Welcome to my Secret Lair...

Greetings and welcome to my blog. The part of my family will be played by Gimparella as me, Big Daddy as my husband, Princess Punky as my daughter and Little Mayhem (a/k/a Boo Boo) as my son, and last, but not least, Sherman as our loyal and faithful Boxer. But seriously, I will probably refer to my family as the names above to help protect their privacy...and mine.

A little background on me and my "situation" (no I don't have sick-pack abs...though I wish I did). Big Daddy and I met 3 months before he went into boot camp. We decided to be crazy and actually try a long distance relationship...we were married 3 years later and I moved in with him 500 miles from home where he was stationed. We stayed there for a while after he was done with his 4 years serving this country. Strange things started to happen to me. After a trip to Florida and 5 days straight baking in the sun to a nice crispy brown color for my brother's wedding...I started to feel sick.

It was coming off the plane from Florida that the first of many major symptoms began. I felt like I was going through turbulance...even a week after we were home! Many tests and doctor visits later...I was told I may have Multiple Sclerosis. May?! Is that kinda like when my friend said she's "kinda" pregnant? Is there really such a thing?! Well, that doctor's hesitation was a blessing in disguise. We decided it was too hard for the two of us to deal with the bizarre symptoms plaguing my health being so far from home. We decided to move back to the old stomping grounds to be close to our family and dear friends for support.

Three months after we arrived home, when the ever important insurance kicked in, I made an appointment with a Neurologist. His exact words were, "Well, my dear, it looks like you have a mild case of MS."...Again back to the "kinda pregnant" reference...is there really such a thing as MILD MS?

Well, I am here to tell you...there is no MILD case of MS. It is what it is...an auto-immune disease that slowly (or quickly in some cases) robs you of the things you normally take for granted. No, kind sir...I do NOT have a MILD case of MS. But then again, this was the doctor who would always tell me that I should get pregnant and keep myself pregnant because MS goes into remission in the majority of MS patients...thanks Dr. Chauvinist, but I think I would like to get pregnant when Big Daddy and I decide to.

Friends and family asked us the "children" question over and over and some eventually gave up, thinking our standard answer of "we want children someday, but not now" was a polite was of saying "no children, no way". We did eventually decide to try for a family. It was 9 years after we got married that we had our daughter, Prnicess Punky. We wouldn't have had it any other way. We had time to enjoy each others company, especially considering our entire time together before marriage was apart. It gave us time to try to live with the MS diagnosis..key word is TRY.

I decided it was time for a new neurologist when left me writhing in pain on the floor, refusing to give me any kind of pain killer when I called the office because he was giving me steroids which would stop the episode...in 3-5 days! I said "How am I supposed to take care of my 11 month old daughter when I can't get off the floor?!" The reply...ready?...wait for it...."Too bad. You will just have to wait for the steroids to kick in".  Those words will haunt me forever...TOO BAD. I never went back to that office again. I found a new Neurologist who is fantastic...when I can get someone from the office to call me back, but that's a story for another time.

We decided to try for child number 2 when Princess Punky was 3 years old. I have to say that we are blessed that at least we never had any problems getting pregnant. Little Mayhem came a month early and I was on bed rest for the whole last trimester because of contractions. Both of my children were born with cord issues - Princess's cord was too short and wrapped around her neck and Mayhem's was super long and wrapped around him numerous times and in knots. As my Mom says "Children are gifts...you just like to wrap yours!". Both are healthy and causing trouble wherever they go.

Life is crazy but good. I was laid off from my job when I was 6 months pregnant with Little Mayhem - I was there for 6 years. The MS is getting harder to live with so on the suggestion (OK...insistance) of my neurologist, I am applying for disability.

As for Big Daddy...he is my rock. Lesser men would have left me upon the diagnosis of MS. He has stuck with me. Our saying is that we have been through hell and back so many times we have frequent flier miles! Oh, the hell we have made it through...together.

That's what this blog is about...love, life, family and fun. This isn't about MS...it's about relishing the good times and making through the hard times and what attitude and path you decide to take. Life is too short to take things too seriously! So with that I say, good night...and big balls!