Wednesday 19 November 2014

With a Little Help from my Friends...

... I'm getting by. I've had such nice people stopping by with low-sodium high-veggie soups (potato-leek, onion with duck fat, carrot and pear, squash and sweet potato, minestrone and chicken noodle), deviled eggs, egg-salad sandwiches, roasted chicken and veggie casseroles... wow, such great friends.  It was also so nice to see such lovely comments from you all out there in the blogosphere; it really warmed my heart :)

My man is also more helpful these days, but not as a cook. He calls himself a sandwich-master and microwave jockey. He's been keeping busy with laundry, cleaning and  shoveling snow. We had our first big snowfall of the season, which usually happens mid to late November.

Unfortunately this recovery is taking longer than I thought, but the worst of the pneumonia is over. I'm still on strong meds and have been taking things slowly. I get dizzy a lot of the time, so slow is okay! I've also received advice from friends about eating immune boosting foods, taking various supplements and products. I think for me it was just bad timing... picking up a sinus infection which slowed me down, then picking up pneumonia, likely at the Dr.'s office or hospital, and that knocked me out. I haven't been this ill since I was a child, when I caught everything under the sun as children do. 

This time of year also is sad and difficult as it's the 2nd anniversary of my father's sudden death. Last year, we visited the grave; this year I could not go outside. It's been too cold and my lung can't take it.  I had to honour his memory a little differently by looking at pictures of the good times we shared, remembering our reflective talks and peaceful canoe excursions at the cottage that he built, and feeling that grief, not as sharp and breath-catchingly painful as it once was, but grief nonetheless.  My mother still has a hard time, of course, and I wish I could help her, ease her pain somehow... but she has made progress from last year when she had difficulty seeing a future for herself.

I did weigh myself because I was concerned about some bloating, my lack of activity and not tracking anything. I'm at 172.2 lbs,  so pretty much where I've been for the past while, in the low 170s.  It's reassuring that I haven't gained but for right now, I'll just concentrate on getting well and back to my old self again. 

7 comments:

  1. glad you are slowly mending, and have such support surrounding you. So sorry about your dad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so lucky to have such good friends, especially these past few weeks.
      Thanks Gwen :)

      Delete
  2. The support you're receiving from friends and you're awesome man, is pure love, Nikki. I'm happy to read the worst of it is over!! You're keeping an awesome perspective and attitude. Excellent work in processing grief. Nikki, you'll be back to 100% in no time at all. Your focus is right where you need it to be--taking good care.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sean! It'd be so easy to wallow and sink and drown my sorrows. Instead, I just count my blessings and surround myself with great people.

      Delete
    2. Your attitude and perspective is so incredibly wonderful, Nikki!

      Delete
  3. Gosh I've been through pneumonia too--it's awful!!! I'm glad you're just focused on getting better instead of weight loss. Lots of veggies and water are super healing for your immune system! Take care, I wish you well--and soon!
    I also feel for you as you are remembering your dad. You are an amazing person.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's not fun, but I'm almost through it all. I agree, veggies and water are the best way to help ones system through this kind of thing.
      Thanks for the support Kirtley :)

      Delete