Merry, Merry Christmas!

Well, I'm back and I'm really happy that I am. After a week of steroid infusions my symptoms are improved, although not quite back to normal, but much, much better! I'm walking on my own. I had to use a walker for two weeks. My reading and writing are back to normal. I actually went a few days where I was suddenly dyslexic. During this time everything I said was slurred. I also went a day where I couldn't remember my children's names. That was my lowest point. I have always been a pretty upbeat person, but I experienced horrible depression during that time. This was my worst flare up and one of my weirdest. I lost all sense of taste, balance, feeling on one side of my face, and I had double, blurred vision.  My taste isn't completely back and I still have blurred vision, but those are easy to live with. I feel like myself again!
Instead of Thanksgiving dinner at our house, which would have been too much even with the family helping, we spent the day at the Unitarian Universalist Church we attend. It was lovely. Ethan made two awesome pumpkin pies to take and our favorite mashed potatoes . With my husband and Peter working, Ethan became my caregiver during my flare. He did all the cleaning, dishes, laundry, cooking, and childcare. I'm so grateful for him. I don't know how we would have coped without him. He found out he really likes to cook, and says he might some day take some cooking classes. He, like Max, has aspergers. He experiences extreme anxiety when he's in crowds so that makes college classes impossible at this point. Hearing him say he might consider cooking classes is a big step.
We celebrated Chalica at the beginning of December. It really just entailed a lot of discussions about UU principles with Bess. I'm thinking about ways we can create a more fleshed out experience for next year.
My husband was hired by AT&T a couple of weeks ago in tech support. After trying unsuccessfully for months to get a job in his field, hospital administration, we're over the moon he has a job. He starts in January.
All in all, life is good. MS bites, but we're coping. As Bess' book from BookShark says It Could Always Be Worse.

Until Next Time and the Happiest of Holidays to All of You!

(And Thank you to Jessica McCarthy for taking the time to leave me a kind comment on my last blog post. It came at a particularly low point and was much appreciated!)

Goodbye, October!

Halloween was mostly wonderful. I did take a nasty fall on our front walk. I think it might be time for a temporary cane. MS -- I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. But the rest of the holiday week was wonderful. My witch and dragon attended two Halloween parties and had an "Awesome Time!!!"
It was really cold for Halloween and a little rainy, but that just meant more candy since there were fewer kids willing to brave the elements. They probably went trick or treating at the mall. I refuse to do that. I think talking to the neighbors is a huge part of the holiday.
We always wait until Halloween day to carve our jack o' lantern, rather than watch it slowly droop and draw fruit flies, and then fight about who has to stick the candles into the smelly carcass. Plus I love having the house scented by roasting pumpkin seeds on Halloween. I'm addicted to the things. And since they're full of fiber and the kids love them, I feel like it cancels out some of the unhealthiness of the holiday. At least that's what I tell myself as my 6 yr old tries to cram three Milky Ways at once  into his mouth. A handful of seeds makes up for a thousand calories of sugar, right? Right? Let me live with my delusions.
Now it's time to put up the Thanksgiving decorations and plan our dinner. I'm actually making a turkey this time since we're no longer vegans. I have to locate my old recipe for brining the turkey which resulted in a juicy, not dry bird. I always look forward to cooking with the whole family, watching the Macy's parade, and avoiding Black Friday shopping. Both my husband and Peter have to work Black Friday which means we might have to eat our dinner the day before so that they can rest up for the overnight shift. But as long as people get their cheap piece of crap from China, I guess our family time is of little significance.......and yes, I'm slightly bitter.

But we'll make the most of it.  That seems to be our family motto these days.

I hope you and your family had a lovely Halloween! Until Next Time!