The Lost Week

If you know me, you know that I'm a planner. I write down everything:  "to do" lists, daily and weekly goals, I even commit our meals and menus to paper. I go so far as to mark up my planner with different color inks to signify levels of priority and importance. These pages, ordinarily, appear as a veritable text rainbow, filled to overflowing with scribbled tasks and notes.

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Here's my planner page from last week. Nothing. Zip. These stark pages will bear witness to what's now known (to me) as the lost week. So, what did I do all week? Where was I? I was right here, on the sofa by the fireplace under a quilt with a book! Doesn't that sound cozy? It really wasn't, the stomach bug plagued me for five solid days. So, that's really not all that blog-worthy, really; but what I'm struggling with this week is the fact that it's impossible to make up for lost time. Intellectually, I know that, of course; it's the emotional realization of this fact that cuts deep. My "to do" lists have migrated over to this week, Mr. G reminds me that it's okay to let it go.

 

He's right. I'm reminded of this long-ago poem that I cross stitched and hung in our infant son's nursery. Priorities are dictated by the situation at hand. I suppose that I can/should scrawl RECOVERING across those blank pages, that would satisfy my need for a written record of productivity. I wonder what color ink that would require? I could assign a sickly green, I suppose. 🤢 All kidding aside, I have trouble being side-lined, it's not in my nature. But, what would I say to my own family and friends who needed to give themselves time to heal? I'd strongly encourage that, I'd reassure them that a recovery period was necessary for a full recovery. Why, then, am I so hard on myself, why do I have trouble self-granting that very same grace? I don't know, but I am trying. I'm grateful today for restored health, believe me; I have a whole new respect for how quickly that can turn around! 

I'm healthy again, Mr. G. and I both are,

blessings abound,

life marches on...

and it is Good!

Full Steam Ahead!

At the beginning of December Hannes was diagnosed with a prolapsed disc in his neck; physical activity was curtailed, replaced by daily pain and ant-inflammatory medication.  He was one sad puppy-dog, as were we. That was then, and this is now! Slowly, over the past few weeks, he has been weaned off all medication, his activity level has returned as well as his customary spunk. We began our ritual morning walks in the neighborhood once again, gradually adding in a little more distance every day. He's chomping at the bit for more!

 His collar has been replaced by a soft body harness, the leash

clips to a ring the middle of his back as opposed to his neck.

Here's more evidence that he's feeling better... almost every toy has

been removed from his basket in an attempt to initiate playtime!

"C'mon, Mom... Please... What?...You're tired from walking?

Hey, I thought we were just getting started!!"

Life is Good!

Rest & Recovery Weekend

I would like to thank you for your prayers and well-wishes on behalf of our son during his recent surgery and as he recovers over these next few weeks. He and our expectant DIL, along with Gregory (and Diesel), were our guests this past weekend enabling us to help out with our very active grandson (and Lab) while they got some much needed R&R in our theater room recliners! Gregory put the  puppies "night-night" under a towel... looks like Mom and Dad weren't the only ones enjoying some much needed rest at Nana and PawPaw's!

Life is Good!

Status Update

This was the view from the waiting room chair for most of my day yesterday; I spent the time reading and visiting with/supporting my daughter-in-law. Since the last time I waited out a surgery the hospital has installed a patient status board on the wall.
Much like a status board in the airport that keeps track of flights this one keep track of surgical patients. It was encouraging to be able to watch the progress, albeit slow, from Pre Op to the OR to Post Op. Kyle did well and your prayers on his behalf are most gratefully accepted and deeply appreciated. The surgery was fairly straight forward and, thankfully, there was no additional damage to the ligaments. He and his crutches will be best friends for the next six weeks and then he will progress into a walking boot. He gave me a smile yesterday afternoon before I left him, even though he felt sick as a dog (sorry, Hannes!) from the combined effects of anesthesia, pain medicine and an empty stomach. His sense of humor and wit were no worse for the wear; and when this mother's heart was aching for what he was going through he managed, in his very own signature way, to cheer me with a smile and a quip despite the circumstances.

The very best view: the patient resting at home;
wearing the ultimate status update: his smile.
Hang in there, Kyle; 
Y you!

Life is Good!

The Road To Recovery

The journey is a little longer than I thought it would be, not a day trip at all; but we're getting there, one step at a time. Thanks one and all for your well-wishes. The nasty stomach bug has effectively, methodically, run through the entire family. The weekend's looking promising though; I am reemerging as a stronger and healthier version of my former self, and the destination is in my sights!

Life is Good!