Hi, everyone! Granny Banannies here.

[hbananas]

I haven't checked in since my adorable granddaughter was born on Good Friday.  She is everything we hoped for, and my son and his wife are marvelous parents.

I had been putting off trying anything new for my eye pain until after she came.  I have since asked my MS neuro if she would like to treat it as a "migrainous process", as I was told by the neuro-ophthalmologist at Johns Hopkins to do.  We have had an appointment since then, and I tried taking a beta blocker, but it slowed my heart too much and lowered my blood pressure ridiculous amounts, so that's out.  I'll see her again in August, and maybe we'll try something else.

Meanwhile, the neuro-opth in Baltimore also recommended trying FL-41 tinted glasses.  I have been wearing sunglasses to work since this pain started, so it sounded worthwhile.  I ordered a pair for the distance to the computer screens I look at all day, and it definitely helps.

I just got another pair for general wear that has no prescription, except for bifocal +2 readers.  That's going to be for going to the movies, shopping in brightly lit stores, and most importantly, for rehearsing with my Sweet Adeline chorus.  Our rehearsal space is a store at a dead mall, and the ceilings are just ordinary store height.  I stand on the risers, and my head is only a couple of feet below the fluorescent fixtures.  I'm anxious to try them out.

Another thing that is looking up is that we finally got our rehearsal hall A/C fixed, so I will be able to stick with them this summer and be in the next show.  I've been sitting off to the side in my sunglasses not singing for so long that I have to work my way back up to standing through a rehearsal, but it's seeming like something that I can do.  I still go home exhausted, and I tend to fall asleep at work for two days after, but without the heat, it's something I can bear.

I have started going to yoga classes once a week and doing it at home with DVDs, and I've been walking on my mini elliptical machine a few times a week.  I am definitely getting stronger and more flexible.

After my neuro telling me that MS is off the table for now, after 5 years with no new lesions and no serious neurological changes, my main health issue is watching the brain aneurysm and getting some of this excess weight off (see previous paragraph.)  I'll be going for annual MRAs to monitor it.

We have been to Joplin three times since my little sweetie arrived.  She changes so fast!  I don't remember my own kids doing that, but of course, I saw them every day.  She rolled over all by herself this week at 2 months.  She had a little head start as a frank breech baby.  From the time she went home from the hospital, when you would lay her on her back, she'd stick her little legs straight up and then tip over and lie on her side.

Now that it's spring and storm season, her parents have had to make a couple of trips to the other grandparents' house to go to the storm shelter, and after rounding up a baby and the pets and seeing how complicated it is now, they have finally consented to allowing us to purchase them their own shelter.  Of course, with all the demand in Joplin, and all the new construction going on, they won't be able to get it for 3 months.  Every visit, things start to look more normal.  The trees that survived are getting leaves this year.  Most commercial buildings are back.

I pray for those in Moore and other parts of Oklahoma who are just starting to heal.  It will happen!

[rendean]

Your update sounds great! Congratulations on the new granddaughter!!!

Was very interested in the information regarding the migraines and glasses. Flourscent lights are a HUGE trigger for me. I willhave to look into the info you shared. Thank you!

Glad you seem to be hanging in there and enjoying the grandbaby! Still waiting on my kids to finish school so they can marry and give me a grand!!The oldest swears she wants 5 kids. Bet she changes her mind after at least 3,lol.

Stay in touch and stay healthy!

Best,
ren

[Lulu54]

All of your update sounds promising, but especially the baby!  Aren't grands grand?  

That is great news about them consenting to the storm shelter- I know it might feel like giving in and the odds of Joplin being smacked again by another large tornado are small, but still...... better safe than sorry.

Keep in touch, ok?  I'm going to look for those glasses and see if I can find a reader pair.  

hugs,
Laura