Kate

[Guest guest]

Kate, I don't know if I'm have seasonal affective disorder, or what, but I'm definitely feeling not as stable.  It could be the time of the year.  Thirteen years ago, my cousin was found dead due to a faulty boiler with a carbon monoxide and gas leak.  He had just recently gotten his life back on track after losing everything to a prescription drug addiction.  After he was cleaned up, his father and several friends fronted him the money to start a new dry cleaning store (part of what he lost was a chain of them across Indianapolis).  It was in a strip mall, and he was living in the back.  He didn't show up for his scheduled visit with his son (that had to be supervised by his parents), and they sent someone out to check on him.  After finding the door locked, his truck there, and no answer, they called a locksmith, and his dog was dead by the door they opened, so they knew they would find dead.  There was later a lawsuit, because when hit the panic switch, the alarm company didn't notify anyone, didn't send anyone out.  So Christmas is a hard time for me, but it started early this year, so I think there's some SAD going on with it.  Well, I haven't exactly been stable the last few months, so who knows.  And the last few years, well, we've had an influx of money right in time for Christmas to manage Christmas with, and there's nothing like that now, so money's tight this year, if we are going to keep current on all of our bills.  I kept asking the boys for Christmas lists as far back as October so we could do things like layaway and watch for sales, and literally, I just got the lists in the last week, and that was because I threatened no Christmas at all.

Tina 

To: " MSersLife " <MSersLife >

Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 6:26 AM Subject: Re: Kate?

I don't know about SADD. I know what it is and all, but unsure if that is what I suffer from. I am guilty of not taking D, and I know I should. I hate taking pills, but I do need morning and evening meds. I've also done away with my Copaxone injections. I have about a 3 month supply in my fridge. I'm debating about whether to start up on it or not.

Busy is a good word to describe my life. Never a dull moment around here. My son, Luke, who is 17, will be 18 come February, and looking into where he might go when he graduates. If he goes off somewhere, I'll then have 3 out of the house, with just 2 to go! Life is barreling quickly ahead. Ever notice that?

love you Sharon,

looking forward to the gift exchange. Are you organizing it? Or do we just get addys from you and send something? Let me know, please.Kate

To: " MSersLife " <MSersLife >

Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 9:52 PM Subject: Re: Kate?

You aren't a bore ever, Kate! I enjoy your nice, long chatty emails. So is your depression just because of the holidays and what needs to be done? Or is part of it due to SADD? If so, do you take Vitamin D every day???

You have such a busy life! It always exhausts me to read about your kid's games. lolbig hugs

SharonThis email is a natural hand made product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way

are to

be considered flaws or defects.

To: " MSersLife " <MSersLife >

Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 4:07 PM Subject: Re:

Kate?

Hi Sharon,I think my balance, due to MS, has caused my falls. I nearly went over today. I was out at a park with the 2 dogs and my husband. I fell to my left, righted myself, then wobbled back to the left again. I had to muster up my strength to keep from falling.

My knee is bugging me. I'm trying to baby it. The walk today was on flat ground, and we didn't walk more than 1/2 to 1 mile.The kids are busy with hockey as always. The JV and varsity has begun in addition to the travel hockey, so it's a lot. Our Thanksgiving was fantastic--all my kids were home; and 4 of my 5 siblings and nieces and nephews were

there. We celebrated at my brother's boat club on the Long Island Sound. Everyone brought something for the feast. We made homemade cranberry sauce and brought drinks. Then, (14) and I drove up that night (9pm) to Providence RI. It was a shorter drive than I had thought. A bit less than 3 hours--I had thought it was going to be 4 hours, so I was happy. Unfortunately, they lost all 4 of their games, so we were able to leave earlier on Sat., instead of staying til Sunday for play-off games. The games were all fairly close; the teams they matched us with had far more players than the 11 on our team. The last game never finished. Our goalie ( is the other one) was 'taken out' by the other team. Someone landed on her head; she had to be taken by ambulance. The girls were all in tears. She has a slight concussion as well as some whip lash. This is her 3rd concussion in the last 6 months. I'm surprised that they will let her back on the ice--usually

there is a rule that you can't play after that many concussions.This is the time of year I dread. It IS a lovely time of year, but my depression comes on full tilt, and I find myself wishing for January. I get so stressed about gifts and cleaning the house.

I know so many have much worse depression and issues going on, so I have no right to whine about it. I'm trying to catch up on all the emails; I had over 200 when I got back from Rhode Island. Tomorrow I interview/register at a personnel agency that places people in jobs. They have a clerical position that is Monday-Friday 8:45 to 2. It's about a 40 minute drive to the job, however, so I have a lot to consider. It looks like if I take it, I'd still be able to collect disability. I would really need to gear

myself up to start something like this. I'm spoiled with not really having much to do with my days. I'd also miss out on seeing Lynn once or twice a week. I suppose we could get together later in the afternoon into the evening, and have dinner together once a week. Sorry, this is so long and chatty. I don't want to bore anyone! I love you all, and thank God for you each!

Always, Kate

To: " MSersLife " <MSersLife >

Sent: Monday, November 28,

2011 4:42 PM Subject: Kate?

KateWhy have you been falling? How is your knee? And how are the kids?

big hugs SharonThis email is a natural hand made product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.

To: " MSersLife " <MSersLife >

Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 2:28 PM Subject: Re: checking in

What an absolutely adorable puppy, Donna! Thanks for the update. Be safe with the falling. I too have had my share of falls in the last few many weeks. Do be careful. The best to both of your sons, as well as to you. Love and blessings,

Kate

To: mserslife

Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2011

1:21 PM Subject: checking in [4 Attachments]

This is what's been going on with me: As you may remember, I adopted a dog last month. He's really doing quite well with his manners. Even so far as his leash work is going. He is still to young for balance work though. Polar used to be called Snowfoot when he was living with his foster dad who is a volunteer with the County Pet Rescue.

I've attached some pictures of Polar where his new back pack. I have a Service Dog in Training patch that I will be attaching when I can get some strong thread. Last week, I took Polar to the groomer. Messy Mutts is the name of the shop and it even has places for people who want to bathe and groom their own dogs. Polar had a massive amount of hair tangled up in his undercoat. It was like one massive sheet of felted hair. The groomer used a Ferminator before she washed him and got a lot of that loose hair out. It ended with me having to bring Polar back on Friday, so that she could blow out the rest of the loose hair. Polar has been shedding a lot of hair, or so it seems to me. The vet said to give it a couple more months to see if things settle down. I've had Polar 4 1/2 weeks. I've got some pictures of Polar attached. One of them is a picture of Polar and his groomer, Rhonda. It was taken on Friday after she had finished with him.

As for me, I fell again, twice in the last 3 days. I've had a mild aching in my head and I'm not sure if the headache is what's caused the problem, or if it's my feet not doing what I want. You know, I can go weeks without falling; but, sometimes, it seems like I'm falling all of the time.

My youngest son, Marcus, is still not riding in the car. He walks everywhere. I don't know what he would do if he had to be referred to a doctor out of town. He is off school until Monday now.

My oldest son has dental problems which can't be fixed because his dentist says that there is nothing he can do any longer. I don't know if anybody in the group lives in Washington state besides me; but, our state is experiencing financial problems so to try to remedy the situation, a bunch of cuts have been made. Medicaid doesn't cover dental services any longer for adults, except for those adults that have Medicaid through DDD. My son's Medicaid is through SSI. He needs hospital dentistry. I've tried contacting the Medicaid office of DSHS and keep getting connected to a recorded message which tells me to go to a web site. So, I fill out a form on the web site and still have not heard anything.

Nick has a high level of anxiety and it takes him a while before he can settle down in the dentist chair. There have been several times when he has been unable to settle. The last attempt to have a tooth extraction was the third try for the same tooth. Nick needs hospital dentistry, so that he can go under general anesthesia.

There is one dentist in town that will do hospital dentistry. When he has a patient under, he does everything the patient needs to have done including cleaning, fillings, extractions. We are not in a position to pay for a dentist, anesthesiologist, plus whatever charges the hospital adds in.

I think there is a school of dentistry either at Washington State U. or the University of Washington; but, even so, there's no way for us to get there.

Donna in WA