<Laura@notmy.com> wrote in message
news:gnmn53lopr46g8aokdtod49npug6qd5o2l@4ax.com...
: On Tue, 29 May 2007 07:11:44 GMT, "Billie" <mynewsaccount@swbell.net>
: wrote:
:
: >In preparation for spending Memorial Day at our son's house in Northwest
: >Mississippi, Sunday, Ashley and I bought swim suits last week. I went
from
: >size 24 to size 18. 'Nough said about that for now. ;-)
: >
: >On the drive down there I was able to clearly see the water and greenery
: >(trees and water-growth) directly alongside the road for the first time
in
: >two years (cause = diplopia/double vision from the myasthenia), though I
do
: >have to admit I suffered through the ball games with double vision. That
: >*was* good advertisement for HDTV for poor vision, though. *s*
: >
: >My son has a nice above-ground pool......
: > with help from Ashley, I managed to walk down the wooden deck steps
: >......
: > to the concrete pool steps, stand, and then sit on the top step
: >.......
: > then ponder the first decision of what I would do --
sit
: >on pool edge, go a step down further, or one where my legs would be just
: >beneath the water, or one more where it another and ..... ?? ......
where
: >to sit?????
: >
: >Decided to sit on the very top edge..... oh, in my new swim suit.... ;-)
: >....... not sure if anyone got any pictures of me, but I'll check my
camera
: >later. *s* I want to show off for sure if they did!!!! Ashley spiked
my
: >hair after my hairdresser did, and did some great make-up. After a bit
of
: >getting used to the cold water - yes, it really was cold that day - went
on
: >down to the next step, and on down until I was getting bare skin wet.....
: >brrrrrr....... sitting down at my shoulder level. Whoopee!! Moving my
arms
: >in the water with resistance......... back and forth!!! What a most
: >WONDERFUL feeling! Water lovers will understand!! A bit more and my
hair
: >would be wet..... hehehe!! [ forgive any overuse of *!* ]
: >
: >No longer could stand it - - - - My feet called me to walk ( like a
: >penguin's were called to dance, slower, but still happy feet ;-)! First
we
: >figured out how much would be close to my 200 feet, and we thought maybe
: >twice around the pool; no need to waste time on math. That's good. It
: >looked large enough.... yugh.....no need for larger !! Ashley held to my
: >left, I held to the edge with my right hand..... steps would began at the
: >pool steps where we'd been sitting, with her often asking, "You want to
try
: >walking now?"
: >
: >A step is just a step. Not if you step that tentative step against the
: >pressure of cool, crisp, sun-sparkled water. Oh, there is the feeling of
: >wanting to let go of Ashley's hand, and just lying back against the water
: >(better hold on to the pool edge
, lifting legs, and floating. haha I
: >behave. Once around the pool!!!! Cannot stop now!!!!
: >
: >With excitement, it feels so great, and the legs feel so steady. hmmmm I
: >see Jim watching from the deck. Wanna signal for him to take a pic, but
: >don't think I should let go of my right hand on the rail. Feeling
stronger
: >and more confident, we take off on a run for a second go-round, and
believe
: >it or not, DONE in no time at all, some kind of record for sure, then
guess
: >what..... and I can hardly believe it myself..... we switch, and change
: >directions (had to stop and watch a *little* boy on Jay Leno play the
piano
: >just now), and for our THIRD trip around. Half way, I was holding alone
: >(where was Ashley ??? haha), I put both hands on the rail, and attempted
to
: >lift my legs..... managed three leg lifts for SWIMMING (of sorts
!! On
: >the other side, with her there, I pushed, and made five leg lifts for
: >swimming again.... hehe!! That signaled the end, though.
The legs
were
: >maxed out; no doubt, plus "girdle" pain erupted with the second set of
leg
: >lifts. The sudden, explosiveness really surprised me, as used to pain as
I
: >am. We headed for home base of the steps, and I was ready to get out of
the
: >pool. With Myasthenia Gravis (MG), it reaches its limit(s), and there is
no
: >more (how loss of breathing and swallowing is so dangerous for us).
Didn't
: >even bother to slip into my shoes, just got to the deck, a chair, and
: >proceeded to drip dry. Jim was so sweet, and had a towel there for me.
: >Ashley and Jim were so wonderfully supportive of my endeavor.
: >
: >I guess about the only nice thing I can find about MG is its somewhat
: >recovery with a rest period, and such was the case while just sitting,
and
: >listening to them talk while my neuromuscular junctions restored
themselves,
: >and my son continued to cook his ribs and butts for a couple more hours.
: >The smell alone surely had to put everything in right order.... haha!!
: >
: >Jim's niece drove over from our hometown in Arkansas, and it was soon
time
: >to test the bulbar muscles with those ribs, and a bit of everything else
my
: >daughter-in-law had prepared.
: >
: >I've not been able yet to tell you all about everything they worked with
me
: >about the bulbar muscles in the face and neck for swallowing, plus how
much
: >the IVIG helped in the working of the muscles themselves..... some, not
: >miraculous. Sometimes spasm, lock up for no reason. Did it for them in
the
: >hospital. Not much detail right now....... Drinks at a nectar
thickness,
: >which does help some to keep from choking. The worst part I think, and
: >which affected me a little bit, but not to keep me from enjoying my meal,
is
: >fatigue of the muscles. I was able to swallow the "fall from the bone"
: >ribs. They were soft enough for me, and I could mash the other food to
make
: >it slide-able (I make up a lot of words
. Yes, I'm excited about the
: >swallowing part, too, but whereas the walking and being in the water was
a
: >new, and extra, the swallowing is a lesser adaptation I've worked out
: >already. Like, already been there done that. Same with the better
vision
: >at times. All things that will come and go with limited improvement,
: >hopefully, as time goes by, which I'll tell you more about later.
: >Thankfully, this is a rare disease, and so few have it.
: >
: >So, there you have my memorable Memorial Day in Senatobia, Mississippi,
not
: >with dancing happy feet, but with feet that were happy stepping and
kicking
: >in the water. I am *sure* it caused the neurons to spark for those
moments,
: >for I know I'm still feeling them spark now. Adding a diabetic note here
at
: >the end, literally...... as I was walking, out, I reached down, felt
: >something........ my pump!!!!! I forgot to take off my pump!!!!! And I
had
: >planned so perfectly for it, too. My excitement just ate up all my
: >plans...... haha!!
: >
: >Billie, the happy kicker!
: >
: What a beautiful and uplifting story. Thank you so much for that. I
: wonder at you and your spirit, Billie. The lady who was once timid
: about posting. I'm so glad you got past that. You have so much to
: share.
Thank you, Laura. What is so funny, is that I'm still telling the same
stuff, just learning how to tell what I am finding differently. Over on the
MG Forum that I found, one of the first things you learn to deal with is
change. At least I think that is where it is..... hehe! See, I have
learned in this last year to not be as afraid of my loss of memory as I was
when I came back here after having to be away (when the MG slammed me). We
still do not know all that is behind that (memory), only part of the
reasons, and if I sit back and wait for all the answers, life may well have
passed me by. so.......... *s* The happy feet is a good example. It's my
favorite movie, but unlike the past, I cannot remember my favorite
character's name, nor where my movie is, so I had to improvise above. I
have been a writer for longer than I can remember, and creative words come
naturally to me; now, creations come naturally to me. NOT in the way they
always have, they just come. Plus, it is something I do all day long
whenever I am awake, which is **very** hard for me to be. zzzzzzzzz My
rendition normally would take 15 to 20 minutes. It took me through Jim's
watching more than three Law 'n Order marathon's tonight, the news, Leno,
and then some other things until he went to bed, and then more than another
hour plus unknown because I had nothing to compare it to...... that is how I
keep up with things. I can trace things back very accurately that way, but
not if anything is not going on, even though I am not participating in them.
Then......... I have to reread, and make sure my steps are sure, and make
sense. I still have trouble finding words, both in real life, and on paper,
especially real life! THAT is bad news!!!!!! Hate it! The MG keeps me
from pronouncing them, too. What a muscle can do one hour, it may not do
another hour or minute. It's okay with the computer; you can come back and
do it later, not so in a conversation. Right now, I'm sailing through this,
no problem. I've had a rest. A blast from the past that won't last. haha
BUT with the IVIG it *will* get better, maybe MUCH better. Oh, here I go!
Inspires me to tell about my hospital visit, and about the IVIG. It's
interesting. Very.
btw............ We're having a BOY.............. Ashton Sears
Ashton after Ashley, and Sears after Jim. Jim's middle name is after Dr.
Sears who delivered him, and was our second son's middle name. She said
that at first she had a moment of wanting to name him Robert Sears, after
Robert, who was killed, but was afraid some family members might not like
it, or something, so went for her and her granddaddy. Of course, I was
happy with either.
Two great-grandsons, and one great granddaughter. This is getting exciting!
Gotta have the second IVIG, and get to Ohio!
Great Granny Billie
Memorial Day is memorable for me with sight, steps, swim, and swallows.... ;-) 
Linear Mode
