Praise God for parasites!

Been drinking whip worm [parasite] eggs for a while now and I can say I am noticing a difference.  Still can't "work out" like I used to (packed on a few pounds..grrr) but I can do more physical things.  A month ago I couldn't mow the lawn because my right arm would go out and my legs would feel weak/wobbly.  Yesterday morning and again this morning I've mowed the lawn before it got too hot.  It's been extremely hot for a few weeks and no rain to boot.  The yard has been left to defend itself, and has struggled against the blazing sun to grow.  Much of the back yard is fried since I refuse to spend money watering the lawn.  I'll water my garden; but sorry grass you don't produce anything we can eat.  The front yard gets shade so it is faring better. At least it's still green...ish.  Unfortunately weeds still seem to grow in this heat, but I haven't been able to pick them.  It's getting a little ridiculous.  My front yard flower beds have almost been taken over.  My window of opportunity for yard work seems to be between 6 and 7am.  After that my body is wiped out and the temperature is starting to rise; ie my workout is done.  My right hand and legs are a little tingly but otherwise I physically feel great.  Nothing feels "MS" weak.  Can I get an "AMEN" and "PRAISE THE LORD!"

Lake Emily Camping trip

Had another wonderful camping trip at Lake Emily with John, Jenny, David, Caleb, and Nathan.  We arrived Friday afternoon and set up our tents.  This is the first year we decided to give Zach and Sam their own tents. The both were ecstatic to get their own space.

Unfortunately, Friday night it rained and almost everything in Sam's tent got soaked.  Saturday it started raining in the late morning so we set up the mini computer and DVD player in Jenny's van and the kids watch "Captain America."  Jenny and I managed to cook grilled cheese sandwiches for everyone while the wind and rain battered the screen tent.  one side even fell down on us while we were cooking so Matt and John fixed it while we worked.  I tell you what, being cold and hungry made those grilled cheese sandwiches the best tasting thing in the world! Good times!
After that, we gathered all the wet stuff and went to the laundromat when it started raining again.  Kids entertained themselves with the game "7up." Matt and I joined in too.  At least it was something to do while it was raining.

Nathan was asleep in the van so Jenny and Mattie stayed with him.  Poor Mattie, she looks so desperate to get out.

Saturday morning while Jenny was on a walk with Mattie they came across a big snapping turtle.  Jenny told us that Mattie didn't realize it was alive til after it moved.  She said Mattie freaked out!  So of course the kids wanted to go turtle hunting.  They even wanted to try turtle meat so John made a "spear." 

 We were pretty sure we would never find the turtle -and we didn't.  It was fun trying though.

We knew that the rain was suppose to continue through Saturday night so we took down her tent (which broke in the process) and Sam slept in the van.  She loved it cause it was cold Saturday night and she was snuggly warm.

Sunday was the pay off day.  We got great weather!  Spent most of the day at the beach.  The kids played and I read my book "Magic Street."

David had broken his arm so he couldn't immerse his cast (it was wrapped in plastic to keep it dry) in water but he at least got to play around on the inner tube.

Sam heard somewhere that mud is good for the skin so she had to try it.  Yep, like that girl needs an excuse to get filthy.

Sorry there are not more pictures of Zach, but he literally just sat on his inner tube or the beach most of the time.  That is only after he finally got in the water which didn't happen til after we got back to the beach after lunch.  And then about an hour after that.  Having a relaxing fun day is what it's all about.

We left on Monday afternoon.  We had the van packed up by 9:30am and my mom called me and said they would like to come down and see us.  It was great!  Mom, Dad, Laura, Sydney, and Jacob came to Lake Emily.  We got to show them around.  After that, Dad took us out to lunch at Golden Corral.

Traffic on the drive home was heavy after we got on I90.  It was stop and go all the way to Stoughton.  Then it just was slow going til Janesville.  We did get home and unloaded the van before a storm hit.  I think it's safe to say, I'm sick of rain.

Been awhile...here's the update

I've been on the HINT trail for a month now. It tastes the way feet smell.  I only have to drink it every two weeks.  Better than a shot, right?!
I don't feel any different.  My hands still tingle, mostly my right. I hope to see/feel improvements in a few months.

As for the rest of my life, it's been insanely crazy!  In a matter of a week, our water heater started going, dryer belt started squealing like a pig was being slaughtered, kitchen sink sprung a leak, microwave started on fire, and to top it all off the toaster started on fire.  We were able to salvage the toaster.  It was just butter that was dropped inside and I just had to wash it out.  A new microwave now decorates my counter, but we still have to replace/fix the rest.  Luckily we still have hot water...for now.

Luke have been visiting for little over a week now.  It's been nice having him here.  He is leaving to go back to  CA next week.  They all plan to see a movie tomorrow.  Probably The Hunger Games.  I'm staying home.  Theaters and I don't mesh anymore.
My neighbor Debbie and I have started our plants for our gardens.  Right now they are in our green house.  There was some strong wind yesterday and it caused several trays of plants to fall off the shelves.  It was a mess to clean up and now we have to replant them. Major bummer!

Our Christmas Card Video. Merry Christmas all!!

4th HINT observation & MS support group

Almost there!  One more trial and then I get worms!  Give me an internet *five*!  Anyway, I'm happy to report that today's MRI appointment was uneventful and only took 2 hours.  My shortest appointment yet.  The needle went in like knife to butter without a hitch too.  The only hiccup was I had to pee during the MRI so bad my eyes were turning yellow.  Yes, I went before they put me in the machine and yes, I took my meds that morning.  It didn't matter.  So after they put the contrast in they let me out to got to the bathroom.  Then, we finished the rest of the MRI.
After picking the kids up from Jenny's and feeding them supper, I went to my first MS support group meeting called "Circle of Hope" that meets once a month.  It was a small group, but everyone was very friendly and welcoming.  Confidentiality is very important so I won't go into detail about the group.  I will say, I ended up feeling like the guess speak for the evening.  I was new, so they wanted to get to know me which meant they asked and I answered their questions.  I got to talk about the HINT trial which, as most of you know, I love talking about.  And of course interpreting and homschooling came up too.  It was more uplifting than I thought it would be.  I was scared that if I met people who suffer severely with MS it would freak me out.  But, everyone was so ...normal.  It was comforting to be around people who understand what I'm going through.  I will try and make it back there next month.

Our simple Christmas

Christmas for us this year will be even more simple than last year.  Yes, we still have the same 4 foot fake tree my mother-in-law gave us years ago.  Bless you MomB, it has served us well!  We have the same old decorations and some new ones the kids made.  The kids are buying each other one gift from money they earned.  They got a few gifts from my side during Thanksgiving because we don't travel for Christmas.  Yes, it boils down to the lack of money but, it has given us an unexpected gift...peace.   Our house is tranquil.  At least where Christmas is concerned.  We make treats that we will give to the postal worker, neighbors, and the few family members that live by us.  And, of course, we will be decorating our gingerbread house.
I've read a lot of Facebook post over the past few weeks about Christmas.  People posting about the rush to buy gifts, finding great deals, getting ready for visiting family, posting pictures of their decorated trees, and the true meaning of Christmas - Jesus.  I love it all.  Some of it is very entertaining while others are insightful.  But all of it has made me thankful for our very simple Christmas.
We don't travel, there is no big meal, or relatives to worry about.  We don't do Santa Claus and our kids don't feel deprived either.  We won't get a credit card bill that will give us a heart attack, our energy bill will not be noticeably higher and we don't mail Christmas cards anymore.  We do a Christmas video/card that we send out electronically.  It has saved us a ton of money and is a lot of fun to make!.  We go to church on Christmas Eve without fear of persecution and the next morning we sleep in.  Christmas morning starts by reading the Bible and prayer, then the kids can open gifts.  We sometimes spend the majority of the day in our pajamas.  I may even turn the heat up to 70 as a special treat.  This kind of Christmas is more than most of the world will get to experience.  How in the world could I ever complain or be ungrateful.

Sam reciting the poem, "Learning to Read" by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.  She memorized this in 6 days. She made a few mistakes, but still it was a long poem and I think she did pretty good!

Here are the words:
Very soon the Yankee teachers
   Came down and set up school;
But, oh! how the Rebs did hate it,—
   It was agin’ their rule.

Our masters always tried to hide
   Book learning from our eyes;
Knowledge didn't agree with slavery—
   ’Twould make us all too wise.

But some of us would try to steal
   A little from the book.
And put the words together,
   And learn by hook or crook.

I remember Uncle Caldwell,
   Who took pot liquor fat
And greased the pages of his book,
   And hid it in his hat.

And had his master ever seen
   The leaves upon his head,
He’d have thought them greasy papers,
   But nothing to be read.

And there was Mr. Turner’s Ben,
   Who heard the children spell,
And picked the words right up by heart,
   And learned to read ’em well.

Well, the Northern folks kept sending
   The Yankee teachers down;
And they stood right up and helped us,
   Though Rebs did sneer and frown.

And I longed to read my Bible,
   For precious words it said;
But when I begun to learn it,
   Folks just shook their heads,

And said there is no use trying,
   Oh! Chloe, you’re too late;
But as I was rising sixty,
   I had no time to wait.

So I got a pair of glasses,
   And straight to work I went,
And never stopped till I could read
   The hymns and Testament.

Then I got a little cabin
   A place to call my own—
And I felt independent
   As the queen upon her throne.