Oh how I miss having hamsters! I just loved it as a kid watching them stuff their pudgy little cheeks till they were bigger than themselves. With one of my current cats no rodent is safe! He actually brought me home a rabbit one day, and I think one of the feral chickens in our neighborhood fell pray to him, there were far too many feathers to believe the chicken won, not to mention quite the pot-belled and lazy kitty curled up innocently in the yard who didn't seem the least bit interested in coming in for dinner for a couple of days.

He's quite the old man, so maybe after father time comes to collect him I can think about a pet hamster or rabbit, his little brother is decidedly not a hunter, he loses fights with inanimate objects

I'm really sorry to hear about your grand baby, hope he gets better fast, but he's in good company, I wasn't much older with my first bout of bronchitis, so try not to fret too much if it becomes a recurrent affliction, and watch the doctors don't put him on cough suppressants when he gets older! Every bout of pneumonia I've had has occurred from catching a nasty case of bronchitis and getting cough suppressants (supposedly so I could sleep), but when your bronchi are weak from infancy that's a huge mistake... Cough it up and out even if it means a lack of sleep and some terribly sore chest muscles.

There are quite a few members of our church that are out with this bad flu. The church is made up mainly of older couples. When the wife is sick and then gets better, the husband will get sick right after. and then when he gets better the wife is sick again because she didn't give herself time to really heal. We are a small choir and we have two couples that have been out for 3 weeks.

My nephews little one that was sick is all better now. The other nephew that when he got home from having Christmas here found out his would be finace' had had a 'friend' over while he was here are now working it out. This is a many times repeated thing with them. He doesn't want to deny her any privileges with the babies so they still stay in the same 2 bedroom apartment even during the times they are 'broke up'. At least between me and several other people we have managed to convince him to keep their arguements off face book. They will be at their apartment and not 'talking' to each other but arguing on face book. In the same room!!! Rediculous.

Well, that was fun...NOT.
Somehow my computer security got messed up so badly that I needed help to figure out how to get things to function again. Even email deliveries to inbox got shut down.

It has been one of those weeks where a lot of things seem to be having problems. My dog has me concerned because what the vet said were fat deposits are getting bigger and more numerous. He is 12 years old, otherwise in good shape and isn't overweight, so now cancer is suspected. The vet says that given his age and the extent of the growths, there isn't much we can do if it is cancer, so not worth putting him through biopsies etc. .

I've been keeping busy doing therapy exercises for regaining strength and flexibility but also for cognitive/memory stuff and got re-motivated to keep at it after seeing my doc this past week. I had to get exams for a disability review to satisfy the tax people once again. They don't seem to understand that SPMS isn't expected to go away or get better so they require this evaluation every couple of years. This is just to get a little break on income tax because I still haven't filed for full disability. Stubborn as they come .

Wishing you all a great day.
With love, Erika

Been enjoying some nice weather for a few days. The high yesterday was 70. We are supposed to have a few more nice days and then the temps are supposed to fall into the 40s. It is so nice to be able to run errands or just go outside and not being worried about falling on ice or snow.

I had Anya over for her last sleepover last weekend. We made individual pizzas and then a cookie pizza. She did not go to bed until 11:45 and woke up at 6:45 so I was exhausted for a few days. I love spending time with her. She is so funny and creative, and loving.

I went out to dinner with the family last night, and I am going over to their place for ribs tonight.

So all in all I am adapting to being here to a degree. Being near family is the most positive thing about the move.

I don't love it, but I don't hate it. I miss the small town atmosphere of Charleston and usually seeing somebody I knew everywhere I went. But I do like all of the options I have for shopping, restaurants, and movies being close by here. Traffic is crazy so I tend to avoid going into the city by myself. I like the weather now, but I am sure I won't be to happy with it in the summer. But I was really depressed in Illinois the past few winters.

I still haven't manage to find doctors that I feel comfortable with (especially neurologist) and I miss my HMO. I am just going to wait until late summer to try to find a different neurologist.

Illinois insurance is 39 weeks behind in paying out claims so I am having to pay some bills or make arrangements for a monthly bill with the clinic I go to hoping I will get reimbursed by the clinic when they get paid. I have only received actual bills from the clinic. Otherwise I have just received claim notices from my insurance. I already have 8000.00 in claims so this is a big concern. Doctors and hospitals in Illinois are just willing to wait until they get paid. The hospital made me pay several hundred more than I should have when I had my MRI's so hopefully they will also repay me at some point.

So that is my little update from Texas. I am now working on improving my diet. I quit drinking diet coke two weeks ago, and starting tomorrow I am not going to eat in the evening. Once I achieve that goal I will add a new one.

Erika, why did you never apply for disability. When I first got my disability in 1999, I was told that it was not a permanent decision and that they would send out something every 5 years to fill out. When I got it, it was jsut a very simple questionaire and I haven't gotten one since that first one. I will be 65 in March and I'm ot sure if I then am automatically switched from SSD to regular Social security benefits or if I have to wait until 67. From what I read on the SS.gov website, it is a seamles switch and no forms to fill out, just comes from a different budget.

Barb, glad you are halfway enjoying the move. Grand kids are the most wonderful things.

I'm not sure but the disability program might be different in Canada. I haven't gone on full disability because there are times that I can still work and even if it is only part time, my earnings disqualify me from disability. I also prefer to support myself, even if it is from savings, rather than to rely on insurance for as long as possible. I think that is fair because so long as I can support myself, which I have been able to so far, I shouldn't be collecting funds from the government.

The sort of disability program that I do qualify for gives me a break on income tax and is in place to offset the additional costs of having a disability...cost that are not otherwise covered by medical insurance. That too is fair IMO because of the $1500.00 in medication, therapy and aids that I claimed on my last insurance application, only 1/3 is covered. Anything else, in addition to the things my insurance does not cover must be paid for out of pocket and amounted to over $15,000 in 2014. The tax break that I get is for half of that; meaning that I don't pay tax on around 7, 000 of generated income.

Basically, at this point, I worked enough last year to cover my living costs but most of the costs of having a disability were paid for from savings. When/if the savings run out, I'll have to go on full disability if I can't work enough to support myself...but I am committed to getting back to work on a more steady schedule this year.

With love, Erika

you are a very strong woman Erika

Well, I have a raging case of bronchitis.

DS took me up to the urgent care facility and I got a couple of x-rays that confirmed I have bronchitis. Glad I went ahead and went now because the doctor said that if I had waited until the end of the week I would have landed myself in the hospital. No thank you!!

I have a Z-pack antibiotic and some strong cough syrup so hopefully by the weekend I will be much better.

I'm glad it wasn't the flu. They made everyone wear a mask in the waiting room because there were so many sick folks. I tried to get DS to go wait for me in the car but he wouldn't budge....... Stubborn as his Mama!

I hope everyone here stays well. Seems like this flu season is worse than before.

Aww, sorry Kelly..ugh. Hope that Zpac Zaps that infection right out of you.
It always works so well for me, I call it the Zap-pac!!

Hope you feel better in a hurry Kelly

With love, Erika