April 2nd – Days 84 to 90  of My 2026 Daily Activity

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

We are through the first quarter of 2026 and some of us (one of us 😆) is still straddling the READY, SET,…. line.

I  am working on it.  Despite the rough days, and the mediocre days, I am experiencing a few stronger more productive days.

I have been doing my aerobics in the morning.  My afternoon workouts have been more of a struggle but I have been making an effort on the treadmill and yesterday I crushed a light weight workout! 😁

I have been doing deep breathing exercises every day.   Inhale 4, hold 16, exhale 8.

I have been reading for an hour a day.  That is doing wonders for my  mindset.

AND… I have been working on my diet.  Generally speaking, my diet hasn’t been an issue but making  ‘healthy’ choices  for breakfast and snacks has been challenging. 

A couple of days ago, I went on a muffin baking extravaganza…

Coconut/almond, chocolate/peanut butter chips, and oatmeal/raspberry.

Making a full dozen of one type of muffin is problematic for Dan and I, so I made a variety pack to share with Jen & family and Genie & Alec.   💗

Last night was Dart Night for Dan.  I prepared for my regular Wednesday Night snack attack by making a large batch of popcorn for myself and a small batch of dog friendly, unbuttered and unsalted for Molly.

I have also been serving more vegetables – specifically raw vegetables with our meals lately.  Recently, I read (Unlimited PowerPoint by Tony Robbins) that it is healthier to keep hydrated by eating fruits and vegetables than by drinking an abundance of water.   That makes sense, as fruits and vegetables add nutrients to the body, while water flushes them out.  Hitting a point where 70% of my diet is fruits and vegetables may never happen, I am going in the right direction.

But, I am still drinking – one glass of water first thing in the morning, one cup of coffee, one cup of broth, one cup of tea, 12 Oz of carbonated water for supper, and regular water in the evening. 

Our weather is gradually improving so I am looking at spending more time outdoors, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine in the coming days. 🌞

That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 🤗💞

Happy April!

March 25th – Days 77 to 83  of My 2026 Daily Activity

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

It has been a few days, so I  will start with the most noteworthy event of the week.

Last night, we attended a family birthday celebration  for granddaughters  Maddy (16 on the 24th) & Prim (14 on the 25th). 

Mom Jen & fiance Tanner hosted supper at Agave Authentic Mexican Grill.   The three sisters and Alec brought the energy and charm to the table. (Grandma & Grandpa brought the  cake.  The  cream cheese icing melted, but it was  all good!  )

The food and service were great (despite a   full house) and a good time was enjoyed by all. 

This afternoon we are going to Conexus Centre  of the Arts Optimist Band Festival to hear Maddy debut with her French Horn (She’s been playing the trombone for years). 

And tonight for Prim’s birthday, Jen and Tanner are taking her  and her friend Luca out to a  movie.

It’s incredible how fast our little dolls grew up! And a little sad… 😢

On another note… my health has been up and down for  the past few days.  One day I feel fine, the next – not so much.  On Monday I had a fever ALL DAY.  Fever is the one thing that knocks me down.  Fortunately, it only lasted a day!

I haven’t heard from the CT lab yet, so haven’t seen my respirologist.  No idea if the meds worked for my lung infection. 🤷‍♀️

My workouts have been a  bit hit and miss but I generally do my morning aerobics and I have been fairly consistent with deep breathing. 

I am definitely not where I would like to be physically,  but I have been  reading every day and gradually getting caught up with  my spring cleaning. 🙂

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day!

March 18th – Days 74 to 76  of My 2026 Daily Activity

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

I DID IT! 🤩

Yesterday, I completed my 21 day course of  Ciprofloxacin.  Zero side effects! I will not know if it was successful in irradicating my lung infection until I have further testing done, but I did it.  42 doses of 750mg.  👍

I had never thought to do the math but yesterday  something amazing occurred to me! 

I have no doubt how or where I contracted my pseudomonas aeruginosa.  On December 17th (2025), I had day  surgery to repair a hernia repair that I had done on December  17th (2021).   In the weeks before my surgery, I was doing great.  Following surgery, I was definitely NOT, and I never really got over it. 

A few weeks ago, I  went to see my respirologist.  Through sputum testing, he diagnosed  my problem and put me on a three week course of antibiotics, which I completed yesterday – March 17th.

December 17th is the anniversary of the day my Father passed away ( in 1993).  Yesterday, March 17th was my Father’s Birthday. (b 1909). 

Pretty cool how that worked out.  Just one more reason to believe this little adventure is over and done. 😃

Celebrating Dad’s birthday early 80’s

To celebrate yesterday, Dan went out and bought me flowers. 

The green blossoms were for St. Patrick’s Day.. ☘️

Other than that, I  have a bit of news…

Genie and Alec came by yesterday for a quick visit and to pick up their share of the baking from Saturday.

We are getting a taste of spring with temperatures in the DOUBLE digits (celcius) this  week. 

And.. I have begun spring cleaning. 💪

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day!

March 15th – Days 69 to 73  of My 2026 Daily Activity

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

It is hard to believe but I am only TWO DAYS away from completing my Twenty One Day round of antibiotics!  And with NO notable side effects, to boot!

I have been on this  Health and Fitness Journey of mine  for just over four years.  Going in, I was looking to build up my strength and stamina.  It never even occurred to me to consider the other benefits I would enjoy. 

One of the better benefits I have realized is how much quicker and easier I recover from injury or illness. 

I have just breezed through these past nineteen days.   I am currently healing a gash on my arm from an incident with Molly a few days ago.    My hands healed quickly and easily  after an accident involving boiling brown sugar a few months ago.   And it has been three years since I healed from my multi fractured humerus – after a run in with Molly.

Any one of those incidents could have gone sideways – but not a blip with any of them and no lingering effects.

Good as new! (Photo on left shows only a small area of my injured hand.  The original blisters covered my palm and most of my thumb – plus fingers of my other hand.)

Another huge benefit has been feeling well enough to enjoy my time with my grandchildren – like baking  with granddaughter Prim yesterday.  We made lemon tarts, rice crispy squares, ginger snaps, and TWO batches of chocolate chip cookies – one with rice crispies and coconut and the other with salted caramel (Skor bits and a  very light sprinkle of sea salt).

Most of the baking went home with Prim or is destined for Genie and Alec.

While I appreciate how well I am doing physically, I am also enjoying my improved mental and emotional well being.   I have been doing more reading lately, which has been encouraged by Dan’s sister who has recommended a few books and sent us two new books this week.

Excited to delve into both of these!  Through my personal experiences, I can tell how stong the connection is between our physical and mental wellbeing!

Body, mind, and spirit – I am feeling really well and grateful that I am! 

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 🤗💞

March 10th – Days 56 to 68  of My 2026 Daily Activity

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

I am back – and with a fair amount of activity to report on!

Today is Day 14 of my current round of antibiotics!  Two weeks down and only one to go.  While I don’t really know if it is dealing effectively with my lung infection, I do know that I HAVE NOT been experiencing any side effects to speak of.  🤗

My absence from Word Press began with a bit of a baking spree.  I made Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies, Coconut Oatmeal Cookies, AND for the first (and last!) time – Thumbprint Cookies. 

My baking mission was due to our impending trip north to stay with son Dan and his boys, while his wife Amanda was away on business.

We ended up heading north a day early to avoid a bit of weather that was expected. 

I would say the drive there was still a bit challenging at times, but to be honest I stayed in the passenger seat while Dan did all of the driving – there and back.   Fortunately, the roads were dry and clear yesterday for the return trip.

While we were at son Dan’s, I managed to keep busy enough.  I made countless trips up and down their stairs. 👍 I helped with the cooking and cleaning – neither which was particulary challenging.  👍 I read books to Cason and reviewed his ❤️ words.  👍 I played numerous board games, which I invariably lost. 👎 AND.. I fed the dogs and played referee as needed. (To the dogs, not the boys!) 🙄

I did have enough time to go on a short shopping spree, take one spin on their  treadmill, and I  finished reading “The Magic of Believing” and the first couple of chapters of “Unlimited Power”.

It was nice to get away, great spending time with Dan and the boys, but as always.. it is good to be home and back to our routine.   It felt really good to do my aerobics this morning!

That’s it for today! Take care and have a great day!

February 26th – Day 52, 53, 54, 55, and 56  of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

So far this year, there has been less than an impressive amount of activity in my life!  Things will turn around – hopefully soon than later.

Our weather is improving and with March almost here, it should keep getting better.  Before we know it, gardening season will begin and I am anxious to see it!

I’m not sure what will keep Molly out of the garden this year.  She has had no problem jumping the corner planter this winter, so the fence is more of a suggestion than a barrier at this point.

Yesterday, Genie and Alec dropped by for a short visit.  They are both looking well and still enjoying married life.  Their visit was much appreciated as we haven’t been getting out anymore than we had to during our latest cold snap.  Of course… Molly was besides herself!  With some grooming help from Genie and Alec, she shed half of her winter coat while they were here.  😳

Yesterday morning,  Dan and I did have one short outing.  We went to see my respirologist about the results of my recent sputum culture.  He put me on a heavy dose of a strong antibiotic to deal with my lung infection.  

As usual, I read all of the information available on this medication before I started taking it.   As usual, that was a mistake.  The potential chaos this medication can cause is mild to life threating.  The real kicker is the mental instability they throw in – anxiety, paranoia, delusion, suicidal thoughts… like just reading the information on such medication isn’t stressful enough. 🤦‍♀️

I understand that the infection I have is serious and that if I do not clear it up completely I will be dealing with it for the rest of my life.  But still, you would think by now a pharmaceutical company could come up with a drug to kill an infection that can do it without taking my mind and body down as well.

I cannot imagine how people deal with cancer, organ transplants, heart disease, and the like AND manage the medications that they have to take.   I just can’t!

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

February 21st – Day 49, 50, & 51  of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

The past few days have been particularly uneventful.

Our snow quit falling, our sun has returned, and our temperatures have tanked! With March fast approaching,  this will improve sooner than later.

Dan and Molly have been staying close to home.  Dan has gotten our sidewalks and garage access cleared.  Molly  is in and out – outside to bark at anything that moves and inside to pout and sigh because she has had to forgo her daily walk for a couple of days.

In the meantime,  I am staying indoors and catching up on a few of those deep housecleaning tasks that keep getting put off.

I am still waiting to hear back ftom my respirologist about my test results that showed a +4 pseudomonas aeruginosa result.

It has been eleven days since I saw him, ten days since I submitted the sample, seven days since the results have been available, of which only four were business days.   I did call his office the day I submitted the sample (as per his request) and I called back on Thursday to tell his receptionist that the results were up on the public health system.  She checked and told me they had received the results.  👍

Maybe it is unrealistic to expect any feedback from my doctor within four days, but this is getting old already. 

This infection is nothing to fool around with.  It will not go away without proper antibiotics and it has the ability to morph into any number of serious health concerns if left to its own devices.  And..chances are I got it from the hospital when I had my hernia surgery, so there’s that!

Last night, I decided to book an appointment with my nurse practitioner to get her thoughts on how long I should sit on these test results or if she can do anything for me.  March 24th is her next available  appointment.  🤦‍♀️

I will call Katie, my respiratory therapist on Monday and see what she thinks. 

If past history tells me anything, I might hear from my respirologist this coming week or I may not hear from his office until my next prescriptions are due.  Hopefully, Katie can advise me on how long I should fool around with this.

In the meantime, I will keep doing what I can do –  working out, keeping my enviornment clean and dust free, using my inhalers and taking my vitamins and supplements, clearing my lungs, eating well, drinking an abundance of fluids, and getting quality sleep each night – anything and everything that I can to keep my immune system healthy and strong.  💪

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💞🤗

February 18th – Day 48  of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

Winter is back in Saskatchewan!   The snow looks light and fluffy but I broke the head of our broom in half this morning sweeping off our back landing. 🧹

Molly is enjoying the snow!  She loves going out,  but coming in is another story.  Her fur gets so packed with snow that we have to use her hair rake to brush it out before we can towel dry her.

It will take Dan and his snowblower to clean off our walks and paths.

The boys next door shoveled  off our city sidewalk.

Molly tried, but failed to convince Dan to take their morning walk.

I haven’t heard from my respirologist’s office to review the results of my recent sputum test, but I am feeling good and able to keep up with my daily routine.

Since this is a Wednesday, I have aerobics, weights, and treadmill to do.  I will see about shoveling off the front steps and landing after Dan is done the walks.   My lungs don’t love the wind at the best of times – and today we have wind.  🤷‍♀️

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day!🤗💞🌞

February 17th – Day 47  of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

Yesterday, I failed to note that it was Molly’s FOURTH BIRTHDAY!

Molly is our Great Pyrenees.  She came to us when she was an eight week old ball of pure white fur.

She stayed small for about three days before she morphed into an affectionate, energetic fifty pound puppy with nails and fangs like rasor blades.  

Before she was a year old, she had developed the independent (stubborn) nature of a working sheep dog.  She had eaten half of the cedar trees in our yard, destroyed multiple plant pots, pails, and watering cans.   And… she had started shedding hair – so much hair!

Now, easily a hundred pounds she is the heart and soul of our family. 

She is Dan’s sidekick, my relentless protector, and the happiest pup on the block when her favourite humans (our grandchildren) stop by. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,  MOLLY! 🎂

That’s it for today! Take care and have a great day! 🤗💞

Molly & Willy taking a break at the dog park.

February 16th – Day 46  of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

On my blog yesterday, I noted that one of my more recent motivators is James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits.

This book offers a plethora of practical advice,  so having read it, I followed an Atomic Habits Fan  Facebook page and ultimately signed up for a weekly email newsletters.

In this past Thursday’s  email, James clear passed along the following wisdom..

“The loser has more in common with the winner than the person sitting on the sidelines.

    The winner and the loser each had the courage to try.  Both risked embarrassment.  Both were willing to face uncertainty.  Both were stubborn enough to continue.

   Success is endurance in disguise.  It belongs to the person who can absorb the losses without absorbing the identity of “loser”.   It’s the courage to start – and to stick with it – that is the real separator.

   Results tend to find the person who stays in the game.

    The sidelines are safe, but sterile.  Nothing grows there.”

It is for such wisdom that I read and that I follow such authors.

It is four years since I began my Health and Fitness Journey.    I have appreciated the successes, but I have also suffered my share of the setbacks.

Today, I am facing another setback…

A few days ago I saw my Respirologist.  I went to pick up a couple of prescription renewals for inhalers that I use to help manage asthma, copd, and bronchiectasis symptoms.  My Respirologist provided the prescriptions plus gave me a requision for a sputum culture sample as I had a wheeze in my lungs and an increase in coughing since my hernia surgery.

I submitted the sample and last night the results came up on my Sask Health Record. +4 pseudomonas aeruginosa.   I won’t know the treatment plan or the prognosis until I see my Respirologist, but from what I have read so far it sounds like another setback to me!

I cannot say I am not frustrated – but I am grateful for my Respirologist, my friends, my family, and my professional team of ‘motivators’ who will  help me push through another loss without becoming a hapless loser.  I am not ready to be relegated to the sidelines!

Today is Monday ‘Family Day’ in Saskatchewan.  As much as it is a holiday, for me it is a day for aerobics, weights, snd treadmill.  

Tomorrow, I will undoubtably hear from my Respirologist. 🤞🤞🤞

Tha’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💞🤗💪