Happy 2013 - already?

Another year finished and a new one rapidly approaching!
Gee - I was just getting use to writing 2012. 

Happy New Year Everyone! 



May this one go by a little slower, please!!!

Family Traditions passed down

Tonight we sat around the beautifully decorated Christmas tree, the children in their new Christmas p.j' s and the fire crackling in the fireplace.  The children were antsy with excitement, it is Christmas Eve after all.  We had a full day of playing games and baking cookies, including the peanut butter balls recipe my husband's mother passed to us.  Our tummys we're stuffed, the dishes we're done and lovingly we gathered together in their family room while my son read the Christmas story from the New Testament, just as his father did when my son was a child, and just as his grandfather's did when hubby and I were children.  My heart was full, my eyes brimmed with tears threatening to spill as I watched my child lead his young family in some of the same activities that we did with him and his siblings.  He is a man now with little ones of his own.  All of our children are grown and tonight they all sit with their families carrying on many of the same traditions.  We are not with them physically, but we are with them in spirit and love.  I am proud and I am blessed!

Merry Christmas!

Blindsided

Just when I think I have everything under control (a joke indeed), I suddenly get blindsided. The other day while driving to work, I was channel surfing the radio. One channel was giving their headline topics that were planned for the next hour. My ears perked up when I heard the word "Parkinson's". You know - I can't even tell you the topic. Strangely, something in my mind triggered and all I could think was "Damn it! I have Parkinson's Disease - I really have it!!" Then the tears started flowing...to my chagrin. 

"What is wrong with you - seriously???" I thought. "You've known you have it for awhile now- get a grip!!!" "Yeah, but I really really DO have it and it's not going away!!", I answered myself while wiping the trickling tears from my cheeks. "Crap - where is this all coming from and why now? Good grief girl - get a grip, you're almost at work." I managed to pull myself together and arrived at work with red eyes and an "allergies are acting up"excuse.

I don't get it! What's up with this blindsided feeling? It's not like I don't think about Parkinson's all of the time as it is these days. So how is it that it can just hit me hard out of the blue like that? :(

And really - in comparison to all the horrible and truly sad things going on in the world today - my having Parkinson's is nothing.  So...Self - are you listening?  You are hereby given notice, if you need to have a cry, at least do it for something more than hearing the word Parkinson's on the radio.  Have I made myself clear?

Where can I Turn for Peace?

While snuggling with my 2 year old grandson during a much needed nap (for both of us), I looked at his sweet little face and wondered what I would do if this precious little guy's life was violently taken. I can not even comprehend the pain of the many families in Connecticut during this very tragic and heart breaking time.

I dedicate this song to all those in Connecticut and throughout the world who are suffering - for whatever reasons.

JOHN 14:27 -  "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

In Paradise - Bucket List #1

I have died and gone to paradise!!!

Actually, I am very much alive in paradise.   Hubby and I decided to start checking items off our bucket list (the things we want to do or see before we kick the bucket).   We don't plan on kicking the bucket soon, but since we have a long list, we decided to get busy crossing some of them off while we are still young enough to enjoy them to the fullest extent. 

So... here I sit...on a balcony...gazing at the ocean...in paradise...and enjoying every moment!
Now I can cross off #1 on our list.  (Except, I think we have already decided to add it back on as a "do it again" item).  This list may never get shorter.  lol

Can you guess where I am?
You want some hints?
OK...
1. There are beaches everywhere. In fact we can go in any direction and find a beach within an hour.
2. It's a very popular place and probably on many people's bucket lists.
3. There is a historical site here from WWII (that hubby turned into a full long day tour).
4. The fresh pineapple here is amazing.

Yup - you guessed it - I am in HAWAII. And it's just as wonderful and as beautiful as I thought it would be.

 

Aloha!!

 

(Sunset beach)

Midlife Crisis - not 20 anymore - and neither are they!

Hubby is having a mid life crisis. In the past 3 months, we have attended several concerts of our old favorite rock groups. (Did I say OLD?  I meant groups from our formative years, not too long ago!)

I told my husband - this is not working very well. If you don't want to feel old, you shouldn't go to concerts to see your favorite teen rock groups - 35+ years later! They have aged - some better than others. And so has their audiences! (All except me of course.)

Here are the groups we have seen so far - although not the actual concerts. As you can see - THEY definitely are not 20 anymore, or 30, or 40, or ... (I am stopping there)!!

However - I AM still 29!!!

(Oh - and if one of the band members looks young - it's a safe assumption that they are not original members of the band.)

Doobie Brothers



Chicago



Eddie Money



Three Dog Night



Jefferson Starship



Paul Revere and the Raders

Have a shakin Halloween!

We survived Sandy just in time for the monsters!!





Happy Halloween everyone and enjoy the candy! Yum Yum

#15 is here!

Its a girl!!!  Healthy and doing great!

We now have 15 grandchildren!

 Who would have thunk it!!!

Can we just vote now!!!

Please, can we just vote now!

I am so done with all the political rhetoric,
and the debates which are more political rhetoric,
and the adds which are more political rhetoric,
and the phone calls which are more political rhetoric,
and the rallies which are more political rhetoric,
and the news media coverages which are only more political rhetoric

Please, can we end the Chinese Torture now and get back to normal life again.

Let the politicians get back to their work...
you know...
what they do so well...
Spue more political rhetoric!

But at least after the election it's not in my face all the time!!!

So why wait - lets just vote now - and get it over.

PLEASE!!!!

Fuming Mad!!!

Do you know what this ugly critter is? 

 

 

I do...intimately...thanks to my daughter and her cat!

My daughter and her cat moved in with us for a few months...

uumm... a year ago.

They just moved out, but left behind... 

Fleas

Lots of them!!

UUUGGG

Ever since daughter and her cat left

I have become the fleas dinner menu!

Not Hubby - who badgered me into allowing her

to bring the cat here.

Nope - just me!  Apparently they prefer my blood!!!

 

I am so fuming mad!!!!

 

And what makes me really really mad...

daughter insists that we did NOT get them from her cat

because she did exactly what I told her to do

from the beginning.

Yeah!

Right!

Supposedly, she de-fleaed him before she brought him

and treated him every month

and kept her room clean and vacumed

and he has no fleas on him now.

 

BULLPUCKY!!!

 

Funny... we had no fleas all the years we had cats, until now.

Funny... the worst of the flea infestation is in the basement where

the cat had been confined and there were none there before she moved in.

Funny...her room looked like it had never been vacumed.

Funny...there were flea droppings where the cat laid most of the time.

Funny... isn't it?

 

NO!!!

NOT FUNNY!!!

 

Did I mention I am shakingly fuming mad???

 

And do you know how freaking hard it is to

get rid of these critter???

 

 

 

 

 

You know your a grandparent when...

You volunteer to drive 2 1/2 hours after work to where
    your daughter and family are vacationing
You pay for 2 nights at a hotel
You bring some toys with you
    and some junk food
All so that you can babysit two of your favorite little guys
   while their parents enjoy a day at the amusement park ...
AND...you have more fun with the little tykes
   than the parents did without them!!!


    

Dopamine - interesting tidbits!

I promised I would explain why my stopping for chocolate donuts is all Parkinson's fault.
http://cmfalling.blogspot.com/2012/08/no-donuts-seriously.html 
Are you ready for this?

I was thumbing through the book "The Insulin Resistance Diet"  last week.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Insulin-Resistance-Diet-Revised-Updated-Fat-Making/dp/0071499849

As a side note, this diet is very similar to the one I have mostly followed for the past 6 years.  It is how I lost the weight that I gained (as most women do) during my peri-menopause years and this eating philosophy is the reason I have kept off the weight thus far.  However, my occasional (cough cough) sugary, junk food lapses is taking it's toll  - but there again - it's all Parkinson's fault- which brings me back to my original purpose of this post...stay with me here...

In this book I found a short section on dopamine and serotonin.  There are some fascinating tidbits that the author shares on dopamine which (to me) totally explains why it is NOT my fault for stopping at Dunkin Donuts!!!  Tell me what you think - am I onto something here?   (just nod yes, please)

"The message of feeling full really is all in your head in the form of dopamine and serotonin.  These neurotransmitters tell you when you are hungry, what you are hungry for, and when you are full enough."

"Cravings for caffeine, chocolate, sweets, fried foods, or salty foods indicate low or depleted dopamine levels."

"Lack of willpower is really a biochemical deficiency of neurotransmitters in the hunger center of the brain."

See - its all Parkinson's fault!!   Because I am dopamine deficient, I just can't help myself.  Really - it's true... according to this book!!!  I am not making this up!!!  Am I right?  (nod your head yes again)

And now, while I eat my rather large bowl of chocolate ice cream - I will give you some more interesting tidbits about dopamine that are also in this book.

"The protein amino acid tyrosine is needed for dopamine...  Tyrosine is found mainly in meat and dairy products.  Almonds, peanuts, bananas, avocados, lima beans, pickled herring, and pumpkin and sesame seeds also provide amounts of tyrosine."

"Certain activities can also affect the release of more dopamine or serotonin.  Rhythmic music with  a lot of drums and bass increase dopamine release"

"An invigorating shower peps up dopamine."

"Cheering on a winning team, whether on television or in the stadium, releases dopamine."

"Tapping your foot, swaying, or dancing to the beat of music is a sure sign that your dopamine has surged."

So ... let the dopamine surge...Whoa Whoa...Listen to the music!



Whoa Whoa - there is some major dopamine surging going on in this vidieo, isn't there?

(This ice cream is really good!!!)

Back from the beach!

Brian made this comment on my last post:
"Any beach is a good beach. Just as long as you can relax. Just close your eyes; You can go any where you would like. Its just the harsh reality when you open them."

Well Brian, I am home from the beach and I just opened my eyes...
 HARSH definitely describes my reality - especially at work. 

 

I think I will close my eyes and keep them closed!!!

I am at the beach! Life is good!

Well - Perhaps not this good because I am not in the Bahamas...and the sand is not white...and there are no palm trees!

But...Life is good!   And I am at the beach!

No donuts! Seriously?

There is something seriously wrong with a Dunkin Donuts
that has a sign on their door:

 "Sorry we are currently out of donuts!" 

Really????   I mean isn't that kind of like, uhhmm,
YOUR BUSINESS to have donuts????

It is a Dunkin D O N U T store after all. 
So where are the donuts???

Thank heaven for the 7/Eleven next door and chocolate Hostess donuts! 

Definitely not the same, but better than nothing.

(My next post will explain why stopping for chocolate donuts is all Parkinson's fault!!!

tee-hee - I knew this disease was going to come in handy for something!)

Battle Fatigued!

I am tired of fighting!

I SURRENDER!!!

Tired of Drama Kids!

I am so tired of drama kids, especially one in particular who thinks she knows what is best for everyone else.  Interesting tidbit, she (age 30+) is living with her parents rent free so that she can dig herself out of the huge mess she made for herself!

Remind me again why I had children!!!

Crowds and heat... not my thing!

We spent the day at the pool with our daughter and her two sons.  It was the perfect place to be on a 90+ degree day.  Hubby and daughter wanted to go to the fireworks tonight.  Not me...no thank you!  It is hot, hot, hot!  And I don't do crowds well these days.  Just the thought of the heat and the crowds along with two cranky tired babies was overwhelming.

So I took the two guys and went to "Five Guys" for dinner.  Then us three guys stayed home and had a nice cool quiet evening.  Well...sort of. 

At least it WAS quiet...
untill...
one guy realized Mommy was not there to nurse him to sleep! 

I got to see some fireworks after all.       
But at least it was not hot
...and there were no crowds!! 

Starting Selegiline - Sticking my toe in the meds pond!

Last catch up post!  June 10, 2012

Today I started my first Parkinson's drug - Selegiline (a MAO -B inhibitor)  Most of you know how I have agonized over starting the meds journey. I finished all the tests with the PPMI study that they wanted meds free so now I have no more excuses. My last bit of denial is fading away. I really do have PD don't I???

I am just dipping my toe in the meds pond for now. I guess we will see how it goes before I wade further in. For now I am at peace with this decision. (Will see where I am tomorrow, lol)

My neuro told me I probably would not see any difference with this drug. So why am I taking it??? Oh yeah - the possible neuro protection potential. Will I ever know if it works or not?  Probably not!  I guess this is also a journey of faith and belief. A very long and hard journey I fear! Oh well - God does not seem to be letting me off this ride. So I will hold on the best I can!

Sealed my Fate

Catch up post #3 from my DS journal - June 5, 2012.

I sealed my fate when I made a 3 night non-refundable hotel reservation. My husband suggested it might not be a good ideal given that we were both having lumbar punctures right before the proposed get away. "We'll be fine" I responded, "The one I had before was a piece of cake and I had no issues at all from it." Famous last words!

I am just very grateful it was me that got the bad headaches and not my husband!!! I would have felt horrible if he was the one to feel miserable the whole time, especially since he warned me it might not be a good ideal. Oh well...I enjoyed the hotel room and the bed (as long as I stayed laying down the pain subsided). And hubby enjoyed all the fun activities (alone) and was even kind enough to say he missed me being with him while he had fun. He also managed to restrain himself and did not once say "I told you so".

Today is day 5 after the procedure and the first pain free day. I can't tell you how good it felt today to be able to sit upright without my head pounding. I emailed the nurse about the headaches and she said next time they would try a smaller needle. Next time???? That was kind of like talking to a lady in labor about the next baby she might have. UMM ...I don't think so...there will be no more babies...EVER!!!! Next time...yeah right! All I have to say is they better hope I have severe memory loss by then!!!!

Now, lets see if I can once again resume my exercise routine tomorrow. For the first time since I started this whole Parkinsons journey, I could not even go out and walk. Boy am I feeling it too. But, at least my head doesn't hurt anymore!

May 27th update

Catch up post #2.  For any readers who are not DS friends.  Copied from my DS journal, May 27, 2012.

The funeral for my mother-in-law went well. While we miss her we all are glad she is in a better place and is no longer encumbered in her worn out body. She left us quite a legacy to follow.

My son is doing better in some ways - worse in other ways. We are doing what we can to help and turning the rest over to God. They found out that the combination of drugs they put him on was causing the panic attacks and, surprisingly, also a lot of the painful muscle spasms. So pain wise - he is doing better, but he still can not return to work (he does heavy manual labor for a living) so financially things are really bad for him. He seems to be one of those kids that wears a sign on his back - "hurt me please - my life is not sucky enough yet". The worries never go away with our kids do they! They just seem to multiply as their families grow.

As for me - as you can guess - all of this has hyped my symptoms a bit. The shaking makes me feel like a nervous wreck even when I am calm. I have been off kilter with my exercise schedule and of course eating poorly (a lot of emotional sugar loaded junk eating). This week of getting back on a sort of reg. schedule is helping calm the tremors down a bit. I have also been having more foot cramps lately so I am hoping getting back on track with the exercise will help with those too. I had one on my right side last week, which is a first. (it is not progressing, it is not progressing, it is not....) If I say it over and over again, does it make it true??? Well - it works for politicians!!!

I have another PPMI study appointment this week. My husband, who was gently persuaded to also be a guinea pig, and I will be having back to back lumbar punctures. Doesn't that sound romantic?? lol At our age - it is!!!! With this procedure I will meet the goal of staying med free for the PPMI tests wanted. So after this appointment I will begin to travel the meds road. I am so excited! NOT!!!!!!!! Actually, I am dreading this phase and if I could figure out a way to not do meds - I would go that route instead. But I see no alternatives at this point. (sighs and deep breaths)   Not to worry though - my doctor has decided to help me delay my anxiousness on the med situation. I can not get an appointment with him and am being told they are not opening his schedule again until sometime in July and they will call me when they open it up. HHMMPPff... wonder what would happen if I really needed to see him??? Oh well -  I will live with the symptoms as is for awhile longer and quit worrying about the meds road until then.

Family Issues

Catch up post #1 - Copied from my DS journal - May 7, 2012  For any readers that are not DS friends (if there are any)  This explains the storm in more detail!

We have been dealing with a lot of emotional stuff lately. Sometimes when it rains, it pours. One of our sons and family has had crisis after crisis this past year - including 2 car accidents (both not their fault) and a fire that destroyed all of their possessions. Fortunately no-one was hurt in the fire, but my son has been in a lot of pain since the latest car accident a month ago. He is also starting to experience panic attacks. I guess its not surprising after all he has been through lately. It breaks my heart and I wonder how much more he can handle before he breaks. I fear it is not much!!

To top it off  in the past month and a half my sweet beautiful MIL (mother-in-law) fell and broke her arm, then fell again and broke her hip, had two surgeries to fix the breaks, then had a major stroke.  Thankfully, God has been merciful and allowed her to pass away peacefully this weekend. Although we are sad and will greatly miss her, we are comforted to know she is in a better place and that she has been reunited with her loved ones, and her beloved husband. This weekend, we went through her pictures and was reminded of the many many wonderful memories of her life. She was (is) a beautiful lady who has taught us much. Yes - she will be missed indeed!

Over all, for now, I am holding up OK. I continue to try to stick to my exercise routine which helps with the stress. We have been traveling a lot to deal with these issues. God walks this road with me and I will be eternally grateful for His continuous help and support. Without it - I don't know where I would be at this moment. Actually - I do know - and it would not be pretty.

My PPMI button is gone!!

Did you notice?  My PPMI proud button is missing from my blog!  It just disappeared,  one day there, the next day gone!  Just like that!

Apparently someone decided to change the Michael J. Fox Foundation website and in doing so they deleted the link.  And can you believe it, they didn't even consult me!!  pppfffttt

Well - for their information, I am still a proud participant in the PPMI study - with or without my blog button!!! 

Everything happens for a reason

Thanks to Dan for sharing this on DS. 
And thanks to all those who are in my life for a reason!!

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON
Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there. They serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be; your neighbor, teacher, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger who, when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.
And sometimes things happen to you and at the time they seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would never have realized your potential, strength, and will power of heart.
Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments or true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of our soul. Without these small tests, if they be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smooth paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. Safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.
The people you meet who affect your life and successes and downfalls you experience, they are the ones who create who you are. Even the bad experience can be learned from.....those lessons are the hardest and probably the most important ones.
If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart...forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them.
Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again.
Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen, let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high. You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it.
I wish you all the best in your endeavors as well as struggles in life. Have a fighting spirit and never hesitate to get back into the struggle!
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

The trick is to figure out the reasons and learn from them.  Something I am not always good at!!

Enjoying the calm after the storm

And what a storm it was!!! Between my son and family's never ending catastrophes and the decline and resulting death of my sweet mother-in-law, the past couple of months have been a doozy for me.

But things are calming down and I am finally getting back into my routine, back to my exercise schedule, and even eating better (mostly).  Now if I can just get caught up at work...

Good news and bad news

The good news first:

  A Chick-fil A is opening close to my house.  I just love their chicken, waffle fries, and especially their chocolate shakes.  Yum Yum!!!  I am so excited!

Now the bad news:

   A Chick-fil A is opening close to my house.  I really love their chicken, waffle fries, and especially their chocolate shakes.  Oh boy!  This is so NOT good!!!   Nope - not good at all ... especially not good for my waistline!!

It's a Beautiful Morning ~ Written by: Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati

 



Now if I can just find some energy to enjoy it!!!

Impulse Control Issues with Parkinson's Agonist Drugs

Part 2 - Continuation of previous post - http://cmfalling.blogspot.com/2012/04/this-might-be-funnyif-it-happened-to.html

One of the topics,  Dr. Greg Pontone, MD - Director of the Movement Disorder Psychiatric Clinic, discussed with us was Impulse Control Behavior problems that can occur with the Agonist drugs.  (Mirapex & Requip are the 2 most popular agonist used as Parkinson's treatments).  These issues include impulse control behaviors such as compulsive behaviors, and addictions (often gambling, shopping, or sexual). One lady in the discussion group said she experienced the compulsive behavior of picking her moles.  (The Doctor said there is actually a name for it - and he pronounced it too.  Surprisingly, I did not write down such an important piece of information.  Sorry!!)

The Doctor said most people (85%) do not have any of these behavior issues with these drugs, but about 15% do.  The problems are real and serious when they occur and can ruin peoples lives.  He asked us to get this info out to anyone we know who has Parkinson's.  So here it is - to the best of my memory!!

The meds may start the problem, but going off the meds does not necessarily stop the problem.  The earlier the symptoms are reported to the doctor, the better!  Let me repeat that - THE EARLIER THE SYMPTOMS ARE REPORTED TO THE DOCTOR, THE BETTER!!!! 

Many will not report the problem to their doctors because they are embarrassed, they don't recognize they have a problem, or they think they can control it.   It is IMPORTANT that family members know about these possible side effects and watch for signs.  The earlier it is caught the easier it is to stop.   If it gets to the addiction stage, the person has to fight it like any normal person fights addiction - usually by enrolling in an addiction 12 step program. And like any addiction, they are hard to overcome - even after going off the meds that caused it.   If the behaviors are caught early before the full blown addiction stage, they can often be treated by just changing the meds. 

One interesting side note  - the Doctor said for those patients whose Parkinson's symptoms are responding really well to the agonist drug, but are experiencing the impulse control issues, they can sometimes keep them on the agonist by adding a drug like Naltrexone.  For some adding the Naltrexone will stop the compulsions and allow the person to still enjoy the Parkinson symptom control from the Agonist drug for awhile longer.

Disclaimer:  The above was written with the help of my very disorganized notes and faulty memory! However, I did run it by Hubby who also attended the session.  His response when I asked if it was accurate according to his memory:  "I don't remember - where's your notes?"  Oh well!  Please consult your doctor for more accurate info!   In other words - Don't quote me!!!!  ha ha

This might be funny...if it happened to someone else!!!

I was going to share some info on this blog that I received when I attended a "Sessions With Your Neurologist" meeting a week ago put on by John Hopkins University Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Center. One of their Neurologists, Dr. Ray Dorsey, MD - Director of the Movement Disorder Division at John Hopkins puts these sessions together quarterly with the subject matter decided by the participants at the previous session. The sessions are for anyone with Parkinson's Disease and their family members. This is the first session I have had the opportunity to go to and I hope to be able to attend more in the future.

This particular session's topic was "Mood and Behavior in Parkinson's Disease". Dr Ray invited Dr. Greg Pontone, MD - Director of the Movement Disorder Psychiatric Clinic, to do a presentation. Along with his presentation was a discussion with questions and answers. He broke the topic into the following areas:
    Anxiety
    Cognitive
    Impulse Control
    Mood
    Psychotic
It was very informative and helpful.

I would like to share with you what I learned about these areas...except there is a problem. I opened up my notebook where I took notes and I can not make heads or tails of what I wrote.

You see, I started taking notes on one page, while trying to listen and write fast at the same time. I flipped to the next note book page to continue writing, skipping the back of the first one I wrote on. Then I turned that page over and wrote on the back of it, (I think). Then somewhere during the session, I apparently decided to go back and put notes on the back pages I had skipped, then... well you get the gist. And to make matters worse, I didn't put any topic headings on the pages so that I know what the notes are referencing.

As I look through my notes - it is all jumbled together - but there is some good stuff in there. Trust me!

Like...on one page I wrote:

Executive Function - Breakdown - organizing, planning, and sequencing.

Reasonable efforts aren't translating into productivity.

HHMmm... Kind of sounds like my note taking efforts!
I wonder what that breakdown signifies....????

Easter and what it means to me

Like many other Christians around the world, I find Easter season to be a special time that allows me to reflect on the resurrection of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and what He means to my life. Here is a song that expresses my thoughts and my beliefs in such a beautiful way that I could never even come close to with mere words.



And here is another one. Grab tissues!!!

Fascinating!

It took exactly 38 seconds for my hand and leg to start shaking when I did intervals on the bike yesterday!

It took exactly 4 minutes and 48 seconds for my arm and hand to calm down and get it's natural swing when I walked on the treadmill yesterday!

And it took exactly the same amount of time for my hand to start shaking again as it took for me to glance up at the clock and realize my work out was running too long and I was going to have to hurry to get to work!!!

Fascinating isn't it!

No???   

hhmmppff....

Tough Crowd!!!

A Great Date Night!

 Ingredients and price of a great date night:    

1.  Dinner at "Panda Express" - it turned out to be customer appreciation night "Buy one dinner, get one free".  They appreciated me so much they even gave me a free drink while I waited for them to cook more "Honey Walnut Shrimp" which is really yummy btw!  Two dinners - $8  (And the best part - no cooking or clean up) We even had 1/2 left over for dinner tomorrow night.  That takes the cost down for the date night dinner - $4. 

2.  Two movie coupons from Costcos and an awesome movie to spend them on, "Hunger Games" -  $16

3.  Popcorn (with lots of chemical butter and salt - sshhh  - don't want to hear it!!!)  Using our Regal bonus card on Tuesday night gets us a small popcorn for $2 which can be upgraded to a Med. for another dollar making it - $3

4.  Drink - I took an empty water bottle in and filled it up at the theater water fountain. (um...it says no food or drink can be brought in.  It doesn't say nothing about empty water bottles)  Drink - free!

5.  Of course my great date companion of choice was Hubby (even if he does ask a lot of questions cause he won't read the books first) - he was free too!  (sort of)    ;-)


Another great date night with my beloved and the grand total was $23!

Not too bad!  Not too bad!

One word can change a life - forever!

One year ago, my doctor dropped a bomb on my life by saying one word! Parkinson's!

It's amazing how one word can change your life forever!

That one word blew my life as I knew it apart.  

It changed me!  

It has changed my life, my relationship with others, my focus, 

my thought process, and just about everything else.

One word - one moment in time - and everything was changed - forever!

 (possibly a little over dramatic - but you get my drift)

True Love

WAY TO GO HUBBY!  

He has decided to participate in the PPMI study.  The same one that I signed up for in December.   http://www.ppmi-info.org/

 I know he is not doing it because of any teasing, hassling, or arm twisting from me, the nurse, or the doctor.  

Because of course, we would  N E V E R  do anything like that!
 
Nope!

There is only one reason Hubby decided to participate, in spite of his queasy aversion to needles!

(Several lumbar puncture procedures are a part of this study)

TRUE LOVE!

Hubby, you are awesome!!!
I love you!

And
All of you who also travel this daunting journey of PD with your loved ones,
You are awesome too!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Note:  They are still looking for a few good men

(with Parkinson's and without)

for this study!

http://www.michaeljfox.org/living_100husbands.cfm

Funny Hubby

My hubby is very funny!  Here is the BD card he gave me:

And the inside said:

...With a little
extra "shake"
Please.

He is a funny man.
He is also a smart man. 
He gave me a beautiful bracelet
and an additional BD card.
A sweet mushy one! 

I love that man!

Denial, Fear, and Hope

I spent the past couple of weeks trying to write a witty post about my feelings of lately.   I just couldn't get it right and deleted it all.  So here are my smart aleck feelings instead!

Denial:  I love it!  
The best coping tool ever invented when facing something that is really scary or upsetting!  But dang it - it doesn't last, and I am constantly being forced to come out of it and face reality.  Ticks me off when that happens. 

Fear:  I hate it! 
It makes me feel horrible and I would avoid it all the time if I could!  But I can't, it keeps sneaking up on me!  And I keep running from it!  Right now - I am faster.  We will see for how long.

Hope:  I have it!  
I sincerely hope that I wake up from this bad dream soon!  LIKE NOW!!!   See - lots of hope and I am sincere about it too!


Done ranting...for now!




 

It's just wrong!

I am exercising more than I have ever exercised in my whole entire life and I still have put on 4 pounds this past month!

 And my measuring tape and clothes tell me it's not muscle mass pounds!

It's just plain wrong!

Of course it has nothing to do with this:

or this:

or this:

or this:

and definitely not this:

Like I said...

It's just plain wrong!!!

Not sick ... yet!

For the past month I have been surrounded, bombarded, overran, harrassed, attacked, and assaulted by icky, yucky, stinking germs!
Everyone around me - grandkids, their parents, my co-workers, and now Hubby - have all been sick!
Everyone around me has had something - running noses, coughs, sneezes, pink eye, pneumonia, bronchitis, staff infections, and they all have felt the need to share!
Tis the season after all!!!
Isn't that special???

Is there a chance I can escape the inevitable?
Yea, I know! I am kind of thinking it will take a miracle too.
But - I can hope - right?
(and keep downing my Vitamin C pills)

Wish me luck - I have a feeling I am going to need it!

Miley Cyrus - The Climb(lyrics)

This sums it up perfectly! Thanks Silfoxx for sharing this with your DS friends!