I am not asking for much, really, I'm not.

I made it to Yale to see my Mom. Only because Skipp drove and then pushed me along in my rollator. I was traveling backwards - weird, very weird. We laughed all the way through the very long winding corridors - he, of course, enjoying the opportunity to, well, have some fun with the unavoidable reality. And there she was, with a shawl about her shoulders - a gift from the 'hospital angels' - a volunteer group that knits or crochets these lovely warm shawls for patients. She explained that it is very cold in the dialysis room. She went on to tell of a dream - we sat there clinging to her every word. She dreamed of her mother who died 50 years ago this past April - a hard working woman - raised six kids on her own after my mom's Dad died at age 39 of pneumonia. In this dream her Mom was reaching to her telling her not to b afraid and to come home. My Mom said she was holding her Mother's hands and then let go - and she told us she was scared and not ready. Phew.

She has had three dialysis treatments and will have a fourth on Friday. Her site 'held' - it worked,. "Thank you" all for your love and prayers and sending good energy and healing, hopeful light. :-) Amen. Hopefully she will be strong enough to come home on Saturday. Her schedule to go to the dialysis clinic will begin next week, three times a week , four to five hours a day. Please continue to pray for her strength and fortitude through this demanding regiment.

I am still in the midst of my healing challenge from the MS set back. I am on another medication for a week. And I am waiting for the physical therapist to come and evaluate me here and design a routine to help ease the pain and increase my mobility. I may need to see an orthopedic specialist that will be decided next week some time. Meanwhile I am moving about daily as best I can - the intense pain has eased and I can take ten to 12 steps pain free and then it starts to tighten and hurt and the icy hot numbness intensifies. I can also walk without the rollator for a few steps now where before I could not. Although it is way safer to walk with the rollator so I don't push the heroics!! :-) I am glad when I can get outside to our deck and really soak up the sights and sounds and smells of nature. I feel free when I am outside. Needless to say, I have a ways to go. And I don't know what the "end" of this set back will look like and feel like in terms of mobility and pain to which I will have to adjust. I am hoping for the best and managing as best I can. Ya know?

Skipp and I still enjoy our Tuesdays and Wednesdays. We sleep in and then have a leisurely brunch and enjoy our coffee on the deck. Later, we barbecue, and have wine and "happy-hour' and watch movies and enjoy our Gracey-Blue We catch up with house stuff and with each other (use your imagination), we go for rides and talk and listen to our favorite music and Skipp usually grocery shops. We love every moment of those two days we have together.

And August 29th is our wedding anniversary and BOTH our birthdays. Yes, we have the same birthday and we were married on our birthdays in 1996. Cool, huh? :-) August 29th is a wonderful day of celebration!! And Skipp has the week off!! "YAY!!!

And then it is Autumn - Hallelujah. I always feel better once the weather turns cooler and drier. This has been a very oppressive summer - and the heat and humidity are such a challenge for me. And yet I came to realize something about MS. I am doing all the right things to fight this disease - and still it flares up. I believe that my ability to adjust to the next phase or limit is as important as fighting off the nest phase or limit. Sometimes they clash and I must adjust. I am doing t hat now - one step at a time, or perhaps one less step at a time. And I don't say that in a 'ho-hum-poor-me' way, not at all. It means I know when it is time to make the best of what "IS" rather than wishing for what "ISN'T"!!! I am not there yet with this set back but I will know when that time comes, if it does.

Hopefully my Mom will come home Saturday, as planned. My daughter is going to bring me over on Sunday to spend the afternoon with her. I/we wil bring lunch and keep her company. My sister has to work. I ask again that you all please pray for her strength and for mine too. I don't want to navigate the Appalachian Trail I just want to manage, with little difficulty, being able to get to my Mom, and out and about my neighborhood and town. ok? Too much to hope for? I sure hope not.

And although the following video is dedicated to hurricane and flood victims - I believe, that we all are fighting our own battles - when my Mom couldn't breathe she was drowning in herself - her own inner flood - her fear as she wondered if they would get to her in time - her own emotional hurricane - my fear of immobility - and constant pain - I can be a surge of emotion like a flood washing over me or tossed about in the force of a hurricane - so please, watch and listen to this video with all due honor for the victims of floods and hurricanes but also, please, think of your own personal floods, hurricanes, and how you fought to survive and make it as best you could.