Inches

When I lived in Texas, there was this cool kid who proudly went by Inches on account of his size. He was smart: he knew he wanted to be around the ladies from an early age, so he decided to take up the flute. He and I were in marching band together, and he was adored by all of us. We loved Inches. 

That story has nothing to do with this post. 

Really, what I wanted to talk about is growth. We mark a door jamb with our children's heights on their birthdays. Aside from running out of lap and having to rotate their clothes to bigger sizes, their growth is undetectable to me. Yet, when we measure them, they have sprouted inches every year! It's amazing. 

A few weeks ago, my doctor did an inventory with me. She zoomed way out, and we talked about my progress. I thought I hadn't made any since I am still so devastatingly fatigued most of the time. But as we reviewed my supplements, activity level, mood, diet, labs, and overall outlook, I was positively astonished. I have (figuratively) grown inches this year! I was so very, very ill a year ago, and I am clearly healthier than I used to be!

I feel very grateful for this revelation. I am happy that I can care for my children and put dinner on the table sometimes. I am amazed that my organs are doing so much better and that I am tolerating a greater variety of foods. I am thrilled that we do things as a family sometimes, and that I can date my husband. It's fantastic that I don't have to give my only functional hours every week to church, because I often have good hours daily. I have the concentration to read and the endurance to do projects once in awhile. Guys! Do you feel the changes like I do? What a swell deal.  

Someone kindly suggested that I have progressed and am on my way to getting back to my old self, but I stopped holding my breath ages ago. Maybe I don't want to be my old self. I like who I am becoming because of my difficulties. 

Whatever growth I am experiencing, the changes are imperceptible day to day. And that's kind of exciting, am I right? To not know who I'll be in a year? I think it's simply riveting.