Mom’s Thriving lifestyle
Here is the continued and ongoing journey of mom’s active lifestyle in her advanced age…
The below three parts document her recovery from emergency open-heart surgery in Oct 2020 at the age of 91.
Here is part 1 ==> Oct 19, 2020 to Feb 17, 2021
Here is part 2 ==> Feb 18, 2021 to Sep 26, 2021
Here is part 3 ==> Sep 27, 2021 to Mar 3, 2024
The Central Figure: Mom
Most of you know mom, but for those who don’t, here are some of her tales and adventures including her workout routine when turning 90 in August 2019.
Sun, Sep 15, 2024 (Noon) Not a Single Wrinkle
Mom’s hair is the longest it has ever been in her adult life. And whenever I ask her if she would like to get a haircut she says she likes it the way it is. That said, we do have our issues with it. For instance, she brushes it everyday, but does not always get the underside. Hence, the other day we had to cut away a huge knot / dreadlock. Ultimately, we decided it would be best to go in for a simple trim and wash to ensure everything was alright and clean it up a bit.
On Fri (9/13), we scheduled a visit to the fanciest of beauty salons: Great Clip!! The home of the $17 haircut + $10 if you want a shampoo. So off we went, and the results are in. Mom’s hair is clean and in great shape. They trimmed off the dead ends, easily eliminated the tiny knots and tangles, and declared her all set and ready to go. Their overwhelming comment, however, was that mom does not have a single wrinkle on her face!! That they really found to be amazing.
It had been months upon months, since mom went for any type of hair care, and we will probably go back there on a fairly regular basis just to keep her hair healthy and well-kept. The other benefit of going there is that they have a good outdoor staircase so we are able to get a bit of a workout as well.
On Sat (9/14), mom had a good walk out to the gazebo. We walked around to the backside and then cut through and rested in the gazebo to set our course home. When we got back to our alley and were heading down it, mom asked to be pushed home, which is quite rare. She was tired of being on her feet so she sat on the rollator as we made the final stretch back to the house.
Today (Sun, 9/15) has not amounted to much of anything yet as mom is still relaxing in bed – it is a Sunday after all!!
Mom has been having all kinds of fruit plates as her appetizer to breakfast, and here is the one from yesterday: fresh mango, dried dates, and a sliced, cool (refrigerated) banana.
Thurs, Sep 12, 2024 (10:15pm) Back at the Gym!!
Despite being away from the gym for a month, mom really showed out!!
.45 miles total on treadmill (18 min 25 sec) // .29 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
4 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
She was really strong on the treadmill – I suppose those neighborhood walks which are slow but lengthy have been a reasonable substitute. When mom walks outside she really shuffles and scrapes her feet, whereas on the treadmill she is forced to lift her feet and make proper strides. With fall fast approaching. I think this time really does mark our switchover to gym workouts – let’s see.
Yesterday, Wed (9/11), mom had a fine evening walk, for about 30 – 40 minutes. Nowadays, and for the last several months, walking means using her rollator outside.
On both Mon (9/9) and Tue (9/10), mom was around the house…and did a few laps inside.
Sun, Sep 8, 2024 (11:30pm) Walking to Gazebo
This week was marked by walks to the gazebo. Mom made three or four walks to the gazebo: one time from the front door of the house and the rest from the garage door. Those are good walks for her as she is on her feet for 30 – 40 minutes. Admittedly, we are pretty slow, but just being upright and moving is a big plus. The early evening was quite conducive for our walks, and on some of the days we did not get to the gazebo we just toiled around up and down the alley. So mom was outside nearly every day, and even spent one afternoon on the front porch with an old family friend. So that was a treat.
With all those gazebo walks we did not get to the pool or the gym. Apparently, the pool was well attended on today (Sun, Sep 8) but for us to get there is really tough when mom stays in bed till noon. By the time we are ready to do anything or go anywhere it is 4p, and that is a bit late for the pool as it is no longer mid-summer. So that is the quandary in which we find ourselves. We are just not a fast moving ship – it takes us all day to get to where we want to be.
Since her birthday on 27 Aug, mom has been making regular stopovers at the dining room table to read and browse the collection of birthday cards. Every time she walked by she was quietly look over and pick-up various cards. Then today, she reread them all and folded them up and stacked them on her rollator. Ultimately, they ended up as a stack on the kitchen table, where she will no doubt continue to read them.
Sun, Sep 1, 2024 (11pm) Summer Winds Down
Far and away, the main thing mom and I did this summer was go to the pool and swim. Mom would typically be in the pool for an hour or so: cruising around, checking out the babies / young’uns, and sometimes I would pull her around the pool while she was floating using her noodle. But pools and phones are typically not a good mix so we did not get many photos of all those adventures. With August behind us, and September on the rise, mom’s pool days for 2024 are probably behind her – especially as I get a look at the 10-day forecast.
Beyond that, with 95 years now behind her, mom’s 96th year seems to be starting out quite fine. Mom was mostly around the house this weekend, and had some friends over on Saturday afternoon. Other than a Zoom call tomorrow, that’s the bulk of mom’s Labor Day weekend.
I shall officially dub September as Gym Month for mom.
Fri, Aug 30, 2024 (4pm) Birthday Week
Essentially, mom’s 95th birthday was celebrated from August 20 to August 27 – the day of her actual birthday. And since Aug 20 – 25 was documented in the prior entry. I will just pick-up where things left off…
On Mon (Aug 26), mom and I were around the house most of the day and went out for a walk in the evening.
On Tues (Aug 27), mom had an early afternoon breakfast of carrot cake cupcakes, and they came by with all kinds of birthday celebrations.
Both Wed (Aug 28) and Thurs (Aug 29) were hot, glorious days, so mom spend those afternoons swimming at the pool. She really enjoyed the water and seeing all the young children who were there. And here below is mom hanging out in front of the house waiting for our fresh, butter-bean delivery.
And thank you for all the cards and flowers that continued to pour in!!
Lastly, today (Fri, Aug 30) is a dark, rainy day and mom and I are just hanging out at the house. Mom is doing a few indoor laps here and there, and we realize that we need to transition back into gym mode.
Sun, Aug 25, 2024 (9:15pm) Pre-Birthday Week
Mom’s official birthday is this Tuesday, Aug 27, but my goodness she sure has had a great pre-birthday week of celebration…Check out all that has been going on….
The cards have just been rolling in – and mom has enjoyed every single one of them. Indeed, it seems like everyone knows it’s her birthday. We were at the pool today (Sun, 8/25) and as we entered the pool attendant wished her happy birthday, and mom was very surprised and inquired, “How did you know?”. And the answer of course is that everybody knows!!
And yesterday (Sat, 8/24) good ‘ol Tucker stopped by with a pint of ice cream and freshly picked flowers from his garden – and yes, he brought his two owners as well, though they are not pictured below.
Here is the alley crew circling up around mom with cards and cookies on Fri, 8/23.
One guy who could not make it in person so he made his own card….
Then on Thursday (8/22), we had mom’s very dear friends over from the literacy council for a grand afternoon of ice cream sundaes and more. Yours truly failed to get any photos but we had three types of ice cream, blueberries as topping, a farmer’s market date crumble topping, homemade coconut oatmeal cookies, and homemade peanut butter bars delight as a base. And of course everyone mixed and matched everything, and everyone went home with freshly baked bread and olive baguettes.
On both Mon (8/19) and Wed (8/21), mom and I went for an early evening walk around the neighborhood gazebo – the humidity was low and both were quite lovely evenings. And both days of this weekend (Sat 8/24 & Sun 8/25), mom and I went to the pool. Mom was in street clothes since the pool temp has “dropped” to 80 degrees due to the cooler nights. Mom was loaded up with snacks and plenty of newspapers so she enjoyed sitting poolside.
But top of all, mom has been really enjoying her pre-birthday week, and as the cards roll in we collect them on the dining room table and mom pitstops there from time to time to read and reread the cards!!
Thanks so much to one and all, near and far, who have made mom’s pre-birthday week so very special!!
Sun, Aug 18, 2024 (11:45pm) A Week of Swimming
The week started out with a real bang (literally) as mom’s house got a whole new roof on Mon (8/12). We also got new shades that day, but that was a far quieter experience. Pictured below are the shades, both the ones hanging on the wall and mom’s “1960’s summer of love” shades (& beads!!).
Mom’s friends come over every Saturday, and for the second week on in a row (Sat, 8/17) mom decided she should wear her shades inside the house. We have since decided that she is the coolest person on the block. During that visit, mom was also asked about her favorite games as a child, and mom took great interest in giving her reply. She said she played tag and hop-scotch, and with hop-scotch they had to make a new one each day they played. It also came out that she never played capture-the-flag. Another thing she enjoyed as a child was going over and sitting by the waterfront, i.e. the Hudson river which flowed through the outskirts of Hoboken.
It has been a great week for getting to the pool. We are in the midst of a 5-day streak. Mom was there from Wed (8/14) to Sun (8/19), generally going in and doing her cruise around the pool for about 45 minutes or longer. It takes her a little while to get in, but then she’ll stay in for a while touring around on her own.
Both Mon (8/12) and Tue (8/13), mom was around the house. She actually slept through most of the loudest roofing work!! And Tuesday was just a hanging out around the house occasion as that is generally a home-day for us.
Sun, Aug 11, 2024 (9:45pm) Gym & Swim
We got a whole week to catch up on here so might as well start with today (Sun, 8/11). It would have been a very fine pool day, but we did not exactly get there. However, we did get out for a moseying walk in the late afternoon. So mom did indeed see the sky today, and was not just in the house all day.
Yesterday (Sat, 8/10), our good friends came over for an early afternoon visit, and while visiting indoors, mom put on her sunglasses, which she opted to wear for quite a while. So one of her friends could not resist taking this photo. Note: For those who don’t recall, Paul Newman was the essence of cool wearing sunglasses in a dark pool hall in the movie, “The Color of Money”. Mom comes in a not-too-distant second.
This type of thing is not too atypical for our Saturday morning visits with her friends. The week prior mom was watching the Olympics before her two friends came by, and when they did arrive mom was fully focused on getting them ready for their Olympic events – offering them fruit and water, and making all sorts of plans to ensure they would be at the starting line on time!! There was quite a bit of laughter about that, not from mom though as she was pin-pointed focused on how she would cheer them on her the events and that they should be cen-per-cent ready for the competition.
After our visit, we did get to the pool and mom thoroughly enjoyed her extended late Saturday afternoon swim.
On Fri (8/9), we had an extremely late start to the day, losing an incredible 4 hours of lolly-gagging from the time of wake-up until breakfast, which concluded at nearly 4pm. Thereafter, I decided that oral prompting was not enough, and that I would be more physically involved in getting mom through her morning routine. And thus far it has been fairly effective. I do not do everything for her, but just get her going with the task at hand. Needless today, after that late Friday afternoon start, we did not get much activity in the rest of the day.
Here are mom’s gym days from Thurs (8/8) and Wed (8/7). As we have not been on the treadmill much her numbers are down but they improved over the week.
Thurs, 8/8/24
.40 miles total on treadmill (16 min 27 sec) // .21 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
Wed, 8/7/24
.26 miles total on treadmill (11 min 12 sec) // .14 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
5 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
On Tuesday (8/6), mom was around the house for the day as we had a variety of things going on.
And on Monday (8/5), mom and I went to the pool though she was not in her swimwear, rather she was just reading poolside, which she enjoyed. So on the way back we went to the gym and did a short treadmill session:
.30 miles (12 min 26 sec)
Sun, Aug 4, 2024 (11:15pm) Between the Raindrops
Today would have been a fine day for the pool but it was never in the plans for us to get there – not the way we got up!! That said, mom did get out for a good walk this evening, though did have to return back for mom’s sweater!!
Due to rain and late wake-ups, both Fri (8/2) and Sat (8/3) were home days, while mom did get to the pool both Wed (7/31) and Thurs (8/1), and mom really enjoyed her swims on those days. And both Mon (7/29) and Tue (7/30) were home days.
So, all in all, a fairly mellow week. It looks like we may be getting even more rain this week so we will not dilly-dally, but will instead aim to head over to the gym if we get rained out for the pool. Beyond that, all else is well…
Sun, Jul 28, 2024 (9:15pm) Poolside Weekend
Mom was at the pool both on Sat (7/27) and today (7/28), but she went in her street clothes and her homemade sweater – the only person at the pool with a sweater!! Yesterday was not completely hot (maybe 85 degrees) and the pool water was “cooler” (84 degrees since we’ve had so much rain) so I did not think mom would want to go in – and that was right. She was perfectly content sitting at her table, having snacks and reading the paper. So we tried the same tactic today. Indeed, mom said she would go to the pool but did not want to put her suit on. So we went with that plan. But after we had been at the pool for a while mom said she would go to the ladies locker room and put her suit on – the only problem being we had no suit. So mom was tempted to go in. Anyway, you can’t win them all, the the first bright, sunny day this week (possibly Wed) mom will have her suit on, and she will be over at that pool!!!
Fri, Jul 26, 2024 (5:45pm) A Wet, Humid Week
The temps have dropped into the 80s, the rains are sporadic, the humidity is high, and the mosquitos are on the prowl…
Today (Fri, 7/26) looks like it is turning into a hangout day around the house. Mom was in bed until almost 2p and came down for breakfast at 3:15p. Here is how the rest of the week has gone…
Yesterday, (Thurs, 7/25), we went to the gym and did this:
.33 miles on the treadmill for 12 min 46 sec (we had a wardrobe adjustment halfway through and it affected her rhythm, plus she seemed a bit low-energy)
20 industrial steps up
2 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
On Wed (7/24), mom and I went for a late afternoon walk around the gazebo. I am not sure how long that took us but she was on her feet for at least half-an-hour, probably longer.
On Tue (7/23), it was quite hot and humid so mom hung out around the house for the day.
Here is mom’s gym workout from Mon (7/22)
47 miles total on treadmill (19 min 23 sec) // .33 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
All in all, a fine 5-day period. We had no daytime accidents, and are experiments with different techniques for nighttime management.
Sun, Jul 21, 2024 (11pm) Weather Shift
With the shift in the weather – i.e. all the afternoon rain we have been getting – it is a change from our normal routine and scheduling, and we are still figuring that out.
On Fri (7/19), we did get to the gym and do this workout:
.42 miles total on treadmill (16 min 34 sec) // .30 initial miles without stopping
Mom was doing just fine on the treadmill and could have gone further – and done other exercises thereafter – but we had to abort the workoutdue to a bathroom issue. This is perhaps our biggest issue these days, and I have on the hunt for suggestions and strategies.
Mom was home for the weekend. On Saturday (7/20), a friend graciously came by – and after that it was a mostly uneventful weekend, i.e. smooth-sailing around the house.
Garden-fresh stir fry:
Thurs, Jul 18, 2024 (6pm) Basal Cell Carcinoma Treated
Yesterday (Wed, 7/17), mom had her basal cell carcinoma treated at the dermatologist’s office. What a huge difference from last time. Back on 08 Feb 2023, mom went to the Mohs clinic to get her basal cell carcinoma treated and while it worked out fine in the end, it was an all-day event and mom walked out of there with a massive open wound that took weeks to heal on its own. In comparison, yesterday mom was in the chair for 10 – 15 minutes and we were all done. And in a few days time the wound should be all healed. I am not sure why we got off so easy this time, but we’ll take it!! They did say it was very slow-growing and not a big threat, so perhaps that accounts for the grand difference. Anyway, mom did well with it, and we are on to bigger and better things!!
On Mon (7/15), mom had a nice hour-long swim at the pool, which she really, truly enjoyed. For a variety of reasons, both Tues (7/16) and today (7/18) mom was around the house most of the day. She and I did head out from the garage this afternoon for a brief walk – make that very brief as the thunderstorm clouds quickly began enveloping us and did not get too far before we had to hightail it back inside.
Mom has been starting her days with large fruit trays, and here are two of her latest ones: cantaloupe and mango, followed by watermelon and cantaloupe.
Sun, Jul 14, 2024 (9:15pm) Active Week
It has been an active week for mom on a variety of levels, but she just cruised through it at her own pace – here is the overall rundown…
Today, Sun (7/14), mom had a relaxing day at home by sleeping in, eating breakfast in the mid-afternoon, reading the Sunday paper, and hanging out this evening.
Yesterday, (Sat 7/13), we got an out-of-town visit from cousin Stephanie which was a real treat for us – moreover in late morning a local friend also came by to visit with mom. So we had a nice little gathering. The home visit was filled with stories, photos, and recollections, and in the late afternoon we went to the pool for a swim and mom was in the water for 50+ minutes. And, yes, we baked breads galore for the occasion – sorry, no photos.
On Fri (7/12), the rains came down so mom and I headed over to the gym where she did this workout:
.55 miles total on treadmill (22 min 41 sec) // .29 initial miles without stopping
Nu-Step Level 5 – 5 min / 200 steps
It was good to see that mom was still able to knock off a half-mile on the treadmill despite not having been to the gym for two weeks – not bad at all.
On Thursday (7/11), we had our new windows installed in the kitchen / eating area. The install went smoothly, and the windows look great. So we were around the house most of the day. On both Mon (7/8) and Wed (7/10), mom was at the pool for the late afternoon into the early evening, and on both days she was in the pool for an hour plus. Tuesday (7/9) was a hang-out around the house day.
On Mon (7/8), mom also got the call from dermatology that she indeed does have a basal cell carcinoma on her cheek, and we made an appointment to have it treated this coming Wed (7/17).
Sun, Jul 7, 2024 (6:55pm) Rain, Rain, Rain
After an incredibly hot and dry month of June and start to July, the daily thunderstorm season is upon us. It is wonderful for mother Earth, great for the farmers, and loved by the plants – but it does make going to the pool a challenge. If it is just raining then we are fine. The sound of thunder means everyone has to get out of the pool for 30 minutes, and that 30 minute dock starts anew with every successive sound of thunder. Once lightening enters the picture everyone must vacate the pool deck etc. I remember this routine well from years past. The mornings tend to be more stable weather-wise, but mom and I do not go anywhere in the morning so by the time we get to the pool those thunderclouds are starting to build up – and from there it is a game of tag to see how long we can use the pool. That is how this week is seemingly going to go. Now to the wrap-up…
We did indeed great high-quality pool time in on both Thurs (July 4) and Fri (July 5). Mom was in the pool for easily an hour on both of those days – cruising around the pool in her own flow, greeting people, and checking out the babies and toddlers etc. Our exit from the pool on Fri (7/5) was a sign of the things to come. (Note: You may not be able to see the raindrops but you can see the havoc they create on the surface of the pool.)
Mom has been home all weekend, Sat (7/6) & Sun (7/7). I thought I was going to catch a weather window on Saturday afternoon and went over for a quick swim, but sure enough as soon as I got there ol’ man thunder rumbled int he background and all I could do was stare at the pool and return home.
With thunderstorms on the menu for this coming week, mom and I will redirect our attention to the gym. Good thing we do not freeze our gym memberships during the summer months like so many other do.
Below is one of mom’s several morning fruit plates from this week followed by an Israeli couscous dish with summer veggies.
Thurs, Jul 4, 2024 (12:20pm) Swimming & Realty Rating
Yesterday, (Wed Jul 3), mom had a wonderful outing at the pool and she was in the pool walking around for nearly an hour. She was just moving around in her own flow, checking things out. Every so often she would go to the ladder to get out, and I would convince her to stay in for a little while longer. All in all, she had a great time and enjoyed sitting in the sun when she first got out of the pool, before heading over to her spot in the shade.
We also had a walk-through by the local Fitch realty team – four of them came – and we got an A++ rating. So that was good news. We are not selling nor thinking of selling, but are involved in some upgrades & general maintenance (windows, roof etc) and wanted to make sure we were heading in the right direction. In short, they were open-jawed about mom’s house and how open and light it was.
Tuesday (Jul 2) was a home day for mom. We got off to a bit of a late start as she did not have breakfast until about 2p or so. But she did some laps in the house. And on Monday (Jul 1), we also had a late start but made it to the pool eventually. We got there at around 6pm or later so mom just went in street clothes and read the paper, but she enjoyed being outdoors and getting fresh air at the pool.
Ands yes the plan is to spend this blistering hot day at the pool as well – hopefully we can get there by around 3:30pm or so…let’s see. Mom is all showered and getting dressed and coming down soon for breakfast.
Sun, Jun 30, 2024 (6pm) Zoomy Sunday
We had our first rain in weeks so mom and I spent the afternoon at home on Zoom calls with family, and the highlight of course for mom was hearing about the weddings and seeing the babies!!
Sun, Jun 30, 2024 (9:45am) Week of Swimming, Sleeping, & Dermatology
This morning, Sun (6/30), mom is up, alert, and happily hanging around in bed with the sun on her. But that was not the case much of the week as she was seriously power sleeping.
Yesterday, Sat (6/29), with sufficient urging mom emerged from the bed at 11:30am (not bad actually) and was ready for breakfast by the time her friends came over for their weekly Saturday visit at 1:30pm. And by a little after 4pm mom and I were at the pool. We stayed till nearly 7pm and mom was in for at least 45 minutes or so, maybe closer to an hour. It was a hot afternoon and mom really enjoyed the pool.
On Fri (6/28), we started getting mom up at 10am but she seemed exhausted and did not get out of bed until 2pm and did not have breakfast until 4pm. But she did a good job of caring for herself as I went to the pool at 6pm and got back at 7pm or so, and then I gave her dinner and went out to Costco until around 9pm or so. In total, mom was by herself for 3 out of 4+ hours and pretty much stayed in the black chair the whole time, eating dinner and watching TV.
On Thurs (6/27), we went to the gym and did this workout:
.52 miles total on treadmill (19 min 44 sec) // .38 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
2 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
On Wed (6/26), we went for a dermatology appointment. We hadn’t been for close to two years, and it just seemed like a good idea to get in there. And sure enough mom has had an active opening on her cheek which they took great interest in and did a biopsy of – results come back in a week or two. But they seemed pretty sure it was some type of slow-growing basal cell carcinoma. I mentioned mohs, and they said they would aim for a less aggressive approach if needed. We shall see.
Tuesday (6/25) was a stay-at-home day for mom, though she did have a nice visit on the porch from a great friend who went to the Farmers’ Market with me. And on Mon (6/24), mom had a great late afternoon at the pool where she ventured down to the deep end and spent well over an hour in the water.
Sun, Jun 23, 2024 (11pm) Soothing Pool Days
Mom got lots of pool time in these last three days (Fri, Sat, & Sun: 6/21 – 6/23), generally going from about 4p – 6:30p, or so. Mom was usually in the pool for an hour, give or take some. That was a great way to beat the heat, and mom felt quite comfortable and happy to be at the pool. No other real major news than that.
On Thursday (6/20), we visited a dear friend out in the country and were gifted these hand-picked flowers from her backyard.
Wed, Jun 19, 2024 (9pm) Good Gym Workout
Even though it has been two weeks since we’ve been at the gym, mom had a really solid workout today:
.56 miles total on treadmill (20 min 48 sec) // .40 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
Then we went to the pool for and hour or so into the early evening, and mom relaxed at the table and read and ate snacks.
Wed, Jun 19, 2024 (12:50pm) Runaway Mama
Yesterday evening (Tue 6/18) mom was sitting out on the front porch before dinner, and when I went out to get her for dinner I saw that her chair was empty. I looked up the sidewalk, and sure enough there was mom walking up the street in her socks and without a rollator. She said it looked so inviting she thought it would be nice to go for a walk. And indeed it was a peaceful, calm evening. For the most part mom was around the house on Tuesday, save for her runaway jaunt.
On Mon (6/17), mom and I went our for an early evening walk around the gazebo – and we sat down there for a while as well. It was still around 88 or 90 degrees at 6pm, but mom did well managing the heat and the walk.
Today, (Wed 6/19), our plan is to go swimming in the mid-afternoon or so.
Sun, Jun 16, 2024 (11pm) Lots of Swimming & More
Well here is the week in review….
Mom started out the day (Sun 6/16) with a bang by cruising through the chair yoga class. The day began quite sunny and mom enjoyed breakfast under the awning with the sun at her back (nice & warm!!), and then as the day became bit more overcast she remained inside and opted to stay home. She cracked open a book from her shelf and as best I can tell proceeded to read the first 164 pages this afternoon!!
On Thurs (6/13), Fri (6/14), and Sat (6/15), mom enjoyed extended afternoons at the swimming pool. On one of the days she was in the pool for well over an hour. Most days she would get a solid float going where she wraps a noodle around her back and lifts her feet as I pull her around the pool. And of course she enjoyed visiting with all the toddlers at the pool. Here below mom is just enjoying lounging on the top step towards the end of her pool time.
Both Tue (6/11) and Wed (6/12) were home days where time was spent on the front porch and hanging around the house. We aimed to go to the gym on Wed 6/12 but for one reason or another it did not quite come together for us. We did get these wonderful veggies at the local farmers’ market on Tue 6/11. Do you know what they are? Here is the explanation.
And the week began (Mon, 6/10) with a trip to the podiatrist for a routine trim. Mom pulled off a BP of 112/65 at the podiatrist’s office!! So with her diet and exercise her BP remains quite stellar.
Sun, Jun 9, 2024 (10:10pm) Swimming Weekend
Mom got in the pool both days of the weekend, mostly in the shallow end enamored with the toddlers, though yesterday she did get got in up to her shoulders whereas today she was not in too much higher than her hips. On Saturday, her friends stopped by for their regular visit, and by and large all is well.
Fri, Jun 7, 2024 (8:30pm) Swimming
Today, mom had a good pool outing. It was just her 2nd time in the pool this season, but the ambient temp was around 90 and the pool water was 85 so it was quite inviting for her. Mom got all the way in and ultimately floated on her back as I pulled her around the pool using her noodle. We were at the pool yesterday as well, and mom read the paper at her table.
Wed, Jun 5, 2024 (9pm) Gym-Pool Combo
Ok, so we are getting better at doing our gym-pool combo workouts and making that part of our routine. The only thing missing is that mom is not yet going in the pool – other than the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend – and she just goes to the pool in street clothes. But it is good we are getting to both spots and hopefully soon she’ll be going in the water as the temps rise. But walking from the parking lot to the pool is beneficial, as is sitting outside in a shady, open-air environment, watching the kids play in the pool as her son does his laps. We always bring snacks, water, and plenty of reading material for mom – and she gets her own table – so it is an enjoyable outing for her. Here are her gym numbers from this week:
Wed, 6/5/24
.40 miles total on treadmill (15 min 14 sec) // .28 initial miles without stopping
Mon, 6/3/24
.43 miles total on treadmill (16 min 12 sec) // .28 initial miles without stopping
1 walking lap around the pool
Note: It has been a bit of a struggle to keep her going on the treadmill as she keeps saying, “OK, that is enough, let’s stop now.” But with some strong encouragement we are able to get to a respectable distance, though really I would like to see her crack that 1/2 point and get a solid 20 minutes on the treadmill.
On Tue (6/4/24), mom was around the house and hanging out on the front porch, and here below mom is taking her breakfast (Wed, 6/5) under the awning on the patio.
Sun, Jun 2, 2024 (11:30pm) Family Visit
Mom has really been enjoying all the local and tropical fruit plates we’ve been having so when family came down on Saturday afternoon we hung out under the awning eating mangoes and clementines. All in all, mom had a grand visit and a fine weekend!!
Fri, May 31, 2024 (10pm) Double Duty
Yesterday, (Thurs, 5/30), mom and I did double duty for the very first time. First we went to the gym and mom put up these numbers:
.45 miles total on treadmill (17 min 11 sec) // .35 initial miles without stopping
And then we went to the pool. Full disclosure: It was not very hot so mom was not in her swimming attire so it was easier to convince her to first go to the gym and then to the pool; moreover, at the pool mom just sat, read, and at snacks. That said, the groundwork has been set that we can get to both places in the same day, even if it is just a basic treadmill workout at the gym without any of the other stuff.
Today (Fri 5/31), mom was outside in the back for the alley meeting for two hours, and then when it was over she came in from the back and went out the front door to sit on the porch!!
Thurs, May 30, 2024 (9:50am) Strolling
It has been a week of strolling thus far….
On Mon (May 27), it was stormy in the morning so we did not go to the pool, but the weather cleared nicely by the late afternoon and mom and I walked around the gazebo and sat down there for a while too.
Tues (May 28) was a stay-at-home day for mom – as Tuesdays tend to be – but mom did get in a few laps in the house, and yesterday (Wed, May 29) mom and I went to the pool, but she was in shorts etc, not her swimsuit, so she made a lap or two around the pool, and sat under an umbrella and read and had some dates and nuts. Not a bad afternoon!
The day for mom is just getting going, but we started off on a solid note as this morning (Thurs, May 30) – mom’s vitals before leaving the bed were: BP 111 / 64 with a pulse of 64. Yesterday, she even had a resting pulse rate in the 50s…so looking good!!
Sun, May 26, 2024 (11:30pm) The Big Plunge
We made it to the pool both days of the weekend, and when I told mom it was 89 degrees (we actually hit 90) then she said she had to get her suit on and swim. So today (Sun, 5/26) mom got into her new suit and got in the pool!! She did a lot of kid-watching, but did a bit of walking and got in up to her sternum. All in all, she was in for about 25 minutes, and for those wondering the pool temp was up to 86 degrees today. So from Monday to Sunday, we got to the pool 5 days, and the swimming season has officially started.
Fri, May 24, 2024 (9:30pm) Pool Time
We made it to the outdoor pool three times this week: Mon (5/20), Wed (5/22), & Fri (5/24). We basically went for 1 – 2 hours in the mid to late afternoon. Mom has not gotten in to her suit yet as the water may still be a touch cool for her, but today the water temp was up to 81 degrees so it is rising. On Monday, mom lounged out laterally (something we did not attempt last year) and did a few walking laps around the pool, and on Wednesday she sat partially in the sun (not a great idea), and today we got her a table with an umbrella in the shade and she had her newspapers, magazines, snacks, and water. It was a good way to get outside, see folks, watch kids in the pool, and enjoy the weather.
We did get to the gym on Thurs (5/23), and mom did this workout:
.40 miles total on treadmill (15 min 50 sec) // .23 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
1 lap around the track
20 industrial steps down
Last year we went heavy on the pool and got a bit less gym work in so we will have to be mindful about that this year. Until mom starts getting into the pool, it would be good to go to the gym first and get on the treadmill for 20 min and then head over to the pool. Although it sounds like an easy plan, it is fairly difficult to accomplish. To date, we have had no such success with it. Let’s see…
On Tues (5/21), mom was around the house for the day.
Sun, May 19, 2024 (1:30pm) Escaping the Rain
Mom has had a fine, casual weekend with the most momentous experiences involved in escaping the rain.
On Fri (5/17), mom was around the house all day and then went out for the alley meeting for what seemed like a lovely, comfortable gathering. Within 25 minutes, the rains swept in out of nowhere and they all got caught in it. Friends led mom into the garage and our next-door neighbor came over for a visit. Then on Sat (5/18), mom and I walked to the gazebo and hung out there for a solid hour or so visiting with neighbors, as mom and I were the last ones to leave. Mom did a good job of hightailing it home as she made it back in the house just before the rains let loose.
On Sat morning (5/18), mom once again imposed her will on our yoga classes.
Mom deservedly slept in today (Sun, 5/19) as she was up quite early much of the week, and mom will be down for breakfast shortly.
On Thurs 5/16, we had an afternoon appointment for new kitchen windows. The sticker shock was enough to call in three more sellers this coming week for estimates.
Thurs, May 16, 2024 (10:35am) Grinding It Out
Yesterday, (Wed, 5/15), was a real “grind it out” day at the gym. Mom was amenable but certainly not keen on being there. When I said, “Let’s go the gym”, she retorted, “I’ll go swimming tomorrow.” 😂 Mind you, we have not been to the pool all year – (but hopefully soon). All that said, mom stuck with the program and got her basic workout done:
.42 miles total on treadmill (15 min 50 sec) // .16 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
Seated Rest
1 lap around the track
20 industrial steps down
Tuesday (5/14) was an extremely rainy day so mom was around the house all day, and on Monday (5/13) mom had a successful dental check-up. Let’s see what today brings…
Sun, May 12, 2024 (7pm) Mother’s Day Weekend
Here we had a fine Mother’s Day weekend. On Friday 5/10, mom was outside for much of the afternoon at the alley meeting, and then on Saturday (5/11) our friends came by for an early afternoon visit. Thereafter, mom and I headed out for a stroll around the gazebo – see video below.
And today (Sun, 5/12) mom slept in, showered, had her favorite vegan, open-faced, “egg” sandwich on homemade sourdough bread (shown below), and once breakfast was over she began fielding an array of phone calls and texts from family members and loved ones. All in all, she had a fine day….
Thurs, May 9, 2024 (9pm) Two Gym Days & More
Mom had a pretty casual day around the house, lounging, reading, eating etc. We contemplated (once again) of getting poolside just to stick our toes in but, alas, the afternoon escaped us and we were home all day. Here are mom’s two gym workouts from earlier in the week.
Wed, May 8
.59 miles total on treadmill (22 min 33 sec) // .50 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
Mon, May 6
.46 miles total on treadmill (17 min 37 sec) // .27 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
4 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
So both of the above were decent workouts. On Wed, she was cruising right along and could have kept going save for having to attend to natural call. And afterwards, she did not want to go back on. That said, in contrast to last week, we had an uneventful visit to the gym bathroom so that was a real plus. Mom is no longer having coffee of any sort (neither regular nor herbal) and that seems to be helping us tremendously.
On Tues (May 7), mom was hanging around the house most of the day, and she was out on the front porch while I was at the farmers’ market.
Sun, May 5, 2024 (5:50pm) Rainy Weekend
The outdoor pool opened yesterday for the summer season but I do not think anyone could take advantage of it given the rainy weekend we had. Of course, it was sunny and approach 90 degrees in the days before the opening. Anyway mom had a fine week. On both Mon (4/29) and Thurs (5/2) we took a neighborhood walk, and the the Thursday walk we were flagged down and re-routed to our friends’ place where we sat and visited and left with two big bags of salad greens and herbs from their garden. So that was a big score. In turn, we’ve been baking breads and sharing them all around this week. The big surprise was having the water in Fearrington shut off for several hours on Thursday evening, and some lost their water hours before we did. Fortunately, we keep gallons of RO water in water bags that we could rely on. And just when mom was getting ready to wash up and go to bed on Thursday – around 11pm or so – the water came back on. So her day was not affected at all.
We did get to the gym on Wed (5/1) and had a curtailed workout on the treadmill (.35 miles / 13 min 02 sec) before we had the adventure or all adventures in the restroom, which entailed me hustling back to the house to get some spare clothes. Fortunately, the gym is no more than a 1/4 from our front door!! On Friday (5/3), mom was on the front porch taking in the sights and visiting with neighbors before transferring to the back alley for the weekly alley meeting with a whole crew of neighbors.
All in all a fine week. Here are trends we are working on: rising earlier as opposed to sitting down for breakfast at 3p, avoiding herbal coffee (and all coffees!!) to remain accident-free, and getting our new swimsuits ready for the season.
Here is a peek at what we baked, made, shared, and received this week:
The below salad was made with greens and herbs exclusively from our neighbor’s garden.
Sun, Apr 28, 2024 (11:50pm) Quick Weekend Review
Today was getting on the warmer side, and mom and I took opportunity to take a casual stroll, leaving from the garage and circling around to the front. Thereafter, mom remained on the front porch for some time. On Fri (4/27) mom was outside for most of the afternoon as she attended the alley meeting. And on Sat, we were mostly around the house.
Fri, Apr 26, 2024 (11:15am) The “Work Week” Recap
Well, yesterday (Thurs, 4/25), mom pulled a fast one on me. She was lounging in bed all morning and finally took a shower in the early afternoon. And her clothes were all arranged for when she got dressed, but lo’ & behold she made an executive decision to forgo getting dressed and instead got a fresh, pair of pajamas and put those on. When I told her to get dressed in regular clothes so we could go for a walk, she stood steadfast that she would not take her pajamas off, only to have to put them on again in a few hours. So indeed it was a pajama day, even spending the late afternoon on the front porch in her pjs and a blanket!!
We did get to the gym on both Mon (4/22) and Wed (4/24). On both occasions, mom put up quite modest numbers, not the sky-high totals she was cranking out two weeks ago.
4/24/14
.42 miles total on treadmill (15 min 44 sec) // .27 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
Seated Rest
1 lap around the track
20 industrial steps down
4/22/14
.36 miles total on treadmill (13 min 20 sec) // .34 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
2 laps around the track
Standing exercises
20 industrial steps down
Tuesday (4/23) was a stay-at-home day, and mom sat outside for a bit.
Sun, Apr 21, 2024 (1:30pm) Weekend Wrap-Up
Had an absolutely wonderful visit with my 88-year-old aunt who is still very road worthy. On Thurs 4/18, the three of us did walk over the to gazebo and hang out for a while. It was a warm one at 86 degrees, but we were able to get some walking in and have a good conversation. And the rest of the visit went well; she left midday on Friday. That afternoon (Fri, 4/20) mom was outside with her friends for about 2 hours for the alley meeting, and then Sat (4/21) in early afternoon when mom was having breakfast (she slept through the entire morning as she did today as well!) our house was like grand central station as we had a grand stream of very welcomed friends come over to visit, some announced and some unannounced. Mom enjoyed them all. And today (Sun, 4/21, 1:30pm) at the time of typing mom is getting ready for the shower.
So we had a wonderful week of visitors and gatherings, but admittedly were not able to get to the gym or out for a very long walk, but we will pick up the slack on that this week!!
Thurs, Apr 18, 2024 (9:30am) Aunt’s Arrival
My aunt – mom’s co-pilot for decades and decades – arrived shortly before 7p yesterday evening. I kept telling mom over the last week or so that she was coming, and then mom would forget etc. And when she finally walked into the house yesterday evening and mom saw her she lit up like a lightbulb, animately exclaimed her name, and made quick attempt of standing up from her easy chair, but ultimately remained seated. It was a great and grand meeting, and I should have filmed it. Thereafter, we got my aunt checked in at the local Inn and we all spent the evening together eating dinner and catching up till about 10:30p or so. And she will be with us all today as well…
Wed, Apr 17, 2024 (6:15pm) Flowers & Sidewalks
The biggest news around here are the flowers that blossomed up the alley and the new brick sidewalk that was put in outside the house, both of which are pictured below.
On Mon (4/15) mom slept in and had a casual midafternoon breakfast on the front porch as she read the paper. Typically, this would have been a gym day, but I had to make a Costco run, and already most of the day was gone due to our late start. That said, mom and I did get out for a short walkJust for the record, it did get up to 90 today.
On Tue 4/16, mom was up and at ’em super early and she a fairly full day around the house. And then today, Wed (4/18), mom had a leisurely sleep-in and early afternoon breakfast. Typically, we would have gone to the gym today but we were waiting upon my aunt’s arrival this evening.
Sun, Apr 14, 2024 (9:15pm) Four-Day Recap
Mom has been quite fine and consistent over this span.
On Thurs 4/11, she did this workout at the gym:
– .51 miles total on treadmill (18 min 18 sec) // .43 initial miles without stopping
– 20 industrial steps up
– 2 laps around the track
– 20 industrial steps down
Both Fri (4/12) and today (4/14), mom was around the house and spent extended periods on the front porch, and on Sat (4/13) mom walked from the front side of the house to the gazebo and back. She also had good phone and Zoom calls with family. The warm weather (mid-80s) arrived today enabling mom to have a care-free day on the front porch, whereas when she was on the front porch on Friday she was buoyed by a blanket, gloves, a hand-warmer, etc.
Here are the breads we baked the last few days…
Thurs, Apr 11, 2024 (9:30am) Treadmill Workout
Yesterday (Wed, 4/10), mom outdid herself by not emerging from the bed until nearly 2p and then showering and putting on her pajamas again and going back to bed. Well, we put that saga to an end and ultimately made it down to the breakfast table by 4p, and pushed onwards to the gym at about 6:30p where she put in a valiant workout:
.70 miles total on treadmill (25 min 27 sec) // .60 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
2 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
Here is a mom on the treadmill during her workout yesterday.
But these very late wake-ups are becoming a problem. Actually, it is not when she wakes up, but when she will emerge from the warmth of her bed. Very pleased to report that today (4/11) mom has gotten up as I am typing here and is actively getting herself ready for the shower etc. So that is a very positive development!!
On Tues (4/9), mom was mostly around the house after a late wake-up….
Mon, Apr 8, 2024 (9:45pm) Eclipse & Evening Walk
Mom got a glimpse of the solar eclipse as the neighbors were out viewing it, and they were kind enough to come over to our sidewalk with some glasses so mom could also see. At first she did not look high enough in the sky but eventually she got it and could view it nicely. After spending a good portion of the afternoon on the porch (not looking at the sun), mom did make it out for a solid evening walk. We did not go too far but we were out for a while and mom was on her feet for approximately 45 minutes or so. We walked around the gazebo and this pom-pom tree.
Below are some olive baguettes that we made over the weekend….
Sun, Apr 7, 2024 (11:20pm) Front Porch Weekend
On Fri (4/5), mom and I did a modest walk outside but it was quite windy so it was just a fast jaunt, and then we were back. On both Sat (4/6) and Sun (4/7), mom passes hours on the front porch with her usual accoutrements: sunglasses, blanket, tissues, water, reading material, & hand warmers etc. Mom enjoyed her Saturday visit with friends, and due to a late wake-up mom did not make the alley meeting on Friday. All in all, doing just fine.
Thurs, Apr 4, 2024 (10:20pm) Treadmill Terminator!!
Before going to the gym this afternoon / evening, mom’s hip was bothering her, which can happen from time to time, usually after she’s been sitting for a while. So she was not all that keen to get to the gym. But once we got there she took no prisoners!! Mom topped out at .82 miles (29 min 53 sec) on the treadmill, including the initial .57 miles (20:27) without stopping!! So that was a solid treadmill workout. As it was late in the day, we did not climb the double staircase to the track.
Wed, Apr 3, 2024 (11:30pm) Marathon Walk II
Mom did a really great walk today, and we used the rollator which turned out to be a really great way to go. I think that is how we will proceed in the future. She walked to the gazebo, and on to West Camden, and then to Caswell and then on back home. We must have been gone for an hour, or close to it. She has to hunch a bit over her red outdoor rollator (which is on lone from Fearrington Cares), and we are going to try and get an upright model, even buying it if need be.
Yesterday, Tue (4/2), mom was around the house all day, and was up till 2am!! Needless to say, we got off to a bit of a late start today.
Mon, Apr 1, 2024 (6:30pm) Marathon Walk
Mom and I just got back from a 54-minute walk!! She was not keen to go to the gym, and it was such a nice day outside so we just took off from the front porch and did a big loop. We were not speedy, but she was steady. We took a few pauses or standing rests along the way, but she did not sit down at all until we returned back home. She has actually been on the front porch all afternoon, even having her lunch out there.
Sun, Mar 31, 2024 (10:45pm) Carolina Spring
Mom enjoyed the 80 degree weather this weekend. On Sat (3/30), she was out on the front porch for hours – taking her lunch and entertaining all kinds of passers-by. On Sun (3/31), she had a luxurious morning into the early afternoon in bed. Indeed, she was even late for our 3pm Zoom call with family!! But, on the whole, she has made solid strides with her wake-up times. On Fri (3/29), she was out of bed by 7:30am and on Sat (3/30) she was also up by mid-morning. On Fri (3/29), mom was outside her the crew for the alley meeting. So she got plenty of fresh air this weekend.
Here is mom’s Thurs (3/28) workout – a great culmination to a very impressive week on the treadmill wherein she hit at least .65 miles each time!!
.65 miles total on treadmill (23 min 15 sec) // .44 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
Wed, Mar 27, 2024 (10:45pm) Burning Up the Track
Mom has had some really great sessions at the gym to start the week!! On the downside we are not making much progress in mom’s wake-up / get-up times. Today she started he breakfast at 4pm!! And it was nearly 7:30pm when we finished our workout at the gym!! That is just too late to get the day going. That said, check out these eye-popping numbers!!
On Mon (3/25) mom really topped out!!
.79 miles total on treadmill (28 min 25 sec) // .69 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
1 lap around the track
20 industrial steps down
And then today (3/27) she again went at it:
.65 miles total on treadmill (22 min 59 sec) // .39 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
4 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
Both Sun (3/24) and Tues (3/26) were fairly quiet days around the house…
Sat, Mar 23, 2024 (9:45pm) A Full Week
Today (Sat, 3/23) has been a mostly quiet one as mom slept in, had a visited from her good friends, and took it easy most of the afternoon. Of late, we have been working on our wake-ups, i.e. trying to get out of bed earlier, but mom really likes being under those covers, often remaining in bed for extra hours!!! So let’s just call it a work in progress at this point.
Yesterday (Fri, 3/22) was a late, late get out of bed day – 1pm. It was so late that after mom showered and dressed she had to go directly out to the alley meeting without any breakfast. This was a special alley gathering as one of our longtime neighbors was moving so literally everyone came out for it. And the weather really cooperated. It was a grand gathering, and by the end mom was giving good-bye hugs to everyone telling them that she was also moving!!
On Thurs (3/21) mom got the following workout in at the gym:
.50 miles total on treadmill (18 min 58 sec) // .31 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
And we baked this sourdough:
On Wed (3/20), mom did a 45 min walk outside without stopping or sitting. She had a ski pole in her right hand, and she and I were mostly arm-in-arm on the other side. When we got back from the walk she happily plopped down in her chair on the front porch.
We also baked these olive baguettes…we shared the above sourdough and the below baguettes with our neighbors who are moving.
This guy (mourning dove) was also hanging around our feeder, which has been like grand central station the past month or so. But this fellow was just dipping his tail in our freshly filled water tray, and I told him he could dip his tail as much as he wants so long as he doesn’t poop in it as I had just cleaned the tray and changed the water.
Both Mon (3/18) & Tues (3/19) were low impact days. On Monday, we had a follow-up visit at the dentist to get mom’s new nightguard, and Tuesday was our busy farmer’s market day.
Sun, Mar 17, 2024 (9:15pm) Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Mom and I spent a wonderful two hours today at a very lovely neighborhood gathering hosted by our friends across the street. Mom really enjoyed going over there and seeing everyone. For those who remember, we were over at Tucker’s house, and good ol’ Tuck spent time sitting on both of our laps. In total, there were about 20 – 24 people there, and it was good to meet and connect with others in neighborhood who we see less frequently. On Saturday, mom and I were around the house and she sat outside for a good while. All in all a fine weekend, and we are ready for the upcoming week!!
Fri, Mar 15, 2024 (10:50pm) Spring Came & Left
Mom had a good go at the gym today, not record-setting but sufficient:
.50 miles total on treadmill (18 min 44 sec) // .30 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
On Tues, Wed, & Thurs, mom spent lots of time basking in spring on the front porch. Due to a busy schedule, we did not get out and walk, but mom sure did enjoy her time on the front porch.
Mon, Mar 11, 2024 (4:50pm) Back in the Saddle
Well, we got back to the gym today and while it wasn’t our best showing on the treadmill, mom did do some solid work on the track getting a total of 6 laps in. Here are the numbers:
.41 miles total on treadmill (15 min 11 sec) // .29 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
Seated Rest
2 laps around the track
Seated Rest
1 lap around the track
20 industrial steps down
Sun, Mar 10, 2024 (7:10pm) Blustery Sunday
It was a very blustery day, but in the late afternoon mom and I ventured out for a walk around the block. Not exactly the longest walk of the year, but, nonetheless, we got out and about for a bit – and that was good. In fact, for the last few days we have been homebodies. We did not get to the gym on Fri (3/8) as an old friend came over late Friday afternoon which mom really enjoyed, and then mom was treated to her usual Saturday morning visitors which was also very welcomed. So all is well around here. No major changes or updates, and we’ll take it. That said, we do need to get to the gym tomorrow.
Mom’s latest venture into yoga class in case you haven’t seen it: Mom barges through
Thurs, Mar 7, 2024 (7pm) Sunset Wonders
This below photo is actually from Mon (3/4) on my return trip from Costco…if you click on the image it will take you to IG to view the full series of photos taken.
Thurs, Mar 7, 2024 (11:45am) Excellent Check-Up
Well, she did it again!! On Tues (3/5), mom went for her local medical check-up and her bloodwork was excellent. Our wonderful doctor did a thorough analysis and ordered a serveral tests, and mom’s numbers were all terrific. And that is without any medicine to alter the results and / or cover-up what is really going on. So at 94.5 years of age, mom is in really good shape.
On Mon (3/4), we went to the dentist to fix a cracked tooth and get a new nightguard so that is another sphere of life that is in good order as by and large her teeth are in excellent condition. There are no ongoing issues or problems.
Here are mom’s gym numbers from yesterday, Wed (3/6):
.50 miles total on treadmill (18 min 22 sec) // .36 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
Previous Updates ==> Sep 27, 2021 to Mar 3, 2024
