Well, I didn’t go for a run today, hahaha.  Was able to do some good cardiac training watching the Browns lose again!  Back pain is a little better today.  Thanks to Ann for the fantastic chicken dinner tonight. My weight has stabilized last three days, no more loss.  My appetite is below average, but Kathy doesn’t give me a break and keeps the gravy train rollin’.   Two weeks in the books.  Although I am getting a little stir crazy, it does seem to have gone quicker than I thought it would. Off to sleep soon.

There’s four inches of snow outside and it’s 31 degrees.  Not the best day for a run.  Presurgery I would have stayed indoors and skipped a run or workout, but now I would just love to do it, but cannot.  I would give almost anything to go running across the frozen sidewalk right now.  Our challenges in life will put these staples at risk. Whether your own health or a family member or job or other stressor, I certainly took for granted the ease at which things could be accomplished.  As my recovery moves forward and I eventually heal, I will challenge myself more than before to appreciate those things that were permanently or temporarily taken from me.  I can see the gifts within my current challenge.

My last two days of back pain made me more conscious of what I know millions of people suffer.  Today it is a slight annoyance, but I can tolerate it.  Otherwise I am doing pretty good.  My incision is healing nicely, skin is very tight across my chest .  My range of motion slowly improves each day.  I am going to keep at my stack of books to read and this week I think I will get out my art art supplies and start drawing again; its been  too long.  My body has to heal and I cannot speed that process up, only slow it down, so I will try and enjoy the time to do different activities.

A very special thanks to Kathy’s college crew of Cory, Jackie, Holly, Julie, and Tracy for the wonderful dinners brought yesterday.  Thanks too to Mel and John for last nights enchiladas.  I feel like George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. As Clarence says, “a man’s life touches so many others, and when he’s not there, it leaves an awfully big hole”.  I truly am thankful to my friends and family two weeks into my recovery for helping me to cope with the highs and lows.  Have a good Sunday. Peace.

After a long day of my back aching, I was able to quiet it down enough to sleep.  I did some light stretching and walking and that with some hot packs seemed to do the trick. I stayed up a little later so I would be exhausted enough to sleep through any breakthrough pain. Feeling much better today.  Ill keep my activity level moderate so I don’t backtrack, but I want to keep the train rolling along.

We woke to a light snowfall and the yard looks beautiful. The kids are getting ready for their overnight and are very excited.

More later.

There’s a Daniel Powter song most of you have heard called “Bad Day”.  One of the lyrics is “you need a blue sky holiday”  I do.  Sometimes in this recovery, I was told, you are going to have some tough days.  Logically, i know they are coming, but it doesnt make them any easier.  I had a bad night with a stabbing low back pain (never had any real back pain before) and I thought something bad was happening. Well, a couple of doctor calls and a chest X-ray later, I am fine. My xray supposedly couldnt look any better  all good news.  My back still really hurts when I deep breathe but it’s being attributed to muscular. Haven’t slept much in last 18 hours and that will catch up with me.  I am going to try and move around more this afternoon.

The kids are heading to some friends early tomorrow for a weekend of fun activities.  Our friends have filled their schedule with movies, Progressive Field, and lots of other activities. They will have a great time.

Hopefully I can fight through this latest hurdle quickly. All in all I remain positive about the success I have had in my first week home.  I am also still ever so grateful that this was caught in time.  I have heard too many stories lately of young people like me that did not get the opportunity of foresight and have had disastrous and deadly results.   I’ll say my prayers and try for a good nights sleep.   Thanks again to all for prayers, cards, food, and all the other “extras” helping Kathy and I with the recovery.

Today’s energy level was a little diminished from yesterday. I am amazed how easily I can get tired. My pain is still manageable, although my scar is a little more sensitive as it heals. I slept in my bed for the first time last night.  I’ve been in an electric chair since surgery.  I was able to sleep almost the whole night with just one little break about 4 am.  That is an improvement.  My appetite continues to struggle from pre surgery levels but I think I am doing pretty good. I eat most everything Kathy brings me.  I did some light stretching today and can definitely see animprovement in my range of motion.  No swinging golf clubs for a while, though.  I enjoy hanging out with Kathy during the day.  Her parents left this morning so I think she is hoping for a few meals from friends for the next week or so.  The kids have been very cooperative  and helpful taking care of me.  Hugh and I played backgammon today.  He’s pretty good.   He’s gearing up for some monopoly tonight.

For a guy used to being at the gym by 5am, clinic or OR by 7am, home by 6pm and still loads of energy for the kids, it was tough today to be tired going to a Coumadin clinic in Twinsburg.  It was my first day out of the house and I had a 10am appointment. It was nice to get out but car ride is a little unsettling. One little fender bender and big trouble.  Anyway, everything went fine and I have been having a good day.  Big lunch. Pain manageable.  I feel like I am taking in a sufficient amount of calories, but when your body is repairing from so much injury it chews up a lot.  Still, I’ve lost 4 pounds since Saturday. I’ll get it back.  A few visitors today, that helps my spirits and pass the day.

Today was really a pretty good day.  When I don’t dwell on the 10 inch scar down my chest I move on to help myself get better.  Did a lot of walking, napping, eating, and scrabbling today.  My father-in-law never played. Huh?  Anyway, we had a nice two hour game of scrabble.  Also started Tim Tebow’s “Through My Eyes” today, very interesting and motivated guy. Especially now that he his turning the NFL upside down.  I am most amazed that I don’t feel like my brain has lost a step at all.  This will be a source of trouble as my body takes its good old time catching up.  The kids decorated the Christmas tree today; beautiful!  Almost seems normal around here.

I continue to cherish the circumstances that brought this to fruition.  I just heard from a friend  of a young man on the west side who had my same condition, undiagnosed previously, who suffered an aortic dissection on Saturday, collapsing after baseball practice, and had emergency repair at CCF and is going to have a much tougher road ahead of him.  He is the father of three and I wish him my prayers.

My faith, family, and friends continue to be my true source of inspiration.  I know it will be a long journey, but I feel very motivated today and will press forward tomorrow.

Ella’s birthday party was a Disney/Barbie success!  She had a hard time going to bed because she said “that means my birthday is over”.   I had a decent breakfast and look forward to a turkey sandwich for lunch.  Kathy and the grandmas made a fantastic  turkey with all the trimmings dinner last night.  A second thanksgiving!

Today is again a better day.   I did some laps and stairs and surprised Kathy  with cleaning the basement.  I woke with a little more pain this morning, but I did more yesterday and I had such a good sleep that I missed my tylenol in early am.  I have cut back to just regular strength Tylenol.  I figure if I can feel a little pain, I know both my limits and my strengths.  My body is talking to me more than ever before.  Sometimes it’s hard to interpret what I am feeling.  Obviously, I don’t want to hurt myself or cause any problems.  Kathy is keeping a close eye.

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At this time last Monday, I had just come out of Mather OR with a dozen tubes exiting my body. I had survived a 20 minute heart attack and 6 hours of my body being half dead. Dr. Markowitz and Dr. Avery had taken me to the brink and brought me back safely, albeit painfully into the world. I will be eternally grateful to them and their teams for guiding me through that treacherous surgery.

I had a good breakfast, another shower, and am wearing my first t-shirt. Today was the first day I could lift my arms enough to put on a t-shirt. I did some laps today and had a nursing visit for some blood work. I am running out of veins to stick!

Today, my Ella turns 5. We have a birthday party planned for her this evening with grandparents and sibs. She happily agreed to postpone her BIG party at the kids salon until daddy was better. She is dying to open her presents.
Just like yesterday, TODAY is a better day.

As the end of week one draws near, I can reflect on the improvements I have made. Although I still feel like a shadow of my self last Sunday, I am exponentially better than I was last Monday. It was an extremely difficult week and I would hope no one ever has to experience it. My transformation in the last 24 hours has given me the faintest shimmer at the end of this long tunnel. A week ago a butterfly could have taken me down, now it is not even a fair fight. The weakness I can see will be my biggest struggle. I was so used to doing anything physically I wanted to do. I will be very motivated to regain that confidence again and I look forward to that 6 month target in early June when I can run five miles or play 36 holes. Losing my caterpillar speed and child-like strength will be more than welcome in the next few weeks. Getting a second chance on my life is more than worth these inconveniences. Thanks again for all the support. If it were not for all of you, I don’t know where my spirits would be. Love you all.