small victories!

Some things we get to choose, some things we don't.  This fine morning, I woke up and felt blah.  I've been a little stuffy, and my head hurt, my ears ached...so I thought, Well, I won't go to the pool.  But, I got up and brushed my teeth, washed my face in cold water, and made a strong coffee with no cream, and felt much better.  I protested every step of the way, but I inched my way across that deck, went down the stairs, and into the car.  

My parking spot was too far away, wah wah wah, but towards the rec center I hobbled, then called the desk for them to open the back door for me.  Up the stairs and down the hall, step by step.  Into the locker room, then out to the pool deck...the entrance to the ramp is on the complete opposite corner from the locker room, so I had to walk all along the pool deck, looking diligently to find dry spots for the cane, as it slips in the water, and the pool deck is of course WET.  When I reach that ramp, I have to inch down it, so slowly, DON'T LOOK AT ME, ha.  

Finally in the water, ahhh, the class has already started, but I don't care.  I just join in and move as much as I can.  Row the boat, pull the rope, arm circles...it feels good to move in the water.  When the class finishes the shallow water exercises and goes to the deep end, I stay in the neck deep water and walk across the pool, then backwards back, then again, walking like normal, it feels good.  Then, up the ramp, leaving the buoyancy of the water to the pulling of gravity, ugh.  Then back around the perimeter of the whole pool again, dodging the puddles and wet footprints, then back into the locker room.  

It isn't easy yet.  I don't love the whole rigamarole.  I can barely even say it's a choice to go, but it is.  What else can I do?  I cannot walk without that cane yet, and even with it, it's dismal.  So I NEED to exercise and keep busy and move and walk.  

What I CAN choose is to be happy in it all.  That part is difficult sometimes.  

I got home today, and Sonja came to visit with baby Kaia.  I ordered the expensive flea collars for the cats, I already have one for Sunny.  I didn't do much else.  But.  I am going to have another grandbaby before the day is through!   Number 19 is on her way, a few weeks early!  (#20, 21, and 22 will be here by October!). 

Look at those happy feet!

Playing with a doll's bottle...she is precious!

Yesterday was wonderful, we celebrated Mr. Ellis, a brand new one year old! 

He did like his cupcake!  

Yeah, so I get an F- in picture taking...you can see Blythe in her overalls, and Achilles, and Mariel...that's Ophelia in the pink...

Some granddaughters:  Blythe, Maeve, Ruth, Rhys...and Nate:). We had our corned beef and cabbage, and red-skinned potatoes.  Emily brought an Instantpot with some sort of chicken, and made a pot of pasta.  Mariel made a really nice salad, Rosi baked a loaf of bread.  The kids had their birthday cupcakes, and I passed out mini M&M's.  The boys went out back and played in the bracken, (I just wanted to use that word), but Tenny told me Grant has a lair.  They love playing in the woods.  

We are having strange weather.  The temp this afternoon:  68 degrees, and by morning, in the teens.  With more snow.  Benjamin and family are on vacation down south, and the weather there is awful, so their flight is getting delayed over and over again...I think they might rent a car and drive home...

So many things to pray for!  You think your kids grow up and move out and you can relax, HA.  

Anyway.  Just making the decision to actually go to the pool is a small victory.  By the time I heave myself up those deck steps and get back into the house, I feel like it was a HUGE victory!  

Yah, I know, I talk about my poor knee too much.  I'm going back to physical therapy this week too...I hate to, but I need it.   

This post is all over the place, but then, so am I!  You wouldn't believe how many times I've gotten up while writing it.  I just did some squats and leg lifts with the five pound ankle weight, and came back to my chair.  

It's super quiet in here right now.  Paul is puttering around, working and such, the girls are in their rooms doing school work, and here I am.   It's been a good day, but the days go by way too fast.  Slow down, life!  You all have a good afternoon!