I Have Achieved Exercise Bike!

PT

The past two days I’ve felt a bit under the weather for PT, but today I was feeling much better (odd, since I got my final infusion of the bright purple Vyxeos last night) so a different PT fellow walked me down to the gym (a workout in itself, at the END of the hallway.  Once there, joining another patient with leukemia who was on the treadmill, I was allowed on the bike and did about the equivalent of a round-the-block ride.  Amazing.

That was it for me.  Back to the walker, back to the room.  My goal is to keep my heart rate below 122 while I do this, nice to have goals.  And to do a tiny bit more each day if I’m able.  I’m not going to push myself more than I feel is good.

The attitude toward PT here is much more realistic and nicer than at St. John’s.  There I felt that from the moment the PT’s walked into my room I was a disappointment, never walking far enough, etc.  It was sort of one-size-fits-all, or it felt that way, but this feels a bit more tailored to me.  And we all know that something tailored is much more flattering!

KNITTING

More knitting today, and I have to write up my Sellers Disclosure for my house.  I’m so happy that it’s moving apace, and SO grateful to Cami, Ken, Andy and Natasha for working together to get the final few things done at the house so it can go on the market.  You will never realize the burden you’ve taken off of my mind!

UPDATES

One of the really nice things about U of M Med Center is the update they give me every few days of my condition.  It’s so helpful to see how my caregivers are viewing me, and I see hints in there as to what they’re hoping to accomplish in the near and far future.

I think I’ve noticed where they’re discussing a bone barrow transplant in late March, but it’s in med-speak so I have to discuss it with someone who knows.  Having a date assigned seems odd and scary, I remember how long the lead up to Gerry’s was (we were preparing at the Mayo from June to Sept, when he got the actual transplant on Sept 1)

VISITS

Today my Max comes home for a visit, and I get to see my Andy for the first time in several days!  Andy and Evan have been at ‘Camp Chain-Saw’, where they’ve been learning the ins and outs of some of the equipment they’ll be using this Summer for their Conservation Corp jobs.  Max is taking the bus down from Morris this evening, it lets him off on the University campus, about 20 min walk from my hospital (convenient!) and will be staying over in the pull out bed I have in my room for just such an emergency (VERY convenient!)

I cannot want to see my kids again, including Evan (not really MY kid, but he has a way of really growing on you!)  I hope Evan is doing well with all of the Americorp stuff.  In a perfect world (where’s that?) it seems as though this may be a very nice ease-into a job situation, something everyone should have experience with, a rite of passage!

I’ve asked Andy to bring a buttload of stuff (a mug, toothpaste and shampoo, different clothes) to make my room seem homier.  As of today I am OFF of the drip, although I’ll keep the PICC line for blood draws, etc.  Since I have more movement, I want to make my room seem a bit homier so I’ve asked for my “pretty quilt and sham” to come in.  I hope it makes everything seem brighter and happier!

MEALS

The food here is great!  Seriously, very good stuff!  Aside from the whole wheat pasta, which tastes like toilet paper roll, everything’s been delicious.  My favorite is the butter crust cod, so good, especially with the hash browns for breakfast!  YUM!

Sometimes, though, even the thought of just ORDERING the food is enough to make my stomach flip, and I am SO grateful to Andy for bringing me the Costco milkshakes that have kept me going during many, many periods this past year.  Good protein, low sugar, decent carbs, and a very good price.  Gerry would be proud.