It has almost been a month since Katie was discharged from the hospital. Knock on wood, she is in a much better place than she has been in the last few months. We have made more medication adjustments but very slowly to decrease side effects. She is eating more and sleeping better. Her balance has improved as well.
We had a follow up last week with Neurosurgery. We haven’t been followed by them since she had her VNS implanted. With the worries about changes in the brain and CT scans from her last hospital stay, we wanted to be sure all was well and no further testing would be needed. The appointment went well and he recommended she have another quick CT scan while we were already at Duke. He wanted a scan done while she was doing well to compare to the scans done in the hospital. Thank God! Thank you all for the prayers, cards, emails and meals. We really appreciate it.
We have one more appointment at the end of the month. This will be a follow-up with the GI/Liver doctor. I am certain they will get labs done to see how the liver enzymes are behaving. I’m sure the other main reason for the appointment is to check on her reflux issues and see if she has put on some weight in the past month.
Katie has been back in school full time since mid February. The restrictions have lightened a bit to allow some in-person learning for all grades. We will see if it sticks. Roy Cooper may decide to throw another curve ball. Last week Nathan got to go Thursday and Friday. For now, the plan for the remainder of the school year is to learn virtually M-W and attend class Thursdays and Fridays. If you ask him about it he will tell you in his words “this is exhausting”. I can’t say I blame him. Getting up at 5am to shower and put on real clothes to go sit in a classroom for hours does sound pretty exhausting. Especially after waking 15 minutes before class to log on to a virtual session. The commute is 20 feet from your bedroom, the snacks are endless and you get to use your very own private bathroom. Such is life. Pre, during and post pandemic – he can say he has experienced it all and he gives in-person learning 1 star.
Many have inquired how I’m doing. I am great actually. I am glad Katie seems to be heading in the right direction and restrictions are lightening up. I have been trying to get to the gym as much as I can. Virtual learning and doctor appointments have not been very conducive to getting back in shape. I am just happy my tiny gym is open. They are only open in the mornings and the class sizes are limited but its great just to have the option of going when I can. It is usually the same 5 or 6 of us that are consistent these days.
One young mom in our small crew is there every day for at least 2 hours. I call her Gym Barbie. Gym Barbie is golden blonde and very perky. She comes with matching workout clothes and glittery bag. In her bag you will find a Premier Chocolate Protein carton, earbuds, workout gloves, towel and gallon-sized turquoise water bottle with matching turquoise straw (very environmentally friendly). Other accessories included but are sold separately: white Land Rover, treadmill, free weights and more matchy match yoga/workout clothes and shoes. She’s adorable and very fit.
Then there is me. I definitely do not have my own Barbie inspiration. If fact I barely remember how to behave in social situations. I usually shlep my way in from the parking lot fumbling with my keys, water bottle and bag. My hair is in a curly knot on top of my head. My clothes do not match. My shoes do not match my workout clothes. My sweat towel does not match my clothes or shoes. My gym bag does not match my shoes, towel or workout clothes. I hop on the exact same treadmill each and every workout. To keep myself motivated I treated myself to wireless earbuds so I can watch TV on my phone while I’m on the treadmill. I would never make it through cardio otherwise.
My show of choice for these hour long cardio sessions has been Impractical Jokers. Yes, I know that makes me very mature. If you aren’t familiar, the premise of the show is 4 guys that grew up together film each other doing ridiculous pranks. They take turns for instance working at a fast food drive-thru or the reception desk of a doctor’s office with an earpiece and have to say what the others tell them to say. If you can’t say or do what they tell you, you lose. If you lose you are punished with doing something even more outrageous. I know it sounds dumb. It is dumb. I have the maturity of a teenage boy. But in the name of working out – whatever gets the job done is what gets the job done.
The only problem I have encountered in my routine is that I forget where I am some days. A few weeks ago, I was really feeling strong and pushing myself. I was definitely in the ZONE working out and watching my show. I was feeling good. Next thing I know there was a scene that got me so tickled that I cackle laughed, snorted, peed a little and then almost went flying the back of the treadmill. Good news it I managed to keep my balance and because I’m such a hot mess anyway no one even seemed to notice or care. Yay me!
That’s all I got this time, friends. Stay tuned. Anything can happen tomorrow. The possibilities are endless. Stay well.
A Laughing Matter 