June 2011, Pasadena, California~

Gosh, I don't really know quite where to begin.  So much has happened.

Mom has written about me on the Internet, in her blogging.  I said it was okay; she's so far written four entries about me and my struggles.  (I have cystic fibrosis, which is a fatal lung disease.  I was born with it.  I have trouble breathing and I cough a lot.  My body has problems breaking down certain enzymes and it's really messed me up badly.)  I am ten years old now.  My name is Elizabeth Maureen, but my family (and most of my friends) call me "Bitsy".  

We lived in Pasadena until I was six; then we moved to Palo Alto and lived there for about three years; then last year, we moved back to Pasadena (better care for me and the job situation is a little better there).  I am glad; most of my friends live in the Pasadena area.  I love it here; I call Pasadena home.

Pasadena is where the Rose Bowl is played every January.  They also have the Tournament of Roses Parade every New Year's Day, where the floats are decorated with flowers; I've seen some pretty amazing floats each time we've gone to the parade!  I love going there, but I missed it when we lived in Palo Alto.  Oh, I watched it on television, but it wasn't the same: it wasn't like being there live and in person!

Every day I have to have physiotherapy, where mom or one of my big sisters (usually Evenescence, who is 15) pounds on my back, chest, and sides, to loosen up any extra phlegm or "junk" from my lungs, so I can bring it up and cough it out.  I know it's gross, but if I don't do this, the gunk can build up and I can get very sick with pneumonia and/or end up in the hospital again.  It's really a pain!

I take a million different pills every day and wear oxygen at night and do breathing treatments.  I do this in order to stay alive.  Guess I'm doing something right because I haven't been in the hospital in over four months, which is something of a personal best for me! :)  Hope it ocntinues!

I have two sisters (Evanescence Michelle, 15, and Happiness Rose, 13), and a baby brother, Walker Josiah, who is six months old and is as cute as a bug!  I love helping mom and dad with the baby; it gives me a feel about how it will be when I become a mom (if God allows me to live that long ... +Sigh!+), and Walker is such a good little baby!  I just adore him so much!!

I am in the fourth grade at school.  I am homeschooled because my health is just too precarious; mom and dad don't want to take any chances with my health, so mom is my teacher.  My sisters, on the other hand, take the bus to their schools: Evanescence is in high school while Happi is in middle school.  They are in grades 10 (Evanescence) and eighth grade (Happiness).

I wish I could take the bus to school and know what it is like to sit in a classroom ....  I wonder what that would be like ... it must be so cool to be in a room with other kids!

I've been homeschooled ever since I started "kindergarten" when I was five.  It's just mom and me (and of course, Walker, but he's too little to really know anything).

The weather has been really crazy this year: colder than normal and snow in the mountains.  We even had tornadoes in the northern part!  I am more than ready for the weather to warm up or the sun to come out: I am sick of cold/snow and clouds!!  This weather does NOT do my cystic fibrosis any good: it only causes my lungs to twitch and it makes me cough more!

Well, I'd best run along.  School starts at eight; I gotta get ready by eating my breakfast, brushing my teeth, taking my meds, getting dressed, and have my lesson plans on the table in the kitchen before mom gets up.  Until later, take care; this is Bitsy St. Clair signing out!  God bless!

~Love, your friend in Cali, Bitsy.  :)