From the Mouth of Babes....

We celebrated my Grandparents 60th Wedding Anniversary the other day at a luncheon of family and friends. My 4 yr. old daughter loved it. She ran all over the place talking to people and eating all kinds of yummy food. At one point, I ran in to her, as I was heading back to sit at our table and she said, "Oh, Hi Mom! I just told that whole table over there about you!" I looked in the direction she was pointing and realized it was a table of my Grandparents friends that I had never met in my life. I smiled and said, "Oh really, what did you tell them?" Her reply has come to mind a few times since then, and makes me laugh when I think about it. "Oh, I just told them that you fell down the stairs with your nephew and now you have MS." Really Sis? That's what you decided to tell them about me? That's pretty funny! If only I had been a fly on the wall to hear the whole conversation and witness their response. Now, that's not something you hear every day!

Learning from Others.....

I opened my email this afternoon to find a link to a video clip from the Today show this morning from my sweet Sister-in-law. I watched it and have to admit, it was through tears. I know this is video overload in the last couple of posts, but this is the whole reason I set up this blog was to share and learn from all of us in this MS world. I LOVED this clip and hope it will bring some hope and encouragement to others as well. I have been contacted lately and have come to the knowledge that a few more people I grew up with have been diagnosed with, or are in the process of being tested for MS. I'm amazed at how prevalent this crazy disease is becoming. Of course, it's like when you start looking for a new car, all you see on the road is THAT car.......but I am blown away at the amount of people I have heard of in the year and 1/2 since my diagnosis. On a totally different note, before I share the clip, I wanted to share what I learned on Facebook yesterday from the National MS Society in regards to heat.......otherwise known as "Summer Weather!" We have finally hit the high numbered temps. Our city's Heritage Day Parade is this Saturday and I've already thought about how I'm going to stay cool out there on the pavement with the sun on my back. Last year we bought a huge umbrella, and it's kind of a joke, so with being pregnant and having to hide from the heat all together with football and other activities coming up, I'm in search of a new kind of shading tent. I thought it was interesting though, when a neurologist was interviewed by the MS Society. She gave tips on staying cool while not having to miss out on summer activities such as: Taking a cold shower just before leaving to be in the heat - apparently that keeps body temps lower for up to 2 hrs. Also, taking a thermos full of ice chips - with ice chips in your mouth, core body temps stay 2-3 degrees lower while in the heat, drinking lots of cold water, staying shaded and lastly - wearing a neck cooler while outside. I seriously think I'll try the ice chips and see how that helps. I enjoy walking around and taking pictures at my kids football games way too much to sit down under shade the entire game. Plus, they can't hear me screaming my undying support from under there! Hope that helps those of you needing to stay cool this summer! Enjoy the video.....thanks again Ally!

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"You Can't Underestimate Happiness" - Clay Walker

I have been asked a lot lately how I am doing. I know I have been horrible at keeping up this little blog the last few months. But the truth is, I haven't had anything going on in the MS portion of my life to really report or share that would be interesting enough for those who stop by here. I truly feel as though I don't have MS right now, so I have taken that and run with it! I joined the National MS site on Facebook last year. I came across a video they posted one day that followed a lady with MS and her quest for a baby. It was so interesting and helpful to me at the time, so I was trying to find it again on Youtube the other day to watch again how life was after delivery for her. I'm starting to have some thoughts about that now that I am almost 7 mos. The chances of having a relapse are higher after delivery, so I'm trying to prep myself for what may lie ahead. As I was searching for that video, I came upon another put out by the MS society of an interview with Clay Walker. I had heard he has MS, but had forgotten. I clicked on it, and loved it. It talks about every single emotion I have had over the last year or so since diagnosis.....and it's funny.....cause it explains exactly where I am right now in respect to my feelings. After watching, I have decided again, to not worry about post delivery at this point. I'm not going to search things out about it. What happens after our baby comes, happens. It's out of my control either way. So, as Clay Walker states, "You can't underestimate happiness." I am going to enjoy the happy, basically MS free times right now, and let the chips fall where they may in a couple of months......while crossing my fingers extremely tight, of course!