Tag Archives: walking

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Healing Hurts

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Day 268 in my limp toward Mickey

Healing hurts.  When you have major surgery, there is a long period of healing that follows your hospital stay.  Now I would love to be that person saying, “Oh, I’m great.  Everything’s fine.  It’s all good,”  but the truth is healing hurts.  Stabbing pains at time, sore bruises from IV failed attempts and successes, blood draws, bruises at and near incision sites, bruises from being inverted for robotic surgery, scratches from being held in place during robotic surgery, blisters from the tape they used on the gauze pads on me, ow, ow, OW, dang it!

The good days are very good and the bad days, well, they’re not so good.  This morning was a bad morning.  As Mike got up, made coffee and prepared to go lead worship with Damascus Road, I found another broken blister, had painful gas and every bruise and incision ached. I had had it!  So I cried and I cried and I cried.  And then I quit crying, took my Narco and slowly embraced the day.  So my plan for today, is to survive the day and count some blessings.

  1. God met me today during my devotions.  He always does, but this morning it was more obvious to me.  I am using the book, “My Grandfather’s Blessings.”  Very powerful and very moving.
  2. Jake ( my son) brought me breakfast after church: a Starbuck’s breakfast sandwich and an iced decaf skinny mocha.
  3. I have good pain meds to help me through this day.
  4. The kids are coming over for dinner tonight for a good visit and a pot roast with salad.
  5. And A.D. is on NBC tonight.  Loving that show!

So that’s quite a bit of blessings on a tough day.  God is good all the time!  Meet you at the Kingdom.

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To Market, To Market…

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Day 246 in my exciting adventure of getting ready to meet up with Mickey

My plan for today was to go and grocery shop on my own and get us ready for the week ahead.  I was worried about going because I am having a lot of hip pain.  But, I thought, don’t let a little pain stop you.  Go and do.  So I did.  I painfully limped into the store.  But, wonder of wonders, I found that if I leaned onto the grocery cart, my hip did not bother me. Hooray!

I picked up groceries for Chicken and Bean Stew, Chunky Vegetable Chowder, Grilled Tuna and Low-fat Provolone with Veggies, and because I love my husband and he loves spaghetti, Spaghetti with Whole Wheat Noodles and Veggie Sauce.

It feels so good to get re-engaged with planning and preparing healthy, low-sugar, low-fat meals.  And the bonus of shopping by myself is I got a lot more steps in than I would have otherwise.

The sun is shining and the temperature made it to nearly 70 degrees today here in Lake Bluff.  Life is good, and God is even better.  (That is a loose paraphrase of Philippians 1:21)

Meet you at the Kingdom!

Special shout out to the Carlson Clan.  I’m thinking of you everyday and smiling to think of where you are and what you are doing.  🙂

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Beginning Again

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Day 243 in my dash toward Disney and Mickey

The thing about having cancer is: it makes it so easy to feel sorry for yourself.  I want to make a concerted effort to STOP.  I don’t accept that cancer is now my life.  NO.  Philippians 1:21 says, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  So cancer is not my life; Christ and opportunities for him, are my life.

Today I rededicate myself to healthier living.  I will plan the next week’s menu.  I have to get back to more veggies, lean proteins and complex carbs.

No more pity eating.  No more giving in to sympathy pains in other parts of my body.  No more.  Nope!

Today is the day that I reclaim my life.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Ahhh…Spring

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Day 236 in my traipse toward talking with Mickey

Yay!  I don’t see any doctors today.  I don’t have any tests today.  Yay!  So my plan for today is to prepare a lovely, healthy dinner for my man and me.  I’m thinking maybe a chicken and bean stew.  It will be a new recipe for me.

It’s a beautiful spring day in the neighborhood, and I have a case of Spring Fever.  I wish I was at Disney’s Animal Kingdom today.  I would love to be on Kilimanjaro Safari right now, with plans to ride Kali River Rapids next.  I get so excited when I think that our trip is only 6 months and 12 days away.

My “Happy Place” right now, is hanging out on the boardwalk at Old Key West, sharing a basket of Conch Fritters and sipping on a drink with an umbrella in it!  Ahh…that is the life!  And my “Happy Thought” right now is that my surgery will be behind me and I will be well on my way to and through recovery.  Life is good, my friends, and God is even better!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Still Planning

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Day 222 in my attack on being healthier to meet up with Mickey

My plan for today was to “pick myself up, dust myself off, and start all over again.”  I am back at work after two sick days.  My stomach and head have been acting up.  Today my headache is gone, and my stomach is at least manageable.

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about our trip to Walt Disney World in October.  God’s timing is amazing.  I should be able to get through surgery and any following treatments well in advance of our trip.  Thank you, Lord!  I can hardly wait to be sitting at Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West having dinner with my family.  And I’m even more determined to go for it.  Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, here I come!  And this might just be the time I finally ride Kali River Rapids.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: Thanks for all the messages and prayer support.  I can feel the prayers.  Here’s a great verse from the Bible that I ran across today: “God Most High, have pity on me!  Have mercy.  I run to you for safety.  In the shadow of your wings, I seek protection till danger dies down.  I pray to you, my protector.” Psalm 57:1-2  God is good all the time!

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Back To It

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Day 219 in my planning to meet up with Mickey in October (6 months and 28 days to go)

Today’s plan: make a menu for the week, make a grocery list for the week, go grocery shopping, deliver a dinner to a friend who recently had surgery, go out to a belated birthday dinner with the kids.

  1. menu-check
  2. grocery list-check
  3. grocery shopping-check
  4. deliver dinner-called to make arrangements and was told they do not need our dinner tonight, as their daughter (her husband, and child) is coming up to visit and bringing dinner
  5. belated birthday dinner withe the kids-yet to come

I am feeling much better than I have the last couple of days.  My energy level is better and the cramping and bleeding have subsided.  Whew!  So now it’s back to normal, until the next step is revealed.  God is good all the time!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

 

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Another Payday Weigh-day

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Day 215 in my race to meet Mickey (7 months and 2 days to go)

Today’s plan was to step on the scale again and see what’s happening.  The good news is: another 1.6 pounds down.  Yahoo!!  So now I’m down 41.6 pounds, and it feels good!  Even laying down in bed at night feels more comfortable than it has for a long time.  Hopping into the car and buckling up is much easier.  And it’s easier to slide in and out of booths in restaurants.

Now that spring is spring-ing, I hope to be more intentional about my walking.  There may be some challenges in my immediate future, as I am having some health issues, but I will face them in the company of a Savior who loves me.  “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13  That is so comforting.

I’ll let you know more, as I know more.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: Keeping my sister-friend Joan in my prayers.  Her surgery went very well yesterday, but she’s running a fever today.

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Getting Down to Dis-ness (Business toward a Disney Trip)

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Day 211 in my challenges to get ready to meet Mickey in October. (7 months and 6 days to go)

Today’s plan was to take care of a lot of little things that needed seeing to, and to gauge my energy level to get through the day.

Here’s the list:

  1. Make a delicious. nutritious breakfast–I made another batch of Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal.  It is sugar-free decadence.  And I have enough left over for 2 breakfasts this week.  I fry a leftover patty in just a bit of coconut oil.  So good!
  2. Finish paying our last two bills for this pay period–I wrote out a check for one and brought it to the post office to mail, and I arranged to pay the other online.
  3. Take a shower and clean up–I showered, washed and treated my hair, brushed and even water-piced my teeth.  (I don’t use my water-pic nearly enough.)
  4. Go and visited my sister/pal Joan–we had a lovely visit.  (Prayers for her, please.  She is having knee replacement surgery on Tuesday.)  A visit with Joan is always so good for my heart and soul!
  5. Pick up groceries–I went to my new favorite store, Heinen’s, and picked up some necessary items for tonight’s dinner, and for the week’s menu, and for cleaning the house.

I got everything finished by 5:00 pm, and am now in my favorite chair with my feet up sipping a Decaf Skinny Hazelnut Latte from Starbuck’s.  I had plenty of energy to get through my day.  I’m glad to be back home and chilling, but I am so-o-o grateful to have the va-va-voom to move around more and get a few things done.

Life is good, my friends, and God is even good-er!  Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: Happy birthday, to dear Eliza!!  She is our daughter-in-law extraordinaire!  Such a beautiful person inside and out, and I am in awe of the way she loves our precious son.  Love you, Girl!

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Motivated to Move for Mickey

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Day 209 in my motion to meet Mickey (7 months and 8 days to go)

Today my plan was to be a bit more active at work.  So I:

  1. Set up Damascus Road (our contemporary band.)
  2. Printed, cut and assembled the weekly church bulletins.
  3. Moved a very heavy box from a cabinet in my office to my co-worker Chris’s office.  (I am woman; hear me roar!)
  4. Removed a heavy box of outdated offering envelopes from that same cabinet and put them all in recycling.  (Think Rocky Theme)
  5. Made every effort to make as many trips as possible around inside the building to rack up some extra steps.

I feel good about the movement, but my right knee is barking a little.  🙂

Also tonight we will dine out after our Damascus Road rehearsal.  I plan to order a steak salad.  The combination of the warm, tender steak and the crisp greens will make my week.  It’s the little things, my Peeps.  Stay warm; I do believe Spring will eventually come.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: Props to my niece and Godchild Merr.  Happy birthday, Sweet Girl!  Love you so much.  xxoo

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Waiting…

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Day 208 in my waiting to see Mickey in October (7 months and 9 days to go)

Today my plan is to write this blog, make the best possible food choices, and move around as much as I can.

Happy birthday, Dear Emi.  Happy birthday to you.  May the Lord bless and keep you another year through!

Thirty-three years ago today my daughter Emi was born.  She is beautiful inside and out, of that there can be no doubt!  She was born with a ruddy complexion and a full head of flyaway black hair.  Mike (my husband) took one look and said, “Hm, must be from the postman’s side of the family.”  My roommate at the hospital had a visitor come in.  She said, “Oh, your baby is adorable.  And there is the cutest little Eskimo baby in the nursery, too.  Who does that belong to?” My roommate sheepishly looked at me, and I said, “That would be my daughter.”  🙂

I remember waiting for Emi to be born.  Waiting and waiting and waiting.  Then, in God’s perfect timing, she arrived.

It makes me think about waiting in general.  Right now I’m waiting for Spring.  I’m waiting to go to the Magic Kingdom and hug Mickey.  I’m waiting to lose more weight to take some of the pressure off of my joints so I can move even more.  Waiting…waiting…waiting.

But, the thing is, in God’s perfect timing and if it be His will, these things will indeed come to pass.  Spring really will come, with flowers blooming and birds singing again.  I will Fastpass+ my way to Mickey and a hug in October.  (And in my head the bird’s will be singing again.)  And I will lose more weight and take some of the pressure off of my achy joints.  (Then I will be singing.)

In God’s perfect timing, these things will happen if I just believe and accept His timing.  Slow progress still equals progress–with Spring, with my Mickey-meet-up, with my weight.  To God be the glory.

Meet you at the Kingdom!