Day to Day

This post mostly has to do with the way I live with CF from day to day, and how it may be challenging at some points, it's "normal" for me. 

When I was in college, finding the time/motivation to do my treatments twice a day was difficult, but I really tried my best. Depending on when I had class, how much homework I had, or when I wanted to hang out with my friends and boyfriend, I had to try to fit two 30-40 minute breathing treatments in everyday. Tim was very supportive and was always on me about doing my treatments, which was helpful. I had a few different roommates through my 4 years at NIU, and they all understood what I had to do and that was very comforting. When I graduated college(!!!), Tim and I moved in together and that was great because again, he always reminded me that I needed to keep myself healthy. 

To me, having a daily routine is very helpful. I currently work as a full time teaching assistant in DeKalb School District, so my Monday-Friday routine is the same. I get up either at 5:45 or 6:00am, depending on how many nebulizers I'm on that month, and do my treatments first thing in the morning. (I usually shower the night before, just so I don't have to wake up any earlier!). Then I get dressed, pack my lunch and eat my breakfast. I have to be at work by 8am and while I'm there I work with Kindergarteners, who are really disgusting germ-wise, haha, but are SO fun to work with! They really do pick their noses as much as people say they do! I must wash my hands and get hand sanitizer 4-5 times a day, just to keep myself healthy. Then, when the school day is done, I go home and do my second round of treatments right away. I've learned that for me, this is the best time to do it, that way I can have the rest of the night to do whatever I want. If I don't do them right when I get home, chances are, they won't get done. On weekends, my schedule isn't so routine, so doing my treatments first thing when I get up is a must; it's the second round that is harder to get in, depending on what we're doing. Last night, for example, we hung out with one of our friends for a while, and didn't get home til after 11 and I was exhausted, so I went to bed as soon as I got home. I always feel bad when I do stuff like that, but luckily it doesn't happen too often. 

Currently, my motivation for doing my treatments is becoming a mother. Ever since I was little, I've always wanted to have kids. Tim and I know that we want to have kids, but I know that I need to be in the best shape as possible to carry a child, and to be healthy after the birth. Everyone's lung function goes down a little bit while they're pregnant because the baby is compressing their lungs, especially towards the end. But for me, that lung function that I lose during the pregnancy, I may not get back. With CF, it's very easy for your lung function to go down, but to get it back, you have to work VERY hard. Every time I don't feel like doing my treatments, I just think of being pregnant, and carrying my own child, and I know that I need to get my lungs in tip top shape! My goal is to be in the 90s when I get pregnant--currently, I'm in the high 80s. Tim's sister and her husband recently had their first baby in June, our nephew Cole, and that's when I realized that's exactly what I want. I have been kicking my own butt to make myself as healthy as possible for when that time should finally come!