More Sadness

I know after the last post I said I would be posting things that are not so sad.  However, that is will not be the case, so please bear with me.

Betty and I moved to our home here in January of 2000 and we met some very wonderful people, who quite frankly have been almost our family.  It is with great sadness that I have to relate that one of our dearest friends, Maureen, is not expected to live more than a few days more.  As I stated in my last post, Maureen has been fighting this cancer for over 15 years, and there is nothing left for her to do.  Last Friday evening she was taken to Hospice where they are making her comfortabel has possible.  Skip informed me last night that she only has  2 to 3 days left .  We, our extended family, as well as our own kids, are very sad.  As we grow older, we realize it is inevitable  our friends will begin to pass on, but it doesn't make it any easier when someone you care deeply about dies.  I just ask that you keep Skip and Mo in your prayers. 

Although I want to start posting about happy things, I will be posting about Maureen again.  Again I ask you to keep them and all of us in your prayers.

It's Been a Long Time

I know this will be quite a surprise for most of you but I'm going to try and write at least once a week from now on.  Let's see if I can really keep that schedule.

This has been a sad week for Betty and I as Betty's oldest sister LaDonna, also known as Sue, died last Saturday after a very short battle with lung cancer.  She was having a difficult time breathing so it had to be a very painful time for her. It is always hard when you lose someone you love and Betty had a pretty difficult day on Monday, as she hed spent the night thinking about LaDonna. 

As if that was not enough to deal with, our very close friend Maureen was told by her oncologist last week, there is nothing left to try and stop the cancer that she has.  Maureen has been fighting this dreaded it for at least fifteen years, having had a double mastectomy, and multiple chemo and radiation treatments.  She is now at home with her husband, Skip, and Hospice is coming to help make her as comfortable as possible.  It's as if we are vultures circling overhead, just waiting.  What a helpless feeling!

I apologize if this is somehat of a "downer" post, but it had to be written.  As the year progresses I hope to be able to post happier thoughts.  Until my next post, keep everyone in your prayers.

Want an Update? If so, read on.

I started this update yesterday, however, I just "ran out of gas" I guess, because I obviously didn't finish it. Hopefully, today will be better and I'll get it done.

I was released from the hospital on Thursday of last week but to be honest with you, I haven't felt like doing much. It is really great having Daryl here as he is taking on a lot of responsibility. Saturday night, our friends wanted to go to dinner so Daryl took Betty while I stayed home. She needed to go and there was no way I was going to take her, so he "bit the bullet", so to speak, and went with all those old people. Talk about a martyr! But now let me give you an update of my"procedure".

As I wrote in a previous post, Dr Wang gave me a DVD to watch which explained what was going to happen. Well, let me tell you, it was the old "bait and switch" gambit. The DVD explained they would give me anesthesia to relax but I would be cognizant to what was going on. In addition, the DVD explained how the procedure would be done by going through a vein in the groin, either side, or through a vein in the neck. Well, let me tell you that was not the case. The first clue was when the anesthesiologist was talking to me in the prep room. When he started asking if I had ever been completely "knocked out" with anesthesia, and if I had ever had a breathing tube, I knew the DVD was just a ploy. After the anesthesiologist left, I asked the nurse about being "knocked out" and she said because the procedure can take some time, and the table I would be lying on was very uncomfortable, it was standard procedure to be "knocked out". The next clue that the DVD was a ploy was when the nurse came in to finish the prep. She had to shave the groin area, which is also done for a stent, so no big deal. However, after she shaved the right side, she started on the left, and when I asked if that was because Dr Wang hadn't specified which side he would use, she reply "Oh, no. They will be going in both sides and your neck." Hello, McFly, I didn't sign up for this!!! After they finished prepping me, which included all kinds of pads for connecting to the monitoring equipment, off we went to the operating theater. The nurses asked if I could walk to the table as there was so much equipment it would be easier than trying to get the bed into the room also. I asked if I would need to walk out after the procedure, they just said "no way!". The last thing I remember was the anesthesiologist asking if I was attached to the equipment and the response of "..almost complete". The anesthesiologist then told me he was going to give me a little something to relax. The next thing I remember was being in my room with Betty and Daryl, and that was about 4 1/2 hours later. Both of them later told me a lot had transpired in the room after I returned but I don't remember any of it. Dr Wang had come in and talked with them, explaining what had been done, and they said I talked with Amy via Daryl's phone, and although I remember the conversation, I thought it took place the night before. Being "knocked out" is the pits! Also, here it is over a week later, and I'm still feeling the effects of the anesthesia. Mary, Dr Marini's nurse, said it can take up to three months for the effects of the anesthesia to wear off completely.

I do have to say, even though I don't have a lot of energy yet, and I sometimes get a little short of breath, every day it gets better. Having Daryl here is a Godsend, and Betty is so supportive of me taking it easy and just getting better. I know Daryl has to be "bored out of his mind" as we don't lead the most exciting life, but I'm sure glad he was able to come help out.

Hey, it looks as if I accomplished writing this post. I'll close for now but keep coming back, as you may be surprised by a new post.

Just to Let You Know

Yes, today is the day I go back into the hospital for my heart. Daryl flew in yesterday so that takes a lot off my mind as he will be a great support for Betty. I have to admit, I didn't sleep very well last night because I am apprehensive about this, but I know I have one of the best doctors for the procedure. Oh yeah, what I'm having is called a Catheter Ablation. Dr Wang, whose doing the procedure, gave me a DVD explaining the procedure which was really good. When Betty and I watched it, it really clarified things. We watched it again last night so Daryl could see what was happening. Keep me in your prayers and I write some more when I get home.

Until then, Ta-Dah!

Update on the Update

Well, I went to the "electrician" yesterday and the good news is my heart is back in a normal sync. At least normal for me. My sync is not normal, therefore, Dr Wang will be doing a Catheter Ablation next Wednesday. I have to say Dr Marini was right. Dr Wang is a very good cardiologist based on my experience of yesterday. He explained what was going on with my heart's electrical system and what the best options would be to correct the abnormality. After I mad the decision to go ahead with the Ablation, he was concerned about the timing because he was aware of Betty's situation. I explained that Daryl said he would come to be with us until I was able to get back to a somewhat normal routine. That's when Dr Wang asked if next week was to soon because he wants to get things corrected before they become uncorrectable. Therefore, next Wednesday it is. As I was leaving his office, Dr Wang gave me a DVD from St Jude's that explains about AF and this procedure. Betty and I watched it together and it was very informative. However, this is just the first step, as I will be needing some sort of pacer for an additional problem after the Atrial Fibrillation is corrected.

Daryl will be flying in of Tuesday so he will be here to help out as I have to be a the hospital at 9:30am on Wednesday. They hope to start the procedure at 11:30 because it takes about 3 1/2 to 4 hours. I have to admit, I'm a little apprehensive bout it but I know Dr Wang must be the best or Dr Marini wouldn't have sent me to him. So that gives me a little more "piece of mind" about it.

So, today, we start preparing for me having the procedure and for Daryl's arrival. Since both Betty and I only work in"short" spurts, it will take us a couple of days to get things under control again. Well, that's the latest but I'll keep you informed of all the happenings.

Just an Update

Wow, I really can't believe it's been three months since I last posted. I didn't realize it until I was going to share the sight with a good friend from high school, David Caulkins. He had emailed me about coming to our 50th Reunion (I was just out of diapers when I graduated) and I asked him if he was interested in reading my blog. What could he say but yes. Of course, he can conveniently misplace the sight address. Anyway, I decided this would be a great way to update everyone about Betty's and my trials and tribulations.

Many of you already know about my trip to the hospital on the 4th of this month, so bear with me as explain what happened. When I woke up on the 4th, I was having trouble catching my breath and to be honest with you, it scared me. All I could do is think about being in my hotel room in Rochester and having congestive heart failure in 2004. Therefore, I was thinking about not being able to catch my breath then also. So, Betty called Mary and off to emergency I went. Well, it certainly wasn't congestive heart but I was in Atrial Fibrillation. The emergency doctor was great and was in constant contact with my cardiologist, Dr Marini, however they could not get my heart rhythm to stabilize, so I was admitted until they could. After two days, my heart was still not back to normal but I was able to be released on Saturday to go home. I had a couple of options, two of which were not even in the realm of possibility as far as I was concerned, so I am going to go to a cardiologist that specializes in the "electrical" system of the heart. Dr Marini really likes this cardiologist but as he told me, "...you have to be a real geek to specialize in the electrical portion of the heart." He also said since he is basically a "plumber of the heart", that is why he is sending me to see Dr Wang. So I go for a consultation on Thursday, the 25th, and then possibly some sort of procedure if he deems it necessary. Dr Marini explained that the procedure was to insert a laser into the heart area causing the problem, like doing a Cardiac Cath, and zapping the area. Obviously, there is more to it than that but we'll see after Thursday.

As most of you know, Betty has MS and spends most of her time in a wheelchair. It always amazes me when we go to a new doctor, they ask how long she has diagnosed with MS and she tells them 25 years of so, and they invariably say how good she is doing. There is a reason for that which relates to Betty's determination to not let this decease beat her. To that end, sometimes she "gets into a little trouble." That was the case on Saturday the 6th. She knew I was going to be released from the hospital that day and I received a call from her that morning. She asked if I could talk the doctor into keeping me another night, as she had fallen and didn't think she could help me if I needed her. She told me she had hurt her left foot and she thought she had, at least cracked some ribs, if not broken them. She didn't want anyone to know but I informed Mary anyway. When Mary called, Betty told her about it so Mary and her sisters came to the house. They decided she needed to go to the hospital and be checked out, but since they couldn't get her out of the house they called the EMT's. To make a long story short, when they checked her at the hospital, her left foot had two broken toes and she had four broken ribs. When I was released, the nurse took me directly to the emergency room to be with Betty. Of course, there is nothing to be done about the ribs except to let them heal on their own and when we went to the orthopedic surgeon to follow up on the foot, he said since it was her left foot, which is affected by the MS (it doesn't work basically), there was no reason to put her through the trama of surgery when it will heal on it's own. So, she is in a splint and Dr Russell is making sure it is healing.

I guess I've rambled enough for today. I'll try to keep everyone informed as things progress. We had to postpone our planned trip out West and we will not be going to my 50th Reunion, but those things happen. Sorry there was no photos to break up the boredom but I don't think you would be interested in Betty's radiographs of her foot, or a photo of me lying in a hospital bed.

So until next time, have a pleasant day,

The Dogs -- Again!

Most of you are aware that our dogs are a very important part of our life. For most of our married life we have had a dog as part of the family. So, I'm going to share a little history of our dogs with you.

As I mentioned in a previous post, Betty and I got a dog in South Carolina when I was stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia. She was a little beagle and we named her "Charlie". When we returned home prior to going to Panama, which was an adventurous trip in it's own right, "Charlie" was adopted by my father, so even though she now "belonged" to my folks, she was still part of the family. Our next dog was a full-sized poodle that Daryl named "Po-Po". We adopted her while we were in Germany and then found out we couldn't bring her home so she was adopted by some friends when we transferred from Germany in February, 1973.

I was mustered out of the Army in August of 1973, so we headed back to California. We were staying with my folks until I could start working and an individual I had gone to school with, Ron Eason, lived across the street. Well, his dog had pups and of course Daryl fell in love with them. They were a poodle mix and one looked very much like "Po-Po". So we now had "Po-Po II". We had her for a number of years until we were building a pool in Bakersfield. She somehow got out of the yard and got into some poisoned meat and died. The Rosedale area of Bakersfield where we lived, was kind of rural at the time, so we sometimes had "critter" problems. Some people would place poisoned meat out to solve the problem. Well, it's not only "critters" that eat poisoned meat, so another problem was established because of stupidity. After "Po-Po II" died, the kids wanted another dog, and since my family had a wonderful little cocker when I was growing up, we decided to adopt one. Bad mistake! As pretty as a cocker is, and as docile as they can be, sometimes you may have a "cocker from hell!" And we did!!!! She was high-strung, tore up everything and chew up everything else. So, we gave her to some friends with a large ranch by Shafter, and Betty said "No more dogs!!!"

This lasted until we moved to the San Diego area. Daryl was in college and Amy wanted a dog very badly, but you know what "Mama" said. Well, Amy and I conspired and decided if we could find a small dog, like a Shih Tsu, maybe, just maybe, would could convince Betty. Well, to make a long story short, we couldn't find a Shih Tsu but we did find some people that had Llasa Apso pups. We went to see them first, then took Betty to see them and wah-la, we had a new puppy. At the time Star Wars, the Return of the Jedi was in the theaters, and Amy said the puppy looked just like the little white Ewok, so we registered her as Ewok, Princess Keinessa. Little did we know at the time, the people we purchased her from, Kay and Les ????, had named the shire Robber Baron of Kayles and the bit..(mother), Ewok Princess of Kayles. It was quite a shock when we got the paperwork back. So, how would you like some photos of our Ewok? Just keep reading.

If they think I'm sleeping in a "doggie bed", they have another think coming!

It doesn't get much better than this. It's even better than the pillow.

Hey, that's a long way down!

Now this is the way to stay warm.

Demure? Who cares if it's demure, it's comfortable!

A little more to the left, if you please.

In 1998, Betty said we needed to get another dog because she thought that would help Princess live longer. Since I love dogs, and I really think Llasas are great, I started looking around for another Llasa. I found an add for Lllasas, so Betty, Amy and I went to see them. The one Betty and Amy picked was the one that was climbing over all the others for their attention. When we got her home, naming her was kind of difficult. Amy's boyfriend made the comment that she was as active as Cujo from the movie, so I named her Kujo. The fist time I took her to the vet, I called and told them I was bringing Princess and Kujo in, so they were expecting a little bigger puppy that the hand-full I brought. They thought I was "mean" naming that cute little puppy that. It fits her though, ---not really, she's a sweetheart.

It's my first day here, but I think I'm going to like it.

I have to admit, I'm still a little apprehensive about this place.

This is alright! Just don't let the "Gators" get me.

Princess had her pillow, and I have mine.

Nobody better try anything funny while I'm guarding these legs.

We lost The Princess to cancer in 1994, and Kujo was at a lost for a little while. They were really great "buddies" and you could tell Kujo missed Princess. Having to "put her down" was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make, but the hardest part was calling Amy in Olympia to tell what I had to do. I still miss Princess, she was a special little dog. I am not looking forward to the loss of Kujo, that's for sure. but she is getting "up in years", as we all are.

Yes, were buddies.

Queen of the hill. I defer to Princess 'cause she's older.

For someone that didn't want anymore dogs, we sure have changed her, haven't we?

I hope you enjoyed today's post. As you can tell, our dogs are a very important part of our family. By the way, I still have a bunch more photos that I haven't shared. So, you never can tell when I might decide to share them with you.