Acceptance

Is it something that we ever fully grasp after being diagnosed with a chronic disease, or any disease for that matter? 

My experience was different, I wasn't surprised by the diagnosis and knew the words were about to flow from my doctor's mouth but I don't believe I have fully accepted it, and I don't think I will ever be able to. 

I think as the years pass on and the disease continues to limit your daily life, you go through separate stages of acceptance. 

I don't know what it's like to be contained to a wheel chair or dependent on another person. I don't think I've even 'accepted' that my disease can put these constraints on my life at any given moment. However, because we are fighters, when those times come we pull up our boot straps and slosh through the mud. It could take a week to years to be able to accept the true nature of our disease.

So what can we hope for while dodging the curve balls we see coming our way?

1. Hope for a cure - while this is something I can't do with the knowledge I have, I do have the ability to raise awareness and donations to support organizations in finding the cure.

2. Hope for a blessing - While it really just sucks that we have been dealt the cards we have, being a blessing and an inspiration is something to hope for. People with and without our disease watch us to see how we react to each circumstance, why not use those circumstances to be a blessing or an inspiration to others.

3. There's Hope through Christ - As a Christian, my faith is a big part of my life and my outlook on this disease. When my body does crazy things or I sound like a drunken' nutcase, I know that one-day my body will be perfect. How wonderful that will be and gives me great hope as I stumble through this life. 

Even though we probably won't fully accept our diagnosis, we can have hope through each stage of acceptance.

Love, Sweet Love

Valentine's Day is something that my husband and I haven't made a huge deal of throughout our relationship, however, our 3 year anniversary is next week, so I figured it would be fun to write about our story.

I was very involved in the music ministry at my home church throughout my entire life, and the music minister at our church was my husband's step dad. I played piano several times with him and he made comments each time about his "twin boys". Of course, I laughed it off and never really thought much of it.

During the summer after graduating high school I was involved in our college & career ministry, called RedZone. On a random Wednesday night, Cody, my husband showed up for Bible study. We exchanged email addresses and that's how it started. His step dad takes the credit for getting us together!

We dated all throughout our college career and married when we were 22 years old. Next week marks our third anniversary and I couldn't be more blessed to spend my life with one of the greatest man I have ever known.

I'm so thankful to have his constant love and support as we "do life" together. I can't wait to see what our future holds from careers to children, I'm excited to spend these experiences with him!

Exhaustion

Exhaustion, fatigue, and longing for the sweet cushion of your bed is something all of us wait for every afternoon. I felt it this weekend, like I had never felt it before.

Saturday was a big day for our family, my sweet nephew celebrated his 4th birthday! It was an exciting time for his friends and family to gather around him to celebrate everything he means to us!

It was a fun time with family, but after the party, I couldn't keep my eyes open. My head was throbbing and I couldn't make myself do anything for the remainder of the day.

Used to, I could attend a birthday party, run to the store, fill up the gas tank, and get home to conquer the mammoth of laundry that (still) needs to be done. However, on Saturday I was absolutely exhausted. I was, what we call 'pooped.'

Isn't it frustrating now that the energy is sucked out of you by doing the simplest of tasks? It aggravates me to no end to realize that I can't go to the movie or out to dinner but just need to chillax on my big man chair for the remainder of the day, of course wearing PJ's. 

However, I think it's hard to spin these situations around while you're dragging yourself through the exhaustion.

Yes, I felt like an 80 year old woman after the birthday party, but praise God I have legs that move and the ability to walk around and enjoy the birthday party. Who cares if I didn't go to the grocery store or do the mounds of laundry that haunt me when I walk into my bedroom? Even though my lunch consisted of only green beans today, it's really not that big of a deal.

The point is that it's a blessing that I had a few good hours to enjoy his celebration! I always make myself look for something good when I feel like MS is knockin' me around and laughing in my face, who's with me?

Attitude is Everything

I'm new to the MS community, with being diagnosed just last year, but I know one of the main tools we all have is our attitude. I find myself 'unfollowing' MSers on Twitter, because nearly everything out of their mouths, or rather 'Tweets' is negative. It drives me up the flippin' wall!

Newsflash: MS doesn't kill you.

I've watched friends and family struggle to say good bye to those they are close to. Most of the time it's from a struggle with cancer or a sudden accident that takes someone too soon from this world.

MS doesn't do that. We aren't counting the days from our diagnosis to fill as many items on our bucket list. Yes, we might be limping, falling, or mumbling while going through life, but thank God we have the opportunity to finish life.

Maybe I'm on a soap box, maybe I'm offending you, and to tell you the truth, I really don't care. If I'm offending you by my rant, please take a look at yourself and understand that attitude is everything in this uphill battle we fight every day.

Here's how I stay positive:

I'm thankful for the things and people I do have. I'm thankful for the support system that constantly surrounds me day to day.

Turn lemons into lemonade. I've heard the saying "when life give you lemons, stuff them in your bra to make your boobs bigger" - I love it! It make me laugh and really puts things into perspective. I only stuttered 3 times during the meeting at work today, better than falling 3 times! (BAM, that's how you do it).

Reward yourself with a nap. I work a full time, corporate job and then come home and cook nearly every night. I consider myself an overachiever if I'm able to do a load of laundry during the week. On Saturdays and Sundays, I snooze during the day. I rest, that keeps me happy and motivated me for the next week.

Lastly, and the most important thing, I exercise. I know what you are thinking, this is usually a depressing activity. But for me, it works. It usually relieves any headache I've been fighting the whole day and gives me a ton of energy. I walk or run until my body yells at me! Believe me, this is the best way to strengthen your outlook on life. I also pray during my runs, usually that I don't die (seriously) but also thanking God for the strength and ability I have to run. It drives me to finish and helps with my attitude for days to come.

Sorry, but I'm not sorry for my rant on attitude. We are surrounded by bad news every day, we need to support one another instead of constantly posting and tweeting negativity.

5 Sources of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is something that most Multiple Sclerosis fighters have to take in supplement. I take 5,000 unites of Vitamin D a day. I couldn't tell you if it works or it doesn't, but I always try to soak up the nutrients in what God gave us.

Here are a few ways to increase your Vitamin D intake everyday.

Soak up the Sun
I know, we aren't supposed to get too hot or else things start feeling funny, but soaking up the sun is the best way to get these vitamins. Here are the best ways to do it while staying cool:

• Take a Swim
• Sit in the Shade
• Sit inside but a window
• Use a portable fan
• Purchase a FroggTogg - These are amazing!
• Include short increments of inside/outside to stay cool

Mushrooms

I LOVE mushrooms! I can't get enough of them. I prefer them cooked over being raw in a salad, but I usually always have them on hand. Some of them are a source for what MSers need, Vitamin D. Below outlines each type of mushroom and the units of Vitamin D in each. 

Source: Mushroominfo.com

Fatty Fish

I don't eat much fish, I eat shrimp and shell fish, I just don't cook much fish. I love fried fish (freshwater bass), but I just can't fill up on a tilapia filet, not to mention, my husband usually isn't too thrilled when I do cook fish for dinner. He's more of a meat 'n potatoes type of guy. 

However, there are some ways to get Vitamin D by eating fish. These include canned tuna, salmon, sardines, and mackerel. 

Sign me up for the canned tuna, who doesn't love a tunafish sandwich? 

Fortified Foods

These include foods or drinks that have Vitamin D added to them. Think about Milk, Cheese, Cereal, and orange juice. When including these in your diet you definitely need to check the label and make sure that there is Vitamin D added to these products.

Supplements

This is what I take every night, and probably what many of you take, but also consider fish oil and cod fish oil under this. All of these can be taken as a supplement and will serve as a way to get the Vitamin D that your body really needs.

We All Have a Story - My Mother's Story

This is a guest post from my mother.

My daughter has been desperately attempting to have me write for her blog, so I finally put everything together. We all have an MS story and I wanted to share mine with you.

I was around 42 years old when I had come down with the worse case of pneumonia I had ever had. I was sick for days and unable to even care for my family. I had never been this sick, but I pushed myself to drive to Houston (nearly a 2 hour drive) to watch my daughter perform in the marching contest.

I never missed a performance and figured that I would be able to endure it. I was terribly wrong.

Soon after my bout with pneumonia, I had began tripping, falling, and breaking numerous dishes in the kitchen. I blew this off as being clumsy and needing to pay more attention to picking up my feet. I actually never put 2 & 2 together until after the MS diagnosis, my clumsiness wasn’t my fault at all, thank the good Lord!

A few short weeks pass by and the tingling began, you know the kind that you pray to go away? The kind that you try to move your arm in every position just to get some relief? Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about. However, I didn’t let it phase me, I am an active parent with two children, a sophomore in high school & one in college. I really didn’t have the time to worry.

Self Diagnosis: Pulled Muscle

I just told myself, this is age and I can’t let it get me down. Until, my hand began to get worse and worse, so bad that it drew up into a fetal position.

Of course, my family started to notice and encouraged me to see my doctor. (In the back of my mind, I knew something wasn’t right, but I was never prepared for what they told me)

Starting the dreadful process of visiting your PCP, being referred to a neurologist to be quickly sent to get an MRI because of the reality check he had given me.

A stroke? Wait, I’m 42, that’s impossible. I had made myself believe it was a pulled muscle.

What a blessing that the MRI results came back with no indication of a stroke, however, there were some other issues, and that’s when it became even more real.

Something was wrong, something that they didn't know yet. The feeling of the unknown in itself can scare you half to death. 

After going ‘round & ‘round with my insurance company, I had to have 3 MRIs of only a certain amount of inches at a time, as that is what the insurance would approve.

The day finally came for me to go back to the neurologist and visit about the results. We all know that if the results are good, they tell you over the phone, but if they aren’t they make you come in. So I knew I wasn’t getting any good news. That’s when he said it, “It looks like MS.”

I looked at him thoroughly confused and asked quietly “What is MS?”

After giving me the scientific run-down of this beast of a disease, I began the next step in the process where they test you for everything under the sun to rule out things like Lupus, Celiac, and third-world diseases that no one has ever heard about…

Because he was still uncertain, I ended up having a spinal tap, which was no picnic. Can you imagine the fear of not moving while they stick a huge needle into your spine, it’s probably one of the worse pains I have ever felt. 

This came back positive for MS and I was referred to my current MS specialist in Houston. It’s been nearly 9 years since my diagnosis and I fight this disease every day. Some days are good, and some days I just need to sleep.

I keep my mind focused on what is important in life and thank God everyday that MS isn’t something that will kill you, just a hurdle (or two) you must jump every day. 

Introducing...My Sweet Mother!

I just can't contain myself, I'm so excited to share with everyone that I have finally convinced my dear mother to write some blogs on topics that I just can't cover. She has some experiences that I haven't yet had and I want her to begin sharing her journey on the blog!

Everyone clap for her, it takes alot of courage to write something and throw it up on the interwebs! 

You can begin to look for her guest posts soon. They will cover a large spectrum of topics including the below points.

Her MS Story - Everyone's Got One, So Let's Hear It! 

The Switch - Taking a Chance with Gilenya 

Ways that She copes in a Super-Stressful Job

MS & Horses - This is so interesting to me, don't miss this post! 

Older Kids & MS

Copaxone - The Scary Side Effect

I can't stress to you how cool this is going to be, we are something pretty rare within the MS community. We are going to do her perspective/my perspective of some stories, so stay tuned!