Goodnight

As I'm getting ready for bed tonight, I can't help the tears.  I'm not sad, I'm just so overcome with emotion.  Three years ago tonight, Steve had to put me to bed.  He did he same thing every night: helped me into my pj's, walked me to the bed, helped me roll onto my side (and get comfortable) and then covered me with the sheet and blankets.  Little did I know that he would never need to help me with that task again.  My life changed on that Good Friday three years ago and I wouldn't come to believe it myself until I stood independently on Easter Morning.  I can never give enough thanks to my husband for taking care of me  and the good Lord for healing me.

A Cooking Fool

I can't believe that tonight I cooked for nearly two hours!  I made a yummy Chinese dinner of Cashew Chicken, Fried Rice and White Rice.  It was so nice to be able to dice the onions and garlic and stand over the hot stove as I cooked my family dinner.  Before my diagnosis, it took everything I had to open a can of soup or prepare Kraft Mac'n Cheese.  In my first year of diagnosis, I realized that I could bake cupcakes and make a frozen pizza.  It brings tears to my eyes as to how far I have come in my cooking abilities.  Plus, tonight's dinner was really delicious.

I must add that this has been quite the learning experience for me as well.  Prior to my diagnosis, Steve did ALL of the grocery shopping.  When I began to grocery shop, there were things on my list that I didn't know what they were much less where it would be in the store.  Thank goodness for Google!!!!

In the past three years, I have learned how to manage my cooking time and can now cook more than one dish at a time.  I've become quicker at dicing veggies and no longer over cook the meat.  I feel so fortunate to have the physical capabilities to make more than a boxed dinner for my family.  The meals I make now days really are made with love because I'm not frustrated with physical challenges that had slowed me down for years.  My life will never be the same and I am proud at how far I have come in the past three years.  I look forward to seeing what else I will serve my family and friends.  I truly believe that anything is possible!!

3 Years

It's hard to believe that this Friday will be the third anniversary of my new diagnosis and my new life.  Three years isn't a long time when your 36 years old, but at the same time it feels like a lifetime ago that I wasn't able to do so many things.  When I look back at my previous life, it's hard to believe that I was the one who went through so many challenges each and every day.  At times, I actually feel like that was an another person or an old friend who moved away for a chance at a better life.  The fact is, that was me and still is me.  When I tell stories about the past, I have to stop and make sure I tell the stories in first person, because often times I feel like I should use the word "she."  This isn't something I expect you to understand and you may even think I'm a little wacky and that's okay.  I have an amazing life with a caring husband and 3 wonderful children that I never dreamed I could have.  I am so blessed and am sure to thank God for all the gifts He has given me.  Often times I find myself asking if I'm living a dream and if I am, I pray that I don't ever wake up from it!

I have quite a few friends that never knew the "old" me, so I thought for my anniversary I would post two videos (before and after).  

Before:  I couldn't walk my girls to the bus stop

After:  After walking all day at Disney's Magic Kingdom I was able to walk on this bridge which is barrels over the water.  As a child I had to be carried over this bridge because I phsyically could not cross it.  

First Trip to the ER

After last weeks run to the ER with John (he swallowed a dime), I am desperately trying to catch up on my sleep.  Wednesday night, John and I stayed at the Children's Hospital in St. Paul.  I think I got 2 hours of sleep as I anticipated his upcoming non invasive surgery   With DRD, it is critical that I get a minimum of 8 hours of good sleep at night and then a nap in the afternoons.  With the lack of sleep, I had to take extra medication, so I could stand and walk on my own.  I managed and thanked God for my new medication.  The old me would not have been able to stay at the hospital with John and would have been completely immobile after two hours of sleep. The old me would have had to go home and sleep in my own bed.   I felt so blessed that I could be with my baby the whole time!  So, now I'm just trying to catch up.  My legs have been cramping at night, so I'm back to stretching them.   Plus, I've been going to bed at 9pm and sleeping until 7:30-8am.  I know that with lots of rest, I will be back to the "new" me soon!  The most important thing is that John is okay.

The overnight nurse walked John around in the wagon so I could try to sleep.