Merry Christmas from My Family

To Yours....

           with a few pics of my family.

Grandson, hubs and I

One of my best gifts was being with my precious silly grandson!

I like this picture of us five sisters chatting at our Christmas dinner.

Oma (German for grandma) giving him presents

This will be first Christmas my son will be home for Christmas in 6 years!  He was serving as a Marine.

I hope you can tell I am one thankful mom wishing all a Merry Christmas!

Moving Obstacles

I was driving down the driveway this morning but yikes I see a tree limb is blocking me!

Well sorta blocking me since I am in a tiny Smart car!

Objects do appear larger than they are until you stand up.....as below shows

Thankfully I was able to walk holding onto the car and I moved it out of my way!

I felt like superman!

Gratitude Reminders

many analogies here
 (my sister Jill took pic)

I went to see my doctor yesterday at Shepherd Spinal Center.  I walked with my walker being very appreciative as I saw.....

A woman in a wheelchair with her head frozen looking up and her mouth frozen open.  She was accompanied by what looked like her mother.

A young man being rushed down the hall on a stretcher being followed closely by very concerned looking parents.

A young man in a wheelchair repeatedly saying, hello, hello, hi, mama, home....accompanied by staff.

A lady in a wheelchair with her gray haired husband trying to get a coat to lay on her.

The day left me being so grateful for what I am able to do!
                   I hope it does you to!

Vote for Me

Happy Birthday to my grandson!  Can you believe he is three!

I ask for your vote in Healthline’s best blog contest (once every 24 hours) 

I know we are recovering from a brutal campaign but trust me this contest is much nicer!

It is a hassle the first time then easy each day til December 12th.

Click here http://www.healthline.com/health/best-health-blogs-contest

This Unusual Fall

I took some pictures today of this strange Fall around my house....

This tree still stands brightly even though it was damaged 16 years ago during the construction of our house.

I was surprised to see my hibiscus blooming in November however we have had record breaking heat in Atlanta.

And as the leaves fall I can see more of the lake outside!

Happy November!

My Son Carrying Me

Jacob carrying me up the stairs at the wedding

It is scary to be carried!   I could have climbed those stairs slower but Jacob said let me carry you....after our family picture.

When he carries me, it always takes me back to the memory of when he was in middle school.  I drove both kids to a band concert in my handicapped van with hand-controls.

I went to transfer from the drivers seat to my chair but my legs gave out and I sank to the floor.

I was thinking on NO!  how do I get back up?  Then my son just picked me up!!  One of the greatest memories of my life!

I was so happy that he could....and we went on inside for his band concert.

Thankfully I hardly ever fall nowadays.

Our Wedding Weekend

I went to my niece Kandice and Scott's wedding this weekend.  

It was a beautiful wedding at the Ocoee Whitewater Center.....in Tennessee.  The scenery was gorgeous!  

The ceremony 

L-R My son and his fiancé, my daughter, me and my hubs (my walker is out of sight)

After a few days of rest now.....I can fondly look back on the fun we had since my sister Jill took such great pictures of the day!

My Sisters Photography after Breast Cancer

My sister Jill took this photo in Florida.

I am so proud of her for taking up the hobby of photography

after she survived stage 3 breast cancer!

I thought her pink flamingo photo was perfect for Octobers breast cancer awareness!

Helping Caregivers

I sat with my uncle Carson yesterday who is suffering from Alzheimer's. He cannot walk anymore without someone's assistance so we two set for several hours.  Help was just a phone call away if he needed it.

The picture above is when I was walking to do a little laundry and had a cute kitty hitchhiker!

I am a pro at sitting so I felt I could give my caregiver aunt a break.

Let me encourage others to help a caregiver!

My Walker Uses

I like to do household chores using my walker on good days.  

However I get more chores done when I use my power wheelchair which is most of the time.....

I am always trying to conserve my priceless Energy!  with these aides

My Farmers Market Day

Isnt this an unusually bright yellow for a yellow watermelon?  it was delicious!

I parboiled and froze some already shelled field peas!

I guess my sister who is a real farmer can say that I am a Farmers Market farmer now!

My Grandson Visits Me

My 2 year old grandson visiting me this week was such a joy!

This picture is when he was eating peanut butter and crackers with me.......Maybe you can see the fun we were having since peanut butter is all over his mouth!  

I may always live far away from him but I will always treasure every minute I spend with him!

I am a wild bird rescuer

Above is the third wild bird I have rescued this summer from the clutches of death (my sweet dogs). 

The birds get trapped on our screened in deck even though there are many openings.  

After the dogs killed a bird.....I discovered I can just grab the worn down bird with my good hand....

and then drive my power chair with my other hand to the door to set them free!

I share this heroic story because I would have never thought in a million years I would be a wild bird rescuer!

My Morning Flowers

Look at the beautiful flowers I was greeted by this morning that my hubs planted.

I enjoy getting out to do my morning chores before it gets too hot!

Climbing These Historic Stairs

These are the 100 year old stairs that led to our second story condo in Savannah Georgia.

Earlier......When making the vacation reservation my daughter said "mom, are you sure you can climb the stairs up to the 2nd floor to this condo? "

I said, "sure, no problem as I set in my air conditioned home.....as long as there are handrails which they have to have, because it's the law...." 

When we arrived to this beautiful historic condo I found out that I did not know the law!  historical buildings are exempt, sorta.

I did climb these curved stairs....... which had only one handrail....about 10 times while on vacation!

It is just miraculous that I could!   I always want to celebrate these small mountains!

Seeing Savannah with a Nano-Ice Cooling Necklace

  

I truly think the nano-ice cooling necklace helped me to enjoy Savannah Georgia with my family last week (heat causes me to turn into a noodle, MS).  

Yes that is my 2 year old grandson pushing me around in my chair.  Talk about fun!!

The necklace sure helped me to survive the 100 degree heat of Savannah for 2-3 hours at a time before it melted.

Disclaimer:  I received this item 50% discounted to review it.

My Son's Military Service

After being a proud military mom for 5 years and 8 months.......I am so relieved to have my son home safely back from the Marines!  Jacob will go on to new careers now.

Everyone may have not have been happy at my house because the first morning Jacob was here.....I went outside early and saw this scene of poop by Jacobs car!  

Our 15 year old dog Pepper, left him a message.......we can guess what Peppers message was but I thought it was funny cause the old dog still has spunk!

My Baclofen Pump Maintenance

I had a baclofen pump implanted in my belly 4 years ago.  I have had great results maybe since I had taken baclofen pills for many many years. 

I was taking 80mg which is near the limit of 100mg, but after the pump it is only 57mcg of baclofen intermittently 24 hours a day.

It has relieved almost all spasticity which helps me to walk again with a walker.

The only maintenance is the pump has to be refilled every 6 months which means a big trip to Atlanta (happens to be tomorrow).  I take it serious since the results can be fatal if I do not get it refilled. 

Disclaimer:  I truly was relieved when Basic Home Infusion contacted me asking me to do a guest post on their blog.  Basic Home Infusion is the top nationwide intrathecal pump management service.  It is a relief to know of them since it could be very difficult to get to Atlanta twice a year for the rest of my life....all in all I have nothing to complain about!

Can You See The Lizard?

I was outside cutting some fresh flowers when I saw a green lizard move!

I jumped out of my skin then I got my phone out......

Amazing how well it blends in!  (top left if you need a hint:))

My Blog is on a Best Blogs List

My blog is on  Healthline.com:  Best MS Blogs of the Year!

I never started out to be a MS blog...... as you can tell with a title like I have! 

 If I had spent more than 2 minutes on the name of my blog back in 2008.......it could have been a little more creative.  

I was thinking I am not a writer so what would I want to tell the world?   Be thankful cause it could be worse in a heartbeat! 

Just look around....it don't take long to see someone in worse shape than you are.

My Patriotic Grandson

I might be stretching my grandsons patriotism just a little because he is touching my "Marine Mom" tag.....

Earlier He was driving his race car on my Smart car!  I said calmly "you can't drive your race car on granny's race car"!

Boys and their toy cars!

Happy Memorial Day!

world MS day

Today is World MS Day!   

I have had a great life despite battling MS for 37 years.....and it's possible for others also!

Remember you are stronger than MS!

My Spinning Wheelchair

I stood up to put my housecoat on when somehow it got hung over the knob while I had left the power on....on the joystick.  The chair started spinning and pulled the housecoat away from me!

I was able to jump away from the chair and not fall because my walker was nearby.  However the chair got ahold of my walker and drug the walker into my back but I didn't fall......but I felt beat up by a spinning wheelchair!

I finally got it stopped after several minutes of trying everything I could think of....late at night!

Looking back on it, I find it funny.......at least I avoided being knocked down by a spinning out of control power chair!

I did learn a safety lesson.....turn it off when not in use!

So Worth It

Seeing a pic of my grandson opening a box of goodies from us is worth all the little headaches I encountered.......To get it ready to ship before the mailman got here.

It took awhile to find out how I print the shipping label.  Yay I finally found the button to print!

Oh no!  Of all times the printer is out of ink!  I have never changed the ink before but I can say now......I know how to change the ink!

Now where did that button go to re-print that label? 

Oh the stress of technology!

No reason for this picture except he is the cutest horse groomer I ever saw!

Spring Miracles

I felt like superman as I stood up from my chair......picked up that heavy blue blanket and lifted it to the top of my wardrobe! 

I said "wow this is just miraculous!  I haven't been able to do this in years" even decades!

Sometimes the simple things in life become the big things!

I am Thankful for 56

My birthday lunch with my Aunt Sue, me, and my sweet mil Edeltraut

I celebrate my birthday enthusiastically because there was a time in my life that I wondered if I would make it to 56!!

When I went to the church to volunteer they had a little cupcake waiting for me!  

I heard from my kids, sisters, Facebook friends so all in all I am one very blessed person!

On this Good Friday I wish you a Happy Easter as I reflect back on 56 years!

My Worn Out Boots

My dirty worn out boots make me so happy.......it shows me how much I have walked with my walker this year!  

I haven't had worn out shoes in 20 plus years since riding in a wheelchair takes no toil on shoes!

                I think I will need to buy a new pair of boots next year!

As the boot shows I still have a foot drop problem but I do not like to wear my brace....a comfort level thing.

What a great problem to have......dirty wore out boots!

Our 31st Anniversary Trip

Hubs pushing me in manual chair out to see the view seems like a good loving way to spend our 31st anniversary! 

We went to Cheaha State Park in Alabama!  It was Alabamas highest point so the scenery was so pretty!  Even in February.....

There were no restaurants open....winter hours......so we ate crackers!  Then drove around looking at what the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) had built in the 1930s

Me in front of the rock tower the CCC camp workers had built before fancy machines!

The best part of the trip was the 1500 ft ramp they had built as access to the scenic view!  

It had a great view of the gnarly trees that the weather had shaped

It sure was windy on top of that mountain but such a fun day with hubs.....

I am blessed and very thankful for our life together!