Where is my form?

After sitting my ass on couches, chairs and hospital beds for 3 weeks, I decided it was time to lace up and hit the roads. I got out of the joint one week ago and have been giving myself home IV's which allows me to try and get back to my routine.

Monday I went for a cool morning 3 mile jog. Tuesday night I did a little slow flow and this morning I ran 4 miles. Before I came down with these infections I was starting to ramp up my miles and was hitting yoga a few days a week. This cold or squirrel flu hits at the end of September and I'm on the couch with no plans for anything strenuous. The migration to my lungs firmed that up pretty good and as hard as it was to not even look at my running shoes, I did it. I actually rested!

The 3 and 4 mile runs I did this week were not my prettiest. My legs, ass and body are a little weak and I felt like I was running for the first time. The lungs feel WAY better than before but they need to be kicked into shape as well. I tried not to push it on these runs by walking when I needed to and limiting my mileage as best as I can. I'll continue the every other day running plan and build up nice and slow to avoid the injuries that my old lady brittle bones are prone to.

In a couple weeks I will be in Anaheim, CA at the North American CF Conference for 6 days. 70 degrees and sunny is calling my name and setting up some nice running weather. My 6min/mile CF doc and I are planning to run together out there...that should be real cute! If I just make sure he has a few too many cocktails the night before I may be ok...

Here is what I am most excited to report today. On Thursday I went to CF clinic. After 6 blows, my PFT's are back to my new high normal, my weight is coming back annnnnnd guess what. When I cough, run or cough while running I don't pee anymore!! This is incredible news and I get to stop IV's a week earlier than originally prescribed. Boooom.

My life is a stage...or a seat in the theatre.

So I love Broadway..laugh it up all you want but there is nothing that makes me happier. Broadway and theatre is pure magic! Since my uncles have lived in NYC my whole life I have been very lucky to see a ton of shows. I'm going to use this post not only to show you what I've seen, but to also help ME remember what the hell I have seen.

*=Em's Top Picks!

1993

The Who's Tommy *

1994

Beauty and the Beast

1997

SIDE SHOW*** (#1 musical of all time!)

The Lion King*

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Jekyll & Hyde

1998

Footloose

Cabaret

Rent

Les Miserable

1999

Amadeus

Annie Get Your Gun

Kiss Me, Kate

Saturday Night Fever

Miss Saigon

2000

Aida

James Joyce's the Dead

The Full Monty

The Rocky Horror Show

2001

42nd Street

The Producers

Mamma Mia!

Urinetown

2002

Flower Drum Song

Hairspray *

Oklahoma

The Graduate

Thoroughly Modern Milly

2003

Little Shop of Horrors

Take Me Out

Wicked *

2004

La Cage aux Folles

2005

The Color Purple **

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

2006

A Chorus Line

Company

The Apple Tree

The Wedding Singer

2007

Xanadu

The Drowsy Chaperone

Young Frankenstein

2008

Gypsy

2009

next to normal *

West Side Story

The 39 Steps

South Pacific

2010

American Idiot

La Cage aux Folles*

Promises, Promises

2011

Anything Goes

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Sister Act

The Book of Mormon**

B'Way Touring Productions

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (Preview in Detroit)

Martin Guerre (Tour in Detroit)

A Bronx Tale

Twelve Angry Men

Legally Blonde

Avenue Q

Spamalot

Chicago

Sweeny Todd

Sweet Charity

Fiddler on the Roof

Movin' Out

Ragtime

Guys and Dolls

Here are a few of my rules when going to the theatre. This may sound silly but I have experience ALL of these things at my last 4 shows and it kills me.

1)Do not bring that damn drink with ice inside, these are real people on stage and they can hear you drinking, shaking ice and you sucking that last damn drop out with your straw. STOP!

2) It's not a movie and there are NO previews , so get there early. Sit down and act like a real person.

3) Shut your damn phone off.

4)Do not talk.

I know that you can survive for 2.5 hours without eating, drinking and using your phone. If I can do it, you can too. Man I sound like a bitch but 1 person can ruin the night for thousands of people who paid big bucks for these tickets. R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

Now go see a Broadway show people!

Jump On It

Sir-Mix-A-Lot's "Jump On It" was in my head when I woke up today. I got outta the joint yesterday and I'm ready to rock. My only complaint with this song is that he totally leaves Detroit off the train. Tacoma? Tampa? Kansas City? Columbus? Little Rock? These cities but no Detroit? This song would have much more street cred if he made a stop in Deetroit.

6 days on 6C and I'm feeling so much better. I went in feeling the worst I have ever felt before and actually a little scared. I'll admit it. My mind was racing for a few days there because I thought maybe I was culturing some new and scary. I wasn't eating and lost almost 2 pounds a day in there. Fevers on and off until Thursday and a lot of lying down was not my typical stay.

I was dealing with 3 different docs who at one time all told me something different which was not helping. Of course they wanted me on IV Tobra but I pushed really hard against it because A) My vestibular damage was most likely caused by that. B) I wanted them to make sure that they looked at my newest cultures to see what IV's would actually work. C) My vestibular damage was most likely caused by that.

On day 2 I was able to get in and get my vestibular/balance testing done. If you are bored and looking for fun I suggest you get in for that test. Cold & hot water squirting into each ear, a spinning chair in the dark, eye goggles and cameras and so much more! A verrrry fun 2 hours.

The tests did show one sided vestibular damage. One sided is ok because in most cases it can be corrected with symptoms not lasting forever. PTL.

Breaking news came in from my research nurse after my testing: "Go ahead and take the Blue Pill after dinner tonight." Everyone in my room threw their arms up and cheered! I knew this would be key in my come back. I downed that baby as proud as a mama who just had a baby! Wednesday we started a new IV med and luckily I do not have to be on Tobra because my cultures showed it would not work...some relief there!

It was sad to leave my crew up on 6C yesterday but we made some good memories. Toe squats, pull ups on my door and sooo much more that needs to stay up there.

I'm happy to report that my lungs are already on the fast track to awesome. The combo of the new IV med and the blue pill is just what this doctor ordered. Now there's only one thing missing from my day.....exercise! I'll fired that up "slowly" this week don't you worry!

(Somer sent me these labels from one of my fave brews with a note "use your imagination.." Yesterday I had 2 with breakfast..)

Here's the deal..

It's going to be 80 degrees today, it's October. Now we all know that's not right, right?

Other things that are not right? Nolan Ryan looking real old, the Duchess of Alba, María del Rosario Cayetana Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Francisca Fitz-James Stuart y de Silva getting married and me going into U of M/club med tomorrow to start IV antibiotics. Why am I going back in after just having them in August? My lung function is in the toilet. When I say toilet I mean seriously, I just about shat when I saw what my PFT's were on Friday. But why? Read below..

Last week I came down with what I thought was a cold/sinus infection type deal. I started on Cipro (yeah the same stuff for Anthrax) on Tuesday and thought I was on the mend on Thursday. On Friday I headed to NYC for a little vacay and speaking engagement but started to feel pretty winded and was coughing more on Sunday. As any noble CF'er would do I shrugged it off thinking the Cipro will take care of this for sure. I don't have time to be "sick!" After seeing a record 5 shows in 4 days, and hanging in the city with my brother, sis n law, uncles and friends I knew that things were not good. My lungs and sides hurt, I was winded and coughing anytime I would go out. What I would usually walk, I took the train or bus.

Tuesday night I spoke at the Research Update for the NYC chapters of the CFF and felt great for the 2 hours I was there. Because I am delivering such great news about VX-770/blue pill, my mind really gets into it and I forget that I actually do feel like shit.

In the past two months I have seen my pulmonary function at the highest I remember seeing it and then on Friday at the lowest I have seen it. I've felt the best ever, running 5 miles, biking 30 a day and yoga 4-5 days a week. This week my lungs and back hurt, I'm coughing up some crazy junk and the thought of running 1 mile is making me tired. Also I dropped about 5 pounds and eating is not something I want to do..this is a HUGE change because I normally want to eat everything and anything (healthy ;) all day long. I have seen the best and worst of my health in 1 month and have seen it slowly spiral..know what's keeping me together? My family and friends. Staying positive, laughing and not making this my main focus.

Of course I could be super pissed about this because I know that I've been off of the little blue pill for a month and my body doesn't really like that. Also I'm sure I wouldn't be writing this post if I were still on my blue buddy. So I did spend a few frustrating minutes this weekend swearing..actually a lot but that doesn't really matter...I was just reciting every word that my uncles taught me.

Everything happens for a reason and focusing only on positive things is what I need. My main focus is getting healthy and ready to start training for a spring half marathon and maybe even a fall half iron man (minus the swimming..I'm a Pisces but I hate swimming.) as soon as I am released from that place.

Tonight I will watch the Tigers take down Texas and the tomorrow I will watch the Lions handle da Bears on Monday Night Football!

Em