Another year begins, I guess

I can't believe it's already been almost a week since I wrote a word on the blog. And since then, a new year, new paint colors and new cookies have arrived (thanks Adrian). Yet it feels as though nothing special has occurred.

I have spent the usual winter holidays in an unusual way which have made them certainly memorable. But through the act of missing the usual traditions with the usual suspects, I also miss the usual feeling that I get when a new year arrives. January 1, 2009 felt like an ordinary day despite the fact that I didn't get out of bed until 12 and ate white beans with cornbread for dinner.

Somewhere over the rainbow
We have the livingroom, den, hallway and kitchen now coated with paint. With the addition of manderijn orange to the kitchen on Sunday, my house has started to feel like a rainbow. We have now to add another layer to the kitchen and red to the hallway (who knew it took 4 layers) to finish what we started.

Due to my full schedule at Bb, the happiness yellow bedroom may or may not get done this week. Hooray for weekends.

The next challenge. Organizing.
It's not that I haven't been organizing (i.e. unpacking, shelving, hooking up, etc.) while Nico has been slaving away with the rollers and brushes. It's just that my progress happens a lot less quickly. For example, it took me four hours on Saturday just to hook up my home entertainment system. Afterwards, I was pretty proud that all the sounds and pictures were coming out of all the right places.

However, the next day, I overdid it, trying to keep up with Nico. As he paints, so I organize. Not possible. I have to make peace with the fact that I am a tortoise, not a hare and although slow, I can still finish the race if I take it slow and steady.

Life as an outpatient begins in full force
Most people think of being an outpatient as one day in hospital, in then out. Not so for us Bb outpatients. I started with believing I would have three days a week to getting a four-day-a-week schedule. Surprise! And, as it was with being an clinic (inhouse) patient, the planning has something left to be desired - like accuracy. I'm already on it. Maybe by next Monday, it will be nicely arranged but I'm not holding my breath. It'll only make me blue.

Today, I had fysio for the first time in two weeks. It was great to see Titia and right away she got me doing thing I didn't know I could do - like carrying a tray of cups over obstacles I had to step over while not looking down. Scary! Maybe someday, I'll be carrying things up and down stairs again with ease but I'm not holding my breath (for the reason previously stated).

Tomorrow is swimming, more fysio, archery and walking group again. Nothing much more interesting than that in the later part of the week. And so it goes. I should also get a follow-up call from the Eindhoven sports coach that I met with some time ago. But until I get the planning for Bb in order, anything extracurricular will have to wait.

The coolest thing I discovered today...
was that the meditation room at Bb is actually used by people for meditation! I thought it was just a fancy name for "room in which to calm yourself" or "dark, quiet room between daycare and fysio". So, I'm going to try to sign myself up for the class, if it's available to outpatients. Doctor's approval needed, if you can imagine that one actually needs approval to meditate.

And on that note
Mom and Dad (or Gram, I'm not sure) got me a book called Gentle Yoga for people recovering from stroke, living with MS, arthritis, etc. I've already done yoga off and on for a few years and often use the "power of the breath" to relax and so forth. When I first came to Bb, I naturally thought they would offer something like this or Tai Chi due to their proven abilities to bring physical balance for the less-able and energetic harmony to people. But I have had to look to myself and outside groups to bring these practices back into my life. So, I hope in the coming weeks to add this peaceful practice to my life again.

Thanks again to all for the continued support via snail mail, email and the comment area. It's great knowing you enjoy being in touch. Pictures from our winter wandeling to come later in the week. Nico took some nice pics of me and the boys in the snow this afternoon. Brrrr!