Date night

So it's probably pretty obvious that there has been a disproportionate amount of stress to fun over the last 4 months.  Even one of Megatron's doctors has told us a couple times that having a medically complex child can be a marriage wrecker.  I can see that.  Determined not to let it happen to me and The Pilot, we've done our best to keep our sense of humor through all this.  We've tried to check in with each other often.  When I was in Pittsburgh though and he went back to work, it was hard.  I take that back, there are no words to describe how hard it was.  Even though we talked nearly every day during the 3 weeks apart, it's hard to stay connected when you are far apart and under a mountain of stress.

So to say we needed a date night is also an understatement.  We had the perfect opportunity last month..but the plans started back in December before we knew about the transplant.  Knowing we were about to go to one income, we weren't going to give gifts to each other for Christmas.  Then we heard one of our favorite bands, Arcade Fire, was going to be in town in April.  We took a risk and bought tickets as our gift to each other.  It was a risk because everything with Megatron was so uncertain. That concert was the very last thing on our minds starting December 31 when Megatron had his first hospitalization that started this madness.

After the transplant, I assumed we wouldn't be able to go to the show.  But after he was discharged to Ronald McDonald House, one of his nurses mentioned we would be home for Easter.  Forget Easter! That meant we'd be home for the concert!

We made it home and on the night of the show,  my mom came over, to hang with Megatron and The Pilot and I had a real date.  We even went to dinner.  Our army of supporters had given us a gift certificate to one of our favorite Japanese steakhouses.  It's a little pricey so we probably wouldn't have gone if not for Megatron's fan club.  It was soooo good!  And sooo nice to be out of the house and not rushing because there is a wiggly baby at the table with us.  We talked without interruption!  We held hands!  We pretended things were the way they were before Megatron.

After dinner we dropped off our leftovers at the house (trust me, you do not want your car smelling like Japanese steakhouse leftovers), kissed our sweet baby good night and headed for the show.

It was our lucky night!  We bought the cheapest seats possible, which was basically up in the rafters of the arena.  When we were making our way up, we were stopped by ushers at a table.  The show didn't sell out so they traded our tickets for tickets lower in the arena.  A lot lower.  We went from the 300 section to the 100 section and around the bowl until we were almost even with the stage.  Our view was amazing!

And so for a couple hours, we pretended we were younger than we are, that we didn't just survive the hardest 4 months of our lives and just rocked out. ❤️

4+5= tired and happy

The Pilot was home for several days so I was able to get out for a 4-miler on Monday...without my little sidekick.  Megatron does great in the run stroller but not having to push all the extra weight is nice.  I also got the chance to be reunited with the local rail trail.  It's close by but it's also flat, hardly ever crowded and there is nothing out there.  Miles of nothing.  And sometimes my brain needs that.

On Wednesday, I suited up and then waited.  Megatron and I played and worked on his physical therapy exercises until I started to see the signs.  The eye rubbing and yawning.  I grabbed that kiddo, plopped him in his car seat and were out the door with the run stroller.  Sure enough, about a tenth of a mile into the workout, he was out and I got to work.  I have a good 4 mile loop I can do from the house but I was aiming for five miles.  I ended up taking random streets in the neighborhood until I finally hit five.  It was the furthest I've gone since December and the furthest I've ever gone pushing the stroller.  I'm pretty stiff for sure but I'm so so glad I was able to get out again.  Plus, since I timed it with nap time, Megatron slept the entire time.  He woke up just as I was rolling him back into the garage.

 

I did a run/walk combo and boy do I have work to do.  My average pace was way over where I was last year.  I expected that but I also had the realization of just how much work I have to do.  I don't think it will quite be starting over like when I did my first half marathon 10 years ago but it won't be easy.  Hopefully my little buddy will continue to nap his way through my workouts!