Veggie Slicer

The past few months have had a strong heart and health focus. Between managing medication and cardiac rehabilitation, this has definitely been the summer of focusing on Scott's health and needs. I have had to reform the way in which I cook, trying to focus on heart healthy foods while still making the kids happy. Needless to say, it has been a difficult balance.  

Many days I feel like a short order cook. The kids have been relatively low maintenance this summer and have not complained, but I still feel guilty about being tethered home instead of pursuing adventures. Because of my guilt, I'm compensating in the kitchen. We've developed a habit of my cooking separate meals for everybody in an attempt to make them happy. Unfortunately, it is running me ragged in the process.

In an attempt to simplify the seemingly endless cutting and chopping of veggies, we purchased a food slicer.  Excited to try it out, I called the kids into the kitchen to show them my new 'toy' and to talk to them about the need to ALWAYS use the food guard when slicing. Demonstrating with a tomato, I began to tell them how you should never slice a food without the guard because...

OUCH! Yep. I cut the tip of my thumb off while showing the kids.  The bleeding was significant and the bandage required for my thumb kept me from typing for nearly a week.  Hence the lack of blogs.

Needless to say, I don't think anybody will be using the new veggie slicer again anytime soon. 

Timmy's Great Adventure

 I know I promised to write today about my cousin Bobby. Although as I sat down to write this morning I find my eyes flooded with tears. Alas. I think I need to wait to share until my heart is a little less tender.  Instead, today I will share how Timmy spent his 4th of July. While ours was deliberately non-eventful, Timmy managed to cram in enough adventures for all of us.

On Wednesday, when I was feeling ill from the throws of Covid, grief, fear, exhaustion and anxiety, I broke down crying to my Mom. Timmy was bored and there wasn't anything I could do. Everybody else was having wonderful holiday adventures and we were stuck inside because I was too sick to do anything fun with him. I felt overwhelmed and I felt like I was failing as a Mom.

About an hour after venting I received a call. My Mom and my sister got together and came up with a plan. My Mom, who had arranged to go to a hotel on the 4th in anticipation of the Memorial Service, cancelled her room and started to set up "Camp Nana."  My sister drove down after work and picked up Timmy for his grand adventure.  I went back to bed, feeling grateful that I have such a wonderful family but still guilty about needing help.

I woke up on the 4th to a video from my Mom. Sheri and Timmy stopped for fireworks on the way home. At the end of her small street she let him hold long sparklers out of the top of the jeep while screaming "Happy Fourth of July." He was delighted, and I knew all was well. 

Early on the 4th my sister and Timmy woke up to a hearty breakfast before hiking the Appalachian Trail. Timmy adores hiking with Sheri and takes the opportunity to talk nonstop. Exhausted but proud, he was delighted to reach their summit for the day.  In the afternoon they went to a food truck rally because hiking the Appalachian Trail works up quite an appetite. They spent the evening at a neighborhood party, playing in the pool and eating a lot of popcicles.

As if the day were not fun enough, at night my nephew arrived (along with his friend) with a truckload of fireworks. Jared had originally planned to shoot off the fireworks at a later time but adjusted his plans because of Timmy. I really appreciate him doing that, and Timmy had a blast.

I may not have provided Timmy with a good holiday, but my family certainly did!

 

Covid for me

 Sigh.

Thank you for sticking with me.  Despite my best intentions, life continues to throw roadblocks into my plan of daily blogging.  Last Wednesday morning I woke up early- extremely ill.  I will spare you the details.  I have not been that ill in years.

Unable to get out of bed without intense vertigo and vomiting, I was miserable. Watching TV made me queasy. Reading and writing was not even on my radar. Thankfully, like Scott's experience with Covid, it was relatively short lived.  After two days of misery, I was out of bed. Fatigued and sore, but functional.

Thursday I remembered my Ampuversary, but I was too sick to care. The math confused me as I attempted to calculate my post-amputation year so I quickly gave up. I'll celebrate next year. 

I spent the 4th of July sleeping and resting. We did not celebrate the holiday this year. Honestly, there just doesn't feel like a lot to celebrate in our country right now. I don't think we deserved a parade and fireworks this year after passing such a detrimental bill targeted towards the disability community.  My heart breaks for the devastation that I fear is ahead.

On Saturday I was well enough to attend my cousin's memorial. I think I will pause this blog here.  He deserves his own post tomorrow.  

Bobby

 Sometimes a message comes through that changes the fabric of a family. Last week I received such a text. My beloved older cousin Bob- Bobby to his family- suffered a heart attack and suddenly died. I really don't have the words to process this loss.

Bobby was among my first heroes. He was raised by my grandparents so we saw him frequently when we were growing up. We were the loud and excited little kids who infringed on a teenagers space, toys and newly released video games. We thought he was the coolest person ever.

I had a chance to travel with Bobby as an adult. It was fun to redefine our relationship as adult cousins. I went to visit Bobby in Phoenix exactly one month before my foot was crushed. He was my last bi-ped adventure, and I will always cherish those memories.

My heart is broken. My mom's heart is shattered. Bobby held a special place in my heart, but he was her first nephew. Her first experience with the unconditional love that only an adult can feel for a child.  There is so much more I could write, but for now the words lay too heavy.

 

Scott has Covid

 This is definitely the season of the unexpected. 

Scott woke up early Wednesday complaining of a headache. After checking his bp and fever, we decided to run a Covid test. Surprise! He has Covid.

His other bouts with Covid have leaned towards the mild. This time, what Scott is experiencing reminds me more of the flu than a mild cold. He has been knocked down with a fever, cough and general malaise. Perhaps the most frustrating is that his completion of the cardio rehab program has been delayed because he must skip sessions while he is sick.

I know that missing a few sessions is not catastrophic, but it is certainly a frustration. I've been diligent about making sure that everything is on schedule and appropriate to set Scott up for the best chance for recovery from the heart attack. Now stupid Covid infected him and messed up my calendar.  (LOL).

The past 48 hours have been about Covid control and containment. The boys have been staying in the game room (primarily), venturing down to visit with me and to obtain more food. Scott has taken over the bedroom because it is so much cooler than the rest of the house.  I get the living room, which is the only area of the house that struggles to remain cool.  At this point I'll gladly accept the added heat over getting infected by Scott.  

Another day in paradise begins....

 

Cheeseburgers!

 

The cooling zones in this house are bizarre but, in my opinion, amazingly awesome. The heat wave has been oppressive with temperatures rising above 100 degrees. While our living room and upstairs bedrooms hovered around 80 degrees, our back bedroom stayed a comfy and cool 70 (with that unit turned off entirely).  I'm so used to melting and being miserable in the summer. Being comfortable in this heatwave has been amazing!

 When it becomes this hot it is difficult to find anything to do with the boys. If I were totally honest, I'd admit that I'm bored as well.  Yesterday, in an attempt to break up the monotony of the heatwave, we surprised the boys with a trip to their favorite restaurant du jour- Red Robin. The quick outing was exactly what we all needed to brighten up an otherwise sweltering day.  

The heat will persist today and through the week. I'm hoping it breaks enough to be able to explore a local splash pad in the evening.  Fingers crossed!

 

Back at It

 This past weekend has been our most normal since Scott's cardiac event. Yesterday he and I packed up and headed to the mall to sell FlexyFriends while Robby and Timmy stayed home and out of the heat. This was the first time we have been selling together since the event, and Scott's first foray back into the public and some physical work. 

For a few hours at the mall, I forgot that we were now a cardiac family. I recognize this as a milestone because I remember how my amputation was omnipresent at the beginning. Eventually I didn't think about it during every moment of the day. Yesterday I experienced the same when I managed to 'forget' about my heart fears. I'm calling this progress!

The heat is oppressive, so we are staying inside (with the exception of Cardiac Rehab). With the heat index in excess of 110 degrees, I know that the chances of my leg staying in place are minimal. The last thing this family needs is for me to slip out of my leg, fall and get hurt. Between the captive sweat and the heat condensing socket, these temperatures make my amputee life miserable.  

Thank goodness for great a/c. Our unit at our previous home was antiquated and definitely destined for retirement. There is no way that that unit will cool our old home in this heat. We would have been at a hotel or my Mom's house if we were still living in Virginia. We weren't sure about the robustness of the unit at our current home, but I am incredibly impressed with the comfort that is being pumped into these walls. With everything else in the world going crazy, at least I can stay cool.