I live in central NY state and Syracuse is our local basketball team but they were beaten the other day by Butler. So now I am going with Butler all the way in the NCAA tournament. Sometimes you have to root for the underdog, the Cinderella team.
I was so excited that my Tastefully Simple goodies have arrived. The problem is that it always tastes so much better when someone else makes it. I made the Spinach Artichoke dip today but it tastes all wrong to me. I'm so dissappointed in that. Bummer that I can't eat more fattening foods! LOL
I also have my TS drinks here. I have watermelon margaritas and mojitos chilling in the freezer. I need to try them out to see what I am going to raffle off in my basket for work.
I'm not sure if I mentioned this or not but I am going to raffle off two goodie baskets at work. One has some Tastefully Simple stuff in it and some chocolate and the other will have hair care products and was generously donated by my hair stylist/coiffer extraordinaire, Becca. The proceeds will go to the National MS Society as part of my walk donations.
Speaking of which I almost at $1500 in donations. I am a mere twenty-three dollars away from that milestone. I'm so proud that I have been able to raise so much money so quickly. Thank you to everyone who has helped, whether it's been by joining the team or sending donations or words of support. I still find it hard to believe that I am feeling so well at this point in time. This is such a gift.
I remember what it was like when I was sick with symptoms all the time and then somehow, gradually, I ended up here in this place of health and wellness. I don't know how it happened but it did. I am grateful for that.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Marching through March
It's been awhile since I've visited here and posted, so here I am with an update.
Scrapbooking was so much fun. I was there with some friends and ran into another high school classmate. I finished 11 pages, if I remember correctly. I learned how to use vellum splits to adhere those cutesy vellum quotes to my page. It was all around a great day and nice to be out of the house doing something just for me!
The MS Walk is on May 2nd and I have already personally raised $1200 just with online donations so far. I have another $100+ in cash and check donations and I will be holding a raffle at school soon. I plan to raffle off some chocolate, a Tastefully Simple pound cake mix and one of their brand-spanking-new watermelon margarita mixes. I hope to make another fifty dollars or so off that.
The crazy thing is that my whole team goal was $1200 so we have already beaten that! I have a confirmed team of 6 other members with a possible 3-5 more people joining us. I think we are also going to have T-shirts made up with our Team Weeble name on them.
Someone asked how I am able to do this, the exercising and the upcoming walk. The answer is that I am truly in a remission state right now. I have very little active symptoms outside of fatigue and some urinary frequency which are dealt with through meds, and also some cramps in my legs now and then.
I feel good exercising. I see changes in my body, my shape, and my muscles. I have lost weight and I am starting to make some better food choices with fresh pineapple being my top change. It tastes so good; who knew? I guess the people at Dole did.
I still have a long way to go with the weight loss. I am not deluding myself into thinking that I am all fixed. I have lots of work to do but for the first time in a long time it seems... almost manageable. For once I can push the MS diagnosis to the side and work on me without *that* getting in the way.
There was a long period of time when I couldn't do that and that was just a year ago. What a difference a year can make. It's hard to ride out the symptoms sometimes with MS. I have been blessed with good health at this time and I am going to make the most of it. I am going to keep walking, dancing, and boxing the heck out of MS. Score one for me and zero for MS.
I hope your symptoms wane and become manageable too.
Weebs :)
Scrapbooking was so much fun. I was there with some friends and ran into another high school classmate. I finished 11 pages, if I remember correctly. I learned how to use vellum splits to adhere those cutesy vellum quotes to my page. It was all around a great day and nice to be out of the house doing something just for me!
The MS Walk is on May 2nd and I have already personally raised $1200 just with online donations so far. I have another $100+ in cash and check donations and I will be holding a raffle at school soon. I plan to raffle off some chocolate, a Tastefully Simple pound cake mix and one of their brand-spanking-new watermelon margarita mixes. I hope to make another fifty dollars or so off that.
The crazy thing is that my whole team goal was $1200 so we have already beaten that! I have a confirmed team of 6 other members with a possible 3-5 more people joining us. I think we are also going to have T-shirts made up with our Team Weeble name on them.
Someone asked how I am able to do this, the exercising and the upcoming walk. The answer is that I am truly in a remission state right now. I have very little active symptoms outside of fatigue and some urinary frequency which are dealt with through meds, and also some cramps in my legs now and then.
I feel good exercising. I see changes in my body, my shape, and my muscles. I have lost weight and I am starting to make some better food choices with fresh pineapple being my top change. It tastes so good; who knew? I guess the people at Dole did.
I still have a long way to go with the weight loss. I am not deluding myself into thinking that I am all fixed. I have lots of work to do but for the first time in a long time it seems... almost manageable. For once I can push the MS diagnosis to the side and work on me without *that* getting in the way.
There was a long period of time when I couldn't do that and that was just a year ago. What a difference a year can make. It's hard to ride out the symptoms sometimes with MS. I have been blessed with good health at this time and I am going to make the most of it. I am going to keep walking, dancing, and boxing the heck out of MS. Score one for me and zero for MS.
I hope your symptoms wane and become manageable too.
Weebs :)
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Tysabri tomorrow
Just a quick one to let you know I am off to get my next Tysabri infusion tomorrow. Yeah for Ty!
I also need to get my scrapbooking stuff together because Saturday is National Scrapbooking Day and I am going. It's at a local hotel and I am spending the day scrapping with some friends. It's about time I did something fun for myself!
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend because today is my Friday.
Weebs
PS: Still looking for people to sponsor or join Team Weeble. Check out my Facebook page if we're friends IRL. I appreciate any help we can get. :)
I also need to get my scrapbooking stuff together because Saturday is National Scrapbooking Day and I am going. It's at a local hotel and I am spending the day scrapping with some friends. It's about time I did something fun for myself!
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend because today is my Friday.
Weebs
PS: Still looking for people to sponsor or join Team Weeble. Check out my Facebook page if we're friends IRL. I appreciate any help we can get. :)
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The MS Walk and the Wii
Last year at this time I was out of work due to my MS and depression. This year I am signing up for, strike that, have already signed up for the National MS Society Walk on May 2nd. I'm going to walk for those who can't move it due to MS!
I have started a team called Weeble's Wobblers aka Team Weeble for short. I am doing my best to rope in my friends and colleagues to be part of this awesome team. I have a goal for our team of $1200 in donations. Just today I have received $150 in donations through Facebook. If you'd like to donate and we're Facebook friends, you can click on the link at the bottom left of my page and it will take you where you need to go to donate.
*Thanks BJM for being a part of my team!
As far as the Wii goes, I have lost 23 pounds since January when I started the Just Dance. I added in the Gold's Gym Cardio Boxing in February and that added a whole new dimension to the "shake up the fat" zone. The next thing I am going to do is add in Zumba DVDs to dance and shake my bountiful booty. I am actually enjoying moving my body, challenging it, and making it sweat. Maybe I will eventually hit my goal of running again! Woohoo, that's something to think about.
Tomorrow is also my Friday at work because Friday is a Tysabri day. That means I can go to McDonald's and get a Shamrock shake before the Ty. Yummo!
I have started a team called Weeble's Wobblers aka Team Weeble for short. I am doing my best to rope in my friends and colleagues to be part of this awesome team. I have a goal for our team of $1200 in donations. Just today I have received $150 in donations through Facebook. If you'd like to donate and we're Facebook friends, you can click on the link at the bottom left of my page and it will take you where you need to go to donate.
*Thanks BJM for being a part of my team!
As far as the Wii goes, I have lost 23 pounds since January when I started the Just Dance. I added in the Gold's Gym Cardio Boxing in February and that added a whole new dimension to the "shake up the fat" zone. The next thing I am going to do is add in Zumba DVDs to dance and shake my bountiful booty. I am actually enjoying moving my body, challenging it, and making it sweat. Maybe I will eventually hit my goal of running again! Woohoo, that's something to think about.
Tomorrow is also my Friday at work because Friday is a Tysabri day. That means I can go to McDonald's and get a Shamrock shake before the Ty. Yummo!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Snow day round two and bad cat
We had Friday off as a second snow day, woohoo. So what did I do?
I went out and purchased a money order for my rent; we can't pay in cash or a check so that's a pain in the rear every month. After the bank I went to a local store for some new Easy Spirit sneakers. I treated myself to two pairs of new sneaks but when I got home I noticed I bought a whole size larger than the 6 and a halfs I already own. I'm not sure if I should keep the bigger ones or go back and try the other size. Oh what a dilemma! (Insert loud snort here.)
I had a great workout on Friday with another hour of major boxing, some dancing, and lots of sweat. As gross as it sounds, I like the feeling of sweat rolling down my neck while I am running or punching the sand bags. Those endorphins are a free med that I don't need a co-pay for amongst my regular pharmaceuticals.
I like the feel of the flab moving around as I dance and jog and throw hooks. In my own convoluted head, I believe that the more the flab gets shaken up, the more it will deteriorate and leave my overweight body. I know it doesn't quite work like that but it helps me to keep moving it. A year ago I was such a mess. Now I feel like I have come such a long way, being able to move so much and feel so free. This is a good place to be.
As far as the bad cat goes, Edison has taken up chewing up cables on the back of my computer. I have a desk top so that brings forth some problems. He has one cable almost chewed all the way through. It's kind of pizzing me off. He's not supposed to be doing that and yet he is. I caught him chewing today and sprayed him about 8 times with the spray bottle. I also wacked him when I caught him chewing tonight. Neither thing seems to be doing any good. The computer is not up against a wall; it's against a heater so I can't push it back too far.
Any ideas on my kitty issue?
Saturday was tax day for me and I look forward to my returns coming soon. I also grocery shopped, read and napped. No exercise today; it's a day off. My arms are sore but a good, healthy sore. Back to it tomorrow.
I have MS but I'm not letting it control me now!
I went out and purchased a money order for my rent; we can't pay in cash or a check so that's a pain in the rear every month. After the bank I went to a local store for some new Easy Spirit sneakers. I treated myself to two pairs of new sneaks but when I got home I noticed I bought a whole size larger than the 6 and a halfs I already own. I'm not sure if I should keep the bigger ones or go back and try the other size. Oh what a dilemma! (Insert loud snort here.)
I had a great workout on Friday with another hour of major boxing, some dancing, and lots of sweat. As gross as it sounds, I like the feeling of sweat rolling down my neck while I am running or punching the sand bags. Those endorphins are a free med that I don't need a co-pay for amongst my regular pharmaceuticals.
I like the feel of the flab moving around as I dance and jog and throw hooks. In my own convoluted head, I believe that the more the flab gets shaken up, the more it will deteriorate and leave my overweight body. I know it doesn't quite work like that but it helps me to keep moving it. A year ago I was such a mess. Now I feel like I have come such a long way, being able to move so much and feel so free. This is a good place to be.
As far as the bad cat goes, Edison has taken up chewing up cables on the back of my computer. I have a desk top so that brings forth some problems. He has one cable almost chewed all the way through. It's kind of pizzing me off. He's not supposed to be doing that and yet he is. I caught him chewing today and sprayed him about 8 times with the spray bottle. I also wacked him when I caught him chewing tonight. Neither thing seems to be doing any good. The computer is not up against a wall; it's against a heater so I can't push it back too far.
Any ideas on my kitty issue?
Saturday was tax day for me and I look forward to my returns coming soon. I also grocery shopped, read and napped. No exercise today; it's a day off. My arms are sore but a good, healthy sore. Back to it tomorrow.
I have MS but I'm not letting it control me now!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
There's no day like a snow day!
Okay, I finally received the gift of a snow day. How excited was I this morning? Pretty darned excited, people.
What did I do with my day? Not a lot which is the beauty of an unexpected paid day off. I napped on and off and just took my shower at 7:30 p.m. I made beer bread and some dip and feasted on that. (Don't worry; there is still some left!) I watched some TV and read some of my book and a magazine. I worked out for 65 minutes with my dancing and boxing. I finally shoveled the car off and moved it into its correct space.
I feel so good it's unbeleivable. The shower has relaxed me even more after my exercise endorphin rush. I feel squeaky clean and cleansed of any frustrations or bothersome nuisances. I'm like jello with a spine.
One other thing I did was talk to the Tysabri people when they called this evening. I reported that all was good because it is. Tysabri, for me, is a good drug even with the risk of PML. I know everyone has their own opinion but I have had a spectacular school year this year.
Survivor is on so I have to go watch before it's my bedtime. I bet I am asleep long before half my class is. Night to all! :)
What did I do with my day? Not a lot which is the beauty of an unexpected paid day off. I napped on and off and just took my shower at 7:30 p.m. I made beer bread and some dip and feasted on that. (Don't worry; there is still some left!) I watched some TV and read some of my book and a magazine. I worked out for 65 minutes with my dancing and boxing. I finally shoveled the car off and moved it into its correct space.
I feel so good it's unbeleivable. The shower has relaxed me even more after my exercise endorphin rush. I feel squeaky clean and cleansed of any frustrations or bothersome nuisances. I'm like jello with a spine.
One other thing I did was talk to the Tysabri people when they called this evening. I reported that all was good because it is. Tysabri, for me, is a good drug even with the risk of PML. I know everyone has their own opinion but I have had a spectacular school year this year.
Survivor is on so I have to go watch before it's my bedtime. I bet I am asleep long before half my class is. Night to all! :)
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Maybe baby...
Tomorrow has the potential to be a snow day. Just wanted everyone to know that in case they wanted to put extra powerful vibes out into the universe.
Worked out today but I am having some pain in my right leg and my arms feel heavy. Take the pain away, Aleve.
This is short and sweet but so am I!
Worked out today but I am having some pain in my right leg and my arms feel heavy. Take the pain away, Aleve.
This is short and sweet but so am I!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
I miss my boxing.
I did not box today and I swear I am having withdrawal symptoms. I'm cranky and alert when I am usually sweaty and winding down. I took the day off from boxing because I have been working out like crazy lately. Everyone knows you need to rest up and not wear yourself out by doing too much too often.
Last night I was up about 3 hours after falling asleep and I was in some pain. My legs and back ached. Ached, people! I took some Aleve and finally got back to sleep. That was my sign to take it easy today.
A day off helps the body rest and repair itself from all the activity it's been undergoing. I just can't imagine three months ago saying that I miss exercise but it's true.
I'll keep moving it for as long as I can, with those occasional rest days thrown in there. Hope you're feeling well and able to move as much as you can!
Last night I was up about 3 hours after falling asleep and I was in some pain. My legs and back ached. Ached, people! I took some Aleve and finally got back to sleep. That was my sign to take it easy today.
A day off helps the body rest and repair itself from all the activity it's been undergoing. I just can't imagine three months ago saying that I miss exercise but it's true.
I'll keep moving it for as long as I can, with those occasional rest days thrown in there. Hope you're feeling well and able to move as much as you can!
Monday, February 22, 2010
OMB (Oh my blog!)
Yep, I'm at it again. Here I am typing away for a second day in a row. I hope there's still someone rambling around out here in my part of cyberspace to read this.
So what have I got for you?
No snow day again. No surprise. For those of you that don't "know" me, I live in the snow belt. We get a lot of snow in the winter, usually a minimum of 120 inches or so. We have not had one snow day yet. Any teacher in these parts will admit to being restless and eager for a snow day. SOON!
I know that no one else really gets snow days off. I understand your envy of teachers getting a day off for free. It's a bonus day that they pay you to stay home and watch TV and nap. Life doesn't get much better than that.
We have 5 days scheduled for snow days on top of our regular work days. Not one has been used and this is a record. We have never gone this long in the winter season without a snow day. Teachers all over the area awake each day to turn on the TV in hopes that a real snow storm has struck that wasn't on the radar. I can almost hear the collective groan of these dedicated workers getting up at 5 a.m. and being denied that special day.
I know, suck it up.
I will and I do. I go to work each day, sometimes begrudgingly, but my day will come.
In other stuff, I danced and then boxed for a good hour. I know I have had a good workout when my eyesight starts to get blurry. I know this is a typical occurence for MSers when their body temperature rises. Stuff tends to go a little haywire but it's just temporary.
I also know I have had a good workout when I am sufficiently sweaty and my body feels good. I am starting to crave this thing called exercise. I used to be thin a long time ago and I worked out often. I was even a runner. Then I got fat, real fat, and then I got sick and finally I got diagnosed with MS. Since MS I haven't done a lot of serious moving around until now. I never thought my Wii would motivate me because the Wii Fit didn't do much for me. I thought it was boring and not fun enough. Turns out, I just needed to find the games for me.
Who would have thunk that a Fatty McFattypants like me would be getting in shape with video games? Stranger things have happened.
Like no snow days, for one!
So what have I got for you?
No snow day again. No surprise. For those of you that don't "know" me, I live in the snow belt. We get a lot of snow in the winter, usually a minimum of 120 inches or so. We have not had one snow day yet. Any teacher in these parts will admit to being restless and eager for a snow day. SOON!
I know that no one else really gets snow days off. I understand your envy of teachers getting a day off for free. It's a bonus day that they pay you to stay home and watch TV and nap. Life doesn't get much better than that.
We have 5 days scheduled for snow days on top of our regular work days. Not one has been used and this is a record. We have never gone this long in the winter season without a snow day. Teachers all over the area awake each day to turn on the TV in hopes that a real snow storm has struck that wasn't on the radar. I can almost hear the collective groan of these dedicated workers getting up at 5 a.m. and being denied that special day.
I know, suck it up.
I will and I do. I go to work each day, sometimes begrudgingly, but my day will come.
In other stuff, I danced and then boxed for a good hour. I know I have had a good workout when my eyesight starts to get blurry. I know this is a typical occurence for MSers when their body temperature rises. Stuff tends to go a little haywire but it's just temporary.
I also know I have had a good workout when I am sufficiently sweaty and my body feels good. I am starting to crave this thing called exercise. I used to be thin a long time ago and I worked out often. I was even a runner. Then I got fat, real fat, and then I got sick and finally I got diagnosed with MS. Since MS I haven't done a lot of serious moving around until now. I never thought my Wii would motivate me because the Wii Fit didn't do much for me. I thought it was boring and not fun enough. Turns out, I just needed to find the games for me.
Who would have thunk that a Fatty McFattypants like me would be getting in shape with video games? Stranger things have happened.
Like no snow days, for one!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
What's up?
I know I have been gone for a long time, over a month, and you probably gave up on me. Here I am though. SURPRISE!
Things have been going so well for me that I just haven't had anything to whine or kvetch about so I have been staying away. For me, no news on here has been good news.
MS-wise I have been doing fantastic, no relapses, no new symptoms. I'm going to have new MRIs scheduled sometime in the near future to see what Tysabri has been doing to my lesions, if anything. All I know is that a year ago I was out of work due to my MS and depression and now I am moving along swimmingly. Work hasn't been a total dream but this is my best year in a long time. Thud, thud! (That was the sound of me knocking on wood, or rather particle board.)
I am done with therapy after nine plus years and I feel so free not having to go in for my tune-ups once a month. I miss my therapist only in the way that we became more like friends by the time my therapy was done. I am still taking my depression meds, along with the rest of them, and I am doing well with that.
Work is good, emotions are stable, and my MS is not really in the forefront of my mind. I have started to do some positive work for myself on the health front. I bought the Just Dance Wii game after Christmas and started dancing several nights a week with it. Then a friend suggested Wii's Gold's Gym Cardio Boxing and I added that in to me exercise repotoire. I have now gone down two pants' sizes just by dancing and boxing and having fun.
Go me!
I haven't changed my eating habits but the exercise, and it is exercise, has been such a wonderful accoutrement to my quiet life. The boxing gets out any frustrations and I have fun throwing those hooks. I jump rope and run and box and then throw in the dancing. I get sweaty and the endorphin high is great, after years of not doing much more than the Walk Away the Pounds DVDs which are just plain boring after a while. I love moving my body around and seeing changes.
Things with my family are going well. My sister is now in Afghanistan and my brother is staying in Germany. My parents are holding their own health-wise. Edison kitty has been declawed and fixed and has all his shots. He seems to adore me and likes to sit or lay across me whenever possible.
Things are going well for me. I hope the same for you in your world. :)
Things have been going so well for me that I just haven't had anything to whine or kvetch about so I have been staying away. For me, no news on here has been good news.
MS-wise I have been doing fantastic, no relapses, no new symptoms. I'm going to have new MRIs scheduled sometime in the near future to see what Tysabri has been doing to my lesions, if anything. All I know is that a year ago I was out of work due to my MS and depression and now I am moving along swimmingly. Work hasn't been a total dream but this is my best year in a long time. Thud, thud! (That was the sound of me knocking on wood, or rather particle board.)
I am done with therapy after nine plus years and I feel so free not having to go in for my tune-ups once a month. I miss my therapist only in the way that we became more like friends by the time my therapy was done. I am still taking my depression meds, along with the rest of them, and I am doing well with that.
Work is good, emotions are stable, and my MS is not really in the forefront of my mind. I have started to do some positive work for myself on the health front. I bought the Just Dance Wii game after Christmas and started dancing several nights a week with it. Then a friend suggested Wii's Gold's Gym Cardio Boxing and I added that in to me exercise repotoire. I have now gone down two pants' sizes just by dancing and boxing and having fun.
Go me!
I haven't changed my eating habits but the exercise, and it is exercise, has been such a wonderful accoutrement to my quiet life. The boxing gets out any frustrations and I have fun throwing those hooks. I jump rope and run and box and then throw in the dancing. I get sweaty and the endorphin high is great, after years of not doing much more than the Walk Away the Pounds DVDs which are just plain boring after a while. I love moving my body around and seeing changes.
Things with my family are going well. My sister is now in Afghanistan and my brother is staying in Germany. My parents are holding their own health-wise. Edison kitty has been declawed and fixed and has all his shots. He seems to adore me and likes to sit or lay across me whenever possible.
Things are going well for me. I hope the same for you in your world. :)
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