She is 7!!!

Miss Mack is 7.I dont know where time has gone but she is growing up way to fast.She is our horse riding,zebra loving lilgeek.Here are a few pics from her bday
complete with tutu her daddy made.

Ericka fromHere made for her.

On this deportation thing

I dont understand it at all.I have been here 9 years.Married for 8 and was given permission to go to school in nov 2002.Classes didnt start until March 2003 and by then I was 7 months pregnant and having trouble.Others that come here get a case worker to help sort things.I met with one man one time.I was in and out of school for health issues until fall 2006.I was going to school and trying to learn danish.I have trouble writing so I asked for a laptop.I was informed by the school and kommune that I would have to get my own.I did and when I returned in Jan 2007 I was told I could not come anymore.Others get a year off for babies...I did not.No one helped me...We have documents showing were we called and called to get some help.I did get accepted to VUC and had to pass a written danish test and I did :).Then I was moved to a computer to identify objects...hmmm okie but I want to SPEAK DANISH..When I asked about someone to talk to me they said they dont have anyone at the time.
In my time in Denmark I have had 2 live births and one miscarriage that almost killed me.
I have had 4 operations and spend alot of time in the hospitals and drs.I know one report that was sent to the UDLST was 119 pages and that was only one dr.
I just dont understand why they could not give me a 3 year resident permit like before.4 of my kids are here.3 at home and one living in CPH and married to a Dane.
So where do we go from here..We rent a house.
Should we resign since it is a 3 months in advance to the landlord just in case we have to really go?
Do I call movers and book a container?
Do I prepare the little ones that we might have to leave Daddy behind? Even though they are Danish citizens I wont leave them here.
OR
Do we go on as usual?
Keep looking for a house to buy?
Live like normal(whatever that is) and go on?
I am just confused about the whole mess

Beautiful weekend

The weather has been so gorgeous that we have been staying outside alot.
We have even been eating dinner on our terrace.I really hope the weather continues to be
so nice.Sorry for the crappy photos as they are taken with my phone.

I got deported!?!?!

I got deported and so we have emailed and called whom ever we thought could help.I moved here 9 years ago in august.This is the letter we sent out.


"My name is Melissa Straarup and I have been deported.I must leave by oct 7 2010.
The reason I am being deported is that I dont speak danish and I have
not worked out side the home for 2 1/2 years.
I have a danish husband and a 6 year old and 2 year old half danish
children.Below is the letter sent to the immigration department.
To Whom it May Concern

I recieved permission to live in denmark in oct 2002 and at this time
I was assigned a case worker.I was admitted to language school in nov
2002 and tested and then was to start classes in march.At this time I
was pregnant 7 months and was having trouble.I have severe Rhumatoid
Arthritis and Lupus.I was not able to handle school at this time and
so I left with a medical leave.I had a bad lupus flare and was not
able to start again until fall 2004.I went for awhile and then had to
leave again.I decided to try again in fall 2006 when our daughter
started børnehave.I was going but it is very hard for me to write
alot or sit very long so I purchased a laptop since I was told the
Vejen kommune would not help me.I bought one and was returning to
school in jan 2007.At this time I was sent away and told because I was
here 3 years I could not attend school.In march we moved so I tried a
new kommune asking for help etc.I was sent to EUC in Sonderborg.I was
able to pass the test there and started classes.they sat me in front
of a computer identifying items.I am beyond that and wanted to learn
to speak danish.I once again left very frustrated as no one in the
kommune would help me get work or school.I ever tried to get into SDU
but could not because I dont speak danish.I have since started my own
company in hopes to help support my family.I love living here and have
been married 8 years.I have 2 children born here and one that is 17
that moved here in 2006.She loves it as well and is fluent in danish
and is attending HTX.I have never met with a case worker and feel
cheated a bit.I want to learn the language but cant.I tried the
mothers club but after 3 meetings of just sitting there no one called
me for a 4th meeting.I was a member a KFUM scouts and we are starting
back again now as out daughter is joining and we are inactive members
of the rovers but will be going back as well.Everyone else I know
gets a case worker and someone keeps up with them but not me.I never
got one past the first meeting.I have never taken any money from the
kommune and wont.
Melissa Straarup

Prom Night

Last night Deanna went to her Prom/Gala.
Since she didnt have a date and her friend Karina's boyfriend could not be here they went together.They had a great time and the only thing they forgot was flowers..:)

Happy Mother'sDay

To my Mom with love:

I love you and I need you, even though
I may at times have made you tear your hair!
I set myself apart, but even so
Your presence and your love are always there.
You are my jail cell and ten-ton door
That keeps me from just being who I am.
And so I pound the walls and go to war,
Ramming all the rules that I can ram.
Yet though I must rebel, all the while
I know your love's the ground on which I stand.
I wait upon the flash of your proud smile
And twist inside at every reprimand.
I'm sorry for the times I've caused you pain;
After these brief storms, love will remain.

May is Lupus Awareness Month.

May is Lupus awareness month.I dont know if my body thinks it is funny or wanted to celebrate but I am in a pretty rough flare right now.Lupus sucks on so many levels but the one that bugs me most and the comment that bugs me most is "But you dont look sick."
Well no I might not be coughing my head off or nose running and moaning etc but I can truly feel like crap.It can hurt to walk or breathe.And NO I am not sunburned !

What is Lupus

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Learn more here
My story or part of it can be found Here

Living with Lupus

My story starts a long time ago...but I was diagnosed in 1991 with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus.I went to the dr because I had a huge knee and felt like I had just attended gym class after a summer break.I hurt with every step I took.I had surgery and then felt better.While doing the tests they looked back and as a child of 5/6 I had alot of joint pain.After more blood work and test they(the doctors) assumed it was Juvenile Rheumatoid ArthritisSee about JRA here
I got better for some time and then worse again.All the while I would have good days and bad ones.Some days I could walk and some days it was painfull.I had many knee surgerys and many many times they would drain my knees weekly taking as much as 230cc a time.
After the birth of my daughter in 1996 things went south....like really south.
It was February 1997 and I had been having alot more bad days than good ones.Finally one day I was in bed and it became so painfull to walk I just did not.I had a maid that came in and helped and my Dad would take me to all my appointments.There were alot of stressful things going on at the same time that just made it worse.I was way over medicated and nothing was working.I would still have days where I could go out and shop for food but it was hard.
Then I got Remicade and it was like a miracle.I could walk again and I was human again!
I was a human that could ride a bike again and walk.It was like nothing happened.
Now I am more aware of things and after I had Mack in 2003 I was down with a flare for about 6 months.I am lucky the RA flares more than the Lupus but they both hurt.
I am now 43 and I cannot open a coke bottle or water bottle.I do not usually shop for food alone as I cannot lift heavy bags.I had a bad time in 2005/2006 and in 2007 I got pregnant with our miracle.If you are a regular you know her as Stinky or Makayla.She is 2 and keeps me moving.
A PSA about Lupus is although we done "look" sick we might be hurting so bad you wont see it.
I think the most hurtful thing ever said to me was while I lived stateside and had a handicap sticker.I was have a pretty good day and was walking but it was hurting and someone said "Ohh are we pretending to be handicaped today?"
Some people just do not under stand it.
Our daughter Mack is dealing with RA issues since last year.I really really hope she does not get bad like me.
I am ok for the most part even though I am having a flare.I take Enbrel 2 times a week now.I think all the pain and surgerys I have had make me stronger and more determined not to give up.
I will not let it win EVER.