I legit believed that going to visit my parents for a week would give me the time and opportunity to finish putting together a keto meal plan, recipe archive, and grocery lists. So foolhardy!

I always forget that the first 2 days in Colorado are eaten up by travel and altitude sickness and the last one is also eaten by travel.  I also tend to forget that “visiting my parents” actually means visiting my parents.  It doesn’t mean “dropping my kid off with my parents and taking the opportunity to finish doing a lot of work.”

I have to say that I’m incredibly proud of myself — both for going on this trip and for the way that I handled a ton of situations while I was there. I flew twice with my 3 year old, without anyone else on the plane with us, and everything went well. (We even got compliments!)  I saw my parents, brother, sister-in-law, nephew, cousin, and aunt, and despite the millionty reasons that PTSD, GAD, or depression could have thoroughly hijacked our good time, I managed to leave town on good terms with everyone, and only had a couple of less-than-optimal moments. I managed to leave the room, collect myself, and cool down instead of being immediately reactive and escalating anything. I asked probing questions and listened to the answer to see if what someone was intending to communicate was, in fact, what I actually understood. I used the butterfly technique successfully when necessary.

So, I have no regrets about not starting the ketogenic diet today.  I could have done it anyway and tried flying by the seat of my pants, but every website I have read with regard to this WOE (Way Of Eating, for those not in diet discussion circles) says that careful planning and execution are the keys to success… and even though it means 1 more week of the SAD (Standard American Diet), I’m not wasting any energy on being disappointed in myself.

TBH, I’ve been too busy today alternating between schvitzing like a refrigerated can of coke on an August day in Memphis and suddenly having intense chills and seizing. Thank goodness I’m back in IL and can take an edible that I know works to make it stop. Heck, once the temperature goes above 85, I’m not really good to anyone outside unless I have the right medication and am wearing the proper equipment…

Which brings me to my yearly reminder for anyone who has MS: GET SOME COOLING PRODUCTS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.  You’ll thank yourself.  I wholeheartedly recommend these guys, but there are plenty of other retailers out there with cooling equipment options. I’m still in love with my under-boob corset of cold and neck wrap.

And now I’m going to get back to work on the diet stuff, because Henry is enjoying Blaze and the Monster Machines, and nobody knows how long this “downtime” will last.

Wishing you the most enjoyable day possible on our national day of outdoor grilling and mourning loved ones.