Week 8: 2/19/2018 - 2/25/2018

Took me a while to publish week 7 and now here I am at the end of the work week of week 8!  I am proud to say I worked full days all week!  Huzza!

Slowly feeling better, this bronchitis stuff really sucks.  S0 bad I'd not wish it on even the evilest of ex-boyfriends, except maybe one.  He was pretty awful...

Sorry for all the narcissistic pictures, I needed to remember what I can do, or at least could do in my 40s!

Monday (3.1) ran the loop to Eastern Point and back and didn't die, I'll call that a win!  I coughed a bit for the rest of the day, feh, these are the times I should remember to use my inhaler.

Tuesday (15 spin + core)  since it was a spin day, I spun, and it felt good.  I was tired after, it felt so good to pour sweat.  Coughing yet again.

Ok so this isn't a great accomplishment at 6 months, but I think its pretty darn cute for a chubby bald baby!

Wednesday (5.8)  hills with Ro, she is back from CO for a couple weeks.  I wasn't sure I'd make the whole loop, the world was doing its Matrix Jump and sometimes that clears up after a mile and sometimes it doesn't.  I think its partial nerves, this would be the longest I've been on my feet in, well I really don't know how long, maybe December, and maybe a bit of dehydration, I haven't been so good about keeping myself hydrated.  As we walked we got in our grove, albeit a minute a mile slower than usual, which is fine, this is our version of "girl time" and we both needed it...  no coughing!

Thursday (15 spin + core) Ro was teaching the class so I was looking forward to that, knowing she'd tell different stories than we had discussed for the 90 minutes we power walked.   I was so not feeling it, I wanted to curl up and go to sleep.  I mostly phoned in the class and the short weight session really didn't work with whatever I've done to my shoulder, shit. I cranked the heat on the way home and popped a few acetaminophen because of my shoulder.   About 8:30 p.m. I realized I never took my morning Plaquenil.  I know the medication takes a long time (months) to build up in my system to be effective so possibly missing a dose didn't cause the backslide to the aches and fever and tired feeling, but maybe?  

Friday (0) a sort of planned zero considering how shitty I felt on Thursday.  Considering the crappy weather forecast and my now super painful shoulder I should have done something...  the shoulder feels like it did when I separated it January '17 when I fell off my mountain bike going down a hill too slowly.  I guess 2018 is the year of perpetual injury?  Clearly, my warranty ran out when I hit 50.  Maybe when I hit 51 it will all get righted?  HA! HA.  Seriously how is it possible I am THAT old? I remember getting my mother a t-shirt for either her 50th that said I am 18 with 32 years of experience or something like that. 

Saturday (15 road bike) The sun and balmy 52F was due to last till 1 p.m. I had errands and wanted to get in a road ride.  A trail ride would be bad for my shoulder, not that a road ride was going to help, but....  since the tire and tube are holding up in Ruby as she sat in the bike room, I figured I'd brave it and take a short ride and hope I had  no flats, mostly worried about getting the tire back on the rim.  I had a hell of a struggle getting the new tire on the rim when I changed it all out last month.  After I got a few miles from home and all was OK I decided I'd brave it and go out to Watch Hill.  It was a casual ride for me, I wasn't feeling great, I was happy to be on two wheels and with new bib shorts!   The rest of the day was physical hell between my shoulder, coughing, chills, and feeling like my body was a blast furnace - would someone please euthanize me?  Because really this has got to end.

Sunday (0)  Considering I felt like death on Saturday afternoon and Sunday was going to rain all day, I figured today would be a zero.  I hung out with the dogs and did some housewifery.  I woke up with no shoulder pain and had the complete range of motion and felt completely normal.  What The Actual Fuck is going on with me?  

Gus:  Monday we considered putting him down, he wasn't able to control his legs walking, and his anxiety level was through the roof.  After discussion, we decided to take him off the muscle relaxer, in hopes he would regain some control of his legs.   By Monday night he was moving around much better, still a stumbling awkward gait, however, he regained quite a bit of control over his movements.  We also decided to leave the crate door open. This resulted in reducing his anxiety as the week progressed.  I got him some rubber backed rugs so he could walk with a bit more certainty on the wood floors. He is pain-free, calm, happy, and walking is a semi-coordinated stumble.   Saturday it seemed like Sunday would be the day, he had a rough day with coordination and no appetite.  Sunday he woke up happy as a clam and hungry, oh so hungry.  This is the not so fun part.  To get through it we talk about the fun parts and look at the videos and pictures to remember the fun parts.

It is short but so funny!  BAM!

Knitting:  

I finished Dave's socks and a brown baby sweater needs buttons and to be sewn together.  Started a pair of socks for myself.  Sheila - with the Hatteras yarn, if you remember I started socks with while we were in Hatteras in 2016 and they were all wonky, eventually, I figured out why, because I had two different sized needles ---- oooops....  I'll be texting for your foot measurements!

Reading:

The House of Morgan by Ron Chernow
Started

I know a little about the House of Morgan, it is interesting.  As with everything in life, follow the money.  It all boils down to money and who is in control. Clearly, the House of Morgan has been in control of the US economy for a long time, while regulation has taken away some of their control, still if you are a business lucky enough to be a client of Morgan you are lucky.

Mileage:

Feet: 9
Saddle:  45

Sincerely,
Beth, wondering when she became the 'if it wasn't for misfortune she'd have no fortune at all' woman, it's really not a role I want to play.

Week 7: 2/12/2018 – 2/18/2018 --- the last week of sickness??!!??

Monday (0)  Late start to the day due to an eye doctor appointment, early end to the day due to exhaustion, I feel like hell.   Cold medicine induced sleep isn't really sleeping, Jax is enjoying having me awake at various times to scratch him while I hope it relaxes me enough to fall asleep.

Tuesday (0)  Maybe I feel better?  Maybe I don’t?  I don’t want to make any predictions.  I do want to tell off the neighbor with the loud muffler.  The one who starts his truck in the wee hours of the morning and lets it run for 30 minutes.  

Wednesday (0) I feel like hell, maybe this is the worst of it?  Dave said I looked like death, he only ever comments on my appearance if it is really bad or really good.  It’s an acknowledgment I’m sick?  Maybe I’ll leave rude neighbor a note?

Thursday (Spin 15)  Spin! Felt really good to get some exercise. 3:30 a.m. who the f needs to idle at 3:30 a.m. for 30 fing minutes?   The first full day I’ve worked for a while.  

Friday (0) I decided on earplugs, I’m not going to handle this gracefully, no matter how hard I try.  Another epic day, no exercise, errands thwarted by stupid traffic, the best thing was finding a new to me beer.

Saturday (0) Hung out with the dogs, ran the Friday errands, and knitted.

Sunday (0)  Shoveled snow, hung out with the dogs, knitted, and felt a bit more human.

Knitting:

Almost finished Dave’s socks!

Reading:

The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman
Finished

Such a cute story, a little creepy in places very fun!  Glad I have more of his stories on my hold list at the library.


Gus:

This is a rollercoaster ride.  He deteriorated dramatically over the weekend.  Sunday night we talked about how he was declining, his mobility was even poorer.  Thinking about what he is on and what is going on, did he need to go back on another course of doxy, was the Anaplasmosis not gone?  Then what about the methocarbamol, muscle relaxer?  We decided to reduce these, and after he looked like we were going to have to call it Monday morning we decided to stop altogether and see what happened.  At this point, we are grasping at straws.  Hours after we skipped what would have been his 3 p.m. dose, he started walking much better!  This surprised both of us, probably ALL of us.  He was struggling to get up off his bed at 6 p.m. and by 9 p.m. he was up easily and while still not walking steadily he was walking better than he had been in days!  It did not appear he was in pain, so maybe we were right to do what we did.  A conversation with his Vet confirmed we were doing the right things.  He may never fully heal without surgery, not an option with his age and heart condition, however, we can’t do nothing and neither of us is ready to let him go, selflish? Perhaps, but I really don’t think he is ready to go.   Diesel and Gizmo were ready for the end, I think they know when they are done and do their best to let us know.  Sage was a shock and a hard call but we couldn't put our girl through chemo at 10.  She spent the weekend giving all the boyz hell and that was a good send off for her, knowing she systematically bested each one of them.  Grouchy old bitch dogs are the best!  They were lost for years not being ruled by her iron paw.  

So another week down, it’s been a long nearly two months, maybe there is some light at the end of the tunnel.  What can we learn from this?  1) Ticks suck, and while you can cure the infection, falling down the stairs because of the neurological impacts from the infection is a serious consequence.  2)  Take notes, daily, on how the patient is honestly doing.  I think I can recreate a bit of this through my blog post, but those don’t have the nitty-gritty details. 3) We already knew this, however, it is worth mentioning:  Be a team with your vet for health issues – Dave was really good with Diesel’s oncologist, and it also helped his oncologist was uber interested in the case because it was highly unusual to have such a successful treatment for cancer in Boxers.  

This is Diesel's story, from a clinical perspective, the oncologists perspective, the surgeons perspective,  at Ocean State Veterinary Hospital in East Greenwich, RI.  He was included in a book of their success stories. 

Mileage:

Feet 0
Saddle 15

This week was focused on me getting healthy again.  

Sincerely,
Beth, hoping she finally catches a break!

Week 6: 2/5/2018 - 2/11/2018

Wonder how long I'll be able to keep track the week number?  Thinking that wasn't such a great idea...

Monday (Run 3.1 + core) A nice sunny day, over 30 but the wind was the problem!  I went to make the loop around Eastern Point and was having no luck fighting it and moving forward I turned around and made up the lost 0.4 miles elsewhere.  

One of my favorite pictures of Diesel, the wind was so strong his ears were standing up!

Tuesday (Spin 15 + core) Spin was good, I opted to purchase a Wahoo cadence sensor that will track cadence with the sensor in my shoe.  It worked!  The purpose was to use it on the spin bike with the CTS training videos on Strava, they give a target cadence and tension.  I like to have something to aim for.  I didn't watch the cadence during class, I let the app run and see what I saw at the end.  

Data is always interesting.  Will I do anything with it? 

Wednesday (Run 3.1 + core) It was icy out, no wind, which was the nice part.  The smart people stayed inside.

A bit of hip drop, he keeps his sense of humor and is so good about being in the crate.

Thursday (Training video 63 minutes, at least 15 miles)  WTAC Board meeting, so no evening spin class.  The cadence sensor definitely worked to keep me on task with cadence.  I may need to adjust my cadence goals versus tension goals.  Otherwise, I'm, ha ha, spinning my wheels and won't make progress! HA HA!

A really crappy picture, but I think it is really sweet how Jax keeps an eye on his big brother.
Usually one of the footstools is there and Jax will sleep on that to keep a good look out!

Friday (0) A trip to the walk-in clinic, and a viral bronchitis diagnosis and some freaking awesome cough pills Tessalon Perles, the cough bugging me for the last three weeks nearly gone and I could sleep.  Excellent!  I was just glad it wasn't pneumonia, sometimes I overreact.    

A surprise when I got home from work!
Sweetheart Hoya (Hoya Kerrii) plant.
What a nice surprise from Monica, Mike, and Murphy!
The box says "Heart of Gold"

Saturday (Walk 3.5)  Took me for a walk out on Napatree to get some fresh air and some exercise.  It was cloudy with a low wind, spring-like!  Missed the Old Mountain Field 5K, it was a mud fest, I'm so bummed to miss it. 

Watch Hill Lighthouse in the distance.

Sunday (0) It rained all day and that is my story.  I got a lot of housewifery and knitting done, for those who know what it means I turned the heel on the socks for Dave (AKA The Imaginary Husband).  Jax also convinced me to play The Dumb Game more than I liked...  He's too cute to ignore.

I have no idea if this will make sense.
What you are looking at is the foot of the sock with the heel at the left of the picture.
There are two circular needles, one for the 'front' stitches and one for the 'back' stitches
Turning the heel is making the heel, well a pocket to put the heel in!
It really is a fun process. Kinda like magic.

Mileage:
Feet:  9.7
Saddle:  30

Knitting:

Nearly finished the brown baby sweater and got the bug to start socks again!  I got one started, toe up and put that on some holders to get the second one started and would be able to work both at once.  The process of getting two socks started at one time is a level of frustration I wasn't ready to deal with and probably part of the reason I've been sock gun shy.  Well, that and working a pair that wasn't knitting up correctly because I had two different sized needles!!!

I had to re-teach myself the cast on and the formulas I used.  I didn't make really great notes for the last pairs of socks I made Dave, I regret that now.  Fortunately, he has several pairs still in great shape so I could get some measurements and stitch counts!

And my knitting student and I got together during the week to catch up with what she has been up to since retirement and work on our projects, she is about 3/4 of the way through the last part of the project, the sleeves.  She is fearing the sweater will be too small like mine ended up being.  It is such a pretty sweater.  

Gus:

He is stable, ending week two of 24x7 crate rest.  He has his moment of high anxiety however he isn't in pain, so that is a plus.  He walks more like someone who had a three-martini lunch rather than someone who has been drinking since breakfast, I guess that is progress?  I think all of us have figured out how to communicate and week #3 will be a bit easier?  Jax came running through the front room tossing toys everywhere and Dave and I looked at Gus, and he had this look of utter relief to not have to deal with Jax's nonsense.  Clearly, he inherited our warped senses of humor?  He eats like a hungry hippo and that is awesome considering his only exercise is getting out of the house and walking around to relieve himself.  

Books:

"Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman
In progress

Captivating and disturbing.  Eleanor had a horrible childhood and it is slowly unfolding as the book progresses. 

Sincerely,
Beth, coughing so much she should count it as a core workout!

Week 5: 1/29/2018 - 2/4/2018

Monday:  (1 Walk) Not a great day.  Jax humored me and we went for a mile walk, mostly with the purpose of depositing some Gus poop into the First National Poop and Trust.   We were successful and Jax enjoyed stopping to smell everything and make his own deposit.  It was snowing and really rather nice with the headlamp making the snow look more like glitter.  Jax is not big on leash walks; he’d rather hike in the woods or chase the mountain bike.  I think it’s the control thing; he really doesn’t like it when someone else is in control or tells him what to do.  Gus pretty much goes along with whatever; Diesel was like that too, everything was a fun adventure for him.  The others, not so much, skeptical about what that command REALLY meant and they would unwillingly follow direction.

Runners Love Their Beer @ Mt Washington 2017

Tuesday:  (15 Spin + Core) A little better of a day.  Dinner out with the in-laws was on the schedule for the evening.  We met them at the casino so it was smokey and I coughed the whole time.  There is something going on, probably a cold or asthma and the smoke wasn’t helping.  Even my rescue inhaler wasn’t subduing the coughs.  It happens. 

My Mom grows some beautiful Bougainvillea, this was early in the season.

Wednesday: (15 Spin) My cough is close to nonexistent but I didn’t want to tempt fate and run in the cold so I took the spin class.  If I’m going to use a piece of exercise equipment the bike is my preference.  As I told Eric while he was on the bike nursing his not quite healed yet foot, “Bikers have better legs.”  He said, “For sure they have better calves.”

I think I can say this worked!  Or my lack of running is contributing to my lack of knee pain.

 Thursday:  (15 Spin + Core)  I contemplated running.  Next week I can get back at that, let my lungs get back to some semblance of normal. 

That's a big rock! - Gus

Friday: (0) Really not feeling much of anything.  At this point, I can't quite remember why.  #1 Smart Guy announced he is retiring on 3/31.  That was kind of depressing, but he's got 35+ years and is 58 this year and his wife is a breast cancer survivor and he has a pup with one eye.  I think the guys been put through is paces and deserves to be on his own schedule!  This leaves me with Jackass, Dr. Done, Garbear, and Howie...  I will truly miss his level-headedness.  He was a fair boss for the short while I worked for him and someone I truly enjoyed working with. 

Play with me! - Jax

Saturday: (8 Mountain bike) Dave was off with the guys to go to Big River and that meant I needed to sneak out to avoid the patient getting agitated.  I was not successful...  I had a good ride along icy carriage roads in Barn Island.  I wasn't up for much, a little concerned with whatever is going on in my lungs.  I'm chalking it up to a Lupus thing and moving forward.  The ride didn't result in hours of coughing so I'll call it good.  Seems like the coughing sessions happen when I don't exercise - Friday was a bad one. 

Pretty much

Sunday: (4 Run) I could take a deep breath with no pain or coughing.  Off I went on a run.  I wasn't sure how far, but 4 was probably the limit.  So nice to start running on the downhill versus uphill.  I saw quite a few other runners, walkers, and a couple bikers.  All in all a good run and I felt good, and no pain. 

Snoozing in the sun!

Mileage:

Another not so great week if I were a real athlete, for a rank amateur trying to hold it together with bubble gum and binder twine I'm winning!

Feet: 5 Week /  47 YTD  
Saddle: 53 Week / 157 YTD

Gus:  I'll give him his own section, so you can skip it or read it!

Gus has a slipped disc or discs.  With his heart condition putting him under to get a complete diagnosis is not possible.  He is on 24x7 crate rest for 4 - 6 weeks, and it is showing results!  He was walking much better and has an occasional whappa whappa (head shake)! He certainly is ticked off being in the crate all. the. time.   I would be too at his age. I don’t think dogs get consequences, that the fact he feels better is because he is in the crate so he can work his way to forgiving us.  Instead, we get the stink eye.  At least he is not destructive and tearing apart his new fancy orthopedic bed!  This will continue minimally for 3 more weeks, likely 5 more weeks.  We can re-assess at 3 weeks and see how he is moving.  Maybe give him some non-crate snuggle time.  Far cry from Monday where we were considering we may need to put him down.

Pets are an emotional roller coaster.  They try their best to communicate with us and we with them.  For now, he seems content enough, not at all happy about being confined.  However, we are lucky he trusts us.  

Knitting:

Finished the Lilac sweater, started a brown and will trim it with a deep rose to break up the montony of brown, plus I have a few more Beatrix Potter buttons!

I was having a stress fest over my closet of yarn, it was actually stressing me out.  I collected so much pretty yarn and did not identify a project for it and finally, it got the best of me.  I took an undisclosable amount of yarn to a local yarn shop.  The owner has a relocation plan for this yarn and it will be made into scarves, hats, and mittens for SE CT homeless population.  

Books:

"Coraline" by Neil Gaiman

A cute short juvenile story, perfect for escaping the realities of being an adult.

"Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman
Started

This one is slowly unfolding with Eleanor's past and how it impacts her present.  Seems like she has had some very horrible experiences in her short life and does her best to compartmentalize them.

Summary:

It was a week, a week in the normal life of a work a day dog mom trying to hold it together and not stress out a geriatric injured pup or her ill parents with too much drama.

Sincerely, 
Beth, honestly wondering why people take and post pictures of food.  It always looks so unappetizing to me...  maybe it is just me, but it keeps me from snacking!