Ouch!

Today's blogger MVPs are my wife Andrea, my sister Emily, her boyfriend Justin and my stepfather-in-law Glenn. Thanks to my team too. I got hit on the wrist by a 90 mph fastball from our terrific SS, who incidentally used to pitch in the Dodgers organization. If I were a MLB first baseman, I probably catch that ball but I'm an old rec player so the ball tagged me on the wrist. Several OF on the team said they could hear the pop from where they were standing. My sister and her boyfriend picked me up at the field as I waited in the rain and lightning. Thanks to my friend Drew who let me hang out in his car while I waited.

The hospital photograph can be credited to Andrea. The highlight was when the doctor came in and looked at my chart, looked at me again and then down at my chart again. Andrea asked "What?" He showed it to her and she laughed. They had me as a female. Looks like I had a case of the Mondays.

Andrea and her stepdad met us at the hospital where the final analysis was a bad bone bruise, a week wearing a splint and seeing my Braves fall in extra innings. I got home just before 1am this morning. Here's the strange thing. I had a dream the night before that I needed surgery.

Anyway, I'm fine and won't seek out sympathy...except from my kids and Andrea and possibly the fine people at My Friends Place in Duluth where I dine several times a week. Maybe I'll get an extra fruit cup out of it.

Oh, and incidentally, Off the Bench won and we are slowly moving up the standings. I know that was your first question, right? I also worked out this morning but I only used my right arm to lift.

I have cut my CF routine a bit to give myself a break. I have removed Pulmozyme from my nightly therapy to give me an extra 20 minutes off. It has really helped me get more rest and hang out with my family more. Honestly, it also prevents me from procrastinating from doing all of my stuff because I don't have to dwell about the length of time my therapy takes at night. The doctor okayed the change. I do some of my meds at work now before I go home and just charge my portable machine here.

Andrea and I had a great weekend as well. We got to spend a lot of quality time together in a very relaxing place without the kiddos. Thanks to my in-laws for watching them. The coolest thing was that we got to see a lot of amazing waterfalls and got to see nature at its finest.

I'm in a good place both emotionally and physically (other than my forearm). I plan to be back on the field next Monday.

I hope everyone had a great Passover and a Happy Easter.

T-minus 63 days till my 20-year reunion. Is it time to start picking out a wardrobe? Ha Ha!

Andy

Happenings in April

So I started Tobi two Saturdays ago and it's beginning to take a toll on me. It's always around the 2nd week that I start getting tired and fall asleep multiple times. It's frustrating.

There have been lots of treatment updates concerning cystic fibrosis over the last 6 months. There was some organism in the water that might have some type of effect on people with CF. Also the Vertex trials continue to offer wonderful results. As I said to my doctor the other day, I guess if I'm going to have a terminal lung disease, this is the one to have. It seemed funnier when I said it to her. Anyway, hearing about potential therapies and cures are great but I tend to believe that until there is a cure out there, I will give everything I have to be ready for it. A cure is pointless if I'm sick when it arrives.

I have increased the weights I'm lifting during my workouts to challenge myself (or perhaps to look good for my high school reunion or maybe just so I can go to a doctor for something other than CF - a hernia perhaps).

The book is still due out in February. I have recently reached out to a few different chapters of the CF Foundation just to introduce myself. I want to make sure that I talk to as many businesses that I know of that would be interested in buying my book and/or having me speak. I met with a gentleman, in fact, this morning to talk about that very thing.

The testimonial section of www.andylipman.com is starting to fill up. Apparently my speeches have had a big effect on people which I'm thrilled with. If you know of anyone who needs a motivational speaker, please have them go to my website.

Our family is at the end of the school-choosing process. I think it would be funny if Avery sat at a table and had 3 hats for the 3 schools we looked at and then she puts on the one we decided on. I'm not saying she has to act like Lebron James but if Jim Gray interviews her, I want her to at least mention me. I'm betting no kindergartener has put together a press conference like that. There always is a first.

That's it for now. I hope that all of you are well.

Andy


I have no other updates.

Opening Day, Howard and my numbers

Yesterday my favorite sport began. I love baseball season and I love the Braves. This could be a very promising year. I'm as big of a Braves fan as you'll find. I've been a diehard fan since 1982. From the first pitch in April (although it was March this year) until the last pitch in October, I will follow this team through good times and bad. Their performance will affect my day. Still I'm glad we are 1-0 and only 161 games more to go and hopefully another 15 to 20 in the postseason. I have a really good feeling about this year. This is the first year Bobby Cox has not been managing this team since I was in high school. I think change can be good but I wish Bobby well.

Today is April 1st and while most people know this as April Fool's Day (in fact my phone and mouse were both taped this morning so I couldn't do any work and I had Charlie Sheen posters all over my office), this is not what I remember this day for. This was my dog, Howard's birthday. Howard was not just a dog. He was my best friend. He sat with a sickly kid everyday when I wasn't able to play a lot of sports. He listened to my deepest concerns and secrets. I miss him very much.

I received my bloodwork and sputum results and everything looked good. Now I just have to get my pulmonary numbers back up. I'm on antibiotics now and start Tobi up again this weekend. I have managed to move my glucose numbers from pre-diabetic to not even close to being a diabetic. I'm really happy about that.

That's about it for now. I'm looking forward to some nice weather this weekend.

Happy Birthday to my Aunt Loretta this week.

Andy