First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes...baby?

Right now it feels like everyone I know is either trying to get pregnant, is pregnant or has a new baby. And because babies are such a hot topic, I am often asked when Josh and I will start our family.

For many people this is a normal question that elicits a normal response. But for us, it's a little more complicated.

When I was growing up I assumed that I would get married and start a family the "natural way." But once Josh and I started talking about marriage, we also started discussing our plans to have a family, and based on the risks to my health because of my CMS, we decided that we would not have our own biological children. Instead, we decided that we would adopt.

Perspective

Years before my blog turned into Kelly's Sustainable Life, it started as a blog to capture my summer as an intern for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (fitting, right?!) in Pleasanton, California.

The other day I was reading old posts while on a trip down memory lane and I came across one that I wrote toward the end of my internship that I want to share. 

The post is about the experience I had at MDA's Summer Camp. Summer Camp is a way for kids who have muscular dystrophy to be "real" kids for a week. 

When I was a kid I refused to go to MDA summer camp. I don't know if it was because I was scared, or just didn't want to be labeled as "disabled" but I was adamant about not going, and my parents never pressured me to. Sometimes I wish I had, but I'm at least grateful that I was able to finally experience it, even if it was in my 20's.

I'm back

After being silent for more than a year, I've decided to start contributing to this blog again. I am finding that as I get older and encounter new challenges associated with having CMS, I need to continue writing about it outside of my goal to walk a mile.

Until a few years ago I never thought that talking or writing about my CMS would be of interest to anyone. But now that I am in a new city encountering new people in new situations, I find that I'm having to explain my disability to a whole new group of people. And that has proven to be tricky at times.

When I encounter a situation where I need to explain my CMS, it's always a challenge to decide how much to share. Sometimes I want to talk about it, and other times I don't want to go into much detail so this blog is my way of providing the opportunity for others to learn as much as they want to on their own terms.

My goal for this blog is not only that it be therapeutic for me, but to also help others who might be living with a chronic disorder, as well as anyone who knows someone with a chronic disorder.

I plan to update this blog only as I need to. And I don't plan on promoting it on social media, so if you'd like to get regular updates please bookmark it or subscribe as a follower.

I hope you enjoy reading.

-Kelly 

My One Mile Challenge

Welcome to my One Mile Challenge blog! This is the introduction of my 2010 goal to strengthen my legs so I can walk one mile without resting or assistance. One mile might not seem like a lot, but because I have Congenital Mysthenic Syndrome (CMS), a form of muscular dystrophy, it's actually a pretty big challenge.

The reason behind my interest in this is that Josh and I will be going on our honeymoon on January 8, 2011. We will be cruising through the Eastern Caribbean, stopping at several different ports. While a cruise probably seems very relaxing, I really anticipate there being a lot of walking, due to the large ship we will be on, and the excursions we will go on when we dock. So, I want to strengthen my legs so I can do all the walking I want!

I am hoping this challenge isn't completely out of reach. When I studied abroad in Oaxaca my junior year of college, I had to walk everywhere, and as a result, I increased my stamina. When I left, I could walk at least twice as far as I could when I arrived.

So, I hope you will follow my quest to walk one mile! I will be officially starting my challenge next Thursday, April 8. That will mark exactly 9 months from the date we leave for our cruise.

I anticipate I will need to be cheered on, so any words of encouragement you can provide me will be greatly appreciated!