New Joys: Girls Night Out!

Storm, Marjie, Nicole, Me

As I write this on Saturday night, I'm feeling a mix of emotions-- amazed, grateful, hopeful, thankful, relieved, and a little scared this goodness won't last. 

Today, as Mom and I baked chocolate chip espresso cookies (recipe coming), I said: "Can you believe I'm able to do this today after going out last night?" 

Mom's face lit up with joy as she reflected on how well I was doing today. 

I said: "I will be devastated if this new level of health doesn't continue." 

"I know," she said. "So will I." 

I try to rest in the present each day. But there is that little part of me that always knows the fragility of wellness within illness.

Clockwise from Left: Julia, Stephanie, Lauren, Storm, Marjie, Nicole, Me (HATE this photo of me!)

On Friday night, Marjie arranged for a girls night out at a local restaurant while her mom babysat her newly adopted daughter. 

Julia and Stephanie

First, Marjie is top-notch at accommodating my needs, so she and Nicole asserted to the folks at the restaurant that while the restaurant requires all members of a party to be present before seating (and there was an hour wait), that one member of their party could not stand/wait for that long and could only arrive after they had been seated. This made it possible for me to go. 

Stephanie and Lauren

My body continues to do things new, different and better with each passing day. 

The scene:

Eight women

A very loud restaurant

Sitting up for 3 hours

Needing to yell to be heard

A crowded restaurant

The experience:

Almost symptom free

Crossed my legs Indian style, as always, to sit up that long

Lots of laughter

Lots of great women, including several Jewish women

Ordered a meal as FODMAPS-friendly as possible

Asked for help--by asking Marjie and Nicole to be seated before I arrived and by asking Nicole for a ride--and received it willingly and lovingly

The outcome:

Tired

Achey and a sore neck

No extra meds needed to sleep

A day at home Saturday, but still able to function low-key

HAPPY! JOYFUL!

Still feeling rough-around the edges Sunday

How it used to be:

Sweating just to sit up

Overwhelmed and overstimulated ANS from the noise and large crowds

Shortness of breath from having to talk loudly

Difficulty focusing on conversation because of cognitive fatigue and other symptoms

Inability to even go to such an event or sit up that long

I would also arrive home with ringing in my ears, nausea, forceful heartbeats, fatigue, pallor, sweating, and an ANS otherwise so mad that I would be up most of the night because it couldn't calm down. Without a LOT of extra medications, I might be awake all night. At least one pajama day and maybe more. Several days to completely recover.

Clockwise from Left (Same as Above Photo)
Missing: Melissa Had Already Left

It was a wonderful night for so many reasons--because the women were wonderful, because I think I'm finding more new friends locally, because many of these women are Jewish, because the women watch out for my health, because we laughed a lot, because I felt so 'normal' going on this type of outing, because my body exceeded any expectations I could have had, because I didn't pay a horrible price, because I was able to fully enjoy the outing.

Many people have been asking if I know why I am feeling so much better. It's a combination of things, but for the most part it is due to one medication in particular called mestinon. I know I'm long overdue for the health updates, but I'm so immersed in the new, exciting things happening. 

Thank you for sharing in my new joys and experiences. I would never be this joyful, this happy, this blessed, this perseverant, or this resilient if it wasn't for the cheering squad I have with me every step of the way.

Blessings,

Emily

Monday Dog Blog: Sleeps with Dogs

Gift from Marla

A sweet, thoughtful, and fun gift arrived in the mail from Marla last week--a pillowcase with the above printed on it. She knows me so well!

Yup, sleeps with dogs. That's me.

TV Time

First, we all settle in for some TV. As you can see, these two aren't in it for the TV show, but instead for the snuggles.

This Guy Can Really Sack Out! His Mouth is Hanging Open!

For most of their lives, Tovah Rose and Gershwin have slept in crates in my bedroom. But now that Asher is gone, I miss having a dog near me to fall asleep. So, I caved in and started letting these two sleep in bed with me. 

Gershwin has not quite gotten the hang of the idea that sometimes Mommy needs to roll over during the night--which results in me needing to wake up and move him. One night, I tried to give him a little noodge with my foot and he fell off the bed! Oops!

I'm aware of all of the research that says letting your dogs sleep in bed with you means poorer quality of sleep, but I'm such a crappy sleeper anyways--in and out of sleep all night long--that I'm not quite sure it makes a whole lot of difference whether or not Tovah Rose and Gershwin sleep with me or not.

Taking Over My Pillow

While Gershwin likes to sleep against the back of my legs, Tovah Rose has always liked to sleep above my head on my pillow. I got out of bed the other night to discover she had taken over the pillow entirely. 

Oh how these little creatures wiggle their way into our hearts...and our beds.

Happy Monday!

Blessings,

Emily

Happy Father's Day Dad!

Professor Dad

Happy Father's Day to my Dad!

This year we really get to enjoy celebrating--we'll be going out to a new Thai restaurant in town, I've got a gift ready to go, and then Dad even agreed to stop at Talbot's to look at shoes for my reunion. I am sure his favorite part of our father-daughter date day will be shoe shopping! :) I'm so excited to be able to really spend time with Dad on his special day.

I snapped these photos of Dad one day for his webpage and thought they were great shots of him.

Professor Dad

I'd also just like to shout out to my dad how much I love him.  I think I learn to love him more every day. After many years of struggle we've come to a place of peace, understanding, respect, compassion, and nurturing. I'm sad we missed out on years of this type of closeness, yet I try to live in an understanding that maybe this was our journey and our path to each other. Still, I think of the time we have left and savor it.

Thank you, Dad, for your counsel, for your wisdom, for your constant support, for your commitment to my present and to my future, for your hard work, for your sense of humor, for your compassion, for your 100% stand-by-me on my medical journey no matter what attitude, for your perseverance through your own life, for your passion, and most of all, for your love.

Happy Father's Day!

Love, 

Champ

Monday Dog Blog: How to Wear Out Tovah Rose

All that Thinking and Learning is EXHAUSTING!

Miss Piss and Vinegar started a foundations in agility class last week. Mom is taking her on Monday mornings in an effort to hopefully give our little girl a better outlet for her energy and also help us to learn to have better control of her behavior. 

Let's just say she was pretty worn out after her first class! :)

We Love Jennifer!

Tovah Rose also had her well-check before class started. In the chaos of Asher's long illness and a computer glitch at the vet, we missed her vaccines last year! Good news--she's fine and she's all up to date now.

Healthy!

She got to see all of her friends at the vet, including Jennifer. She even topped off the scale at 11.4 pounds, which we are thrilled about!

Dining Habits

Her new dining habits are a little comical.

Pure Bliss

This little guy doesn't seem to need any 'outlets' for his energy. Instead he just needs a LOT of love. On walks, he drags behind Mom or behind the Rolls on StRolls. 

My new favorite thing he does? When Tovah Rose refuses to come inside (often!), we encourage Gershwin to 'Go get Tovah Rose! Bring her in!' He doesn't always get what it is we are asking, but he is getting more consistent. He runs back outside, circles around her, and herds her inside. It's adorable, and he is ever so proud of himself.

Sweet Tovah Rose is asleep across my chest as I type this post. 

Happy Monday!

Blessings,

Emily

Recipe Fridays: Honey-Sesame Pork Tenderloins

Well, it's time for another Recipe Friday.  This week, we're serving up a main dish instead of a baked good. :) Mom made this recipe for Dad, Abbie, Jay and Jeanette when they were here for dinner last Saturday. When both Jay and Jeanette asked for the recipe, I knew it was one worth sharing with my readers.

To make this recipe FODMAPS friendly, Mom substituted the maple syrup in place of the honey and used garlic top greens in place of garlic cloves.

These beautiful local free-range pork tenderloins were served with rice pilaf, fresh local asparagus and fresh local salad. Cookies for dessert! (Recipe coming next week). 

Thank you, Mom, for serving us such a wonderful meal and always making our company feel welcome and well-nourished. 

Honey-Sesame Pork Tenderloins

2  whole pork tenderloins, about 1 lb each

1 T. minced garlic cloves

1 T. minced fresh ginger

1/3 c. soy sauce

2 t. sesame oil

2/3 c. honey

2 T. packed brown sugar

Sesame seeds

Combine all ingredients and allow pork tenderloins to marinate 4-6 hours (or overnight).

Remove tenderloins from marinade and place on baking sheet or pie pan.  Pour marinade into saucepan.  Generously sprinkle sesame seeds all over tenderloins.  Bake at 350 degrees approx. 25-30 minutes for medium to medium rare doneness.  Remove from oven, cover and seal with foil and allow to rest about 10 minutes before slicing.  Bring the marinade to a boil. Simmer until mixture is reduced by half – about 10 minutes.  Watch sauce carefully!!  Serve sauce with meat.

Notes from Chef Renee:  The original recipe is from a class I took with a woman named Melanie.  I reduced some of the garlic and ginger and simplified the preparations she used.  She also used a special seasoning soy sauce that I didn’t buy.  I baked the tenderloins for a shorter time than she did….We don’t like well done meat.  I only marinate the meat for the afternoon…Melanie did it overnight…Hope you enjoy it.

When I make this for just the 2 of us, I use ½ the marinade recipe for 1 pork tenderloin.

Tonight I had 3 small pork tenderloins – less than 2 ½ lbs total….Leftovers are good too!

My Favorite Iowans: Jay and Jeanette

Aunt Jeanette and Cousin Jay

We had an incredibly special, amazing, beautiful, joyful, laughter-filled, fantabulous visit from two of our very favorite people in the whole world--my cousin Jay and my Aunt Jeanette. 

Farmer Darrell with J and J

Dad, ever the farmer, gave J and J a friendly "Iowa style" welcome. Any excuse to get out his John Deere tractor and Dad is ready. :)

Cousin Love

I was last in Iowa 16 years ago for the wedding of another one of our cousins. Let's just say, 16 years is way too long to go without seeing my favorite cousin. I just wanted to hug Jay a thousand times.

The best part? We picked up as if we had never been apart. It was a truly special weekend, and we hope very much that next time Jay's wife, Kim, and their two children, Cora and Sawyer, can join us.

Jeanette, Me, Jay

Many of my Iowa memories are of sitting at Jeanette's kitchen table talking and talking to her, hanging out with Jay on the farm tractors, in the pig barns, and tagging along with him to ballgames or wherever he was going. 

As we sat around the patio table Sunday afternoon--just Jeanette, Jay and me--it felt as if we were back in Iowa again, a familiarity so ingrained in our beings.

Skyping with Kim, Cora and Sawyer

Uncle Howdy wasn't able to join us this past weekend because he is busy with farm work. Jay, who lives in Seattle, had a conference to attend, so worked in a way to stop here first. Jeanette decided to join him, which made the visit, well, doubly special. 

Jay and I did get to Skype for a few minutes with Kim, Cora, and Sawyer. 

A Very Happy Reunion

Even before my parents married, they always stayed with Uncle Howdy and Aunt Jeanette. After Jay and I joined their lives, we continued to stay with Howdy and Jeanette during most visits to Iowa. Jeanette became like a second mother to me, and Jay was likely the closest thing I ever had to a brother. At the end of a messy day on the farm, Jeanette even threw us into the bathtub together! Oh how I wish I had one of those photos to scan here!

Abbie, Me, Jeanette, Mom

Mom cooked dinner for all of us on Saturday evening--pork, asparagus, salad, rice pilaf, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies--and we enjoyed a big gathering with Dad, Abbie, Jay, Jeanette, Mom and me. 

Iowa Family

I love that my parents and Abbie can all be together comfortably--I give Abbie and Mom so much credit for being so kind and wonderful to each other. 

Sharing a Meal

Mom was running a little behind with a couple of things before dinner started, and Abbie stepped in to set the table and help out. When I saw the two of them in the kitchen together, I smiled--and I felt very fortunate.

Fresh Market Flowers

Even a year ago, being in large groups and laughing a lot made me feel very symptomatic because of the sensory overload. Being able to fully enjoy dinner together in a large group and laugh without my heart pounding forcefully in frustration made the occasion even more joyful.

When I am less overwhelmed by my physical symptoms, I am able to be more fully present in the beautiful moments happening around me and to me.

Beautiful Local Food

On Sunday afternoon, Jay and Jeanette drove over from Dad and Abbie's (where they stayed), and we visited outside. That evening, Jay and Jeanette came back over for dinner with Mom and me. 

We really enjoyed having the various visits with different people at each one. 

Chef Mom

Along with the joy of having Jay and Jeanette here, I felt such joy in being able to fully enjoy such a busy weekend. 

Did a Mack truck hit me on Monday? Yes. But it wasn't the kind of Mack truck that used to knock me down for days on end. And the number of hours I sat up, conversed, laughed, and enjoyed has, until now, been unmatched. 

I couldn't have asked for more.

Exactly a year ago, on the same weekend, Mom and I had just traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet Corina. I remember enjoying the trip, but also struggling a great deal, needing a lot of extra medications to get through the pain and agitation of my ANS. Still, the first weekend of June is now becoming a favorite! :)

2012 Visit with Howdy and Jeanette

Aunt Jeanette and Uncle Howdy visited two years ago at the end of July, just after we had gotten Tovah Rose. Things got so busy with being a new mommy to a puppy that I didn't get to blog about their visit.

Jeanette and Howdy

But it was such a wonderful happy visit that I thought I'd post the pics from that visit as well.

Me and Mom

Jeanette, Me, Mom

Aunt Jeanette has been here in 2005, 2012 and now 2014. She's seen me at my very worst in this illness and my very best. It's hard to look back at that very first blog post in 2005 and remember how very sick I was.

Hugs for Howdy!

I couldn't stop hugging my Uncle Howdy when he was here! 

Jeanette with baby Tovah Rose

An Afternoon with Just the Two of Us

I hope Jay and I never go sixteen years without seeing one another again, and that Aunt Jeanette, Uncle Howdy and I are able to keep our visits more regular, just as they were when I was growing up, spending summer days sitting at Aunt Jeanette's kitchen table eating macaroni and cheese or homemade sweet rolls (oh, how I miss those!).

I miss you all already!

Love and Blessings,

Emily

Monday Dog Blog: Repeats

I'm not quite sure what is happening with my blog/Google, but a few posts have gone out to subscribers and say: "This message has no content." The post is not visible in email and there is no hot link to go to my blog.

Whenever you receive such a message in your email, you'll need to go to my blog itself because there IS a post up and waiting to be read!

This error happened with last week's dog blog, and since we had a very busy weekend with out of town company, I'll leave you with a repeat of last week's post.

Monday Dog Blog: Snuggle Time With Mom

We Love Our Mom

While we sat around enjoying our evening with Jeannine on Saturday evening, both puppies decided that they wanted to snuggle with Mom. 

(Once one puppy is getting attention the other one is jealous.)

Kisses from Miss Peace and Love

Gershwin would snuggle on a lap ALL DAY LONG if he could. He spent much of Sunday afternoon looking soulfully at me, waiting for me to sit down in the recliner with him. 

Mr. Free Hugs is in Heaven!

I love watching Mom take joy in the little ones. As you can see in this photo, Gershwin is experiencing pure pleasure--he's being scratched in just the right spot. :)

Happy Monday!

Blessings,

Emily