The Pickle Jar

03/14/2026

15 years ago today my world and my families officially changed.

I was officially diagnosed with Addison's Disease. The journey start with no medical support from the endocrinologist. I was told to take my meds, see you in a year and that JFK had Addisons and if he was assassinated the Addison's would have killed him.

But I did not know what I already had. A family doctor with a fire in his soul to guide me on this journey. What he didn't know is that I have the same fire.

Together we continue to conquer and overcome.

Today I celebrate being diagnosed. Today I celebrate my bonus time here on earth.
Today I conquer and overcome.

Let's celebrate.

If you are interested in my books.
Pain Purpose and Pickles today $15
Alice the Butterfly $10

Both only $20.

Chronic illness didn't just change my world...it changed the world.

03/12/2026

TICKER UPDATE

Yesterday I ventured to a new cardiologist recommended by my ROCKSTAR physician.

I was a very POSITIVE EXPERIENCE and it knowledge and compassion about Addison's is beyond my endocrinologists.

He asked questions, took notes, confirmed blood sodium of 120 and potassium at times of 6.9 are DEADLY (this is Addison's related in a crisis situation)

My endocrinologist DENIED that these blood values would cause cardiac issues or even cause cardiac arrest. The CARDIOLOGIST was surprised I was still alive.

Quick ECHO showed a STRONG NORMAL HEART. He reassured my NO ONE dies of SVT's...BUT he understand if I do not stop the SVT's (hight heart rate) as soon as possible it is like a FAST FORWARD button in an adrenal crisis. SVT's won't kill me, but an ADRENAL CRISIS will.

We need to STOP this episodes NOW.

Ablation will be scheduled in the very near future which should permanently resolve my issue.

As we left I said I got lucky then with an easy fix. He said YES SVT treatment is one of the easiest and safest cardiac issues to resolve. And then with compassion and understanding he knowledge that ADDISON'S unfortunately is one of the worse illness to have.

My dad always had a spring competition to see who would see the first robin. As I waited for my sister to pick me up yesterday I saw my first robin.

I know Dad I wanted to give up some many times lately...but I won't....BATTLE STRONG.

03/12/2026

WHERE DID Jill GO? I have been talking care of myself and trying to find my way. It has been a tough few months with a lot of heart ache, self discovery and learning to love myself in a new way. Day by day.

And I THANK YOU FACEBOOK world again with all the support and love as I venture through life with Addison's.

Here is a little update on this weeks ADVENTURES.

MONDAY - appointment with the ROCKSTAR family physician.

In the last few months we have done 2 GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TESTS after accidentally discovering when I eat sugar carbs (AKA a piece of cake I had at Thanksgiving) my blood sugar was 22 for about 10 hours with a very SLOW recovery process.

I failed out first GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST and with the Addison's he decided more information was needed and not to simply make an assumption (see ROCKSTAR DOCTOR).

Test 2 was repeated in hospital along with measured insulin levels.

STARTING BL. SUGAR 4.7
1 Hour BL. SUGAR 16.9
2 Hour BL. SUGAR 15.9
Result - I failed

BUT........of course I do not follow the rules.

At 1 hour, my insulin levels were TOO HIGH for my sugar levels. When this occurs your insulin cannot bring down my blood sugar levels as it is suppose to.

At hour 2, my insulin levels dropped almost to critically low levels. Which means it can not bring down my blood sugar levels and it remains high 15.9.

RESULT - I am not a Type 1 Diabetic, I am not a Type 2 Diabetic...I am a "JILL DIABETIC"

TREATMENT - follow up in 3 months it is medical unknown.
TREATMENT - I cannot eat any FAST SUGARS including fruit, processed sugars etc. If I do it must be with protein to prevent a dangerously high blood sugar. My diet will consist of eggs, meat, complex carbs, protein, protein protein.

We also did hourly blood work for my cortisol levels that day to map out how well my steroid treated is....ON A GOOD DAY (as that day was) I passed with FLYING COLOURS....gold stars all around. ROCKSTAR DOCTOR was impressed with his ROCKSTAR PATIENT with programming her infusion pump.

02/04/2026

Now available on AMAZON for $13.99 or msg me for my SPECIAL LAUNCH price of $10 (copies on order)

Alice the Butterfly needs a friend as she goes through the stages of her life. The journey starts with 4 year old Alice when she meets her new SUPER FANTASTIC friend.

This new friendship becomesa life long.

Some of her adventures are happy and some are sad. Alice shares her heart through her accomplishments and heart breaks. Heart felt and heart breaking moments in her life including the loss of her Daddy Butterfly and being diagnosed with Addison’s Disease.

Alice’s SUPER FANTASTIC new friend helps guide Alice through these stages in life with unconditional love and SUPER FANTASTIC advice. Alice’s journey through life offers life lessons of hope, courage and resilience.

01/29/2026

✴️ I HAVE SOME THE EXCITING NEWS ✴️

I wrote a CHILDREN'S BOOK. Soon to be released on AMAZON.

"Alice the Butterfly | Alice Needs a Friend"

Alice the Butterfly needs a friend as she goes through the stages of her life. The journey starts with 4 year old Alice when she meets her new SUPER FANTASTIC friend.

Some of her adventures are happy and some are sad. Alice shares her heart through her accomplishments and heart breaks. Heart felt and heartbeaking moments in her life including the loss of her Daddy Butterfly and being diagnosed with Addison’s Disease.

Alice’s SUPER FANTASTIC new friend helps guide Alice through these stages in life with unconditional love and SUPER FANTASTIC advice. Alice’s journey through life offers life lessons of hope, courage and resilience.This new friendship becomes life long.

Looking forward to sharing it with you!

01/28/2026

Chronically Fit with Jill

This was last Friday. My CALVARY was called in again.

5pmish I sat to eat my HEALTHY CHICKEN DINNER wrap...bit number two and it happened. Like a light switch was turned on my heart rate went from 90ish to 175.

I calmly walked to get my monitors to confirm the intense pounding in my chest. 175 confirmed.

Ii make a call for help. Head to bed to get my feet above my heart and attempt to flip the switch. Feet up rate comes to 130-140. I am safe for now. Movement, standing will return my heart rate into the danger zone.

I wait. No resolution. My son comes home and we head to the ER. The CALVARY is on high alert.

We arrive. Instantly I am asked if I am in TACCHYCADRIA.
YES! They know me now.
I am instantly triaged and monitored.

What did we do in the past? Only a few weeks ago. IV fluids, steroids, adenosine. Let's reset, let's re-boot the system.

Re-booting terrified me before. Stopping my heart means technically I am dead. For a moment...what if? what if? what if? It doesn't re-boot and stops.

Now my CALVARY gives me comfort. My CALVARY of angels. My CALVARY of my medical team rubbing my arms and asking me if I am okay as my life is paused for a moment.

EKG, IV, blood work...we are all set.

Again this time was different.

Adenosine as it enters my body there is a taste and even a smell. I can feel when it enters. I can feel its path as it travels to my heart. I can feel it as it gets closer and closer.

I am focused. This time I am part of the CALVARY. LET'S DO THIS!

I feel the adenosine make the turn in my vein towards my heart. In a split second it will hit. In a split second my heart will stop.

I say "Here we go!"

STOP. RESET. REBOOT. Only moments pass.
Just like that I feel it. It is beating. It is like that moment you hold the restart button on your phone...a sense of relief when the APPLE ICON appears.

Everyone stares in silence at the monitor.
Did it work?

My heart went from 155 dropping quickly 'in death' to 40-50...RESTART....130. Moments later 104.

Success again.
I am monitored. I am rescued.
I am now fear this rescue less...I am now part of the CALVARY.

01/19/2026

Today I feel whole and my soul is happy.

Today i hosted my 3rd HALDIMAND VIBES WELLBEING AND CRAFT EXPO. This expo doubled in size from the last expo.

I was very stressed having high expectations of success and my recent ER ADVENTURES.

I've learned from these recent ER adventures to manage my time, ask for more help and to pace myself.

I got this!! I'm CHRONICALLY FIT!

01/17/2026

SO MUCH FUN!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

01/17/2026

Get a Happy Popper

Small Crock Pot (not a warmer)
1/2 cup steel cut oats
1 1/2 cups water
Set on low
6-8 hours overnight

Happy Pooper

01/15/2026

Chronically Fit with Jill

Now I know you lost sleep last night wondering WHAT JILL approved food was keeping my 24 hour hospital stay as NORMAL as possible.

First of all, although the 54 vials of blood sounds impressive I was assured the blood removed from my body was not overly significant.

Second of all, this is where the EFFORT to keep stocked on JILL APPROVED FOODS and FOOD PREP pays off. I had everything on hand to grab and go the JILL WAY.

What do I eat in a TYPICAL day to do my BEST to be CHRONICALLY FIT.

From my JILL APPROVED FOODS this is what I packed

✅Already prepped HARD BOILD EGGS
✅RX Protein Bars
✅Protein Candy for a little treat during my stay
✅Prepped a batch of my JILL APPROVED Protein Mix
✅Always with this girl with ADDISON'S DISEASE a SALT SHAKER

I arrived at 5 pm at the hospital and ate my USUAL dinner. Gluten free wrap, a bit of salsa, 3-4 oz chicken, a little lettuce.

8 pm - last snack of the night. I choose a hard boiled egg, 3 egg white of course sprinkled with salt

Fasting required until the end of the GLUCOSE TEST.

I was ready. Knowing my body. Knowing my illness. As soon as the test was complete I ate my premade protein pancakes.

From then on it was eating every 3-4 hours to maintain my regal routine.

My Momma brought me extra hard boiled eggs to get me through. They were easy quick resource.

Get stocked up. Be prepared. Whether is a regular day in your life and last minute 24 hour WACKY hospital visit food is the foundation of your health.

If you want to be CHRONICALLY FIT start with your nutrition.

01/14/2026

OF COURSE this happened...for 24 hours and 553 vial of blood we used an IV.

Time for #54 and of course my body yelled I'M NOT GIVING YOU ANY MORE. Usually a 3 minute blood draw took almost 30 minutes are we tried and tried.

A few more pokes and we had success #54 vial filled.