Gray days

Today and yesterday were chilly and gray but my therapy yesterday kept me quite toasty, inside and out. I went in early to get in the fitness machines I missed on Monday plus got in another cardio test, this time pushing my heart rate up 12 more points to 166.

Of course, I have no idea if this is good or not. Thinking about my heart rate whether maximum or minimum had never crossed my mind until August, when it began to be measured daily. Ultimately, I just want to get an idea of where I stand health-wise so I know which direction to go from here.

I also asked if they could take a look at my diet not so much to see what needs to be taken away but what needs to be added. My doctor said there is a dietitian that visits weekly and she will try to set something up for me.

Meditation station
I just bumped into the teacher who conducts meditation classes and told her of my plight - that I desperately want to learn but would do better to get instruction in English. Because she said she'd be willing to give it a go, I told my doctor to sign me up. We'll see if it conflicts with any of my other appointments but even if we add it to a heavily scheduled day, it won't matter. Meditation is about renewing energy, not depleting it. Good one, huh?

Recovery really is in my hands
Monday, there was another team meeting in which my physician and all my therapists got together to talk about me. After every one of these meetings, I sit down with my doctor at Bb and we go through the plan for the coming weeks.

They were all very impressed with my "goals" list that I shared with Titia and said they wished all patients would do that. These were things like, "be able to squat down without holding my knee", "walk my dog," or "walk without an orthesis!" I told them that if they wished all patients would do it, ask and ye shall receive. It took very little time to make my list (I know pretty well what I can and can't do compared to before my stroke). Even today, I thought of something else which I'll mention to Titia.

In addition to my current schedule, I'll be having loopgroep twice weekly vs. once, fysio thrice weekly vs. twice, aqua jogging and one to possibly two days of meditation practice. Titia and I agreed that she will work with my foot on one of her days. She's also going to show Nico some stretches and exercises for my foot and toes so he and I can work on this at home.

Additions to the family
Nico brought me a nice little Christmas cactus filled with red flower buds ready to burst. It sits now on the windowsill in my livingroom. It's like a green flame in my window.

I also picked out two new dog cushions, a green one for Casper that nicely tucks behind the couch when he's not here and a big furry one for Hazel. He's not really keen on it yet but Casper took to his cushion like a good boy. Atta boy, Cas.

Exhausted
Despite all of the goings on, we took the time to go to a concert at a cafe in Eindhoven Monday night. It was a singer songwriter group of the American ilk which was music to my ears. During the break, I was introduced to a woman who travels in the folk music circles here in Eindhoven. After she heard my background, she was really keen on getting together to sing.

Music, of course, is really the last remaining color to be added to the palette which used to brighten my life, the color I'd been missing most. I can sing to myself but it's not nearly as satisfying as singing harmony with another singer. There's at least a chance that I'll get a little of that back in my life and that's better odds than I had before.

We were out after 11, of course, and by the yesterday evening came around, I was plum tuckered out by nine. So, I've spent today on the couch sewing, e-mailing, and now blogging. No Nordic today. Just a bit of walking arm in arm this morning. As I look at Hazel still laying on the edge of the rug, I think he's got the right idea: 85% laying on the floor, 15% going full throttle in the grass.

Thanks again for the comments and thanks to those who are still reading often. Stay in touch.