Figuring this stuff out

First let me say that I am surrounded by blessings.  Each day there are emails, texts, cards, notes, gifts, visits, hugs, and kisses.  I am truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness displayed to me and my family.

At some point, Anji P said to me, "You collect smart people."  I think that is definitely true.  Do you want to find something out?  Mobilize a group of smart people.  People send me great things they learned about tube feeding every day.  Not just stuff they spent five minutes on Wikipedia looking up, either.  They called a friend who specializes in... they read medical studies, they know someone who had a tube...  it is amazing!

This morning I had a visit from Heather who helped me make some actual food to go in my tube.  Not only actual food, but a lot of it made from actual food that I grew and preserved.  Things are looking up for my favorite hobby of canning.  And I love that she made the same mistake with the food processor I always make and overflowed it (at least she has an excuse, it isn't her own food processor she's used a thousand times.) Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, your time, and your love!

In the afternoon Lesley came and visited.  She brought her daughter so Karissa could play.  Yes, we have a five day weekend due to conferences and Veteran's Day.  Did I mention Oregon has the second shortest school year in the nation?  Of the many things I'm thankful for, that isn't one of them.

Back to Lesley.  She made me a lovely infinity scarf.  Once I stop oozing, scarves will be a popular accessory.  Not that I'm embarrassed about my scars-- I earned those.  But now that my hair is short, my neck gets cold!!!  She also drove us to piano lessons.  Yay! Getting to leave the house not to go to the doctor!  I was tempted to stick my head out the window like a dog.  Of course, if I had that kind of mobility, I could have driven myself.  And it was pouring rain.  It is Oregon, after all.

After a lovely afternoon, I came home to a mailbox full of sweet thoughts.  Beautiful cards.  A box of brain games to try to keep me occupied (thank you Tess and Brian) and lovely scarf with cherry blossoms (Thank you Cyn!)

This evening Mary and her daughter arrived for a riotous weekend of doing laundry and supervising me.  I'm pretty sure some Catan will be played.  And they will still make me bank.  I'm going to have to make little "Wood for Sheep" signs to hold up.

On the medical front, the trach hole is closing nicely (or so they tell me, I don't really want to look.)  I'm starting to figure out the timing on the feeding thing, which makes me feel better and I spend less time hooked up to the pump.  Marvelous Mia has me back on the schedule to start putting all the parts back where they are supposed to be.  I'm down to two doses of Ibuprofen a day.  And I got a shower, all by myself!  All in all, a very good day!