Home Sweet Home (Back from our Trip)

Aahhhh, nothing like the mountains and scenery in this part of the country! Although, I have to admit that I did not see much of ANY of it! These two pictures were taken during our lunch break/rest stop on the way to the appointments. I missed most of the really pretty scenery, only vaguely recalling my parents saying, "Oh isn't this gorgeous here?" "Oh this is really pretty." "The trees are changing a lot here." Oh well!

Many of you have emailed or called saying you are anxiously awaiting a blog report on the trip so that I won't have to write it out several times over! So, here it goes. I think it will be in three parts. A bit today, just to let you know we are home and the trip went remarkably well.

We were able to rent the car we requested, a Subaru Tribeca, and I was able to lie in the back seat part of the time and sleep and then switch to the front seat and recline and sleep a bit more. My pain was manageable. I NEVER sleep in the car usually because I am in so much pain. I admit that I was absolutely dreading the car ride, dreading trying to sleep in the hotel room, and dreading the consequences of the trip upon our return home.

I am THRILLED to report that the car ride went really well and the Tribeca was GREAT. I slept much of the trip. The hardest part is, of course, getting home...and just as we were nearing home a traffic accident resulted in a HUGE back up for several miles. We lucked out and found a turn around on the interstate (for emergency vehicles only), broke the law and did a turn around there and made it home! Otherwise we would have been sitting there for hours.

Our hotel worked out splendiferously--it was clean, quiet, comfortable and each room had microwaves and refrigerators. This meant that I could have my heated slippers, my ice packs, and all of my gluten-free, dairy-free food. The beds were even comfy! And I SLEPT!

We left on Wednesday, saw the alternative practitioner on Thursday, and then on Friday we saw Dr. Lyme in the morning and drove straight home after that appointment.

No matter how tired I am I never fall asleep before 2 am, so I was going on 5 hours of sleep Friday morning when we saw Dr. Lyme, but I still DID IT. Then, I was able to sleep a good part of the ride home.

The whole experience was so different than our last trip there in November of 2005.

On Saturday, after another good night's sleep, I woke up at my usual time, got dressed, ate lunch, and had a fairly 'normal' day. Although I've been a bit tired I have had virtually no 'recovery' time.

My mom's eyes have been bugging out of her face at the energy I have had upon return from such a long trip--which was both physically and emotionally grueling.

Normally my ANS would 'freak out' from being overtired and I wouldn't sleep, or be able to do anything. This has not been the case this time around. More than any words a doctor could say or any other opinion, this experience seems to be a testament to the improvements I am making.

So, now we're back home safe and sound. I'm thankful for the fact that my dad drove so safely while I was sleeping in the back seat unbuckled! I am thankful for the fact that both of my parents could go--and that I slept through most of the talking! Or, blocked it out with my ear buds! We did have a few 'navigation disagreements', but otherwise, the trip went incredibly smoothly. I am thankful to my mom for taking care of all of my food needs, helping me pack, unpack, etc. etc. I am thankful to Abbie for taking such good care of Asher Dasher.

I'm almost wishing I was back in that hotel room--where there were no piles calling my name, no phone calls to be made, no emails to respond to, and no never-ending list of things to do! UGH.

So, that's the scoop on the trip itself. Next up: The appointments!

Photos: Scenery during our lunch break. Pictures of me with Dad and Mom (me with some serious bedhead from sleeping in the car!).