Today is the first anniversary of my blog and this is my 309th entry. Amazing that I had enough to talk about to write over 300 posts! The last year has been a real growing experience. Yes, it was definitely filled with challenges and hard times, but it's also been filled with joy. The birth of another grand baby, my first year of marriage (although we sure didn't think it would be like it was). We weathered everything just fine. That's what happens when you marry your very best friend. No matter what happens your best friend is always there for you.
I gave some serious thought to ending my blog today. However, with encouragement from hubby, family and friends my blog will continue to go on, at least for a little while.
Thank you for all your comments and input. I've enjoyed each of your blogs and learned from them.
In honor of my blogs anniversary I will be changing my blogs look (I don't line this one). So tomorrow I'll start fresh.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
There is more to life ......
than MS. So after this sentence I will not mention MS or it's symptoms. Gonna be tough but I'm going to try and see if it's even possible.
The weather here for the past month has been unbearable. 90+ degree weather almost everyday. As we live in the mountains at 4000 feet, that's really hot for us. Although, there are those that love the heat. Like the kids running the lemonade stand over the weekend. LOL
We're heading out for the family reunion on Sunday. I'm really looking forward to it, even though this is only the third one I will have attended. (It's my husbands family and even though we were together several years before we got engaged the rule is "No ring, not attending". I think it's actually a pretty neat rule. That way it really IS a FAMILY reunion and you don't have to look at the pictures in 10 years and try to remember the name of the bimbo Uncle Frank brought that year (I apologize to all the Uncle Franks out there).
Speaking of family. I've been incredibly lucky with mine. My sister is simply da bomb. Of course next week we could be fighting like two wet cats with our poor mother trying to intervene like she did when I was 9 and my sister was two, eating the feet off my Barbies (YES YOU REALLY DID THAT). Gee, imagine what those Barbies would be worth today.
I also have an awesome brother that I don't believe I have ever mentioned in a blog. (There are three of us, with me being oldest). Being the middle child he was always (and still is) the peace maker. Of course, even as a child he was wise enough NOT to get in the middle of two sisters fighting. Now that I think about it, he being the middle child between two GIRLS may be the reason he's a man of few words today. He could never get a word in edge wise when he was a kid. My brother and I got along pretty well growing up. Although I do remember us going around a time or two. Because we were closer in age we tended to just punch each other. Then my mother would spank us because we whomped each other, and when I say whomped I mean the bloody nose type of serious whomping. (Secretly, it was worth it though).
I'm probably one of the few people I know my age (47) whose parents are both still living AND still married. TO EACH OTHER. I don't know how they did it, but I'm awfully glad that they did.
Are there any other crafters out there? I use the Cricut. I've pretty well limited myself to cards for now. There were several months when I didn't touch my machine or do any crafting. My husband made the comment that he was glad to see me back at it over the weekend. Now I just have to come up with some creative ideas. Anybody got any?
Well, hot...ummm....diggidy. I do believe I did an entire entry without ONCE mentioning........
The weather here for the past month has been unbearable. 90+ degree weather almost everyday. As we live in the mountains at 4000 feet, that's really hot for us. Although, there are those that love the heat. Like the kids running the lemonade stand over the weekend. LOL
We're heading out for the family reunion on Sunday. I'm really looking forward to it, even though this is only the third one I will have attended. (It's my husbands family and even though we were together several years before we got engaged the rule is "No ring, not attending". I think it's actually a pretty neat rule. That way it really IS a FAMILY reunion and you don't have to look at the pictures in 10 years and try to remember the name of the bimbo Uncle Frank brought that year (I apologize to all the Uncle Franks out there).
Speaking of family. I've been incredibly lucky with mine. My sister is simply da bomb. Of course next week we could be fighting like two wet cats with our poor mother trying to intervene like she did when I was 9 and my sister was two, eating the feet off my Barbies (YES YOU REALLY DID THAT). Gee, imagine what those Barbies would be worth today.
I also have an awesome brother that I don't believe I have ever mentioned in a blog. (There are three of us, with me being oldest). Being the middle child he was always (and still is) the peace maker. Of course, even as a child he was wise enough NOT to get in the middle of two sisters fighting. Now that I think about it, he being the middle child between two GIRLS may be the reason he's a man of few words today. He could never get a word in edge wise when he was a kid. My brother and I got along pretty well growing up. Although I do remember us going around a time or two. Because we were closer in age we tended to just punch each other. Then my mother would spank us because we whomped each other, and when I say whomped I mean the bloody nose type of serious whomping. (Secretly, it was worth it though).
I'm probably one of the few people I know my age (47) whose parents are both still living AND still married. TO EACH OTHER. I don't know how they did it, but I'm awfully glad that they did.
Are there any other crafters out there? I use the Cricut. I've pretty well limited myself to cards for now. There were several months when I didn't touch my machine or do any crafting. My husband made the comment that he was glad to see me back at it over the weekend. Now I just have to come up with some creative ideas. Anybody got any?
Well, hot...ummm....diggidy. I do believe I did an entire entry without ONCE mentioning........
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Blah, Blah, Blah
Do you ever just get sick of it all? Sick of the shots, the pills, the muscle spasms, the depressive episodes, losing your balance, falling, the MS "hug", the insomnia, I could go on and on listing what we experience with MS.
Today is my "Sick of it all Day". Today I'm basking,....make that rolling in frustration. What started it? It started yesterday when the ramp for the van fell through. (Because I don't have the 15,000 they want. Yep you read it right, 15,000). That ramp meant independence for me. I was so excited. Then, like a kid putting his coat on, getting ready to get in the car to go to Disneyland he's told they aren't going, I was crushed. I cried. However, unlike a child I didn't have a temper tantrum, go to my room and slam the door. Perhaps if I did I would feel better today.
Don't get me wrong. I am exceedingly aware of the blessings I have. It's just that a prison is a prison, even if it's a beautiful one. MS sentenced me to life without the possibility of parole and I don't even know what crime I committed. I'm only allowed out when accompanied by someone because I can't put the manual chair in the van by myself. In other words, I can't go ANYWHERE alone. It's been this way for over a year now. JUST a year. When you look at the big picture I have many years left to go, God willing. Many years left to go of no independence and being DEPENDANT on others. Perfect.
Of course, folks try to cheer you up. "It could be worse they say". What my response is right now..blah, blah blah. Maybe like the kid who got Disneyland pulled out from beneath him, I'll just go slam a door now. Wait....how do you slam a door in a wheelchair?
Today is my "Sick of it all Day". Today I'm basking,....make that rolling in frustration. What started it? It started yesterday when the ramp for the van fell through. (Because I don't have the 15,000 they want. Yep you read it right, 15,000). That ramp meant independence for me. I was so excited. Then, like a kid putting his coat on, getting ready to get in the car to go to Disneyland he's told they aren't going, I was crushed. I cried. However, unlike a child I didn't have a temper tantrum, go to my room and slam the door. Perhaps if I did I would feel better today.
Don't get me wrong. I am exceedingly aware of the blessings I have. It's just that a prison is a prison, even if it's a beautiful one. MS sentenced me to life without the possibility of parole and I don't even know what crime I committed. I'm only allowed out when accompanied by someone because I can't put the manual chair in the van by myself. In other words, I can't go ANYWHERE alone. It's been this way for over a year now. JUST a year. When you look at the big picture I have many years left to go, God willing. Many years left to go of no independence and being DEPENDANT on others. Perfect.
Of course, folks try to cheer you up. "It could be worse they say". What my response is right now..blah, blah blah. Maybe like the kid who got Disneyland pulled out from beneath him, I'll just go slam a door now. Wait....how do you slam a door in a wheelchair?
Monday, July 27, 2009
Back to myself......
As I sit here finishing up my coffee and scone (thank you hubby), I'm prioritizing my tasks for the day. Calling about having the ramp installed this week.....and that's about it other than the "unexpected" things that pop up.
I find myself very relaxed toady. The pain in the left leg is there, but it always is, so that's nothing new. I have a lot of fatigue today which I'm going to fight this morning. For the first time in MONTHS I feel like crafting. Perhaps THAT is the true sign that I am emerging like a butterfly from that dark cloud that threatened to consume me for so long.
Besides photography I love making cards. I think it adds a personal touch that people really appreciate and the process of making the cards help me completely focus on something else besides the MS.
I'm finally feeling, that despite everything, I'm getting back to my "old" self. I know that blogging was an important part of that process. Not to mention the support of family and friends....and all of you out there in cyberville. So, thank you. I couldn't have done it without each and every one of you. I hope I'm as supportive of you as you are me.
I find myself very relaxed toady. The pain in the left leg is there, but it always is, so that's nothing new. I have a lot of fatigue today which I'm going to fight this morning. For the first time in MONTHS I feel like crafting. Perhaps THAT is the true sign that I am emerging like a butterfly from that dark cloud that threatened to consume me for so long.
Besides photography I love making cards. I think it adds a personal touch that people really appreciate and the process of making the cards help me completely focus on something else besides the MS.
I'm finally feeling, that despite everything, I'm getting back to my "old" self. I know that blogging was an important part of that process. Not to mention the support of family and friends....and all of you out there in cyberville. So, thank you. I couldn't have done it without each and every one of you. I hope I'm as supportive of you as you are me.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
We decided to have a wheelchair ramp put in the van to give me more independence. YEAH! It's going to be an electric ramp so I can put it up or down ALONE! Isn't that simply awesome!
I've not been able to get out of the house alone since I ended up in the chair. I can get the manual chair out of the van by myself, but I couldn't lift it to get it back in. I simply don't have the arm strength.
The new chair should be here in the next two weeks or so. Another exciting thing to look forward to. Who would have thought I've ever look forward to being in a wheelchair? However, this is an electric wheelchair which will make getting around a lot easier! I'll post pictures when it arrives.
BTW how the heck do you all post more than one picture an entry? I'm sure it's simple but I can't figure it out.
I've not been able to get out of the house alone since I ended up in the chair. I can get the manual chair out of the van by myself, but I couldn't lift it to get it back in. I simply don't have the arm strength.
The new chair should be here in the next two weeks or so. Another exciting thing to look forward to. Who would have thought I've ever look forward to being in a wheelchair? However, this is an electric wheelchair which will make getting around a lot easier! I'll post pictures when it arrives.
BTW how the heck do you all post more than one picture an entry? I'm sure it's simple but I can't figure it out.
Cooling bill reduction
We have had incredible heat for the past few weeks. Thankfully, we don't have to deal with the humidity.
One think I've learned over the past few weeks (after receiving a 300.00 electric bill)!! Is that if you have MS the utility company will lower your tier rate (the rate they charge you). All you have to do is call them and they will send you a special form. You fill one portion out then your MD fill out the other. Make sure you do it, even if your cooling bill seems reasonable. It will be even MORE reasonable once your on this plan.
Hope your all managing to stay cool!
One think I've learned over the past few weeks (after receiving a 300.00 electric bill)!! Is that if you have MS the utility company will lower your tier rate (the rate they charge you). All you have to do is call them and they will send you a special form. You fill one portion out then your MD fill out the other. Make sure you do it, even if your cooling bill seems reasonable. It will be even MORE reasonable once your on this plan.
Hope your all managing to stay cool!
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