Tornado in Brooklyn and Exercise Milestone

Last night we had a very bizarre storm here in Brooklyn, with thunder, lightning, hail and lots of wind. It might have been a tornado, they hadn't definitively classified it yet. Lots of trees were downed. Today the weather report stated that winds were clocked at 109 miles per hour. Very dramatic and scary.

This week was the first time I was able to do three water aerobics three times in the week.

I got to the afternoon class twice and an evening class on Wednesday!

Below are a some photos of the storm and aftermath.

Using My Down Time

At the time of my last post, I was coming back after treating an MS flare with steroIds. Less than a week after that, I became very ill with a sinus and gastro-intestinal infection, and required a ten day round of antibiotics. I am still in the process of convalescing, so I have to proceed slowly with my plan to increase my exercise. I have an appointment for a follow-up visit with my doctor tomorrow so I'll see if I can get an "all clear" to resume physical therapy and swimming.

Because of these issues, I haven't been doing much in the creative realm lately, but I have been getting the urge, so I've begun some sketches which I might be able to carve into stamps. This is a project that doesn't require a lot of time to set up and clean up, so it allows me to work within my current energy levels. Once I've got something completed, I'll post some photos.

I'm looking forward to being able to do some fabric dying and painting again in the not too distant future.

Since I haven't had a lot of energy for anything else, I've been watching the sky a lot, clouds, changing light, sunsets; stocking up on inspiration for when I'm ready...

Another thing I've been doing is listening to podcasts. Among those I check in with regularly under the craft heading is CraftyPod. I really enjoy the wide variety of topics covered and the thoughtful way they are handled!

Here are a few sky photos by my husband, David, which can serve to illustrate some of my sky watching :

My (Re) Debut

Today was the first time that I taught my Awareness Through Movement® (Feldenkrais Method®) class for more than a month.*

* for more information on The Feldenkrais Method® and my practice you can check here:


It's just an hour class with a half hour travel time each way, but it was the first time that I was able to even think about the process of getting out, much less manage to teach.

It helped that the weather was good, although quite warm, but with the air conditioner on, it was comfortable.

I was able to stop by Target on the way home and picked up a few things I needed.

I hope that I can manage to keep it going...

May 14, 2010 (Not feeling too creative in the headline department)

It's been threatening rain all day today, so I'm glad we seized the day and did a Trader Joe's run yesterday. The rain held off during the day but I just heard some thunder.

Today was my second day without any prednisone.

Things are beginning to settle and I'm more able to see what my functioning is actually like.

Earlier in the week, I did my last Aquatics class of the series on Monday and went to Occupational and Physical Therapy appointments on Tuesday.

It was interesting that I was able to complete the sets of strengthening exercises that I usually do, however, I would not have been able to do any more than that. Several weeks before my flare up, I could have, and did, do two to five more than the set as given, if I felt able to do so.

When it came to the balance portion of my session, I was able to some tasks at almost the level I usually do, but was easily fatigued, and of course as I became more fatigued, my balance got worse. The tandem walk was really poor.

It was good to see what was really happening in terms of the routines I had been doing. I now have a baseline from which to judge my progress from here on.

By next week, I hope that I'll be all set up with my YMCA membership which will mean at least one session in the pool per week and more if I can manage it. That is, by far, my most preferred mode of exercise.

In the meantime, while I still have a bit of a "buzz", I figured that I would get going on some exercise time, particularly since I wasn't able to do much in the way of exercise for the past several weeks, due to the fatigue I was experiencing due to my flare and the subsequent medication course.

Wednesday, I tried out my new SparkPeople CardioBlast DVD (Walk it Out Workout), previewed the Fitness Starter DVD and used the Inflatable Balance Board that I ordered.

Thursday I did some strengthening exercises and the Inflatable Balance Board. At this point I can just about stand with two feet on the board for one minute at a time.

Today I did the one mile easy walk using the Leslie Sansone DVD and the most of the Resistance Band workout on the Fitness Starter DVD.

Of course, I was not able to do any of these workouts without stopping several times but I did complete them.

I know that there will be times when I won't be able to do what I've planned, but I want to know that:
A. That I'm doing some exercise on a regular basis
B. I'm doing what I can, when I can

In the meantime, I'm increasing my intake of fruits and veggies.

Coming to the end; starting at the beginning...

This most recent group of blog posts were begun to help me both document and cope with this recent flare-up and its treatment. Since that particular aspect is coming to close, I thought that I might reflect a bit on what's happened.

The timing of those posts also coincided with a decision on my part to to make use of the many resources available on SparkPeople.com and to involve myself more in the community there, which is definitely a major resource.

As I wrote about my own experiences and responded to comments, I clarified and expanded my own thinking and perception.

As I read other members' blogs and pages and wrote comments, reaching out in recognition and support; reflecting upon the thoughts they expressed; I was able to see our common concerns and struggles and put my experiences (and those of others) in perspective in yet another way. I was frequently touched.

So, while I was blogging about an MS exacerbation, medication and side effects and attempting to avoid having my weight management efforts derailed by those things, I was also letting myself be known and sharing my perspectives on my life. Other members' expressions of support validated my experience and concerns and gave me further issues to ponder. I was able to get back to exercise as soon as I could (probably sooner than I might have if I hadn't been using the site).

I'm now trying to figure a way to make sure that I continue what I began once the urgency of this particular set of circumstances is ended. I'd like to expand on what I've begun.

One of my tendencies in the past has been to get caught up in the everyday, and then,before I know it, it's weeks or months between posts...

On the subject of food, I've been devouring a package of arugula for the past couple of days, as salad and sandwich ingredient. Tonight there was some left and I wanted to use it, as well as some parsley and basil, before it was past its prime; so I made pesto and served it with whole wheat pasta. Most of the time I only make it with a single green ingredient, basil or arugula. I was quite pleased with the "multiversion".

I also made a relatively low calorie bread puddings, with 1% milk that came out very well. We had it for dessert tonight and it will be available for a couple of more days.

Below is a photo of a couple similar bread pudding from times past:

May 10th-Progress and Community Building

This morning I was able to go as planned to the Aquatics Program that began in March.

The program was a time limited research program run by the School of Health Professions at Long Island University,Brooklyn Campus, which is, happily, right across the street from my home.

I was really pleased to see that I was able to participate fully and with less limitation than a couple of weeks ago It was great to see it through. Since I'm still winding down on my prednisone, I was concerned that I might have some rebound of my symptoms.

Today was the last session of the series and I was glad not to be a "drop out"..

While I was tired, I didn't need to crash immediately. I did take a nap later in the afternoon.

Since it's a research program they did pre- and post- program physical therapy evaluations. Those measurements will be available to participants as soon as they are able to be analyzed and reported if they wish to have them. I am going to request mine because I think it will be useful.

Tomorrow I go to my regular Physical and Occupational Therapy sessions with half the amount of medication aboard than I had today, so we'll see what happens…

Another recent development with relationship to SparkPeople is that in addition to becoming more active on my blog, I've also been reading blogs by other members and more of the articles as well as using other resources. It does help to be more involved in the community, giving and receiving support!

It is one of those lessons that I get to learn over and over again in different parts of my life.

I'm heading off to bed pretty soon and am ready to get into a calmer space.

Below is a cloud photo:

May 9th, Mothers' Day

I'm pretty tired but I wanted to post, both to reflect on the day and to hope that yours was as you wished it.

As I've been mentioning for the past couple of weeks, I'm embarked on a course of steroid treatment for an exacerbation of MS. I'm currently tapering off.

This is always a process involving many unpredictable variables and effects.
I haven't done it for quite some time and never in the midst of a weight management effort.

Mothers' Day and the whole week before it has provided the opportunity for a great deal of reflection.

I've found myself thinking a great deal about my Mom and my two grandmothers; all the things that I learned from them and the relationships of love and caring that surrounded them.

I miss them and yet still have them with me everyday.

In turn, I also had the opportunity to muse on my relationships with my husband and sons.

We celebrated our 31st Wedding Anniversary on Wednesday.

It is amazing to consider the speed with which two baby boys turned into 30 year and 29 year old men who have begun their own lives and families; quite dizzying and not without conflict and disorientation.

I was lucky to have a Mothers' Day greeting call with the elder, who needed to work today and an invitation for my husband and me to a local restaurant with the younger son, his significant other, her son and mother.

We had a lovely, relaxing and delicious meal in a Spanish restaurant.

The dinner posed a challenge to my SparkPeople member identity but I'm actually pretty pleased with my response which was of planning and flexibility. I made conscious choices and not random reactions; looking over the menu ahead of time to plan and making food choices earlier in the day to allow some leeway. As it was, I'm pretty sure that I logged everything and while I wasn't present in the kitchen, my best estimates tell me that I ended the day within my calorie range.

Yes, I could have been heroic and passed on the tapas altogether, but I wasn't and didn't. I did, however, limit myself to small portions and resisted the pull of the "clean plate club" into which my dear Mom and Grandmother initiated me when I was a child, with all the best intentions. (It's OK gals, you got me through childhood and it's up to me now!)

Even if it turns out that I made a mistake or so and the total went above the range, it's not about the numbers, but the choices.

The medication and the flare also put my exercise pattern off but tomorrow I'm returning to the Aquatics Program I began in March. It's the last session of the series.

In addition to my Physical and Occupational Therapies, I'm planning on taking advantage of a Summer Promotion at the YMCA and joining sooner, rather than later so that I can get back into a kind of exercise that I think has been really useful and start building back up.

Did I say I was tired? This was much longer than I'd planned.

I hope your day was as full of love and learning as mine, no matter where you are on the "motherhood spectrum". 211

Below are photos of my mom and me and the boys and me.

Step Down...

After yesterday's high point, I'm having a bit of a low; more in terms of energy than of mood.

I've also had a scratchy throat and stuffy nose, but likely that's allergy related. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it! But just in case it's a cold, I'll take the extra rest.)

We did do quite a bit yesterday and I went from 60 mg. yesterday to 40 mg. today, and there is a weather front coming through with large wind gusts, so a bit of a change in energy is not too surprising.

We have plans with family to eat out at a local restaurant for Mothers' Day tomorrow so I decided to just go with the flow today and rest as much as possible.

Both Meka and I were getting a bit "antsy" by early evening so I took him out briefly but we didn't get too far. The wind gusts that were being forecast started in earnest and we hustled ourselves back home. It was quite alarming.

The last walk of the evening was almost equally brief because of similar conditions.

I've really had an increased appetite today and due to the throat issues I've been hydrating like crazy. I worked hard not to go overboard and though I've ended up at the top of my calorie range for the day; didn't go over.

Thanks to all who've expressed support!

Here are some tulips for all of those who nurture me and you- the true description of Mothers.

Happy Mothers' Day!

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!

OK, so it was more like afternoon ish...

But is was beautiful; sunny, clear, warm but crisp...little bit of a breeze...

Did I say sunny??? Did I say it was the first day out of the house for seven days except for a mercy dog walk??

Then maybe you get the picture.

My health aide and I went down to Trader Joe's to do some shopping, then to a wonderful local ethnic and specialty grocer on the next block (hadn't been there in ages and she'd never been there-so got to show her around).

Then on the way back home we stopped at the YMCA to check on the terms of membership and take a tour, particularly of the pool. We liked what we saw and since they were having a Summer Promotion, there was additional incentive to do it sooner rather than later.

We had a great time, talking and joking and laughing most of the way there and back.

She was also excited about it and she's going to get her own membership.

Since part of her duties include escort and assistance with exercises, if required, this is a reasonable way to use her time when I go and to gain some benefit too.

By George! I think I've started a Spark!

ONE YEAR LATER!!!!

Wow, I knew I was behind on my posting but a whole year!!?? AAAARGH!

Part of my neglect has had to do with the fact that I've had several health setbacks, first some repetitive stress injuries and then a slow starting, kind of long lasting flare up of my MS, so I haven't been doing too much on the creative side that didn't also have a practical purpose at home.

My priorities were placed in attempting to manage everyday life and responsibilities to family, friends and community while also trying to get better. I've actually made some progress but recently realized I needed a bit more help, so I'm doing a round of steroid treatment.

Here's a nutshell version of last year. I'll try to keep it in some sort of order, maybe reverse is best, since the medication decision is the most recent.

The previous post shows a photo of our table at last year's MS Walk. We did not participate at the Marketplace tables this year because I was too fatigued. I did, however, sign on as a "Virtual Walker" to raise funds and exceeded my fundraising goal, thanks to wonderful friends, relatives, neighbors and colleagues.

I've been going to Physical and Occupational Therapy and to an Aquatics program for people with MS and up until the flare-up, had been improving my endurance and my ability to do some of my crafting without pain. However, I still haven't had a sustained level of energy that would allow me to conceptualize and realize a complete project.

We were able to have all of our usual family celebrations of birthdays and holidays, though sometimes with a revised level of expectation of the work I required of myself to do that.

With the help of other family members we were able to assist an elder family member to deal with a medical emergency that then required a new living arrangement in an assisted living residence.

So, while the external crafting of art has been suspended for a time, the art of life has gone on...

The photos are some of the "practical art" that has come of the year.

April 30th - Day one, Solumedrol Infusion

The medication and infusion supplies were delivered last night and just about noon today, a nurse from Visiting Nurse Service arrived for my first infusion.

He took my medical history, explained the services of the agency and the specifics of the infusion procedure, discussed my previous experiences with it. He then inserted the intravenous catheter which stays in place (if all goes well) for the five day duration of the infusion. He then instructed me in the procedures for mixing the medication with the glucose solution, setting up, connecting and disconnecting the medication from the tube (catheter) that remains in the vein. He remained for a couple of hours to monitor the progress of the infusion while he input data into the record.

He'll be back here tomorrow, but it's my understanding that the next few days I'll be on my own, unless I run into a problem and call for help.

So unless I misunderstand the plan, if I don't need further help, someone will be back to check in on Tuesday and to remove the catheter.

We planned to do the infusion slowly and started it quite slowly. Within the first half hour, though I was feeling and looking quite flushed and so we decided to dial the flow back a bit further. The whole thing took about three hours.

I'm already hungry, but I'm trying to be really careful to stay in my calorie range.

I'm thinking of dividing the meals into more smaller, more frequent mini meals for the next few days so that I don't get ambushed by the munchies.

More Ups and Downs

The increased fatigue that I had been experiencing in late February and early March, improved for a while but then over the last couple of weeks, I've had another increase in symptoms, which were particularly intense over the past weekend, including Easter. I was again experiencing intense fatigue along with gait problems and some visual symptoms.

Last week, I found myself unable to go to Aquatics or to my Physical and Occupational Therapy Sessions and had trouble even getting out of bed.

I've been trying to do what I can until I can get back on track in terms of exercise, but I've been continuing to log my food and water intake and have been resting.

I was able to visit with family on Easter and to get to Holy Week and Easter Services at my parish, even though I wasn't too lively.

On a lighter note, when I got dressed for church on Holy Thursday, I found that the skirt that I planned to wear was quite large in the waist. This was the first time I'd really had a chance to notice a significant difference in my clothing.

By Monday, I felt a bit better and once again got to my programs.

Below is a photo of our Easter Eggs, some of our Easter Dinner and of the tulips on our table.

A new year begins...

Christmas and New Year are behind us now and I'm already a bit behind on postings!

It seems that we no sooner got finished at the Craft Fair and we needed to prepare for Christmas at home. While we decided not to do the full court press on decorations, we decided on having a small gathering of family and friends for dinner on Christmas Day. We did the exact amount of cleaning necessary to prepare for guests and did some cooking and a lot of baking ahead of time.

Here are some cookie photos:







Think there's a market for this art form on Etsy.com?

Then came the day after Christmas (Boxing Day, St. Stephen's Day) and we had a health scare with Meka, my assistance dog.

After preparing for and beginning our Christmas celebration with "Midnight" Mass on Christmas Eve and serving dinner to family and friends yesterday on Christmas Day, we awoke today with expectations of a lazy day of recovery and minor clean-up.

When Meka, got up to eat, I noticed and mentioned to my husband, David, that Meka seemed to be limping. He came back to lay at the foot of my bed and later when he attempted to get up, he seemed unable to do so and looked limp and lethargic. We were finally able to coax and cajole him up and got him to walk, though unsteadily. Once walking, he was able to continue, however his gait was not normal and fluid and as soon as he began to slow down, he seemed to want to sit or lie down or lean on who or whatever was close at hand.

I called our vet but upon discussion, we decided to take him for immediate emergency evaluation.

Meka stayed overnight at the Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group here in Brooklyn in order to receive supportive treatment and to be monitored.

After taking a history, the vet had noted that Meka was exhibiting neurological symptoms arising from two distinct areas in the brain, brain stem and cerebellar regions.

We could not recall any reason to believe that he had ingested anything toxic, nor had he suffered any trauma.

They did blood work and x-rays which were essentially normal and unremarkable.

After determining that the facility was fully staffed throughout the night and that his neurological status would be monitored throughout the night and could receive treatment as necessary, reluctantly agreed to have him stay.

I checked in by phone for updates at least five times between getting home and 5 AM.
The reports varied from "somewhat worse" to "more or less the same" to "somewhat better" throughout the night but all the staff I spoke to agreed that he was "sweet" and that when offered food, would eat (that's my boy!!).

Later in the morning, I had just picked up the phone and was just about to call to check in again and to say that we would be coming in to see how he was and what our next step would be, when the phone rang. It was one of the vets from VERG who told me that Meka was doing much better; that he was walking and moving more normally, was wagging his tail, seemed in good spirits, obeyed commands. He stated that he would like to discharge Meka this afternoon!

So, at about 4PM on the 27th of December, we went to collect him.

As I waited for a staff member to open accessible entrance door, I turned my wheelchair around and there was Meka, returning from a walk with a vet tech.

I don't know who was more pleased or excited!

We completed all the necessary debriefing; his IV catheters were removed; follow-up appointment made and we were on our way.

After settling him in, I needed to get to church because I was due to act as Lector at 5:30 PM Mass. Having done that, and answering lots of questions as to Meka's whereabouts both in church and on the way there and back, I arrived home to find David taking the photo below.




As you can see from the picture, he doesn't look quite his ebullient self; he's a bit weary looking and has his shaven "cuffs", but is not deterred from a good chew on a tennis ball.

We're had a follow-up appointment on Tues. with the staff surgeon who specializes in neurology at the center where we had Meka seen on Friday and Saturday. He said that he believed Meka had experienced a transient ischemic attack (TIA); that there was no way of knowing if or whether it could happen again or preventing it from doing so without exposing him to medications and or procedures which have their own risks and expenses. He stated that he didn't see a need for follow-up unless we saw further symptoms.

We'll do regular follow-up with our regular vet.

At the moment Meka's pretty much back to his old self and continues to do well. All in all this is the best outcome for which I could have wished.

I've got a few new items ready to post on etsy.com within the next couple of days, and plans for several more soon after.