And sallow yellows and deep purples and sickly greens. Meet Jennifer, The Great Human Pincushion. A couple of badly administered self-inflicted shots and unfortunate attempt to draw blood, and my body has become a canvas of colors. The bruises are in various stages of fading. They only hurt if I look at them, which is… Continue reading I’ve got the blues
Author: Jenn Godwin
Oh, mercurial me
MS is a tricky little bugger. The symptoms are as individual as the person who has it, and even then they are as fickle as the day is long. So far, I've had hot legs, cold legs, numb legs, numb hands, tingly body parts, rebellious body parts, dysfunctional body parts. Which has led to many… Continue reading Oh, mercurial me
Winner, winner
Sometimes gambles pay off. I went to the Arkansas Women Blogger meetup at the Museum of Discovery today not knowing really what to expect. Alone. And not knowing anyone. And I felt like my self-conscious 11-year-old self all over again. Funny how certain situations can take you back. I came away richer for the experience,… Continue reading Winner, winner
Grace notes
I'm reaching the three-month point of living with multiple sclerosis. There have been more downs than ups, for sure, especially if you take into account all of my klutz-inspired spills. If I were a publicly traded company, this quarter would probably scare investors away. But I've learned a lot about myself. You must be used… Continue reading Grace notes
How are you feeling?
I get asked this question, oh, about 250 times a day. Mostly by concerned friends and co-workers. Well, and my mother (who accounts for about 100 of those) and Nick (another 100). And my answer is usually along the lines of "meh" with a half-hearted shrug thrown in there. As if to say, "You know,… Continue reading How are you feeling?
Deep breaths
The next time someone says to take a deep breath and relax, they have the weight of scientific evidence behind them. (Read the NPR article here.) While engaging in deep, slow breathing won't exactly cure anything, it can stop those pesky stress hormones from taking over. And everyone knows that stress makes everything worse. I… Continue reading Deep breaths
Bah humbug
Or not. Just break out the spiked eggnog, slap on a happy face and sing along to this little ditty! Somehow, I don't think it will be a hit with carolers this year. On the twelfth day of this new life, my MS brought to me: 12 types of symptoms 11 days in bed 10… Continue reading Bah humbug
Season’s greetings! (an exercise in caustic humor)
Ahhhh, the family Christmas newsletter. A little festive missive sharing good tidings with friends and family that just barely masks the smugness of how great a year it's been for all in your perfect little life. Paying homage to David Sedaris — with a nod to the tongue-in-cheekness but falling well short of his creative… Continue reading Season’s greetings! (an exercise in caustic humor)
terra firma?
head wobbling on an unsteady base fragile as a robin's egg pocked, too will the fissures ever heal? alien limbs conspire in concert no recognition, just abstractions more a memory than flesh will they ever comprehend again? extremities deadened touch a sense sorely missed grasping yet coming up empty will the thaw ever happen?
D-Day
My D-Day happened at the end of September. Diagnosis Day. The day the spinal tap results came back, and I found out I didn't have meningitis or West Nile, was HIV negative and clear of any other glaring medical problems. Except ... well, yeah. So I was in the hospital picking up those test results,… Continue reading D-Day
One, Wild & Precious 