Hey everyone! Things are finally starting to feel a *little* more normal around here, and I’m so excited to share a major milestone with you all. But, as life often does, there’s a little bit of “ugh” mixed in with the “yay.” Let’s dive in, shall we?
You guys, I did it! I took my very first unaided shower! 🎉 After months of sponge baths and assisted washing, I finally felt confident enough to tackle the shower solo. I even had my walker in the bathroom for a bit of extra support. I cranked up “More Than A Feeling” by Boston (because what’s a triumphant shower without a little rock anthem?), and just stood there, letting the water wash away all the aches, pains, and general ickiness of the past few months. It was pure bliss! Seriously, I felt cleaner than I have in ages.
After my shower, I enjoyed my morning coffee outside under the awning. I even called my friend Laura to share my showering achievement. It was great to catch up and share a moment of normalcy with someone who understood the struggle.
Work was pretty uneventful, but after taking Albus out for a bit, I made a HUGE mistake. I left him outside and came back to a crime scene. Poor Big Lamby. 😭
That night Dave and I went out for sushi. It was nice to have some one-on-one time. When we got home, I went outside for a bit and chatted with Jenn before bed. Around 1am I was awakened by a series of rapid licks to my nose. How did Albus manage this feat from his crate, you ask? Well, despite my repeated requests to the contrary, he was left to roam the bedroom overnight. Again. So now it’s 1am, and I’m all kinds of ticked off that I’ve said this *three times*, to no avail. So I get up, loaded for bear, and head to the living room where Dave had retreated with Albus. To my credit, I didn’t yell. I did patiently explain yet again my specific reasons for this request. While his small but sturdy stature can withstand an accidental roll over at this point, there’s still the issue of his lackluster approach to housebreaking. This has led to numerous accidents, and what if I get up in the middle of the night and slip in dog pee? Isn’t that a risk we’re trying not to take?
So I don’t know if I got through or not, but I assured him if I have to have this conversation again, it will be considerably less civil. After saying my peace, I retreated to bed, where sleep remained elusive for obvious reasons.
I was feeling progressively worse, so I went to bed early, where I lay awake most of the night with a sporadic phlegm clearing cough. Yuck! By the next morning I could deny it no longer – I was sick. A summer cold! 😩 Of course, this happened right when I was starting to feel like myself again.
I had to cancel all my Saturday plans, including a celebration of life for my old neighbor, drinks with a friend, and a mites hockey game. Bummer!
Despite feeling awful, we did manage to make a trip to Goodwill to drop off some clothes. On the way, we picked up some delicious croissants from Ovens of France (seriously, the BEST!), some cash, gas, and empty boxes to pack up my alcohol collection for its move to New Jersey. My mother-in-law, Kim, will be thrilled!
The rest of the weekend was a blur of naps, TV, and trying to avoid infecting anyone with my misery. Sunday was especially rough. I was cranky, exhausted, and just generally unpleasant to be around. Sorry, family!
So, that’s the update! One step forward with the shower, two steps back with the cold. I’m hoping to kick this bug quickly and get back to enjoying my summer. Wish me luck!
Thanks for reading, and I’ll be back soon with more adventures (hopefully healthier ones!).