| |
|
LUNADRAGON's Recent Blog Entries
|
 
Saturday, May 14, 2011
I have been talking to myself today. Here is the gist of the conversation:
Hi Gorgeous!
You look great!
Sure, you haven't lost all the weight you want to. Yes, your health is not perfect. But you know what? You look better than you have in years! Sure, you did lose 28 lbs, and you have put on about 10 since the surgery. Even with putting a few pounds back on after surgery, you are still much better than when You began. Just imagine what you would have looked like if you had NOT begun. You still weigh 18 lbs less than when you began. Just think, facing surgery would have been horrific, and frightful if you had NOT lost that much weight first. Be patient, girlfriend. You will lose again, concentrate on your health, and keep on moving and eating healthy, and don't forget your water. Get your sleep, focus on keeping stress from swallowing you up and you will keep on going in the healthy direction, I am sure.
How about a photo shoot so you can see just how darn cute you look now? That's right, you are all dolled up anyway. Sure, I will wait for you to try a little makeup and don't forget to put on those new shoes!
Don't forget to grab that sweet hubby of yours and take a photo of him in those nice duds too. Sweet! You both are looking great. And I hear your hubby's weight is below 170! He's lost about 10 lbs in the last couple months. Woo hoo, girl! You need to catch up, and you will.
Take a look at that neck scar! Wow is it fading! Hard to believe you are 2 months post-op. You are doing really well! Hard to believe you had such an awful rash a week ago too! Looking good!
List those blessings:
Great husband! Great sons (two), a sweet daughter-in-love and grandson, and #2 son has a sweet girlfriend too.
A cute little house and a cute little yard.
Two warm fuzzy furballs, I mean cats.
Life.
Breath.
Sight.
Sound.
Movement.
Faith.
Cute new sandals!
Me and my shadow, Peaches. He did not want to sit still for pictures.
Crackle glass "hornet catcher" that I am using as a candle holder instead (there is a hole on the bottom. - I do not know how to use it as a hornet catcher.) I love crackle glass, and how the light plays on the surfaces.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Alright. I fell asleep, at the computer. Hauled myself to bed and promptly fell asleep... somewhere around 4:30 - and slept til almost 10. Perhaps it was less than that, but I slept, with my foam collar. Then when I woke up, I couldn't find my collar. (Did I swallow it?) After browsing through the house, I found it on the bed, on top of my husband. I must have ripped it off in the night. Glad he didn't find it.
So, I woke up determined. I was determined to do my morning physical therapy home routine, with weights, to work at getting my muscle tone back, and to try to stretch my back out of pain mode. Oh dear, I really have lost so much ground since before surgery, especially once I had the hiccups of the rash, the fluid retention, the steroid regime, and Easter eggs. The chocolate. Blah. Ok. Buck up little lady. You can do this. You did it before, you can do it again. Put your focus on smaller portions, and push your motion just a little more to get the metabolism back in gear. I did twenty minutes of stretches, and wrist weights! Woo hoo, go me. Remember - Baby Steps, girl - you can do it again. I also thought about the fact I haven't worn a brace, or slimmer for my lumbar support since before my cervical spine surgery. I think my arms are strong enough to pull it up today. Yep. That hides a little of the bulge, and makes my self esteem feel a little better. Spandex does have its blessings. It also does make my low back feel better. Interesting, eh?
Then I ate peach oatmeal, and treated myself to a rare cup of coffee. I know. I sleep crummy, I shouldn't have any. Like I said, this is rare. Perhaps I have one or two cups per week now, instead of daily, or even multiple daily. One once in a while is good.
I lifted a light basket of white laundry, and carefully made my way to the laundry in the basement. The load of darks my son had washed for me had tangled in the washer big time. Blah. Pull, tug, unknot. And it had not spun the water out. I split up the load (he overloaded it - but I can't complain - he is "helping"), spun it, and dried it, and put on my new blue jeans (had to wash them first due to the dye.) As I said yesterday, or perhaps in those wee hours in the blog I said not to read, I bought a pair of jeans - not in a smaller size. They shrunk a little, and I think they fit just right now. They have embroidery on the pockets. Now I need to buy myself a belt. I haven't had a belt in years. But with the bracing on, (spandex slimmer with boning to support my lumbar) - hey, I look alright. I feel good, uh huh, like I knew that I would, uh, huh!
Back to the kitchen, I loaded dishes into the dishwasher. Dancing around a little.
Hey - this is a whole lot more activity than I have been able to do since surgery. Really, other than the pain, the rash, the swelling, I am doing quite well, thank you very much.
Then, I picked up my pink ipod. Hmm, I love the American Idol stuff I have gotten - Paul, Haley, Lauren, Casey, and ok, even James and Jacob - The music is an updated version of my era! I had bought pink gummy headphones because they are softer for my tiny ears - I turned it on, and stuck them in my ears. Oh joy! Really really really! I started to move my hips (carefully), then I moved my arms. I went over to the full length mirror and looked at myself. Not bad. Not bad at all, despite the weight gain, I surely still look better than when I first began, and I am doing well for having surgery etc. I wriggled, and two-stepped my way from room to room, stepping softly (hubby is sleeping - he works tonight). I looked at the clock. Perhaps I can dance this for five minutes. Two songs down, then three, let's try ten minutes. Heck - let's go for twenty, and let's figure out a way to cool down - yes to Casy's cool jazz jive. I brought the portable phone and put it in plain view, because I knew I wouldn't be able to hear it if it rang.
I danced. I worked out - I sweat (lightly). I felt this was a lot more controlled than dancing to a dvd. If anyone was around to see me singing to no music (visible), they may have thought it was strange. It was cool. It lifted my spirits.
Oh yeah, baby, just stick it in your ear.
In the pink!
Staples of my existence: pink ipod, pink (fuschia) 1 lb weights, pink pen, blue pedometer, weight journal, favorite Bible verse: "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Friday, May 13, 2011
This is just a middle of the night (or morning, depends on how you look at it) rush of nothing when sleep refuses to settle in, and my neck hurts, and my right hand, and right leg are numb, and restless, and my low back hurts when I lay down. I really tried to get to sleep in bed with cool sheets, and soft pillows, and quiet music, and it just wasn't working. Rather than disturb my hubby on his nights off to sleep in bed, and home from work - I tiptoed out, put on my neck brace and robe, and came to the computer to try to weary myself down.
I do not want to, like to, need to be a bummer, a downer, a complainer. Sometimes I just get so flustered, there isn't much to do.
So, I think about who needs prayer - my little grandson at the ER tonight - I do not know how he is, I did not hear back; a good friend's father who suffered a stroke; a spark friend facing total knee replacement in the next week; and a myriad of other people. I find it is a good thing to do when I can't sleep. At least it makes me feel like I am doing something useful when there isn't much I can do about things.
As soon as I lay down, I could tell my low back was very unhappy, and my shoulders, and neck chimed in, and my knee, and leg, and stuff sang in chorus.
I have not been tracking my food, other than yes I am eating 5 fruits and veggies, and drinking my water. I log my fitness after the fact, and am not where I was pre-surgery. Especially with the gain from the steroids.
I bought myself a pair of jeans anyway this week, even if it was not in a happy size, because I wanted to have a pair that was new and not just a pull on legging kind.
It looks like the rash is trying to decide to come back.
Positive things despite junk that just happens or that you deal with:
The sun is shining somewhere.
God cares and is in control. Even if things feel out of my control.
There is always a reason, even if I do not know what it is.
Pray, amazing things can happen.
I am sooo glad God created colors - it is an amazing miracle that rates right up there with new babies and kittens and flowers and water.
Happiness depends on happenings, Joy comes from someplace deep inside. So, despite the negative stuff that happens, I am joyful. Just read all of Philippians, or James.
May your morning, day, evening, week, and life be blessed.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Whether you are just starting out, trying to keep going, or get going once again: this is my tip for you - Start out with ten minutes, and a pedometer.
When your day seems short, and workouts look like they can't fit in, try 10 minutes of stretches when you first get up. I do a physical therapy modified version of stretches almost daily - at least 10 minutes, before I even roll out of bed.
You will be glad you did.
Last night, my back pain was pretty bad, and sleep was limited, but guess what, at some point this morning I did my 10 minutes, (actually I stretched it into about 12). Sometimes it is the only thing that can relieve my back. Remember, those 10 minutes can be a starting point. It is tangible, and sustainable (most of the time).
Then, pick up a pedometer if you don't already have one. Clip it to your waist band and add up your steps. Even if you have health issues, it is great for your self esteem to see your steps increase. I count mine out when I go to the grocery store or garden centers, even around the house up and down the stairs, and puttering in the yard.
These two tips can get you going, keep you going, and make you unafraid to start again. Anyone can spare 10 minutes. And if ten minutes is still too much - do two sessions of 5 minutes.
Have a great afternoon.
   
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
My blogging, logging and stuff are lagging, sagging. I'm bagging what I should do, making it woulda and shoulda, making me shudder. Murphy's law is ruling here on planet murphy.
Monday - PT was canceled again due to an insurance approval hiccup. I am not sure if Today's will be canceled too. Yuk.
I was still dealing with the awful face rash, feeling crummy through the weekend, and yesterday.
I had trouble sleeping, and found myself doing my a.m. home pt stretches (12 minutes) somewhere around 4 a.m. Tuesday.
Monday, I got a call from my pcp, and the blood work showed the liver panel to still be slightly elevated. When she heard I had another flare up with the rash, and the joint pain she asked me to come in Tuesday afternoon.
I have done lots of sleeping in the chair, with the cat, because my pain has been intense.
Then my face feels like I have been using it to wash dishes, and windows, etc. I am not that ambidextrous that I would use my face that way. It is calming down, but still is quite red and blotchy. Like a sunburn or poison ivy - or extreme acne. soreness is less now anyway. I had about 10 days of my face being clear before this 2nd breakout. It all began April 18 with the ER visit. It does not coincide with any of my allergy shots, so that isn't it.
My allergist is changing a couple of my medications - a different environmentally friendly inhaler for the asthma, and a smaller epipen type unit. At the pharmacy today - the injection unit was going to cost over $200! Yikes. I asked them to hold it til next week as we are trying to get the van fixed. Sigh. Keeping safe from bees is an expensive proposition on Planet Murphy.
So, she (my doctor) requested more blood work in 6 weeks to check the liver panel. In the meantime - she sent me for more blood work on Tuesday after the visit - perhaps 5 vials, not sure... I did NOT want to look - Lyme test, arthritis, RA, Lupus, virus, etc... She really does not think it is rosacea. She thinks it may be some kind of virus. Hopefully some answers will come up soon. I really do not need or want this in the middle of my neck healing, and waiting to get my knee arthroscopy approved.
Meanwhile - I went outside and trimmed up my roses - I missed it in the fall, and there were lots of dead stems to deal with. The lilacs are in bloom, they are lovely, but they do trigger my allergies. Henceforth - I am awake - dealing with stuffy nose now, congestion, sneezing. Lilacs live on Planet Murphy.
The 15 minutes I spent outside - I took some pictures, and did the plant trimming - that was all I could handle. It wiped me out.
Planet Murphy is an interesting place to visit, but sometimes I really don't want to be there. I want to go somewhere nice, like Paris. Good thing I believe in the words of Romans 8:28. That makes Planet Murphy ok. Decent even, when you know WHO is really in control.
I love the flowers, the colors, but I only wish that I could breathe and enjoy the spring more. Until the next good rain washes the tree pollen down, and the lilacs finish blooming, outside will be a little rough to handle. I take what I can get here on Planet Murphy.
Oh, here is a view of Planet Murphy. Despite allergies, and medical junk, there truly is a beautiful world to look at an enjoy!
We share the same moon on Planet Murphy, look beyond the flowers on the left!
This (redbud) tree is my favorite - and I see it from our kitchen window.
I am so glad God invented colors - It truly makes the world a better place. Even Planet Murphy.
Lilacs - they look to have two different colors in the blooms. Beautiful. Achoo. Excuse me.
Take a moment, and enjoy your Planet Murphy. It really isn't that bad a place.
First Page
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
Last Page
|
|
Get An Email Alert Each Time LUNADRAGON Posts
|
|
Member Comments About This Blog Post:
BLOG.
. Now, pray for your friend and concentrate on all of your blessings! Your friends will be praying for "peace" for you! 
