Comfort Zone

 

On Saturday, while hiking up a very steep dirt trail that was well above my ability level.  Like, when I stood up I feared I would topple backwards steep.  With nothing to grip and as always, wearing the wrong shoes.  The young fellow out wheeling with us told me "we have to get out of our comfort zone to learn and grow".

Huh.

I was stumped. Literally no words in response.  I probably gave him a grimace.

I am WAY, WAY, WAY over looking to get out of my comfort zone.  I want safety zone.  Quiet zone.  Leave me alone and don't touch me zone.

Eric and I have been searching for something that will hold underwear and display bears behind glass.

Mom told me yesterday afternoon that we'd find it.  Then I found a free one online that was posted 8 minutes before I went to marketplace.  Eric and Luk took off to Chemainus right away.  It needs a little cleanup to the inside of the display part.  Art Deco.  I might love it. Thank you universe.

This was out of my comfort zone....which was why I was hiking out of my comfort zone.  I probably didn't learn much.  Perhaps to grab the lunch bag next time I leap out so there are snacks on the hikes.

The boys are back to school this morning and I'm waiting for a pre-op call from the hospital pharmacist.  That's a new one for me so I'm assuming it's insulin related.  

I don't have doses figured out quite yet on the insulin but it's been easy to take with no side effects.  

New Trail

 

We did a couple trails we're familiar with and then onto a new one.  It was an advanced plus, plus.  There was a lot of winching.  Erik made it up.  My Eric and Ryan turned back.  

I had hiked WAY up.  Avoiding the steep car ride.  The hike was way past my abilities.  I had gloves and climbed a good chunk with my hands in the dirt, holding vines and pitchy trees. The idea of going down was scary.  Thankfully other Erik made it up and I hitched a ride with him and we circled around a few trails to meet Eric at the beginning of the wicked trail to be mastered come summer time with dry ground.  I will skip that one ;)

The Mt Sicker sink hole.

The Frankenoscar zip ties didn't hold.  He needs metal fenders.

Winching.

And more winching.

They found a Jeep tub.  Scrounging.

It was a fun day. Tired, hungry, cold and happy to get home for a hot tub.  My first one in a LONG time.  

It's Sunday with not much planned yet.  Last day of Spring Break.

Mystery Solved

 

Frankenoscar.

We are headed out today to master the trail that did this to Oscar.  When stupid wives support their stupid husbands this is what happens.  Wish Oscar some luck today.  

The old kitchen chairs where being held together with clamps and zap ties.  We didn't like them enough to fix them.  Eric found these yesterday.  They're the right color oak and cushy with the pads but they look awful up to the awful green table.  It's been there so long I fear it will never leave.

Kai didn't notice.  Jia prefers them.  Luk didn't like them.  I personally really prefer the cush and not worrying about chair collapse.

Ok, the mystery of the weird fainting episode in Costco.  Had I read the hand out I was given at the hospital when I was checked out, I would have known that the scope causes dehydration and a whole handful of possible reactions to your first meal.  Duh.  Read the information!  Anyways, mystery solved.

And Again.

 

Yesterday was doctor appointments for both Eric and I.  Clear fluids for me all day, so not even a lunch out.  We went to the Langford  Restore hoping for a dresser or sideboard and found this instead.  Pink roses.  Someone is speaking to me, pink roses keep showing up in my world even more than usual. Eric hasn't decided yet how he is hanging it in the closet/dressing room.  What he needs is more projects ;) 

Up bright and early to Royal Jubilee for the next procedure.  Took our coats off to wait and found we were twinning.

I was told by the surgeon that he was looking at the lay of the land today.  Then I was told by the previous surgeons staff that this was to clean up the cancer biopsy margins.  So, I felt deceived and mistrusting.  Fearful of more cutting.  Huge dread for today.  Then at the part where nurses do iv's and get me ready for surgery I was told no sedation today.  I signed the release form for biopsies.  So I was definitely a bit terrified being wheeled in.

Then, it turned out to actually be just a scope.  No sedation.  No needles.  No cuts. No biopsies. I got to watch.  I did keep my eyes closed for most of it.  I did open them when a nurse exclaimed "Oh my  gawd! Is that a fistula?!".  So, I saw it.  It looked pink and healthy and innocuous.  Go figure.  Such a troublesome little thing.

He was about 20 minutes looking around.  It wasn't the worst.  I'd rather not repeat it though.  My bumble is very unhappy now.

We stopped at Costco for my comfort poutine.  Then shopped for a little bit because we were there and I was feeling fine.  We bought a Ninja blender, to chop up frozen fruit for the Ninja Creamy.  We're invested in getting me sugar free icecream :)  

Then while eating (standing up, stupid Costco) I was suddenly faint.  Head swimming, hearing muffled, eyesight dark, knees wobbly.  Poor Eric.  He ran for our cart, came back to get me and hooked me on the cart.  I trudged out slowly.  Oh my.  It was very sudden.  We have zero idea what it was or why.  I felt perfectly fine after sitting in the car for a few minutes. I didn't have my testing kit there.  Sugars are fine here now.

The boys put away groceries.  Luk helped me with pet chores.  Eric shooed me up to bed.  It's like getting put in time out.  Eric has escaped to his garage.  I can hear metal work tools. 

Dr Dennie called this morning.  The tumors in the uterus are benign.  The labia tumor is endometrial again.  We are still waiting for pap results.  So that was all good news for today. 

Camping in Spring Break

 

A day trip to Deep Bay to see the California Sea Lions.

They were extremely entertaining.

Overall they were lounging but there was constant movement happening somewhere and their facial expressions were priceless.

We should have packed a lunch and hung out longer.  

People were definitely too close.  We were definitely too close.  They look soooo much like you could just go pet them or snuggle down with them. Obviously I resisted ;)

Respect to the naps all cuddled with your crew.  

So sweet.

Walks in Rathtrevor.  We had a few.  The ocean trail is such a favorite.

Sassy looked at Eric longingly and he carried her.  I was nagging him to make her walk.  She needs to slim down.  

Coco is 5.4lbs

Sassy is 6.4 lbs and she has a smaller frame.

I needed another antique Chinese pail. One can never have enough.

I got a call this morning booking surgery number 5 for Apr 13.  I still haven't found the surgical prep shower sponges I need for #4 on Thursday so we went into Parksville and the first pharmacy we hit had them.  So I got the four I needed and two more on spec.  Duncan seems sold out.  7 places waiting for shipments.

Then we had time to kill so we hit a couple thrift and antique stores.

Luk stayed at the trailer with the dogs.  Kai seems to like shopping.  He picked out a couple dvds and a green stuffed dinosaur wearing bunny ears :)  

Score, elderly bears who are best friends. Beatrice and 

Then I got another call booking me into the diabetes clinic tomorrow so I headed back home early so I could pick up the insulin pens before the pharmacy closed.  Look what is in Superstore right now!  I know.  I have to go back.  Clearly I need more Snoopy wear.  They didn't give me needles?  So, I couldn't dose myself tonight.  I have no clue why I have to go to the clinic tomorrow.  I'm fairly certain it is almost the same as dosing ozempic.

It will be a long day.  Diabetes lesson, lab work and then a dialated eye test.  All such fun stuff.

Eric found me a pillow today.  It is so soft and squishy.  Grogu will help me get comfy on the imposed down time.

Eric did an advanced trail day on his own.  I had serious fomo.  I mean look what they found!

7 rigs, all very capable.  They had a great day and it sounds like I might have been hiking a good chunk of the day avoiding challenges that are too steep or off camber for my comfort.

Uh oh.  Lili got puppy furred.  Big time.  Bet she was regretting helping me with the puppers.

Coco and Sassy were fabulous little campers.  Zero issues.  

Seeing the boys tower over her never gets old.  Haha.

Lili took me and the boys to get a donut.  It was so cold in the campground.  It was great to get into the sun.

I'm home, got myself through a yucky stool sample kit/test.  I'm showered and ready to get up early tomorrow and get on with it all.

Funny thing, or stressful.  I was booked for the 5th surgery but I had no idea what it was for.  The booking fellow wasn't tremendously helpful.  I got an email three hours later.  I was panicking that it was for the proctectomy but thankfully no.  It's a general biopsy of the two tumors spotted on the pet scan.  They don't light up but have to come out.  

I had to ask Fei what the difference is between general and sedated because they seem identical to me.  Same procedure getting into the surgical rooms.  Same number of people working on me. Same iv in etc.  Basically General gets intubated.  They feel the same to me re waking up and recovery.

#4 and #5 are at Royal Jubilee.

#4 is to fix up the actual cancer margins.  

Awareness

 

Hmmm.  Not what I want to be bringing awareness to, but it is what it is.

Still learning.  I thought my warrior ribbon was blue for colorectal but nope, anal is green and purple.

Also, random, a year ago I saw a medium at a local teahouse with a girlfriend.  She told me I had health issues and I was doing everything right and that I would be fine.  Then she asked me about dragonflies and what they meant to me.  I said they meant nothing.  She said soon they will present themselves.  Sigh.  Here they are.  

Rathtrevor

I played yesterday so today I had to catch up.

Both girls got haircuts and toe done.  Then they joined me in the shower. For the first time ever I did it all on my own.  Beginning to end. Of course this probably sets a precedence and I'm on my own forever more.  

Typically Eric holds them a bit to make it easier, he grabs them with towels to dry off and he cleans up the mess while I give them baths.

It was a lot of work and fuss getting out of there today.  The 1st trip each year always is.  

We did pretty good. My list of supplies to be replenished to Eric is short.

Look at them, walking like real dogs.

That woman needs to brush her hair ;)

It's pretty but frightfully cold.

Angel babies.