Stumbling Blocks

The last few days have been filled with ups and downs of varying degrees. As I've returned (unwillingly) to dealing with the Mysterious Pain in my left abdomen and ribcage I have fallen back into the habit of trying to make sure I actually EAT, as opposed to eating well. Last night, dinner was a burger and fries. I've begun to avoid Subway since I suspect some of the intestinal pain has something to do with their brand of pepperoni. Monday, in an effort to make sure the internal organs were working properly, and because I wanted warm food for lunch (since we've been having random forty five degree days here out West) I ordered cheese sticks from Pizza Hut. I also caved Sunday night and had my first soda in five days. Almost made it a week without the carbonated stuff but I had a hunch that perhaps the carbonation might help my pain (if anything was blocked inside there) and the hunch seemed to pay off. The bubbles did something right.

On the plus side of things I've been waking up early in the morning and eating a regular breakfast. It's been a bagel and some jelly and water but it's been consistent. I've been able to take my meds and start the day with something less disastrous for my system (as the PB was giving me issues). I'm planning on picking up some loaves of gluten free bread next time we go to the store. (The almond bread my mom had here at Christmas was rather tasty and my husband located some nice 'plain' sandwich type bread). The only trick is getting used to eating less of it. It doesn't disappear as quickly as toast does and it's an odd consistency than what one is typically used to for bread. Lighter than pound cake but about a similar thickness and yet heavier than 'normal' bread. (We also have gluten free waffles in the freezer so I think I'll start on those when the bagels run out in a few days).

The other good thing is that I've been able to make a list the past few days and accomplish most of the tasks on the list. Since my energy wanes greatly due to the fluctuation of the pain itself and the addition of pain medication to cope, I've adapted the idea of a 'to do' list and cut it down into a 'Short List' of five to eight items that I want to accomplish in a day (or maybe two days). This has worked well for me recently and comes with more of an emotional high than making a list of twenty items and only crossing off two or four of them. (It is hoped as well that some of the items on the list will spiral off into habits and no longer need to be written down!)

I was excited to be able to get my novel this month off to a great start with achieving over 3600 words in the first two days. That said, I took a day off yesterday due to pain (parlaying some of it into a 'personal day' where I got to spend a good chunk of time on the phone with Leslie catching up on her life, her husband, and her four kids) so no writing got done, although there was an condensed version of what I plan to write out in the next day or so that did get put into words.

I'm looking forward to writing more on the book. I'm hoping and praying for more energy to put into my business. I'm trying to expand the limits of myself mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. (And I know I cannot accomplish any of it without some Divine Intervention!)