Silver Linings (VII).

This week I’m grateful for/giddy over:

1. Katherine, Sarah, Amy & Zach. Friends who, with pretty much no notice, welcomed me into their Chicago apartments so I could easily/unexpectedly extend my hospital visits. Conversation, food, & beer with friends definitely help break-up back-to-back days in acute care/rehab. The people who love you come through and show up when you need ’em. Merci.

2. My Fitness Pal. Totally loving this app (recommended by Paige). I’ve never been a calorie counter, but I do think keeping a food diary keeps me in line a bit. Having to log every spontaneous chocolate binge or huge portion of pad thai gives me a better picture of how to find balance. And, yep, I love “earning” calories through workouts. Today? 491 extra calories to play with. 😉

3. Indulging with JCrew. I usually resist the “extra 30% off” sales, but went for a couple items this week: perfect shirt in leopard (I know. I released an animal print lovin’ monster. No idea where it came from) and rugby-stripe dress. Needed a little pick-me-up.

4. Mom started speech therapy, is rockin’ the stairs. My mom moved over to the hospital’s rehab unit on Wednesday. Yesterday I got to see her climb stairs with crutches, walk down the hall without even a walker. And today, after a week of requesting, she started speech therapy to start working on her voice. Yay!

5. Hospital food. Seriously, I love the Au Bon Pain at Rush, and the cafeteria isn’t half-bad, either. Good coffee, yummy and varied wraps (many of which have my weakness—avocado). And the red velvet cupcake I couldn’t resist? Delicious cream cheese frosting.

400 calories, truthfully logged 😉

~ by Elena Marie on April 20, 2012.