Update on Quilting and me ...

Thought I'd better update in here as I've been holed up for a little while now, really just enjoying my own space and no desire to quilt, communicate or anything else except enjoy some good health and really enjoy the love of my daughter and my puppies!!  And I feel really well ... except being overwhelmed by doctors who insist on trying to frighten me by saying I still have a chronic illness and have to be careful, etc etc whereas I feel super well and lots more energetic than I was feeling, but GP is worried about blood tests, have to go back for a check up with the hospital thoracic consultant on 9th of next month - and on and on it goes.

GP is a worry wort but he is also a great diagnostician so I tend to listen to him a bit, so am doing what I'm told and getting these blood tests -  which I am sick of - one time my white blood cells are up then my red cells are up and whites are normal, ya da ya da - that happens when you're on strong arthritis drugs but normally with one blood test every 3-6 months the fluctuations aren't as noticeable as it is with one blood test every month.  People don't seem to believe me when I say I'm feeling grand and apart from wishing the physical rehab would go quicker and I can get more fit (which really needs a bit more help from me), I am breathing well, heart rate and oxygen levels are totally normal and only increase normally with exercise, so I wish they'd stop trying to make me be an invalid!!  But it does have its effect so I've gone back into my shell (and own head) a bit to protect my fragile belief in my own feelings - surely I'd have some symptoms if things were as chronic as they seem to want to make out - and have no symptoms at all - I think that my body is taking its own time to adjust itself to the past year and that is all that's wrong.  Will see what consultant says on 9th.

I've taken work's advice about not hurrying things and still doing 3 hours a day, 3 days a week.  I must admit I love the 3 days a week bit, specially when I have Friday-Monday before I have to worry about working again.  Best idea I ever had.  But in another way, I can't wait till I can get into the office to work and be with people again and part of the whole office buzz.  But am working hard on the stepping up and down from public transport and also the muscles above my knee to help me support my weight more when I sit/stand or step up or down because of course, if I can't get into public transport, ie train or bus, I can't go into town, so am still working from home. 

I'm on a course at the Hospital for pulmonary rehab which runs for 8 weeks this course - I'm enjoying the hell out of the gym especially as the hospital transport cars pick me up and bring me home so I don't have to make any effort or pay out any money to go! (That must be the Scot in me - )  We're almost half way thru but I'm going to see if I can go to the next programme too which will make it even better.  I know it's working as I've been stiff in the right places for the past couple of times and that means working muscles!

My next trick is to get the gutter fixed and the car fixed properly.  I'm keeping the car - it turns out my great nephew is just too tall and "Bingham built" to fit in the bliddy thing, his knees would be up on the dashboard, and they couldn't have afforded to get it fixed mechanically either, so after conflabs with his father (my nephew, Malcolm, whose an inch shorter than his son at 6'5" and he couldn't get in it either - LOL), we've decided I'll keep it.  And now I've been home for 4 months, I realise if I don't have it, I don't walk places, I just stay home!!  Or get Vonn to take me - which will grow old with me (and her) pretty quick, so am quite pleased I still have it!

So there you have it - Mitzi and Jock are fine-o tho I'm feeding them too much, Mitzi is becoming her butter ball self she used to be before she fretted about 4kgs off her small frame, so soon they'll have to both go on a diet!!  Life just goes round and round doesn't it - hee!  She's still having separation anxiety if I have to go out and wants to sit on my lap more than she ever did, but apart from that, things are back to normal!

The other good news is that after at least 5 weeks of not being bothered with quilting, tho I have a myriad of things to do and to finish, I think I can feel the stirrings of enthusiasm so will set myself up outside so as to take advantage of sewing where I'm right in the thick of everything, so that bodes well for those people who are patiently waiting for promised articles!!