DAY 166 - Day 69 in Recovery Paradise

Another milestone today in ability to get my eating ability back. I had vegetable soup for dinner and was also able to eat two breadsticks and an apple. I also had some pineapple sherbet for dessert. I still have some mucus and a little bit of a sore throat, but really minor compared to what it's been in the past. I had a blood test today to test my thyroid because I'm cold all the time. Sarah had a short-sleeved shirt on, and I've got a T-shirt, sweatshirt, and wool scarf and cap down over my ears. I also have my bathrobe on, and I'm still cold. Of the symptoms I've had after treatment, this is one I can fix by putting on more clothes. I got my flu shot today, so I can eliminate that as another tribulation.

My sister came by for a visit today. She's the one who sends me a nice notecard daily. Lately, they have had photos from when I was a child, bringing back good memories. She came by for a couple of hours and a couple of hugs. It was good to see her.

Song of the Day: Sister Act - I will follow Him

DAY 165 - Day 68 in Recovery Paradise

Two hundred more days and it will have been a year. Had a great day today. Beautiful weather in the valley, so we decided to take a drive to Apple Hill where it was overcast and extremely cold. All in all, it was a pretty drive. Another first in the recovery process: They were giving away apple slice samples at one of the stops. Without thinking, I accepted and popped one in my mouth and started chewing, not realizing that I couldn't do it. Miracle! I was able to eat it. I ended up eating two more entire apples. It's the first solid food I've had in three months. So we bought a case of apples and an apple parer. It's a cute little tool. Sarah really likes it. It delivers an apple cored, pared and sliced into a spiral. It works on potatoes also, and probably a lot of other vegetables as well. I had vegetable soup for dinner, unpureed. I was able to handle the carrots and potatoes OK.

Song of the Day: The Beatles - Savoy Truffle

DAY 162 - Day 65 in Recovery Paradise

I'm starting to feel somewhat normal again. There's just a little bit of mucus and a little bit of sore throat. Other than that, the symptoms seems to be subsiding. I cut back on my double meals when I was having problems with my stomach. But the single meals are not giving me enough calories to gain weight. I'm holding steady at about 140 pounds. I'd like to be at around 145 or 146. If I can get myself in the habit of eating more double sized meals, I should be there soon. I had two soups today in addition to the drinks. I had one drink via tube, just to keep it cleaned out. I seem to be susceptible to cold. I've been walking around with scarf and a cap on for the bulk of the day.

I'm driving Sarah to school and back daily. It's a bit scary, but I'm getting better. I even made an excursion to the grocery store and to the video store.

Song of the Day: The Beatles - Yesterday

DAY 158 - Day 61 in Recovery Pardise

Today was a good day. There were actual moments when I had no awareness of any symptoms whatsoever. My biggest problem was dry mouth. There's a special gum that you can chew that relieves that, and while I was chewing it, it was like nothing had ever happened. My throat is just a little sore, but not very noticeable. I had three meals today that were regular, just like real people. Lise fixed up soup in the blender, and I had it for lunch, snack and dinner. I also supplemented this with an Ensure and an Instant Breakfast, just to get enough calories in for the day.

I'm going to start taking Sarah to school in the mornings. It's still scary to drive, but I've got to get back in the saddle.

Song of the Day: The Traveling Wilburys - End of the Line

DAY 157 - Day 60 in Recovery Paradise

Two months! Wow. Sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday, and sometimes it seems like it was long ago that I finished treatment. Except for the dry mouth, my mouth seems to be vastly improved. No sores, very little sore throat, and the lump on my uvula is gone. The one advantage of dry mouth is that you're not spitting all day with extra mucus. I had pureed bean soup for dinner tonight. It was a nice change.

We went to the movies today, and I didn't even take a spit cup with me! We saw High School Musical 3 in the theater, and then watched a family movie on the TV tonight, Kit Kittredge, American Girl. Today was a G movie rating day. After the movie, we played a family game of chess. I was the side-line observer, giving suggestions to both sides.

Song of the Day: Bobby Darin - Mack the Knife