Well, we did it.  ‘Lenny’ and I got through a rather crazy week of seemingly constant commotion brought on by a home expanding from two (my wife and I) to six, including an 83-year old Aunt, a grandson with Asperger’s and not one, but two teenage granddaughters.

Want to know who ‘Lenny’ is?  ‘Lenny’ is the name I gave my constant companion called COPD/Asthma.  I have found that referring and dealing with my chronic illness as a companion I am less apt to get really angry with it, but instead more likely to work with it like you would in a strong relationship.  Besides treating anything with TLC is much better than hammering away at it as if it was an enemy.

So back to the success of getting through a week-long run of extra voices, eaters and bathroom users in the house normally accustomed to running with just two.

While most of the week seemed to be just flying by, there were those moments when time just seemed to be creeping by.

Did we have any hiccups along the way, of course as I spent over two hours in the ER at the local hospital, not from my COPD/Asthma but from my continued problems in my throat with swallowing.

Now this trip, the spasm (or whatever you call it) in my throat was not to the severity of my last two, where I felt as if I was choking to death, it still gave my wife and I a good scare.  And those granddaughters that were due to arrive that morning, well it’s nice to know they care about the old guy they call Papa.  What the trip did do was guarantee an earlier visit with my physician than I was wanting and most likely the addition of yet another health specialist to add to my roster of caretakers.

As for ‘Lenny’ and I, we are both grateful that neither my Aunt or either one of my teenage granddaughters use any gaudy smelling perfumes or body wash, which that alone gave us hope that the time would possible go without incident.

Did the visits go perfect – heck no, tell me the last time any family visit went without incident.

We did take one trip to a small zoo and walked around for nearly an hour, which was as good for the group of us as it was for the exercise we all received as well.  Surprisingly, ‘Lenny’ did not get too irritated and even seemed to find the walking good, despite the 88-degree weather.

One plus to the all the family being in house with us was that we had a couple of family movie nights and got to see my 83-year old Aunt giggle and my teenage granddaughters laugh heartily to silly things like ‘Open Season’ and ‘Sing’, two animal animated based movies with lots of humor.  Yes, even ‘Lenny’ enjoyed the evenings without a single incident.

So, while my last posting was wondering if I would survive the stress and visitors, this posting gladly announces that ‘Lenny’ and I did it – we survived without ‘Lenny’ even showing one minor flare-up or SoB.

While it may take a couple or three days to decompress from having a house full of family and more commotion than normal, it will be days to also remember the fond memories of the visits and the appreciation for my constant companion ‘Lenny’ for not flaring up.

And that my friends, is where ‘Lenny’ (my COPD/Asthma) and me are at 4 today.

As always – if you or anyone you know have any symptoms involving lung and breathing functionality, and they linger over and over while disrupting a lifestyle – then please ask questions and get it checked out.

Remember – ‘a person without good breathing, is a person without a good life’, so let’s do what we can, to learn what we can, to improve what we can.

I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.

(Copyright@2017, CrossDove Writer through wheezingaway.com – no part of this write may be used or copied without written permission.)

NOTES: Sometimes we share what may seem like medical information, but we are only giving descriptions and highlights of various aspects of having COPD and/or Asthma and no way do we ever want our information to be considered medical treatment type of information, always consult your physician for more, clearer medical founded information.