Tales from the Crypt??? Nah! That's not right! Tales from REHAB - Part 1!

Thanks in large part to all of the love and encouragement that has been sent my way from all of you, I am beginning to see some light!!!!  I have been eating quite well.  Ruthie set me on a great path and B has been taking good care of me in that department!  Plus, we have been working together on some meals out of Chrissy Teigen's two cookbooks, just for fun.

This cod with miso butter was really delish.  We made ours with squash because B was worried about too much fiber in the snap peas just now.

Another supper out of the book was this amazing cheesy polenta (with mozzarella, cream, AND Parmesan, guys!!!) topped with a perfectly fried egg by Bentie, along side sauteed mushrooms  and spinach!  Soooo yummy!!

I keep forgetting to take pics of my amazing Bentie breakfasts.  I am too greedy and just eat them up!!  There has been plenty of kefir or yogurt with fruit, lots of eggs all sorts of ways, and are these little pancakes not the cutest??  Tasty too!!!  I'm taking my multivitamin and iron supplement every morning.  Other positive news I forgot to include in my last report ~ though my hemoglobin was 8.1 at hospital discharge it had already increased to 9.3 at my oncology visit Wednesday.

I have been blessed by good visits with the kiddo's.  (Which included meatloaf and mashed potatoes when Fred-o was here and chicken salad sandwiches when Roo came by!!!)  I know this has been a rather traumatic slap in the face for them.  Yet, they have been consistently strong and cheering for me - rather than the other way round.  We have had good talks about everything...politics, me, as well as the good and the difficult in their own lives.  That may not sound that significant.  But, as one who has been in tenuous health positions before, I've found that lots of people fear being "real" around the "victim".  I am thankful that they are comfortable in sharing their lives with me, period.  But, even more grateful that they continue to do so in our current circumstance.  I am so proud of both of them.  They are strong, generous, hard working adults, who are doing their best to make their way in a world that is not always kind or rational.

Yesterday, B tamped down his own worries and fears and helped me putter about the yard!  My entire family, for years, have said,  "There she goes!  Cleaning the woods again!"  Well.  Maybe.  But, I have spent 20 years turning this plot of wooded land into a garden.  Having been abandoned for a month, which included a good deal of rain and storms, there was certainly cleaning to be done.  B, has often said HIS yard would consist of gravel spray painted green, but works tirelessly to help me effect any yard work I so desire just the same.  So yesterday, I walked slowly and carefully about - pointing out sticks and limbs to be collected, tomato vines to be taken down, cages to be stored.  Small steps...but steps nonetheless.

Sweet Ruthie came fully ready to provide not only cheer and sustenance during her visit, but "activities" as well!!  (We like our "activities"!!!)  We watched the first season of Big Little Lies together.  Man!  Those peeps and their crazy will definitely take your mind off your troubles!!  And, she came set to help me embark on a project she has heard me go on and on about!  Making pillows with cases covered with Sashiko embroidery for my couch!!!

She finished hers, on the right, and it looks awesome!!!  Mine is a basket weave pattern on the left, that looks like shite!!!  But, I'll get her done and see how she looks in the end.  I think I should claim I was on major drugs during the process, but y'all already know that ain't so!!!  HA!

During this grand convalescence I have also managed to complete a Pediatric Primary Care module, required annual continuing education credits for my pediatric NP certification and license, take the test, and make 100%!!!!  Guess, I came out of this with no greater brain damage than I already possessed!!

And finally, though B has promised to help me get situated and hopefully do a bit of sewing today, when a sewist ain't sewing, she can be studying up on it via her laptop, right????  And this is the awesomeness I've come up with!!!!

I am quite excited about this little dress hacked by The Fabric Store using the In the Folds, Ruffle Sleeve Top - a free download from the Peppermint Magazine!!!  I think it will be perfect for a little piece of Liberty cotton that I have from my Paris fabric shopping!!!
Here's the link so you can see it for yourself:  The Fabric Store Blog ~ Ruffle sleeve dress pattern hack

I'm in LOVE with this Llira dress by Pauline Alice!!  B has already ordered the PDF for me and has promised to work his magic soon!!!

I was much tempted by this Faura top/dress, also by Pauline Alice...

...but when I saw this Honeycomb Shirt/Dress by Cocowawa Patterns, I knew it was perfect for me!!!

I think it will work better on my less curvy frame.

I just love the little collar and the detail on the long sleeved version!  And yes, Bentie is on it!!!!

I still have a long way to go.  It feels really strange not to have exercised in a month.  It goes against my grain to move so slowly, to have to ask for and accept help, for stupid things!!  Perhaps these road blocks I keep hitting is Mother Nature's way of teaching me grace, humility, and patience???  Okay, B!#CH!  I got it!!  Enough, already!!!

In case you were wondering - my answer remains unchanged.  I do NOT feel I have become a better person for having had cancer - TWICE!  I am NOT AT ALL thankful to have been attacked in this way!  I am seriously pissed!  For myself, and even more so for the hell that my dear ones keep having to endure on my behalf.  Still, I am forever grateful to all of you who have blessed me with your love and kindnesses ~ to "keep ever burning before my vagrant steps - the kindly light of hope".  Much love, les