Buckle up for The Roller Coaster of Recovery....and GO!

Boy this thing really runs the full range of physical and emotional peaks and valleys.  I was on the phone yesterday with some people from work and felt great.  I hadn't gotten sick in 3 days, my voice was strong, I felt pretty damn good actually.  It was exactly 3 weeks from my last treatment.  I thought, perfect, I'm on the uphill part now and it's all good now.

Almost as a backup to that belief, I got a call from Tom Stack out on the left coast who went through exactly what I am about a year ago and it was on my 3 week anniversary.  I figured he was calling to say YOU MADE IT!  However, though he was happy to hear I was doing well, he made it very clear that the roller coaster ride wasnt' over.  5 more weeks of bad and good fighting it out is what he said.  And wouldn't you know it, BAM, he nailed it.

Last night I hit the bathroom at 2am and didn't leave for an hour.  It was one of the worst bouts of stomach issues I've had since it started.  All I could think was 3 clean days all washed away.  But then Tom's input hit.  Expect it.  Move on.  Get your rest and eat your food.  So, that's what we'll keep doing going forward.

The eating part is really hard.  Not so much from the pain perspective now but everything still tastes horrible.  I mean horrible.  Simple chicken soup broth tastes like 8 week old milk sitting in an opened glass container in the sun, in August.  It's gross.  It's making it hard to keep any strength.  The proteins aren't getting in me fast enough and I can feel all the strength washing out slowly.  That's my focus now.  Eating to stay strong.  It's the key to everything.

Denise received a call from her Uncle Johnnie (Father John) last night.  He is a character.  He was a missionary priest who worked in South America for years.  He learned a lot out there, unfortunately playing tennis and playing fair were not two of them.  Every time he came home we would play a couple times.  I would let him win a few games, then he would start calling shots in even when they landed on his side of the net (on his return).  He's always been a great person to talk to and has a great take on things when you have a chance to sit and talk with him.  He offered up to Denise that he is praying for me so I know I have a little bigger slice of God working this with me now.  How can I lose?  In fact, if he could help me get through this recovery piece a little quicker I might be tempted to let him win a round of golf if he wants.  Whatever it takes!!!

The kids start school tomorrow (Thursday) which is really late.  I'll miss listening to them and having them about during the recovery.  They have been the inspiration and a huge help to me throughout this thing.  I can't wait to be back on my feet so we can get back to living life, not just living.  I miss being part of their days in a substantive way.  So much we did together between normal activities, soccer practice, school stuff.  I miss it all and can't wait till spring when I'm back in the mix.  For now, it just hurts not being able to be there.

Thanks again to all of you who continue to respond and post or email with updates on how you are doing, funny things you've heard about etc..  It helps and keeps my brain moving.  Thanks to all of you for your support.

Cheers
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