A Dose of the Real World

I had an appointment with my epileptologist on Friday morning. Since he needed to check my VNS, an implanted device, I had to go to the hospital to see him. There happened to be fresh snow on the ground. I was admiring the pureness of it and pulling on my winter boots as I waited … Continue reading A Dose of the Real World →

A Blip Is (Just) a Blip

It's been a challenging few weeks. My dietitian and I have been experimenting with slowly ramping up the carbohydrates in my meal plan. It's all trial and error, really, this trying to find a balance between managing my seizures and working toward my weight-gain goals. The process is rewarding when I make tangible and relatively … Continue reading A Blip Is (Just) a Blip →

Stay at Home

Ontario's new COVID-19 restrictions were announced a few days ago. They can be summed up in three words: "Stay at home." (As is my habit, I'm oversimplifying matters. To get, as you should, the details about this province-wide state of emergency, click here.) Despite the measures that were already in place, the COVID-19 numbers in … Continue reading Stay at Home →

Welcome, New Year

I'm a little late, but Happy New Year! 2020, not a great year for ... anyone, really, is finally behind us. Let’s see what 2021 has in store. New year, new agenda. I’m not big on new year’s resolutions. I am big on trying to find productive ways to move forward and on setting realistic … Continue reading Welcome, New Year →

This Christmas

As I write this, it's 7:00 a.m. on Christmas morning, and I've been awake for hours. The stockings are filled, there's fresh snow on the ground, and I've already had a few cups of coffee. I'm trying to be quiet, but not too quiet because I want my husband to get up. Did I mention … Continue reading This Christmas →

Breakfast with Santa

When I was a kid, every year my dad lined up with tens of other hard-core parents on a predetermined morning sometime in November. The mission? Get tickets for a beloved event: the Breakfast with Santa that took place on the top floor of the downtown Eaton's in Victoria, British Columbia. For much of my … Continue reading Breakfast with Santa →

Early Christmasing for Fun and Sanity

For the last several years, I haven't even tried to stop myself from being that overly enthusiastic Christmas celebrator you probably try to ignore until December. My husband was a little wary when I announced a few Sundays ago that seeing as Halloween had passed, the holiday season had officially begun. "It's November 1," he … Continue reading Early Christmasing for Fun and Sanity →

Preparing to Hibernate

I’ve been taking advantage of the last nice days of fall, and of my raging metabolism, which has turned me into a sweaty monster who prefers much-lower temperatures than I’m generally able to stand, by spending as much time as I possibly can outside, most of it (socially distanced from other customers) on the patio … Continue reading Preparing to Hibernate →

Pretty Much the Best

It’s been just over a week since I came home, and I’m happy to report that I’m still here and that it’s still pretty much the best (and that I took down the stray Christmas decorations that my husband had left up since last year). Though I was feeling pretty darn good about leaving the … Continue reading Pretty Much the Best →

And Now, Home(!)

Today something I’d started to think would never happen at long last did (happen, that is). Call it a September miracle, call it the cumulation of over nine months of intensive medical treatment, call it what you want. All that matters is that I’m home. Not that I was excited to leave or anything. I’ve … Continue reading And Now, Home(!) →