Waiting Game

Ok, here's the thing - I have been waiting around for my IV today. First, I have a "new" nurse today. My regular nurse is on vacation. My new nurse showed up and began to start preparing the medicine before I get the stick (that's IV lingo for before they jab the heck out of my arm or hand looking for a vein!) Well, for the first time in over a decade the medicine depressor that mixes the med and the IV fluid (I'm sure there is a much more official term) did not work.....What???? I have had over 150 IV's and this never happened...my nurse has nursed for over 30 years and this has never happened....now I wait. Wait for the nurse to get back with new meds. Wait for my nerves to settle down. Wait to see if the "new" nurse can get veins better than she can work medicine. Time will tell......maybe I should have packed more stuff to do

Head-on

So today is IV day - I have MS and every 4 weeks I get an IV - as I say to keep me charging. It is always a scramble the morning of the IV as I gather all of the stuff I want to do when I am hooked up for a few hours. Typically, I have one day on infusion, but in the event of problems with my MS I have a several day course of infusion. I have to say this is now very normal for me...scary normal. I never thought it would be so normal, but I guess that is a good thing. I have had MS for a very long time - I was diagnosed in December of 1997 but I know in hindsight I have HAD multiple sclerosis for much longer.....

I think I take people by surprise when I am so casual about the IV - "oh, can't I have my IV today" or "kids, my nurse will be here soon - I have my IV" That is my way of dealing - I think my openness has been my healing - and my way to cope. My way of sharing my journey with others so maybe, just maybe, it won't be so scary and uncertain. Let's face it none of us know what the future holds anyway....might as well face it head-on.

Off for now, got to gather the magazines I am going to rock out with this afternoon -Oh, and speaking of rocking...got to see the unbelievable Melissa Etheridge last night - Live and Alone....talk about taking it head-on - now there's an inspiration!

Where did the summer go?

Looked at the calendar this am and cannot believe that school starts in a week - sat down with my tea and wondered where the summer went! This was to be the summer of relaxation, beach, no over scheduling, work on the house, get a kitchen....looks like we were successful on some - not so on others!

Kitchen o'Kitchen on mine...where are you and will you ever get done! Let me be clear we have all of the parts ready....we have a beautiful old slate sink, a wolf stove (story for another day!) the refrigerator, dishwasher, double oven, warming drawer - apparantly we have enough appliances to make up for the lost time without the kitchen -we have the inspiration pictures of what we want our "old new" kitchen to look like and the vibe we want....we even have a top 10 list going of the foods we want to make once we are all set up. The journey is a little tougher because Michael wants to build the kitchen cabinets and all.....and I want to make sure we have it before the holidays... now is the time to either wish me good luck or say what are you thinking??? I'll keep you posted...

Thankfully we were successful in the other areas this summer - in fact, I realize we are really good at relaxing!

You Have A Book??!!

It has been a HOT summer here over the past week - the mercury has finally risen and the doom and gloom of the earlier cold and rainy summer months has long been forgotten. Extreme heat and me don't mix....I have MS and often have rather annoying heat intolerance. Our AC is cranking and I really just want to veg out and stay cool - which of course, never happens! There is way too much to do with two busy kids and a house under major renovation.

Yesterday my little bambinos were raising the roof around here and getting on each other like I am told siblings do. The only child in me cannot even relate to the constant scrappyness (is that a word?) that they were doing to each other. I finally had enough and told each they needed a break - a time out in so many words. My son listened intently and took the break without much fanfare...my daughter, on the other hand, tends to not take breaks. As I sat her down and told her that her actions were not acceptable and not respectable...I think I said -"that behavior is not ok - not in my book" She looked up at me and I think in all seriousness said "You have a book???" And there goes the punishment - hard to stick to a break when you burst out laughing! Maybe I should have a book.........

Hello, Old Friends!

On Friday, we unloaded our final storage unit - final, you say?? During this process we have had three storage units holding all of our stuff from our old home...and now we are done! No more monthly rent to storage - Ya-Hoo!!! (Nothing against storage - they have been great babysitters for the past 2+ years!!)

Anyway, the roof has been completed on our addition/workshop so we can confidently store boxes without fear of water damage. Michael, my dad, and Michael Jr. loaded a large Uhaul truck and brought it home. It was the craziest feeling when I first saw it opened - It is not that I am attached to things, I really am not....but I feel very connected to certain things...it is like the comfort of having a cup of tea with a dear old friend. I was thrilled to see my favorite books, furniture, and my cherished scrapbook supplies - my wheels are already spinning with some great projects to make once the kiddos start back to school. So much stuff! The great thing - at least, that is how I have to look at it - is I will be unpacking and saying "hello" to my old friends for quite some time!!!