First Time

Monday was the first time in about eight years that I drove a fair distance. I took my son to the beach town of Sausalito, about a 90 minute drive from our home.

Growing up my son and I would take trips together frequently during the summer. My husband was always working hard to support us and so I could stay home and be a full time parent. That meant it was usually just the two of us during school brakes. We even drove to Los Angeles together, about 7 hours from our house. 

I always enjoyed these day trips with my son. We were adventure buddies and built great memories. 

Now he is 31, but he also lives very close, doesn't have a partner and doesn't drive. He doesn't leave town unless we take him somewhere. We try and do that a few times a year and he always enjoys it. But it isn't the same as it just being the two of us.

That's why Monday was so special. I was giddy to be able to be so physical. We hiked the blustery beach, walked to an old military bunker, and climbed some steep, old, cement stairs. Things I could never even imagine doing a few months ago. Bodies are so amazing. Our ability to heal and recover. 

I feel so alive right now. Like each moment is a juicy peach and I'm just savoring all I can. Each second I'm able to walk, bike, run, swim, climb is an enormous gift. One I never thought I would be able to enjoy again. I have gratitude and love in my heart to the universe for its magical, unpredictable ways.

52 and THRIVING!

These days I'm not just "surviving," I'm THRIVING!

I spent the last many years surviving. Going from one physical crisis to the next. I'm thrilled to report that I've been "crisis free" for about five weeks now. I'm also getting stronger every day. Here's what I'm doing that's working for me.

• I work out in some way daily. Dog walks, my trampoline (affectionately dubbed "Fatty Bounce Bounce" by my husband), my new gym, swimming with my mom, long walks every Saturday with my husband.
  
  
• Wearing my FitBit every day to track my sleep, heart rate, HRV and overall progress.
  
  
• Using Hungry Root for dinners during the week. We get about three meals a week with ingredients and the menu delivered right to our door every Monday morning.
  
  
• Eating strictly vegetarian and limiting my animal protein. A little cheese, yogurt and eggs.
  
  
• Watching my weight. So far I just watch it go up a little and down a little, but it's a work in progress.
  
  
• Resting when I feel tired.

That natural glow is from sunshine and exercise.

Since adopting these practices I'm feeling much more myself. My migraines remain an issue. A side effect from my craniotomy, I'm sure. But my mitochondrial disease feels to be in full remission right now.

With that comes a huge adjustment and also some fear. Fear that it could turn back on me just as suddenly as it went away. I'm on my guard, but also just loving life.

My husband and I walked just under three miles with our little dogs yesterday. I was exhausted, but felt so proud. It was the farthest I'd walked since I can remember. Just a month ago I struggled to walk a mile. I also carried one of our dogs or the other for at least half a mile. That's an extra 12lbs.

I told my husband I'd never poo poo another 12lb weight loss again.

This little guy is solid!

I still have severe dizziness, and "ice pick" migraines daily. I have been taking Qulipta 60 mg every night and it was working very well. Then it felt like I acclimated to it and it stopped being so effective. That seems to happen with me and medications.

My migraine neurologist is going to try me out on Lamictal 25mg instead to see if that helps. I feel like I might have tried it before, but I don't remember. It's an anti-seizure medication that should help with my type of migraines. 

In the meantime, I will try to keep up the good work and continue to re-build my body from being so ill for so long.