Friday, August 28, 2009

Dip and Sway

Tuesday felt more like a crash than a dip and sway, but I'm trying to stay realistic here. I woke up early in the clutches of the toilet with a low fever. Spent the day at the clinic getting fluids and TLC. Had to make a run to the hospital in the afternoon for a ct scan of my abdomen. Conclusion? no more fresh tomatoes. We followed all instructions for washing and peeling, and oh they tasted soooo good. But my stomach objected.

However the day really took the vinegar out of me. I've been sleeping mostly since then. Finally got on the treadmill for a few minutes this morning. This afternoon I'm just hanging out in my room, catching up on correspondence. And watching television while browsing the internet for useless information.

No infection is a good thing. Not only did I escape the consequences, but presumably the bone mararow is doing some work like it should be. I'm going back to the very careful, everything cooked diet for a while. There is time to get adventurous.

Meanwhile a couple of friends have kids with swine flu! All I had to worry about when I went off to college was the "freshman 15" but these kids are confronted with a nasty variety of the flu. And my doctors are insistent that I see no one who has been exposed to it. Knowingly. They wouldn't give a time span for clearance, nothing. "Just say no" I suppose things will ease up when the vaccine is finally available but that won't be for a while. They have been worried about it since it surfaced last spring.

I have been spending a lot of time thinking about life after isolation and wondering how it will be. Lonely at my house with no dogs. Stay out of the sunshine: sometimes interpreted as stay out, others as don't get burned. And wondering how long before I stop looking over my shoulder or worrying about every cough. I know that even once I am "released" that I will still have frequent visits to the clinic for the first year. I don't know how my re-entry into a regular life is going to go. I promise it's a little intimidating right now....balance or no.

I distract myself with things like "should I remodel and get laundry facilities on the 1st floor? Should I buy a loveseat or a short couch for that room? what's the difference? What about kitchen chairs? (I have none...I gave them to Mark when he graduated thinking about the big furniture shopping spree I would be going on.)

Cathi

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad to here your still home,thats the best place to get better.It,s kind of like a halfway house back to a normal life.All my Doctor work was done this last year in a surgery center,so I didnt have to go to the Hospital. I called it WE BE SURGERY or SURGERIES ARE US,they have them all over town and there building more.I know what LOL means now ,so I guess now I have my blog wings.
Love and Kisses
Nedra

Mags said...

When you dip you always come up and it sounds like you are doing well if you already were on the treadmill this morning! Hang in there and maybe make a list of small accomplishments to get you more acclimated to "normal" life.

Love-
Margaret

gail said...

Dipping is a good thing when you're dancing I hear. :)

You are such a talented interior decorator. Keep sharing your ideas; I'll keep borrowing them. LOL.

I recently had the pleasure of participating in a sing-along where the featured tune was "There's nothing like home grown tomatoes and true love." I'll think of it with a slightly different angle from now on.

Sending you ginormous hugs as always. (oh - get this - my spell check ACCEPTS the word "ginormous." Macs rule! hahaha.

love, gail

Unknown said...

Back to a normal life - makes you wonder what's 'normal' LOL!

I expect simple pleasures will feel extra-ordinary for a while, perhaps for ever. Your experiences have certainly given many of us the opportunity to re-look at what's important.

Lay off the tomatoes and keep up the interior design ideas.
lots of love #2 GOT

wv: Maprefer - all depends whether you're seeing yourself as a mother or a daughter today!

Robbie Stanley said...

Two steps forward, one back - next summer you can gorge on home-grown tomatoes. It must be exciting to have this unique opportunity to spend the next few months thinking of how you want your new-normal life to be. Don't let the planning get stressful - think of the fun and creative stuff you would like to do and surround yourself with, and, although it isn't fun or creative, I vote for moving the washer and dryer to the first floor.

brianmargaret said...

Hello Cathi,
Pleased to know you are planning your new life. It's an inspiration.
Had a wonderful day yesterday with Janet celebrating Mum's birthday with a trip to Chichester Theatre to see "Oklahoma" and a lovely meal in the Restaurant.
Won't be long before you can enjoy an outing like that!
With love from us both, Margaret & Brian XX

Anonymous said...

HEllo Hope all is well. Looking forward to the next posting. Doing a little work at Sarah's tomorrow, Mainly clean up after the tile and granite people get done doing their magic on the master bath. Can't wait to see it.
Love
Diane