Livable by Design

Making chronic illness and disability livable.

Hello, and welcome to Livable by Design! I’m April Barcalow. As a fellow “spoonie,” I live with small fiber neuropathy, celiac disease, chronic fatigue, muscle weakness, rosacea, chronic daily headaches, migraines, and an undiagnosed autoimmune disorder. When my symptoms first began, I quickly discovered that many of the things that could help me were so very medical and elderly. I was determined to find a way through that didn’t require me to give up my personality and style. I write honestly about living with chronic illness, and share solutions and ideas to help you cope. I hope you find inspiration and encouragement here for this long journey we’re both on!

My husband and I took a walk this weekend and came across this amazing sight: a massive cut-down tree with a perfect pink tulip growing up from the center of the stump. We just had to stop and get a picture! It brought to my mind a hundred stories and metaphors, but the one that resonated the most was this: in many ways, *this* is the visual representation of chronic illness. Many of us can remember our "pre-illness" lives, those towering, giant, full lives. Like the tree, that life has been cut short. What has grown from the stump, for many of us, looks quite different from the tree that once stood. Our "post-illness" lives are often smaller and somewhat more delicate and fragile. But here's the thing I learned from this little surprise finding: there is amazing wonder and unexpected beauty in the life that grows from the stump. Even when it looks nothing like the old, it holds its own beauty and opportunity. And even if it only blooms in seasons, like a wonderful spring tulip, it returns again and again to flourish in its own right. And, who knows, it may even grow and multiply in the seasons to come! All done with a weeks-long weekend project: reupholstering dining room chairs for my sister-in-law. The long time frame was partly owing to not wanting to leave them without functioning chairs, and the physical effort of the project. It feels good to have these finished for her! New wheels!! This is such a fun little car to drive. We didn't plan on the car accident that totaled my car, but glad everyone was ok and glad to have this little guy to drive now. We've named him Pip 😊 I've documented a lot of our kids' "growing up" years in a series of self published books. I hadn't planned to write any more, but one of my kids has been begging for another installment. Book #3 arrived today (we're planning to give it to them just before Easter, as a surprise--don't tell them! 🤫), and I can't wait to see their reaction! I think there will be one final volume after this, to document all of these sweet years until they've left the nest ❤️ We've had several birthday parties and carry-ins at work recently, and I've been having a little pity party about all the food I can't have (and craving cake). Tonight I made a gluten free funfetti cake that I can keep in the freezer and pull out for the next round of parties! Cold, drizzly January nights call for comfort food: from-scratch gluten free chicken, biscuits, and gravy. It's the kind of cozy I needed tonight! Some days are spent mostly between the bed and the couch. The house is a disaster and I haven't "amounted" to much today. But I carved out a little clean space in the kitchen and, when the kids all left for youth group, we had a takeout supper date (I even threw on a little lipstick --go big, right?). Sometimes we live in the little moments! First (drizzly, just-before-dusk) hike of the year! I'm grateful for relatively good health over the holidays and walks with my husband three nights in a row. Wishing you wellness and peace with whatever your mind and body throw at you in the coming year! Wondering how you'll survive the holiday season as you grapple with chronic illness, fatigue, or pain? I hear you! To help you get through the fun without crashing, here are some of the strategies I use to get through it.