Meals You Can Chew!

So the good news for today is that after around 48 hours of pretty persistent and high fever, I am finally back to fever free and feeling like myself again!  I'm on all sorts of antibiotics to help cover what it might have been, but it's just as likely that it was viral and we really will probably never know.  But it's gone and I'm feeling better so that's great.

Today's new symptom was a raging attack of Acid Reflux.  I've had reflux for most of my adult life and been on various and sundry medications for it over the years (and you can always count on me to have a tums in my purse).  But I was on a pretty big health kick the last year.  Many of you have noticed that I lost over 42 pounds between my 41st and my 42nd birthday.  That was weight loss the hard way - through intentional diet and exercise and lifestyle changes (and some help from Noom!)  The weight loss had nothing to do with leukemia (in case you were wondering if that was why I was getting skinnier, nope! I get all the credit for that hard work still!), but it did resolve my reflux almost completely.  So I had not been taking any reflux meds when I was admitted.  

I don't know why it didn't click for me sooner that many of the uncomfortable symptoms I was experiencing (dry hacky cough, chest pain, great difficulty swallowing any solid foods at all, metallic taste in my mouth, etc.) were all Reflux Related.    But my very favorite resident Dr. Kalada helped me put that together this morning and we are adding in a couple of good reflux meds.  So I'm already experiencing some relief from that and looking forward to some meals I can chew in the future!

Five Good Things!

1.  I had enough strength today to finally open up the big stack of cards that had accumulated.  And I mean it when I say "BIG STACK OF CARDS."  How one person could be the recipient of this much love blows my mind.  And there's already another whole stack to match this one!

2. My girls continue to have a great time at the beach.  Even though I miss them terribly and they miss me, we have the ability to video chat and text with each other and the pictures of them in their happy place make me happy.  I hope their spirits are having some healing.  Here they are on Friday with my Uncle Buddy (mom's brother) and Aunt Katharine and Sweet Mama.

3. That weight loss I mentioned above.  I'm pretty proud of it.  I am coming into this battle in the best shape I've been in since having kids.  Here's a side by side from my 41st vs 42nd birthdays.  

This whole thing is gonna wreck my body in a lot of ways, I know.  But I hope this is a reminder for myself that I can do the hard work, have the discipline, to reach the goals I set my mind to.  I've done it the past year and I'll do it again!

4. A Shower (no picture; you're welcome).  It's a whole big production to shower here, but it's always worth it.  I had an extra long one today and it felt so good.

5. Chick Fil A milkshake delivery from my evening guest.  (Once the girls are back in town it will be harder for Robert to visit during the dinner/bedtime hour, but we've really enjoyed the chance to just chill out together and connect in the evenings the last few days.  He's my biggest cheerleader and keeps repeating over and over and over again "What my baby wants, my baby gets."  He's really giving that 110% to pick up all the extra details that I usually manage while still loving me so well.  We do well together most of the time (good thing, since we're married), but we kinda excel during a crisis.  I'm thankful for him.

And I'm grateful for all of you who urge to me carry on!  Thanks be to God.

~ Chrissy