I have been blogging for 17 years, and I have always loved writing down my New Year’s goals. I LOVE New Year’s! I love lists, dreams, goals, the whole shebang!

This year is different, though. I am approaching 2026 with my eyes sealed shut, like someone reluctantly talked into an amusement park thrill ride. I don’t want to sound too dreary, because I am the hope girl—I literally wrote a book about it—and I still have lots of HOPE in Him! However, this is my first year living with RRMS (relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis) as I know it now. I guess technically I had it before, but it was mostly brewing below the surface. Because of that, I can’t even make any plans for 2026. I just have to get my head above water, but I’m getting there.

I hated having the whole firestorm diagnosis during my favorite time of the year (fall and Christmas), but on the other hand, I am glad that I squeezed it in at the end of 2025 because even though I still have a lot to learn, I have a full dose of infusion treatment in me! Praise God! So now I feel like 2026 is a fresh start. The hard part is behind me, and I am ready to start finding my new normal!

I keep comparing my diagnosis to SJ because there are so many things I can relate back to that. For example, when SJ was diagnosed, I made this graphic and did a blog post about finding the new normal.

This is my own personal observation of what it’s like processing a diagnosis. I am not a psychiatrist or anything. From October until now, I was in shock! Next up, I am going to transition (or adapt/adjust) to life with MS.

I plan to gradually start implementing things I stopped doing when I was diagnosed and having debilitating flare-ups. For example, driving, taking walks, cooking, cleaning, and working full time. I know I can’t just do everything all at once, but I have a schedule and will reevaluate at the end of this month. If I had to guess, I would say at least the next six months will be a transitional period, which leads me to my latest prayer requests.

I am beyond blessed to have an army of prayer warriors in my corner interceding on my behalf. Thank you to all of you! Here are the next appointments I have:

January – ENT for my ears. My hearing loss is genetic and unrelated to MS, but then again, there is nerve damage that is ear-related, so there may be some overlap there. We’ll see.

February – I have my first and last appointment with Rheumatology. There was a red flag in my blood work, but please pray that it is just a fluke.

March – Head and spine MRIs. PLEASE PRAY for  NO ACTIVITY! This will show that the disease hasn’t progressed and the treatment is working.

April – I see my neurologist again, and hopefully it’s just to verify that I am doing well and that I am on the right track.

May – My next infusion!

That’s all that is scheduled, but I am still having some mild vision issues. If that doesn’t improve, I will need  to see a neuro-ophthalmologist again soon.

So those are my big 2026 plans for now, but don’t think I’ve forgotten about Z’s graduation. I am still all over that, and we will CELEBRATE!