Did You Receive Any Gifts That Make Your Days Better?

[Gabriela]

Hey! Hope you had great holidays!

I gifted myself with a Garmin!! quite pricey but really acurrate with the heart rate thingy! My sole purpose for this year is working towards getting my fittest, as far as PAH will let me… so im monitoring my HR while walking, mini-weight training and yoga.

But my best gift is that mom&dad decided to tag along and we´ve started walking together!

Best wishes to all!

[jen-cueva]

Hi @gabyghuerta, A Garmin is a cool gift. Plus, the addition of your parents joining you is a nice way t stay active and accountable. All while spending quality time with them. Be careful and listen to your body. Please keep us posted. Are you working FT now? How many steps have you been doing so far?

Hey @colleensteele, I love the story about your robe-hehe. I am all about comfy robes and PJs, too. Plus, that massager, I can relate. I am under my heated blanket now typing. If I am not careful, I will start dozing off. I always get comfy PJs etc., at Christmas, since it is my “uniform”, lol.

My necklace is the dainty circle style. Yes, if the vest used batteries, I could move about the house.

[Colleen]

@jenc I have heard of heated vests but you are the first person I know who has one. Is it ok to wear to bed or is there a warning against doing that? I would be tempted to wear it to bed. It would be great if it was battery operated so you can where it all around. I didn’t know what you meant by minimalist necklace so I had to look it up. What does yours look like?

@gabyghuerta when you said Garmin I was thinking GPS. I got a new GPS because my son accidently broke mine. Your Garmin sounds better…gets you up and walking instead of driving, LOL! Good for you and your parents! I love how it’s brought the 3 of your together and doing something positive. They say when you exercise with others it helps keep you committed to doing it.

There is a video going around of a family showing all the wonderful gifts they received for Christmas, but mom only got a robe. Guess what I got…a robe! But I love it! My husband got it for me and I’ve been living in it. Very cozy. He also got me a heated neck massager. I carry all my stress in my neck and this think really helps relieve it. The only things is, that the robe and massager make me so relaxed I keep falling asleep.

[jen-cueva]

Hey @colleensteele, I will check on sleeping with it. But it can get super hot unless it is turned down. I like it at 6, which is the max. Manny thought it would connect in the Jeep, but we tried yesterday, and no, it did not work. But I already have heated seats that I use in there.

I also have a neck, hug-like neck pillow that the kiddos bought me a few years ago. I do sleep with that one. It has essential oils in it, and it heats in the microwave.

My necklace is a dainty circle and simple.

I hope this is not a duplicate, as I thought that I responded already to this.

[Gayle]

Happy New Year! I received the nicest gift from my sister. I got a paint by number of my favorite painter Monet. Great entertainment while I’m stuck at home. I haven’t painted in many years.

[Colleen]

@gward I was instantly taken back to a sweet childhood memory when you mentioned paint by number. I use to do paint by number with my mom. Now I want to run to the store and buy one! Enjoy and thank you for sharing!

[jen-cueva]

Hi, @gward. That is so thoughtful. As you mention, the painting will keep you busy and is therapeutic, too.
Your post took me back. I am a horrible painter but did do paint by numbers as a child.

I hope that you had an enjoyable Christmas; thanks for sharing.

[Robin Webster]

This is going to sound absolutely ridiculous. I know it before I even say it. But, it’s true, so what can I do? My husband bought me sort of a gag gift that was given to me two days before Christmas. It’s a paintball gun and ammo. (We aren’t “gun people,” but we did go on a paintball zombi-shooting hayride for Halloween a couple years ago, and I got a kick out of it.) I have a tremendous amount of stress right now. And I’m angry about how some things in my life are happening outside my control. Anger isn’t a good look on me, and it’s bad for my overall health. Soooooooo, he thought I could go out in back of our property and shoot at trees and things like that and it would release some anxiety. OMG he was SO right! hahahaha! The ammo paint balls are my favorite color — teal blue — and it’s so fun to see it splatter all over a tree or the shed. (It all rinses off in the rain, so it’s not causing any mess to deal with later.) He also got me a very generous gift certificate to the business owned by my yoga teacher so I can take my zoom classes for yoga nidra, meditation and general wellness. Although the two gifts are from both end of the spectrum of self-care, I thought they were both really sweet and insightful on his part as to what I need to feel better even if I can’t GET better.

[Colleen]

@robin-webster this is fantastic! Seriously brought a huge smile to my face! Your husband is a genius!

I have a question for the both of you. My column for PH News is called, “Life As A Caregiver”. In addition to writing about my experiences I’m also going to start writing about other caregivers. All mothers and spouses are caregivers to some degree but PH emphasizes it a lot more. If it is ok with you, could you ask your husband if I could interview him for an article? It could actually all be done by email if he is comfortable with that. I would like to do it soon with a focus on what he got you for Christmas and why. If he is interested please private message me your email address.

If any other forum members have a caregiver/family or friend that you think would like to be interviewed, you can also private message me your email address. This will be on-going, so any time, just let me know.

[Robin Webster]

Colleen,
I am sure my hubby would agree to be interviewed. I tried to private message you the email address for us, but it said private messages were temporarily suspended.

[Colleen]

Thank you @robin-webster. I received your message and will email you by tomorrow.

[jen-cueva]

Hi @robin-webster, I love that paintball gift. That is so cool; you win for the coolest gift! Let your hubby know, hehe.

I love that he thinks about many ways that you can destress. Both, I agree, are self-care gifts. Enjoy and stay safe. Again, I am so sorry about the job losses and your hubby. We are here and can’t wait to hear about your paintball adventures. Teal blue is my favorite color, too.

[Sandra Greenberg]

It was interesting to read about you being cold. I am so cold every afternoon and did not know it’s caused by my PAH I spend every afternoon under an electric blanket. Do you think it might relate to our meds?

[jen-cueva]

Hi @zoemama, excellent questions. I would think PH could impact this, but I am so anemic. I mostly use my heated devices for chronic pain. Do you start getting cold at a specific time in the afternoon? Like, after you take any meds, etc.? Is this all year long or only in the colder months?

I hope that others will comment. I know that many of us deal with anemia and PH.

Thanks for sharing.

[Valerie]

Hi, Sandra!
I don’t know much about PH, but I think that being cold might be a manifestation of PH. I always yawned in class and often got cold (I thought I was just bored, ????). Many years later, I asked the doctor if it could be due to a lack of oxygen. The doctor confirmed that because of the PH I always have low oxygen and therefore I yawn and freeze (there is not enough oxygen for the brain and for warming the limbs). Do you have low oxygen?
I got a pair of pajamas and a super soft towel as a gift, they’re so cozy. I love it when someone gives me a gift something like this-soft, made of natural cotton, for warmth and comfort. At work, I received as a gift (and gave it myself) towels, soap, and the like (we continue to wash our hands! ????). I also like to receive books as a gift and often give them myself. It is always a gift for the soul and warmth.

[jen-cueva]

Hi @valerie, I love all things comfy; PJs are something I always get. As I refer to them as my “uniform”. I wash full loads of PJs only LOL.

Books make another great gift. Do you have any favorites?

You mention oxygen; that is true. If it is not flowing, those areas will be cold.

[Colleen]

@valeriekv as always, thank you for sharing your experience and being supportive towards our members. I share you appreciate gifts of warmth and soul enrichment.

[Susi Steppins]

What great gifts everyone got.
Robes, massagers, a paint ball gun, Garmin, paint by number.
Comfort and health, both physical and mental, seem to be the theme.

My best gift this year was having our kids and granddaughter here with us
for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
This is a first for us in many many years due to jobs and schedules.
We started a tradition with our immediate family about 20 years ago.
We all make a playlist and we take the time to listen and explain to each
other why the songs on the playlist are significant.
For example, this year we went with categories.
We have 5 adults, ( my husband and myself, my daughter, son and daughter in law.)
We each picked a theme.
1. A song with a name in the title.
2. A good driving song.
3. A song that was introduced to us by someone else in the room.
4. A funny song.
5. A song we wish we wrote.

We take turns and for each category we play the songs and whoever picked the
song forwards the lyrics to everyone else so we can follow along and offers an
explanation about why the song is meaningful.

We have such a wonderful time doing this and it usually takes several hours.
It also gives us a chance to learn more about each other.

We were able to spend Christmas Eve day doing this and we ended the day
sharing a Mexican feast that was delicious.
Our granddaughter got to open a present before bed.
The day was memorable.

That was my greatest gift this year.
The memories will make my days better for sure.

[Colleen]

@s-steppins I love this tradition that your family created! Sounds like so much fun and it’s great how it incorporated Christmases past and leads into the present. Thank you for sharing!

[Sandra Greenberg]

Thank you Valerie for your thoughtful reply. Sandy

[jen-cueva]

Wow, @s-steppins, that is the best having your kids and grandkids there with you! When most did not have this Christmas, it is more special. I am so happy to read this.

I love the song game, and thanks for your detailed examples.

You mention that y’all had a Mexican feast; who cooked? We decided a few years ago that we will try a different themed Christmas dinner. This year because it was my hubby ad I, we made a mini Thanksgiving meal.