Chicken Tortillas

Chicken Tortilla Recipe

Chicken
Low Carb Tortillas (favorite is Buena Vida brand by Aztec)
Black Beans
Shredded Cheese
Salsa

Cut chicken into small pieces and cook. Spread black beans on tortilla the layer with chicken, cheese, and salsa. Wrap and place in baking dish. Make as many as you would like then put in oven for 15 minutes to heat up. You can add sour cream, quacamole, or any fixing you would like to this recipe as well. Enjoy!

Quote

"Be the change you want to see in the world." -Gandhi

You Can't Judge a Book by it's Cover

MS is just like the saying..."You can't judge a book by it's Cover." My favorite thing that people say is, "You don't look like you have MS." I loove that! I hope to NEVER look like a have this disease. However, sometimes you want to say in return, "If you only knew how I feel." But since I do not like to bring on the negative I of course never say that but do quite often feel that. MS is a painful disease at times. Sometimes you body just hurts and aches all over. Sometimes something is numb, something tingles, you feel weak, and you just don't feel right. There are times I can not figure out what it wrong but just say, something doesn't feel right. It is then that you have to take caution and not overdue it. There is something going on inside, but it can be taken care of if not gone unnoticed. And no one would ever know this is going on with your body because you look fine from the outside (depending on the symptom). With that said though, that is when the disease can make you feel in a way "lonely." No one really knows except you with the MS what is going on inside your body. And not to be mean, but for those who don't have MS, no one can really understand what it's like or feels either. That is kind of lonely then too. I have learned to talk about it and not keep it all in. Well I am trying to work on that. But at the end of the day, as long as I can walk, talk, and function, even if it is in a different way than others, then I am happy!! Life is good then!

Quote

Life has meaning under all circumstances, even the most miserable ones.

Take Time for Yourself

I know this may sound like a task you do not have time for but my advice to you is to make the time for yourself. It may sound like you don't need to do that but come on, we all do. And it doesn't have to be much. We all can be better at our roles in life if we take the time out, even just 10 mins a day. Make it a task in your day called "Me Time" and notice how much better you feel. And please do not feel selfish or bad you are doing this. I know it can feel like that but once you get into the habit you will not feel like that anymore. If you want to be the best you can be to others, be good to yourself and everything else will fall into place. Enjoy!

Pizza Recipe

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

3 cups of cauliflower
3 cups mozzerella cheese
3 eggs
Garlic Salt
Oregano
Parsley
Pizza Sauce
Any pizza toppings of choice

Boil cauliflower til soft to touch but not mushy. Blend cauliflower, cheese, and eggs together. Lay out flat on a pan, but do not push on mixture. Only pat it out. Cook on 400 degrees for 20-25 mins. Place your pizza sauce and mozzerella cheese on crust. Add whatever pizza toppings you may like. Place under broiler for 15-20. Check on it to see how well it is browning. You can also use Alfredo sauce for a white sauce pizza too. Delicious!!! And low carb crust! Can't beat it!

Quote

Never frown, you never know who will fall in love with your smile.

Your Health Team

When it comes to having health issues, you become part of a "team." This new team you are on consists of all your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, counselors, trainers, dieticians, and so forth. Anyone and anybody that keeps you healthy and moving. You have to make them part of your team and know who to turn to when. Sometimes you may only need to contact your nurse, other times you have to see the doctor. Either way having an organized list of names and numbers will keep you well and have piece of mind. It is a good idea to make an emergency contact list in case you are unable to do this. Having a "team" makes me feel like whatever is thrown my way, there is someone there to help. I hope you all make your team list and remember to use it!

Quote

Never, never, give up!!

Support Team

We all need in life a support team. No matter what you have going on in your life, it always helps to know you have the support of your family and friends. I thank all my family and friends from the bottom of my heart for all their love and support. I thank all those out there I don't even know who support the Fundraiser, and who support the National MS Society. Because of them, I have the feeling of paying it forward and support any organization out there. If you do have a health condition, there are support groups out there that can also help as well. I have found many support groups or discussions online about things that can be very helpful. So, if you know someone going through something, let them know you are there for them and pray for them. That never hurts anyone and they will appreciate it even if they do not know you do! And never forget to...pay it forward!!!

Quote

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Gratitude

I have this feeling of a great amount of gratitude about my new medication. I feel so grateful that research is being done everyday for new and better medications. I do have to start off saying that I was always very grateful that there was even medication out there when I was first diagnosed. The first doctor told me I was lucky there is some sort of medication to slow the progression down. I remember thinking...Oh yea, real lucky to have just been told you have a disease that could put my in a wheelchair one day. But then shortly after that, I do remember thinking, he is right. People diagnosed 10-20 years ago were told they have MS and that was it. Now, there are medications to not only help slow the progression down but also to help aid in the symptoms that come along with having MS. I was able to start a new treatment called Tysaburi in March. After four years on a treatment called Avonex, I have been switched. The past four years with the first treatment were fine, but awful as well. I was sick every Sunday nigh and Monday for four years. The medication gave flu like symptoms. And the not so fun feelings of being hit by a truck, body chills and aches, headaches, and nothing but feeling like crap. For two days. I had enough. But kept fighting through it thinking it had to get better. Well then in October of last year, my optic neutitis flarred up again, and then again twice in December/January. Now the doctor said, time to talk new treatment, this is not going right. So he suggested the new medication. I could not believe there was something out there that would not make me sick. It is a once a month iv injection for about two hours. It is incredible. I sit there, take a break, and pray that this is working and thank God that I feel like I got my life back. No more two days a week out, no more feeling like I have the flu every week, my life is back!!! I am sooo grateful for this new medication. Life is good! I hope others will be able to take this path one day too. And keep your fingers crosses my MRI in August will show this is working!!! Please please please!!!

Get Moving!

Get Moving is a motto I hope to drill into myself more and to others. We all need to be doing some sort of physical activity as much as we are able. Even just a brief walk around the block is fine, just get moving! 30 minute exercise is something everyone can find time to put into their day. If you think you can't, find the time! Your body will thank you for it! Exercising provides you with more energy, weight loss, strength, confidence, and overall good health. Of course, consult your doctor if you have any health conditions to make sure you are doing the best exercise for you. Not all exercising is the same for everyone either. Some like to run, some like to lift weights, yoga, biking, and more. That is the beauty of being active. You can do whatever works for you that you like and fit your needs. If you are doing something you enjoy, you will stick with it. So if you are in a workout rut, switch it up, find something new, and remember to...keep moving!!

This Thing Called Fatigue

So there is this thing called Fatigue that I never really understood until my MS kicked in. We all get tired and run down. It is a way of life for some people. But this kind of tiredness is different than the norm. It is a feeling of, why can't I shake this, why am I so tired, why do I not have any energy? Not even the strongest cup of coffee can do anything about it. I have fought this feeling and still do, I will admit it. I like to think of myself as a go go go kind of person. Well dang it, when fatigue hits, there is nothing you can do about but take it easy and not overdue it. Trust me, easier said than done. I have come to notice and be aware when this is happening and try my best to rest more and not do too much. Again, easier said than done. But it is a must to do! With having cronic fatigue, I have learned some valuable techniques that can some what help. The main technique is what I eat. I try to eat a lower carb diet. Think about it, if carbs make you sluggish and full, why make the feeling of fatigue even worse with foods like that. Now carbs are good as long as they are the good carbs. I like to eat the foods that energize me, not bring me down. Lower sugars, no pop( that was the hardest one!), more protien foods, and water. Again, everything is good in moderation. My husband Nathan finds recipes of different healthy foods for us to try. I have so much fun learning the new recipes and trying them out. Some times I think, I do think this will be good, and it is! Our favorite is cauliflower crusted pizza! Every Sunday I make this for us to have for lunch during the week. And it is yummy!! I will post recipes soon! Fatigue with MS can also come from being over heated. Heat is not a fan of those with MS. So on those hot summer days, drink plenty of water, limit your time in direct sunlight and/or heat, keep a fan by you (they make hand held ones too), and listen to your body. Some days may be harder than others so be aware of how you are feeling. Those with MS, we can live just as normal as others, I think we live smarter actually:) You just have to adjust to keep you strong and healthy.

I am grateful for being diagnosed with MS

I know call me crazy for the title of this post but it is true. I am grateful for being diagnosed with MS. Being diagnosed changed my life and who I am today. I do have to say that I do not want this disease by any means. However, I did not get to choose to be diagnosed with this. So, with that said, I might as well make the best out of it. At times I feel there is no good to come out of having this disease, but there is always good in life. God gave me this disease for a reason and along the way here I have found a few reasons why. Here are a few of the things that I am grateful for. Each day waking up and being able to walk, talk, function, is a blessing. I never thought about that before. I took advantage of waking up each day and going about my merry, worry free day. Now every morning I am grateful for no new symptom holding me back to get moving. There are some days that are not so great, but I only look to the good ones. I don't take anything for granted anymore. Life is too short to be worried about useless things in life. I worried so much about everything until now. I first, can't take the stress on anymore, stress is horrible for MS. I capture what life brings, and let the little things go. I know easier said than done but it can be possible. I have to thank my husband for guiding me in the "let it go" area of all that. He is the one who always puts me back where I need to be. Positive and no stress. I am grateful for realizing who is your support system in your life. Who are the ones who are there for you, those asking how you are, those wanting to help, those saying prayers. You never think about these things until something like this happens. But let me tell you, having that support system means the world to me. And I will never be able to thank those enough. I am grateful that I have found my purpose in life. To be an active, healthy, positive, determined, and loving person to all. And that is because of being diagnosed with MS. For that, I will be forever grateful to be a better person and make a differnce in this world. Well, so I hope!:)

Welcome!

Hi Everyone!
I wanted to start a blog about my life with MS. I feel I have so much to share with those who have the disease as well as family and friends of those who have MS as well. I hope to make a difference in others and make others with MS to not feel alone. I have learned so much not only about my disease but about life along my journey with MS in the past four years. Please feel free to email me with any concerns or questions at marcirolison@hotmail.com. Hope you enjoy the blog!