Need Sleep!

This weekend was the celebration of our country's independence. My family had there annual picnic a day early so that we could go to other picnics tht we were invited to. It was a great time seeing the fireworks and eating delicious BBQ.

My husbands sister came down from Florida for the weekend to celebrate her sons birthday. She previously made arrangements to stay with us and I was fine with it. She decided to stay at her mother-in-laws house for most of the weekend and come to our house to stay on Sunday to Monday. Well, she did stay with us, but ended up getting to our house at 10:00 P.M.

I was preparing for bed when she arrived, so I was shocked to see her at the door o late and unannounced. Naturally, we let her and the children in.

She said she wanted to spend atleast one night with us. Unfortunately, me and my husband had to work Monday, so we did not get to spend the time we wanted.

I was fine with her staying, but annoyed by the fact that she wanted us to entertain her for awhile knowing we had to get up early for work. It was 1:00 A.M. when I finally put my head on the pillow.

Here children were still running wildly and screaming until about 2:00 A.M. My husbands alarm clock got us up at 5:00 A.M.

Today, I am at work feeling lousy. After a long weekend of family gatherings. I wanted nothing more then to sleep before I went to work.

I was annoyed with my husband who did not tell them to quite down because I was sleeping.

Sometimes, I feel like he doesn't understand fully that I have a chronic disease and cannot afford to lose valuable rest - especially if I have to got to work a full-time job.

I know he wanted to make sure his family was comfortable, but I need to know that my rest is just as important to him as it is to me.

I wish I could stay up late and feel energized the way I felt in my early twenties, but much has changed since then. I don't know. Maybe I am just grouchy and maybe I need to tell him how I feel so he knows if there is a next time.

I just can't believe a screaming two-year-old banging kitchen cabinets would not alert my husband to tell them his wife is sleeping and they need to settle down. I am just asking for some consideration. It feels good to let those emotions out though.

Ultimate Relaxation!

Yesterday, I was treated to a massage at a spa with my husband. We got a couples massage and it was wonderful. I heard that regular massages were therapeutic for people with MS, but judging from yesterday's experience, I think they are essential.

My feet and hands have always given me problems, so I had the massage therapist focus primarily on these areas. I don't know if it was the increase blood flow that circulated to these areas, but I instantly felt a difference. Feeling started to come back to the bottom of my feet and I haven't had these sensations in many years.

Even today, my feet and hands feel better. My body is still completely relaxed. I am in awe of my massage experience. I want to tell everyone out there who suffers from MS or another ailment that massages do work!

I will add massages to my MS regiment along with healthy diet and exercise. Life comes at you hard, so we could all use an escape. Massages are a great way to put the hustle and bustle of the world on pause and yourself first for an hour.

Feeling Good!

Wow! It's been a couple of months since I've written here. Time sure does fly. It's summer -- even though it doesn't feel like it with all the rain and stuff. Well, it's been 7 months since I had my last dose of Tysabri and I am doing well. I get the usual fatigue, twitches, and sometimes aches that come with MS, but I feel pretty good.

Me and my husband are still trying for a baby. We are still hopeful that it's going to happen for us. I try to keep positive and focus on all of the good things I have going for me, rather then get caught up in a pity, party for myself.

Life has been very good to me. I work in a great place and have a lovely home to go to every day and there is Chica and Turkish (my chihuahua and orange cat). I have many joys.

My husband and I are very fortunate and we realize are blessings. I see sunshine and warmth ahead to clear the rain away. It's going to be a memorable summer.

God bless.
Zen

Twitches, Tremors...Whatever!

Lately, I have been getting more and more twitches or tremors or nervous jerking spasms. I am a little concerned. I have been off my medication since December and here we are in February and I am getting these twitches that have made themselves more present then ever before.

I thought by now, I would be pregnant, but it's more difficult then I had presumed. All I keep thinking about is how the symptoms pretty much disappear during pregnancy. It's some sort of a natural shield that protects a women.

I look forward to it.

My fatigue sometimes gets the best of me and I find it hard to leave the bed in the morning. It seems to get worse when I have my menstrual cycle.

I really can't complain. I am doing very well. But it sure feels good to write about it and release it. This blog has been very therapeutic for me. My own space to write about myself and how I am feeling that day or to just talk about anything!

I do notice however that the twitches come when I am very tired, so maybe some more sleep is the remedy? I don't know. I guess it's just a part of having this disease.

MS affects everyone differently. Maybe that's just my body's way of saying, "Hello. Take it easy."

So if more rest will help, then I'm all for it. I just hope the twitches agree.

Hit The Road Cold!

Brrrr. It's cold outside and my MS is not happy. Right now, the weather is in the 20's and I am feeling all of the aches in my hands and knees that come with the cold. We have had countless snow storms the last couple of weeks and I hear that tomorrow we should be getting another 3-5' inches.

That Ray Charles song, Hit the Road Jack, comes to mind, but I keep substituting the words with, Hit the road cold and don't you come back no more, no more....

With spring 2 months away, it seems that I will have to just deal with the cold, snow, icy roads, and aches from my MS. At least I don't have to shovel. That's my husband's job. ;)

Well, I think I have done enough ranting for today. Now back to work I go. But please Mother Nature, if you are reading, cut us some slack and give us a break from the cold at least for just one day.

My hands and knees could use a break.

Get Your Walk On!

Well, I officially registered for my first walk to help find the cure for MS. I am very excited! The walk will be on Sunday, April 19th at a park not far from my job. My husband was very proud of me and said he would be honored to walk with me. I hope to raise a lot of funds.

One of my coworkers has really inspired me. She has type 1 diabetes and organizes the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes every year. She has raised a lot of money towards research to find a cure and I am looking to do the same for MS!

I've got my sneakers ready and through rain or shine I will walk. A cure is coming soon. I can feel it!

The New Year

Well, it has been a long time since I have blogged about my MS. Life can come at you fast and suddenly you find that you have no time for the little things.

Today, I want to write about my MS anniversary, which was on January 4. I marked this day in my calendar hoping that I would remember. Well January 4th came and it wasn't until I went to bed that I had remembered that it was my MS anniversary. I lied there in bed thinking about the last 2 years that I had spent with this disease. It was quiet and I was able to reflect on my thoughts.

MS was something I never really thought about until I had a symptom that made sure I was reminded that I had this chronic disease. There was the monthly Tysabri injections that also made it quite clear, but I guess I tried to live my life as if there was nothing wrong with me, which I never really noticed until that night.

Physically, I feel fine, not many problems, thank God, but I realized that pushing this disease away was not going to make it go away. So for the firs time in 2 years, I really felt like I want to be more proactive with my MS life. It's apart of me and I shouldn't shun it away until it's in my face causing me pain, fatigue, and nervous twitches.

In 2009, I want to try and help find a cure for this disease. So, I am going to attend my first MS walk this coming April. I am actually looking forward to it. I will finally be around others who understand what it's like to live with this disease and maybe meet some new friends.

In this new year, I will be trying to have a baby as well. I have stopped taking my Tysabri medication since November and look forward to starting a family.

This year is going to be the start of many new changes in my life. And I welcome the new with open arms.