One foot in front of the other
Wednesday March 11th 2009, 10:48 pm
Filed under: Crohn's flare

I tried to run after our longtime mailman Monday afternoon and was surprised to find my legs not quite moving as fast as I was telling them to–I nearly splatted forward on my face.  Oh.  So I called after the guy as he was walking away, he stopped, put my bill payment in his pack with a smile, sure, lady, no problem.

I went back inside marveling at the disconnect between brain and attempted movement–and marveling too at the fact that I simply hadn’t noticed that I wasn’t doing that anymore when I walk.  For a month, I’d had to be mindful of my steps to make sure my legs kept up the pace or my expectations slowed down to match them.  How soon we forget, the instant things seem to be normal again.

Today.  Out of milk and orange juice, we decided we needed a quick trip to the nearby Costco.

To Mom and Richard’s surprise, I offered to tag along. And I went.

The Trader Joe’s store where I found myself abruptly giving out last week, where Sam made me go sit down fast, is a small store.  Costco, on the other hand, is huge.  We walked aisle after aisle–I hadn’t been able to go in nearly four months.  It was like a novelty.  An adventure.  Plus I was having to look at the foods on display with new eyes: oh, that’s good stuff, oh wait, I can’t eat that.  That? No. Not that. That. Another week left on the post-surgical modified diet; having had one blockage and NG tube, I’m being real careful to avoid a repeat.

I did it.  I walked Costco.  I did it!

Next time, by golly, I might even try to run down one back aisle when nobody’s looking.


35 Comments so far
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Next stop–IKEA!

Comment by LynnM 03.12.09 @ 1:09 am

Congrats! 🙂

Comment by Toni Smoky-Mountains 03.12.09 @ 3:41 am

You are doing wonderfully!!!
Cant wait to read that you are able to run up and down the aisles at Costco or another large store 🙂

Comment by Danielle from SW MO 03.12.09 @ 4:14 am

I did Costco last month with Firstborn, and that concrete floor just about did me in. We are seriously contemplating putting me on wheels next time we go.

Comment by Lynn 03.12.09 @ 4:26 am

That’s great news – both the walking and the eating! You’re gaining strength daily, which is wonderful. And the baggies? An aunt-in-law of mine has been living with those for over 20 years; it’s just different.

You’ll be running to the LYS before you know it!

Comment by Gaby 03.12.09 @ 4:54 am

Costco…..wow!, that’s remarkable progress. I go to Costco often (too often) and I know how much energy it takes. Congrats!

Comment by Joansie 03.12.09 @ 5:10 am

Woo hoo!!! I agree with Joansie — I can’t make it all the way through Costco, without health problems! Good for you, girl — what’s next??

Praying always…

Comment by Pegi 03.12.09 @ 6:02 am

You might enjoy DH and my favorite jaunts: the hardware store, the bookstore (of course!) and Home Depot. Mostly, it’s just looking, but once in a while we buy a “widgit”.

Remember the song “Little things mean a lot”?

Comment by Barbara-Kay 03.12.09 @ 6:29 am

Good for you! Those warehouse floors do my back in quite often, so I’m glad you made it!

Comment by Channon 03.12.09 @ 6:46 am

If you decide to run in Costco, do it in the bedding aisle. Have someone put various towels, sheet sets, pillows, blankets & comforters around where they’ll cushion your fall if you do give out. Those concrete floors are slippery and HARD! 😉

Glad to know you’re regaining your strength every day.

Comment by Kathy in San Jose 03.12.09 @ 6:58 am

That is wonderful news! Soon they won’t be able to keep up with you.

Comment by Sonya 03.12.09 @ 7:01 am

Woo-hoo! Even better than running down the aisles is pushing the shopping cart and then hopping on for the ride 😉

Comment by Jocelyn 03.12.09 @ 7:23 am

Aren’t small victories WONDERFUL!
Just remember to do a little bit less than you think you can.

Comment by Sue H 03.12.09 @ 7:33 am

Fantastic! I second doing a little less than you think you can. I always overdid it. It felt so good to be able to do normal things again that I just couldn’t quite stop myself, but I ALWAYS paid for it later!

Comment by TripletMom 03.12.09 @ 7:58 am

Oh Yay! It’s those little things that are huge when we haven’t been able to enjoy them for a while, isn’t it? I’m so happy for you!

Comment by (formerly) no-blog-rachel 03.12.09 @ 7:58 am

This proves my theory that Costco has everything necessary to sustain life.

Comment by Michelle 03.12.09 @ 8:05 am

I’m thrilled you’re feeling so much better!

Comment by Cindi 03.12.09 @ 8:35 am

So happy your doing so much better!

Comment by Eileen 03.12.09 @ 9:03 am

Well for Pete’s sake, don’t go on Friday or Saturday if you want to run! No room on those days, none at all!

Comment by Ruth 03.12.09 @ 9:03 am

Good grief, young lady, running after the mailman — you scared the daylights out of me! As you know, I can’t do that anymore. But I do run up and down store aisles — on my electric scooter. Ha!

Limerick:

I know just how ugly I are,
There are others more handsome by far.
But me, I don’t mind it
because I’m behind it;
It’s the people in front that I jar.

Comment by Don Meyer 03.12.09 @ 9:13 am

And I’ll bring my pom-poms to cheer you on. Although that might make people look?

Comment by Lene 03.12.09 @ 10:07 am

Richard please buy your darling wife the same protective gear they make rollerbladers wear. Please.

Before she does going running down a back aisle in costco.

Comment by Tiny Tyrant 03.12.09 @ 11:42 am

Awesome, Alison! I’m happy to hear that you are making strides.

Comment by Amanda 03.12.09 @ 12:42 pm

Allison, you make my heart jump for joy over your progress. The old Virginia Slims slogan certainly is befitting”you’ve come a long way baby, to get where you got to today”:-) And you’re doing it at a Flo-Jo pace. keep up the good work and we are all keeping up the prayers for your continued recovery.

Comment by jackie 03.12.09 @ 1:10 pm

It’s fabulous to hear that you’re doing so well.

I have no idea if you enjoy poetry, but I was doing a bit of reading today and the poem at this link reminded me of you.
http://poems.com/poem.php?date=14311

Comment by Carol 03.12.09 @ 1:42 pm

So glad and your Costco is huge! I can get you in before the store opens to the public and then the aisles might be less crowded — and yes, the bedding aisle would be the softest one! See ya soon, Love and hugs, Nancy

Comment by Nancy 03.12.09 @ 3:33 pm

*so* glad the world is looking up – what a wonderful thing to start to run without thinking about the consequences (even if they did prick up thier ears rather quickly!)

*hug*

Comment by mary seabrook 03.12.09 @ 3:49 pm

Walking through a huge grocery store! How’s that supposed to put weight back on??!

Just kidding. I am so amazed and proud of you.

Comment by karin 03.12.09 @ 5:26 pm

Woo hoo! But, did you get out of there for less than $100? Because THAT is a real feat!

Comment by Momo Fali 03.12.09 @ 6:34 pm

If they have music at Costco, you may wish to dance next time!

Comment by StellaMM 03.12.09 @ 8:13 pm

YAY! Now there’s the Rebel I remember ;P

Comment by Alicia 03.13.09 @ 11:54 am

Oh, that reminds me of being able to speak again after 31 days of doctor-ordered silence. I was so afraid to make a sound at first. I had to take lessons on how to talk again, before I could learn to sing again.

And 6 months after I first talked again, I went on a cruise. And I was chosen to be the final act in the ship’s talent show. I sang Paper Moon with a live band, complete with brass section. It’s a blur in my mind now, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t as good as previous or current singing… but I’m fun to watch on stage and it was really a wonderful victory.

Comment by LynnH 03.13.09 @ 9:15 pm

Kinda gives us a new perspective on learning to walk and appreciate what babies have to endure to learn :).

Comment by LDSVenus 03.15.09 @ 3:21 pm

I loved the Costco stories. I myself haven’t had the strength to go for many many weeks. And without nearly such a good excuse as you have.

Comment by krys corbett 03.16.09 @ 9:20 am

Hi Allison,
I want to thank you for your blog. I’ve been reading along & furiously waving dps for your recovery while being left speechless at your courage! 4 days ago I had emergency gall bladder surgery. (gall bladder, what the heck is that?) Throughout the pre-surgery morphine haze & immediate recovery, I thought of you. This is nothing. Think of Allison. You helped me take a big girl pill & not become the patient from hell. Maybe this weekend I’ll be able to once again pick up my needles, for knitting not waving.

Comment by Doris 03.19.09 @ 9:09 am



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