Getting Back to Normal

On November 18, 2014 By AngeliaIn Life is what you make it.27 Comments

Or back to whatever this thing called life is….full of wonder, surprise, and perseverance.

I may not be there yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday. ~Author Unknown

My wonderful daughter and almost son-in-law brought me a balloon, flowers, and my favorite chocolates the day after surgery.

What an incredible surprise.

And do you know? It did make me feel better.

The beautiful flowers, and colors. The well-wishes. The good thoughts. And really? My favorite chocolate. I couldn’t eat anything before or after surgery, but by golly, I could eat those chocolates. Oh yes, I could!

Surgery was as horrible and not-as-horrible as I expected. Horrible in the way of FOUR incisions into my body, anesthesia blues, and the souring of my appetite (forever?).

The not-so-horrible in the way of removing a very dead, and non-working gall bladder. One that would have very soon begun poisoning my body. I thank GOD they did not wait until after Thanksgiving to remove it.

Also, not-so-horrible, the very real, and valuable advice of my older sister. She told me to ask the anesthesiologist for a patch behind my ear. She swore it would help with nausea when coming out of surgery. I asked and he gave. I have to tell you. Not being sick after surgery? Not having nausea? Not wanting to puke your guts up? When your guts are already in distress?

The BEST advice I have ever received. Even the recovery room nurse was shocked. She proclaimed EVERY gall bladder surgery should require the patch, because of how good I came out.

Apparently, this type of surgery causes more illness than normal due to removing part of the digestive system. So, truly amazing not to feel sick. Not at all. I felt bloated, and sore, and not hungry at all. But sick? No.

I wore that patch for three days. It’s a lifesaver. If you ever have surgery, ask for the patch.

The rest of the week, I spent with dogs (and sometimes kitty) lounging around my legs. Watching TV, dozing off, and just trying to rest. I thought I would blog and not mess up my “challenges”. But man, just the thought of sitting up and being at a desk gave me chills. I didn’t want to move much. And although, I wasn’t sick from the surgery medicine. I did not have any type of appetite. I couldn’t eat at all.

I’m not big on mobile blogging. I could do it from my Google pad or my iPhone, but it’s really hard for me. It is the keyboard, I think, plus the pain meds and what not. Who knows what I would have written? Heh.

So, I took time to heal and get better. And you know what? I did. It was surprising to see by the end of the week, I could stand up, and sit down as if nothing had happened. I still felt weak. My appetite still lacking, but the wounds were healed up. How amazing is that?

I made plans to go back to work. I left myself a day to get paperwork done. I probably should have given myself more time on that one….because Sunday I ended up super sick. All the bragging about not being sick from anesthesia? Yeah. Well…I got the stomach bug of all stomach bugs. If I stood up, I threw up. And my “day” to do paperwork went to getting over the worst stomach flu (with fever) of all time. Basically, just when I starting getting my appetite back, I lost it again.

It’s still gone, but if you want to bring me chocolates?

The paperwork is still in never, never land. I don’t understand (the red tape!) why if *I* want to go back to work, why can’t I? Do they really need a Doctor to tell them it is okay? A busy Doctor that doesn’t have time for eight pages of forms. One that has a hundred other patients with forms stacked up in their office. Not to mention that mine went out-of-town for his Dad’s surgery. I have called. I have emailed. I’m not sure what else I can do. It is a little daunting to be off-work and unpaid right before the holidays. It would be different if I had some paid time off. But I don’t. Not any. None.

I’m annoyed. I’m antsy. I’m ready to move on. I’m ready for a normal schedule.

Shouldn’t I know more than anyone if I am ready?

So, I stop to smell the flowers. I stop and wait for clearance. Maybe, I think I am ready, but the delay is for my own good?

And you know? Despite the paperwork, the bug, and the recovery?

Every day is better.

The beautiful flowers don’t hurt either.

Thank-you for all the prayers and good thoughts.

Operation 5K

On December 8, 2011December 8, 2011 By AngeliaIn WINNING!13 Comments

My mission, if I choose to accept it, is to run a 5K on January 7th, 2012.

A 5K appropriately named the ~~Freeze Your Butt Run~~ Jiggle Butt Run.

I have signed up with Team Sassy Pants. Thank God, it’s not Team Fancy Pants, because those are hard to run in.

Part of this operation includes joining a program that would help me find that ever elusive exercise time.

So, I joined the office building gym and I found it (finally!).

But, I am truly starting over. Some of you may remember, in 2006, I lost 50lbs. I was a weight loss success story on ediets.com. I ran two half-marathons, one in 2007, and one in 2008.

Then? Who knows? I could give you a thousand reasons, but in the end, I did what I said I’d never do.

Gain the weight back, and lose my athleticism. Fail!

Day one on the treadmill……this is not a bad number in 30mins – 1.62 miles. It was a little strange that the TV was stuck on a weight loss infomercial the entire time.

My personal best distance on the elliptical 4.35 miles……this is the number to beat in my thirty-minute time frame. I did this yesterday after eight days of working out in a row.

Today on the treadmill after completing nine days of working out. I did a walk/run combo to a couch to 5K program and went two miles in 32 mins. Sorry it’s blurry, I was walking, and trying to shoot at the same time. It’s a wonder I didn’t hurt myself!

So, I am back on track. I am using the lose it app and sparkpeople.com to keep my stats recorded and accountable.

I have not gone crazy on what I eat. Just eating less (mainly because exercise does not make me as hungry) and making decent choices.

I’m looking forward to this change in my life. I watched the Biggest Loser contestants compete in a marathon the other night and it sparked a pretty big dream in me. One that I’ve had for a while, but it never seemed possible. One that I was HALF way to just a few years ago, but I’ll get back to it.

I’m starting the same was as I did before. Run a 5K and rally support.

I just hope my body remembers how to do all this at forty.

Project Central = Psycho Central?

On April 23, 2011April 23, 2011 By AngeliaIn Angel Lia's Photography, Life is what you make it.19 Comments

Look! An ADHD quiz! My results say……

Of course, that really says psych central, not psycho central, but don’t you know the exes are nodding their heads in agreement at the psycho part (heh!). I kid. I kid.

But, where was I?

Oh yeah, being ADD or ADHD, because that’s what the quiz confirms, and we all know how accurate the internet is (right?).

Any other adult ADD(ers) out there? Do you feel my pain? Could this really be true?

Look! A shiny object!

Speaking of shiny objects….don’t EVER watch UFO’s on Planet Earth before bed. You will have the FREAKIEST dreams.

Ahem.

I’ve known I could be ADD for some time now. Tasks take longer, or get lost, forgotten, or discontinued. I abhor lists and plans, but WANT (so badly) to be organized. And how to do that? I have no idea because the focus is just not there. My mind constantly swirls in ideas but catching one is like grabbing a hand-up from the old merry-go-rounds that spin ferociously fast (weren’t those fun?).

When we question our health….what do we do? I’ll tell you what I do…..I turn to the self-diagnose power of the web; self-assessment and the like. Sites like Web MD – my personal favorite (and most dangerous).

I confirmed my color blindness via the web. Remember that post? Of course, I knew that in fourth grade, but did not diagnose myself at age 10, and neither did any of my eye doctors in the last thirty years. To give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe when I said I couldn’t see the number in the circle, they really thought I just couldn’t SEE (which I couldn’t). But I digress…..

My point is….(I don’t need a self-assessment. This post is proof. Ha)…..I have started new projects (especially this year). I am working on them in my ADD way and that means when I go to ~~complete~~ perfect them, I get distracted. It’s the story of my life right now. I begin, lose focus, waiver, and then move on to something else. Which is why I have bookmarks in over a dozen books gathering dust on my nightstand. But I am working towards the end (somehow, someway) one page at time, one project at a time.

Project One– FINALLY, with the help of my dear husband, I have launched my photography website. I’m still adding more pictures, categories, and pricing (eventually). I’d still LOVE for you to check it out. Angelia’s Photography or Angel Lia’s Photography. I go back and forth on the name, but the website is just angeliasphotography. Can you believe there is ANOTHER Angelia Photography? How cool is that?!?

Project Two– This goes along with project one. FINALLY! A Facebook fan page. MY FAN PAGE – Angelia’s Photography. I am so lucky I had 25 of you LIKE me and I got a user name – all official and stuff. Of course, I’m still adding pictures and figuring out how to manage (or admin) a page. But, who cares?! I did it. I created a page. You must LIKE. You must! (pleasepleasepleaseplease).

The rest of my projects include…..my Photoshop homework for class. I hope to design a business card. I have Photovision DVDS to watch. You get to creep on professional photography shoots. Creeping! My fav.

My garden is a mess and I hope to plant something to replace the dead brown branches I have managed to keep dead all winter (um, yay?). I have pictures to finish editing of FOUR GENERATIONS of daughters. I photographed them just prior to my ankle injury. Here are a few shots….

Moms & Daughters.

Circle of generations.

91yrs old and beautiful!

Can I just say I LOVE her? I want to adopt her as my grandma. I lost all my grandmas and have none living. I’m pretty sure she agreed to that.

My sprained ankle is healing. After two weeks, it looks normal again, in other words, not purple in color and swollen like a grapefruit. It doesn’t feel normal, but at least I can walk and drive.

I am way behind in blog reading and thanking ALL the wonderful commenters on my Freshly Pressed drive-in movie post. The stories of your drive-in movie experiences and nostalgia made me laugh and reminisce myself. I, too, remember piling many bodies in mom’s red wagon (because the price was per car) to head to our local town’s drive-in. It really is a great time. I think scary movies are the best at drive-ins. I hope many of you do find a drive-in and create memories for our next generation of children. I am happy to hear so many of you have screens you can go to. So thank-you for that, what you shared with me was far better than being freshly pressed (for serious!).

Lastly, it’s Easter weekend. That means it’s my last weekend to ~~worship~~ enjoy my favorite Easter candy.

Why yes, I did shoot portraits of my favorite candy. Is there a quiz to see if that’s normal?

Today, I say good-bye to my favorite Cadbury Creme Eggs.

Tomorrow, I rejoice in the Risen King.

My focus will be on family gatherings, and the love of our savior.

Have a Happy Easter! May it be most joyful, blessed, and complete (heh, get it? complete?).

Look! I finished a post!

Did you take the quiz? Are you ADHD?

Sunday Healthy Reflection

On November 7, 2010 By AngeliaIn Life is what you make it.14 Comments

The best inspiration is not to outdo others, but to outdo ourselves.

– Anonymous

Winning victory against yourself

No one likes to lose. The thrill of victory after competition is hard to match. But the wins that leave the most significant, long-term impressions are the ones where you win against yourself. Beating a friend in a game of hoops is much less meaningful than setting a personal best time while running. We live in a highly competitive world, and everything around us screams that we’ve got to be number one in order to feel successful. Truly though, the best measuring sticks are your past and your potential–not against someone else’s standards. Raise the bar for yourself!

Brought to you by Sparkpeople.

Outdo myself. What a concept.

Seems like most of my life, I tried to be who my mom wanted me to be. Who I was supposed to be. Then, who my husband wanted me to be. Who would make everyone happy. Who would make everyone get along.

When I become a mother. I measured up to other moms. Was I going by the book guidelines? Doing what other moms did? Was I teaching my daughter the right things? Moral things? I beat myself up if i didn’t reach their standards.

Did I live how other people live? Work as hard? Have as much?

It seemed life WAS about measuring up to everyone else around me.

Now, as I near a new year, the year I turn forty, I have finally, not only grasped the concept of potential, but the victory of winning for myself.

I take on photography as an amateur and student of knowledge.

Knowing I’m only as good as my last shot.

And my last edit.

I can do it….for me.

I am not competing with anyone else. I’m just doing what I love. Learning what I love, and not being afraid to try.

I write. I blog. Maybe, it’s not as good as other technical writers. I may not win a writing contest, or be featured, or get published, but as long as I write from my heart, it’s all that matters.

In relationships, I can be me. I am accepted and loved just as I am. I don’t have to pretend to be something I am not. I can love who I am. Because I am true to myself and I believe in what I can do.

As a mom, I can tell my daughter and step-daughters. I am far from perfect, but willing to learn from and help them learn too.

As an employee, maybe my numbers won’t be first, or at the top, but I can take pride in what I do. I can admit to having a bad day and not fall apart over it. It’s okay. Some days are better than others. I can grow in my field. I can be stress-free.

I don’t have to be the best. I only have to be better.

What are you reflecting on today?