My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 043022

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek. Today is Saturday, April 30. It’s going to be a mostly sunny day in Big D with a high of 85 degrees.

Happy Birthday to:

Bryan BK Kirk

Jennifer Pickert

Robin Johnston

HAPPY SATURDAY. It has been a long week. I didn’t think Saturday was going to ever get here, but here we are. And it’s the last day of April. We are 4 months into 2022. Yes, the struggle(s) has/have been real. Not just for me, personally, but for everybody everywhere.

However, there have been plenty of good times as well….and there are plenty more good times and celebrations to come. School will be out soon and summer vacations will commence. School crosswalks will disappear for a few months (that alone is a blessing). We have a few holidays and there lots of summer birthdays as well (and my birthday trip to NYC in 74 days, but who’s counting).

So yes, this world is a big old mess right now, but I’m choosing to focus on the ‘happy’, the ‘good’, ‘the family and friends and neighbors’ and the ‘tequila’! Nothing says ‘happy’ and ‘good’ like a margarita!

Happy Saturday!

PLEX (plasma exchange) went well yesterday. As usual, it sucked the life out of me. On the plus side, I got a solid seven hours of sleep last night. That does NOT happen often so I’ll take it. I am awake today but still pretty tired from all the blood out / blood in business that keeps me completely adorable five out of seven days of the week - LOL.

I think we may go to Lucky’s (a Dallas institution) for a little brekky this morning. I have a church Finance committee meeting at 10am and the rest of the day is open to whatever mom and dad would like to do. I am so lucky and blessed to have them here with me.

What do you have going on today?

Anyhoozle, I wish you all a SPECTACULAR day. Do everything today with kindness in your heart. The world is full of kind people. Be one of them! And as always:

...wear a mask (when appropriate)

...be kind and compassionate to one another

...dance/sing/laugh it out. It might not help but it sure as hell couldn't hurt.

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all. -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefatih

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong

My Life with Multiple Scerosis 042922

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek. Today is Friday, April 29.  It’s going to be a cloudy day in Big D with a high of 85 degrees and a pitiful chance of rain.

Happy Birthday to:

Andrasta Seatts

Dustin Abercrombie

Gretchen Tolerations-Debus

It’s finally Friday.  Mom and Dad arrived just fine yesterday and I am so glad they are here.  They got settled in and unpacked and we were in for the evening.

Today, I am working until 12:30pm and then it’s off to have my plasma exchanged - and let me tell you….It’s time.  My legs were so stiff yesterday I could hardly walk and my neuropathy is running rampant through my body.  Some of the walking issues could be related to the fall I took on Wednesday night.  While I didn’t get cut or bruised or scraped, I am a bit sore.

Not much planned this weekend.  The plasma exchange will knock me me today and possibly some tomorrow, but we should be able to get out and run some errands and whatnot tomorrow.

What do you have going on today / this weekend?

Anyhoozle, I wish you all a SPECTACULAR day.  Do everything today with kindness in your heart.  The world is full of kind people.  Be one of them!  And as always:

...wear a mask (when appropriate)

...be kind and compassionate to one another

...dance/sing/laugh it out. It might not help but it sure as hell couldn't hurt.

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all.  -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefatih

#hopelovejoygrace 

my Life with Multiple Sclerosis 042822

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek. Today is Thursday, April 28. It’s going to be a partly cloudy day in Big D with a high of 83 degrees.

No birthdays on my calendar today.

It’s Friday Eve. The weekend is almost here. Just a few meetings at work today (so far) so I hope to get some things finished. Mom and dad are on the way and should be here after lunch.

On the MS front, it’s time for plasma exchange. My legs are starting to tighten up, it is becoming more difficult to stand up and my neuropathy is enjoying a field day of sorts. The only way I know to describe it is - it feels like my entire body is vibrating from the inside out - but to touch me you could not feel anything.

Also, since I am documenting my MS journey, I took a bit of a fall last night. Nothing major - I bent down to pick up a pillow and my MS did not like that. I got dizzy, lost my balance and fell. Nothing is broken. I am not scraped, cut or bruised…well, my ego is bruised - LOL

Listen, it’s NOT the first fall and it will NOT be the last. It’s another blessing bestowed upon me by multiple sclerosis. I just have to remember how to recover from a fall. The steps for recovering from an MS-related fall are:

1. Get up off the floor.

2. Check for any cuts, scrapes and/or bruises.

3. Brush it off.

4. If, for some reason you are embarrassed, get over yourself.

5. Fill the room with some creative and delightfully colorful expletives.  

(This step could take 5 to 10 minutes).

6. Pour yourself a cocktail (optional).

7. Keep going about your day as usual (mandatory).

OK, so those aren’t ‘approved’ or ‘endorsed’ steps but that’s how I handle it. It makes perfect sense to me!

#MS_Sucks

#AndyStrong

Moving on - I have work to do and parents arriving in a few hours :)

What do you have going on today?

Anyhoozle, I wish you all a SPECTACULAR day. Do everything today with kindness in your heart. The world is full of kind people. Be one of them! And as always:

...wear a mask (when appropriate)

...be kind and compassionate to one another

...dance/sing/laugh it out. It might not help but it sure as hell couldn't hurt.

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all. -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefatih

#hopelovejoygrace 

My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 042722

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek. Today is Wednesday, April 27. It’s going to be a partly cloudy day in Big D with a high of 77 degrees.

Happy Birthday to:

Richard Harris

It’s HUMP DAY! We made it half way through the week. This week is creeping by too.

We had a great time at the Stars game last night. The Stars won 3-2. Busy day ahead - 6 meetings and lots of work in between. Mom and Dad arrive tomorrow after lunch. I am excited for their visit even though we start off with PLEX on Friday. That will wipe me out for a day or two - but they know their way around Dallas for the most part.

I am still walking fairly well and using my roller / walker more but my neuropathy is starting to rev up a bit. This means it is almost time for plasma exchange. I just need to hang on a while longer.

What do you have going on this week?

Anyhoozle, I wish you all a SPECTACULAR day. Do everything today with kindness in your heart. The world is full of kind people. Be one of them! And as always:

...wear a mask (when appropriate)

...be kind and compassionate to one another

...dance/sing/laugh it out. It might not help but it sure as hell couldn't hurt.

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all. -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefatih

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong

My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 042622

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek. Today is Tuesday, April 26. It’s going to be a sunny day in Big D with a high of 76 degrees.

No birthdays on my calendar today.

It’s TERRIFIC TUESDAY (yes, I just made that up) and a great day to do something nice for someone - be someone’s blessing - turn someone’s day around. For example, you can:

Open/Hold Open a door for someone

Carry a package for someone

Get a coffee for a co-worker

Take donuts to work

Pay for the person’s order in line behind you at the drive-thru

Smile

Give someone a compliment

It doesn’t cost anything to be nice. Just my two cents!

I only have a few meetings today and a Dallas Stars (hockey) game tonight. I will be sitting in a private suite (thank you Mary Elizabeth Carter-Kappes) and enjoying a night out with my friends.

What do you have going on this week?

Anyhoozle, I wish you all a SPECTACULAR day. Do everything today with kindness in your heart. The world is full of kind people. Be one of them! And as always:

...wear a mask (when appropriate)

...be kind and compassionate to one another

...dance/sing/laugh it out. It might not help but it sure as hell couldn't hurt.

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all. -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefatih

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong 

My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 042522

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek. Today is Monday, April 25. It’s going to be a cloudy day in Big D with a high of 70 degrees.

Happy Birthday to:

Joe Ligon

The weekend is over (far too quickly) and it’s time to kick off another work week. It's also time to start packing up the month of April for 2022 and unpacking the month of May. April has gone by pretty fast and I don't doubt May will do the same.

There is plenty going this week: meetings, a hockey game and most importantly; mom and dad are coming for a visit. They arrive Thursday - just in time to go with me to PLEX on Friday - LOL. At least this week, I only have one PLEX session.

I am still walking around pretty well. I am hopeful the lesions in my body will become inactive. I am not sure how that works or how that happens but that’s what I am praying for……that and that I go into remission….and mom and dad have safe flights to and from Dallas and we have a great visit…….and I win the lottery…..and, of course, world peace - LOL

What do you have going on this week?

Anyhoozle, I wish you all a SPECTACULAR day. Do everything today with kindness in your heart. The world is full of kind people. Be one of them! And as always:

...wear a mask (when appropriate)

...be kind and compassionate to one another

...dance/sing/laugh it out. It might not help but it sure as hell couldn't hurt.

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all. -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefatih

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong

My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 042422

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek. Today is Sunday, April 24. It’s going to be a cloudy day in Big D with a high of 82 and a good possibility of rain/thunderstorms.

Happy Birthday to:

Zack Coapland

Gosh, it’s been a nice weekend - including PLEX on Friday. Several friends were in from out of town for the birthday party I attended yesterday. It was wonderful seeing and visiting with them. There were several friends at the party that I have not seen in ages, so it was great catching with with them as well. And it was a fun party. Everyone had a good time. Good job Shannon Brown.

The center pieces on the tables were beautiful white orchids . We were allowed to take one. Somehow I ended up with two. How did that happen? I know someone else ended up with five. I know - I am as shocked as you are - LOL.

Yesterday was also a great day because when I went to get my head shaved and beard trimmed, I did not take my wheelchair. I used my walker. I have not used my walker outside of my condo in a very long time. However, when I got home, I was exhausted. I used my wheelchair at the party. Regardless, it’s progress. Obviously, the acute round of PLEX I just completed is doing some good.

Today may be a lazy day. I have not really rested or recovered from the PLEX on Friday. I have just kept going and going and fought the fatigue. I think it has caught up to me, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Today will be a ‘church and chill' day.

What are your plans today?

Anyhoozle, I wish you all a SPECTACULAR day. Do everything today with kindness in your heart. The world is full of kind people. Be one of them! And as always:

...wear a mask (when appropriate)

...be kind and compassionate to one another

...dance/sing/laugh it out. It might not help but it sure as hell couldn't hurt.

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all. -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefatih

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong 

My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 042322

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek. Today is Saturday, April 23.  It’s going to be a partly cloudy day in Big D with a high of 86. 

No birthdays on my calendar today.

It’s a bit of a dreary morning in Big D.  Makes me want to curl up on the couch and R & B (relax and binge).  Plus, the energy-draining affects of PLEX don’t help the situation either.

PLEX went off without a hitch yesterday.  I was in and out in a little over two hours.  Aside from having to get an IV every time, this new, fancy port may be a game-changer - plus,I can shower with it and I don’t have to cover it up with anything.  The PLEX still seems to be doing the trick.  Next week, it’s back to once a week.  

Headed to the Boardroom for a cut and a shave and then a birthday party this afternoon.  That may be all I can manage today.

What are your plans today?

Anyhoozle, I wish you all a SPECTACULAR day.  Do everything today with kindness in your heart.  The world is full of kind people.  Be one of them!  And as always:

...wear a mask (when appropriate)

...be kind and compassionate to one another

...dance/sing/laugh it out. It might not help but it sure as hell couldn't hurt.

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all.  -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefatih

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong

My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 042222

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek. Today is Friday, April 22. It’s going to be a partly cloudy day in Big D with a high of 85.

Happy Birthday to:

Maria Fernandez

Lynn Hunsinger

Happy Friday! TGIF! It’s FRIYAY! The weekend is here! I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty OK with that. LOL

I took the day off work today. I will be kicking off my weekend with a trip to the UT Southwestern Spa and Resort for a Friday Morning Plasma Exchange. Yes, nothing says, “it’s the weekend” like three hours of lying in a hospital bed while a crackerjack team of medical professionals hooks you up to a human slurpee machine via the new fancy port in your chest and the IV in your arm and drains the blood from your body, cleans it, infuses fresh, frozen, human plasma, warms it up and returns it to your body. Easy Peasy, right?

I never in a million years would have guessed this is how my late 50’s were going to be. But the joys and blessings bestowed upon me by MS are not to be ignored and must be given their due.

From where stand (or sit), I am showered in kindness, prayers, generosity, hope, compassion and love. I see people going out of their way to make sure I have what I need. It is more visible to me than it ever has been before. And for someone as independent as I am / was / would like to remain, it’s difficult to accept - but you have no idea how much I appreciate it.

Though I may seem stubborn or hardheaded sometimes, I’m really not…my ideas are just better! LOL

I had all of this before I was diagnosed with MS, but it took having MS for me to really see it!

My life has considerably changed - from walking to rolling - from opening doors to having doors opened for me - from a physical once a year to weekly trips to the hospital - from working in an office to working from home. It has been a hard pill to swallow.

However, it’s not all bad - I get ‘primo parking’ now and I get on airplanes first - LOL

So - what are your weekend plans?

Anyhoozle, I wish you all a SPECTACULAR day. Do everything today with kindness in your heart. The world is full of kind people. Be one of them! And as always:

...wear a mask (when appropriate)

...be kind and compassionate to one another

...dance/sing/laugh it out. It might not help but it sure as hell couldn't hurt.

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all. -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefatih

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong