Sunday, July 3

Right now!

Hey!



I have been reticent recently regarding writing and doing my podcast episodes. This post is all about that.


Another apology!





Things have been erratic with me since having COVID last month. I have also been feeling a bit anxious and worried about things as I still haven't had an answer for something. My mind has been on that lately. Which hasn't been exactly what I wanted. Writing this post has helped me feel a bit better. However, I'm unclear in what direction I want this blog and podcast to go right now so while I'm thinking things through I will write when I can


The options!






The options are as follows!


  1. Stay the same.

  2. Change direction.

  3. Only do 1of the things.

  4. Stop completely.


There is one thing I don't think I can do is give it all up as I feel that explaining cerebral palsy and endometriosis and how it affects my life. Can be an insight for others and a solace for those of us who have either condition or even both. Yet I am uncertain what step to choose. 


Option 1:


This one I'm not sure about as there are so many different things such as make-up, skincare, books, music, food, and tech. Also suffering from anxiety and depression are other options. Just to write about the conditions although helpful wouldn't be as interesting for the reader.


Option 2:


This option I'm not sure about as I am not sure what direction I would take the blog and podcast unless I focus on one of the other topics I already mentioned.

 

Option 3:


This option would be just to write about one of the 2 main topics such as cerebral palsy or endometriosis. I think though this might be an idea again it may be a bit boring.


Outcome:


By writing this post I think that I will stick with incorporating everything to show that we are just the same as anyone else.


Your ideas:


However, I really would appreciate your feedback. So please leave your comments below.


Sunday, June 12

A Normal Day in the life of Sweetestmoondust




I'm going to talk about what I do on a day-to-day basis blog and what I wanted to show you.  First of all, I set the alarm for 8 o'clock. The night before, I get up between half past eight and eight o'clock. because of my disability and it depends on what I've been up to. 


So if I am tired, then I ignore the alarm and carry on sleeping and feeling better. However, on an average day, I get up at about eight to eight-thirty and then do my skincare. Then I will get dressed and if I find it difficult, in the morning, for example, I've had a bad night, I'll ask my other half to help me because it's easier than actually doing it and quicker. 


Although I can do a lot of it, not all. Then I'll go downstairs and have breakfast.  breakfast will normally be a Herbalife shake or a breakfast bar or something like that. And sometimes I have cereal. Depending on what's going on is not always the same and then I will get on with a thing. 



Bit me, time is just a bit of silly me time. I'm playing a game or two on the phone, and my other half does a bit of what he wants to do for the morning. Then I will do more of my stuff, like starting to do my radio show. Like talking for the radio show for the day. 


I get my show for a week ahead. So I'm ready for that as well because it doesn't always happen that I can be available. So I tend to do it a week ahead and then I will work on my blog or have a bit of lunch. And then I'll go back and do what I need to do. 





As I said, it'll be so in the afternoon and after lunch. It'll be like having, social media work doing all the stuff like that for my blog and my podcast and radio shows. And also working on my blog and see. what my books are up to because I also write books, so they need to be advertised. 


I try to do a little bit of advertising for that as well, so that's all having to be done. And then it's usually about half-past four. I end up doing things like work clearing up, getting it cleared out, and getting ready for the kids. And when they come back from school because they've already left before I even get up most days because it's just easier that I then my other half has got one thing to cut focus on rather than three. 


So it's easier and then we'll have dinner together. All of us, you know, try and catch up on how the day's been doing what we've got. You know what we've done for school. What we've done each day and then we will be doing. Um, meanwhile half like to catch up together. 


We might have time to watch a movie or we might do a but you know, I'll read a book rather and he'll be watching a movie quietly or will be doing stuff for a couple of streamers that we know on Twitch and support them out a bit as well. They are rog3rbot and martocodo


And so that's what we do sometimes, as well. And that is mainly what I am doing on an average day. And if I'm not doing those sorts of things, it could be that I'm taking care of myself, bits and pieces. 


For example, yesterday it was my nails





and I have cerebral palsy. I can't have my nails painted by myself and I need someone else to do it. The same goes for other bits and pieces that I need to get done. So, I do that for myself, by someone else because I can't do myself care for that section. 


So it doesn't matter. So um and I'm hoping you enjoyed this sort of quick chat about what I'm doing on a day-to-day basis because I want to maybe do more like this and a few sort of reviews about it. So thanks and I will be putting pictures up maybe in the notes for what I'm reviewing. 


If I do a review of something, um, for example, I've got a few shopping hauls that I want to put out. So whether I'll be on my Instagram page or my Twitter page as well or Facebook even and that's the way around things as well that I will be using. 


So I have to do all those as well as advertising doing those hours, I get. So, you're talking more roughly about 10 in the morning, I'll start and finish around half 4 pm as full with a break and, and so I could be doing anything and everything between running the house and doing the social stuff that I like to do and advertising cerebral palsy showing that. We do things without too much of a hassle, but we can have a relatively normal life despite having difficulty of some sort.


Sunday, June 5

What A Week! My week with Covid19

 

It was a wicked week. This has been for me, I'm doing this off my phone as usual because I've been hit down with the dreaded lurgy. Otherwise known as COVID-19. I'm day six and I'm still positive. It's probably the worst thing I could think of ever, you know, the added issues. 



It has given my cerebral palsy and endometriosis problems. However, the problem I'm having is with my legs and the pain from the muscles and everything else, but it doesn't matter so much. I've had to give up my radio for a little while, just to make sure that I'm well enough. 



Because at the moment, I'm not able to do anything really without trying, not to scream in pain because it's so painful, what I wanted to do was that I could perhaps do things a bit more easily and it seems to be the only way that is helpful for me at the minute. 



Um, so I'm able to write and record at the same time. For this while, I'm resting as much as possible, but I've never had anything so bad. As this with COVID, it's ridiculous. You know, I'm lucky that I had the boosters and I had everything else. 


And with the conditions I have, it can be a lot worse and I wouldn't want this on anybody. It's not because my voice is a bit croaky. But I just feel very achy all the time in my legs. I've just begun to get my sense of smell back and taste. 


These are only just a few of the problems. I have an upset stomach because of it as well. I've had lots of other things as well. it's not pleasant but I know that it's gonna be over soon enough and I'll be fine. I mean having too much of anything breathing wise, despite having asthma, you know.

Sunday, May 22

Discussing Things and Yet Chilling

  I'm doing another quick post sitting in the cafe. Just chilling out waiting for a family member again. Nevertheless, it's been a quiet day. Family things are being slightly sorted out, hopefully, things will get better. 



The stuff that's going on will be sorted. It will be written about in another post at some point, but right now, life is going the way it should do and I'm grateful for what has been going on and knowing what's being in the future!


Because it's a long slog for what I need to be done up doing another post at some point about all this but not right now because I don't have the time as I have to make time for other things like my radio show, my blog, and my books. 


So I'm doing everything all at once as well as keeping a family. So it's crazy but that's how it is at the minute. I know that whatever happens in the future, it's going to be okay but it is worrying at the time. But anyway, um, that's that bit sorted out For now. 


And I'm gonna be doing another post in about, but this will be only used for a blogger thing, but not I'm not sure yet. I'll see how this works out. As things are going a bit crazy. And I need to sort out a routine. I'm  slowly getting there, and it has been a bit crazy as I've said, an 


It's okay. Those leads are getting there but we're not at the final hurdle yet we're getting there slowly. I'm hoping that's it. Will be fine. But who knows exactly what's going on yet? Um as it's not sure what is going on So we'll see what is happening next. 


I've been discussing things where things have gone a bit higledy pigledy and nd it's not right a minute. Um, because of the way things are going. Um, however, life is going to get there and we know things are going to be. Okay. So, I'm hopeful and I know that what I need to do now is got to be separated into more things. 


And I have got to separate things and not hold on to things.



Like what Mel Robbins often says, She's such a good podcaster, author, etc, she's helped me mentally. I've just caught up on an Instagram live. I haven't watched all of it. I haven't got time but it's been really good and she's just kind of sorted things out a bit more things, more clarified so that I can say, okay! 


Right, I can let go of that and realise, that someone else that I know needs to let go of certain things as well. And they've got to not forget that their future doesn't have to be completely covered by the past. I am a little bit excited about the future and also a bit scared. It is ok though I'm not alone in this.


Sunday, May 15

A Pivot in the background because of Cerebral Palsy and Endometriosis

 

Well Hello!!!





This is a quick podcast and blog post because of what has been going on around me at the minute. 


I want to do that more than anything, I want to make sure that there is enough content for everybody on both my blog and my podcast. Because it's a lot easier to do things this way.  Anyway, this is what I'm doing from now on and I'm gonna try and do it daily and skip prepping up so that you get it weekly on my phone and because it's not on the How can I put it? laziness as my energy goes as the day goes on and I end up just completely flagging.


I can edit it out and work on it so that I don't have to stress out over everything all the time and then I can add it as a post as and when I need it. I'm going to start with just a quick quiet one because I don't know if it's gonna work properly. 


Today. I'm waiting for a member of the family to finish and then I can get on with what they need to do with them. I'm looking forward to seeing them anyway. To make sure that everything is correct and everything else. 


This seems to be the most sensible way of doing things where I can edit the way things are for me and maybe I won't feel such a lemon sitting in the front room or the office, doing this with my husband around as well, but maybe I will, maybe I won't, I don't know!


Hoping everyone had a great Easter and in fact so that I can do more things here. Anyway, what I would like to do is explain a bit more about what is happening with the change around. I'll be editing things to make it into a proper blog as well, so it makes more sense. 


At the moment I'm just blurbing around and messing around with my system because it makes more sense for me to do it this way, even out and about because of the way things are here with me and purposely doesn't always make it easy for me to have a good day. 





And neither does endometriosis because of the way things flare with that as well. And endometriosis is just as bad as cerebral palsy because of the way they combine as well as being organized with exhaustion. There are days when I feel fine, but then an episode from endometriosis will flare and that will cause an issue, meaning that I won't have the energy to do anything. 


I'm thinking of doing things like this a lot more often and doing it that way. If I was to do more posts like this, it would make it a lot easier, I think. And I look as idiotic as I like a cafe dreaming and daydreaming about things. So here we go. 


And I'm quite enjoying this at the moment but I don't want it to go on too long if this is just going to be a beginning one so that everyone can realize that I am a real person and just like with everything else I don't always have time for everything although there needs to be some consistency. 


With endometriosis and cerebral palsy combining at times. It means that I don't have the energy so this might be a better way. Let's see what happens.


Sunday, May 8

Cerebral Palsy A disease or condition

 Disease or Condition





So there are various ways that cerebral palsy has been boxed as either a disease or a condition. Below are the definitions by dictionary.com of each word or group of words.


Disease




noun

a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavourable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment.

any abnormal condition in a plant that interferes with its vital physiological processes, caused by pathogenic microorganisms, parasites, unfavourable environmental, genetic, or nutritional factors, etc.

any harmful, depraved, or morbid condition, as of the mind or society:

His fascination with executions is a disease.

decomposition of material under special circumstances:

Condition




a particular mode of being of a person or thing; existing state; situation concerning circumstances.

state of health:

He was reported to be in critical condition.

fit or requisite state:

to be out of condition; to be in no condition to run.

 

Cerebral palsy




noun Pathology.

a form of paralysis believed to be caused by a prenatal brain defect or by brain injury during birth, most marked in certain motor areas and characterized by difficulty in control of the voluntary muscles.



My thoughts


As a person with cerebral palsy, I don’t consider it as a disease as it's not like an illness such as a cold or cancer which has two different options of either getting better or not.


I use those examples as the simplest form of the disease because they are the most common. Although there are many more.


But cerebral palsy in my point of view is a condition as the initial brain damage has already happened but its secondary effects continually change as the person gets older. 


It also means that there are differences in every different case of cerebral palsy and there is no way to cure a person with it. Whereas with a disease you can be cured or not. But a condition you live with. 


And things change daily and you either have a good or a bad day. And you have to continue with whatever you are doing. The same goes on with people with fibromyalgia or MS and other lifelong conditions. Whereas someone with some types of cancer has limited time, not decades. Although that is possible.




The Effects of Cerebral Palsy


I talk about those throughout the whole of this blog as I live with the condition and the following is a list of some of the posts


What is spastic cerebral palsy?

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy What is it?

Life with diplegic mixed cerebral palsy

Common Questions for me


And many more just check them out.


Final Thoughts

So you see it's slowly changing as the effects are less evident unless the initial brain damage is severe enough when the cerebral palsy is spotted. Especially if the condition happens as a baby during the early months. Or when it occurs from an accident later.


But also seasons and age affect the way cerebral palsy reacts within the body. This is mentioned in the series of posts that started with The Seasons and how they affect cerebral palsy


I hope you see my point of view and understand why I class it as a condition, not a disease.


Sunday, May 1

A Smal Change


 When it was regarding this, I wanted to do a quick podcast and blog at the same time using Recording. So that I could actually be more productive and make sure that I have enough time for everything else throughout the day.


I wanted to talk about how things have really changed for me regarding things because life is a lot harder having any disability such as cerebral palsy which I have.



I also wanted to talk about how things have changed for me recently, as this is a general post for this week and I wanted to make sure that it was clear that I was talking about the changes for me. That's why it changes for me, at least. So I had started with Herbalife a while back. which is in Three Weeks With Herbalife. And I will be putting a stronger, more impactful post about that in the future.





Another one was to do with the way that exercises are to do with me as well. Which I've also mentioned. So my goodness. What a change, things have been. After a year of trying to get anxiety out of my situation and just living through a pandemic and a move, I felt better just living and trying to de-stress throughout that entire time. 


During that time I found that Fitbit was actually able to do exercises on top for disabled people now rather than just able people. So I have been doing a few of those exercises and made them my favourites on the app which you can get from Google Play and Apple iOS. 


And they will be put out on another exercise post that will connect to the original one that was done during the pandemic. Which is here exercise or no exercise. Here in the UK, we are coming out of the pandemic and back to almost normality.


Sunday, April 24

Does cerebral palsy affect intelligence?

This is one of the most common questions I get








So what do I mean by that? 


Well, as mentioned before in this blog. In various posts such as life with mixed diplegic cerebral palsy What is the difference between us Learning who you are! Just to name a few. And quite honestly the answer in my opinion is no! 


My reasoning for this?


Just because someone has the condition does not mean they are going to be of low intelligence. A condition of  Cerebral palsy is a form of brain injury. Not a person's intelligence. 



What are the main functions of the cerebrum?

 

Image result for cerebellum function

The largest part of the brain, the cerebrum initiates and coordinates movement and regulates temperature. Other areas of the cerebrum enable speech, judgement, thinking and reasoning, problem-solving, emotions and learning. Other functions are related to vision, hearing, touch and other senses.



Meaning that cognitive parts of the brain are affected by cerebral palsy but it doesn't mean that we are low intelligence because we have to think things in a different way.

Many of us are teachers, university staff and much more. If that was the case there wouldn’t be people who had the condition but were in these jobs.


There is this misconception that because we have a disability it means that we have low intelligence. And that is just not true!


That would be like gagging people of all types by what they can do, not how someone thinks.


To show another example of this would be professor Stephen Hawking. Who, although had Motor Neurone Disease (ALS) was able to teach and research at the prestigious University in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Until his death in 2018. His IQ was 160 which was the same as another theoretical physicist Albert Einstein. He is most famous for his theory of general relativity


So although Stephen Hawking was physically disabled by Motor Neurone Disease it did not take his ability to think away. This would mean that as the disease took hold then he would have been put in a care home never to be heard of in the first place.


Therefore cerebral palsy is a condition that affects the brain and the body physically. It does not mean we have low intelligence. 



Societies angle.


As far as I can see from a personal point of view it is the generations before who have thrust their opinions on all disabled, not just those of us who have cerebral palsy. But every type of disability.


What do I mean?


Right up to the 1980s here in the United Kingdom people who have any disability at any level were put into care homes. 


It was even evident during the 1990s when I was out with my now-husband we heard an old lady say that in her day people were put away.


We were put away for being different and deemed simple-minded just because our limbs were not able to be used the same way.


And unfortunately, the lingering thoughts of having disabled people put away is still being considered no matter how badly a person is physically affected. Because being disabled is not the norm. 


But what is the norm?


Being short-sighted, long-sighted having to wear glasses, wearing hearing aids because we’re hard of hearing. I Have asthma. These are the accepted norms for what I’ve seen people think but walking differently, speaking differently unless you are from a different area of the same country are classed not. 


There is also the problem of being of different races and religions that are still being argued about too. 


So my final thought on this is what is normal?


What are your thoughts on this?

I have used information from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Sunday, April 17

Coming out of the woods




The pandemic of covid19 began just over two years ago and we are about to come out as I write this. When it is posted it should be when we are free of the pandemic for now. As written in the emergency post I spoke about what was going on in Ukraine at the time has just gone live Emotional Plea for Ukraine and Peace




Things have changed again but right now here in the UK, the masks are not as evident as they used to be.



People don't have to be wearing masks all the time and don't need to follow so many restrictions as we did 2 years ago. You could say we are coming to the roaring 20s as we did 100 years ago. When the Spanish flu occurred. which I mention in so we are coming out another side of this.



But that is a different situation as there have been some drastic changes throughout the whole century since the previous big pandemic.


We can go about as much as normal I suppose and it's pretty much business as usual. When I'm writing this, the 2 years have affected us. Because people are more aware of what could be around and what is not but could be by people also are scared about giving it to someone else. Which is fair, especially at the moment of writing, still not completely curable. It is similar to the flu in that respect, however, it is not like the flu in other respects. As it seems to be mutating quite a lot, but not enough or severe enough for the pandemic to be continued in the same sense as it was. 


So we are out of the woods enjoying the good season while we can before another scary event happens. I'm rather glad that things are a bit calmer. It means that people can be a little less stressed, although the pandemic has turned our lives upside down and made us change things



Has the earth done this because of its thoughts on the way that the human race is treating it? 


Is it just sod's law like 100 years ago?


I wonder because for me it could be another situation again sooner than expected or hoped as we go through and head to another century rapidly in my eyes and I've already gone through what two different centuries now I've gone from the 20th century and 21st century so it is scary what is going to happen next. I worry about the future for others who are disabled not just the average person who is normal who would be surviving then.


Would there be enough support for people who have disabilities like cerebral palsy?


Or will they still be a minority where we are suffering rather than accepted because at the moment it still feels as if we are not accepted properly?


What do you think of my thoughts on this when you're reading up, please leave a comment below.


A New Season ahead

Welcome to a new season of Life with Sweetestmoondust. And sorry for being away for such a long time. There has been so much going on for ...