Well, I can heartily say the Benepali is doing absolute wonders. From being unable to take the cap off the medication by myself the first day to going on an adventure with the Dutchman yesterday, it's been glorious. I feel a lot better - not perfect, not 100%, but a lot better than I've felt in ages.
I've been saying to the Dutchman the one thing I miss in autumn is the leaf-change from the US, which where I was from tends to be full of maples turning brilliant orange, red and gold. I was so tired of yellow and brown! So he showed up yesterday in a suit (I've never seen the suits he wears to clients, and so he dressed up for me), and he drove me to an aboretum in Westonbirt which was crammed with maple trees, all just starting to turn. I brought my chair just in case, but I was able to get up out of it and wander around, kicking up leaves and posing with the Gruffalo's Child carving, taking home a special leaf or two I couldn't bear to leave behind to remember the journey, and the Dutchman (who is an infinitely better photographer than I am, as you can see from my blurry, sideways photo of a leaf), took tonnes of photos which I can't wait to see. When we got home, we were both really tired, but I made his favourite of my dishes, Creole-style gumbo, and we got to fall asleep underneath my new goose-down comforter.
I honestly had become resigned to the wheelchair over the past year and a half. It's been a new lease on freedom for me (I couldn't have gone anywhere near as far yesterday if I had been walking!). I was resigned to being in pain two weeks out of four, resigned to functioning at such a low level of energy. I honestly didn't think it would improve and I was just determined to make the most of it. But this new medication is awesome! It's give me a rather bleak benchmark for how bad things were getting if I can feel so improved already, but it's looking promising, two injections in. I'm not sure I'm brave enough to go out and about on my own in winter yet - so much ice! - but considering I haven't gone out in winter for years full stop, I'm looking forward to new adventures.
I know I'm going to pay for my adventure today with needing to rest up, but I've got my homemade pumpkin latte mix cooking on the stove, the heaters are on, my electric blanket is over my knees and I may find my fingers work well enough for the first time in a year I can get a little knitting done. Simple pleasures, simple joys - these make my perfect days.
So, sharing a brilliantly coloured leaf from a Japanese maple tree I feel utterly in love with, and hoping everyone finds a simple pleasure today.
Love, love, love!
Lovely day yesterday 
Another frustrating day!
First day back at uni!
Today is World Lupus Day
