Wouldn't It Be Nice

That is the song that will be stuck in my head today.  Weekend was excellent. Breakfast with the parents, farmer's market, kite festival, lunch with husband, yard work, and I got to hang this beauty:

We got our new porch back in May and I'm still painting it as energy and time allow. I love the bird watching, grilling, and reading I do out there. It is my little escape. The chandelier has been the perfect addition thus far. I even managed to start on my little succulent garden. She is kinda puny at the moment, but I look forward to seeing how she grows.

I have plans for this week. Going to try to get back to the gym, do some detoxing.
I have this mental exercise I do every morning when I wake up. Having "lyme brain" causes forgetfulness and confusion more than I am willing to admit. I may forget something that happened years ago or I may forget what I was talking about mid sentence. Almost always forget where I park. I've always been a chatter box, but I find myself more and more just sitting in silence. Afraid of what I may sound like to others, I just keep my trap closed. Friends and family understand. The general public doesn't. I can see it in their face. Like either I am too wrapped up in my self to care, or I'm the girl who is "really starting to lose it".

The morning drill for me consist of me opening my eyes, taking my thyroid pill, and laying there and making a run through: What day is it, year, address, my name, my husbands name, all of my children, their birthdays, important days. I try to run through recent events. How far back can I go with my dinner. What did I eat last night, and the night before, what about the night before that? Then I scavenge for a few memories. Sometimes it is a little foggy, but they all come to me. Except dinner. I do good if I can go back 2 nights. I usually do not get past 3. Some days I am on point. I'm quick with the drill and know it will be a day of clarity. Others it is a little slow. This morning was heartbreaking.

Husband was getting ready for work. I could hear him in the bathroom. I rolled over to take my pill with my water. I rubbed my eyes, and moved enough to listen to all my joints pop and creak, Then I started. Today is Monday. Tyler Scott, Macy Elizabeth, Kenneth Ray, Amber Lynn, Elyse Nicole.
Birthdays are as follows. We made pizza on the grill last night and watched Netflix. The night before I didn't eat dinner. My husband is Kenneth Ray. We have been married for 6 years. WHO IS HE???? I know who he is. He is my husband. He isn't a stranger, but who is he?????? Where are our memories??? Does he love me? Who is he??????

NO! This isn't happening. Quick, my parents. Sandra and Gary. My brother and all his family........Got it. What the HELL is happening????

He is coming out of the bathroom. Close your eyes, Adrienne. Stop crying. He is going to come tell you goodbye and he doesn't need to think anything is wrong. Stop CRYING!!!

He knew though. He ran through memories with me, asking me if I remember our cruises. (I remember them, but I can't REMEMBER them). He asked if I remembered his marriage proposal and where we ate afterwards. Yes! He asked if I remembered how much he loves me. No. I don't know him enough right now to know how he feels, his likes and dislikes. I'm so confused. This sucks. He compared us to the movie 50 First Dates. I remember that. Made me laugh. Told me that if he has to remind me every morning he will.


Now, I have the scene stuck in my head where he plays the video for her each and every morning to the Beach Boys song Wouldn't It Be Nice.  At least something is sticking right?

OH POOP! I have eggs boiling. I'll be right back.

I obviously have mashed potatoes for brains right now. I'm sad. This isn't fun. I figured I had better blog quick before I forget. Like forgetful Lucy.  This has to be equally upsetting for him.  Lyme isnt fair. Not to the person infected or the family coping. I try to find humor in everything. I wish I had something more uplifting to share in closing. I apologize. Time for a neurologist visit and another MRI I suppose. One thing I do know is how much I love my husband. How blessed am I to have a man that is willing to take the time to be late so that he can talk me through our past? Blessed indeed.

When It Rains (Literally and A Matter of Figurative Speech)

Texas got hit hard in the rain department in May and beginning of June. So much that our lakes and rivers that have been suffering drought for the past several years are back up. Great for business. Sadly, it came at the expense of some lives and damages. Here are a few Texas sized statistics to help you fathom just how much record-breaking rain we had just in May alone.

So, you see there was a bunch. We do everything big here. Go big or go home.

Our home was spared flood waters. Despite our backyard looking like a pond. We had a snake. I should say SNAKE. Cause it was big. A good size turtle. Oh there was a blue heron out there one day too. That either means we had small fish or the heron mistook our land for a body of water.

We did end up with some water in the house though from the constant non-stop run off from our roof on the back patio. It came in through the back door. I had told my husband I could smell mold. Mold and Lyme are symbiotic. As El Nino set it and the rains let up, things started to dry out. We had to first tackle the water coming in the house. Hubster built a covered porch. I LOVE IT. * hashtag props*.(so that worked out.) We then had to fix the threshold to the french doors as the other was rotted and then remove our entire livingroom floor. Some of the smell was in the kitchen cabinets as well, so the ALL needed a fresh painting and relining of shelving anyway. So, a month later we have a new porch, a fresh kitchen, no mold, and a beautiful new living laminate floor in teak. My husband was even able to take some time to make a quick trip to our favorite river, the Guadalupe, for a whitewater rafting experience. For the past 3 years that river has ran under 100 CFU's give or take and the first day we drove up, his trip was actually cancelled and the CFU's was over 6000. He ended up rafting at about 3400.

It has been refreshing to say the least, to be able to breath the fresh air in the house. I have been moving much better for now. The flair ups seem to be at bay (keeping with the water theme).

As the month of June started to wind down and we transitioned into July, we have entered with heavy hearts. We had to lay down our family boxer, Arabelle, the Monday after July 4th. She was 11 years old.

I did not have the pleasure of coming into her life until she was 4 years old, as my husband had her before he and I met, but for the past 7 years her and I spent every day together. She slobbered, she passed gas like an old man, she would stink, she would scale a fence, she would get into the trash, she would snore so loud that our walls would rattle. I would sometimes get up to lay on the couch at night because of the snoring in my room (I will not name any names). Only to be welcomed with more snoring from the sweet pup.

Our youngest daughter once asked, "Daddy, why does Arabelle snore?"  "Because she's fat." He replied. To which she sassed back with, "Is that why you snore?"

She was the dog from sandlot. She looked ferocious and probably would have been if tested, but never snapped. Just slobbered and licked. In her mind she was the worlds smallest lapdog. She walked you. You didn't walk her. She had been through heat stroke, cancer and as of 6 months ago a larynx that was collapsing.

When it was steak night for us, it was steak night for her too, and she knew it. She would patiently wait for us to finish so she could devour hers in a split second.

I'm still having the most difficult time adjusting to the silence. She was soooo loud! I want to run home and let her outside, wake up and take care of her. Feel her stare at me when I watch TV. But we had to let her rest. Last week she started shutting down. She no longer could eat or drink. We continued to offer through the weekend and even Monday morning one last time. Saturday morning, under my new porch, her and I were outside. I was having my coffee and reading. She just laid by my feet. Sunday morning, I got on the floor with her. Talked to her. She just looked at me. Placed her paw on my shoulder. Like she was telling me it was okay. Then she went inside her kennel and laid down. We all gathered around her Monday morning. We loved her and Kenneth and I took her down and talked with our vet and made the decision. It was one of the hardest things I have ever seen my husband do. I sat on the floor with her in his lap until she fell asleep under the sedation and kissed her goodbye. I then left the room. He stayed with her through out the rest. I know we did the right thing by her. She was suffering. So, why does is hurt so damn much? I didn't think I would hurt this much. I found myself on the bathroom floor last night at about 2AM just crying. Dogs teach us unconditional love. They are so quick to forget. So quick to forgive. They do not hold a grudge for you scolding them yesterday for busting out of the kennel and eating the kitty litter (why do they even do that????). They don't plan tomorrow. They just live in the here and now. Happy.  Even on the days when they are sick. They are dying, they are living for their master. We could really learn a lot from our canine companions. My tears are free flowing right now. My heart is full of emotion. This is a pain I have never experienced before. You brought us joy you crazy dog. Go leap 20 foot fences with ease and have 40 oz porterhouse steaks. You will be missed.