Wowsers. The difference between hemoglobin below 7 vs. above 8 is truly astonishing!
After my shower on Friday, I had to sit down for several minutes to catch my breath before I could even dry off and get dressed. Today I was able to shower, get dressed, dry my hair, trim my bangs, and make lunch before I needed to sit down.
So. Exciting!!! 💜💙💚💛❤
So nice to sleep in my own bed last night! Today’s goals: post appreciations, shower, nap, 3000 steps. That’s it. 😀
My plan was to leave yesterday for a fun little trip to Florida with Sarah and Ida. That is not exactly how things played out…
It’s true that I DID get to be away from home and I WAS waited on hand and foot and I WAS lounging around doing nothing…but in the hospital, not Florida. 😖 The good news is that I got to go home today! Yay! 
I’d been in the hospital since Saturday due to intestinal bleeding and anemia (my hemoglobin was 6.8). But after three units of blood (Now I understand why the vampires love it so much! 😆) my hemoglobin is finally stable at about 8. I had an IV infusion of iron and then got to go home!
Endoscopy showed no bleeding from upper GI, so I will follow up with my regular GI doc for more tests to figure out where the bleeding happened & plan treatment.
I have lots to appreciate about the excellent people and resources that keep keeping me alive and happy. Will post appreciations tomorrow! 💚💜💙
It’s true. I spend my time finding hilariously true phrases and photoshopping them onto public domain images. Thanks to all the bright people who come up with the ideas and the photos! #notprocrastinatingatall
The beautiful Strength stone Ruby gave me. What a sweetie! And, yes, I will take all the added heart strength I can find. 😊
Toaster magic. TWICE the toaster has popped my toast up and INTO the other side!! I will try to catch this on video because it is AMAZING! (And made me absurdly happy the rest of the day – both times!)
The ongoing game of Stealth Dishwashing that Sarah and I are playing. What a fun roommate she is! 💚
The latest version of my MDFUN Bingo cards. I’m loving the comments and suggestions from my beta testers!
Dinners with the Delaneys, the Duncans, and the daughters (well, daughter and her SO). 😉 So lovely to spend time and share food with such wonderful people.
Sarah, the Cat Whisperer. Honestly, you just have to see this lady in action. She is amazing! 😸
Good results from my dad’s procedure yesterday. Hooray for good news!
Sunshine.
Valentine-themed lego fun thanks to Sarah!
Newly organized craft supplies. Woohoo!
Dinner with Sarah, Ida, Katie, and Cina. What bright, funny, adorable people! ❤️
U of M cardiology’s very pleasant hold music. What a treat. 😀
Sunshine.
Not being sick!! OMG what a little miracle this is. Feels amazing!!
Toby in the new box. Yay!
Laughing over spilt milk… especially when Sarah, Ida, and I take turns, each spilling spectacularly once, in the same place, during the course of one weekend. Hahaha!
Spill Gremlins….the ones we’ve determined are responsible for the milk (and subsequent vegetable) spills. What a funny house we live in! 😆
Delicious dinner of fish and chips. Thank you for the treat, Sarah!
Ida dancing around the living room to the Ultimate Family Dance Party station while Sarah and I do some couch dancing. 🤗
My new yard sign and my neighborhood’s commitment to supporting ALL of its residents.
Ida’s new addition to the “Nana upstairs, too?” request. Now when I’m about to leave to go back upstairs she says, “Nana, stay!” Oh, how I love that kid!! 💜
This most awesome card from my cousin Debb. She is so thoughtful and funny!
Antibiotics that do their job quickly and well. Plus the cessation of continual coughing! 😆
Dinner with the Terri, Ellis, Sara, Rochelle and all the kiddos. What bliss.
Playing Scrabble with my mom! 💜
Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Eva Ibbotson, E.L. Konigsburg, and Cornelia Funke, all of whom brighten my life with their words!
Legos, again. With props.
MIA. For so many reasons, including their extended hours tomorrow. Love you, MIA! 💜
MIA will be open Friday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. We are open to all and admission will be free, as always. Everyone is welcome to join us and to view artwork that has the potential to inspire, challenge, celebrate, and stimulate us. Art is the expression of what it is to be human and we are therefore a great place to visit, whatever your mood.
Figuring out a way to combine my strongest skills…making things fun and doctor-appointment-attending! Since my dad and brother both have a bunch of appointments this month, too, I decided we should at least have some fun! I made up a set of MDFUN (which is played like BINGO) cards for us.
It was Sarah’s awesome idea to make it even more fun by suggesting I use a randomizer and spreadsheet to generate the different cards. (Plus she had some excellent suggestions for the cards!) I am telling you. We really know how to have fun around here! #imserious #everythingisfun
There are so many things I appreciate every day… and while do I notice and revel in them, I’ve been forgetting to write them down! 😆
Here are a few things I remember loving about the past week…
Making happy words out of my new purple legos. Thank you, Sarah! 💜
Being part of the wonderful racism listening and talking group that’s been meeting weekly for the past 6 months. I so appreciate having a safe place to ask my clunky questions, examine my own racism, and process my thoughts and feelings about racism. If you want to know more about our model and what we’re doing, PM me!
Getting ALL green lights on the way home from group on Friday. Woohoo!
My cousin Ivan, the jovial, tiger-booted wit-cracker, who, in response to a challenge, managed to fit a Shakespearean insult into this week’s column. Well done, old pal!
My favorite Bat Girl, the softly-sprighted, fairy-gold heartling, Ida! Every day she brings some fresh new joy into my life.
Silly little Luna, who steals cat toys from Sarah’s cats and then plays with them like a crazy kitten!
Sunlight sparkles and shifting shadows on the snow.
Craft time with Katie and Cina!
Pam, who taught me to use Creative Questions to make the best out of any situation!
Wonderful visit yesterday with my folks and Debb and Renee. It was so sweet to go to the January birthday gathering they have at my parents’ co-op and to hear the residents’ fun stories and see how much they all love my parents! Happy pre-birthday eve Mama! 🎂
Super inspiring people like the 94 year-old woman at my folks’ place. She is fiesty and spunky and full of life. How wonderful!
Short and sweet visit with just Debb. As much as I liked our visit to my parents’ place, it was nice to have her all to myself for a little bit, too! 💙
The amazingly funny creations my dream characters come up with! In a recent dream, Laura was going to a holiday concert (which would take place at a highway rest area), but wanted to bring her own food… so she made herself a pineapple upside-down cake with a chocolate chip cookie crust — and filled with chicken. Ewwwww! Just to be clear… the waking life, real Laura is an amazing cook and baker. I’ve never had anything less than delicious from her kitchen! 😃
Super friendly dishwasher repair person who was not only fun to talk to, but diagnosed the problem and ordered the parts quickly — and then showed me how to install them when they come so I can feel all powerful and dishwasher-rescuer-like.
seriouslyhappy2.com 