Hello group!

My name is Lisa Marie. In 2007-2008 I was very active on DS. Due to several reasons, I fell away from making time for the site, my journalling, my goals and my groups. I made the decision several weeks ago to return and today I set aside a time slot for "me time" and promised myself I would come on to DS.

I am a married mother of four daughters. My husband, Bill, and I met in 1996 and married in 2000. Our oldest daughter, Julia, was born March 15, 2001. Two years less two weeks later our second daughter, Kathryn (Katie) was born on March 1, 2003. At that time we moved from an apartment to our first house. I was in school full time studying graduate level Biblical Studies. In the Spring of 2004 I became pregnant with our third child. She was born November 10, 2004 and her name is Carly Rose. Due to hospital errors she was born 5-6 weeks premature and as a result she has been ill with several issues since. In April 2008 she underwent successful open heart surgery. Unfortunately, though, she is developmentally delayed and although she will turn five next month her mental age is that of a 3 year old. As our family was growing we decided we would need to move to a larger house. We also wanted to have another child. Our fourth daughter, Amy-Leigh, was born healthy on January 26, 2008. My husband works full time in an office setting for a company called CGI. I work from home as a web graphics and email art designer. I also have a part time job as a scrapbooking crop talk teacher/leader. Our oldest daughter is in 3rd grade and plays competitive basketball and enjoys drawing. Katie is in first grade and loves dancing and gymnastics. Carly Rose adores anything to do with the cartoon character Caillou while our 20 month old toddler just likes to put things in her mouth or in and out of boxes ;-) My children mean the world to me!

I am disabled due to two medical conditions primarily. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (inflammatory bowel disease) at age 7. I have been through so many tests, treatments and procedures that I've just lost count. I am currently keeping my UC under control, mostly, with diet, exercise and medication. Stress management plays a large role as well. Also, when I was 18, I had my first grand mal seizure and within six months after that I was diagnosed with Epilepsy which I believe I had in childhood but went unrecognized for what it was. I frequently struggle with depression and anxiety and I am a survivor of abuse.

I look forward to (re)getting to know you all and chatting.

Thank you for reading,
Lisa Marie