Mom’s Thriving Lifestyle
Mom’s Thriving lifestyle
Here is the continued and ongoing journey of mom’s active lifestyle in her advanced age…
The below three parts document her recovery from emergency open-heart surgery in Oct 2020 at the age of 91.
Here is part 1 ==> Oct 19, 2020 to Feb 17, 2021
Here is part 2 ==> Feb 18, 2021 to Sep 26, 2021
Here is part 3 ==> Sep 27, 2021 to Mar 3, 2024
The Central Figure: Mom
Most of you know mom, but for those who don’t, here are some of her tales and adventures including her workout routine when turning 90 in August 2019.
Fri, Apr 26, 2024 (11:15am) The “Work Week” Recap
Well, yesterday (Thurs, 4/25), mom pulled a fast one on me. She was lounging in bed all morning and finally took a shower in the early afternoon. And her clothes were all arranged for when she got dressed, but lo’ & behold she made an executive decision to forgo getting dressed and instead got a fresh, pair of pajamas and put those on. When I told her to get dressed in regular clothes so we could go for a walk, she stood steadfast that she would not take her pajamas off, only to have to put them on again in a few hours. So indeed it was a pajama day, even spending the late afternoon on the front porch in her pjs and a blanket!!
We did get to the gym on both Mon (4/22) and Wed (4/24). On both occasions, mom put up quite modest numbers, not the sky-high totals she was cranking out two weeks ago.
4/24/14
.42 miles total on treadmill (15 min 44 sec) // .27 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
Seated Rest
1 lap around the track
20 industrial steps down
4/22/14
.36 miles total on treadmill (13 min 20 sec) // .34 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
2 laps around the track
Standing exercises
20 industrial steps down
Tuesday (4/23) was a stay-at-home day, and mom sat outside for a bit.
Sun, Apr 21, 2024 (1:30pm) Weekend Wrap-Up
Had an absolutely wonderful visit with my 88-year-old aunt who is still very road worthy. On Thurs 4/18, the three of us did walk over the to gazebo and hang out for a while. It was a warm one at 86 degrees, but we were able to get some walking in and have a good conversation. And the rest of the visit went well; she left midday on Friday. That afternoon (Fri, 4/20) mom was outside with her friends for about 2 hours for the alley meeting, and then Sat (4/21) in early afternoon when mom was having breakfast (she slept through the entire morning as she did today as well!) our house was like grand central station as we had a grand stream of very welcomed friends come over to visit, some announced and some unannounced. Mom enjoyed them all. And today (Sun, 4/21, 1:30pm) at the time of typing mom is getting ready for the shower.
So we had a wonderful week of visitors and gatherings, but admittedly were not able to get to the gym or out for a very long walk, but we will pick up the slack on that this week!!
Thurs, Apr 18, 2024 (9:30am) Aunt’s Arrival
My aunt – mom’s co-pilot for decades and decades – arrived shortly before 7p yesterday evening. I kept telling mom over the last week or so that she was coming, and then mom would forget etc. And when she finally walked into the house yesterday evening and mom saw her she lit up like a lightbulb, animately exclaimed her name, and made quick attempt of standing up from her easy chair, but ultimately remained seated. It was a great and grand meeting, and I should have filmed it. Thereafter, we got my aunt checked in at the local Inn and we all spent the evening together eating dinner and catching up till about 10:30p or so. And she will be with us all today as well…
Wed, Apr 17, 2024 (6:15pm) Flowers & Sidewalks
The biggest news around here are the flowers that blossomed up the alley and the new brick sidewalk that was put in outside the house, both of which are pictured below.
On Mon (4/15) mom slept in and had a casual midafternoon breakfast on the front porch as she read the paper. Typically, this would have been a gym day, but I had to make a Costco run, and already most of the day was gone due to our late start. That said, mom and I did get out for a short walkJust for the record, it did get up to 90 today.
On Tue 4/16, mom was up and at ’em super early and she a fairly full day around the house. And then today, Wed (4/18), mom had a leisurely sleep-in and early afternoon breakfast. Typically, we would have gone to the gym today but we were waiting upon my aunt’s arrival this evening.
Sun, Apr 14, 2024 (9:15pm) Four-Day Recap
Mom has been quite fine and consistent over this span.
On Thurs 4/11, she did this workout at the gym:
– .51 miles total on treadmill (18 min 18 sec) // .43 initial miles without stopping
– 20 industrial steps up
– 2 laps around the track
– 20 industrial steps down
Both Fri (4/12) and today (4/14), mom was around the house and spent extended periods on the front porch, and on Sat (4/13) mom walked from the front side of the house to the gazebo and back. She also had good phone and Zoom calls with family. The warm weather (mid-80s) arrived today enabling mom to have a care-free day on the front porch, whereas when she was on the front porch on Friday she was buoyed by a blanket, gloves, a hand-warmer, etc.
Here are the breads we baked the last few days…
Thurs, Apr 11, 2024 (9:30am) Treadmill Workout
Yesterday (Wed, 4/10), mom outdid herself by not emerging from the bed until nearly 2p and then showering and putting on her pajamas again and going back to bed. Well, we put that saga to an end and ultimately made it down to the breakfast table by 4p, and pushed onwards to the gym at about 6:30p where she put in a valiant workout:
.70 miles total on treadmill (25 min 27 sec) // .60 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
2 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
Here is a mom on the treadmill during her workout yesterday.
But these very late wake-ups are becoming a problem. Actually, it is not when she wakes up, but when she will emerge from the warmth of her bed. Very pleased to report that today (4/11) mom has gotten up as I am typing here and is actively getting herself ready for the shower etc. So that is a very positive development!!
On Tues (4/9), mom was mostly around the house after a late wake-up….
Mon, Apr 8, 2024 (9:45pm) Eclipse & Evening Walk
Mom got a glimpse of the solar eclipse as the neighbors were out viewing it, and they were kind enough to come over to our sidewalk with some glasses so mom could also see. At first she did not look high enough in the sky but eventually she got it and could view it nicely. After spending a good portion of the afternoon on the porch (not looking at the sun), mom did make it out for a solid evening walk. We did not go too far but we were out for a while and mom was on her feet for approximately 45 minutes or so. We walked around the gazebo and this pom-pom tree.
Below are some olive baguettes that we made over the weekend….
Sun, Apr 7, 2024 (11:20pm) Front Porch Weekend
On Fri (4/5), mom and I did a modest walk outside but it was quite windy so it was just a fast jaunt, and then we were back. On both Sat (4/6) and Sun (4/7), mom passes hours on the front porch with her usual accoutrements: sunglasses, blanket, tissues, water, reading material, & hand warmers etc. Mom enjoyed her Saturday visit with friends, and due to a late wake-up mom did not make the alley meeting on Friday. All in all, doing just fine.
Thurs, Apr 4, 2024 (10:20pm) Treadmill Terminator!!
Before going to the gym this afternoon / evening, mom’s hip was bothering her, which can happen from time to time, usually after she’s been sitting for a while. So she was not all that keen to get to the gym. But once we got there she took no prisoners!! Mom topped out at .82 miles (29 min 53 sec) on the treadmill, including the initial .57 miles (20:27) without stopping!! So that was a solid treadmill workout. As it was late in the day, we did not climb the double staircase to the track.
Wed, Apr 3, 2024 (11:30pm) Marathon Walk II
Mom did a really great walk today, and we used the rollator which turned out to be a really great way to go. I think that is how we will proceed in the future. She walked to the gazebo, and on to West Camden, and then to Caswell and then on back home. We must have been gone for an hour, or close to it. She has to hunch a bit over her red outdoor rollator (which is on lone from Fearrington Cares), and we are going to try and get an upright model, even buying it if need be.
Yesterday, Tue (4/2), mom was around the house all day, and was up till 2am!! Needless to say, we got off to a bit of a late start today.
Mon, Apr 1, 2024 (6:30pm) Marathon Walk
Mom and I just got back from a 54-minute walk!! She was not keen to go to the gym, and it was such a nice day outside so we just took off from the front porch and did a big loop. We were not speedy, but she was steady. We took a few pauses or standing rests along the way, but she did not sit down at all until we returned back home. She has actually been on the front porch all afternoon, even having her lunch out there.
Sun, Mar 31, 2024 (10:45pm) Carolina Spring
Mom enjoyed the 80 degree weather this weekend. On Sat (3/30), she was out on the front porch for hours – taking her lunch and entertaining all kinds of passers-by. On Sun (3/31), she had a luxurious morning into the early afternoon in bed. Indeed, she was even late for our 3pm Zoom call with family!! But, on the whole, she has made solid strides with her wake-up times. On Fri (3/29), she was out of bed by 7:30am and on Sat (3/30) she was also up by mid-morning. On Fri (3/29), mom was outside her the crew for the alley meeting. So she got plenty of fresh air this weekend.
Here is mom’s Thurs (3/28) workout – a great culmination to a very impressive week on the treadmill wherein she hit at least .65 miles each time!!
.65 miles total on treadmill (23 min 15 sec) // .44 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
Wed, Mar 27, 2024 (10:45pm) Burning Up the Track
Mom has had some really great sessions at the gym to start the week!! On the downside we are not making much progress in mom’s wake-up / get-up times. Today she started he breakfast at 4pm!! And it was nearly 7:30pm when we finished our workout at the gym!! That is just too late to get the day going. That said, check out these eye-popping numbers!!
On Mon (3/25) mom really topped out!!
.79 miles total on treadmill (28 min 25 sec) // .69 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
1 lap around the track
20 industrial steps down
And then today (3/27) she again went at it:
.65 miles total on treadmill (22 min 59 sec) // .39 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
4 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
Both Sun (3/24) and Tues (3/26) were fairly quiet days around the house…
Sat, Mar 23, 2024 (9:45pm) A Full Week
Today (Sat, 3/23) has been a mostly quiet one as mom slept in, had a visited from her good friends, and took it easy most of the afternoon. Of late, we have been working on our wake-ups, i.e. trying to get out of bed earlier, but mom really likes being under those covers, often remaining in bed for extra hours!!! So let’s just call it a work in progress at this point.
Yesterday (Fri, 3/22) was a late, late get out of bed day – 1pm. It was so late that after mom showered and dressed she had to go directly out to the alley meeting without any breakfast. This was a special alley gathering as one of our longtime neighbors was moving so literally everyone came out for it. And the weather really cooperated. It was a grand gathering, and by the end mom was giving good-bye hugs to everyone telling them that she was also moving!!
On Thurs (3/21) mom got the following workout in at the gym:
.50 miles total on treadmill (18 min 58 sec) // .31 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
And we baked this sourdough:
On Wed (3/20), mom did a 45 min walk outside without stopping or sitting. She had a ski pole in her right hand, and she and I were mostly arm-in-arm on the other side. When we got back from the walk she happily plopped down in her chair on the front porch.
We also baked these olive baguettes…we shared the above sourdough and the below baguettes with our neighbors who are moving.
This guy (mourning dove) was also hanging around our feeder, which has been like grand central station the past month or so. But this fellow was just dipping his tail in our freshly filled water tray, and I told him he could dip his tail as much as he wants so long as he doesn’t poop in it as I had just cleaned the tray and changed the water.
Both Mon (3/18) & Tues (3/19) were low impact days. On Monday, we had a follow-up visit at the dentist to get mom’s new nightguard, and Tuesday was our busy farmer’s market day.
Sun, Mar 17, 2024 (9:15pm) Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Mom and I spent a wonderful two hours today at a very lovely neighborhood gathering hosted by our friends across the street. Mom really enjoyed going over there and seeing everyone. For those who remember, we were over at Tucker’s house, and good ol’ Tuck spent time sitting on both of our laps. In total, there were about 20 – 24 people there, and it was good to meet and connect with others in neighborhood who we see less frequently. On Saturday, mom and I were around the house and she sat outside for a good while. All in all a fine weekend, and we are ready for the upcoming week!!
Fri, Mar 15, 2024 (10:50pm) Spring Came & Left
Mom had a good go at the gym today, not record-setting but sufficient:
.50 miles total on treadmill (18 min 44 sec) // .30 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
On Tues, Wed, & Thurs, mom spent lots of time basking in spring on the front porch. Due to a busy schedule, we did not get out and walk, but mom sure did enjoy her time on the front porch.
Mon, Mar 11, 2024 (4:50pm) Back in the Saddle
Well, we got back to the gym today and while it wasn’t our best showing on the treadmill, mom did do some solid work on the track getting a total of 6 laps in. Here are the numbers:
.41 miles total on treadmill (15 min 11 sec) // .29 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
Seated Rest
2 laps around the track
Seated Rest
1 lap around the track
20 industrial steps down
Sun, Mar 10, 2024 (7:10pm) Blustery Sunday
It was a very blustery day, but in the late afternoon mom and I ventured out for a walk around the block. Not exactly the longest walk of the year, but, nonetheless, we got out and about for a bit – and that was good. In fact, for the last few days we have been homebodies. We did not get to the gym on Fri (3/8) as an old friend came over late Friday afternoon which mom really enjoyed, and then mom was treated to her usual Saturday morning visitors which was also very welcomed. So all is well around here. No major changes or updates, and we’ll take it. That said, we do need to get to the gym tomorrow.
Mom’s latest venture into yoga class in case you haven’t seen it: Mom barges through
Thurs, Mar 7, 2024 (7pm) Sunset Wonders
This below photo is actually from Mon (3/4) on my return trip from Costco…if you click on the image it will take you to IG to view the full series of photos taken.
Thurs, Mar 7, 2024 (11:45am) Excellent Check-Up
Well, she did it again!! On Tues (3/5), mom went for her local medical check-up and her bloodwork was excellent. Our wonderful doctor did a thorough analysis and ordered a serveral tests, and mom’s numbers were all terrific. And that is without any medicine to alter the results and / or cover-up what is really going on. So at 94.5 years of age, mom is in really good shape.
On Mon (3/4), we went to the dentist to fix a cracked tooth and get a new nightguard so that is another sphere of life that is in good order as by and large her teeth are in excellent condition. There are no ongoing issues or problems.
Here are mom’s gym numbers from yesterday, Wed (3/6):
.50 miles total on treadmill (18 min 22 sec) // .36 initial miles without stopping
20 industrial steps up
3 laps around the track
20 industrial steps down
Previous Updates ==> Sep 27, 2021 to Mar 3, 2024