Category: Milestones

2-Year Annie-Versary Today

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Two years ago, my life changed. Thankfully, it changed in a way that allowed me to still be here.

It’s a lovely Fall day here in Maine, just as it was in 2006. But instead of being awakened with horrific pain, I heard a chipmunk chirping outside my window, my Maine man getting his morning coffee and my kitty cats flitting about the house waiting to be fed. Yes, this morning was far better.

Last night I treated Dave to a wonderful dinner at The Village Inn here in Belgrade. I ordered a split (small bottle) of champagne and we toasted to being alive. I wanted to pay for it to thank him for everything he’s done, and continues to do, for me. He was at the hospital EVERY day I was there. He drove down at 2:00 a.m. one morning after having just left, because I needed him. He got groceries for months after I got home. He drove me back and forth to work until I was able to drive on my own. He cleaned house, did laundry, did dishes and took care of me…and never complained. He’s my angel.

Today we’ll bundle up and take the pontoon boat out for probably our last cruise of the season and enjoy the fresh, cool crisp air and the view. Two years ago it was an ugly room in ICU. I’ll take this one any  day!

Happy Annie-versary to me!

Looking Back

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In looking back at this time last year, I was still struggling. Struggling with my balance, my head pain and my every day life. A little over a year ago, I was still using a cane and had barely set foot into a store, much less drove my car.

Yes, I have made some major milestones in the last year. I feel very good and am starting to exercise again. We’ll see how well I can stick to it this time. I went back to work full time in April and although the catalog was a huge, huge struggle for me this year, I did it.

I still get very tired, which is a little frustrating and I still feel “brain tired” when I overdo it at the computer, or pretty much anything that involves a lot of brain work. Even everyday things.

Last year I recall being frustrated with how pooped I’d get wrapping presents and how I was unable to assist with the Christmas tree as much as I would have wanted. This year, I hope to make some more milestones by stepping it up from last year and being able to do more.

Dave, as usual, has been wonderfully supportive and caring. I still don’t know what I’ve done to deserve him, but I’m a lucky woman all the way around.

Boogie Night

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Prior to my rupture, I didn’t dance that frequently, but I do love to and given the opportunity last night at a party to boogie on the dance floor, I jumped at the chance. Well….walked up, not jumped.

It felt great to dance, but it winded me horribly and about half way through the first dance, my head was already throbbing. Of course the dance selections were the extended dance versions, so one song equaled about four songs in elapsed time. I had to sit after that first one, but just couldn’t keep myself off the dance floor as song after good dancing song popped up. Dave even got into the mix and we boogied, but he was spinning me and twirling me and I couldn’t do that very long, but it felt great to dance with him. I think it has been two years since I last danced….and it should probably be another two years before I dance again! LOL

Very depressing actually. I love to dance and would have been on the dance floor all night with the others, but my physical stamina and my head wouldn’t allow it. Of course, I pushed the envelope, even though I knew I shouldn’t. And today I’m paying for it. I feel hung over, which is really ironic because I was drinking non-alcoholic wine all night!

My head is in pretty rough shape, my eyes feel tired and physically, I’m exhausted. BUT…I had a great time last night I just don’t think I’ll be doing
it again any time soon.

Delayed Reaction?

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It’s interesting. I went through the week leading up to my 1-year anniversary, a little apprehensive, certainly reflecting on the past year and the same time last year, and looking forward to getting on with life.

However, in the days and week following THE day, I’ve had very odd feelings. I’m unable to fully explain them…I wish I could. As I type this, I’m numbering page files for the final catalog files to send to the printer tomorrow. I never got to do that last year…I was in the neuro ward. I’m running across emails that I sent out just a day or two before the annie ruptured last year…and I’m thinking about how I sat at my computer, overly stressed, overly tired and completely unaware of what was going to happen the next morning. I’m trying to remember if I was experiencing any headaches or neck aches or eyes aches, but I can’t. And that just seemed to come with the territory while working on the catalog anyway, so I probably
wouldn’t have thought much of it at the time.

I almost started crying….while checking page numbers! LOL How add is that. I didn’t cry on the anniversary. I didn’t cry when speaking to my sister about her experiences last year, nor when Dave speaks of what happened last year. I certainly start to feel emotional, but isn’t it odd that a solitary, technical, unemotional task like numbering files almost got me! LOL Very strange.

I’m just glad I survived this year’s catalog. It was just my main goal to see if I could do it again, but then all hell broke lose at work with people critical to the process leaving, then the same old stressful crap that’s always associated with the catalog was there, only magnified because I’m just not able to work as quickly or as efficiently. BUT…I did it. That’s a HUGE accomplishment, so kudos to me!