#LivingWithMS – Amy's Axons

March 2023

A Week In My Life

March 10, 2023March 10, 2023by amysaxons2 Comments

Hello! I bet you didn’t expect to hear from me again so soon, did you? It’s been a while since I did a “week in my life” sort of blog, so…I did. Let’s see, when I last wrote I believe I told you I had finally tested negative for Covid 🎉. I was still sick, though. I started some antibiotics for a bacterial sinus infection 5 days ago and am happy to report that I am doing much better. I still have a cough, but I’m hoping it will continue to dissipate with time (and another 5 days of antibiotics 😉).

Surprisingly, my MS hasn’t been too bad this week and I was able to putter around the house with reasonable rest breaks between activities. This has been a HUGE blessing to me ☺️!

Anywho, I’ve been sewing up a storm and enjoying myself thoroughly this week! As a matter of fact, in the pictures you’re about to see I think I’m wearing four different things I either finished up or made this week. (There’s more sewing stuff a bit further down too 🙂.)

Covid wore me out and I hadn’t cooked for over two weeks, we survived on freezer meals I had squirrelled away. I finally found the energy to get in the kitchen again on Tuesday. I made a huge pot of beef barley soup, enough to last us several days. I also decided to get out my Mom’s high school Home Ec. cookbook and made a couple loaves of our favorite bread. Mom’s book has seen better days, but it is very special to me and has some great recipes.

Oh, and I made some chocolate chip bars on Thursday from the King Arthur Flour Cookie Cookbook. 😋. I love lots of chocolate chips but Hubby only wants a few, and the itty-bitty ones. So, I compromised and put half the normal amount of my chips and some of his tiny chips into the batter and they actually managed to please both of us.

I hadn’t cleaned my sewing room for several weeks, it was really bad. I cleared the decks on Monday and gave it a good going over. I don’t know how I didn’t end up at urgent care with 23 pins stuck in my feet! YIKES 😬! I also gave both my sewing machine and my serger a good service and cleaning.

I spent a couple hours cutting patterns out last Saturday, here are a couple.

Today (Friday), I cut out the Moire Blouse by Wardrobe by Me from this lovely double gauze from Beyond the Pink Door. I’ve had this in my stash for a while trying to decide what to do with it. I ❤️ double gauze, it’s so comfy.

I wear special gloves when I use my rotary cutter so I don’t cut myself. Rotary cutters and MS don’t jive, precautions must be taken.

Every Sunday afternoon at 1:00 I always try to catch the Live Sewing Chat with Andrea at Beyond the Pink Door. She has some of the best fabrics I’ve ever sewn and, despite having to ship it from Ireland, it’s quite reasonably priced. And I really like Andrea ❤️

I’ve started keeping a bullet journal, mostly for sewing projects. I was having a hard time keeping straight what patterns I had made and the alterations, if any, for each. Oh, and I kinda like stickers. Yes, I’m seven years old.

The next few photos are random.

Every morning I enjoy solving a couple of cryptograms while having breakfast.

Laudy is my constant shadow. She sat on my shoulder Wednesday as I ate lunch.

This has been pretty typical of the last few weeks – a cup of hot tea, cough drops, Vaseline lip balm, and iced tea close at hand. I’ll save you the visual of snotty hankies.

I really enjoy watching Horse Plus Humane Society YouTube videos. They rescue horses from the slaughter pipeline as well as any and all animals surrendered to them as the Humane Society in Tennessee. I’ve learned a lot about horsemanship and horse care.

Of course I watched the birds this week!

Carolina Chickadees and a female House Finch

Lastly, I’ll share some of my favorite moments of the week with Pip and Laudy, my constant companions.

Laudy helped me solve a cryptogram on Wednesday…

Pip and I watched the birds on Thursday.

Monday night snuggles with Pip while watching TV.

Laudy helped me during my Bible study Monday morning.

Thursday morning parrot imitation practice.

Laudy snuggled with Hubby Tuesday evening.

Thursday night snuggles. Are you seeing a pattern yet?😉

I was trapped under cats after lunch today, it took 2 hours to get free. 😻😻

Thanks for joining me this week. May God be with you. ❤️, Amy

March 2023

Covid – It Was A Long Time Coming

March 3, 2023March 3, 2023by amysaxons3 Comments

It probably came home with Hubby from work. It was friendly and visited me while in the vicinity. The first five days were a nasty business for both of us. Hubby is better, though he still has a bit of a cough and tires easily. I took Paxlovid, got better, then got Rebound Covid. I am definitely feeling better, though I can’t get rid of the cough. I’ve nearly polished off my third bottle of Robitussin in two weeks. I must not be the only one out there on the ‘Tussin ’cause Hubby is beating the streets after work tonight to try and score me a fourth bottle.

Laudy and Pip didn’t miss a beat while Hubby and I had Covid. As you can see, they snuggled in and laid low right along with us.

Though my body had just started making B-cells again and I only had a few (see my last post), I was able to fight the dreaded virus and live to tell the tale. I praise God for His timing and the fact He made our bodies to be such hardy machines. This experience has proven it’s safe for me to venture back out into the world again 🎉🥳.

Coming in for a landing – Carolina Chickadee

Not a flattering picture of me, but my parrot, Laudy, is adorable with her tail wrapped and tucked.

March’s Universal Yums arrived featuring treats from… BRAZIL!

I’ve been sewing during my convalescence. I made this flannel shirt using the Aria pattern by Love Notions (my favorite independent pattern company). I just need to get the buttonholes made and the buttons sewn on and it will be done just in time for St Patrick’s Day 💚!

I hope you have had a good start to March. May God be with you! ❤️, Amy

January 2023

MS Haiku

January 18, 2023January 18, 2023by amysaxonsLeave a Comment

Energy all gone,
Feels like I’m in a coma –
A puddle of goo.

I think I’ve melted into and become one with my recliner these last four days.

Thankfully, once again, my feathered friends have come to the rescue and filled the long hours with the joy of their songs and avian antics.

Cardinal at takeoff. I love how you can see the individual features of his right wing.

Though the image isn’t great, I was able to document my first ever sighting of a gorgeous Pileated Woodpecker across the road in our neighbor’s tree on Saturday!! This sighting was absolutely thrilling for me and I was on cloud nine for the rest of the day ☺️.

Another source of happiness filling my idle time has been the company of our cats, Laudy and Pip. They have no idea what a blessing and source of company they are to me, but I count them as one of God’s treasures gifted to my keeping. And they are experts at the art of resting 😻.

A person very dear to me gifted Hubby and I a fun surprise, a 6-month subscription to Universal Yums. It’s a monthly box featuring snack food from different countries around the world. This month’s box arrived yesterday with treats from… Austria 🇦🇹 😋!

Hubby’s favorite was the Waffelz and mine was the Auer Baumstamme.

I hope you are well.

God be with you! ❤️, Amy

January 2023

2023 Beginnings

January 5, 2023January 5, 2023by amysaxonsLeave a Comment

Watching the water flow at the lake in our neighborhood park.

Beauty in death and a promise of what will be again.

I decided to clean out the empty bird boxes for the season…

… and found the partial remains of a Carolina Wren egg 🧡.

Hubby and I celebrated 17 years of wedded bliss last week 💞. First thing he did that morning? Cleaned the windows so I had a better view of the birds. Love and happiness – just look at that smile – are found in the doing of little things.

May you find your greatest joy in Christ this year and always. God be with you! ❤️, Amy

November 2022

“Keep Going”

November 4, 2022by amysaxons4 Comments

Thank you for the encouragement to keep Amy’s Axons going. I received numerous texts, messages, emails, and FB posts saying this little blog is meaningful to my friends and family. The most important voice was my Hubby’s, he said it was “worthwhile” and “meaningful”. So, I will continue to share snippets of my life with you and hope you continue to enjoy the content.

Although most of the leaves have succumbed to the great gusts of wind in the Ozarks the last couple of days, I was able to photograph a few places close to our house in mid-October. Looking through these makes me hungry for pumpkin bread, such are the fall vibes.

The day before the first frost of the season (a couple of weeks ago) I caught these butterflies on our butterfly bushes.

This chickadee was so obliging that he posed in the most photogenic spot in the backyard and allowed me to capture his loveliness.

I somehow managed to squeeze the trigger at just the right moment as the twigs were parted by the wind and caught an unobscured pic of this handsome house finch.

My Mom is always in my heart but especially today. I cherish my memories of her and the love she always gave me.

Purple flowers (her favorite color) and a good cleaning of her headstone. Happy birthday, Mom!

May God be with you. ❤️, Amy

May 2022

A Week In My Life

May 14, 2022May 14, 2022by amysaxonsLeave a Comment

Sunday was a beautiful day in the Ozarks so Hubby took me for a drive after church.

First thing Monday morning one of our cats puked her breakfast all over the blanket on our bed. So, laundry.

I listened to some classic rock while sewing up a tote bag on Monday.

One of Hubby’s work friends has been sharing with us some of the surplus eggs her hens have been laying. She loves the St. Louis Blues, so I found some themed fabric and made this up for her.

I don’t care about hockey, but I love the yellow and blue together.

Tuesday afternoon I rode my scooter to the little lake in our neighborhood and took a few photos.

Wednesday was a rest day. Pip and I watched the birds together 🥰.

After work on Thursday, Hubby and I went to my Dad’s for dinner. Hubby then helped Dad clean out the gutters and…

I sewed up a couple more totes on Friday. I think I’ve now made 13 bags from this pattern over the last year.

I love the pockets, they make the bag very versatile.

Friday was a tough MS day with very limited energy. I was pretty proud that I was able to get the kitchen cleaned.

Today, Saturday, has been another MS dominant day. I sat on the patio this afternoon and enjoyed watching the birds and this little fella.

I think squirrels are funny and cute, though I know they can be pests.

I hope you are doing well. God be with you! ❤️, Amy

May 2022

Hoppy May

May 4, 2022May 4, 2022by amysaxonsLeave a Comment

I always look forward to a visit from the migrating red-breasted grosbeaks each spring. I noticed this sweet lady this morning but haven’t seen a male yet.

Grosbeaks are in the same family, Cardinalidae, as cardinals. Can you see the family resemblance?

This robin hit the jackpot by our neighborhood lake.

Several frogs were sunning themselves in our neighborhood lake earlier in the week when the weather was nice. There were only a few pink petals floating in the water but this little fella found one.

I’m not sure who was watching who. Those eyes 👀!!

I love how you can really see this frog’s tympanic membrane 👂.

I have no idea what this is but it was pretty cool with all the bubbles inside it’s top. If it was an inkblot, I’d say it looks like a person walking down the street with an invisibility cloak over the top half of their body.

I hope you are enjoying your week. See you next time! ❤️, Amy

February 2022

Hello, Again

February 16, 2022February 16, 2022by amysaxons1 Comment

Hello, again.

The last time I posted I told you I had a relapse of my MS and was getting ready for a few days of steroid infusions to try and hasten recovery. Sure enough, it happened and my symptoms have improved. My left eye stopped twitching and feeling numb, I can move my legs again and walk with less of a shuffle-stumble sort of thing. My energy level has improved to allow me to be up for more than 3-5 minutes at a time. Things are still not back to where they were before, but I’m hoping the trajectory continues to move up.

The IV was placed right where my wrist bends, not ideal. It was a long three days.

Hubby made me a “splint” to remind me not to bend my wrist. It worked a treat other than the fact I had a piece of wood there day and night. I cut a sock and used it to keep my splint in place.

Huge doses of steroids given in a short time creates numerous icky side effects – one of the worst for me is flushing of the skin. That being said, the side effects during the infusion are nothing compared to the slam your body takes when your last dose is done. Agonizing, insipid, catatonic-like fatigue reigns for about three days while your skin hurts to the touch and your muscles ache down to the bone. Slowly, the goo seeps out through every pore of your being and, around day four, you sense you are morphing back into feeling like a human.

I’m so thankful it’s all behind me now. It’s been four years since I had a relapse necessitating steroids. Yesterday marked four years since I completely retired due to MS and April will mark 32 years since my diagnosis. I’ve never felt bitter about this disease nor thrown my fist in the air screaming, “Why me?”. I think a better question is “Why not me?”. Everyone has some struggle to deal with in life. There’s no such thing as luck, good or bad. There is such a thing as attitude, though. As Philippians 1:27 says, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Though “whatever happens” here is in reference to whether Paul can come to visit the Philippians or not, he goes on, in the same verse, to tell them, “Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.” No matter what diseases, frustrations, difficulties, or unexpected troubles come our way, we are to respond with a Christlike attitude that brings honor and praise to the glory of God.

Nothing makes me think of God more than His creation.

Hubby threw some eggs in the yard and some American Crows enjoyed them. I love all birds.

I hope you are doing well. May God be with you. ❤️, Amy

December 2021

Happily Ever After

December 31, 2021December 31, 2021by amysaxonsLeave a Comment

Hubby and I celebrated 16 years of marriage yesterday 💕. He’s always been and always will be the best part of my life. God gave each of us to the other and not a day goes by without recognizing and giving thanks for such a love as this.

Using my zoom lens with the fisheye effect.

Chicken soup for the puny, I had the flu but am better now.

Typical of my life living with MS in 2021 – feet up. I suspect more of the same in 2022.

Thank you to all who follow or occasionally peruse my blog. I wish you a safe, happy, and healthy New Year! ❤️, Amy

December 2021

December

December 2, 2021December 2, 2021by amysaxons1 Comment

I think the beginning of November and the start of December swapped their weather garbs here in Southwest Missouri. 70+°F today!?!

My Hubby took this photo while riding around Fellows Lake in Springfield, MO.

My sweet tooth took over my phone last month and before I knew what it was doing it had ordered TWO advent calendars!

McCrea’s Caramels out of Boston, MA. Look at this artwork… adorable! Caramel flavors include: Black Lava Sea Salt, Classic Vanilla, Cape Cod Sea Salt, Deep Chocolate, Tapped Maple, Ginger Fusion, Cafe Noir, Dark Roasted Mocha, Rosemary Truffle Sea Salt, Chocolate Peppermint, Cinnamon Clove, and Anisette.

This beautiful box of goodies is from Parisian candy maker Bossier. The website was full of beautiful handmade candies and I can’t wait to try each one. Chocolate covered almonds and hazelnuts, cocoa coated almonds, fruit flavored candies, honey flavored hard candies, caramels, jelly filled candies, almond puffed rice chocolate, bear gummies, strawberry candies, heart shaped gummies, fruit jellies, dark chocolate pearls, fruit flavored chocolate petals, chocolate balls, heart shaped chocolate truffles, calissons (French specialty candies), and fondants.

Ohhh, and I also got these little fruit flavored hard candies, they taste a lot like lollipops.

My MS has been very “assertive” over my legs and energy levels (among other symptoms) these last couple of months. That means lots of sitting and boredom. I’ve filled the time with some hand sewing and needlework. These little puffs turned out pretty cute.

We kept my Dad’s dog again for a few days. She’s growing on this die-hard Cat Lady.

As you can see, life has been very exciting around here 😂. Of course, no post of mine is complete without a few photos of birds.

Carolina chickadee

I’ve been rereading through the Bible each day, great gulps at a time, two or three books per day. I’m overwhelmed at the scope, harmony, depth, awesomeness, faithfulness, mercy, loving kindness, and holiness of God. Everything He does is Right. Everything He says is True. In this season of Christmas, it is especially important to remember how all history, all time, all hope, all fulfillment of prophecy, all meaning and purpose is found in God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ. He is more than a season, more than an Eve or a Day. He is Creator, King, Redeemer, God with Us, Promise-fulfilled, Hope, High Priest Forever, and so much more. Come let us bow before Him and worship Him in His majesty! ❤️, Amy