MS stinks

I have a facebook daily support thing that comes up as a message and asks people for thoughts about issues they have faced with their MS. In some cases it is finding work to other things like dental work to depression... yeah those are all issues people with MS face! So, while normally I have stopped putting in my two cents about much of anything MS related because in many ways I feel very blessed, I started to think... yeah I know dangerous... The posting on "dental issues" annoyed me. People were talking about loosing teeth, and getting crowns and bad experiences and pointing back to MS. Now granted, I am considered a "short timer", only having been diagnosed for a little over 6-7 years now, but in that time the ONLY issue I have had with my teeth are them not being white enough (Starbucks I blame you!) for my taste. Thankfully, I am a bleachaholic (yeah I know that isn't a real word) and when my teeth start to look the same color as my pasty white chest (there I said it- I am white as a ghost) I pull out my bleaching trays and have at it. Now I know I have two molars that have fillings that are the size of cities, I have pushed the limits and I am fully aware that IF anything were to ever go south with those teeth they will require crowns. But lets be honest for a second, I am NOT going to point to my brain and cry MS STINKS and blame a disease for destroying my molars. Instead, I'll blame Pespi for creating "Throwback" Mountain Dew, and again Starbucks for ahh- EVERYTHING, because blaming myself for poor choices and poor oral habits for years would be taking responsibility and in this day in age WE can't do that! AH NO! So as my dentist gives me the "fee" I will complain and then put it off for a few more years till the tooth breaks and then blame the dentist for not fixing my tooth, causing me to loose the tooth, I mean after all, he/she, should have done something while it could have been saved- Right?
Yeah, having MS stinks, there's no doubt about it! I am not joking there! Anyone who knows me best can tell you there are times when laying on the couch or bed is about all I can accomplish and even that is pretty darn good, cause I got TO the couch- SCORE! When it's really hot out (yes, I know I live in Florida- but you'll get that in a second hang with me) I have to be careful because my body doesn't regulate temperature so I will go from fine to overheated to heat stroke with no warning. The cold is even worse (there it is!). The few (thank GOD I'm in Florida) days we start dipping down into the 30's my body as a whole just aches, no fun at all. I can literally feel each injection area as tiny little pin prick spots. Just painful! Then there's all the other fun stuff...yeah, it stinks... but pointing everything in life to MS- stop! There has to be a line between life, and MS. I'm drawing it!!! The only thing I can say about dentistry and MS, is that MS caused me to walk away from it, and I hate that- every day... I miss it, I miss helping people, and working on them, seeing them smile when we are done, comforting them while we are working. It was one of the hardest choices I have ever had to make, but it made sense.
So when you see me SMILE, just know I smile because I can. I smile because although having MS stinks, not living stinks worse! LIVE YOUR LIFE!

Weekends come and go

Sometimes I think I blog just to keep track of my life. The idea of being able to go back in time and remember what was going on... really... but then I know that because it's the world wide web, the snap shot I offer is never the real picture. Who does that? Besides, since my "blog" isn't the most viewed blog in the world it kind of is one of those things that I can say some things and not really worry too much about, but then again, you never know..
As the weekends come and go, I find myself running this race trying to keep pace and hoping that come the end of the weekend I haven't upset too many people, completed all the things I needed to do.

Life of a football mom

Sports are one of those things that brings out the best of parents and as every parent knows... the worst...  Every child is "going to be" the next Derek Jeter, Bret Favre, Michael Jordon, Tiger Woods, Vincent Lecavlier or any other sports hero... The funny thing that always amazes me is the real numbers. How many high schools are there, that feed into how many ACTUAL college full ride scholarships, that lead into how many professional careers? Truth is little Timmy MIGHT have what it takes, but for how long? Until that big blow of reality comes and take him out of the game and he has to use what he learned in SCHOOL to get him by... Oh wait... he thought all along he would get by on gym shoes... BIG mistake! Too often I see parents at Little League fields with LITTLE kids pinning their hopes on the fact that their child will make it big. Now don't get me wrong, my kids know they open a letter from ANY college- YES YOU READ IT HERE- saying they have a FULL ride to play sports, I will wear the clothes with pride (including OSU) HA! But that comes with the idea of an EDUCATION, and my children have had it ingrained in them that at the end of "college" if all they have walked away with is a piece of paper that says they know how to get to the cafeteria, and they know how to drink beer, they have LOST! Leaving early to pick up a million dollars sounds great, but how long does that really last these days? Lottery winners can tell you that! The point is, as parents I strongly believe that it is OUR responsibility: To have our children in sports to teach children that losing happens. That other kids can be better than you. You can be better than other kids. You can win a game with the weakest players. Your weakest players define your teams, and when they grow, your team grows. Parents actions and their sportsmanship carriers on to children.
At times I wish I grew up when my grandparents did, the clothes were modest (I prefer shorts when I'm hot) but people had respect and NO ONE "sucked". Never did you hear a MOTHER talk about a child bringing down the team, just unheard of, instead, they would have the stronger players would bring him under their wing. Respect, values. Something Joe Paternio has taught his "unnamed" players at Penn State his whole coaching career. Teams include players, a group of people coming together for a single purpose. His efforts of teaching the ideas of rooting out the "show-boat" I applaud!

So as a mother of three children who wish to be many things other than sports heroes, but hope to gain that knowledge through academic and sports scholarships I still and think where do we go from here. Last night I watched my son play another football game, playing only on kick off, and kick return, then in the 4th quarter a shimmer he played 4 "downs" at defensive end. This is a league where every one pays the same amount to play. THEN the league adds to it with continues requests for fund-raising. We have participated in everything, and he attends every practice giving it his all. While others don't show up for fund raising and treat practing like is multiple choice. Yet he sits, with no explanation, and they start, play both ways and play most of the game. Having spoken to his coach who seemed "unaware" he was sitting and would "look into it" I find myself just further annoyed and eager to end the season and move on to high school. As the team won 39-0 I thought to myself- I really hate that they won, because as life of a football mom means that we might make playoffs with that win! DAMN! I really don't want to watch more games with him on the bench... I am just glad I can make my changes to softball because, like I said... if PARENTS don't do something... it will only get worse... TAKE A STAND!!!
 

Fall in flip-flops

Today is one of those days.. when you smile because you can rake leaves in your yard in flip flops, sit in the warm sun and sit by the pool with a glass of wine (if that is your cup of tea) and just relax... The air is just right! Cool enough to be comfy, warm enough for shorts and tee shirts. I found laughing today because our leaves don't "change". We don't have the big colorful fall change over like I grew up. That has been kind of hard to get to used to, but we also don't have the really cold nights... That works for me! Instead, we have trees that never "appear" to change but then all the sudden you have colored leaves all over your yard? FUNNY to me.. what a mess! But the GREEN continues! As I rake in flip flops and catch my pinky toe with the rake I remember- hmm, that's right, you don't rank in flip flops just because it's beautiful out... that isn't smart... BUT I continue anyway, cause hey, I'm in FLORIDA- so when in ROME! So as my dogs follow me all around the property and the neighbor lady remarks once again about wonderful my yard looks, I just smile and look around knowing that I am pretty lucky! I mean really- fall in flip-flops? That's my kind of life!

Just a great day all the way around!

Okay, so waking up super early on a Saturday is never my cup of tea, but having my two favorite men dresses in pink and walking a 5k to help save boobies... that will make anyone's day! Then to top it off I had a fan club that kept moving to cheer us on! -Great kids! Afterwords it was so funny because we all looked around at each other a were pretty happy because we felt really good. We ran into some friends and took more photos...
Then on to lunch- Winghouse! Where else!!! Ha! Ha! Our friends there were bummed they missed out on the walk.... the gears are in motion! FUN TIMES ;)
Came home, time for softball roster issues and get them out to the teams and iron out issues! They start playing MONDAY!!! Crazy!
Softball kind of sorted out just in time to get in a nap, then head to Erik's game! Yeah talk about heroes! He walked a 5k this morning and will be playing a football game tonight- wonder when I will see him tomorrow morning... LOL! Probably when his girlfriend calls!
Wish I didn't have so much school work to type up this weekend... but like anything, if you have a great day all around, the next day you usually pay for it! dang!

Rain, Rain go away!

So this weeks practice schedule has bee a wash out with rain storms each night. A race to contact everyone has left me pretty drained. I have joked that I hope my position comes with a new superwoman cape at the end of the season because I am pretty sure I am going to wear a whole in it. Some days I wish we had mandatory nap time. I like the idea and I someday I will campaign on that promise. Till then- rain, rain go away come again another day cause I just don't have time for this!

Not so far away- CRAP!

Anyone who knows Rich and I knows that we have two kids that are two years apart, born on the same day. As we move into the high school years, my 8th grader has started really focusing on "what's next". Our 10th grader has started talking about "where next".  It dawned on me on me as I was looking at my school schedule and thinking about the time that has been involved, all of this is not so far away- crap! I am not even close to ready. While everyone jokes about "my" son never leaving me, the schools he lists aren't any where near here. He plans on leaving, he looks forward to it. Our oldest has always had her eyes on schools that are no where near here, and while I am glad they have vision... the reality is, in just a few years, their plans include not being here.
It's just one more feather I guess, as I sit here laughing, to put in my already filled cap. So as I finish sending the rosters for softball, and last reminders for tee shirt orders (and field schedules), then get my school stuff ready for tonight so I can get ready for work, all I can do is think- at some point I will have "restful" years, but as one of my favorite lines from a movie- "Not yet, Not yet"...  I may be busy all the time, but my kids are going to be leaving me and that scares me to death... so now, I have to make the most of my time, enjoy them, and keep them busy!

May not have time- but I am doing it!

So today ended before it ever started. I didn't get all my school work finished, but I managed to handle my VP duties. Craziness! Moving players, and getting everything ready for a season that is only 7 weeks. I feel for the kids, but at the same time one person can only do so much...

It will be interesting to see how we get the girls on the field for practices and then work out the game schedule. I laugh when I see the boys up their tonight. Some of them on now moving up to the Jr. division yet they are down at the smaller fields working (taking up space) just cracks me up. They wonder why people get upset... I can think of a few reasons... So we shall see how it all gets divided up, because TIME is one thing that nobody ever seems to have enough of! I sure know I don't- but I did manage to get my laundry put away!!! SCORE!

Friends for a lifetime

Last night, sitting out on the patio enjoying a "few" drinks and some great food, I realized that while friends come and go with no explanation at times, other friends are friends for a lifetime. There's nothing better then spending quality time with the people in your life that mean the most.
I am lucky enough to have a husband who adores me and is my best friend. One of these days, he'll even laugh at all of my jokes, not just the ones that are REALLY funny, but his support has really pulled me through some tough times.
I still would be remiss if I didn't apologize to Miss. Rachael- friends don't forget friends when we "trash" beds. It was ALOT of wood and that mattress was oh so comfy. After moving us IN to our house... and staying here and looking after the kids just about any time Rich and I want to "fly about the country" asking if she wanted it, was the least I could have done...
So as I start my next class with a GREAT friend... I think that while I have AWESOME friends far away, I am super lucky to have awesome friends right around the corner! 

I just have to laugh

WELCOME to my FIRST ever blog!!! I have decided that what the heck... I will try to attempt to write about my woes... someone might care! HA! But seriously... all joking aside... the woes are little and the pay-off for hard-work is tremendous- so I just have to ask- 
What was I thinking... I know what the answer is before I even really ask the question. As I woke up this morning (on the couch- that story maybe another time) I had to wonder why I agreed to becoming the VP of Softball. I have enough on my plate. But the answer is clear... I want the girls to have the best chance for a great seasons. That is true for any player, but really, softball has taken such a back door for so many years that the program is hurting. I'll do whatever I can to make it work. Even if it means getting up early for a pre-meeting, and then a meeting. Ah!

So the numbers are in, and the girls should have a great season! But like always, I'll be busy... cause seriously... I have time for this!!!