Lungaversary Day Again

Another lungaversary! Nine years two months. Or as Chris tells me 110 months. These poor lungies are pushing so hard to keep me going, and doing a great job. Love them SO MUCH. Feeling really exhausted :-( Waking up with a headache and more tired than I was going to bed. Hopefully one of those random "feeling crap" weeks that randomly seem to happen and resolve itself again.

We got back from Magaliesburg yesterday, where we celebrated my dad's 60th birthday. We spent 4 nights in a very comfy cottage with great views. It was perfect for our current situation, as it's only about 90 mins outside Johannesburg, it was small enough for my oxygen pipe to reach everywhere, even outside. My sis was 37 weeks pregnant on Sunday! Only 2 or 3 weeks left to go :-) Did a few small walks with my portable O2 as well, which was nice. Check out the amazing pics...

The other cool thing I did last week was to go to the new Paul in Melrose Arch with Andrew! The first South African version opened very recently (it's European... I've seen it in London before). I wasn't disappointed, the food was GREAT! Go there if you haven't yet and are in Jozi!

Another week done and dusted

Can't believe it's already Sunday evening again! Some weeks just run away with you! My sis is 36 weeks pregnant today!!! In a month's time the baby will be here!!!! SO EXCITING!! We went to Mall of Africa yesterday and she slept over by us as Pierre was away for work.

This past week I was really busy on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday... On Monday I went to the movies and lunch with a friend at Rosebank. Watched Manchester By Sea... Thought it was a really good movie. Rather sad but good. On Tuesday evening we went out to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday... Had Indian food at Taste Of Punjab. Was very nice. It was a surprise as he thought him and my mom were going out for supper alone. On Wednesday we were busy with Love Life; Gift Life stuff the whole day.

I probably overdid it, as by Thursday I was DEAD tired. Couldn't do much at bio, and just went home to crash in from of the TV. Friday was also just spent relaxing with the cats and recovering.

Coloured in a bit for a change. Tired of crocheting right now (although we're going away next weekend so will be doing some crocheting then). Have managed to read 4 books this year already and super impressed with myself about that. It's already 3 more than I did last year. I used to read a hell of a lot when I was in school. However the last few years I haven't had the time to read much, and when I did, I struggled to pay attention and there was too many distractions. The next challenge would be to play piano again but I'm DEFINITELY not ready for that challenge yet! 

Hoping this week goes by quickly as well, as we're going away for a long-weekend  on Friday to carry on celebrating my dad's 60th. Not going far, just to Magaliesburg which is roughly 90 mins away. Definitely need to take some boardgames with... one daughter will be super pregnant and the other daughter will be super unable to breathe well, so chilling out will be the nr one activity! On Monday I saw the below scratch out tourist map of New York on sale, and I HAD to buy it. Going to Ney York one day is on my bucket-list of things to do! I believe that one day I will be able to!

Happy 60th Birthday to my dad!

Today a legend turns 60!!!! Baie geluk met Pappa se verjaarsdag, ek hoop dis die beste jaar ooit!

This weekend we also celebrated Fawny's lungaversary. Four years!!!! Have been lucky enough to celebrate each one with her. We had lunch at De Vette Mossel at Hartebeespoort Dam. very nice and different seafood place with a West Coast vibe. The below pics and video wraps it up perfectly:

Anto's 3 day visit

My friend from school, Antoinette (who later became friends with my sis as well) came up from PE for the Baby Shower this weekend. It was a surprise! And a very nice distraction after the "anxiety/feeling like crap" experience of the preceding few days. I picked her up at the Gautrain on Friday morning. The first stop was Krispy Kreme, as they don't have one in PE and all my Instagram doughnut pics have been driving her mad! It was followed by Starbucks (also not on the radar for PE anytime soon), and then back to Krispy Kreme for some stock for the rest of the weekend!

At Starbucks I had a slightly more interesting oxygen encounter than the usual... the barista asked me if he should write Hazel Grace on my cup... at first I thought I misheard him, and then I didn't know what the hell he was on about, until A pointed out that he is referencing the character from "The Fault in Our Stars". I've only watched it once, and it was rather depressing, so not the biggest fan, but told him I clearly need to watch it again! He obviously shared my feelings because he said "It's too sad". Oh well, I guess if the movie created awareness for people wearing O2 then that's a good thing. He probably thinks I have lung cancer like she did... oops.

On Friday night we met up with Andrew at Craft for a nice supper. I was so stuffed from all the other food we ate I could only do a salad! Sat was the big day,,,, we went to Lifestyle centre for breakfast and to pick up the balloons that I'd ordered. Had my favourite brekkie there... the paw paw crumble. We also bought some bonsai stuff.... as I have one that needs to be repotted, and would like to fill up the empty pot again. Only got the gravel, soil and bigger pot for now.

The baby shower detail you saw in the previous post so not going into that again. On Sunday we did some shopping at Cresta... I bought a little book on Bonsai for beginners, Should help me to take better care of mine and help me when I replace the empty pot! My list of hobby's are increasing! Crochet, Colouring In, Orchid-ing, Bonsai-ing... and of course co-founding NPO's! Can I add all of that to my CV one day???? On Monday morning I dropped A off at the Gautrain again, and spent the rest of the day sorting out the house.

Tomorrow (and yesterday) is/was bio, meeting up with Andrew afterwards. Then the most exciting is Fawn's four year Lungaversary Party on Sunday! Going to a place out towards Harties that I've been wanting to go to for a while. Very excited about that. Have a great weekend!

Breathing and Baby Shower

Saturday we had my sister's Baby Shower! We tried to keep it a surprise and we kind of succeeded for the most part at least! It was a really nice afternoon and I hope she had a memorable and fun celebration! We're all very excited to see if it's going to be a girl or a boy! One thing is certain though, this is going to be the most spoiled baby EVER! It was also really great having my friend Antoinette here.

I have been feeling more short of breath and tired for the last two weeks, and eventually decided to see my Dr a week earlier for my check-up. It's so hard to know when you need to see the Dr because you might be getting sick/worse, or it might just be how you're "supposed" to feel with low lung function. Appointments are also booked so far in advance and he is sooooooo busy that you don't want to just mess schedules around for nothing. After a lot of deliberation I decided to just do it, and went for blood tests as well.

So on Thursday I went to see him. I have no infection and my lung function was actually up a bit. The 6 min walk test results were a bit down but relatively good as always (I seem to be able to walk pretty fast with my oxygen set on 5 litres considering my low lung function). I know this is supposed to be good news, but it's also really frustrating. Is being anxious making me feel more out of breath? Is it hormones affecting how I feel? If it is anxiety, why am I anxious if I'm already on meds for anxiety? Is it just a bad week or two? It also feels like my body played tricks on me then! I could do without my brain playing tricks on my lungs.... really! So in the end I feel a bit like the boy who cried wolf, and also a bit like an idiot. You would think after 32.5 years I would know my body a bit better, Oh well.... just carrying on and focusing on more fun stuff like the trip away for my dad's birthday soon and other fun stuff planned with friends.

We've also had a sh%tload of rain! It's been great, as we've had such a drought for the last 2 years. Even though our roof is NOT loving the rain, I am. As well as my garden! And it has made the kitties extra cuddly. There might be some more this coming week :-) Enjoy the last 2 days of Feb!!!!

Valentines Day and relatively boring week.

I was super spoiled for Valentine's Day this year. When I went downstairs on Tuesday morning to make coffee and breakfast there was a vase full of red roses, a potted succulent, a chocolate and a very awesome card waiting for me. What an awesome surprise, not sure how Chris pulled that off exactly! We went out for Indian food in the evening at Ghazal (Melrose Arch). Their food was amazing as always, although this was actually our first time at the Melrose Arch branch, we normally go to the Sunninghill one. We were both pretty tired so we didn't stay out for long, but it was great.

The only other cool thing I did was brunch with Andrew yesterday after bio, at Milk in Rosebank. Haven't been there before, and it's so nice to try out a new place (especially in my current life situation where I feel a bit stagnant). It's right next to Circa Gallery, which I also haven't been to before, so we popped in quickly. Didn't stay long as there was some sort of class happening there but at least I know what it looks like now.

Feeling a bit bleh, in a stange mood. Next week will be much busier so hopefully I won't have time to feel bleh. Going to the gynae later today for quaterly visit, and dentist on Monday for a clean... so that's those medical boxes ticked. Have a good weekend everyone and Happy Fifth wedding anniversary to my sister and Pierre tomorrow! I know this year will be amazing for you guys!

35 years!

Happy wedding anniversary to my parents for tomorrow! 35 Years of being married is no small feat! May there be many happy years ahead still! We love you!

Had a fairly boring week. Bio has continued to be a killer for this whole month now and feeling more short of breath. Not fun. Had quick brunch with Andrew on Thursday which was nice, and met up with another friend I used to work with for coffee at her house later that day. Yesterday we saw Cecile, Dean and their cutest little boy Ben! Friendliest baby EVER!

Had supper at my parents' house last night with the sister and Pierre, and today we've done nothing apart from lying on the couch and watching a movie. (I did to a load of laundry and washed the dishes at least). Finished another toy for the soon-to-arrive niece/nephew.... was supposed to be a koala but looks more like a mouse?? In 2 months' time the baby will be here! Nothing else to report on.... have a great week!

"Breathe" - by Brian Mark

So this is the result of Brian's visit 2 weeks ago...

You can listen to it on soundcloud here, and check out Brian's website here!

I really love it (apart from not liking the sound of my own voice!!), and hopefully one day he will be able to organise a performance here in SA!

"Breathe was written for pianists Izzy O’Connell and Kathleen Supové, which incorporates pre-recorded sound design and spoken narration. The concept of this piece comes from my interest of the condition known as Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disorder commonly affecting the lungs, and other organs of the body. A good friend of mine was born with this condition, and her stories have shaped my view of my own fragile health and mortality. Born in South Africa, Alice Vogt is still surviving her first lung transplant since her operation in 2008. For myself that has a very serious case of asthma, I’m aware that my own health is a small comparison to the struggles of someone who has CF, as I am constantly mindful of what they experience on a daily basis when I take my asthma inhaler every morning. There are strong arguments in the medical community that Frédéric Chopin may have very well suffered and died from our modern diagnosis known as Cystic Fibrosis. Due to this research and revelation, the piece is constructed in many forms, as it incorporate elements of music quotation from Chopin’s various works (Nocturne Op. 9 No.1 in Bb Minor, Prelude No. 15 in Db Major, and Prelude Op. 28 No. 4 in E Minor) juxtaposed with sounds of breathing and circulation, with splices of narration from an interview of my friend talking about this disease. I was intrigued of Alice’s transition into her new lungs, and how she felt the first time her new organs felt completely fresh and new, which therefore lead me to also incorporate chord progressions from Pink Floyd’s Breathe (In the Air). The use of two pianos in this work is a multi-sided canvas of both experiences, the prognosis of this condition, and the new freedom that is given to successful lung transplant receivers. Although not all surgical procedures of lung transplants are successful, the gift of a new life from this medical perspective intrigues me on a profound spiritual level…The interview with Alice for the spoken narration component of this work was conducted at her home in Johannesburg, South Africa on 18 January, 2017. In addition, I would sincerely like to thank Oli Lewington, Engagement Director from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust in the UK for his assistance and guidance on this project.Breathe was made possible by a grant from the American Composers Forum with funds provided by the Jerome Foundation, and was premiered at the Yamaha Piano Salon in New York City on 26 January, 2017."

February and travelling!!!!

It's Feb!!!!! First month of 2017 is done, yay :-) Been an awesome year so far, Jan was a great month for me. Let's hope Feb is just as great. Feeling very positive at the moment... about life, what the future might hold, the friends I have, Love Life; Gift Life, becoming an aunt soon.... everything is just in a good space at the moment (well apart from my physical constraints).

Had a laid back weekend, just saw my mom and sis for some tea. Did some gardening on Sunday (I use the term loosely.... I sat and pulled out some weeds and cut off a few stuff before collapsing on the couch drenched in sweat)... Chris jumped in and did some more significant stuff. It's looking great after all the rain we've had.

Last night we went out for supper with Andrew, caught up on his Europe trip! I really hope I can travel again one day!!!!! So badly want to see Europe (the few days in Sweden with WTG doesn't really count). And New York!!! Watched 2 episodes of the Netflix documentary series "Metropolis" this morning.... San Francisco and London. Those are the two cities I've been to among those featured. Didn't want to watch the other ones yet as I know I will just want to go even more badly. At the same time I'm also really grateful that I HAVE been to these 2 places (and London 3 times at that!)... I think for a lot of people travelling is addictive.... I would rather sacrifice other luxuries and use the money to TRAVEL. Right now the only "travelling" we have planned is a trip to Magaliesberg for my dad's 60th birthday at the end of March... it's very close to Joburg so it doesn't even count as travelling but at least it's something.

Anyways.... may your month of Feb be filled with LOVE!