I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis on 5/19/2021. I am taking over my own blog to start a journal of this new and scary journey. I want to use this platform to write about how I'm feeling, what I'm eating, how I'm sleeping, doctor's appointments, symptoms...fuss, gripe, whine. But, ultimately, I want to use this platform to share my journey as I get to know more about MS and push forward into tomorrow. Every single day.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Dinner and Home Depot (quite an evening!)
She adores her big brother.
When Hubby got up, I spent 20 minutes working on his neck and shoulders in an attempt to relieve some of the pressure on his poor head. I think it might have helped some, but the headace sure didn't go away completely. So much for my dream of having that magic touch!
We went to Applebees for dinner. Kiddo hadn't actually napped, even though he'd spent time in his room, and neither had Little Bit - so they were both a little wound up at the restaurant. But we got through the meal without a major incident and then headed to Home Depot.
Home Depot was my idea because I wanted to look at a few things, namely that cool Black & Decker push mower that doesn't require expensive gasoline and runs on a battery. It's a little more than I want to spend, money-wise, but I think it would be a wonderful addition to Hubby's implements of lawn destruction...er, maintenance. Home Depot, however, doesn't carry it. Lowe's does. Another trip for another time.
I also wanted to get a gander at the patio products, ceiling fans, paint, and Roman shades. Going to Home Depot was my idea in the first place...
We found (I'm so excited about this) a fantastic ceiling fan for Kiddo's room. It's brushed nickel, with reversable blades that have black on one side or black with moons, stars and rockets on the other. It also has a light (which his current fan does not have) and the light has a glass globe that looks like the Earth! I think I'm more excited about this than Kiddo is - though I'd bet he just doesn't really understand what all the fuss is about. Once the thing is properly installed in his room, I think he'll LOVE it!
Hubby is taking Kiddo and Little Bit to his Mom's house in Virginia on Sunday after church. For some reason, when he told me his plans last night while we were having dinner, I got teary-eyed. I don't know what I'm going to do without my kids and husband for 5 days!
Anyway - I guess that's about it for now. I'm going to go pout for a while, maybe get a cup of bad office coffee, and see if I can't find someone to complain to! (Oh, gosh...I've become that person!)
Have a great day!
TTFN
JMS
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Can you believe it? I have a P-L-A-N!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Memorial Day Weekend 2008
Benedryl taken, and by Saturday morning, I had exploded into a big, swollen patch of itchy redness. I took myself, and both kids, to the Walk-in-Clinic and had a very old, very fat doctor in a white lab coat two sizes too small for him write me a prescription for a corticosteroid. This seemed to start the actual healing process and by Sunday morning, I was no longer swollen and red...but I sure was itchy!
Monday was a holiday and so I itched madly through the day.
Tuesday I called my doctor first thing in the AM and was able to get in and see my favorite Nurse Practitioner. She took some more blood for lab work, gave me a prescription for Pepcid. Apparently, though its primary function is for acid reflux etc, a secondary function of Pepcid is an H2 blocker - a hystamine blocker. Who'd-a-thunk-it? Also, my insurance wouldn't cover this because it is sold OTC and therefore the Wal-Mart pharmacy would not fill it. So frustrating - but probably quite a bit cheaper.
So today I'm finally feeling better. Still somewhat itchy, but I no longer feel like I've got bugs under my skin. THAT was a horrible, creepy feeling.
Also - on Memorial Day, Hubby took Kiddo bowling. I know they had a good time and Kiddo actually beat Hubby on their first game!
Little Bit is finally getting the walking-thing down and can even get from a sitting position to a standing position all on her own, with out the support of something stable - like a wall or a chair or a parent. (Who am I kidding, I'm not stable!)
We're all doing alright!
TTFN
JMS
Friday, May 23, 2008
Family trip, minus Mom?
I’m excited because it is an opportunity for Hubby to spend time with his mother and also for the kids to spend some quality time with their Nani. GM lives in a tiny little town. There is a good park just around the corner, but as far as “things to do,” that about covers it. When I was up there with the kids just a couple of weeks ago, GM found a large, cardboard box, and Kiddo and Little Bit had a grand time playing in and around said box. If they both hadn’t been so difficult/sick while we were there, we might have had more fun...but as it was, the cardboard box, I think, was the highlight of the trip. Besides, of course, being able to see their Nani.
I’m also kind of excited because it will be an opportunity for me to get some work done around the house without the kids coming behind me and tearing everything up. Maybe after several days I can actually make some significant progress. And maybe get some real rest, too.
It saddens me because I’ll miss them terribly. I have a difficult time when I am not able to hug my kids whenever I want to. Both of my kids are great huggers. If I ask Kiddo to give me a big bear hug, he slings his arms around my neck, wraps his little legs around my middle and squeezes with all his 4-year-old might. If I say to Little Bit, “Give me a hug,” she puts her little arms around my neck, puts her sweet head down on my shoulder and kicks her legs in an, “I’m giving my Mommy a hug!” kind of way. This is not to mention that I will be sad not to see my husband every day.
And it worries me, because, what if something were to happen to them? What would I do? How would I continue to exist without my family? It’s not that I don’t think Hubby isn’t a safe driver or that he can handle the kids, because I know he can; he does it every day. But I worry about other drivers on the road and their stupidity. I also worry about the car. Will it be safe? Will it make the trip without breaking down and leaving my family stranded and vulnerable?
I hate being such a worry-wart...but I can’t help it.
Anyway...
Here are a couple pictures Hubby took yesterday of the kids playing at the park near our house. Apparently, Little Bit had a blast hanging out in the tunnel. Kiddo always has a good time at the park.
TTFN
JMS
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wipes: For Baby's Amusement (and other thoughts)
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
My baby looks like me!!! (Sometimes)
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Paper Clip Mystery
Friday, May 16, 2008
Much better today! Yay me!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Ouchy!!!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Oh! And one more thing...
My old digital (the one C and her mom gave me after Kiddo was born) was still working just fine, but Hubby decided that because I love using it so much, he should get me one that took a better quality picture. I think I'll pass the old one down to Hubby and let him use it for whatever...
Don't foget to read the earlier post from today that is below this one...!
TTFN
JMS
"Let me 'splain... No, there is too much...let me sum up."
There’s too much to say about everything that has gone on over the last few days – so I’ll highlight the stuff that sticks out in my mind.
- I’m told my Father-in-Law’s funeral was lovely. I caught about 5% of it because I spent most of that night dealing with our dear little daughter who screamed the entire time. Screamed! Angry I-want-to-get-down-and-do-it-all-myself-and-nothing-you-can-do-will-stop-me screaming. She was tired and out of her element and so was a complete terror the entire time. Needless-to-say I removed her bodily from the quiet funeral so it could go on without interruption.
- The graveside service was also lovely, but very emotional for me and for everyone there. Little Bit was better, though still not content to sit quietly through the service. Cousin J and her husband took Little Bit and entertained her by tickling her with red rose petals. The VFW Honor Guard was there to salute and the gentleman who played Taps on the bugle didn’t really play it – he held the instrument to his lips and pressed “play” on the contraption sitting inconspicuously inside it. The tune came out without a warble. One of the Guards nearly killed himself, and Father-in-Law’s grieving wife, by tripping over the Astroturf, but he caught himself. He then hugged the folded flag to his chest, prayed over it, and passed it along with proper reverence. It was a very touching, lovely service.
- Hubby and his two sisters spent Saturday up on Roan Mountain in NC saying their goodbye’s to their father. Roan Mountain was a special place to their dad, and they thought it was a good place to let him go. I’m very glad they were able to spend some time together, just the three of them, to say goodbye to their dad the way he would have wanted them to. I think this makes me more emotional than anything else.
- While Hubby and his sisters were communing with nature and paying their last respects to their father, I took the kids to visit their grandmother in Virginia. Kiddo spent most of the day sick – and even threw up in the car on the way there. Needless-to-say he was not a happy camper. Neither was Little Bit, who spent most of that day grouching about everything. I probably would have stayed up there longer, but I was so frazzled by the time I left, with Kiddo being sick and Little Bit complaining the whole day, that I left there around four and drove back to Sister-in-Law’s house.
- On Sunday, Sister-in-Law took me to Cracker Barrel for Mother’s Day Breakfast, just the two of us. It was a lovely, quiet morning. We stopped at a yard sale (yes, on Sunday) on the way back home and bought lots of clothes for Little Bit and a couple of other things. Spent $18.00 and got lots of stuff!
- We drove back home on Sunday evening amid a terrible wind/rain storm. I expected to come back home and find our new house crushed by the huge tree in our side yard, but aside from a few good-size sticks scattered around, the house escaped unscathed.
- Yesterday Hubby ran some errands and then went out looking at cars while I stayed home with the babies. Again, Kiddo was sick (other end, this time) and Little Bit refused to let me put her down even for a second and so when Hubby got home, I was not a happy camper.
- Now, I’ve managed to injure my lower back somehow and though I’m back in the quiet of my office, I am having some difficulty getting around.
So that about sums it up. I know it’s still quite a lot, but if you only knew the things I DIDN’T write about... Thanks to everyone who has passed along kind words, thoughts, and prayers to Hubby and our family. TTFN
JMS
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Words from the heart
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Chaos & Sadness
Friday, May 02, 2008
“Why I oughtta...!”
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Wait, I'm not Oz!
I didn't have this to post it on Admin's Day (4/23) but I have it now and had to share. My wonderful Mother-in-Law knows me so well. I think I need to frame this and put it on my desk for all to see. It certainly does set one apart. I've always wanted to be called great, powerful, and all-seeing! (Thanks, MIL! Love you dearly!)
TTFN
JMS
(Yep - that's all I've got today. What? Isn't it enough?)