Happy Birthday Cheers to No Jello Bon Courage
I shared birthday wishes with my twin sister. She is on the cusp of a big adventure. Her oldest is going off to college out of state. They have never been separated for more than a week or so. Be strong sister and cut way back on the grocery shopping. And to my nephew, "Bon Courage" that's French. I have every confidence in you. Mark and I are so proud of you. Which is exactly what my dad told me in the same situation.
I also shared birthday wishes with my classmate Mike, from the class of 1981. We celebrated our last day of the school year by seeing The Empire Strikes Back. Now he is on the team about to launch the next spaceplane program. "Bon Courage", "French again, may the force be with you.
XXXL for Waffles
For my birthday I am celebrating my second year without a hospital stay on my birthday or any other day. Another year sans Jello cups and frozen Italian ice as my only food at Keck Hospital. Today my husband took me to my favorite guilty pleasure, a Diner breakfast with steak and waffles. Then we went shopping for fall jackets. I can't buy online, with my consistent health and associated exercise I'm massive. Chinese XXXL just does not cut it for me. Mark calls me John Cena-sized.
Staying Alive
The extra wellness came in handy. Earlier this year I got to use CPR to save my neighbor. It made me realize being around to put the Boy Scout/rescue diver skills to use made all the hospital time totally worth it.
Sight Unseen sign here
Renting apartments, I got to help at a new building around the corner. Seeing how other buildings run makes me thankful for the family we work for. Keeping things up to date and painted makes renting so much easier. I rented two apartments this year sight unseen based only on how clean and tidy the building looks with new paint and kit. Note to apartment hunters, get personal checks to write your deposit check on the spot. You can order checks online in small batches.
"It's Medical"
My treatment for Crohn's is solid, more so in the last two months with a new drug that slows down my liver functions. There is no cure, and I am short a few feet of organs, but I got my act together enough to pack IV lines and a few liters of hydration to spend a week with our friends in Kona. Plus the bonus of shutting down the TSA agent questions with two words. "It's Medical". Totally worth it.
This next year I am looking forward to experiencing the cumulative effects of not losing my fluids faster than I can drip a fresh supply. "Bon Courage!"