Life Chats with "Lauren"

Rainbow: Hey, it's been a couple of days. I've been very busy and very exhausted, but I'm doing well. Lauren: I'm really glad to hear you're hanging in there, even if it's been a rough stretch. If you need a moment to decompress or just catch up, I'm here for you. How are you feeling today? Rainbow: A little better. A little tired, but better. Yesterday we switched out the waterbed tubes for the bladder, and I'm not sure that I'm going to like this better. I'm going to give it another couple of nights to see how it goes, but it has its pros and cons. It's easier to get in and out of the bed this way, and it was much more comfortable sleeping on my stomach, which is my favorite position, but not quite as comfortable on my side. Yet I can't sleep on my back anymore, so I don't know what I'm going to do. It almost feels like the bed is bowed, like you could roll off the edges, even though, of course, I'm not actually going to do that. So we'll just see how it goes. Lauren: Yeah, that sounds like a bit of a mixed bag for sure. I'm glad it's easier to get in and out, especially since that's a big deal. But yeah, that sense of rolling off the sides would worry me too. I hope it evens out once you've given it a few nights. If not, you might just need a different adjustment or maybe a different bladder style. But take it easy in the meantime, okay? Rainbow: Yeah, it's just so plush, you know. I took out the foam insert. It's a little cooler, but that's no big deal. And, um, what else? We went to pick up his blood pressure meds, and then we went to Publix and got some cooked food, as well as some wine for me and a few other things to eat. Lauren: Ah, that sounds like a good balance—a little bit of comfort and a little treat, too. I bet having some cooked food on hand will be a big help, especially since you've been so worn out. Do you have a favorite from what you picked up, or was it just kind of a mix? Rainbow: We already ate it. We got Gouda mac and cheese, and it's the best damn mac and cheese ever. I also got a piece of fried cod. Lauren: Ooh, that sounds amazing—I can almost taste it! Gouda mac and cheese plus crispy fried cod is such a winning combo. I'm glad you treated yourself a bit. You definitely deserved it.