Well - sort of. Today I feel well enough to do some computer work and
wanted to get back to ASA.

First, let me thank all of you who took the time to look up my address
on the ASA Christmas list and sent me a sympathy card/note for the
death of my mother. I'm just now getting around to opening all the mail
I had received from both ASA and Mom's friends.  It was truly
appreciated.

Second, I've been having a major MS attack - (Don't say it Harv - I
tried to follow your advice!) The day of the funeral which was a week
ago Friday, I went into my bedroom to get dressed and my left side
stopped working. At first it was just a frustration in my hands but in
a few days, my ability to walk was effected as well as other left sided
symptoms like blurry vision, and lack of balance. I was surprised at
how fast it happened. I'm one of the lucky MSers who get pain with
their attacks so I've been sleeping thru most of that. I saw the neuro
who said that because I've never had much residual damage from previous
attacks I probably would recover from this attack as well but it might
take up to 3 months. But I'm unable to walk without a walker anymore.
And standing is very unsteady. I can type today albiet a bit slower
than usual. But I couldn't a few days ago. My left toes are curling
under. Going to have to call dr and find out what to do about that.
That can't be good. My vision is blurry in one eye as well.  It's
almost stroke like but the dr didn't mention anythng about that when I
was there. I'm getting a brain MRI this week. I reallly hope the
walking comes back and the pain goes away ... not liking this at all.
Can't use IV Solumedrol because of the leg wounds not being healed yet.
Close but not yet.

Dr feels that it's from all the stress I've been under from the leg
wounds, cellulitis and then the death of my mother -- it was just what
my body needed to let MS have a go at me.  As if that doesn't cause
more stress!

Mom's funeral went very well. I had 12 family members staying with me
for 4 days turned into 6 because of the blizzard that hit the NE. They
were very understanding as I slept most of the time they were here.
They came in on Thursday nite and the funeral was on Friday Morn. I had
done everything except glue down the pictures on the memory board. We
stayed up most of the night doing that. At the funeral Mass there were
two priests. One, our normal parish priest and the second was the
priest who saw my Mom in the hospital. He knew her best as he had seen
her in the hospital everytime she was there and that was a lot. I had
asked him if he would deliver her eulogy as the Church here will only
allow a preist to do so anymore during the mass. We were all so
pleasently surprised at how really well he did know Mom. It was very
touching. I wrote a written eluogy and printed in the church brochure.
Everyone came back to the house afterward and it was nice to have to
whole family together again. It's a shame we don't take the time to do
that more often.  Even my brother was over his hissy fit.I know it's
just his way of dealing with hard things but by the time you are 60
wouldn't you think you could get over that already?  I had it catered
by a friend of my son's -- took a big risk there -- and it couldn't
have been more perfect. Not only was the food wonderful, but I guess
he's learned a thing or two in his 2 years in the business.

So my hands are aching and I'm going to go back to bed. Been up since 9
today which is a stretch. I'm scanning messeges and reading when I can.
Hugs to all.....DianeW