This is a picture of Bob and I, taken yesterday (12/27/10) at a place called the Oasis, just outside of Austin. It was beautiful out....
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
To Texas and Back...
Well, one week ago today I was in the sunshiney state of Texas, enjoying 75degree sunny skies. Today, I am back in Chicago. The cold, dreary skies are not making the return a very "appealing" one. All in all, we had a wonderful Christmas, ate lots of fantastic food and just enjoyed the company of family and friends. Our time in Texas reminded me of how much I miss living in the south. Southern hospitality cant be beat and I hope someday Bob and I are able to return to the Lone Star State. Bob has some southern blood in him...he loves going out shooting, loves BBQ (we don't get "real" BBQ here in chitown), enjoys the warmer weather and the southern twang :) Being with my family and friends this holiday season reminded me of how lucky I am to have such wonderful people in my life.
This is a picture of Bob and I, taken yesterday (12/27/10) at a place called the Oasis, just outside of Austin. It was beautiful out....
This is a picture of Bob and I, taken yesterday (12/27/10) at a place called the Oasis, just outside of Austin. It was beautiful out....
Monday, December 20, 2010
Its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!!
With Christmas now less than a week away, I am so excited!! This year we will be traveling to Austin, Texas to spend the holidays at my parents new "Tuscany Paradise" :). They have built a beatuiful home and I cant wait to start the celebrations tomorrow. Christmas time always reminds me how lucky I am to have such an amazing, supportive, close family. It seems so crazy that a year ago Christmas was at our place in Chicago. We are looking forward to enjoying some of the best cooking I have ever known, my Mom's of course. Here is a picture of their new home from the front, before they closed on it. Just beautiful!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
28
After turning 28 yesterday, I thought I would post twenty eight things that I love. Seeing it is holiday season, I am again reminded of how lucky I am :)
Twenty Eight things I LOVE...
1. My ever loving and supportive family and friends
2. My wonderful husband
3. Bella and Tarver, they are like children to me
4. My job - to be able to take care of people and make a difference in their life, big or small, is so rewarding and wonderful
5. My doctor - she has been amazing and continues to fight for me and encourage me...
6. Chicago - what an amazing city it has been, we have loved living here.
7. Football - nothing beats football season, I love watching FB!
8. Cereal!!
9. Shopping
10. Movies
11. My Mom's cornbread dressing, so tasty!!
12. Candles, lots and lots of candles
13. Music - it is my therapy.
14. Working out - well, I have a love/hate relationship with working out.
15. Fireplace - I love the feel and look of a warm fireplace:)
16. Bikram Yoga
17. Reading - love books, magazines, newspapers
18. Soccer
19. Traveling
20. Comfy sweats
21. Animals
22. Lattes!
23. Massages
24. The Elderly
25. "Arts and Crafts time" - getting creative with house decor
26. Getting snazzed up for a night out
27. Playing games
28. My life
I am truly blessed and I love my life. It's no ordinary life, but who wants to be ordinary? I appreciate every breath I take, every day I live, every moment I spend with family and friends. Happy Holidays!!
Twenty Eight things I LOVE...
1. My ever loving and supportive family and friends
2. My wonderful husband
3. Bella and Tarver, they are like children to me
4. My job - to be able to take care of people and make a difference in their life, big or small, is so rewarding and wonderful
5. My doctor - she has been amazing and continues to fight for me and encourage me...
6. Chicago - what an amazing city it has been, we have loved living here.
7. Football - nothing beats football season, I love watching FB!
8. Cereal!!
9. Shopping
10. Movies
11. My Mom's cornbread dressing, so tasty!!
12. Candles, lots and lots of candles
13. Music - it is my therapy.
14. Working out - well, I have a love/hate relationship with working out.
15. Fireplace - I love the feel and look of a warm fireplace:)
16. Bikram Yoga
17. Reading - love books, magazines, newspapers
18. Soccer
19. Traveling
20. Comfy sweats
21. Animals
22. Lattes!
23. Massages
24. The Elderly
25. "Arts and Crafts time" - getting creative with house decor
26. Getting snazzed up for a night out
27. Playing games
28. My life
I am truly blessed and I love my life. It's no ordinary life, but who wants to be ordinary? I appreciate every breath I take, every day I live, every moment I spend with family and friends. Happy Holidays!!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
New Drug, New Hope!
Well, thank goodness for insurance. The past month or so my doctor has been my cheerleader in the game of insurance. She was able to submit the proper paperwork and documentation to help me try a new inhaled antibiotic. This particular antibiotic is normally only covered under insurance if you have been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Well, thanks to my ever amazing doctor and a little luck, I am the proud owner of a boxful of Cayston and a new nebulizer. I will start this new concoction at the first of the new year. This will come at a good time...new drug, new hope, new year!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Brrrr
It's officially "hibernation season" in the Haskin household. Yup, winter is here. It really did get frigidly cold so quickly, I have not had the usual time I need to adjust. Chicago winters...ahhhh, they are just so much fun. Actually, I will have to admit (and I NEVER thought I would admit this), but I do enjoy SOME of the cold weather for Christmas time. But with subzero temperatures here today, I am not loving anything whatsoever about this cold December day.
It's the kind of cold that hurts when you breathe in unprotected air. I can almost feel the muscles and airways in my lungs tighten up the minute I take my first breath of the icy air. It's the kind of cold that makes your eyes water, your nose run and then it all freezes to your face before you can wipe it off. It's the kind of cold that hurts my little furballs paws...I take them out to do their business and they wimper and limp because it is so cold. It's actually very sad and pathetic and I have had to try and juggle carrying them BOTH back inside, while trying not to slip and fall on the ice covered sidewalks. One 14pound wiener dog, not a problem...add in a 30lb puggle to the other arm and balancing on an ice rink, that my friends is a recipe for disaster.
Oh well, that is the life of living in Chicago and you have to just get used to it. So, today Mama Fish is back from Austin and she and I are going to go shopping. Yes, still getting out in this winter weather land...but I suspect we will order in or make dinner inside our warm, comfortable house tonight.
On the lung front...I am feeling much better than I was last week and since my last post. I believe the last post I actually thought I might have to be admitted soon (which could still happen) but I am very happy with how I felt over the weekend. Bob and I laced up our running shoes and made it to the gym a couple times which was great. On Saturday I ran a walked/ran a mile (14mins) and then did the elliptical for another 15 minutes. Sunday, I did the elliptical for 25minutes and did some weightlifting. Grrr......So, I am optimistic that the worst is over for whatever I had last week...
I also decided to take a couple weeks off from having any type of "social drinks". I usually like a glass of red wine with dinner, or a martini on occasion, but I thought a couple weeks of no drinking would be beneficial. Cheers to coffee, tea, diet coke and lots and lots of water! I will have to indulge on my birthday however, that is rapidly approaching (12/17). This birthday means so much more than just turned another year older...in many, many ways.
It's the kind of cold that hurts when you breathe in unprotected air. I can almost feel the muscles and airways in my lungs tighten up the minute I take my first breath of the icy air. It's the kind of cold that makes your eyes water, your nose run and then it all freezes to your face before you can wipe it off. It's the kind of cold that hurts my little furballs paws...I take them out to do their business and they wimper and limp because it is so cold. It's actually very sad and pathetic and I have had to try and juggle carrying them BOTH back inside, while trying not to slip and fall on the ice covered sidewalks. One 14pound wiener dog, not a problem...add in a 30lb puggle to the other arm and balancing on an ice rink, that my friends is a recipe for disaster.
Oh well, that is the life of living in Chicago and you have to just get used to it. So, today Mama Fish is back from Austin and she and I are going to go shopping. Yes, still getting out in this winter weather land...but I suspect we will order in or make dinner inside our warm, comfortable house tonight.
On the lung front...I am feeling much better than I was last week and since my last post. I believe the last post I actually thought I might have to be admitted soon (which could still happen) but I am very happy with how I felt over the weekend. Bob and I laced up our running shoes and made it to the gym a couple times which was great. On Saturday I ran a walked/ran a mile (14mins) and then did the elliptical for another 15 minutes. Sunday, I did the elliptical for 25minutes and did some weightlifting. Grrr......So, I am optimistic that the worst is over for whatever I had last week...
I also decided to take a couple weeks off from having any type of "social drinks". I usually like a glass of red wine with dinner, or a martini on occasion, but I thought a couple weeks of no drinking would be beneficial. Cheers to coffee, tea, diet coke and lots and lots of water! I will have to indulge on my birthday however, that is rapidly approaching (12/17). This birthday means so much more than just turned another year older...in many, many ways.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
If she can do it, so can I...
I received a great gift in the mail yesterday, a book called "Seven Letters That Changed My Life" (thanks Mom and Dad!!). An inspiring and truly motivational book written by a gal who has Cystic Fibrosis. She has endured a lifetime of struggles with her CF and recounts the challenges she faced, including a double lung transplant and a kidney transplant. She is also an award winning athlete, a coach, a motivational speaker, an author...and the list goes on.
As I peel back the superficial layers of this woman's life, it is kind of eerie. It's like someone else is telling my story. Someone else has walked in my shoes, felt those same feelings I felt, and still feel every day. The pain, the frustration, the fear, the stubbornness and the overwhelming desire to beat this battle going on inside my body. I've just opened the book and I don't want to put it down. It reminds me how crucial it is to KEEP MOVING. Doing something, even very little, is better than nothing at all.
The past month has been a tough one. I started out the month feeling pretty good, then had to dive into what I call "steroidoma". That made me feel better for a while and then the past two weeks I've not felt good. at. all. You see, the thing with this damn lung situation is it is so slow and lingering that it is hard for me to judge if I am just having a "bad lung day" or a "I need IV antibiotics/hospital time day". I have come to the realization that it is probably about time for a hospital stay, unfortunately. Yuck.
I had an interesting email with my wonderful doctor this week. I can communicate with her via email which is so nice. So, I let her know how I am feeling and that I think I will most likely need to be admitted in the near future. She of course says, whatever we need to do we will do, BUT .... she goes on to explain that there are some people who frown upon these types of "elective admissions", b/c they are "old-fashioned" and considered a "high-burden on resources" . Well that really got my blood boiling. Who are these PEOPLE that frown upon these "ELECTIVE admissions"?? I bet if they spent ONE day in my shoes or anyone with lung problems shoes, they would be frowning for different reasons. It just irritates me that some people think they know what's "BEST" (and it might be from a cost perspective), but this is my damn life and my damaged lungs that need help, I am not an object of financial burden. And to say this is an "elective admission", well I use the term "elective" loosely and if I had it my way, I would not have to make these types of decisions in the first place!!! (Whhhheeeewwww....just writing about it gets my blood boiling again.) Thanks to my wonderful doctor, she listens to me and trusts that I know how I feel and what I need....and she will do what it takes to make that happen.
I can usually tell when it's about time and I am trying to be a little more proactive than normal (I usually wait until I feel bad enough to be admitted)...and this time I want to be ahead of it. So don't be surprised if I have to visit the dreaded hospital soon. I'd much rather be the nurse taking care of me, than me being the patient, but this is life....
I have continued to work out, but over the last week I have noticed a much greater difficulty in breathing. I had gotten up to 30 mins on the elliptical and feeling good with my running/walking. On Monday & Tuesday of this week, I felt like I had a 300 pound weight on my chest while I was working out...needless to say, those were hard workouts for me. But, I persisted and did as much as I could, and walked away feeling proud that I at least gave it a shot and I did SOMETHING. With this new book in my hands, some powerful motivational words and my stubbornness....I'll be back to feeling good in no time. If someone that had a double lung transplant and a kidney transplant can get back on the horse and persevere to become a well known and respected runner....so can I. "If she can do it, so can I...."
As I peel back the superficial layers of this woman's life, it is kind of eerie. It's like someone else is telling my story. Someone else has walked in my shoes, felt those same feelings I felt, and still feel every day. The pain, the frustration, the fear, the stubbornness and the overwhelming desire to beat this battle going on inside my body. I've just opened the book and I don't want to put it down. It reminds me how crucial it is to KEEP MOVING. Doing something, even very little, is better than nothing at all.
The past month has been a tough one. I started out the month feeling pretty good, then had to dive into what I call "steroidoma". That made me feel better for a while and then the past two weeks I've not felt good. at. all. You see, the thing with this damn lung situation is it is so slow and lingering that it is hard for me to judge if I am just having a "bad lung day" or a "I need IV antibiotics/hospital time day". I have come to the realization that it is probably about time for a hospital stay, unfortunately. Yuck.
I had an interesting email with my wonderful doctor this week. I can communicate with her via email which is so nice. So, I let her know how I am feeling and that I think I will most likely need to be admitted in the near future. She of course says, whatever we need to do we will do, BUT .... she goes on to explain that there are some people who frown upon these types of "elective admissions", b/c they are "old-fashioned" and considered a "high-burden on resources" . Well that really got my blood boiling. Who are these PEOPLE that frown upon these "ELECTIVE admissions"?? I bet if they spent ONE day in my shoes or anyone with lung problems shoes, they would be frowning for different reasons. It just irritates me that some people think they know what's "BEST" (and it might be from a cost perspective), but this is my damn life and my damaged lungs that need help, I am not an object of financial burden. And to say this is an "elective admission", well I use the term "elective" loosely and if I had it my way, I would not have to make these types of decisions in the first place!!! (Whhhheeeewwww....just writing about it gets my blood boiling again.) Thanks to my wonderful doctor, she listens to me and trusts that I know how I feel and what I need....and she will do what it takes to make that happen.
I can usually tell when it's about time and I am trying to be a little more proactive than normal (I usually wait until I feel bad enough to be admitted)...and this time I want to be ahead of it. So don't be surprised if I have to visit the dreaded hospital soon. I'd much rather be the nurse taking care of me, than me being the patient, but this is life....
I have continued to work out, but over the last week I have noticed a much greater difficulty in breathing. I had gotten up to 30 mins on the elliptical and feeling good with my running/walking. On Monday & Tuesday of this week, I felt like I had a 300 pound weight on my chest while I was working out...needless to say, those were hard workouts for me. But, I persisted and did as much as I could, and walked away feeling proud that I at least gave it a shot and I did SOMETHING. With this new book in my hands, some powerful motivational words and my stubbornness....I'll be back to feeling good in no time. If someone that had a double lung transplant and a kidney transplant can get back on the horse and persevere to become a well known and respected runner....so can I. "If she can do it, so can I...."
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