Week One of Fall Camp

     We woke up in our place of birth and awaited the arrival of various family members to drop by our sisters for morning coffee, setting the tone for the day.

     

     We waited for our baby sister and her kids. They were coming to have breakfast with us. I love kids; they do not realize just how funny they really are. The youngest, who is only three, has this saying when he doesn’t like something, “that’s poithin  (poison)”. That is how I feel about MSA!

      We had a birthday party for my niece’s husband. It was his first birthday party, and what an introduction, most of my 13 siblings, their spouses and children were there. We had lots of stories and laughs.

       Another evening our niece and nephew planned and arranged a hors d’oeuvres night. Again most of my family and friends were there, appetites were sated and fun was had by all. As usual the round of stories began. My stomach was sore from laughing so much!

                                

It felt good to be surrounded by so much life! 

  

Fall Camp Begins

     Today we starting “Fall Camp”, we will be gone for three whole weeks.  With husband in the military this is something you get use to quickly is them leaving, but it will be  a big difference this time because I am the one leaving  my family and with MSA three weeks can be along time.

     When Hunny made our reservations he knew how important it would be for me to have extra seating as well as well as legroom.  We were lucky because   Hunny booked us first class and a direct flight. We had to fly west to Toronto, but this is the only way to get directly to Sydney. They sure do not want to take any chances with Security, so they really gave me the once over. My daughter made me a bag to put my catheter in; it looked like I just had a bag on my lap. So of course Security asked what was in there and it they had to scan it again, I took this as a compliment. They took me to the airplane in an aisle seat. The chair they used to transport handicap patrons.   I was terrified.   I felt like I was on a child’s chair that was going to break at any moment and I was strapped in it.

    Our nephew picked us up at the airport this made it so much easier on me. t was also late so this gave us time to adjust.  I would rather they come see me, than arriving to a bunch of people. Everyone respected my wishes no  questions  asked.

     
        When we got to my sister’s I knew it would be hard to see her and her to see me get out of the car and in the house. It was only a month I saw but we all know that in the MSA world a lot can happen in a month. Once in mostly everything is on one floor. There is one step between the bathroom and the bedroom, but I guess my brother made a ramp to take care of this concern for me, another sister had gotten a walker for me, the sister I was staying with asked her friend to ask him to make me a bed buddy.   No, this is not a man, this is an apparatus that helps me in and out of bed All this attention for one person, me!!!     

     Everyone had a magical part in this wonderful visit which I will share over the next few weeks.

Now was time to get a few hours shut eye before  the fun  begins!!

Thanksgiving Before Fall Camp

      It is ironic that today is World MSA Day and my sister was coming to help take care of me. Since MSA has struck I can see the steady decline. We got the extra bedroom ready after all this going to be a haven, a place to read, watch TV; a place considered her      

     I expected it to be very difficult to see her for lots of reasons.  I  was not  only admitting that I needed help with some of the things that we take for granted everyday but she has her own kids and grand-kids that I felt they were missing out on this time.  It always amazes me how one person (me) , how one person can  affect so many lives.

     So I thought if we go to Cape Breton for three weeks there will be lots of help.  I thought this was a good way to get used to my quirks.  I not only told them that we would be there for three weeks.  I also gave them heads up of the progression of the MSA.  
I did not want any my sister’s or brother’s to pick us up at the airport because I knew I would cry, because i would not  be walking off  the plane.  So I arranged for our nephew to pick us up.  I guess I did not want them to see them me wheeled in.

                      

Before leaving for Fall Camp in Cape Breton my kids wanted to make Thanksgiving Dinner. They a fabulous dinner all from scratch, it was a great  traditional dinner. I gave them full rang of the kitchen, and gave them all nicknames. So our son-in-law became “The Baconator”,our son  became, “The Stuffin Boy”, and our daughter,  '"The Queen of Spices”.

     


 We had a great dinner, board games   and a great meal and most importantly family time! We have lots to be thankful for. 

Our 27th Anniversary

     On this day 27 years ago, I married my soul mate, my friend and my knight in shining armour. Hunny is still all these things to me and more.  MSA has changed our plans but, has not broken our will. We refer to it as the, “New Normal”. We both would do it all again.

     


You see we met on a blind date; we dated 3 months, then married. We grew up together and grew in our friendship together. I knew I could depend on him.

                    
We had two children that grew to be two beautiful adults.  We had our children at young age.  We all grew together!  

  
   I am afraid of choking due to the laryngospasms and my deteriorating esophagus therefore, I did not to want to go to a restaurant.  So instead, we had a picnic in the living room. This might seem easy but, it requires a lot of planning.  I appreciate all the effort that went in to this picnic.  Since the MSA had advanced, I could not help. So, Hunny got all the food that I could still swallow without choking, and a “lapkin” (this is usually a tea towel spread on my lap) for me. We got some nice champagne to go with cake. We had a worry-free evening.

     We know MSA has changed our future but,it hasn’t changed our past and all we have shared; not even MSA can take this away.

     Oh Yes, I forgot to mention that Hunny got tickets for my sister and I to visit our home town in Cape Breton.  Fall camp here we come!