My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 063022

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas. Today is Thursday, June 30. It’s going to be a sunny day in Big D with a high of 97 degrees.

Happy Birthday to:

Jesse Baker

Karen Meister

March Maher

Happy Friday Eve. Just today and tomorrow and it’s a three-day weekend. Ain’t nothing wrong with that. There’s going to be fireworks displays/shows all over town all weekend as well as BBQs/cookouts, picnics and the two most awful and scary words in the english language…………..pool party!

I did not get to do any final prep for NYC yesterday. I was beat after work. Perhaps my lunch break today will lend itself to some list-making and planning. Who am I kidding? It will probably have to wait until the weekend.

I am as nervous about this trip as I am excited. It’s my first vacation in three years. I know my friends will watch out for me, but I don’t want watching out for me to be a focal point of the trip. There may be a few dear friends (you know who you are - hell, I know who you are) that would like to push me into heavy traffic, but for the most part I feel safe with them all. LOL

Most nights (all but one) will be spent in a theater and the daylight hours remain mostly unplanned. I’m not sure how I feel about that. It makes me nervous. I do love a schedule and a plan but maybe I don’t need one this time. Perhaps the theater plans are enough and the days can be spontaneous. I know - forgive me - I am thinking out loud - but this just hit me. Deep down I know a schedule is just a way to have control, but let’s stick a pin in that for now. I have a long day at work and I haven't had my coffee yet. We’ll crack that open later when we have time. LOL

On the MS front, my neuropathy has remained mostly at bay since the first round of chemo - with the exception every few days. It will slap me in the face as a reminder it’s still around, just not as overwhelming as it usually is. However, my walking is getting worse. I am hopeful this will turn around. ALWAYS BE HOPEFUL!

Over the next 12 days, I have several procedures and treatments scheduled. The hospital has become my second home. How did that happen?

Anyhoozle, just a few meetings on my calendar today and lots of work in between each one. I’m working for the weekend. What’s on your schedule today?

I wish you and everyone around you a SPECTACULAR day. Do everything today with kindness in your heart. The world is full of nice people. If you can’t find one, be one!

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all. -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefaith

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong 

My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 062922

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas. Today is Wednesday, June 29. It’s going to be a sunny day in Big D with a high of 94 degrees.

Happy Birthday to:

Mitchell Clark

It’s Hump Day. We made it half way through the week. We are sooo close to a three day weekend.

So, I have a fairly decent internal clock. I typically wake up within 10 to 15 minutes of time to take my 4am meds. Sometimes I will stay up and work, other times I will go back to bed. Today, since I have a lot on my work-plate, I decided to stay up and start getting some things done.

So I got up, rolled to the kitchen, made some coffee, took my 4am pills and began to work - never bothering, not even once, to look at a clock or the watch on my wrist or my phone.

I worked for a solid 30 minutes when I looked the time on my laptop, my home computer, my phone and the watch on my wrist - which all CLEARLY said it was 2:25am! WTH?

So much for my internal clock! Obviously, I went back to bed. I just hope that’s not an indication of how the rest of my day is going to play out.

I heard from my neurologist yesterday. My blood work came back as expected (whatever that means). Chemo dose #2 is still TENTATIVELY schedule for 3 weeks from now. More blood work on Friday at PLEX!

Anyhoozle, just a few meetings on my calendar today and lots of work in between each one. What’s on your schedule today?

I wish you and everyone around you a SPECTACULAR day. Do everything today with kindness in your heart. The world is full of nice people. If you can’t find one, be one! HAPPY WEEKEND!

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all. -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefaith

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong

My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 062822

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas. Today is Tuesday, June 28. It’s going to be a partly cloudy in Big D with a high of 91 degrees.

No birthdays on my calendar today.

Happy Tuesday - we are another day closer to a three-day weekend - YAY. But today is a sad day (for me) as well. Mom and Dad leave in just a few hours to head back to Home to SC. They dropped everything to be here and help me through round one of chemotherapy. Not sure what I would have done without them. They are, in my mind, the absolute best parents in the universe. The plan is for them to come back for round two of chemo in a few weeks. However, if my bloodwork on Friday looks good, I may not have to have round two, but they are still coming back, it may be in late August instead of a few weeks, but they will be back.

I actually (and foolishly) thought about doing chemo alone......I wouldn’t recommend it!

I am going to have to wait a few weeks for another breakfast at ‘Unlucky’s’ (that’s Dad cooking breakfast and it’s way better than Lucky’s) but I can do that.

This evening after work, I need to put the finishing touches on the NYC trip - some new places I want to try and older ones I wouldn’t mind revisiting. And since the Champagne Room at the Plaza Hotel is still closed to anyone not a guest of the hotel (rude - thanks a lot, COVID), I have found a new place to get my pretentious, over-priced, ice-cold, dirty martini - Bemelman’s at the Carlyle Hotel.

Anyhoozle, just a few meetings on my calendar today and lots of work in between each one. What’s on your schedule today?

I wish you and everyone around you a SPECTACULAR day. Do everything today with kindness in your heart. The world is full of nice people. If you can’t find one, be one! HAPPY WEEKEND!

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all. -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefaith

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong

My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 062722

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas. Today is Monday, June 27. It’s going to be a partly cloudy in Dallas with a high of 90 degrees.

No birthdays on my calendar today.

Well, it’s Monday once again and time to kick off another work week. We are also working towards another three day (or four day) weekend. It’s the 4th of July weekend and time to celebrate America; although with so much infighting, disagreement, protests and rioting on the best way to run our country, a 4th of July celebration may be lost on some people.

But I bet you dollars to donuts, folks will stop for a day to put their boats on the lake (or whatever), or have picnics, or BBQs or gatherings of some sort and crack open a beer (or whatever) and throw some meat (or whatever) on the grill and celebrate.

Fireworks will be shot with vigor in various displays of colors, shapes and sounds. Kids will run around with sparklers and dogs will run under the beds and sofas in fear of the fireworks and sparklers.

Folks will stop what they are doing on their boats on the lake (or whatever), crack open another beer (or whatever) and eat what they put on the grill and watch the colorful, noisy display and ooooo and aaaahhhh with each explosion. And the 4th of July, 2022 will come to a magnificent end. And for five or ten minutes we may be a peaceful nation with liberty and justice for all.

Geez - I’m already exhausted and it’s a week away! But I digress…

Anyhoozle, just a few meetings on my calendar today and lots of work to do in between each one. What’s on your schedule today?

I wish you and everyone around you a SPECTACULAR day. Do everything today with kindness in your heart. The world is full of nice people. If you can’t find one, be one! HAPPY WEEKEND!

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all. -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefaith

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong

My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 062622

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas. Today is Sunday, June 26. It’s going to be another sunny to partly cloudy in Big D with a high of 99 degrees.

Happy Birthday to:

Jacob Moore

Johann Jooste

Norma Hustead

Ray Mach

Sara Comer

It’s going to be another indoor day today; because of the heat and because my immune system has been completely wiped out - LOL. Mom and Dad made it out a few times yesterday but I stayed home - I had a church finance committee meeting and I got some things done towards completing my project at work.

I have a church board meeting this afternoon. Not sure if I want to risk going to church just yet. People are spreading and catching things left and right and I don’t want any part of it.

I spend a great deal of time looking at my orchids and (the majority of) my succulents. You know, the ones that haven't quit on me. I find it to be very calming - which is what I need going forward. I wish I could have a puppy (or two) but I can’t take them out for walks and potty breaks (yet).

Mom and Dad leave Tuesday to get back to their lives back home and that adorable great, grand baby. My work project kicks into high gear this week - the launch has been pushed back one week so it launches to the entire company while I am in NYC. This has potential to make me crazy but I am going to try not to call work while I am on vaycay! HUH! - and I typed/said that with a straight face.

OK - I am headed back to bed for a few more zzzz’s. GOOD LUCK in the tournament today, DALLAS TITANS!

Anyhoozle, HAPPY SUNDAY! What’s on your schedule today?

I wish you and everyone around you a SPECTACULAR day. Do everything today with kindness in your heart. The world is full of nice people. If you can’t find one, be one! HAPPY WEEKEND!

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all. -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefaith

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong

My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 062522

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas.  Today is Saturday, June 25.  It’s going to be another scorcher in Big D with a high of 102 degrees. 

Happy Birthday to:

Joey Jones

Happy Saturday and Happy Weekend.  Yesterday is a bit of a blur - PLEX typically does that to me. And I slept nearly seven hours last night.  That’s a rare thing for me.  But I’m OK with that.

Not sure what the day ahead is like.  Dad has been cooking breakfast a lot (who knew).  There is a diner here called ‘Lucky’s” - it’s pretty well known and dad likes to go there.  Since I have been home-bound after chemo, Dad asks me if I want to go to ‘Unlucky’s’ for breakfast - that’s him cooking breakfast.  There is nothing unlucky about his breakfast.  It’s damn good!

#Blessed

It’s feeding day for my orchids and Mom has  made my succulents look better as well. I swear, three of them were on death’s door, but they may actually live now.

GOOD LUCK in the tournament today, DALLAS TITANS!

Anyhoozle, HAPPY SATURDAY! What’s on your schedule today?

I wish you and everyone around you a SPECTACULAR day.  Do everything today with kindness in your heart.  The world is full of nice people.  If you can’t find one, be one!  HAPPY WEEKEND!

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all.  -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefaith

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong  

My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 062422

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas. Today is Friday, June 24. It’s going to be another scorcher in Big D with a high of 102 degrees.

Happy Birthday to:

Dillon Meek

Marsha Smiley

Will Freeman

It’s Friday / FriYAY / TGIF. The weekend has arrived. We had a great evening last night. Some family friends (friends who are family) came over for dinner and it was very nice. One of them showed up with a beautiful orchid - the orchids name is Pam. Thank you Pam Brown. She is gorgeous and wonderful - just like you. Mom whipped up a great meal and a delicious key lime cake. Ain’t gonna lie - that cake is the shiz!!!!

I heard from my Neurologist yesterday - golly, she is the best. I have lots of appointments in the next three weeks - a 2.5 hour MRI (you know how much love those), a CT scan, blood work and finally, round two of chemo when I return from my NYC vaycay. Round two of chemo may get cancelled if she is happy with the blood work but I am acting like it is going to happen - so if/when it does get cancelled, I can be happy.

I also had my mid-year review at work yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised. It was very decent (considering everything that has gone on this year). My boss is just the best and she gets it. She has her own struggles and can relate to all of the madness in my life. But yea, it was good.

Just a few things going on today - a few meetings at work this morning and then PLEX this afternoon - and boy do I need the PLEX. My legs are not working well and PLEX should help a good bit. And next week is another three-day weekend. I am a little but excited about that as well.

As challenging as things have been, I have received so many blessings and I am surrounded by wonderful people - family and friends who are family. And I feel the love from friends/family who are not in Dallas. I forget to notice these things because I am too caught up trying to get through the day or figure out my next move. I don’t need to figure that out - I have a team of doctors doing that for me. I need to start enjoying things again and handle things as they come -not try and plan for IF they might happen. I need to be me again - well, me in a wheelchair - but you get it.

Anyhoozle, What’s on your schedule today?

I wish you and everyone around you a SPECTACULAR day. Do everything today with kindness in your heart. The world is full of nice people. If you can’t find one, be one! HAPPY WEEKEND!

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all. -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefaith

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong

My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 062322

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas.  Today is Thursday, June 23.  It’s going to be aHOT day in Big D with a high of 100 degrees. 

Happy Birthday to:

Jamele Medina

Vicki Fisher Hazzard

It’s Thursday (Friday Eve) and we are so close to the weekend.  And this weekend is going to be miserably hot.  I guess most everyone will stay inside and try to stay hydrated.  That’s my plan.  

My nausea from the chemo reared its ugly head last night.  I hope that was its last hoorah!  Other than that, I am just fighting fatigue.  I am still a bit confused on why we used chemo to battle MS.  I know it has something to do with knocking out my immune system (again).  I’ll be emailing my neurologist later this morning - I have a few other questions for her as well.

I have PLEX tomorrow and I can tell it is time.  My legs do NOT want to behave……or move, or bend or do anything I tell them to do.  I had to wait a week after chemo tome sure the chemo had time to do its thing so the doctors didn’t want the PLEX to wash it all out (apparently, chemo is quite expensive, at least, that’s what the nurses keep saying - I haven’t seen the bill yet).

Anyhoozle, I’ve got a day full of work meetings and lots to get done in between.  What’s on your schedule today?

I wish you and everyone around you a SPECTACULAR day.  Do everything today with kindness in your heart.  The world is full of nice people.  If you can’t find one, be one!

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all.  -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefaith

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong 

My Life with Multiple sclerosis 062222

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas. Today is Tuesday, June 21. It’s going to be a sunny day in Big D with a high of 99 degrees.

Happy Birthday to:

Kirk Hughett

It’s Hump Day. We admit half way through the week. But why does it feel like it should be Hump day next week? The closer I get to going on vacation, the longer the days seem to get. WTH? Add a little work stress and you have got yourself a full-on par-tay. LOL

Yesterday, I applied for and was approved for FMLA and intermittent leave just to take some time away from work and the stress therein when needed. Even with all of the fantastic support I have, sometimes I need to step away and breathe! Not sure if/when I will use it , but at least I know it is there.

Just a quick post today. My neuropathy woke me up, as well as a little nausea and I had to take my 4am pills so I think I may actually go back to bed for a bit. I think that’s EXACTLY what I am going to do.

Anyhoozle, later I’ve got a day full of work meetings and lots to get done in between. What’s on your schedule today?

I wish you and everyone around you a SPECTACULAR day. Do everything today with kindness in your heart. The world is full of nice people. If you can’t find one, be one!

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all. -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefaith

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong  

My Life with Multiple Sclerosis 062122

Good Morning, Possums, from the Celebrity Suite of the Wyndemere Condominiums on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas. Today is Tuesday, June 21. It’s going to be a sunny day in Big D with a high of 99 degrees.

No birthdays on my calendar today.

Today is officially the first day of summer (whereas Memorial day kicks off the summer season - go figure). It is also the longest day of the year. The amount of daylight will start getting shorter from here on in and it will begin to get a little darker each day.

It’s also going to be hot as hell this week - 100 degrees or better starting tomorrow. But no worries - I am going to be glued to my laptop until Monday, July 11 when my big yearly project is due. And then on vaycay to NYC for a week, but really, who thinks that far ahead? MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I am still dealing with the side effects of chemo - bouts of nausea and (what feels like) terminal fatigue. After speaking with a friend of mine who has chemo every three weeks, she said, “that’s how you know it’s working” - LOL. I will take her word for it.

My orchids are coming back to life (most of them - there are a few stubborn ones in the bunch). And I have only managed to kill two, possibly three of my succulents. Who kills a succulent? How does that happen? They only get food and water every other week. Is that too much? Oh well, I am looking for replacements.

Anyhoozle, I’ve got a day full of work meetings and lots to get done in between. What’s on your schedule today?

I wish you and everyone around you a SPECTACULAR day. Do everything today with kindness in your heart. The world is full of nice people. If you can’t find one, be one!

Peace, Love and Blessings to you all. -AJ

#strengthpatiencepeacefaith

#hopelovejoygrace

#AndyStrong