People always say, “Chin up!” or “Keep looking up!” when things start going wrong or getting tough. Well, I’m taking it quite literally! My goals have been lofty, mainly because I’m a bit impatient when it comes to health issues and I want things to just happen…like now! While I might be the most patient person in every other aspect of my life, this seems to be one thing I am wrestling to accept… that my body works on its own time, not MY time. So, while trying to wait for my body to do its thing, I’m still pushing forward to hopefully help it along and move a bit quicker. LOL! Every little bit helps, right?

First, I’ve made a huge accomplishment by making it upstairs! I might have gotten up there by scooting up there on my butt one step at a time, but I was so excited to finally make it up there for the first time in 3 months! (Talk about an upper body workout too! Whew!) I have a kitty who never comes downstairs, so I got to have some much-needed cuddle time with him and I loved it! 🙂 My PT has been working with me to get up the stairs with a cane, which makes things a lot easier, but it’s also easier for me to fall, so I am still building my confidence in that exercise. I’m moving up!

Secondly, I was able to make my first trip out of state since the surgery allowing me to see my best friend get married in Philadelphia! I love to travel and have somewhat mastered it due to my work requirements, however traveling with mobility issues was a WHOLE new ballgame! I had to ask for wheelchair assistance to get to my gate, had to work with TSA Cares to have a smoother check-in and a special pat-down at the security gate, had to make special arrangements regarding where I sat on the plane (near the restroom and on the aisle so I don’t have to try and walk down the entire aisle without a cane or walker), arrange for an accessible hotel room with a certain type of shower, etc. It was very cumbersome, but interesting at the same time. There is so much we take for granted when we don’t have to think of this type of thing! I don’t know if I would have been able to do it had my sister not been there with me! She helped with our luggage, the driving, etc. (Shout out – Barbara, you are a rockstar! Thank you so much for all you did to help that weekend!) I don’t know how others do this on their own! Anyway, we made it, I was able to do a ton of walking with my walker (not relying on the wheelchair!) and accomplished another MAJOR goal! Moving up…this time in the air!

Lastly, I was able to get my new leg brace that will keep me from buckling or falling! It’s pretty impressive, not as bulky as I thought it would be (I was even able to hide it under the dress I wore to the wedding!) It’s also given me more confidence to walk with the cane more. I’m hoping to be able to walk with just the brace soon with more practice. I’m still having a few buckle moments, but they are happening less and less and now with this brace, hopefully, I won’t have many/any more! Like I said, I have lofty goals! haha…but at least it’s getting my butt out of the wheelchair and allowing me to be a bit more active!

I’m feeling better every day! We’re still trying to find the mysterious leak/hole in or near my kidney so they are still having me come in for procedures to get THAT taken care of, and there are still blood clots in my “bad” leg that they are trying to treat, but I’m doing ok! I’ve been cleared to finally go out in public now that some of my medication levels have decreased (even though I still haven’t been cleared to drive.) The fluid overload from the hospital/medication has finally started to come off and my legs are looking less elephant-like and more normal. I’ve got a new insulin pump that I’m LOVING that has way better control than my previous one, and I’ve started to make plans to get back my social life and start LIVING again! Soon…job searching.

So, the next time someone tells me to keep looking up, I am. In more ways then one, I am. 🙂

Link to donate:

For Financial – Help Hope Live – https://helphopelive.org/campaign/27559

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Things I’m thankful for today:

1. Good Samaritans – everywhere we go, most people who see me stop to help us out. I truly believe that if you weed out the uglies, there are still a lot of really good people out there who have good intentions and want to help others in need!

2. The Find Me Gluten Free app – I can’t tell you how many times this app has saved me when I’ve been in a non-familiar area, trying to find food that’s safe for me to eat! I was able to find an amazing little sandwich place in PA that had GF Cheesesteak sandwiches!! So, I was able to check that off the list. Also, we were able to find various bakeries, etc. that allowed me to enjoy the local flavors without having to rely only on food bought from Walmart.

3. The “lounge-casual” fashion trend – Truly I feel I started this trend about 6 years ago when COVID hit (hee…), but it seems the nicer version has finally made its appearance in public! I’m loving all the travel sets, the sweater pants with cool baggy sweaters, the comfy shoes… The whole loose and comfy look is totally nailing it right now, and it made my trip so easy to pack for and get around!

4. Cultural differences – This sounds totally cheesy, but I love to see and learn about cultures that are different than mine. When we were in PA, we were surrounded by beautiful Amish country! So, every now and then, we’d see a horse and buggy, or a family riding their bikes on the side of the road wearing their traditional clothing. There were also the small differences in local dialect, diet, lifestyles of the people living in that small town region (for example, I didn’t hear one person from the wedding correctly pronounce the town names on their first try… we all had to be corrected by the locals! LOL!) It made the trip (and all trips) so much more interesting and memorable!