Friday Face OFF 5/15/26

 

Welcome To Friday Face OFF (FFO)

This is the place to show off your face art.

You know, ANY type of face, nature, the face of a flower, photography, drawings, paintings, AI. There just needs to be a face in your blog post, a link back to my blog and please use the image below. 

Thank you.

Thanks for all the well wishes. I'm better now. On a prednisone high. I love it!!! Energy and no pain. YAY!

I started this portrait a few weeks ago. I could only work on it a few minutes at a time. However, slowly I got it done. It's my Sister-in-Law, Linda. I took a photo from her FB page. It's a selfie and so her head it tipped just a bit. It was quite difficult to get that just right without making her nose look piggy. 

Here is the image.

I did make it black and white. 

 

 

My drawing started like this, well I'm pretty far a long before I realized I hadn't taken a photo. LOL

 

Then this.

 

And I finished with this.

I noticed I didn't get her exactly right. But overall I like it. 

 

I have a photo of my brother that I want to start then when it's done send both portraits to them.

 

Here is some AI I played with. 

Here are a few features. If I don't say it enough, I want all of you to know that I am always so very impressed with your art and the images you share with FFO. 

Thank you

My dear friend Kwarkito 

Sherry is new to FFO and look at this graphite art. Amazing. I hope you will stop by and make her welcome.

 

Don't forget to join in for 

Sunday in the Art Room 

Now it's time to show me your face.

Nicole 

Lupus Fatigue and brain fog.

 Hi Everyone!

Well the last few days have been in lupus fatigue.  I could barely get out of bed. However, I had to go to the dentist for a teeth cleaning, and do some grocery shopping. Thank the gods Mr. M. goes 

with me. 

This image is so true. 

Lupus fatigue is like a battery that has gone dead. Naps don't help, Vitamins don't help, in fact vitamins can actually hurt someone with lupus. One time I had a lady tell me to drink orange juice for the fatigue. I just laughed and walked away. I can sleep 16 hours and still my entire body is done. There is no strength to even get out of bed.  I, like so many other's with lupus, force myself to get things done. That doesn't always work either and can bring on lupus brain fog. But I don't have to be fatigued to have brain fog. LOL. It's not old age, it's not dementia, it's actually inflammation in the brain.

 

I know what I want to say but just can't find the words. Or I will be in the middle of a sentence and I can't think of the next word. The brain fog upsets me most of all, especially in public. People can be pretty mean. At home Mr. M. and I laugh about it. Hey, if I don't laugh I will cry and I don't want to do that. I don't want to feel bad or sorry for myself and I don't want anyone else to either. 

If you know someone with lupus be there for them. Ask questions, don't give advice. Offer to help, but don't just take over. Include them in get togethers but don't pressure them if they say they can't make it.  There is a good reason for it.

Have a good evening!

Nicole
 P.S. Yeah I know whoever made this meme didn't spell purse correctly. 😁

Monster Monday and more

 Hi Everyone!

No Monster Monday today because yesterday was World lupus Day 

So much is going on with lupus world wide that it's hard to keep up. As long as I can make people aware of what it is, I'm doing my small part. 

One of the fun things I did was this lupus quiz. I didn't know all of the answers but I hit the high mark.

I hope this link sends you to the quiz too.

Sorry the link didn't go through.

Oh wait try this link.

lupus quiz 

 

No monsters today. lupus is monster enough. Here are some AI I have made over the last few weeks.

These three are the same but different.  

 

Light houses in the night. 

And a few pretties.

 I must have had Japan on my mind. LOL

That's it for now.

Have a very nice Monday

Nicole  

Happy Mother's Day SITAR

Welcome To

SITAR is about ANYTHING art. Your art, someone else's art, writing, photography, the art of cooking, the art of sewing and textiles. Sharing historical art, street art, a story about art. Do you have a question or need help with art? Write a blog post and link it up here. We will all try to help with it. My only rule is that if someone asks for critique it must be done with generosity and consideration. 

This is a place of learning, encouragement and inspiration.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Today for SITAR I'm sharing art made for Mother's Day. These are not my art or photos. All from the internet.

 

 

That's all for today. 

Wishing everyone a very good day  for for the mom's

Nicole

 

Saturday Great New for Lupus

 Hi Everyone!

 

Before I get started on this amazing news about lupus, I have to tell you that I am exhausted while I write this. It's Friday and we had to drive to Eugene for Mr. M's. kidney appointment. We went in early did a months worth of grocery shopping. Then the appointment and then 2 hours drive home. Uhhhgggg. 

This AM in my email I received my regular news letter from the lupus foundation of America. WOW! the first thing was the news that the FDA has approved the subcutaneous administration of Saphelo for treatment of people living with moderate to severely active lupus (SLE) The 120 mg dose is administered once weekly via auto injector. This goes along with regular standard medications and treatment. Right now for people using Saphnelo it is a hospital visit where an IV is inserted and an infusion that takes over 30 minutes. It's usually done once every 4 weeks. The next great thing is that private insurance, medicare and medicaid will cover it. 

I personally don't use this but for those who do after the infusion they feel tired, headaches, and nauseous. There could also be joint pain, dizziness and other horrible things.  Then, they have to have someone drive them home. Not everyone lives close to a hospital.

 There are symptoms with the pen too. But it is a game changer for those who use this medication.

Now what the heck is Saphnelo?

Saphnelo is a biologic that reduces disease activity across the different parts of the body and organs that lupus can affect, including improvements to the muscles, joints, and skin. Saphnelo is the only FDA-approved biologic for adults with moderate to severe lupus that’s proven to significantly lower steroid use. Some patients taking Saphnelo had fewer flares compared to those who did not have Saphnelo added to their other lupus medications.

There is other great news for people living with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE)

However, I'm so exhausted I can't write anymore.

Have a nice Saturday.

Nicole.

If you want to read more about Saphnelo you can do it here.

 

 

 

 
 

Friday Face OFF

Welcome To Friday Face OFF (FFO)

This is the place to show off your face art.

You know, ANY type of face, nature, the face of a flower, photography, drawings, paintings, AI. There just needs to be a face in your blog post, a link back to my blog and please use the image below. 

Thank you.

So far May has been quite busy for me. Doctors for me and Mr. M. of course. All is well with that. Thank goodness. I've been creating art and cleaning house. The days here have been overcast but nice. I guess I can't complain. :)

As you know I've been taken in by drawing birds. This is one I finished. 

 

 

I also got this one done. 

I have several other pieces sketched out and hope to at least one of them done in the next week or so.

What are you doing for art?

 

Here are a few features.

Cloudia this is Pixie.

 

Arnoldo 

 

Please join me for 

Sunday in the Art Room this week 

Now it's your turn to show me 

this weeks Face.

Nicole  

 

Lupus Awarness Thank you

 Hi Everyone!

It's

I'm thrilled that so many of you are taking an active interest in learning about lupus.

Margaret from Thoughts & Happenings
Is showing her support by creating this lovely lupus ribbon.

She has given me permission to use it and is now part of my lupus awareness program. Thank you, Margaret.

 

Also, I have mentioned before that lupus is 5 million world wide.  Jan from The Low Carb Diabetic blog wanted to share this for anyone with lupus in the UK.

lupus UK is the only national registered charity supporting people with lupus and and helping to find a diagnoses.

lupusuk

https://lupusuk.org.uk/

 

I was going to save this part of my post until the last day but....  

I've been reading about the discovery of the epstein barr virus since last year, and how it reprograms immune B cells to set off lupus. So, when a comment from Christine from Chritine's Blog  mentioned about the epstein barr virus being a possible link. I thought I would elaborate on it. 

This image is a VERY small list of what the EBV can do. Reading about the virus is very scientific and way above my pay grade to explain it. LOL Let's just say it can be gruesome.

 

However, for lupus and other autoimmune it is a huge break through.

First, the EBV resides in 19 out of 20 Americans. It's stated that if you don't have EBV you have been living in a bubble.

EBV is highly contagious and spreads primarily through saliva.  Key transmission routes include kissing, sharing food, drinks, utensils, or toothbrushes, and contact with toys used by children. The virus can also spread via saliva-contaminated items for weeks after infection. You can see how kids are the first to contract it. Think day care and schools. 

 

Now for the exciting part.  

This is William Robinson MD, PHD 

He is from Stanford Medicine and has been working on this for 20 years.

 Quote.

“This is the single most impactful finding to emerge from my lab in my entire career,” said William Robinson, MD, PhD, a professor of immunology and rheumatology and the study’s senior author. “We think it applies to 100% of lupus cases.”
This is all a very new discovery and was publish November 12, 2025  in Science Translational Medicine.

The discovery not only clarifies the long-suspected role of EBV in lupus but also offers a roadmap for understanding how viral infections might ignite other autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. The research was supported in part by the Lupus Research Alliance, a nonprofit organization which called the findings "a breakthrough that provides a mechanistic model for how a common viral infection may trigger autoimmunity." 

 

The discovery of the (EBV) as a primary trigger for lupus has shifted research toward potential long-term cures, with clinical trials for new targeted therapies, such as B-cell depletion, slated for 2026. While no definitive timeline for a cure exists, researchers are optimistic that targeting EBV could revolutionize treatment. 

With all of this great news, it doesn't come easy or quickly. The millions of people with lupus are still suffering, living with a disease that may take their life before this break through will help them. Approximately 10-15% of people with lupus will die prematurely due to complications of the disease, such as lupus nephritis, cardiovascular disease, or infection. This fight is everyday.

 

You now understand why it is so very important that federal research money is not done away with through this administration.  The research for lupus and other diseases is this close to a cure. 

Please contact your congressional representatives and demand that they make sure there is lupus research funding. If a cure for lupus is found it will lead to cures for other autoimmune.

Thank you all for caring.

Nicole 

 

Stanford Medicine 

Q&A with William Robinson MD 

Science Translational Medicine   

Lupus Awareness Month Stress and Pain

 Hi Everyone!

It's 

Before I get started I was asked how long I have had lupus. I had symptoms as far back as 5 years old. I wasn't diagnosed until 1999. Yeah, that sucks too.  

 

There is so much going on for lupus in the US and around the world. I wish I could attend the gatherings, the walks, the balloon releases, and the meetings. Every state has something going on and this year it's all about hope. Hope for new research, hope for new medicines, hope for a cure.

It's what we hang onto.  

 Because lupus is killing us.

The everyday pain can be anything from a migraine, to pain in the hands and feet, to stomach pain, chest pain, and on the really bad days pain that radiates the entire body. Your skin hurts, your eyeballs hurt, and it hurts to move. It can last a few hours, a few days, a few weeks, and even forrrrr ever.

The main reason for lupus pain is systemic inflammation. Lupus sets the immune system to produce antibodies that damage tissues, causing widespread inflammation. A few months ago lupus attacked my large intestine. You can see how huge it is in the ex ray. On the other side you can't see my intestine at all. It's that shadowy space inside the black lines.

The pain with this just about sent me to the ER. However, I know from experience that I would not be medically treated properly. My new PA is very good though and put a rush on some meds that helped. A very powerful cortisone with pain relief and a medication to calm my intestines. It's why I had to take some time off from blogging.

 So you see lupus can attack anywhere in the body.

What triggers flares that cause pain and skin rashes? It can be ANYTHING from daily stress, to the change of seasons, to eating wrong, (even though there is NOT a special diet for lupus) You can be having a great day, with laughter and fun and lupus will steal that too. 

We live knowing that each day will bring on new challenges. Challenges that may upend the day, or a planned outing. 

Every day I have to judge my body and my brain to see what I will be able to do. 

 

Now with all of that written above, I want you to know that I live my life to the fullest. I don't allow lupus to be in charge. Even if I'm feeling like crap. 

And so are all of the other people who live with lupus. 

If you suspect you have lupus contact your health care provider and ask for lupus blood work, that's where you start. 

 

Nicole