I'm Steppin' Out and Up!

What a wonderful time for me to be learning new things and enjoying new experiences. Not everything goes according to plan but it adds to the story later and I love the funky stories. The sillier the better.

For example, my first trip to Motzart's Coffee Roasters. They have a small lift/elevator for its handicapped customers. The restaurant sits on Lake Austin, from its outdoor seating area you can watch the boats as they come in and out of their slips. It is beautiful and lovely to sit there in the mornings, I imagine that the evenings would probably be uncomfortable with insects.

Anyway, I went there using the MetroAccess bus service to the restaurant and began talking to the driver that morning. She was very nice and curious when we got there about it. I told her that I had called ahead like I always do, and they have accommodations for wheelchair guests, including the use of the elevator. So we looked at it and there is an emergency button if I had any trouble, once she was sure I could get down to the building entrance safely she left with a coveted look at the water and benches with a smell of coffee in the air. Hmmm, I am relaxed just thinking of it, I can't wait to go back.

I did make it down safely with an embarrassing stop of the elevator on an invisible floor. I am not sure why the elevator stopped but I banged and pushed and tried to get off then stood up and looked over the gate, I was only halfway down to the bottom. Wow, a quick duck back in my seat a very quiet and slow ride the rest of the way. Did anyone here the banging, see a set of eyes peer up , widen and drop from sight? If they did they were extremely polite and did not look at me when I came barrelling out with my power chair set on high speed as I tried to open the door, well they could put a stopper on the door to prevent clanging, if it is too loud, sheesh.

Okay, I want to finish this but may get hung up for a while and so I leave you to wait for the second part, or not. You are my only friend to read my blog, and I love you very much. Thank you. I will make it very funny and interesting if you are patient with me. I am easily side-tracked now.

Keep it moving!

ONE YEAR! Happy Re-Birthday to me. I made it a year. Ahem, a few weeks? What? Six-months? Who are you? A year? I do not understand.... ("...forever young, I want to be, forever young," song plays in the background) Well, they kept saying I was dying, to get my affairs in order, etc. I was confused and determined to prove them wrong. And, here I am, kicking ass and taking names (to forget ; ) lol).

I know I keep mentioning it but I am constantly aware of the miracle of life. MY LIFE. It is exciting and scary. I am so grateful and feel blessed every day. I am also on powerful meds for the pain, so I see good and bad. Pretty stuff, lights, moon & stars..... Y'kmow.

I have been taking excursions using MetroAccess, http://www.capmetro.org/, and my power chair. There have been a few so far: Zilker Park Botanical Gardens, Austin Duck Adventures, Motzart's Coffee Roasters and Hula Hut on Lake Austin, Deep Eddy Pool and more.

So stay logged in, and I will share my excursions for independence. A few funny bits to brighten your day.

Katy

Thank you, Everyone!

A year ago, first week of July 2010, I was taken to the ER with about a pint of blood in my body, or whatever you need to get through part of a night and not a whole lot more. My driver, sister, was told that I might not have made it through the night, it was a good thing she brought me in when she did. Well, I made it through the night and the next few days. With transfusions of blood, blood products, everything they could and my broken down body would handle.

The doctors said I was terminally ill, I had days maybe weeks to live. My liver had shut down. My blood was unable to clot. The list of things wrong I didn't understand. What I did know was that when my hemerhoids started to bleed they B-l-e-d. Like I would fill the toilet everytime I went to the bathroom. I had heard people say that their hemerhoids bled enough to fill the bowl {shrug}. I didn't know one way or the other. But, I had been feeling poorly for quite a while. I had been to a doctor and the same ER within months of this happening to me.

Well, I made it home from the hospital after ten days or so. Then I was back in the hospital after bleeding out two days later. The doctors gave me a few weeks, maybe months. Again, I stayed in the hospital for eleven days and was released. I was huge, close to 200 lbs, and I just did not understand what was going on. Dying, they told me. No I thought, why? Why me? Oh, I could think of a lot of "Me's" and "Why's" that God can come back to me with. I knew of at least two people that wouldn't be sad, actually a lighter and happier day, they probably can't imagine.

So, then it was like, "Okay, how much bargaining do I get? any?" Then, "what do I do? the kids? what do I do?" A panic sets in but hell if I could just concentrate on something positive. Okay, cruise, I really want to go. Why not? Maybe if I tell Oprah. I'm not even forty, I've never spent more than a few days with all three kids. My sorta-but-not-really-ex and his family had the kids at least two if not three vacations a year. Single-mom working, couldn't take a break, lucky to have a job...

The doctors told me I was dying, but now I was expected to make it six more months, maybe a year. I decided that I wasn't going to die. It wasn't right. My children are teenagers and my boyfriend needs me.  It just didn't make sense, I was not this old person who may have or have not lived a full life. I was determined to "go home." I kept saying I was going to go home and travel with my kids and Chris. Plus, I hadn't done it. It? Well, there has got to be something. I am here a year after they gave me days maybe six months to live. I am alive and very well. Getting stronger everyday. Looking for whatever the something is.

I have started to celebrate my one-year re-birthday. I took a trip to Zilker Park Botanical Gardens, by myself in my power chair. Called first to check if they accomidate wheelchairs. It went so well that two days later, I took the Austin Duck Adventures. Which is a tour around Austin, Texas, where I live, giving historical site information and Texas Capital history. First as a bus tour, then as a boat tour. Lots of fun. Again, by myself. But, doing it. I can't wait to go with someone.

I have other things tentatively thought out, some scheduled, some impossible dreams (the Dinner Detective at the local Hotel, $60.00 per person includes three course meal). I am taking pictures and posting them on facebook. I hope to post the pictures and some videos on this site (Did a chicken come into our garage and poke me in the eye? What kind of whisperer is Chris? Rather, thinks he is, as told to him by friends.).

I have made contact with, sounds very Steven Spielberg, friends from my high school past (I went to an all girl Catholic boarding school.). They look EXACTLY the same, I think Lauren was wearing the same shirt twenty years ago. Are they posting old photos for now? Bad girls. Damn, I can't, I look better now {tee-hee-hee}.

Well, I don't have to worry about getting shot or poisoned, 'cuz they told me what will kill me and roughly when {snicker}. I already outlived 'em. I want to thank my fan for patience. I have several things I have been working on and there will be extra new soon.  Kool!     -kt

Wow! My first post, on my first blog!

This is amazing. As I understand it I get to type about mostly whatever I want. Sounds mostly good to me.

My rebirth** day is in less than two months. The doctors gave me six months to a year, if I made it out of the hospital (which many of them had their doubts, as well as most of my family). That was the begininning of July 2010. Now look at me! Looking mostly one way or the other.... I hope to tackle setting up a picture diary maybe some video stories... so much to learn and do!!!

I LOST MY PHONE, Wednesday, May 25th. It has been pretty bad without my phone, especially since I was dropped off so early to my appointment in a different part of town than I am used to. I should have the new phone by Monday afternoon, I have asked about keeping the same number and it looks jusr fine.

Hook'em Horns! Thanks Everyone for your thoughts and prayers that have helped to get where I am today and where I start tomorrow.

** Note:  rebirth: I almost died July 2010. I will address this as I get into the "groove" of being a blogger.