At Least I'm Not Wearing The Cone of Shame

So my plan this summer was to post at least once a week on each of my blogs.

Obviously, that hasn't happened.

There are lots of curve balls and challenges zinging around out in the world, and I caught one this month. I don't know why I'm always so surprised when something unexpected pops up. I've been saying not normal is our normal for quite some time now. If I could only just get myself to believe that.

So all my big Summer of Science experiment plans, outings to add posts to our Kayak Love blog, and my more frequent updating on this blog have been put on hold for the time being.


I blame the MS. And this time, it really is my MS's fault.

I'm having a flair up at the moment. As exciting as something called a flair sounds, it really isn't my favorite way to spend my time. Flair is bad enough if it's something your boss makes you wear on your apron at work (obscure movie reference). With MS, it really bites.

The yarn on the right: how my brain used to feel. The yarn on the left: how my brain feels these days.

All my past flair ups have meant over the top fatigue, as in I'm in bed for weeks at a time, have to be helped into the bathroom, and I can't stay awake long enough to finish a complete conversation with a goldfish, much less a person. I usually lose the ability to walk properly and I say the most rediculous things.

These last two symptoms are always a big hit with the kids. I'll tell them to do stuff like:

• Please put the dirty clothes into the dishwasher and start it.
• Load those dishes into the toilet.
• Please put those groceries in the dryer for me.
• Go brush your feet and get into bed.
• Go get me a window. I'm thirsty.
•  

They have all sorts of fun since I can't really hop up and chase them around the house. By the time the day is done, I'm usually feeling pretty content about not being able to get out of bed. That way, I don't have to climb over all the piles of tumble dried groceries, steam washed laundry, explosive science experiments, and piles of furniture that mysteriously migrated throughout the house and into the yard.

This time, unlike previous flair ups, I've lost strength on my right side. This is new. I've always been a lefty when it comes to losing control. It's a little disconcerting to suddenly lose my "good side" like that, but there are always worse things. I could suddenly lose my ability to beat the kids at Chinese Checkers, read, knit, or be the best prankster in the family.

So instead of being out having adventures to share, I'm smack in the middle of daily steroid infusions. The last time I did this, it almost killed me. It's been about four years since then, so hopefully, my body will have forgotten about that little disagreement we had. So far, so good.

My infusion entertainment.

The infusion nurses are incredibly lovely, and have gone above and beyond to try to create a spa atmosphere in the hospital for those of us lucky enough to get to spend time with them. I'm might even move in with them. They don't cart loads of sand into my living room, or build mazes out of all the infusion center furniture, making it impossible to get to the bathroom. They bring me drinks, warm blankets, and always laugh at my jokes.

Life could always be worse. At least they don't make me wear the Cone of Shame.

So, hopefully I'll soon be back up and blogging again. But in the meantime, thanks for all the prayers, the encouragement, and the patience. I miss the chaos, the adventure, and I miss getting to share it with you. Because insanity is always better when you spread around.

How my days look right now.

 P.S. My ever loving husband, The Doctor of All Things Proper Grammar, just pointed out that there is a difference between flair and flare, and that apparently I am using them wrong. To which I say, "Deal with it. I have holes in my brain. And possibly in my spine as well. So I can use words however I want. Neiner neiner."

He loves it when I use big words like that.

Also, he loves it when I use less and fewer interchangeably, or when I smoosh two words together to make up fancy new words. I'm blaming the MS for that. It has absolutely nothing to do with how his face gets all squinchey.