My MS Update June 2016

Today I thought I would reach out and give you, my loyal readers and update on my health.  I know I haven't posted in a few months.  I am sorry for this as I know with reading blogs' we often like to have regular updates to read.

This picture was to record today's MS Physiotherapy.  I walked 3.75 miles this morning in a hour and a half. A couple years ago, I managed to walk this in an hour.  I am getting there.  Early mornings, and determination, I know I will get there again.

I have been really focusing on my health, physically and mentally.  With spring comes flare ups with my Multiple Sclerosis and some season changes are worse for me then others. I have been reassured by the results of my recent MRI, that my MS is not progressing. I have no changes in this MRI or new damage done since my previous MRI a year ago. This is great news! I am happy to share this with you as it is great news with all the symptoms and what seems as flare ups I have had this last year.  Once again conforming that they are; Pseudo-Relapses that I have been experiencing. Seems just as a relapse only no damage is being done as my Copaxzone daily injections are working. Preventing my immune system from removing the myelin coating on my nerves.

Even though I am experiencing; Extreme Emotions,  Unitary Urgency, face twitching, memory issues, fatigue, difficulty sleeping and a few other things.  I know these will eventually ease off and go away as the season of summer comes to an end.  Mean time I will keep walking as much as I can. Stay cool in my pool or cold showers, try and nap when needed.  I will continue to concentrate on nutrition and hydrate my body with lots of water daily.

Some of you know, MS is not an easy disease to live with.  I believe we have to keep a positive outlook on our life to keep it managed. We all have bad days with or without illness in our lives.  I just try not to make it out to be worse then it is.  I try not to focus on the negative things it has done to me or taken from me...... as it will only make things harder to deal with.

Keep cool and make the best out of each day. Until next time. Take care of yourself!
Let me know how you are doing this summer....
Looking forward in hearing from you.

A gift of walking in the northern Moon light

MS and Living Life

Walking alone this evening allowed me to take in my surroundings.  The moon is shining bright, the snow is glittering, dancing around the shadows of its trees within the picture perfect beautiful landscape before me.

As I breathe, I can feel a fresh bite from the cool air, enters my lungs.  I can not only see the stress exist my body with each breath but, I feel it as my lungs and shoulders becoming lighter with each exhale.

Theres is a  sound of the loud crunch from the cold snow with each step I take, was like music to my ears. Which brought a feeling of peacefulness. A peacefulness, leaving me feeling as though I was in a presence of many Angels surrounding me.

An experience that made me feel and think; "What a beautiful night. What a gift it is to able to experience such beauty! I am so thankful to be able to enjoy this moment on this evening, while living in Northern Ontario." What a gift! What an experience!

People we live in a rushed world.  Don't forget to stop, slow down and enjoy these small precious moments we are given in our lives.

Wishing you all the best,

Hydro One Power Outage

“Cmon hydro one. get your shit together. Heat and running water would be nice I am sure your families all have warmth and water so get your asses in gear and do your dam job and give us hydro that we pay up the ass for.”  ... was a comment I reed this morning on Social Media, Facebook.

At this day and age of social media, as well as living in a small community in Northern Ontario, I was totally disappointed that people can be still so rude. The following comments on the feed where people, whom feel the same as I.  Feeling shocked and noting this behavior is uncalled for.  They where defending the hydro workers that are working hard to regain our hydro back for us.

First of all, these workers are working all hours to restore our hydro.  Possibly leaving their own families in the dark with no heat or running water either.  Yes it is their job but bashing them isn't going to help get the work done any faster.

Second of all, as mentioned in the article bellow they have also hired other companies to come in to assist in this restoration process. To try and make this happen quicker.

I am sitting here wondering how so many people can be so greedy and self centred as to think ,"they" should get things restored quicker then anyone else?  

We live in Northern Ontario where this does happen! And often!

Yes we pay too much for our hydro services.  However, these people are human and they too are paying the same rates as we are.  They do have families in the dark, no running water, cold and, so on!  I get it!

Let us get this straight people.  Compassion and a little appreciation goes a long way.  Giving these workers a hard time isn't helping anything.  I have friends who do this line work of all ages. Let me tell you some of the stories they have told of how rude people are to them, is nothing but disrespectful.

Stopping and telling them thank you for their work is an act of kindness that so many have forgotten. This small gesture not only makes them feel appreciated but helps them quickly and efficiently complete the job.

Take this outage as a  note to better prepare for the next one. Because it is going to happen.  This Ontario and this is fall and getting close to winter.  Pull together and help your nabours and friends by offering them some warmth. Those who have the capabilities of generators offer a quick shower or a supply of water. Offer batteries candles for lights. Most stories here in our area have back up generators to help provide food and supplies in these times.

Look at this as what did you learn out of this power outage?

Where you ready for it?

What do you need if there where another outage?

Do you have enough supplies on hand like; water, can foods, blankets batteries and gas for your generators?

Do you have enough propane so you can boil or cook with your outdoor barbecue?

Lets get your own emergency plain and supplies in order so you will feel better prepared for out next outage.

So ... I am thankful for having the utilities we do have that makes life so much more enjoyable. 

Leaving you today in positive thoughts to better prepare for unplanned outages.

Please share with me how you plan ahead for our northern outages.

Wishing you well.

MS and Living Life..

Updated Power outage information and image gathered from

Almaguin News

By Rebecca Zanussi

Link from FaceBook Post North Bay Nippissing News Story

Nature whispers to you, if you're open to listen...

The other night the temperature finally cooled off and something compelled me to strike out to explore the trails on our property. I snowshoe on them in the winter months.  Which that is a season that looks and feels much different then it does now, mid August. 

Walking I find therapeutic and try to walk on a daily basis to help control my Multiple Sclerosis. With the heat wavs we are having this summer I haven't been walking as often as I would like. But that evening it was so peaceful and it was something I really needed. 

As the sounds of nature called out around me. It was in a way, that silenced my inner voice, calming my racing thoughts, giving me a sense of comfort. Feeling I was where I needed to be at that moment in time. 

I felt a presents, a spirit or something greater, come over me. Its' presence, I hadn't exsperianced in a long time. Whispering"...... there is something more to life, then what you have experienced so far....something, exceptional planned for you in time to come. You just needed to be patient and believe ..... " Thus, leaving me question; "Has my life I have been living, all been laid out for me before somehow? Is this all to teach me what I need to know?"

With this rare kind of openness,  I began to notice the smallest of things that nature has created and we seem to over look them in our busy lives. 

Making me realize what a small part of the world we are in. That I am in!  That there is so much more out there to see and experience. Thinking how lucky I am to have this here and experience this place in nature that so many will never see or know it exists. What a gift I have had, growing up in the country surrounded with nature. Somehow it had healed so much pain I had endured at such a young age. 

"Sometimes you Win and sometimes you Lean. " ~JC Macwell  For me, I choose to Learn 

I now know some people will never leave the cities or black top roads to experience what it is like to walk among the forest and trees. To pick wild raspberries from their branches, tasting  how juicy they are .  

In some way, all this makes me feel safe but the same time so alone living in this northern small town.  Our nabours great people which can not be seen but heard from a distance. Yet, leaving one feeling close, if one is in need. We are nabours who know each other and pop in for a visit. I don't do that quite as often as I should. They do leave me feeling closer to them then some of our family members. 

It's impossible to walk in the forest and be in a bad mood at the same time. ~Unknown 

It is amazing how getting out side and going for a walk can be so calming and help clear our minds of our daily struggles. 

Wishing you the peacefulness and the confidence you may need for yourself today. 

My 1st Book Review

Those who know me well, know that I enjoy reading, I preferably and absolutely love audio books.  Not just any type of books like; Romance, Fiction, Biographies but they must be self development and self improvement.  Something I can learn from.  Something to better myself, my way of living, health or how I deal with others, in a positive way. I don’t like to sit and reed books as there always seems so much to do and enjoy.  If I am going to sit, I want it to be to relax and let my mind be at ease, bye watching a movie or sit at my computer to each out to others around the world or to share my thoughts. I look at my life as we all have a certain amount of time given to us, and we must use it wisely. So audio books are my way of multitasking, getting the job done and educating myself at the same time. 

MSandLivingLife

Women Who Love Too Much. When you keep hoping & Wishing He Would Change.  

~By Robin Norwood

A book I never would have thought would profoundly change my outlook on myself and my life.  It really touched home for me. This author shared stories of different level of abuse and dysfunctional relationships within there homes and with friends around them and how they where being controlled and affected.  

These women where from all levels of society, who loved their partners, regardless of their unhealed issues. Leaving them feeling that they can fix and heal their partners if only they could do this or that and get them to see and change. Though all their anger and addictions it left so many feeling alone, hurt and feeling they didn’t do enough. Blaming themselves. Some women not even realizing they are in abusive relationships. Some how I could find some similarities of my life and past relationships and the things I tried to do to control the out come of some situations.

Later the author shows you that we need to start with ourselves,  To heal our own wounds and learn to love and treat our selves in a loving respectful way, using this as an example to others around us.  We need to learn to believe, love ourselves and get in touch with our own inter-voice. Become responsible for our own well-being and be confident in ourselves, so we don’t fall pray to these kinds of relationships and people in our lives.

I learned that by my own standard I will not except to be treated any less then I treat myself or others. I am not responsible for anyone but myself in any relationship.  How they act or react is not my choice or under my control. Others are their own person and as an adult they are very much capable of making their own choices, good or bad. That they themselves will experience the consequences of their actions. We as people can not control others but be there to listen and be there for them when needed. 

I believe by following this and living it, my relationships and friendships are stressful for myself, not only more open, enjoyable but richer and fulfilling. 

MS and Living Life...

Download the Audio Book