Happy 24th Birthday Lili!

 

Lili is working today.  We get to have dinner together tonight.  Tomorrow she is taking the Commander and a load of friends for a Vancouver weekend adventure.  So fun.

24!!

Lili and I took the girls for a walk yesterday.  Sassy tried to hide and went to Kai for help but she is quite rotund so we made her come.  Then she walked super duper slow.  We didn't make it as far as planned ;)  

The weird part is that I can actually walk now and have no fistula issues.  It boggles the mind but I'm definitely thrilled with this quality of life improvement!  

The evening wasn't as great.  I was suddenly struck with nausea.  Hours and hours with my bucket and staying close to the bathroom.  All with a chill.  We call them total body meltdowns.  I have zero clue what causes them.  We're guessing Chrones.  I'm up today feeling great.  No issues.  I'm planning to stick close to home though.  Just in case.  

I did wake up at 3am starving and came down to find that Eric made turkey, vege, lentil, noodle soup last night.  It was sooo good.  Who doesn't get up and eat soup at 3am?

Playmobile critters at McDonald's are back.  Jia brought me a wee gift home.  He is in the playmobile house with all the other critters.  If and when I ever get a grand baby they can enjoy the zoo mansion.  Waiting for the peacock and sloth now ;) There is a killer whale too but the mansion doesn't have a pool and isn't ocean front. 

Jia was informed that he is up for another promotion to Shift Manager.  A different collared shirt with a tie, a raise and free food but it comes with opening and closing.  Eric and I are not delighted about having to drive Jia for 5am shifts!  Oy.  Meanwhile Jia is terrified to drive and still dragging his feet about taking the written test.  That he can pass easily on the practice app.  

This is funny.  It was 1 in the morning.

Jia felt like talking.  He took this picture of me with a man filter on it.  Then laughed and laughed and laughed.  I still argue he is one handsome beast.  Haha.

I did get a date for the next procedure.  March 26th.  It's another 10 day prep.  I'm not entirely sure what the plan is but we have educated guesses.  I still don't have pathology back.  Perhaps pertaining to that.  There are two small tumors that aren't cancer that should be removed.  Mostly, there is confusion and fear about moving forward with the fistulas and the likely complications.  So perhaps he really does just want to see the lay of the land before a major surgery. Although he could just look at the scope film from the other surgeon who is a colleague in the same office.

Eric and I have plans with friends for wheeling tomorrow.  So Oscar is getting a clean air filter today. He is our most spoiled child by far ;)

More Night Wheeling

 

Sent from a friend from this past weekend.

Another long dog walk.  I'm impressed with Sassy's efforts.

Lili and a friend came with us night wheeling last night.  This is the only picture and he is looking away ;)

The views were amazing.  Hard to capture the beauty.

6 Jeeps.  Five completed the night.  The Gladiator broke under guts and needed to limp out.

Everyone discussing tires and which brand of aftermarket goodies is the best.  Haha.

We hit the trail at 5 and got out around 11:30.  The night was exploratory, our lead wanted to check on trails he hadn't been on for a while.  We were expecting a level 5 or six trail and for the mist part it was but there were a few obstacles that were harder.  Eric loves that part.  I did leap out for one of them.  A wee hike in the dark up a hill.  Lili was helping me navigate.  Eric can't figure put why I don't stay in the Jeep.  It's just too stressful for some of it.

I got an appointment for next week with a gynecologist re: the thickened uterus and the cyst on the ovary. The new surgeon is still hunting down previous surgery files from 2000 and 2005. I don't have a date for the next procedure.  I'm complicated.

The new surgeon said my troublesome fistula was healed on the last exam.  I'm realizing that it hasn't actually bothered me since the last surgery.  Odd.  More questions. There are still other fistulas but they aren't a bother.  Dangerous but not a problem for daily living.

Sassy's longest walk ever.

 

Sundays run took us to overlook Lake Cowichan, drive through mountain top snow.  All over Mt. Brenton and we popped out on Panorama Ridge.

This is Molly.  She's great.  A real dog fix for me.

Stunning views.  The weather was gorgeous.

We found another cabin.  Or more correctly, Eric 2 showed us another cabin.  He really knows the trails around here.  

I love it when we find out houses.  Haha.  This one had tp, hand sanitizer and a view window.

Yesterday Oscar dropped a brake pad on the driveway.  For real.  So Eric was doing an emergency brake replacement yesterday before we headed out again.   Today he went over it all, replaced rotors, pads and put in a new emergency brake pad too.

Lili and I walked the doglets today.  Sassy made it all the way.  Through the neighborhood, along the dike and home.  First time ever we didn't have to carry her most of the way.  So proud of her. She did need some encouragement and a wee break half way. 

Today's adventure.

 

We hit the trails with Jen and her Eric.

Lake Cowichan, Sherk Lake (almost), Kissinger Lake, Nitnat cabin and home around the Lake.

A nice sunny break at Kissinger.

Winched up after a couple valiant tries.

We think this might be the muddiest day yet.  It's in chunks, a full on plant stuck in the hitch and a piece of tree stuck between the tire and rim.  

Elk

Nitnat River

The trail was washed away completely so Eric and Eric just forged a new path.  There were a couple men out there cutting firewood they came to help.  One filmed the insanity.  Georgie (Jen's Jeep) and Oscar were winched up the cliff then Jen and I had to hike up after them.

It is always way steeper in real life than in the photos.

The two strange men came down to help us while Eric and Eric put gear away.  I might not want to talk about the humiliation of strangers trying to haul me up that hill.  I only went to one knee once.  Shockingly made it up there.  It's like I have no clue I'm 60! 

It was at this point that they decided to just plow through.

I didn't catch the first bit of Georgie. The water was deeper than expected. It's possible Oscar floated for a couple seconds.  

We didn't make it.  The snow was too deep further up. Eric backed down.  Other Eric got turned around.  Doing the obstacle backwards was tough.

It was a pretty great wheeling day with lots of exhilarating challenges.

So fun that we're going to head out again tomorrow.  Taking advantage of this fabulous weather.

Thanks Mom, for taking Jia to work for us.  And thanks for the strawberries.  Cherries, strawberries, peaches and blueberries are still my favorite foods.  

This was yesterday.

Oscar is whole again. I love his new look.  Matching cowls in the front too.