Day 8-14

Friends there is no way I could break this last week down on a day to day rundown.  First - you would be bored by the middle of Day if I tried.  Second - the last 7 days is a blur of thoughts and emotions and it is difficult for me to think of it as separate days as it felt like one extremely long day.  (I’d call it The Longest Day but then I’d owe some people that made a great movie in 1962 some money)  So, we will sum it all up in one word - difficult.

Lets start with some good news.  I did my first official weigh in this morning (ok this afternoon when I got up) and it looks like I’m down about 6 pounds in the last 2 weeks.  Though, after weighing in I realize I need to get a digital scale because I really have no clue how much I lost…just that the scale didn’t go as far as last time.  It is my best estimate on the 6 pounds, but I will say that I did weight myself 3 times and I took the average of the results.  Even on something like this, I must be highly scientific and precise! 

Days 8-14 involved the majority of my life being spent with family or in a hospital.  My mother was there, and my family and myself experienced just about every emotion a human can.  At some point each of us, separately from each other, thought we had said our final goodbyes.  (Thankfully, while there is a long road ahead for recovery, she is on the process of recovering)  During this time, I had the good fortune to meet a lot of great nurses and nurses assistants and admired their spirit and positive vibes.  (and a few not so great doctors that I hope to meet in a dark alley sometime soon)  I found out so many things I didn’t know about health and our bodies.  It occurred to me that even though I may think I know what I need to do to keep/make myself healthy - I am ignorant.  I simply don’t know what I don’t know.  My next step goal is to schedule myself a checkup with a doctor.  This is something long overdue for me - but I will face it knowing that there will probably be things I don’t want to hear from the doctor, but if it helps me in the long run, it is something that I must do.  I’m not sure what else to say about this here because I don’t think my brain has fully processed the last week.  If anything, it drives home the message that our health is the most important thing we can manage and control…and that doing so doesn’t come without hard work and persistence.  (on a side note - minus the doctors I would like to give a giant 5 Stars to York Hospital staff)  And that’s all I have to say about that…

While I didn’t get the opportunity to workout during this time, I did my best to remain as active as possible.  I parked the car further away from places so I could walk more…I did something each night with friends to keep from sitting and starting…etc.  This next week starts up the workout routine again - I can actually say I missed it.  I was able to keep up with eating well and can also announce that I’m 2 weeks soda free!  There were times that I was tempted to break the healthy eating but thankfully the brain was able to overcome the want to eat poorly.  I’m very glad that before this last week happened, I decided it was time for me to work on my health as I don’t know what I would have done without the focus of my brain on this.  I think I’ve said before - my mental health is as important in this whole process as my physical health.

Lets hope that this is the last of the downer entries.  What is best about the times life challenges us physically and mentally is that it teaches us two very important things.  1 - You are stronger than you think you are.  2 - You aren’t ever alone when you have good friends and family there to support you.  We as humans can move past struggling times and emerge stronger and better for it.  While I will never be thankful for the last 8+ days, I hope to be able to look back in 6 months and see how it molded me as a person.

Interestingly I’m watching Science Channel this evening and someone is trying to explain the universe comparing it to a bagel…and now I want cream cheese…

Damnit………..


LANDIS