Recipe for success?

I'm feeling a little better each day. I still get tired very easily (you have no idea how much energy showering consumes until you have very little energy), but I'm doing regular activites without help and without spotters. I've even been able to go back to sleeping on my tummy, which is the most comfortable position for me.

I've not gotten even close to the 60 grams a day protein goal, but I'm inching closer every day. Dr Sudan said not to push too hard, just to do the best I can. So far I have come up with a way to get 27.5 grams of protein fairly painlessly, in two servings:

2 pkgs of no sugar added choc carnation instant breakfast = 8g
1/3 cup nonfat dry milk = 8g
1 cup skim milk = 8g
1/3 cup nonfat plain yogurt = 3.5g
(optional) half a banana
2 ice cubes

Place all items in a good blender and blend for 30 seconds on the whip setting. Leave the second serving in the blender and refrigerate. When ready to have second serving, add another ice cube or two and whip for a few seconds.

My shoulder is feeling a lot better, probably due to the celebrex I'm taking every 12 hours. I am not doing my physical therapy as religiously as I should, but I stretch my shoulder muscles every time I think about it, and do a few reps of the exercises when I think about it several times a day. I'm lifting up to 10 lbs many times throughout the day, carrying, walking, etc... so I think the shoulder will be fine.

My thigh is still driving me crazy. Dr Sudan thinks that the nerve is being pinched in my back due to my positioning while I was recovering. It's not impeding my movement at all, just really annoying me. I'm trying to stretch everything out as much as possible, and to reposition whenever I feel numb, but the numbness and burning continue. Hopefully as I lose weight, whatever's pinching will stop. Otherwise I will visit an orthopedist.

Speaking of losing weight, I have lost 16 lbs since surgery. I'm very excited about the rate of weight loss, and hope that it continues. I go back on soft solid foods on August 22nd, so hopefully I will continue to lose weight even after that change.

I'm seriously looking forward to going back on solids. I want to chew. I will have to chew every mouthful 25 times to make it easier for my stomach to absorb the nutrients, and believe me - I will. I miss food texture that much.

Okay, here's the best news. I have a new kitten. Xander has joined the family. I decided that while I have the time at home to bond, this would be the best time to get my new little buddy. We're hoping that a boy cat won't have the whole Electra complex deal and will favor me over Michael, since Willow cuddles more with Michael than with me.

Xander currently lives alone in the spare bedroom. He's been sneezing his adorable little kitten sneezes, and I don't want Eris and Willow to catch Kennel Cough again, especially since Eris got so deathly ill last time. His quarantine will be up in a handfull of days, and then Eris can hiss at him face-to-face instead of through the door. He is the sweetest little boy ever. This morning, he was mewing until I came into his room, and then he cuddled hardcore for about 20 minutes.

Then, and this is really sad, I went to sit on the floor, and he got under me. I very briefly sat on him. I was horrified. He yowled so hard! It was just a split second, and then I lifted up and he got out from under me by himself. He sat just out of arm's reach and groomed himself for a minute. I tried to get him to come to me, but he just kept his distance. I threw a ball past him, but he just eyed it warily and went back to grooming. I was worried that he was hurt and that's why he was not moving, but the weird thing is that he never stopped purring the whole time.

I finally picked him up and checked him out, and he didn't wince at any touches. I set him down and he moved naturally. He got a drink of water and played with his toys, but he kept his distance from me. I was very sad, but I decided to let him rediscover me. He was wary for the next 20 minutes or so, but he started coming to me again to play. He was nowhere near as happy to see me as he was this morning, but he's back to the level of contact he had with me yesterday. I have hopes that we'll be best buddies again by later today.

I will be bringing him to the vet for his initial checkup at 3pm. I'll let the doctor know what happened today and let him check Xander out for that, too.

I'll be posting a picture of Xander soon. I need really good lighting because the camera in my phone sucks, so I may take one at the vet's office.