Christmas Day 2011

Merry Christmas from our UTE tree!

My beautiful Grandma Margaret (my Dad's Mom)

I feel so blessed this Christmas to be here to celebrate the birth of my Savior.

My husband and I had the opportunity to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with my Mom and Dad this year.  We had such a great time.  Just being there and sharing in their warmth and love was a perfect way to start the day.  I'm so very thankful for a family that loves me.  My parents were the 2 people who taught me that Christmas isn't about the presents, but about the people you are with, and they make sure to love the person they are with so well.

Papa Kirk opening his gift

It was a very relaxing evening.  We ate dinner, wrapped gifts, I took a nap, we played games, and just enjoyed the company.  It was wonderful to spend that special time with them and my husband.  We only have 1 more Christmas in Utah before we move away for Medical, so I am really treasuring this year.

Momma Cay opening her "Baby's are the best present" ornament

These past 2 weeks have been really tough.  I haven't been able to eat and have been in and out of the hospital, and so to be able to forget about all the struggle and all the pain I am going through for this night was fabulous.  I have the greatest family in the world, and I couldn't be more blessed.

the Abelskiver maker

After having our tradition ableskiver breakfast with my family, Dave and I got in the car and headed to his parents to celebrate with them.  It was a lot busier over there.  We went from 4 adults to 6 sisters, 2 brother in laws, and 2 nehphews.  Quite a change,  but SO MUCH fun.

I had been planning my in laws gifts for months now (homemade gift baskets of a few of their favorite things) and it was so much fun to see their faces when I handed their baskets to them.  I think homemade gifts are the best.  We then opened the family gift which was the xbox kinect, and we've been dancing our little fannies off all afternoon.  It's been a blast.  After that Dave and I do what we do every year, we had our Christmas.

Dave's Sturhling watch

Dave and I like to celebrate with both families, and then come home to our home, with just the 2 of us and have our Christmas.  We had so much fun!  Dave has gotten me stuff that I had mentioned throughout the year and I had no idea what he was getting me, but he did above and beyond perfect and it was so fun!  I got him a gift that he would never have expected in a million years.  He has wanted it forever, but would never take the money to buy it for himself, so this entire year I have saved up and I was able to get the 2 top things on his list of things he wanted when I had money, a custom made wedding ring, and a really nice Swiss made watch.  He got them both today, and he loved them.

To me personally, I would rather give then receive.  Giving gifts is so much fun for me.  I love to give a little bit of my heart with each gift that I give.  I made each one of Dave's 7 sisters a pair of earrings for Christmas this year, because it's something that I can do to show them that I love them.

Me enjoying my rainbow colored Happy Place

This Christmas was perfect.  I wouldn't change one thing about it (well I would change it so I could eat, but just that).  I hope you all had a Merry Christmas as well!  Have a wonderful New Year!

Love,

Jilly Strasburg

Merry Christmas 2011

I had Christmas cards made this year, but unfortunately when they came they had spelled our last name wrong, so to all of my friends and family here is our Christmas card....

Merry Christmas

Love,

Dave and Jilly Strasburg

Addiction, Psychiatry, and Bipolar Disorder...What do you think?

I'm not sure if I have ever talked about this on my blog before, but I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 Disorder when I was 18 years old. Since then I was put on loads of different medications searching for one that worked for me. I was in and out of the hospital multiple times, I have been on the news, in magazines, and newspapers, and NAMI organizations talking about my struggle, how hard it is for people to get health insurance if they have mental illness, and I have also been a speaker to many different medical schools and medical conferences talking about the reality of life with Bipolar Disorder. For those of you that don't know what Bipolar Disorder is, here is a link explaining a little bit about this disease. I know I can get much more detailed then that, but that will give you a basic idea. In short, I struggle with mania more than depression. 

Since I was 23 I have been on a medication that has worked great for me. It keeps me stable and I am able to live my life as much as possible. There are somethings that I am just not able to do. Because of my physical health and also my mental health I am unable to work, I can't get overly stressed, I have to exercise, take care of my spiritual health, and see my doctor regularly. I still go through ups and downs on my medications but over the last 10 years I have learned to manage my illness very well. I know that I have to take my medication 100% of the time and I can't stop taking it because I am feeling better. I am feeling better because of the medication. All of these things took years to learn, and a lot of work with therapists and amazing doctor's. With that being said I'm going to go into the main reason I am writing this post. 

I know this isn't my regular type of post, but I had an opportunity to go to a medical conference today as a guest instead of speaking. My psychiatrist asked me if I would like to go with him to hear a bunch of speakers and researchers at a local medical school. It was all about mental illness and psychiatry. I jumped at the chance. As we were sitting there and I was listening to this particular psychiatrist, he made a comment about addiction. He said that he has seen the brain scans and he knows that certain parts of the brain light up when people are seeing pornography, or heroin, or food, or any other addicting substance, but he truly believes that there is no such thing as addiction. He believes that if people would just learn self control that they would be fine. People have come up with excuses to justify there poor behavior. All they need to do is just say no, basically.

I found this so interesting as I have had many people in my life suffer from "addictions". It got me thinking what do I believe? I felt like I had a food addiction a long time ago, but I overcame that. I quit cold turkey (because I had to).  Over the space of a year and with some counseling I was able to overcome it. Food to me is now a way to keep me alive and not for me to live for. Researchers say that 6% of addicts will recover completely.  So, was I addicted and just one of the lucky 6% or did I really just learn self control? 

This is my reason for this blog. I am genuinely interested to know what my readers think about this. I want to know if you think that addiction is real or if it is just something that we need more will power to overcome. 

Psychiatry is fascinating to me, as is mental illness. I have learned through my ups and downs with bipolar that mental illness is very real. It is something that so many of us struggle with and yet are so ashamed of. I have embraced my disease and use it to my greatest advantage now. I make sure to take good care of myself physically and emotionally, and I believe that I am proof that anyone with a mental illness can live a "normal" life with the right medication and right self help. Those things go hand in hand. You can't just take a pill and expect to be well. You have to be doing certain things to help you along with your meds to get the fullness out of your life.  I have learned that I HAVE Bipolar.  I am NOT Bipolar.  My disease does not define me and make me who I am.  Bipolar is a part of me, but it is not me.

Anyway let me know your thoughts. I am extremely interested in hearing all about what you have to say. I hope you are all having a wonderful Holiday season, and I can't wait for Christmas and post about all the fun things we are doing. 

xoxo

Jilly