The Driveway

This morning was kind of a big deal. It snowed an inch or two, and it was the perfect day to stay in and bake cupcakes (or brew beer, if you're Jarrod.)

So Jarrod made us breakfast and then went downstairs to brew. In the meantime I did my treatment as normal, but I was having a pretty good morning, I wasn't coughing a ton... 

So I had a crazy idea... I decided I was going to try to shovel the snow off the driveway. And I did! I shoveled the driveway! I've never done that since we moved here. I had to take one break, to come inside and sit with my oxygen on for about 5-10 minutes, then I went back out and finished. I was getting pretty worn out during the last half, and audibly reminded myself "You can do this... There's just a little bit left." And then I was done and I came inside to sit with my oxygen hose on again while my heart slowed down and my oxygen sats. came back up. 

I went down to tell Jarrod, since he had no idea, and he was surprised! And very happy for me. I am so damn proud of myself, I can't even tell you. I feel like I've had a slight grin on my face all day. Take that, CF! 

I did that! 

Friday Fast 5+5

It's been so long since I've blogged, I'm going to have TEN things this time!

1. I have barely been on my laptop, so I realize I never caught you all up regarding my recent hospital stay (and to the people I need to email back, I will get to it soon I promise :). I'm DONE, I finished my meds at home on the 31st, and am feeling really good. Actually, I had the best PFT I've had in years! The last time I had numbers this high was in 2011! I was able to achieve a 38% FEV1, which is just crazy. I can't stress how awesome and important this is. Now, I just hope to keep it up.
2. I felt the power of prayers this time, I must say. I started out with very, very resistant bacteria as stated in my previous blog. But midway through the course of treatment, the results came back with my cultures and showed my bugs had become more tolerant, and lo and behold they were responsive to the drugs we chose to use! I also have to really hand it to the parishes of Columbia. I was visited by a priest twice, who administered a blessing, a deacon, and volunteers who brought me communion. All told, I was there for ten days, and for probably 6 of those days someone came by my room to pray and bring me communion. Really great.
3. I've finally started reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I really like the movies, and the story. I'm really excited to read it and it's keeping my interest.
4. Once again, I have really struggled with a Lenten resolution this year. I think part of it is that I feel like I should do something new and different year to year, but I've pretty much run out of ideas. Honestly, last night I still hadn't come up with anything—I know, Lent started on Wednesday! Augh! But this morning, I decided. It'll help give me some needed inspiration day-to-day. 
5. I started a new prayer shawl the other day with a new, fancy stitch! I'm very excited. Jeff & Johanna gave me a book for Christmas with 500 crochet stitches in it! So I'm trying a new stitch from the book, and it's turning out quite nice.
6. I've complained on here before about the TV news just perpetuating fear, and the other day was proof again of what I've been saying. CBS This Morning had a report about the zika virus, and it was titled Zika at Mardi Gras. They sent a reporter down to New Orleans to talk all about the zika virus and the mosquitoes. The report went on and on for about 5 minutes, then at the very end he said "Now, officials say that they're not concerned about mosquitoes at Mardi Gras because it's simply too cold. But the threat of the zika virus will continue as the year goes on." So basically the report was about absolutely NOTHING because it's not even a concern anyways. But it might be. At some point in time. Everybody stay scared!
7. I've often thought Josie looks very fox-like. I looked it up, and contrary to popular consensus, dogs are split in two groups: those related to wolves and those related to foxes. Josie is definitely from the fox category. Just look at her!? 

   

   Josie shows her good side to the camera, haha.

8. Does anyone else forget to drink your coffee in the morning, haha? Almost every morning, I pour myself my cup of coffee, take two sips of it, then I forget about it. And then it's cold, and I reheat it, and forget about it again. 
9. I feel like our tolerance for snow here is going down, likely it's caused by the TV weather people, and we're all drinking the Kool-Aid, including myself. I'd love to watch a weather broadcast from the 90s or 80s, and see what they said then. Because now, even the mention of snow in Missouri sends schools canceling classes sometimes. Many people freak out over 1 inch of snow. But I don't feel this was always the case. Snow-freaking-out-ness is definitely relative and dependent on where you live. If you live more north, it takes a great amount of snow for things to shut down, if you live more south it takes a dusting to freak everyone out. We've always been in the middle with snow totals, but it's still expected that it will snow a few times a year here. Why are we all such wimps about it now?
10. With our recent snow, I've had a TON of birds on my deck and coming by the feeder. I assume it's harder to find food when snow blankets the ground, so I've been happy to give them some easy-to-find bird seeds :).