moxies_ Life on the HHP Ranch....Rain!!!!!!

[CheerioLounge]

It is relapsing/remitting. Been around at least since I was 16. Now 49. If I behave myself...eat right, sleep enuff, no drinking, no smoking...never touched drugs. I almost resemble normal. My last production job really whooped my butt though. I am still paying for it physically. That was only 6 months of 2010 though. I quit when we managed to get this place. 75 miles was just too far to drive for a job.

No meds for MS though. I got all the way to the MRI.....by referral. And the Dr was such a jerk. He was from Pakistan. (Not saying all Pakistanis are jerks though). He told me the only patients he sees with MS are the ones he dx'd. Since I was a referral, he wouldn't even read the MRI scans. So, I had to pay $1,700. out of pocket....for nothing. So,I just keep doing as I have been doing....for 33+ years.

Moxie, I read your journal but I'm sorry to say I don't make soap. There are others here who do though. Maybe they'll chime in.

Now, regarding that Dr, I would have immediately reported that jerk to your insurance co., the state medical board and the AMA! That is just ridiculous! Best wishes to you and DH!

 

[moxies_chickennuggets]

Thank you cheerio. That was a long time ago...back in 2003. I just let it slide as I had other issues to deal with then, mainly...my mother passing away. And I was 175 miles away. So,I just paid it, and went on with my life. At the time I went, I was in severe all over body pain. I was just seeking a dx so I could get some sort of relief. I didn't care if it was MS or not...I just was suffering. I hurt for 3 months.
Not to mention I had some other extenuating circumstances going on in my life at that time. Mental health has alot to do with pain management.

Anyhoo...the reason I went to a neuro was because 4 Dr's in 3 different states kept telling me they thought I had MS. I had so many symptoms etc. Finally, the last one...I asked her to tell me why...she thought I had MS. We sat and discussed it for 2 hours. She was the one who told me my next step was seeing a neuro. That was back in 99. I got the referral to a neuro in 2003.

 

[CheerioLounge]

Well, I'm glad that you seem able to manage it, for the most part, with diet. How goes the storefront? My SO also sews and does alterations from our home. I have been following your progress with much interest. We have the foundation poured for a garage with an upstairs studio for him to work out of, but we need to finish the room addition first. It has been a slow process, but we're getting there!

 

[moxies_chickennuggets]

Well, I'm glad that you seem able to manage it, for the most part, with diet. How goes the storefront? My SO also sews and does alterations from our home. I have been following your progress with much interest. We have the foundation poured for a garage with an upstairs studio for him to work out of, but we need to finish the room addition first. It has been a slow process, but we're getting there!

Hmmm...how old is your SO? One thing we have had to consider, is both DH and I are now over 50...(me in March). The knees just ain't what they used to be. The previous owners, an elderly couple...had installed a grab bar on the short stair way coming up from the new addition. We left it there. And have been using it of course. Any new remodel/repairs to the place, we have to consider accessibility. For the future. Some things, we can't change. Others, we will. But, it all takes time and money.


My question on your garage upstairs, is ...how many stairs? If either of you get too disabled in the knees, it will be a real bugger trying to get up there to do anything. You just might want to look at any options...especially if the sewing studio has to be upstairs. Maybe stairs with a landing midway.

 

[CheerioLounge]

That is definitely something to consider. I'm 50, SO 44. It may be years before we get the funds to actually finish the build. That's just what SO would like to see happen there. My idea is to ultimately make the upstairs into a MIL unit/guest room or a rental on down the line. The downstairs part may just end up being a studio/garage. The foundation is big enough to accommodate both on 1 level. We don't really need a garage per se. SO really just wants a concrete slab that he can do vehicle repairs on, since all we have around here is sand, which is not a great place to work on a car!

 

[moxies_chickennuggets]

I just know how old age issues can creep upon people. What with my working as a rehab tech for 3 yrs.....I seen and worked with people of all ages coming in for physical therapy. I took notes....

Also worked with assisted living and nursing home patients. And I asked lots of questions of the physical therapists and occupational therapists. I picked their brains

 

[CheerioLounge]

So far, touch wood, we're still able to get around pretty good!

 

[moxies_chickennuggets]

Got our first eggs today!!! 2 from different hens ....

They got their reprieve!!.....now we don't have to BBQ them or wrap them around noodles

 

[Denim Deb]

Good for you! Either I'm not getting any again, or Roxy has found a different place to lay. And, I haven't been able to look.

 

[moxies_chickennuggets]

This small insignificant piece of life of mine.....has changed so drastically since 1995. I am places in my choices, thinking and lifestyle, that I never would of dreamed to be. Back in 1995, I was the wife of a small town building official, way out west. 2 kids in high school, one in middle school. Full time job...full time wife and mother. At that point, had been married 17 years.

Fast forward to 2012- Divorced but now engaged. Moved 1K miles east, of where I was then. Having, out of necessity, to re-evaluate everything that used to indicate "normal holding pattern"..in my life. A full time job. Do-able income. Etc.

S.O and I, are by pure necessity...having to tighten...and re-tighten that old belt. I got laid off in 2009..then sep from the company 6 months later. The economy went so flat, that it will take years to recover. The company I was with.....hired full time with full bennies ......even perks......projected it would take them 5 years to recover. Maybe.
Then, H1N1 came about. I had it mild, but I still kicked my butt.

S.O....his job of 10 years at that point....lost customers, employees, payroll. All bennies cancelled. SO was sick with H1N1 for 6 weeks of late 2009, but orders were so non existent by then, he was able to stay home and not spread the flu. 6 weeks. And his employer....had to cancel all perks. Uniforms, health insurance, vacay/sick pay,no raises, direct deposit even. Everything ...gone....except his job and the ability to still go to work.


As we were enjoying our morning cuppa coffee this morning, SO made the decision to cancel an account he had had for years. A social network. One had paid a slight fee for 12 months of use. And, here I stand at my kitchen sink, hand washing the whites and hankies.....because the well runs dry when we use it for laundry in the washing machine. I only go to town 1x a week, for groceries. But even they get re-evaluated on a weekly basis now. Costs have risen so much...doubled on too many items. I am now back to using my calculator as I shop.....counting every dollar spent. I did that all the time as a young navy wife...way back when. Now, the need is back.

I am working on setting up my alterations business.....currently waiting on some paperwork back from a lawyer. This will be the 2nd week on that. The need to open my own business as jobs to be had here, despite of "promising" news reports.......still are just mirages. Tight...tight...tight. And,I have no problem living the frugal life. My dad was very frugal...to the point of stingy. He has mellowed a bit at 86.....but he wasn't when I was young.

We are raising chickens. They just turned 7 months old, and started laying eggs the other day...finally. But, being wild game fowl....they don't want to be caught acting like domestic chickens. I went up to sew yesterday.....after doing my laundry. Came back to the main house about 2ish. A hen was on the front porch, talking to her reflection in the front door glass. NO problem. I had let 2 hens out to free range. Well, went to the back to check the rest. 1 hen was in the tractor. The rest, and the roo, had escaped. Danngit. I chased chickens for 2.5 hours. Supper didn't get made. One hen would not go back to the coop. so, she was on her own last night. I'll be going back outside in a little while to see if she survived the night by her lonely self. No roost. No coop mates, no cover. No protection. SO says we'll just cull them all if they want to be difficult. Go figure, just when they start laying. Pffft.

So...life goes on in this leaky little lifeboat that sweetie and I row together. Sometimes, one of us has to row the whole boat. Let the other rest. Most times, we both row together. Just no telling where this grand experiment in life will take us.