A Lovely Day

Today was my "day off". It started out with me going to the hospital for a blood test to check my level of blood thinner. Although the parking lot was crowded I managed to get a good spot. Got taken within ten minutes and was on my way to the supermarket where I picked up some things to try a new recipe in the crock pot. It turned out excellent. If anyone wants to try it, you put 6 chicken thighs (or 4 breasts), a package of Lipton onion soup mix, a can of cream of mushroom soup, a can of water, potatoes and carrots and slow cook for about six hours. It's really good.
After setting up the crock pot I took Duffy in the yard and played with him. It was Spring like and beautiful. I left a bit early and found some wonderful bargains in TJ Maxx. At 3:15 I had my cardiology appointment. I really like the doctor but it's a bit anxiety ridden. Knowing that I have received some pretty heavy news from him. Today I got a good report. My echo I had about a month ago showed the new valve is functioning well. As a result, my heart is functioning well also. My blood pressure remains good and no longer requies medication. (I was on THREE prior to the surgery.) My cholesterol was way down as a result of the new medicine, Crestor. Unfortunately, what is excellent for a normal person, is not low enough for me. He wants mine UNDER 100. Shocking eh? He upped my dosage but I will see.......if I have any aches or pains I will remain on the lower dosage. While there the hospital called with great results for the INR. My blood is just the correct thinness to keep my valve working well. It just kept getting better.
One small snag was my weight. I had lost thirty pounds last year. Over the holidays I ate Christmas cookies and had some egg nog, among other things. I have put five pounds back on. While it doesn't sound like much, my clothes are a bit snug. I need to take that off, and should take some more off. Not that I plan to hit the beach in a bikini but I do have a family wedding coming up in July that I want to look really nice for. I also plan to dance the night away and my weight hinders my stamina.
It was nearly two years ago that I underwent the surgery. Honestly, for the first year I wondered how I would ever recover. Now I am better than I was before. I can breathe, I have stamina and I am enjoying life again. I feel lucky to have had such wonderful medical care and support from my husband and son. When I think of ONE word to describe myself, the same word comes to mind: survivor.