Busy Day

Well, today was a busy day in a way. I started a mind and body class at the senior center, It is basic exercises like the warm up at Rehab. At the end of the class, we practice breathing the correct way. Believe it or not, I am the youngest person in the class. I have realized two things, I am still way out of shape and that I am known at the center as "the guy with the pillow". For those of you who don't know, I have a very special Butt. After the class, I drank a cup of coffee and just sat and talked with some of the people there. I started to feel guilty that I was enjoying myself, like I have a life again. Monica works all day, and here I was, having "fun". She reassured me that I shouldn't feel guilty, that this is all part of my recovery. So I am ok with that now. The next thing I did was to go pick up my wedding ring. It had to be resized since I have lost so much weight. It feels good to be wearing it again. My next stop was to drop in to see Monica at work. To be able to go in there without the wheelchair was a great feeling. I only stayed for a few minutes because my next stop was back to the senior center to see what this WII fit bowling is all about. I was late, so I didn't get to experience it. They are trying to get a WII bowling tournment going. I have always loved to bowl, so this just might be a good start since I can't really hold a heavy bowling ball yet. So since I missed that, I decided to drive to Mesa ,where my daughter works and surprise her. To my surprise, she treated me to lunch at Olive Garden. All the soup, salad and bread sticks I could eat. By the time I finally made it home, Monica was just getting home from work. We had planned to go out for our Friday night date, but she said she was pretty tired, and made the suggestion that we just stay at home. I think she may have said that because she knew I was tired out, but when she put her PJ's on before 6:00, I knew she was serious. So, that was my exciting day, and it sure felt good. By the way, I drove the whole day.

Well, I have been driving to rehab on Tuesday's and Thursday's. (I even drove home this Thursday) It is going pretty good, but I forgot how crazy some people can drive. I feel like I am getting stronger each day. I have begun to go back to the gym on my off days of rehab. Today I walked on the treadmill for 22 minutes and rode the bike for 22 minutes. There are so many good people at the Granite Reef Senior Center(where the gym is) . The people who use the gym have been so patient with me, especially when I went with the oxygen and the wheel chair. No one complained that I took up too much room or that I was too slow with the weight machines. We have met some very amazing people who have become friends. We would have never met all of those people if I hadn't gotten sick.

CAN'T WAIT

Hi, this is Monica, Marty's wife. I just wanted to post a picture of Marty taken before he got sick. In this picture, he is playing the drums at our church, Church on Mill in Tempe. If his recovery continues on this track, he may just start playing those drums again. His drums at home are in storage, and just waiting to be set up again. The other pictures are of our grandson, Jonathan, learning to play the "drums" with Papa, and then playing Papa's drums. He is now almost three, but he still likes "drumming"

BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL

Today, Sept. 20, 2008 I drove for the first time since Nov. 26, 2006. I started out driving around the neighborhood just to get a feel for it again. Monica was a bit nervous, but she said I did great. I just may drive to rehab next week. I thought I would never get to drive again.

GO DBACKS/GO ST. JOES

I will try this again.... I wrote so much, but who knows where it went, it obviously didn't post.... Anyway, we went to the Diamondbacks game last night. From what I understand, The Diamondbacks partner with St. Joes, and last night the 18 lung transplant reciepients were guests in two skyboxes. We had a catered meal, and a lot of fun. Members of the transplant team were there also. It was so nice to see the Dr's, surgeons, and all of the nurses, and everyone involved, in a setting other than the hospital or the Dr.'s office. I am also going to try to upload a few pictures. Monica will admit that she is n0t much of a picture taker, but you will get the idea of how nice our evening went. For those of you who have known me for a long time, you will understand the pictures with the numbers. (our suite was #7, and our parking spot was 4101) We left at the begining of the 8th inning, since I had to be at clinics and rehab today. Both went well. I have to close tonight by saying that everyone there last night is a miracle, and Monica and I are honored to know you all. Isn't is funny how total strangers from different walks of life are now bound together by this amazing gift of life?

Short road trip

Well, we decided to go to Superior and Globe yesterday instead of Black Canyon City. There is a good Mexican Restaurant in Superior that we had planned to eat at, but we were not hungry yet. So we continued to drive up to Globe. We went into a few antique shops and it was just so nice to be able to walk around and enjoy looking at things. By the time we got home, we were both pretty tired. I hate to say this, but I sure didn't mind not driving, I just sat and enjoyed God's beautiful creation. I did feel badly that Monica had to do all of the driving though. Next weekend.... another new adventure.