Tuesday, July 1, 2025 – Day 322

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Good morning to you all… wherever you are on this first day of July.

Yesterday turned out to be a good day. I’m finally starting to feel like I’ve turned the corner from last week’s surgery. The pain is now just a dull ache, and I tolerated my feedings during the day—BIG WIN!

I actually had a food craving in the morning, so I started the day just like I used to….with a solid breakfast. To keep adding to my nutrition, we followed that with two formula feedings at 10:00 and 2:00. I managed 237 ml (one carton) each time. No nausea! No gagging! No cold sweats! I used the gravity drip method instead of the syringe, and while it takes longer, it’s much easier on the stomach. Turns out pushing that stuff in quickly isn’t a great idea. Hopefully I’ve solved the nausea mystery once and for all. All it took was a little patience from the patient… problem solved. Now I just need to ramp things up to full speed and get all my daily nutrition requirements!

One great thing about this blog…and there are many…is the connection to so many of you out there. I have no idea how many people read this, but your support has been a huge win for me. The advice and concern over the past week have been outstanding. It’s because of you that I was able to finally get past the hard parts.

I’m especially thankful for Peggy, our ALS Clinic angel. She’s been reading the blog and has sent us thoughtful advice and practical tools to help with daily life. She has an excellent understanding of ALS progression and helps us stay one step ahead of what’s coming. We are so grateful.

Shout-out to Mike for showing up with his chainsaw and cutting up the small maple tree that fell last week. Thanks for the assist, Mike! You and so many others keep helping me knock things off the list…and it means a lot.

Now that I’m feeling a bit better, Cindy has started adding things to our social calendar. There are quite a few people we haven’t seen since the diagnosis, and we’re trying to reconnect while I still have the strength and energy to get out. The biggest challenge is how quickly I tire…but that’s exactly why I got the feeding tube. With better nutrition, I’m hoping for a nice energy boost.

Reading has kept me company all week…it was about the only thing I could do. I finished Hidden Prey yesterday, and wouldn’t you know it, Broken Prey (#16) showed up right on cue. Cindy must be in cahoots with this mystery book fairy—the timing is just too perfect. Still no clues as to who’s behind the deliveries… and maybe that’s part of the fun. With 19 books still to go in the series, I’ve got plenty of time to crack the case.

In the meantime, I’ll keep working to build back my strength and read my way through the next book. Maybe next week I’ll even feel up to trying a little golf. The window for those outings is closing, so I want to get out there while I still can.

One more shout-out…to the six college friends from Dixon, IL who left for Northern Europe yesterday. I’ve asked them to send photos so I can live vicariously through their travels. They’re a fun group, and I can already hear and feel all the love and laughter. If I can’t join ’em, at least I can travel through their stories and snapshots.

Have a great Tuesday, everyone.
 Love you guys! ❤️