Sorry I haven't posted lately. And I should have, as a lot has happened here along the riverbank since my last entry. Including a string of unseasonably cold days—and their worthy-of-a-woodstove-fire nights—which the folks around whom I was raised would doubtless have referred to as "blackberry winter." Also, the recent Strawberry Moon on the month's second night…come and gone and unsung hereabouts. Plus the recent appearance of this year's initial twinkling fireflies, feeder issues with the hummingbirds, and today's queen snake sighting…the first one I've spotted all year.
All post-worthy events. Ones I noted but missed.
Alas, they've were superseded by a double-barreled onslaught of bronchitis and the subsequent desperation to survive this lower-respiratory train wreck. Until yesterday, I hadn't so much as stuck my head outside for a week!
Myladylove started getting congested and running low-grade temps a few days before the Memorial Day weekend. By that Saturday she was having a lot of trouble breathing. I took her to urgent care. Bronchitis. She got a Z-Pac, steroids, inhaler, and cough syrup…and spent the entire holiday days through Monday bedfast (well, more accurately, recliner-fast). She also missed work that Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday—the first workdays she's ever missed on any job her entire life! And she says this was the sickest she's ever been—period.
Meanwhile, about the middle of that post-holiday week, I began to come down with the same symptoms—congestion, trouble breathing, low-grade temps. I bulled and hacked and coughed my way along until last Saturday when I knew I'd taken a real turn for the worse and had to have some help. So Myladylove hauled me to urgent care. Asthmatic bronchitis. "Your lungs are just full," the doc said, almost admiringly. "The worst I've ever heard outside of a hospital. By rights you ought to have pneumonia." I received my own Z-Pac, steroids, inhaler, and cough syrup, and a warning to "get to the ER if you turn even a smidgen downhill!"
As a guess, I'd say Myladylove is maybe 75% recovered; I'm more like 55%, possibly less. Improving, but amazingly weak. However, the weather here has finally turned summery. Myladylove and I are both steadily, if incrementally improving. My granddaughter had her first birthday a few days ago, but since my daughter and son-in-law are in the midst of moving, we'd already planned the celebration for a couple of weeks hence—so there's that MAJOR EVENT to look forward to attending. Life is good and looking up. And I'll get back into the swing of posting.
Finally, this little flycatcher has been keeping me company every day. Trust me, his portrait looks far better than mine to head up this post.
4 comments:
Just a short note...the Strawberry Moon was not entirely unsung... I went totally bananas over it as it loomed hugely and breathtakingly beautiful over the freeway that night. I screeched and mooned over it for all six miles! Chills down the spine and a feeling of awe. What a treat! It has set me to reading my moon lore book again. And yes, the birdie is no doubt cuter than you probably look right now after your ordeal! Looks like it would be good company...
Moonmuser…
The turkey vultures roosting on the island across from the cottage look better than me! But that Strawberry Moon was indeed lovely—what little I saw of it from here.
Oh dear, not what any one needs but if the weather warms up I am sure it will hasten your recovery. So far the start of winter here in Oz has been a bit up and down, well where I live, gales, frosts, some rain and every so often a lovely day. Finally feeling fitter and the shoulder is no where near as uncomfortable, but some of the exercises the physio has given me are.
Penny…
Thank you for writing…and yes, I'm sure you're right about the improving weather helping me along. I really don't feel too bad—just weak and listless. Plus last night, I noticed a huge bruise on my lower right side. That area became acutely painful during a bout of coughing, and has stayed sore since—though less so each day. Apparently you can bruise (or even break) ribs, cause internal bleeding or damage various organs by severe coughing. Because I take a blood thinner, any bruising/bleeding is increased. But again, if it doesn't worsen, it's probably healing and will just take time.
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