We learn from patterns

So in December my family went to Mexico before Christmas for a fun vacation when we got back I started having contractions to the point where I needed to be on self prescribed bedrest for a few days. This worried me so I went to the doctors to which they gratefully let me know that nothing was wrong with the baby, that it must be my MS somehow acting up. This was comforting to know because I was only a few weeks along and nowhere close to ready to be having contractions. This helped me be more aware of my body and has helped me take it more easy throughout this pregnancy. I figured that the stress of going on a vacation is what triggered the contractions so I've tried to stay low stress ever sense. Now the trip to Mexico was fun and didn't seem very stressful at the time but going on vacation with six kids even when it's super fun can create literal stress, stuff that you're not even conscious of, because during the trip to Mexico I had a great time I didn't feel particularly stressed not no more stress than a normal trip with my whole family. But when I came back and had contractions I concluded that the stress must have induced them.
Well like I said being the mother of six is not always stress free but I have been able to be bedrest free since that trip. We have gone on 2 road trips just up north to visit family and I have been fine. I have gone on the trip to Canada that actually was kind of a stress, our flight got delayed we had a whole extra day of travel and then I got hit with allergies so bad that I didn't get to enjoy much of Canada. None of these events caused contractions, they caused stress and tiredness but no contractions.
This week we decided to purchase a new car to replace our trusty old Corolla that is now not so reliable. My husband found his dream car on an amazing deal about an hour and a half away from us, we are bargain shoppers we found the car on craigslist which we've done many times.  My husband is really good at picking out good cars I trust his judgment... we decided to as a family Drive The hour and a half and pick up the car... The car ended up being sold in a shady part of town and as my husband checked out the car I kept our kids in our suburban and just hung out in the car for a while, we then got the car hurried and got some food, tried to find a bathroom...eventually found one and drove home. Well guess what the next day I started having bad contractions again to where I had to be on self prescribed bedrest.
What connects these two events?What caused serious contractions?
Fear! These are the two incidences where I had my children with me and I was in a less comfortable possibly less safe environment. Neither environment was really a terrible place and in both times I didn't feel scared consciously but subconsciously realizing I had my six children that I was responsible for created a fight or flight hormone inside me that afterwards created enough something  that started the contractions, this is not fact or science this is just what I am trying to piece together out of the two times that I have had to be on bedrest for my contractions, opposed to all the other times that I have been stressed out with my family yet not had contractions. My conclusion is that fear for my children's safety triggers such a strong response that it creates contractions. I'm glad to figure this out because next time I am in a situation that could make me nervous for my children I can hopefully create a logical solution that will help me remain calm so that I do not induce fake or real contractions.

Still pregnant 😀

Well, I am 23 weeks pregnant.  I am over the worst of regular pregnancy, that is, morning sickness.
As far as MS goes, there are many days that I forget I have it. But there are times that I can't denie are different.  It seems like anything that gets me down like being sick takes a longer time to recover. For example I went on a trip last week to Canada and got hit with allergies on the plane to Canada, allergies usually don't bother  me that much they are just annoying but on this trip they wiped me out where I felt terrible, and even with allergy medicine that was nondrowsy all I could really do was rest. I got better but it took a lot more out of me than it usually does.
Going on any kind of a trip seems to require a lot of relaxing after the trip is done. I have been aware to give myself a whole day of resting after a trip to get back to normal which seems like more than enough time but after this trip my body's telling me I need to take it easier for longer than just the day. I am still trying to learn how to read my body because I feel like I'm fine and I can do anything again and then I get hit really hard with tiredness or weakness really fast. I really am trying not to push myself too hard but it's hard when your body goes from fine too too much in a moment.
 I had three things on my must do list today take a shower go to one store and then go to another store,  other than making sure my children eat that's about all that was on my list of have to's today.  First thing I chose to do is take a shower I felt faint in the shower and had to lay down for an hour ☹ I finally had enough energy to get up and going again and was able to go to two stores but had to hurry the kids in and tell my four-year-old that no I couldn't go outside and ride bikes with her because my legs where to weak and we're going to give out any moment. Luckily most days are not like this most days are fine today's been rough though.

On a side note, my Family has been begging me to get a handicap plaquerd for the car,  which I did not want to do I felt bad when On good days I can go and run 2 miles I shouldn't be using a handicap parking spot . But I realized it's a choice when to use a handicap parking spot and when not to so, I finally gave in and got a handicap Plaquetd.  When I am feeling weak I use it, when I'm feeling strong I don't .   Something I never realized before was how many people really do use handicap parking spots, I've been surprised at how many times I've wanted to use the handicap parking and it's been all full, but maybe that's because I live in a retirement community and probably a third of the community also uses handicap parking 😂.

Well here hoping I  we will quickly learn how to balance my body's needs and wants  not be in bed all day but not working too hard that I get weak.