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My Holidays

12/17/2014

Starting as a very young child my family made every Christmas filled with love and magic. They taught me what Christmas was and how Santa Claus was a very special part too. No matter where we were our home was filled with traditions and so many other special things for the holidays. We never had a lot but all needs were met. My family put in a lot work to make everything so magical and meaningful. I love Christmas and what it has meant to me and how it shaped my life.

I was to have been born in mid-December but arrived at the end of November. My parents wanted a Christmas kind of name for me and there are many thus they selected Holly, after the pretty red holly-berries that are everywhere with Christmas. Had I been a boy have no idea what my name would have been, they wouldn’t tell me LOL.

Life moved along and I kept as close as I could to how I like to do my Christmas’s. After my MS diagnosis at age 48 I scaled down some of what I did. Then after falling into a Christmas tree I was decorating, I saw more changes needed to be put in place. SO each year I did less. By now all my family lived very far apart and changes came from that too.

Now I am 72 and still do what I can but made a lot of changes. The magic of Christmas is what’s in your heart and the giving that happened so very long ago. I dislike the commercialism of Christmas to no end so do my best to ignore that part.

What I learned about all that goes with holiday time when one has MS is to get good communication going with loved ones. Explain in detail what help you need from others and why and expect them to understand. Be innovative in how you accomplish tasks that were once easy. For example buy a much smaller (fake) tree that has lights already on it, big help for sure. Oh I know, I miss the scent of live evergreens too! Don’t send out as many Christmas cards, I don’t know about you but my handwriting is really bad due to MS. Oddly I do fine on a keyboard though and print and make things as much as I can this way, it helps! Also I start early in December on my TO DO List for Christmas so as not to tire myself out on any one thing.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL, HOLLY

Happy holidays

12/14/2014

Good morning fellow journeyers. I haven't written a blog in a while. Seems I haven't had any pearls of wisdom to share recently. Actually, I guess in some ways that is a good thing. I haven't really had any major issues with the day to day routine. When things go smoothly with health issues, we sometimes even forget that we have this disease. Those moments are blissful. Then with all the hustle and bustle that this season brings, sometimes our symptoms increase due to fatigue. It is said time and time again, but pace yourself. When accepting invitations or scheduling tasks, make sure to put days in between for rest. I just returned from two whirlwind days in NYC. Somehow I forgot to take my own advice. Three Broadway plays in two days and four hours each way in the car is not smart. It took its toll and had me down for the count for a few days. Like the old saying goes. Everything in moderation. So here is my holiday advice. One day at a time, one cookie at a time, one step at a time and many many hugs and kisses from those you love and cherish. Happy Holidays to Everyone. May the new year bring everyone peace and good will.

-Susan

I Broke Daddy!

12/9/2014

Lately my electronic foot drop device hasn’t been holding a charge as long as it once did. This has led to many interesting situations of me being stranded without power or a cane.

When I first started using my L300 Plus it would hold a charge for up to 12 hours; these days I’m lucky to get eight. I charge it all night same as always but I think I might need to get a replacement before the warranty is up!

So far I have been stranded at school with its angry carpeted floors, shifty 1st graders and mini furniture and also while out holiday shopping with my family. While at school it was rough as there were some vast distances that needed to be covered through some treacherous terrain. I managed pretty well, never really falling down but there were numerous very close calls involving little people and little furniture. Lucky for me I have long arms and can wall walk whenever I got into a tight spot.

While out shopping the battery died on me and again I was extremely lucky, I was pushing the shopping cart so it wasn’t too bad but I was extremely cautious while walking around anything that might cause a seen if I went crashing into it. I avoided the mirror aisle at all costs; I don’t need any extra bad luck! By the time we made it back to the car I was exhausted.

Having the power go out is one thing but last week my 2 year old son got in between my feet in the kitchen and we both took a pretty good tumble. I was OK...a few bumps and bruises but he thought he killed me. “I BROKE DADDY WAAAAA!” After lying on the floor for a few minutes he saw that I was fine and we got up and carried on with our morning.

I consider myself lucky so far with my struggling batteries and recent falls but I push on!!

Be a warrior today,
Donn

My Holidays

Happy holidays

I Broke Daddy!

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