#CTST – BEAUTIFUL DAY

Hey, everyone! It’s time for another posting of Celebrate the Small Things brought to us by LEXA CAIN.  Post anything in life that you’re celebrating, no matter how small or big, on your blog.

Sign up by clicking on the image, hop around and celebrate with others.

Make sure your blog post has a link to the sign-up as well, so other bloggers will be able to sign-up and hop around too. 

This is such a simple and easy blog-hop, and it also happens to be one of my favorites.  After posting the things you have to celebrate, please don’t forget to visit and thank Lexa and her awesome and amazing co-hosts for the wonderful job they do:

 

LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge   and Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits

Even though I found myself sleeping a lot for the first few days after the increase in my Depakote, I managed (as I usually do) to find a few things to celebrate this week.

1. The weather the past two days have been glorious. The snow is mostly melted and it feels like Spring. When the weather is this nice, my pain levels are reduced. I’m thrilled about that.
2. Vivi’s family and I went to a Puerto Rican spot on Saturday to celebrate her hubby’s birthday. The food was amazing. 
3. I spoke to a friend that I haven’t seen in years and when I head to NJ next, we’re planning to meet up. Super stoked.

Best of all, I’m STILL ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GRASS!! Can I get a woohoo!! 🙂

What have you celebrated this week?

 

 

 

WEEKLY QUOTE — FEBRUARY 22, 2017

Good morning, all. It’s Wednesday and time for another weekly quote. With the new diagnosis of Syringomyelia from my neurologist, I’ve been focusing extra hard on staying strong and positive, because I’m hard-headed like that. I’ve gotten through worse and I’ll get through this.

Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For whoever else is struggling, this is for you, too! Xoxoxo

 

 

ANOTHER BLOW — SYRINGOMYELIA

Good morning, all. I kept the promise to myself on Friday that my post for Celebrate the Small Things would be all positive. I did that. Now, it’s time for me to post the not so great news. It would be an understatement if I said I wasn’t freaking out just a little bit but I’m doing my best.

When I saw my neurologist Dr. G on Friday, he went over my MRIs with me. The brain MRI was as expected. No new aneurysms or anything like that. Yay, for that. I wasn’t so lucky with the cervical spine MRI.

Photo from the Mayo Foundation

It seems that I’m one of the few that suffers from syringomyelia. It’s a disorder where cysts (syrinx) forms within the spinal cord. There are two types:

1. In most cases, it’s related to an abnormality in the brain called Chiari I malformation. This causes the lower part of the cerebellum to protrude from its normal position in the back of the head into the cervical or neck portion of the spinal canal.
2. The second form occurs as a complication of trauma (like my car accident in 2011), meningitis, hemorrhage, tumor, or arachnoiditis. In these cases, the cysts (syrinx) develops in a segment of the spinal cord damaged by one of these conditions.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), approximately 40,000 people in the US are affected. Couldn’t I have just won the lottery instead? Just sayin’…

Many of the symptoms are similar to the ones I currently have from the bleed, but it could explain why I’ve had a couple of falls lately. Dr. G wants another MRI done in six months to see if it’s grown or expanded. The usual treatment is surgery if the cysts increase or expand, but I’m trying to remain optimistic that I won’t have to go that far. I’ll be monitored by Dr. G and have a follow-up cervical spine MRI in six months to check.

Oh, and I’m back to having to use my cane indefinitely. Blah. Thank goodness he’s got me going to physical therapy soon.

If you’d like more information on this disorder, you can go to the NINDS site.

Like I said, I’m going to try remaining optimistic that the syrinx won’t grow or expand and routine follow-ups will be all that’s required. I love you guys and would appreciate any positive thoughts and prayers you can send my way.

Have a great week. Xoxoxo

 

#CTST – KEEPING IT POSITIVE

Welcome to another posting of Celebrate the Small Things brought to us by LEXA CAIN.  Post anything in life that you’re celebrating, no matter how small or big, on your blog.

Sign up by clicking on the image, hop around and celebrate with others.

Make sure your blog post has a link to the sign-up as well, so other bloggers will be able to sign-up and hop around too. 

This is such a simple and easy blog-hop, and it also happens to be one of my favorites.  After posting the things you have to celebrate, please don’t forget to visit and thank Lexa and her awesome and amazing co-hosts for the wonderful job they do:

 

LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge   and Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits

There are some things I need to discuss regarding the MRIs I had taken a few weeks ago, but that’s for a post next week. Today, I’m keeping it all positive.

• I saw my neurologist today and he’s weaning me off the Keppra and next week starting to increase the Depakote. He’s working one med at a time in case there’s a problem, he’ll know which med is responsible. I’m just happy to get this ball rolling already.
• Last week my other blog, lilicasplace celebrated four years of blogging.
• Vivi and I also had manicures done last week.
• After my neuro visit, Vivi treated me to breakfast before heading off to work.

And of course, I’m STILL ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GRASS!!

What have you celebrated this week?

 

 

 

WEEKLY QUOTE — FEBRUARY 15, 2017

Good morning, all. It’s Wednesday and time for another weekly quote. This week has been good to me since I was able to get a lot of things done.

Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

This is what I’m working on! Have a blessed day, everyone!

 

 

WEEKLY QUOTE – FEBRUARY 8

Good morning, all and here’s my weekly quote:

 

 

 

 

 

This quote seems appropriate considering everything that’s been going on for the past couple of months. A lot of people have had much to say lately. Whether based on facts seems to be irrelevant.

No wonder my stress level has been so high…

Enjoy the rest of your week.

 

 

 

MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT MUSINGS

Hey, everyone. It’s past three in the morning and I can’t sleep. I know, I know, it’s what I usually do anyway. Tonight my mind is going a million miles per hour and no matter how much I try to control it, nothing helps.

For starters, I fell again a couple of days ago on my friends’ porch. I was trying to bring in the mail when I began listing to the left. I already know I’m a fall risk, so I knew what was going to happen. I promptly shifted backward so I landed on my bottom. I didn’t hurt anything unless my pride counts.

I sat there for a few minutes crying in frustration because I knew it would take me a while to get back up. When I finally did, I brought the mail inside and made my way to bed, where I’ve spent most of the past couple of days.

I began thinking (again) what my purpose in life is supposed to be. I’m still thinking about it as I write this. Giving up isn’t an option for me, though I’d be lying if I said I never thought about it. I pray. And pray. And pray some more. Still waiting to hear back.

With everything that’s going on in this country now, I stress out and become more depressed. I love God, but I hate organized religion. Wars are fought for greed, power, and in the name of religion. Maybe that’s why my mind is so confused. Being well again is top of my list, so I implore my online followers and friends, please help me help my brain make sense again.

Hugs to all of you who listen and are there for me unconditionally and without judgment. I love you guys.

PS: I’m going to reschedule Dr. G earlier even if I have to cab it. I think all these meds aren’t helping. Xoxoxo