Already found just the right spot for it too

This weekend at Gina’s pool party Uncle Denny surprised us with this eagle, a breathtaking gift and family heirloom.  Uncle Denny made the eagle this winter out of 109 separate pieces of wood and then assembled them one by one into this beautiful bird while I was in cancer treatment.  He’s been so wonderful – always keeping in touch with the sweetest encouragements.  We are so thankful for this gift, along with the gift of the most amazing family in the world, and all of our caring friends…we love you all.

Keeping busier and busier

The return to normalcy…if such a thing is really possible….seems to be undulating instead of static, but we’re getting there.

The Former Boyfriend and I went out to dinner last Monday night at The Crest Gastro pub with Jake and Elizabeth.  It’s the annual July birthday dinner for Jake and me…something we started years ago to celebrate our birthdays.  A nice little place.

Tuesday we took our dogs Tillie and Rose back to the Columbus All Breed Training Club.  It’s the first time we’ve been back since my surgery.  It was fun and productive.  All four of us were tired out at the end of the evening.

And then on Friday evening we saw John Fogerty play at Cincinnati’s Riverbend Amphitheater.  The fine folks at Time Warner were giving away samples of craft beer.  I’m not supposed to have carbs but free beer and Fogerty…What’s a girl to do??? I had some samples. It was a show of over two hours of classic Creedence Clearwater Revival and Bayou songs along with some Centerfield solo stuff and work from his new albums.  He played, “Mystic Highway” which I really love and “Train of Fools”.  At 69 Fogerty is an icon that’s out on the road really delivering a kick-ass show.  Highly recommended from this clan.

We finished up the week with Jack & Gina’s annual pool party.  We are grateful beyond words for all their work putting that together – We love seeing everyone.  Rachel graduates from OSU in December and in August Tiffany is heading for Moody College in Chicago.

I’m still having half hour laser treatments 3 times per week to help reduce scar tissue and increase range of motion in my right arm, I’m trying to put some weight back on, getting started monitoring my heart rate variability, and I’m trying to get my regular energy and passion for doing things back.  But all in all I’m doing great and have another packed week coming up.

before the show

 

 

 

Fogerty jammin'

 

 

 

 

at Gina's

Here's something different I'm doing

Dr Kanodia has me monitoring Heart Rate Variability.  According to the latest research it is so much more valuable than just monitoring heart rate. Heart rate variability (usually known as HRV) is a relatively new method for assessing the effects of stress on your body. It is measured as the time gap between your heart beats that varies as you breathe in and out. Research evidence increasingly links high HRV to good health and a high level of fitness, while decreased HRV is linked to stress, fatigue and even burnout.  We’re using this to mitigate the effects of chemo and radiation along with understanding more about how my body responds to every day stressors.

I will measure my HRV, as well as my resting heart rate, every morning during a 1 minute test. After I have built up a baseline over a few days, the software algorithms compare my daily readings with a baseline to determine if any significant changes have taken place. These are reflected in traffic lights for today's work out and a chart to help me track trends.  Any significant changes and we can immediately order testing to see what causes the heart rate disruptions.