Author: Jen Rios

I LOVE Les Stanford Chevrolet and Cadillac!

Growing up, I used to get my car serviced at Bill Wink Chevrolet.  I used to walk home after dropping my car off (back when I was a teenager, living with my parents, and when I could still walk (before my diagnosis)).  So, Bill Wink ended up closing and the last salesman I bought my car from moved to Les Stanford.  I also moved to the West side of Dearborn where Les Stanford is located.  I traded in my car after a few years and saw Ali Reda to get a new one.  Then, I killed that car (apparently cars DON’T float) and got the car I drive now.

Ali told me to get tire insurance back at Bill Wink.  I don’t know anything about cars and I trusted Ali so I got it.  BEST INVESTMENT EVER!!!  I have had insurance on my last 3 cars and so far, it has paid for 9 tires and 3 rims.  So, the insurance has MORE than paid for itself!

I remember when I was a Girl Scout, my Dad and I looked under the hood of his truck and he told me a bunch of stuff about cars because I wanted to get my Car Care badge.  I don’t remember what he told me about what was under the hood but I DO remember that he told me that I should ALWAYS lease a car and to change the oil and rotate the tires regularly.  I no longer lease because my car had to be modified because of the hand-controls and chair topper but I constantly change the oil and rotate the tires.  I want to drive this car (her name is Bea) forever!!!

My cars have always been very monogamous.  They don’t like everybody putting their hands under their hoods so I get to know the guys who work in the service department of my dealership.  At Bill Wink, I dealt with Jayson, Keith, Joe, and George was the service manager.  My Dad was a “preferred customer” there and I enjoyed the perks of that.  At Les Stanford, it was nice to see some familiar faces.  George was the service manager, Joe was the mechanic, and Ali was the salesman.  Now I deal with Dan, Keith (a different one), and Gary.  They are ABSOLUTELY the BEST!!! It’s really good to know that my car is taken care of very well because all I do is put the key in the ignition and the car starts.  That’s the extent of my car knowledge but I KNOW to change the oil and rotate the tires regularly.  Thanks, Daddy!

3.5.14 “Walking Wednesday” #20

My legs have been feeling better IN SPITE OF THIS HORRIBLE WEATHER!!!  i had to get my tire fixed (turns out I had 2 bent rims!  After Barwis, on my way home on Monday, I tried to avoid a large pothole and instead, I fell off of the world!  I took my car in on Tuesday (I didn’t notice low tire pressure until I got to work) they over-filled my tire and I took it back to Les Stanford on Wednesday morning.  They took me to work after I dropped my car off and picked me up).  I was late to Barwis because all of this.

Phil stretched me out at the Keiser machine and I did a few stands.  Standing was REALLY hard for me!  I thought that Phil saw the struggle on my face.  It was so difficult that I was letting go of ideas of it being a “Walking Wednesday” but then Phil pointed to the turf and told me to go that way.  I excitedly asked, “We’re walking?!”  He replied with a small smile, “We’re gonna try.”  That was good enough for me!  I was excited and was willing myself to walk over and over in my head.  Lindsay came over to help and I stood.  Phil was giving me directions on how I should have my body engaged as I took my steps.  I got 9 yards on my first drive.  I was SO excited to have gotten steps off!  My second drive (I only got 2 because I was late) I got 8 more!  I got a total of 17 yards yesterday!

TOTAL YARDAGE = 195 AND 2 STEPS

Phil took me out to my car and I got in ALL BY MYSELF!!!  We fist bumped.  Just normally, no “joysticks!”  This was the second time that we did this.   He said that I did a “good job” and that he was proud of my 17 yards.  Me too!!!

Now, I’ve told Phil that our photo opp is coming up and I think he wants to flake!  That will TOTALLY bum me out!!!  We have said before that it will have to be a selfie because Phil is my Barwis photographer.  He has to take it because his arms are longer than mine!  I told him that I’m going to put it on Twitter and we will trend #DaisyandPhil because that’s us!  He’s not really going for that though…

I posted this on 11.26.13.

Phil (I was working with him today) came over to sit as Brock and I were talking.  It was so COOL talking with Brock!!!  I needed that boost today.  I needed that reminder that it IS possible!  Bock told me he does back pedal at times (like I feel like I am right now!) but he said he comes back stronger.  After Phil called me, “chatty Cathy” I said my goodbye to Brock and went over to start working.  Phil could see that I was so star struck having seen Brock, he asked why I didn’t take a picture?  I told him that I didn’t have my phone so he calls Brock over said he would take the picture and send it to me.

Me and Brock

I posted this on 11.27.13 about “Walking Wednesday” #8 back when I only had clocked 101 yards.

Phil took a picture of Jesse and me.  I look really tired because I was.  I told Jesse that I would send him a pic of my camo shirt when I get one. I promised to wear it every Wednesday like I do my socks.  I told Phil that our photo opp will come at 200 yards.

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Maybe I can guilt him into taking the pic of us.  Next “Walking Wednesday” IS my birthday…

#MSConnections 2014

I was a bit nervous about my 2 worlds colliding.  My personal life (my life with MS) and my professional life (my life as a teacher) have never explicitly crossed paths.  But after sitting in on the Q & A with Cheryl and NOT crying; I realized that it wasn’t SO bad!  Cheryl helped me get okay with this sharing.  MS stops connections from being made between my body and brain.  Making these types of #MSConnections is a really good thing!

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Monday of MS Awareness Week 2014

The students at CCA were given a presentation about MS on Monday.  Cheryl Rothe from the MS Society came in to talk with them.  Students came to the cafeteria and it started as a power point presentation that morphed into a Q & A session with Cheryl.  She was amazed by some of the questions that the students asked.

6th grade MS presentation with Cheryl Rothe.

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7th grade presentation with Cheryl Rothe.

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8th grade presentation with Cheryl Rothe.

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Overall, the students were attentive and well-behaved.  I was happy to hear some of the questions being asked.

3.3.14 Except in the Morning

So yesterday, Phil asked me how I have been feeling as he was stretching me.  I was happy to report that despite the weather (AND I AM SICK OF THIS WEATHER!!!  iT’S KILLING ME!!!), my legs have been feeling the most normal that they have felt in since I can’t remember when.  I was excited to tell Phil this news but then I needed to add, “except in the morning.  I feel bad in the morning!”  He continued to stretch me out at the Keiser machine and then told me to head over to the table.  He moved the table away from the wall again so he could get on both sides.  He told me to dangle my feet off of my bed in the morning as I dangled my feet over the side of the table.  I told him that they don’t want to dangle in the morning and he told me “but they can” and pointed to my legs and feet.  I told him that they FEEL normal and he told me that they LOOK normal.

Driving home, I heard my “Sean and Phil” song TWICE!  It ended and I changed the radio station and heard it again.  I don’t know that yesterday was “the best day of my life,” but it’s coming!  “I feel it in my soul!”

This morning, I woke up and turned my first alarm off.  I didn’t want to get out from under my warm covers!  I turned the second on off and reluctantly threw my covers back.  Man, it was SO cold!!!  My legs were all curled up and it took a minute to get them untangled from each other and over the side of my bed.  My “poop” leg knew what to do and it just dangled there.  My left leg needed some coaxing to “just relax.”  It started to and then I had to get up because otherwise I would be SUPER late.  I guess tomorrow morning I just have to “suck it up” and get out from under the covers earlier.  As I was driving to work, my legs did begin to normalize as I began to thaw from going from the house to the car.  Even now, as I write this, they are normalizing and that’s exciting!

March 2014 Faves

“Impossible”  Ryan Star

“Girls Chase Boys”  Ingrid Michealson

“Peace”  O.A.R.

Please don’t judge… I kinda like this too…
“Story of my Life”  One Direction

“I Lived”  One Republic

“The Mother We Share”  Chvrches (EXPLICIT)

“Magic”  Coldplay

2.28.14 Normal

I woke up yesterday morning at like 2 o’clock and my legs were hurting so badly! I refused to get out of bed and sit in my chair (makes me feel better sometimes) because I still had some time left to sleep until I had to get up to for work. I was miserable from 2 o’clock on. I told Phil about it when I got to Barwis.  I told him that throughout the workday my legs started feeling better.

I didn’t have students yesterday so I just was getting work done that I needed to get done so it was quiet. He stretched my legs out and they started to feel even better.  My colleague at work asked me if the pain was a “good” pain or a “bad’ pain that I woke up with. I had to think about it. I wasn’t sure. My legs have never awakened me because of being in pain like that but maybe it was a good thing because I was feeling something. Phil told me maybe it was because it was SO cold! I am SO sick of this weather!

Then he stopped stretching me for a bit and my legs remained slightly spread apart and my feet were pointed straight ahead. I felt blood flowing through my legs and feet and I told Phil that my legs feel “normal.”

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That “normal” feeling remained with me the entire time we were working. I was able to get into my car by myself.  Phil grabbed my fist after we fist bumped and yelled “joystick” but I was okay with that. The “normal” feeling in my legs continued. My Mom called and she asked me and Sean to meet her and my uncle at a restaurant. On my way home, I was hoping to get the tears out of me that I felt were SO close. They didn’t come. I pull up into my driveway and beep for Sean to come out. The “normal” feeling remained with me throughout dinner. I was in the restroom after dinner that the tears finally started to come.  I was overwhelmed that this “normal” feeling still continued. I wiped my face and got Sean and got in the car to drive home. And the “normal” feeling was STILL with me. My legs felt good!

Sean reclined his seat and said he was going to sleep for a while as we drove home. So then the tears came. I would like to say that they were “strong, silent tears.” But they weren’t. I could feel the sobs originating in my belly and rattling my chest. I stifled them because my son was sleeping next to me.  I have been working SO hard at Barwis that of course this day would eventually come. But I guess I was not ready for it. I debated if I was going to go to bed or not because I knew I would wake up not feeling this way and I wanted to keep the “normal” feeling as long as I could. I remember my Dad telling a story about guys in the Army being on leave and having to go back to Vietnam. They would get really, really, really drunk and some would pass out before leaving and would have to be loaded onto the plane to go back. When they woke up the next day, they were back in Vietnam. They would cry.

I don’t want to be like them. I decided to go to bed with the knowledge that I would wake up feeling badly again.  I woke up at 3:35 a.m. and my knees hurt a little bit. I rolled onto my stomach to make them stop hurting.  I had that “normal” feeling in my legs for 10 hours. Wow! Even now, as I sit at my table and write this, the “normal” feeling has begun to return to my legs and my feet are straight forward. I thought I would be ready for this. I thought I prepared myself for this. Apparently not. I suppose I will be a “sissy, cry-face baby” like I was last night.  But I’m okay with that.

MS Awareness Week T-Shirt Sale 2014

This year, I sold t-shirts to raise money for the MS Society – Michigan Chapter.  Purchasers of a shirt (staff and/or student) could wear it and jeans  ALL week instead of their uniform or work clothes.

Orange is the national color for MS.  This picture is an Aztec Eagle (our school’s mascot).

FRONT

MS Shirt 2014

BACK

MS Shirt 2014 2

I sold 144 t-shirts!  I am EXTREMELY humbled is the only word I can come up with.  I did NOT have any extra shirts after placing the original order and no one had problems with their order.  I think I will do this sale again.  MS Awareness Week is March 3 through 9 this year.  I enjoyed spreading awareness because I knew NOTHING about MS until they told me that I had it.

Better Late Than Never

It has taken 13 years, but now, I am able to acknowledge that I have MS.  I can also acknowledge MS Awareness Week.  I have been involved with the last 3 MS Walk- Wyandotte’s.  My brother’s girlfriend was instrumental in getting me and some of my family and friends involved with these walks.  My Mom, Sean, and I have been to numerous informational lectures offered by the MS Society.  Finally, this year, I am able to do something for the MS Society and to raise awareness.  It’s better late than never I suppose…

My first MS Walk 3 years ago.

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This is me with my brother, Steve.  I met Patti Radzik from the MS Society-Michigan Chapter at that walk.  I cried with her.

me and Steve 1st MS walk

I don’t have any pictures from my second MS Walk.  There were A LOT more wheelchairs at this walk.  I met and talked (and cried) with  Cheryl Rothe that year.  She also works at the MS Society – Michigan Chapter.

In past years, my school has raised money for the MS Society by having casual dress days.  They would pay $1 and wear jeans opposed to wearing their uniform.  They would purchase a shoe (I used to wear “Chucks” (Converse All-Stars) ALL THE TIME)!  They were paper “Chucks.”

CCA window with shoes 2

CCA office window with shoes

My 3rd MS Walk was last year.  Cheryl asked me to speak to kick off the walk.  There is video of me speaking (and crying) somewhere on YouTube or Facebook or somewhere.  I have never seen it.

  Click picture to see the MS Walk – Wyandotte Homepage.

 

This site is where I looked to get information on MS Awareness Week 2014.  It is where I discovered that I’m kind of a celebrity!  Me and my boy!

This past summer, my son, my brother, and his girlfriend completed the MuckFest.

About MuckFest MS

MuckFest® MS rallies you and your friends for a mucky romp through mud and obstacles in support of a world free of multiple sclerosis. The run is pure athletic hilarity on a 5K course full of mud, and featuring 15+ outrageous obstacles that will spin, swing and fling you up, down and sideways. The only cramp our muckers get is from laughing too hard.

Afterward, there’s beer (or soda), a tasty pick-me-up treat and music in the MuckFestival area. We operate on “the more, the muckier” principle, so invite your friends and family to join you in the hilarious spills and thrills. To get the most out of your MuckFest MS experience, you should start a team or join a team. When you slosh through the mud or take on one of the outrageous obstacles, you’ll want someone to laugh with and to give you a hand up. Later, you and your team can decide who had the most epic spill of the ay. We even have a specially-designed mucky playlot for the kids called Lil’ Muckers.

Me and Sean Muckfest

 

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Muckfest all f us

Muckfest me

After the Muckfest, my son completed the Glow in the Park 5k.

What is “Glow in the Park”?

The best way to light up the night! The ultimate party fun run! But most importantly, it’s the freakin’ awesome foam-pits-fluorescent-colors-blacklights-glowing-warpaint-dance-moves night you’ll never forget!

What to expect:

  • YOU will light up the night as you run a 5k – no speed needed!
  • Before the race, you and your friends will each get a goody bag of glow accessories and paint to adorn yourselves to the height of glowy fashion
  • Now to brave the seas of foam (industrial machines spewing foam to the beat of some hot music), the rain storm of UV glow water (volunteers will spray a rainbow of glow water as you run past), and the dust cloud of neon powder (volunteers will toss handfuls of neon goodness to make sure you are covered in color and glowing like a champ)!
  • Once you have triumphantly reached the finish line you will be greeted by a celebratory dance party and a chance to show off your accumulation of glow and your fabulous dance moves.

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We are now involved with the MS Society.  It has taken me a while but I am glad to be at this point in accepting my disease.  No matter when I walk (because I WILL walk); I will always have MS.