Well, 2011 has gotten off to a good start. I am feeling well, and am trying to get back into blogging. I am doing good and enjoying my daily life. I did have some pretty strange head trips to deal with last year. I guess there were alot of things that were floating around in my head, and they just decided to stick around for a while. Issues that needed to be dealt with, like when you have a zit that needs to be popped. Well I am thankful that the "zit" has popped, the issues are gone, and I am prepared to deal with any more "zits" that may come my way. I don't want to come across as not being able to handle things, but when you go through a life changing illness and then a major organ transplant, things are different. I have learned to enjoy dealing with things that come my way. I am able to look at life in totally different way. I have learned to not stress over things I have no control over, to not be hesitant talk to someone if I need to, and not to be afraid to share my life experiences with others.
I feel that I am beginning to get back to normal, and that feels good. I am very thankful that I can enjoy things in life that I have taken for granted in the past, just simple things like sitting on the front porch with my coffee, listening to the birds, and just living. I don't feel like there is a rush anymore.
One other thing I have been really trying to do daily is exercise. I can usually get up in the morning and get my exercising done. When I think back to my first release from the hospital in 2007, I had lost almost 95 pounds. I am not going to say how much of it I have gained back, but I will say that I feel healthy. (I did break a kitchen chair two days ago when I sat down in it).
After our trip to Ohio, I have realize a few things. One, I wouldn't be this healthy if it were not for my wife. She says she nags me, but I tell her it is a good nag. Two, for a while I didn't think I would be around to see my daughter grow into being a woman. She has more than amazed me, and I am proud of her. The third thing I have realized is that family can be more than "blood family". We have some pretty amazing friends both in Ohio and here in Arizona who are Family. Monica and I love you all.
We were looking at some pictures and Monica found one of the roto prone bed that I had to be in for a week or so back at Scottsdale Health Care. Although it is not me in the bed, it will give you some idea of what the bed looked like, so I am going to try to upload it.. There is actually a funny story about that bed. I guess when I was in that bed, I was hooked into it with these cushioned arms, then I was turned to the prone position, facing the floor. I just had my trach and was bleeding from the incision so I couldn't be placed prone at first, at least that is what the night shift nurse told Monica. When she came in the next morning, all she could see was the flat part of the bed, no sheets, blankets, or even me. She was a bit afraid to ask what happened to me. The nurse, tried her best to not laugh, but said that I was able to face the floor, that I had stopped bleeding. Monica was very relieved to hear that, and not that something had happened to me. By the way, I think from what I understand, being in this particular bed is what helped my lungs.
So, Hopefully as the year progresses, I will keep up with the writing. It seems like we can not say Thank you enough to our family, friends, medical staff, my donor and their family, and mostly to God and His plan. Thank you for for giving me another chance!
