Hello!

Well, hello there! I apologize for my sudden absence. It came as a result of considering how I spend my time and what makes sense for me. I don’t think I’ll be posting three days a week here anymore, but I’m constantly reminded how important my blogging connections are. So I’m planning to check in here weekly in some brief way.

Yesterday I caught myself composing a blog post in my head and knew it was time to sit down and get you all caught up on some big stuff that has been happening around here. Some not good and some very good. And I feel out of practice, so please bear with me as I find my blogging voice again!

Health Challenges

For the last month or so, Matthew has been experiencing severe chest pain. He has been going to the doctor to figure out what’s happening and they have determined there’s some abnormality with this heartbeat but have had a difficult time pinning it down. He spent some time wearing a holter monitor and has an echocardiogram scheduled — all while experiencing nearly constant severe pain.

Last week he ended up in the emergency room most of the night in severe tachycardia, exacerbated by a major panic attack. After that event, he was prescribed medication to help normalize his heart rate and has been responding well. He’s still experiencing the same symptoms as before, but they’re not as severe or as overwhelming.

He had two more appointments with doctors this week and learned that the most likely explanation is ventricular hypertrophy, which is somewhat common in former athletes. Scar tissue forms around the heart due to vigorous aerobic exercise, which is usually a good thing that strengthens the heart. But sometimes the scar tissue becomes so thick that it can become difficult for the heart to pump blood. And that explanation makes the most sense to us given Matthew’s background and his current physical fitness (which is excellent).

It is a relief to begin to get answers and to know that he’s responding well with a very low dose of medication, but it’s still scary. We’re continuing to take things one day at a time, but he returned to work this week and seems to be managing okay.

---

I’ve leaned into walking to get me through some of these harder moments. There was a period early in the process with Matthew that I was afraid to leave the house at all and I skipped a few days. I knew immediately that was a mistake – I started feeling resentful, penned in, and just plain stir-crazy. So I’ve made a point to take an hour nearly every day and get in my 3 miles.

In addition to these daily walks, I’ve been spending the 9pm hour doing weight training and riding my spin bike while raging out to The Rachel Maddow Show. Focusing on moving my body has been very important over the last several months in general, so I’m glad to be back on track.

---

Now here’s the really crazy change coming up. For my 41st birthday in February, we got on a waiting list for a border collie puppy. And our puppy will be available to pick up Sunday, April 27th! We have been debating his name and I think we’ve settled on something, but I don’t want to share it just in case it changes (again). (This puppy is currently in South Carolina, which is why there’s some green in the background. New Hampshire isn’t this spring-like yet!)

We considered letting him go to the next person on the list and waiting for the next litter, but decided against it. I know that Matthew won’t be able to help a lot with him but I wasn’t realistically expecting much help anyway (no shade to Matthew). And the boost of oxytocin this little guy will bring will be very much welcomed. So we’ve sent in the money I’ve saved and are going through with it. And I am so excited!

---

Those are the three big things going on in my life right now, besides the typical homeschooling and housekeeping ups and downs. I had been reading a ton, but that really slowed down after Matthew’s emergency visit. My brain still hasn’t recovered from that event! I’m hoping to settle in and start to feel more like myself soon. But I’ve been enjoying watching movies more than usual and squeezing in a little knitting, which has been very good for me too. I’m sure it will all balance out at some point.

I hope the weather in your neck of the woods is lovely this weekend and that you find time to do the things that bring you joy. I hope to be back next Friday! Take good care.