Squishy
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Last Activity: Yesterday 06:50 PM
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Una Nuova Vita, Sono Felice-
"A New Life, I am HAPPY!!!!!
Dear Family and Friends,
I wanted to send you a short not this afternoon to tell you about my morning.
After an hour of physical therapy this morning that showed me in a week I have added some muscle to my new hip and leg. The therapist gave me a good work out and stretching, the leg hasn't been moved this way in at least four years, it is truely amazing, I am very grateful.....
Afterward I being Monday there is a large street market around Central Historic Carrara near our flat. So I got my self dressed, including putting on my own shoes and even tied them, first time since operation. The morning was crisp with many people out enjoying the street market. I stopped to see people along the way that like a Dr who had treated my hematoma and my back throught the summer months after the initial gastric bypass and he was so happy to see me, also was amazed at my appearance as he had not seen me since the abdominoplasty .
Then a bit further down the street popped in to say buon giorno to a sweet woman(Franca) who operates a pizzaria/sandwich which Bernardo has frequented for 30 years or more, she was excited to see me, warning to go slowly. Then I went shopping looking at many of the vender stands around the city, some good deals and some junk, but I got a few things.
I ran into friends, who I hadn't seen for months and some more recently, got to use the Italian I know and did well with it. Walked through the park where there were more venders and then to another little pasticeria(has been operating for 120 years in the same family) where we often go to visit or have a bite or something to drink at breakfast and la seniora(Trudy) was thrilled to see me come in alone. Had some grapefruit juice and bought a pastry for Bernardo's lunch, she wouldn't let me pay.(too kind)
Then I set off to make my return home and ran into more people I knew who had not seen me for a while, Sarah a young woman(student in Pisa) who worked at La Cava for several months when Bernardo and I were still working there in the evening, a couple who were frequest customer's of the restaurant who we befriended and he has lived in England so knows English and his GF who has learned it a little too, we used a mixture of both languages, it was good practice for me, then I saw one of the Pizza makers and one of the kitchen helpers from the restaurant and chatted in Italian with them.
My next stop was a vendor selling dishes, really nice heavy stonewear and I commented to a lady and her daughter on what they were buying, telling them the bowls were bello(beautiful), they spoke to me and the Mothers(AnnaMaria) told me her daughter(Jana) had been born in NYC, she was curious of where I was from in the States and what I was doing in Carrara and ended up asking for my telephone number to get together sometime for caffe.
Loving plants I found the plant vendors, but realized I had already spent some money and had my hands full as it was, also then realized I had been out walking around for 2 hours and it was time I get home as Bernardo was coming home for lunch, so I stopped at one more vendor and bought a roasted chicken for lunch(was range grown and grilled fresh on the fire there at the stand-delicious!!!.
Afterward I made my way home.
It was all wonderful, I cant explain the feeling I had inside to be able to walk by myself(with my crutches), see people, realize that I am in Carrara, Italy and that I dont have pain in my hip or a heavy load on my body. I felt like someone who had been set free and was in a wonderful new place.
I still have therapy ahead of me starting next week at an official rehab center, however I believe I have had a good start with doing the exercises the therapists in the hospital and the private therapist here at home have given me to do daily. I am also working on toning up the areas where I still have loose skin and in the past week have lost another 8 lbs, so I am very near my goal, with about 13 lbs to go.
I wanted to share these good feelings with you all and let you know that things continue to go forward. Looking forward to May and June when we will get to see each other again.
Speriamo tutti é posti e tanti auguri per una buona Pasqua. (We hope everyone is well and many wishes for a nice Easter).
Hugs and much Love.
Paul and Bernardo.
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Buona Giornata Amici,
Good Day Friends,
Just wanted to send a little update and let you know the current status. Had my first private physical therapy yesterday, it was good to add some new exercises for the hip and the therapist said that I was doing good for 2 weeks after the surgery. We decided to higher a private therapist as we await our call to start at the rehab center, they told us we would get our start date tomorrow, I want to be able to walk perfectly when I come to the States in May.
Today the sun was shining and felt warm, so I took a little sun and went for a short walk in my neighborhood, wearing my pajamas and a hoody jacket and my Nikes.
We have not yet moved into Daylight Saving time here and wont until March 29, but I like the days to be longer.
Have been doing a little gardening this week with some Spring flowers to brighten up the our corte/patio and soon it'll be bright and full of our favorite flowers and colors, hopefully I can keep our cats out of the plants a little better this year.
Bernardo's Papa and Mamma visited this afternoon, his Papa is always working on our remodeling projects and his Mamma looking for laundry to take away to wash, hang out and iron. They are really the sweet Italian old world Papa and Mamma. I feel so fortunate that they have made me part of their family.
I have started working on toning my new body a little this past week and for now taking it slowly. I still have problems with eating and exiting, mostly due to the ferro I must take to strengthen my blood, however, the Dr. has a new calcium pill I am trying so for now have stopped the medication for building up the hemoglobin level. I also think I might add to the problem as I usually have something like water or acqua tonic to drink while I eat, I'll take any suggestions about that. hint hint......
I know I have done alot in the 10 months since having the lap. gastr bypass and my body is a little bit tired and slow to get back to normal energy level.
I am anxiously awaiting to hear some news about the cruise as right now is the best time for us to by our airline tickets for flying in December before the airlines go into the summer pricing.
Well its a long read, but wanted to greet you all and update you.
Take good care.
Abbracci
Paul
pebitpeb -
Hi Mike hope that you had a great weekend that your week has started off on a good note for you. Talk to you soon my friend.
Take good care.
Paul -
That's a great story! Thanks for sharing it! Jane and I hope to travel to Europe some day. It seems that it would be easy to see a a few of countries on a trip...kind of like driving from State to State here.
Do you work in the environmental science field in Italy? We are going through a lot of internal turmoil at work, and it appears another restructure is on the horizon. This has happened repeatedly in recent years and my position has been eliminated three times already. Each time, I have been offered another position here, but it is scary nonetheless. I've been here 25 years, so the prospect of starting over is not appealing. Reading your story reminds me that often, a better life can come from unexpected changes. I hope that I do not end up with my position being eliminated again, but if it happens, stories like yours give me hope. Thanks!
-Mike- -
Howdy Mike,
I was working at a major advertising publisher/communications company in Portland Oregon where I was born and lived all except 9 years of my life, the other nine years were spent in the extreme northern parts of N. Minn where my father and his kin originate and still live today, real wilderness, I love visiting there. This big company went through being bought and then had the new owner sell millions of stocks which paniced the market and lost millions for the share holders many being employees of the company investing in the company with their savings plans. Downsizing started I only had 13 years and fortunately due to my position I was kept a long time past many with much more seniority than me, but my day came in feb. of 2002, I went back to University full time into Environmental Science and volunteered my some of my days and nights with the Nature Conservancies Statistics office. After two years of University I decided I deserved a trip to Europe, it was England the first time and being an internet chatter at this moment in my life had made good friends in France that I went to visit a couple months later, I loved France being of French heritage pebitpeb stands for Paul Eugene Beauchamp Italia Paul Eugene Beauchamp my initials italy and my initials again. On my third trip to Europe in mid August 2004 I decided to see more than France and bought a eurorail train pass for 4 countries, Holland, France, Belgium and Italy, I went to see my friends in France first, traveled alone to Amsterdam(would never recommend anyone do it alone the first time) and then it was back to France and overnight train from LeMans where one friend resides to Florence Italy, prior to departing on this trip I just happened to meet an Italian who when I told him I would be traveling in Europe asked why I wasn't visiting ITaly, I told him I was visiting Florence and the Cinque Terre and he said that he lived within an hour of both and offered to be my guide, He was at the train station when it arrived at 7am in Florence and took me to the home of his family where they all awaited had an Italian breakfast waiting for me and treated me so kindly. Then we went to the Cinque Terre which is one of the most beautiful romantic places in Europe and needless to say it was hard saying goodbye at the end of the visit, so this started a relationship that brought me back to Italy 6 times and him to Portland 8 times over the next 20 months, fortunately we both had jobs that allowed time off if requested ahead of time. After 20 months of traveling and paying big ticket prices we knew we wanted to try living together and it was easier for me to be the visitor with my family and friends rather than for an Italian man still living with his Mamma and Papa at 43 years, which is the normal in Italy. In April 2006 I resigned my new position, sold or gave away everything I owned except for six large Uhaul boxes that contained only the nearest and dearest items and mailed them to ITaly US post economy taking them 8-10 weeks to arrive. This probably lets you know why I am here and that I am very happy to be here. Mike I hope that your day is going well and we'll chat again soon.
Paul(pebitpeb) -
03-03-2008 06:17 PM - permalinkVanessaSFLI know we should'nt read tooo much into a persons posts...but you seem EXTRA GIDDY in ALL of your posts tonight...what gives?.....Lotto win?....new fast car....just loving life? Spread the love & have a great week
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Hi there Mike, good Sunday to you. Woke up at 3am with a tummy ache that was strong, tride using the bedpan as they wont let me get up and I am bathroom shy(cant urinate or do the other unless in a closed door bathroom, I tried though and ended up getting a shot to relax my colon, and at 5am a Dr came and prescribed a shot to relax my stomach, it was not good, I called my partner who is almost an hour away panicking with fear unable to calm down, he said he would come early, I felt bad as he is here alot missing many hours from his office. at 7:15am I was advised that I would be going for ecodoplers of my stomache, soon the transport people arrived and into the back of an ambulance away I went to arrive at another building in this large hospital complex, even if it was the building next to the orthopedic ward it would have been the as "this is the Italian way". The dopplers showed my few stones, however they were not the problem, was trapped air I guess, that the best anyone has explained, I am ok now, but I trip to the normal restroom would be appreciated maybe tomorrow thats were I will be allowed to walk. I will demand it. Bill in my panic I also got out of bed and stood up all by myslef and walk 2 or 3 steps mostly using my right leg, but nevertheless I am ready to try walking with the crutches and when I get that down home I will be going. Sunday there is nothing going on here except for the emergency exam areas, as Sunday is festa Catholica in Italia and especially in a Catholic hospital like Santa Chiara, I think I see two priests a day always wanting to come in and pray with me. The food here today was at it top, first dish was Tordeli with Ragu, then there was a backed roasted and seasoned bowl of potatoes, carved pork roast, fresh Tuscany bread and a very fresh blood red orange, I am lucky to have the stomach that allows a couple bites of each and then I get to feed my partner everything else, so even if he is here so much at least he eats well, but today the food was really amazing, it must be the day the Papal is generous to its hospitals since there is little happening here, dinner tonight also has quiet the selection, if I recall the order menu. Not like the section where I had the gastric bypass and abdominoplasty, where they served broth with no flavor, pureed potatoes, semolina(a disgusting blend of some wheats and cereals and the famous baked apple), I am so grateful to the higher power for these wonderful gifts to give me life back, actually give me a better life than I have ever known. Have wonderful day, the sun is out here today, really beautiful hearing the bells in the plaza where the leaning tower is.
Always the best to you,
Paul -
Hi Mike
Vim introduced me to Skype and asked me to invite you to join us, so if you feel like having a chat (as in hear each other's voices) try this - http://www.skype.com/welcomeback/ - is is free and easy to download.
Vim and I were chatting for 2 hours last night and a couple of us have been having fun today chatting to each other.
My handle is bruggebabegwen and Vim is vimvigour and Jim is jmranes - give it a go
XXX -
Hi Mike, thanks for including me on your list. How are you? All is going well here, I am in a moment of taking a break from studying, for school later this afternoon. Also I am now one week away from having my hip replacement. Yesterday I was complaining that after the abdominoplasty that I still have extra skin on my stomach and my partner(Bernardo) said but Paul you are still loosing weight. I am grateful that I have someone in my life that brings reality back. I took a shower yesterday and spent about 30 minutes fixating on fatty and skin areas on my abdomin, thinking what a terrible job the surgeon did and getting trapped into negative thinking. After recovering from the hip surgery I will be able to work on toning up and the plastuc surgeon I have has already advised that there will be further touchup needed. I get to them after I have had a long break away from the operating room, I still think it is amazing that since May 18, 2007 next Tuesday will be major surgery #4. It will have all been worthwhile. I believe that 100%. Well you have a great day and talk soon.
Hugs
Paul -
Hey Mike, thanks for the request to join your circle of friends. You and the mrs. are a joy to have on the forum and I would be pleased to be part of your circle of friends.
About Me
- About Squishy
- Biography
- I was born and raised in La Crosse, Wisconsin where I met my wife, Jane.
- Location
- Southwest Minnesota
- Interests
- Scuba Diving is my new hobby! I like fishing, wood carving, anything with family.
- Occupation
- I work with frozen food warehouses
- Surgeon
- Dr. Frederick Harris in Sioux Falls, SD
"If you are going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
05/30/07 Open RNY
430/346/240.5/225?
Highest/Surgery Date/Current/Goal
6' 2"
TT Gym Rat Club Member #65
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