrome: used to describe a group of symptoms caused by a medical condition

So basically its just a big fancy way of saying that your heart rate shoots up way high whenever you stand causing a bunch of symptoms. P.O.T.S is a type of Dysautonomia or a syndrome that is caused by your Autonomic Nervous System not working correctly. The Autonomic Nervous System is kinda like the control center of your body . It is responsible for controlling your heart rate, digestive system,blood flow,temperature regulation, thirst and urination and many more functions. Think of your body as a computerized machine. If one simple wire has a short then the entire machine will not work properly. This is basically the same concept in people with Dysautonomia. Our bodies control center has been shorted out and none of its wires can send the correct signals out causing problems in each body system.

When a person with a normally functioning Autonomic Nervous System stands up the blood is pumped throughout their body and there is not much of a change in blood pressure or heart rate, enabling everything else to work right. In someone with POTS or any other form of Dysautonomia stands up we encounter all types of problems. To be diagnosed with POTS your heart rate must either increase by 30 beats per minute or more or be 120 beats per minute or more within ten minutes of standing, every time you stand.

• Our arteries and veins are constantly wide open so when we stand up instead of the blood pumping throughout our bodies like it should it all pools to our feet
• Our heart has to work extra hard to pump the blood from our feet to where it is supposed to go . This causes Tachycardia or a high heart rate
• The lack of blood flow to our brain causes dizziness,difficulty finding the right words, trouble thinking, memory issues,impaired concentration ,extreme fatigue,problems sleeping, exercise intolerance, pre-syncope(near fainting) and sometimes we pass out .Hence the blog name Fabulously Faint 
• Poor perfusion to organs can bring on symptoms such as  temperature intolerance, icy cold extremities,headache,muscle weakness,chest pain,shakiness,and trouble breathing
• Autonomic Dysfunction may cause abdominal pain and chronic nausea and vomiting
• Since our ANS doesnt work we often have electrolyte imbalances. This coupled with excessive urination can cause chronic dehydration so many POTS patients get IV fluids on a regular basis ( I get 2 Liters of fluid through a chest port with the aid of a home health nurse twice a week)
• We also encounter  adrenaline surges which cause that anxiety feeling that you get when you are scared or injured. The shakiness, trouble catching your breath, chills,hot-flashes,a nervous feeling

It is important to know that there are varying levels of POTS and Autonomic Dysfunction. While some people get dizziness while standing but are still able to work, go out, and go to school others are completely debilitated and need feeding tubes for digestion and wheelchairs every time they get out of bed. Most people are somewhere in between. Hopefully this helps you understand what POTS is and how it can impact a persons everyday life.



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