Still Hanging in There

I hadn't realized it has 7 months since I posted anything, but no news is good news right?! I am still doing really, really well. No problems or issues to report on. I did have some blood work done in October and my white blood cell count was 3.0 when the normal range is 4.5-12. If I recall I had a little stomach bug a few days before I had my doctors appointment. However, within this last year, my WBC count has been low; every time I get it checked. That isn't a great thing especially this time of year. I just have to be careful with all the sickies and to keep my hands washed and the carts rubbed down. :) For Thanksgiving this year, I was able to go to my parents house. It was SO WONDERFUL!!! On top of the holiday, my grandma invited me to come to her house to meet someone who is in the process of possibly being diagnosed with MS. She needed some support and assurance. I wished when I was first diagnosed that I could have had someone to talk to. I had a lot of people tell me what I should do, what things to try, and what things to avoid. I think I tried all of them and came up with something that worked for me. Everyone has their own MS. They have their own success and their own stories. I think things that work with some people may work for others, but it seems that there really isn't one common factor that helps everyone. The only thing that I could think of that may be similar is the need for Vitamin D. Of course, sleep and exercise are huge ones too (along with any other medical disorder) but Vitamin D seems to be the only additional supplement that doctors recommend. One thing that I tell people regarding their MS is to no to let it get you down. Yes, it may cause you to not be able do things like you use to, but do what you can. Don't focus on the CANT's, but focus on the CAN's. I have to remind myself of this everyday. I participated in a Fall softball league this year (which I try to do every year), and I especially have to remind myself this when I play. I can't throw like I used to, bat like I used to, and even run like I used to (this partly because I am not a 20 year old anymore). However, I still can play! I still can see to catch the ball, move my legs to try to get on base, and just have fun with this non-competitive team that I play with. Enjoy life to the fullest because you only have one life to live. Don't let anything get you down! Hugs and much love to you!

2 years and going strong

It has been a few months posting anything and I apologize for the time lapse. All is well in my world! In April I hit the 2 year mark being relapse free and it sure does feel good! There was only one time since I was diagnosed with MS that I went 2 years between relapses and that was in the beginning. So, instead of continuing on the path that I was on, which seemed like my MS was progressively getting worse, I feel like it is doing better. I am still REALLY enjoying my medication that I am on and love the fact that I don't have any noticeable side effects from it. Life is great! I walked my second 5K on May 11th with some girlfriends of mine and it was so much fun! It was the Color Me Rad race that I believe donated some of it's proceeds to the Special Olympics. It was a little windy and chilly, but that is just how I like it (minus the wind). I would rather it be cold than hot because I don't do well in the heat. In fact, this 5K seemed shorter than the other one. That or I am just feeling that good that it didn't leave me weak or tired. I'll take it! :) During the race we talked about doing the Mud Run when it comes up again, but I will have to get into better shape because that one involves more than just walking. It should be fun if I sign up. We shall see. I had a really busy 33rd birthday weekend this weekend. Friday we went to a Creighton baseball game that was a lot of fun. It was military night and so there were some special events that took place because of it. We had a flyover right before the game started by some B52 bombers (I think), a tribute to family's of Nebraska or IA that were at the game who had lost loved ones in the Iraq War, and then they had all the service men or women attending the game stand so we could all recognized and give our support. A friend we went with happened to be one of those men, so it was good to cheer for him to thank him for his sacrifice he gave and is giving. The game was followed with fireworks and a singer who sang to them along with during the list of names of those who lost their lives in the Iraq War from NE and IA. It was very moving and a great thing to experience. Saturday was filled with housework, mowing the yard, homework, haircuts, graduation party, and babysitting. Sunday we had our best friends over for my birthday dinner, and Monday was my birthday which I went to lunch with a best friend, worked, did homework, laundry, and then went to lunch with my husband. Today, I am completely exhausted and realized I did a little too much this weekend. When I feel good, I do a lot and it catches up with me. But, the weekend was worth it. It was so much fun and I wouldn't change anything. I really don't like sitting around doing nothing. I would rather do things that I enjoy then take a day or two to recuperate. :) Remember to live life to the fullest and enjoy every minute you can. You never know what the next day will bring.

Keep Going

Well, I did it! I signed up for another 5K. I will be doing the Color Me Rad on May 11th and I can't tell you how excited I am. :) Again, I will be walking it with a bunch of close friends, but it will be so much fun. Doing one race has got me into this weird kind of mood. I mean that I feel like I am progressing on being more confident in doing things that I think I can't. I can do them and I am trying to give myself more credit. So, I am continuing to move forward! I love it! I do have a little story to share that impressed me a bit. The end of January marked 11 years since I have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I can not believe it has been that long, as I feel like it was just yesterday that I was in Georgia. Anyway, I am currently taking and English class and we are writing a summary response paper. We had to read a few little short stories and pick one to use for our paper. We have to summarize the story in a paragraph and then respond to it in 2 paragraphs with a story, or develop an argument, or contemplate the theme, etc. Here is my paper: ***Ms. Dianne Kelly writes a personal story titled “I Ran Away Many Times” where she shares her feelings on her experience finding her own measure of peace. She had to go through some tough times while growing up, but came to realize that she had nothing left to lose but everything to gain. I can relate to this story because I had to find my own measure of peace after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Dianne explained that when she was a kid she would run away and sit in a tree for hours. She kept running away, and her parents never knew where she was. At fourteen, her parents signed custody of her over to the court, and she went to live in a farm house with other troubled teenagers. The rules were strict which made it hard to keep running away. As part of one of her punishments, she had to sit in a chair for sixteen hours a day for one week. This was her breaking point, and she realized that having nothing left to lose is the same as having everything to gain. She found a measure of peace at that moment. At some point in our lives, we all have to find some sort of peace with experiences going on around us. Eleven years ago, I was living across the country away from family members. One Saturday morning, I woke up and found myself not being able to move the right side of my body. I woke up my roommate and had her take me to the hospital as quick as she could. I thought I was having a stroke. Twelve hours, a CT scan, a MRI, and many blood tests later they let me go home. Monday I returned to the neurologist that saw me in the emergency room. That was the day that I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. At that moment I thought my life would be awful and completely different with this new illness. I thought I wouldn’t be able to walk or run, play my favorite sports, go hiking, and every other thing that required the full use of both legs and both arms. I couldn’t stop crying and felt completely alone. A few days later, my mom came to get me and my things to move me back home. During that week it took a lot of family support and prayers to help me through it. I had to find my measure of peace. After a few weeks, I realized I had two choices I could make. I could sit and be depressed with my illness or I could fight to strengthen myself to be normal again. I found my measure of peace when I decided to fight. Finding peace should be important in everyone’s lives. The author was able to turn her life and attitude around and I was able to relate to her story from my own experience. Finding peace in any difficult decision or experience can make life worth living.*** In class, we do what is called workshop. We get in group and read each other's stories and help that person correct errors or add any additional information needed. One guy read my first paragraph, looked at me with a puzzled look on his face and said, "Really!?" He stared at me for another second, a "Huh" came out of his mouth and he continued reading my paper. At the end, both guys reading my paper had nothing to say. It really does throw people back when they find out I have MS because I don't seem to fit the part. I wasn't quite sure what to think of his reaction and in fact I was kind of embarrassed. However, I guess this is good for me because 1. I feel like I am doing good (and my husband too) at taking care of myself or 2. God is kind and merciful and is keeping me healthy enough to feel like normal but still have challenges and 3. I am just lucky, I guess. Whatever the case may be I am okay with it because I found my measure of peace so long ago.