Getting better all the time

Two full weeks have passed since my last post, in which I commented that at last I had noticeable improvement.  Nana stayed for one last week to help get me firmly on my feet, and then...

We went to the beach!

Beach week with Jason's family is a definite highlight of the year, and I've been so relieved and grateful that I could even attend--if my diagnosis had come just two weeks later, I would've spent beach week lounging in a hospital infusion chair.


Nevertheless, several questions remained--how would I get from the house to the beach if I can't walk?  (We considered renting a beach wheelchair.)  Would I be able to use the bike I had already rented?  Could I swim or would I be at risk of drowning if the surf knocked me down?  Would I be able to get to my second-floor bedroom in the beach house?


I resolved to go, even if I had to spend the week sitting still, just grateful to be enjoying family and not in a hospital.


And lo!

I biked!  (I might also point out that I took this photo one-handed while biking, without catastrophe.)


I also walked to the beach, swam in the surf, successfully used my second-floor bedroom, and eluded hungry alligators.

It was marvelous!  I almost felt normal.


I experienced definite improvement even as the week went on.  The first day, the walk to the beach was onerous, but it got a little better every day.


Caleb somehow became obsessed with boats while we were there, so Jason and I took him to the marina on Thursday to see boats.

He brought his own boat along.

Pirate boat.

Little boats.

Then Caleb didn't want to leave without climbing the lighthouse.  I said, "Yes! That would be fun! I've never done that!" so Jason bought tickets.

I ascended about 3 steps before I remembered that I can't climb steps.

I think it's grossly unfair that Caleb, who bounded up all 114 steps while we called for him to slow down, got a sticker, and I, who was sweating and clinging to the handrail the whole time, did not receive a sticker.

But I hope Lyme disease felt that kick in the head, because I climbed, I persevered, and I [just barely] survived.


Without even getting a sticker.

Headed to the beach.

artsy embellishment done with Waterlogue