Sixteen weeks...

Wow, it's been almost two months... just a few short days away since I last wrote.  Since I've had the time to sit still and share the thoughts that have been running and tumbling through my mind.  It's been a busy few months.  It's felt like it is moving at warp speed and at the same time standing still.

I might have mentioned the changes that started happening in July.  So many... I'm not sure what was going on with my astrology sign then, but it must have been major. Personal life, major shifts.  Career, major shift. Heck even with my children major changes.

The only constant, has been change.

Hubs and I started on an amazing journey on July 12th.  Seems like forever ago.  I remember being grouchy, angry and just plain put out with him.  I didn't have time, I wasn't interested, I didn't want to face facts.  My Fitbit was gathering dust, I couldn't have cared less about making time to eat right, much less exercise.  I was in a personal struggle with my career (if that makes any sense at all) that had reached the point it was consuming me.  Frankly, "I didn't give a damn"... take that Scarlett!

But hearing the worry in his voice concerning his own weight and health.  I begrudgingly gave in.  I wasn't thrilled with my inactivity.  I was less thrilled with how I looked and felt.  But frankly, it simply felt like one more battle I didn't have the energy to fight.  Nope, no thank you... No time, no desire, no energy.

I still gave in.

We joined YDPP (YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program), both of us have a family history of Type II diabetes.  Neither of us really wanted to have to face that for ourselves.  Our insurance would pay for it.  It would meet at lunchtime, it was just at his office a 5 minute drive for me once a week.

The time commitment 1 hour a week... yeah that is what he told me.  The truth it was for one full year.

WHAT??  I seriously wanted to strangle that dear man.  Love him as I do, I was not a happy camper.  The timing stunk... my life was not going well.

We are almost 4 months into it.  Week 16 just behind us.  Thinking back to July, I still hear our leader asking me to commit to three 30 minute walks a week.  My answer... NO!  Pretty resounding at that.

I hate heat, my knee was still so swollen and painful, and just where was I going to find another 30 minutes in a schedule that barely allowed me to find time to fix dinner?

That first walk... was brutal.  I was cursing Hubs in my head.  My knee was killing me, I didn't want to walk. The plantar fasciitis that I'd developed in my right foot from dealing with the left knee seriously was not happy.  And... oh yeah... It was HOT!  Stinking, horrible, sweat rolling in my eyes, heat exhaustion threatening HOT!  After all this is the Midwest and oh-yeah, it was JULY! It was 37 long minutes, the distance... not quite a full mile.

Guess what else does not like heat?  My FMS.  Was he trying to kill me off?  I mean seriously?  I don't have enough life insurance to make that a good plan.

He was far more dedicated that I was at first.  I could easily watch what we ate.  I am a bit of a control freak about things like that.  It was almost a game at first.  That and the fact that we had to turn it in weekly.

Again... WHAT?  I hate to disappoint any one, and particularly co-workers.  And here I had to turn in my food and exercise log.  Oh Hubs... what on earth have you done to me?  That was all I could think of.

July 2016

Each morning Hubs and I walked the boys, came home, grabbed a quick glass of water and started our walks.  Dust off those Fitbits, tracking our steps, tracking our time, slowly gaining speed.  Slowly moving towards that first goal. Just losing 7% of your weight reduces your risk.  Just walking 30 minutes, 3 times a week.

Those first few weeks were tough.  We finally figured out that we needed to get up earlier.  We discovered we were in this together.  When my foot or knee had me ready to quit, he was my rock.  Encouraging me, pushing me just a bit harder.  When he wanted to quit, I became his.

Somewhere in the past 16 weeks we've changed. Not physically, but emotionally and mentally as well.

Somewhere in those first few painful weeks we decided together this was just something else we could do. That together we were not only going to complete this program, but we were going to adopt it for the rest of our lives. We could feel the change and we knew that the change was going to improve our lives.

Fast forward 16 weeks... this morning I stepped on the scale as I do daily.  Through blurry eyes I saw that the scale shows a 40 pound weight loss for me.  A toddler less. As I was still shivering in the early morning chill, putting on an extra layer before my walk and lacing up my shoes.  I felt so empowered.  So much stronger.

Last week, I bought a pair of jeans, they were size 14.  Sixteen weeks ago, a size 24 was snug.  Most of my closet doesn't fit me any longer, too bad.

It isn't just about pounds, I still have a long way to go.  It isn't even about the inches.  Again... long way to go.

16 weeks ago, I was in so much pain from that walk.  My leg was swollen, I was facing possible partial knee replacement at 51.  I had my appointment scheduled for the next round of shots to keep the pain at bay.  I never had to keep it.

16 weeks ago, I had no energy.  I got up, went to work, came home, went to bed.  Somewhere in there I would eat horribly unhealthy meals, probably have a adult drink and basically hate life. I was unhappy, miserable, grouchy and basically felt horrible about me.

Fast forward... my average week is almost 40 miles of walking.  I try to get more, but I've been pretty darn busy lately. I have enough energy to tackle everything that comes my way at home and at work (remember I said there were some major changes there too!).  I try very hard to cook most of our meals myself - Hubs and I have seriously discovered what caused us to get where we are at.  Ever doubt it, track your fat grams for one solid day - wow!  Eyes get opened fast! My leg is no longer swollen or painful and most days I forget about the plantar fasciitis.  There are still moments that hurts a bit, but very few.  Shoot... I even own heels for the first time in decades!

This morning walking along the Meramec River in the cold, early morning fog - to Christmas music - we managed to pull off a 14 minute mile.  I even managed to run a full half mile.  I've never done that in my life - so not a runner.

Nov. 5, 2016

Hubs and I are enjoying this journey.  We have found our joy and energy.  He forgets that he is 64, I never bothered to accept 51 (didn't even eat cake for my birthday).  He's down darn near 50 pounds.  We both cherish our power walks and will always search for new paths.

November 2, 2016

Sixteen weeks is just the start of this journey.  We've discovered joy in exercise.  Happiness in eating healthy and finding new recipes and dishes to try.  We talk as we walk.  Planning, venting, chatting aimlessly. Enjoying each other.

Oct.30, 2016

Sept 11, 2016

Aug. 2106

Will I always have time to write now, nope.  I also don't always have time for the other things I love.  Not all of that, actually very little of that is linked to the things I am doing in my personal life.  But I know that is only for a moment.

Something must have nudged Hubs.  Somehow he knew this was definitely the right place and time for us to jump into YDPP.  I give it total credit for where I am right now.  Not just physically, but mentally.  Without the structure and lessons I don't feel I would be in the right place for all the changes outside of this journey.  I am pretty sure the old me wouldn't have been able to handle this path.

Even more frightening, I think I am going to start taking Group Exercise classes next week.  It's time to go to the next level.  Before I was concerned about dealing with the heat.  Now I am planning ahead to avoid letting the cold slow me down.

I'm still cooking, but now I am looking for healthier choices. Bought three cookbooks last night.  Let's see if they are as awesome as "Clean and Hungry".  Can't wait to dive deeper into using my spiralizer.

This journey is powerful.  I'm so thankful that my sweet Hubby loved me and our life together enough to encourage us to start.  And is always there to keep me focused on moving forward, to pushing myself just a bit further and harder.

cannot connect...

Are we too connected?  Too technologically integrated?  Oh the irony of that statement as I sit here typing a blog instead of writing in a journal.

As lightening flashed and thunder literally rumbled on for long drawn out times, I was actually jarred awake at 315 am by my phone. It wasn't the beautiful storm that woke me, it was the theme song to the "IT Crowd".  As I was groping in the darkness for my phone, answering it without looking at caller ID because... 1) can't see without my glasses and 2) if you are calling me at 315 am, I am going to assume it is important.

Hmmm... important... I guess it depends on who you are.  I would rate that one as absolutely not important. It was the alarm company calling to let me know that our maintenance trouble alarm had gone off and reset itself.  Of course it did.  It's storming.  Our phone lines are horrible and as soon as they disconnect, the alarm says there is a maintenance trouble.  And it resets when they reconnect. So no, I would not say that is a valid reason to call me in the middle of the night.

Building on fire, that one I would buy.  But a disconnected phone line?  I am guessing someone in Kansas City working a night shift got bored.

Trying to drift back to sleep after a 2 minute phone conversation in a raging thunderstorm with your pups huddled against you quivering out of fear is difficult at best.

Just as I was finally drifting back to sleep an alarm goes off, my phone is once again loudly buzzing. This time to let me know there is a flood warning for my area. Okay. Fair enough, I live in a fairly large area surrounded by rivers.  There are large areas of land that are in the flood plains.  I am not. As it was storming when we all went to bed, I would think they would have paid attention to those alerts stating there was danger of flash flooding. Maybe not.  But, I got it.  I understood.  I guess.

As I was once again struggling to fall asleep and wondering if those people they were trying to warn actually had cell phones, someone else must have wondered the same thing.  As my phone was yet again playing the "IT Crowd" theme song.  This time is was an automated weather alert, telling me the same thing the text message alert does.

I struggled for a long time after the third waking in an hour and 15 minutes.  I seriously considered giving up on sleep and just starting on my "homework" early.  I was just so very tired.  My brain was working at warp speed, full of things I needed to do, composing this blog, thinking of the day ahead.  I was not a happy camper.

At some point I finally drifted back to sleep, probably grouchy, because I sure woke up a few hours later feeling cranky and out of sorts.  The rain had stopped and my pups were whining to go for a walk.

As I got ready to walk them, I found myself longing for my high school days.  No I am never nostalgic for high school, it was simply something to get through.  In fact I am not someone who ever wishes to go back. What I was longing for was a time before phones in my home.  When I grew up we walked to the payphone or used a neighbors if we wanted to make a call.  Cell phones were simply the communicators on Star Trek. Computers were new fangled things that hadn't quite started being "personal".  There was no email, if you wanted to communicate in writing, well that is what you did, you got a piece of paper and you wrote it down. Maybe it was a note you passed in class or a letter that you put a stamp on, but nothing at all was instant.

When you went to bed at night, it was to sleep. You didn't get jarred awake.

I often feel that we are far too connected.  I am just as guilty as anyone else.  I often chat with family and friends as I drive to and from work.  Even as I curse the fact that my Honda and my android phone are never going to be close personal friends, and I refuse to buy an "i" anything. I use the time to catch up.

It seems that we are all so busy now, that we squeeze things in, we don't take the time to just be.  Maybe that is why I refuse to listen to music while I walk.  Maybe I need to connect with nature?  I don't know.  I do know that constant connection is stressful and wearing thin.

We used to mail letters and wait.  Now we send text messages and get annoyed when they are not instantly answered. What an inpatient and demanding world we've become.  No signal, often equals stress and a feeling of loneliness.

I think I need to incorporate a bit more disconnection in my life.  A bit more silence, face-to-face conversation, time with people and not so much "connection".  I need to read a few more paper books and a few less online stories.

Although, I don't think I will ever go back to writing a paper journal.  My handwriting stinks, always has, and I enjoy blogging. It helps me think. To reason through things in life that seem crazy and complicated.  Or simple and mundane.

I think I am going to call down to Hubs, again with the irony on the intercom and see if he's going to walk with me this morning.  I missed my walk due to weather yesterday and that could have something to do with me being out of sorts.

Find some time with weekend to disconnect.  For a moment or two at least...

nostalgia...

It's Labor day... the traditional end of the summer season.  I remember a time when it was bbq's and family time.  Those days have sadly faded.  The kids have their own lives, their own families.  Their own things to do.

Hubs and I have spent many hours riding this weekend.  The wind in our faces, the miles drifting past us. Saturday was spent buzzing around locally.  Stopping in little shops, walking through the Soulard market - walking might be a stretch - sitting in the sunshine sipping bloody mary's.

Sunday found us traveling a bit north and east.  The roads in Illinois beckoned us.  I love Calhoun county, the winding roads, the hills, the sheer beauty.  I find it so calming and peaceful.  As we ride we often see old farm houses and barns, beautiful in their emptiness.

Often as we ride past, we wonder.   Our conversations often include questions and propositions.  We often wish the houses could talk.  The stories they could tell. Would they speak of families gathered around large farm tables to celebrate the end of a summer of farming season?  Readying themselves for the upcoming harvest.  Baleing hay, picking apples and putting up the produce for the long winter to come?  Or would they share stories of the floods that are all too common in the that beautiful, bountiful area?

As we rode through the hills, we found many cemetaries.  Large and small, carefully attended.  Families honoring those that went before.

I guess I am feeling a little down at the loss of holidays as a family.  When the kids were small, we were military, we only really had each other.  Extended family was so far away.  A part of my heart always thought we would forever hold on to that.

Time changes things.  I get it.  Looking around outside, there are not groups of family gathered at the houses near us, no friends, no end of year celebrations. The smell of bbq is strangely absent.  So is the laughter of children.  It's odd.  So many things that I considered rites of passage are sadly silent and gone now.

Maybe they are all out camping, at zoos, running trails or gathered around one of the local parks to celebrate.  Society is changing so much, I'm not really sure what is the norm anymore.

The river was really high yesterday.  Small waves, left in the wake of each boat passing by, reached almost to the road.  Branches floated by, some more like large trees. Watching the the tug boat struggle to move the ferry concerned me.  I struggle to understand how people can go out on that river in smaller boats. Especially when it is so high.  I am not so much a water person anyhow, but when I am watching the dash past in little speed boats and jet skis I always say an extra prayer.  Those tree branches were by far bigger and more deadly than their watercraft.

Hubs and I were planning to head out for another ride today after completing our chores.  We spent two days playing, a chance to unwind, so needless to say our chores needed to be tackled.  Hubs worked on the outside cleaning both of our cars, mowing the grass, cleaning the garage (he decided my car needed to be inside again).  Today is a hot one compared to the past few days.

I took care of the inside and washing clothes for the week.  Grocery shopping is finished and dinner is cooking.

We opted out of going for a ride.  Too hot.  The cool breezy temperatures have left us for a bit.  We are not back to heat and humidity.  Maybe later tonight.

For now I am listening to the hiss of the pressure cooker.  Sweet and Sour Ribs, corn on the cob and cole slaw will fill today's menu.  I even picked up a watermelon.  All the flavors of summer to celebrate her official passing.  Sure there are 16 or 17 more days until it's officially over, and the heat advisory that popped up on my phone a bit ago is reminding us that at least here in the mid-west... Summer does not quitely roll over and go away.  Autumn has to fight for it's place! The cool soft breeze yesterday, with the swirls of leaves falling, was a tease.

It's not time...

3 am is not people time...

I read a meme yesterday that said that those who are awake at 3 am are creative, artists, actors, geniouses, etc.  I have a different hypothesis.  They are owners of bratty dogs! Because I have been seeing a lot of 3 am's lately.  And they have definitely not involved anything creative, artisitc or even remotely intelligent.

They have involved me staggering to the kitchen to get the dog leash and then trying not to trip over my pj pant legs that are getting too big as I make my way down the hall being herded by a big lug wearing a cone on his head.  By the way those cones HURT!  I'm pretty sure the back of my legs look like I have been beat.

This morning the old guy decided to get in on the middle of the night strolling.  By the time I walked both of them in the front yard, refilled the water dish for Gator as Neeko didn't even leave a drop, and staggered back to the chair that has served as my bed this week... lets just say the ability to go back to sleep was gone.

My knee was simply not enjoying the recliner last night.  And I think I miss sleeping stretched out. No, there is no thinking about it, I completely miss sleeping stretched out.  I cannot wait for Tuesday night.  He gets his staples out and I am fairly sure the stair ban will be over.  I am praying it will be over.  I am so sore.

Right now he's lying in the dining room, where he thinks I can't see him.  Dad took his cone off of him, not sure why, and he keeps turning to lick.  He really is a slow learner. I think he is probably healed well enough, but the thought of any further time in that chair insures that I don't want to take that chance.

I am waiting for Hubs to finish watching his movie.  I am ready to go for a walk, he isn't.  And while I enjoy walking alone, I get bored and will walk further with him.  We need to walk the boys first and then we can go.  I am an inpatient person, I know this.  I also am not a movie person.  So putting anything on hold for a movie, just makes me a bit crazy.  I get it, we all have our own way of de-stressing.  That is his.

I think he wants to go ride in Illinois today.  I don't mind the river road, what I do mind are all the other people.  It's hard enough to trust just one person with your safety when you are a passenger on a motorcycle.  It's worse when there are others that are not being as safe.  I get a bit stressed out.  I want to go over to the Brussels area and then head north, there are a few sites there that are demanding my attention, north of Hardin, so maybe that is where we will head.  Seems to be an archeological site a bit further north. Definitely my kind of day.

I am hoping his ankle is feeling better, because I really would like to get a hike in today.  It doesn't have to be long, but I really want to give these stronger muscles of mine a try.  Or maybe we can take an evening bike ride.  Just something a bit more than we do during the week and a bit different.  I don't like to get bored.

I found a recipe yesterday that I am going to make for our picnic lunch today.  It's a five bean salad.  I am hopeful that it tastes as good as it looks.  I'm planning to make it, chop up some veggies and I found these wonderful little crackers at Trader Joes (have I mentioned how much I love that store?), and of course I think we will need a few small cubes of cheese to go with it.  The more time I am spending making "real" food, the less I want to eat out.  It just doesn't taste as good.

Well, the Hubs is done and the day is calling... Enjoy some beauty today...

the view...

This morning under a heavy blanket of deep velvet blue sky sprinkled with brilliant stars I went for my walk alone.  Hubs strained his ankle yesterday and didn't want to push it, probably a very smart choice.  I don't listen to music or other noise while I am walking.  I feel like I am absorbing energy from the sounds of nature. The crickets, cicadas and goodness knows what else chirping and chattering in the cool morning air.  An occassional bird speaks of its displeasure at my intrusion.

I chose to walk through our neighborhood, even though I do not really enjoy that huge hill, I simply felt safer. At 5:20 am it is awfully dark and quiet, only a few windows have light shining through and I realized this morning, that our subdivision is not well lit.  Shortly past my daughters house, while I was engrossed in watching a young deer grazing just up the road I was startled by a chiming sound behind me.

I've been reading in the news of the crazed idiot dressed as a clown trying to lure children into the woods, in that particularly dark stretch I was hesitant to turn.  As I did, I couldn't help but laugh.  My daughters cat Bella (my favorite of her babies) was running as fast as her little legs could carry her to catch up to me!  She is not particularly affectionate.  For all her beauty she is a sterotypical stand-offish cat.  Yet, every morning as we walk past she comes for her morning snuggle before jumping down and continuing with her daily cat routine.

the view...

As I put her down I noticed Milo (the youngest of her kitties) sitting up on the hill slightly hidden behind a tree.  Milo and I have never bonded, he always watches me closely, never coming close.  After Bella got her morning snuggles she decided she would simply watch me walk the rest of the way down and back.

As I cleared the top of the hill and proceeded to keep walking the silence was starting to be broken by distant engines and motorcycles.  As the sun was turning the sky a softer and softer shade of blue and blurring out the stars I saw more of my neighbors and heard fewer sounds of nature.  It was time to consider heading home.

I enjoy the peacefulness, a chance to settle my brain and to mellow out, I need it. My life is feeling more balanced.  I am not sure why.

The stress at work is still there, but different.  It's not the unknowing stress, it's the known and manageable kind.  The kind that gives you a growth challenge.

Home still has chaos, but I feel like the walk is balancing me.  I try very hard to never miss a single day. Although as I get stronger and move quicker and more, it's a bit harder to get all of my steps.

Each day I am more thankful that Hubs talked me into YDPP.  Each day I feel like I am gaining more and more control.  Instead of drifting along and letting life happen to me, I feel in control.  Even with the strain of this past week... it still feels controlable.

thanks mom

It's been just over a week.  A week ago I brought the silly boy home.  Groggy, unstable, weak and poofy. Drooling on himself due to strong pain medications.

For a week Hubs and I have modified our home, our lives, our sleeping arrangements, and definitely our budget.

And... we couldn't be happier.

Only a few more days of sleeping in the recliner to keep him calm and from doing whatever is needed to be with his family.  A few more days of medication schedules ruling our lives.  A few more days of being picky about the treats that he is given. A few short days longer to be injured with the cone of shame.

My pig... mine!

Just over a week ago, we didn't know if we would have him as part of our lives any longer.  We thought he was heading for the rainbow bridge.  Now he's scurrying through the house, the cone more of a weapon or bull dozing tool.  He's walking happily through the house his green pig, squeaking it as he goes.  He's chased his tennis balls and is back to walking his normal walks.

my view each morning...

I am so grateful for the prayers and well wishes.  The Neeks is back.

Today is a million years away from last Saturday.  Last Saturday I was bummed out.  Hubs was heading out on the motorcycle yet again (it's only been over a month since I've been on a ride) to help at an event.  I was rushing around cleaning and sanitizing the house to bring Neeko home.  Worry, fear and okay... jealousy were all tugging heavily at my heart.

Today, I am getting ready to go run a few errands while we wait for the temperature to hit 70.  I will pack us a healthy picnic lunch and we will be able to spend a few hours enjoying the sunshine, the cool temps the wind in our faces.  Hopefully we will go somewhere that we can get a good little walk or hike in to enjoy the day.

Whatever you are doing, be grateful for the day.  You woke up, you get a clean slate every day!

"those" people...

Not sure how it happened.  I called Hubs tonight on my way home from a meeting.  He was breathing rather heavily and my first thought was "oh no", in a slightly fear laced moment.  Seconds later it was an entirely different fear.

That turkey was working very hard on beating my step count!

Somehow we are morphing from people that come home, kick off our shoes and veg out.  To being quite competitve with each other. It's already bad enough that my short legs have to work twice as hard, and that his job is not a desk based job.  Those two things I cannot change.

But here he was getting in an extra 2000 steps while I was driving back and forth to work.

He is going to have to win this round.  I'm tired.

And over 16K steps is simply not bad. Especially when battling the sleep deficit of getting up in the middle of the night with the Neeko.

He and I had midnight med's last night.  Each time I see him I am even more amazed.  He still looked poofy and groggy last night, even though his walking was more steady and we got a short walk in.  Because everyone should get a chance to go strolling at midnight in their pj's with a big dog wearing the cone of shame.  Pretty darn amusing I might add.

He's on small meals.  So we are spending a lot of time feeding a very hungry boy little meals.

This morning, it was another change.  Most of the fluid build up is gone, he is looking like our Neeko again. He's wagging with his whole body, and desperately trying to convince us both to slide him a piece of chicken jerky.  Little goof ball.  He simply doesn't care that he has just had major stomach surgery, he can smell chicken!

Over the course of the day between taking the boys for walks and working, Hubs and I have been competing pretty strenously over who is going to have the most steps.  Walking in brutal 94 degrees and hating life.

It's really rather funny... somehow we've become "those" people!

answered..

Listening to the rythmic snoring in the house today, it's so hard to even remotely believe the last few days have even happened.

Gator is curled up on his favorite sofa in the fireplace room.  His snores are the loudest.  The Neeko is finally home, and despite all the work I put into insuring that the front living room was perfect for him to rest and recouperate, he is stretched out in the dining room in his favorite spot.

All I can say is thank goodness for Oxy Clean, because his incision is still leaking quite a bit. And as it's his tummy, there simply isn't a good way to keep that from happening.

Thursday night and most of yesterday were pretty darn stressful.  But that little furball is one tough cookie. He's not even 36 hours post surgery and he all put pulled me out of the vet's office. He'd had enough of their hospitality I guess.

Heck he even removed his own IV this morning.  I am sure that was quite a sight to see.  Determined little poop.

I have to keep an eye on him, he's got a bit of a fever, but they weren't overly worried considering he'd just had major abdominal surgery.  The bigger task is making sure he says calm and still.  We have to give the sutures time to heal, to insure that tummy stays tacked to his ribs and never again flips.

I will admit that for someone that hates to have their face licked, when he rushed in the room today and ran that tongue all the way up my face... I wanted to cry tears of joy.  Every time I've seen him since Thursday night he has been that much better.

I had planned to be at the Veteran's event with Hubs.  BBQ and prizes to raise money for the Veteran's at the Jefferson County Y, reality check is they didn't need me as much as Neeko did.  And I don't regret the decision at all.  I think being home is making him a happy little guy.

He immediately came in, had himself a light lunch and proceeded curl up and nap.  After he marked the entire front yard, absolutely cannot let another dog mark his yard.  Geez!

So while Hubs is out doing something so important, after all he's a Vet himself, I am home catching up.

I've been a bit busy with work and with making time for my workouts, so maybe I haven't been doing an awesome job as a housewife lately.

I figured I'd take the opportunity to catch up while watching our big boy today.  Laundry is almost done. Ironing, not even started. Groceries, purchased and put away.  Dinner, cooking in the crock pot, corn and cauliflower soup - to be served with sauted cod and a salad. Floors swept, vacuumed and mopped, although, I will be doing this one repeatedly over the next few days I am sure.

And for just a moment.  I am resting.

Last night the emotional exhaustion took a firm grip on me and I was sound asleep by 7:30 pm, I just could not function.  Today, I've been rushing around like I have an endless supply of energy.  If my back and feet weren't screaming for a break, I'd still be going strong.

In a few moments I will get back to finishing chores, doing some meal planning for the coming week, and making myself a big chart so I can remember when to give Neeko each of his medications.  It's going to be a bit of a complicated couple of weeks.  And I am fairly certain between hubs and I we are going to be having a lot of choppy days so that he gets all his meds on time.

I'm just enjoying watching the big guy resting peacefully at home.  It has to feel good to be home.  He's a lumpy, bumpy fellow today, they had to insure he had enough fluids in him.  So he's looking a bit like a camel. It will subside and absorb.  Soon he won't look so post surgery puffy.  He will look like our sweet Neeko again.

Thank you all for your prayers.  I am so thankful that God didn't decide it was time for him to cross the rainbow bridge.  We needed more time with him.