Knitting Encourages Healing?

Yes, yes it does!

Maybe for those of you that are non-knitters, it sounds crazy. But for me, it totally is a healing journey.

I first started knitting consistently after my mom died in 2007. I found that by focusing on what I was making, following the pattern and making those silly little loops with those seriously un-wielding needles helped me to take my mind off of my loss.

And I learned that I loved it!

It’s been a while since I’ve knitted –about a year. About the same time I started my fitness journey last September. I was just busy with my fitness and new business and just didn’t make the time. The last thing I made was the Rockefeller Shawl through a mystery knit a long (where they give you only a part of the pattern each week until it’s finished).

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So, when I saw that the designer of that shawl was doing another Mystery KAL, I knew it was time to pick up the ol’ needles again. This one is called Color Craving (the KAL not the pattern I don’t think…but maybe). Anyway, I picked some very pretty, bright colored yarn to make it. It’s going to be very loud and happy!

Last night I picked up my needles to make the swatch (to make sure I was knitting to the size they recommend) and it was like riding a bike. As soon as I started it’s like I never took a break. I felt so happy, even when I messed up, and remembered how healing knitting is for me.

There have been a lot of changes in my life over the past few months. I’m so glad to know that knitting hasn’t changed for me. I can’t wait to start the first clue that arrived in my inbox this morning! Be forewarned, I’ll be sharing pictures on this blog and on Facebook.

Hope you have a fantastic Friday and weekend!

It’s been tough

Not sure I expected how difficult it would be – emotionally, mentally, physically and even spiritually – dealing with MS and daily medication.

It’s been a lot tougher than I imagined.

I don’t know if it’s psychosomatic but the workouts seem harder. Physically – for sure. Emotionally – not so much. Mentally – definitely! It’s always a little bit of a struggle for me to leave my warm blankets and get up at 5am to workout – but now it’s a whole new level of difficult! I have to really talk myself into it just about every morning and sometimes I am just not mentally up for the challenge. :/

And it is a mental challenge – this MS. Yes, physically I get tired more easily; there is some pain; there is some strange numbness and tingling in my extremities on occasion; and the heat is absolutely brutal even when it’s only 75/80 outside!

But mentally – it can be tough to stay in a positive, outward focus sometimes. Especially during the daily injections – being mentally tough to give yourself a shot knowing there will be some pain involved is just exhausting sometimes. This is why I do my injections at night. It takes me a lot to finally get into the bathroom to do it that I am just worn out after.

It’s hard to stay positive when all the normal stresses of the day, that everyone deals with, getting kids to school, working, paying bills, making sure your toddler takes a nap so everyone can be happy...sometimes it is hard.

Then it eventually will happen. You’ll break down mentally and emotionally you simply cannot handle it and you just break down in sobs, crying for your mommy who isn’t there to walk with you through this valley.

That’s when you ask “why?”

But "why” doesn’t matter. What matters is that it “is.” And you need to deal with it.

Accept those times when mentally you just can’t do it anymore and don’t’ beat yourself up about it.

Accept the emotion that comes and allow yourself to cry and grieve and miss your mom more than you have in months.

And most importantly – allow yourself to ask for help.

Now, if you’re like me it’s not easy to ask for help. We see images of the women who do it all and we wonder why we can’t or why we should need to ask for help. But when you have MS – you need to lose the pride and humble yourself and ask for help.  Just saying that makes me sweat! LOL

This journey has taught me a lot. About myself. About my family.

I’ve realized I’m much stronger than I ever thought I was. And that I’m weaker than I thought. And that we never outgrow our need for our mom. Can’t tell you how badly I wish she were here.

She’s not here physically, but her presence is here and her legacy of strength amidst adversity is here and I am learning from her and about how strong she was during her own health battles. For that I am truly grateful and can only hope my own children will see that same strength in me.

Sorry if this is a downer post – but I really needed to get it all out. Take care and have a wonderful week!

One week down–is this my life?

It’s been one week since I began my Copaxone injections and overall it hasn’t been too bad. But… it’s left me with a sort of melancholy feeling knowing that this isn't just a short term thing.

It’s my new “normal.”

This medication is a forever medication – if I choose to continue with it. I know many people with MS are managing their symptoms with simple diet and exercise and that is fantastic! I’m just not to that point yet so I chose to include medication therapy on top of changing my diet to gluten free/Paleo and continuing my exercise program.

Anyway, I’m one week into the injections and like I said they aren’t horrible. I have discovered that my arms are the most painful place to inject. Not necessarily the shot itself but the after effects are a bit more pronounced. Then my thighs are second. My hips and stomach didn’t really hurt at all but I do need to sit with an ice pack for about an hour after no matter where I inject.

I’ve also found this week I’ve been very, very tired. I’m not sure if it’s due to the meds or what but in any case it’s annoying!  

As for my diet, I think I’m going to do the Ultimate Reset with my hubby. I think we will start it after I return from my business trip at the end of September – probably begin on October 1st.  I’ve seen some amazing results from people and a friend who also has MS told me it really helped him so I’m pretty sure it’s a good thing. Wanna join us? Leave a comment for more info.

Hope you have a happy Wednesday!

New Blog ~ New Journey

Welcome to my new blog where I will chronicle my journey of health and fitness as well as my experiences with M.S.

If you’ve been following me on Facebook or my previous blogs, then you know I’ve been on a journey of healthy & fitness for almost a year now. It’s been a tumultuous journey to say the least but very rewarding.

During this past year, I’ve learned about clean eating  (not that I’m perfect at this at all); learning to love exercising (never thought I’d say that but it’s true); and I’ve learned that I have multiple sclerosis.

Thus the name of this blog – MS Robyn. I plan to share my journey to living and thriving with MS. I’ll share both the ups and downs. As many of you may already know I’m fairly transparent. Once I decide to open up about something, there is little that I won’t share. LOL

I promise to blog at least once a week – probably on Sunday evening but I’ll try to do more throughout the week. Sometimes I’ll post about my fitness journey and others about my MS and most of the time it’ll be about both because one is the driving force behind the other and the other benefits the one.

So, thanks for joining me here and taking the time to read. I hope as you read you’ll take the time to comment on my posts as it is a huge encouragement.

Until next time…