Proud Mommy Momemt

This happened a few weeks ago...but I never want to forget it.  And if something happens to me I want someone to share the story with Nate.

Before Christmas Nate decided he wanted to go Christmas shopping. This was a big surprize.  Because Nate had been only worried about getting for himself for Christmas.  Ben had worked hard and earned money then got a shopping day with Mommy.  Let me take a moment here to explain something about the generous Ben...he went and bought two nice Lego sets "for his brothers"<---which he planned "to help" them build.  Then he went on to the Dollar Tree to find treasures for the other important people in his life :-)

 Now Nate suddenly decided he needed to do Christmas shopping.  We started and ended at the Dollar Tree--I have learned that my money is really easy to spend!  He started his Christmas shopping with a few things for himself ;-P then took alot of time picking out the gifts for others.

As we left he had the biggest winning smile on his face and he said " Mom...this has been the greatest day of my life!  You did the money and I did the shopping!"

I know honey...it was one of the greatest days of my life too!  I love you Nate.

100 DAYS of School!!!

When Ben was in Kindergarten he went to a public school and on the 100th day they had a celebration.  I made Ben a special shirt to wear to school that day.  Nate fell in love with the shirt!  He called it the "party shirt" and wore it proudly every time he could find it in the closet.  So with Nates' 100 day of Kindergarten nearing I made him a a special shirt!  {{and one for each of the other two boys :-)}}

WOW it is 2012

Wow it is 2012! And I have been gone..well actually here...just not blogging :-)

what happened? Yeah sometimes I wake up at night and I think...is this real? Was it just a nightmare?

No..it is really real...it did happen.

June 2011 I became ill. I found out about a month later that I had MS. I have two holes in the brain blood blanket. I was offered treatment with no hope. I could take shots that MIGHT slow down the episodes by 20%. Twenty percent is not good. It is not enough.

So I searched for an alternative treatment. I chose to have a stemcell treatment. My mother, aunt and I flew to Miami in October where I had the procedure done. 4.5 oz of fat was removed from my tummy. The stemcells were removed from the fat and injected back into my bloodstream. Three months later I feel amazing. I have all feeling back in my face, teethe,and tongue. I have not fallen since that time.

I have not told my neurosurgeon about the procedure yet. Monday I went to see him. I told him how well I am doing. He got to eye level with me and said "You need to understand that you have an incurable disease. The damage to your brain is permanent. The lesions will always be there. And will continue to happen because you are not on a treatment."

So tomorrow I have an MRI to measure the lesions and look for new ones.

The Psalmist David said " I am fearfully and wonderfully made." I believe that when God created our bodies He made them to take care of themselves--with us taking care of them soon.

For me the stemcell therapy was the right choice. It was the only choice with hope.

Here is what happens during the stemcell therapy ( I couldn't find the English version ;-( ...but it is out there!)




Frequently Asked Questions:
How much did it cost?
$13,900
Did insurance pay for it?
no... it is not a FDA approved procedure
Is it legal?
Yes...it has the same exemption as bone marrow transplants stated in CFR 1271.15.b.
What are the follow up meds?
three days of antibiotics and 30 days of mega vitamins to boost the immune system.
Did it hurt?
about as much as anything else when you take Valium :-)
How long is the procedure?
I was at the clinic about six hours total.
Would you do it again?
ABSOLUTELY!!

Magic Traveling Suitcase!!

Mrs. Wizzle may have a magic traveling school bus...but she is a cartoon charactor and I cam a real, breathing, likes to eat cold cereal mom! And the other day I found a beautiful leather suitcase at a yardsale for 50 cents...it came home with me and it is going to "travel" all the land of Imagination ;-)


I packed the suitcase with secret supplies....


We took our "school" outside to the nearest cool shady spot...

---yeah someone is wearing their pjs...hope you like their uniform!!

Then we climbed up in the learning tree to read the story of Madelines Rescue


Back to the desk...so that we would still be in school...we learned about France where Medeline lives...we enjoyed some french food...koolaid(wine) and cheese(cheese sticks).


Thus began our lapbook about Madeline and our study of France:




travel courtesy of Magic Leather Yardsale Suitcase and Imagination Voyages

Lego Master

Nates favorite subject is Legos...seriously!  It is part of his daily work...and why not?  So many lessons to be learned from Legos...and so creative.

22nd Day of School!!

I am so behind on posting about life, school, ect.....but here is a go!

So far we have had three field trips!

The first one was to the Louisville Zoo!  Funny but the boys favorite things about the zoo are the playground and the african culture exhibit!!












The next week we went to the Kentucky State Fair...their favorite exhibit was the 4H bug collections and the fossil digging from Mammoth Cave!


I was totally taken by the winning 4H cake!!


This Monday we went to the Air and Space Museum at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton Ohio.


I will have to find more pictures of that later :-)

Fear

I found this picture of Eli learning to stand...he was scared. He pulled up and liked it...and was afraid of falling. And he fell. Scary as it was he stood up again. He had to. It was so he could go on. Sometimes he falls but it doesn't scare him anymore. Because he only falls if he is not watching where he is going.

That lesson that I watched in all of my children is a sermon to me now. A few weeks ago I was shooting my best friends wedding. During the wedding my lips started going numb. At the reception I almost choked on cake. A couple of days later the numbness spread in my face and to my right leg. Not really afraid but concerned I went to a doctor...the next several days, weeks became scary. The first doctor thought it was a stroke. The next three doctors said it looked like textbook Multiple Sclerosis. Tests proved them right.

I believe all things happen for a reason...a purpose. I have tried not to ask why me and allow bitterness to live in me.

I dont have a treatment plan as of yet. I do worry. I try not to cry even when others cry while asking me about it. Mainly I cry in my pillow and the shower. My mantra is to proceed Aware not Afraid.

Being afraid will not help anything.

I have practiced in the mirro saying "I have MS,"  because I have to be able to say it fearless for others.  But when I say it I end it with a comma.  Because in my heart I finish the statement with "MS does not have me."