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So, the Lakers have moved to the next rung, as have the Magic. I see the Celtics and Wizards are all tied up too. But do I hear anyone saying the Celtics are coasting, or that they play down to the level of their opponents. What gives here?
Really, I don’t know what I was so worried about.
Going back to work really hasn’t been bad at all. Actually, it’s been rather nice.
Maybe it was the big “Welcome Back, Lee Anne” sign that greeted me when I got off the elevator to my office. Maybe it’s been because everyone has been so doggone nice, telling me how glad they are that I am back, how much they missed me, and how great I look now that I am healthy.
I’ve worked with some of these people since 1996; others are more recent acquaintances. But all of them seem just as thrilled and amazed by the miracle of this transplant as Ken and I have been.
I’m certainly not bored — or idle. My first day back was spent mostly dealing with the 400+ e-mails that had accumulated in my inbox. But I’m also working on a few items for the Ford salesperson magazine, which is helping me get up-to-speed on the wonderful world of Ford.
It’s been like coming back home.
Saturday afternoon, Ken and I headed out to our favorite little par-3 course, Glenlore Golf Club in Commerce Township. It has just enough challenges to keep the game interesting, and small greens to give your short game lots of practice.
And I made par on two holes! On one of them, my tee shot hit the flag stick and bounced about 3 feet from the hole. Ken and I looked at each other in delighted wonder and amazement when my tee shots hit the greens. Wow.
Compared to my score when I last played the course in the fall, I improved my score by 28 strokes. So the lessons really are doing some good, I guess. I sometimes wonder, and think maybe I have some kind of athletic learning disability that prevents my body from doing what my mind is telling it to do.
Besides, it was such a nice day to be outside, finally enjoying the Michigan springtime.
And did I mention that I made par --- twice?
Yes, my 3 months of medical leave are over. I'm returning to work today. Your prayers are most appreciated, especially because I have mixed feelings about going back.
see more crazy cat pics
This look --- it is so familiar to me.
Last night, Ken and I finally watched "A Man for All Seasons," the story of Sir Thomas More and his conflict with King Henry VIII. While there were many memorable speeches and lines from Thomas More, this was Ken's favorite, and an excellent one it is, too. More is speaking to his daughter, Margaret, about whether he will take an oath swearing that the king is the head of the church in England (an oath that would require him, against his faith, to agree to the king's divorce and marriage to Anne Boleyn).
"God made the angels to show Him splendor, as He made animals for innocence and plants for their simplicity. But Man He made to serve Him wittily, in the tangle of his mind. If He suffers us to come to such a case that there is no escaping, then we may stand to our tackle as best we can, and, yes, Meg, then we can clamor like champions, if we have the spittle for it. But it's God's part, not our own, to bring ourselves to such a pass. Our natural business lies in escaping."
Thinking it was going to be the last warm dry day in a spell, Ken took yesterday afternoon off from work and we played our first nine holes of the season.
I’d like to say that it was great, but, typical of golf, it was only sporadically so. Partly to blame were the conditions: A strong wind and a course that was so wet and soft, it was nearly like playing in a bog. Balls would hit the fairway and instead of bouncing, they would embed themselves an inch in the mud. Hitting a divot only seemed to slow down the club head as it dragged through the muck. I’ve never gotten so dirty playing golf; mud splattered on my pant legs, shirt and once even on my glasses.
We were joined in our round by a very congenial retired gentleman who was very patient with my beginner’s golf skills. However, at times his presence made me nervous, as I’ve never played with anyone but Ken and felt a bit self-conscious. It only became worse when I flubbed several shots in a row. At one point, it became so frustrating, I just skipped playing a hole until I could calm down a bit.
But the day wasn’t a total loss. By holes 6 and 7, I was hitting some pretty good tee shots and even made some good contact on the fairway. Lost one ball in the water (which was completely surrounding the green). Tried to hit another shot over a bunker and almost made it; the ball bounced to the lip around the bunker’s edge. With a combination of luck and using advice I’ve picked up from Golf Digest, I managed to strike it nicely out of the bunker and onto the green.
By the time we dragged our pull carts to the clubhouse, Ken and I were both pretty wiped out. Don’t let anyone tell you golf isn’t exercise when you are walking the course.
The thing about golf is, as bad as it was, we can’t wait to get back out there and try again.
My, how time flies! It’s already been 10 weeks since my surgery and I’m looking at going back to work on the 21st of April.
I’m feeling good, and according to my last clinic visit, everything is progressing as it should. My labs have been within the normal range for the last several weeks. Now I can go two weeks between labs and 4 weeks before returning to the clinic. Soon I’ll start seeing my regular nephrologists and checking in with the clinic at 6-month intervals.
The doctor told me I could drop the Protonix, which was to protect my stomach (if I notice heartburn or acid reflux, I can start taking it again, but so far there’s been no need). By April 23, I can drop a couple more prescriptions; these were an antibiotic and an anti-viral.
These changes will leave me taking only four medications daily — my three anti-rejection drugs and one to lower blood pressure. Of the four, I take three of them two times a day. Really, not a bad schedule at all.
Feeling better and pain-free, I have been trying to get in more physical activity, so as to build up my energy and stamina (and for weight control as well). So I have been taking a brisk walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes every day. And I am getting back into the schedule of golf lessons and practices. Temperatures this weekend are heading into the 50s and even 60 on Sunday, which sounds like a good excuse to hit the driving range for the first time this season. It still may be too wet and early for most courses to be open, but I can’t wait to get out there and just have some fun playing 18 holes.
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