I don't know that anyone reads this blog anymore but if so and you've wondered if I died or dropped off the face of the Earth then the answer is no. I'm alive and kicking--literally! But more about that later.
At the last post I had gone without using my feeding tube for a few weeks but I ended up using again just before Christmas--my throat still wasn't healed enough to be able to eat much and my strength and everything was very low from lack of nutrition. But I did make it through Christmas which was nice except for the not being able to eat part.
Dylan graduated from college--ROLL TIDE--and we are all very proud. He was hired on full time by the company he was working for and found an apartment on Highland Avenue. I am thankful to have him in town at least for a little while. I wasn't ready to lose him again but I know one day he'll probably want to move to another city, possibly even another *gulp* state.
Of course, New Year's and the subsequent National Championship game was awesome. I was still unable to eat or even drink anything much except water. But a few weeks after that, I took a roadtrip with Dylan and Jeff to Chattanooga to get lottery tickets and I didn't realize it was going to be an all day trip so I didn't pack any of my feeding tube supplies or nutritional supplements. We ended up spending the entire day in Chattanooga visiting the top of Lookout Mountain and hung around the downtown area. We toured a distillery and had lunch so I had to try and eat something. I managed to get down a fair amount of a salad and from that point on, I never needed to use my tube again.
It was still awhile before I got all my taste buds back and some things still bother me a little bit. Pizza or anything with tomato-based sauce was challenging for awhile. I still don't much care for barbeque. But as evidenced by my weight gain, I'm eating quite well now. I have put back on 30 of the 65 pounds I lost. Now I'm desperately trying not to gain anymore weight and in fact, I wouldn't mind re-losing that 30! I'm still in my size 10's and 12's but if I can't get a handle on a good nutritional plan I will be needing a bigger size soon. I can't hardly remember what it was like to not be able to eat now. I'm glad that I can eat again and I really enjoy good food so I'm not going to stress about weight too much. Life is too short to worry too much about anything. I just want to be healthy.
Brooke graduated high school, we took a beach trip, a trip to Six Flags and life has pretty much settled back to normal. I bought a kayak but have only had it out once--at Wolf Creek in Foley. But it was fun and I plan to do more. I got a bike and have been riding some. I've been walking and trying to work out and hike some. But I've also been working a fair amount of overtime at work so it's been difficult to fit it all in. Sleep issues continue and it is what it is.
Met with the crochet group some this summer, too and looking forward to meeting again with them in the Fall. I finished a baby blanket for Baby Henderson, due December 2016. I did a Micky Mouse blanket for my friend's grandbaby, an afghan for my living room and some baby hats and booties for Baby Hendo, too. I love that group of ladies and the time we spend together. As much as I am on the go go go all the time, it's nice to have an evening of just quiet conversation, food, fellowship, prayer and crochet!
We move Brooke into the dorms at Montevallo in less than a month now. Last week she went to the beach with a church group and I missed her so much more than I thought I would so I jokingly told her I decided that she needs to just stay home and go to Jeff State! Ha! It did not go over well, of course, and I told her I was kidding. I would never do anything to hold one of my kids back from spreading those wings (responsibly) but oh how I miss the days when the were little and I was their whole world. But before I get all teared up again, let me so how very proud I am of all of them. They were good kids and grew up to be amazing young adults and I'm so excited to see the next steps they each will take.
We did nix the plans on the apartment with two roommates, however. I just wasn't secure in that idea and found out the dorms at Montevallo are nowhere near as expensive as 'Bama so it was a more practical option, given the limited amount of housing in Montevallo anyway. Maybe next year we can explore other options but this year, I think it's the best way to go. She wasn't very happy about that at first but I think she now realizes it's a good decision.
As for church, I have started serving again with Silver Linings/Hope for the Homeless and have really enjoyed it. I have served with the Events team and Highlands and did a SERVE project of my own for SERVEday16 this year. We handed out water and picked up trash around Cosby Lake. I am not a fan of the baptist church but I'm glad Brooke enjoys going to Ridgecrest. She seems to enjoy it and I just pray that it will help her to see God's plan for her life.
Last week, I started taking Salsa dancing lessons with the singles group and also started taking a 4-week self defense class at a local martial arts gym. I LOVE both!!! I've always loved dance and am really wanting to get back into zumba and bellydancing but it's so much fun to punch and kick that I'm also thinking about doing cage fitness! So much to do and so little time!
One thing I have not done much of this summer is read and that makes me sad. There's so much on my list and I just can't seem to find time. Or maybe I just am not making it a priority because I got so burned out during grad school last semester. Speaking of, I finished with 2 A's and a B and I am so happy! The Management Policy class was really challenging! For the Fall Semester I will be taking International Business and Finance. I'm two semesters away from that MBA! I need to take my Economics equivalency test soon, though. My grade in my Economics undergraduate class was good enough to graduate with a Bachelor's but not good enough for a Master's. So they want me to either retake the class or take an equivalency test. It's not a big deal, I just need to do it instead of forget and put it off.
I am trying to get out there and date again but it's hard because---again, I don't have much time. I'm happy with the way things are right now but I do occasionally wish I had someone to take places with me, etc. I have a serious crush on one individual but I don't think he's interested in my so I'm trying to get him out of my head. But if only...:)
Anyway, that's my life right now. I love it and I'm glad to have it.
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