Well dad made it home Thursday. Amazingly on the flight over no one was in the row with him or the row in front. As a matter of fact, he told mum, there were a lot of empty seats on the plane. So the eight our trip was uneventful and smooth. He was able to get up a few times and walk around - do his exercises less that disc in his back give him lots of grief.
My Uncle Gerald met him at the airport and they had a spot of tea or coffee and then the drive from London to Norwich. They went straight over to see grandma. She was there and she knew who he was. So Thursday she was cognizant of who her son was. She had not eaten any food for almost 3 weeks and had a morphine drip. Still at home with home care there in the morning and evening and one of her four children there during the day.
Now the nurses from home care have to stay with her overnight. She was waiting for dad to get home. We all knew she was. She was aware, as I mentioned, of whom he was on Thursday, on Friday she had only a couple of oz of liquid and still knew him, today she was in the bed the entire day with her eyes closed almost all day. She was, and this is second hand information, not seemingly aware of much around her and a couple of comments issued from her mouth that ... were they dreams coming forth or is reality slipping away.
On the phone with mum this afternoon, evening there, I think the enormity of this hit my father and through the tears he hoped that his mum would go soon. The doctors think it will be any day now. This is not something anyone wants to contemplate but it is a reality so many of us must face at some point in our life.
I find these things out when I go calling for the information. Much of this information would eventually make it to me but who knows when. Thus I find out this after spending 20 minutes on the phone with my brother and then another 40 minutes with mum. Thus it is 10:40 at night and I sit in the living room thinking how does one deal with this type of information when the only people around that he knows and loves are asleep.
So I sit here ... sharing with the internet. Is that good or bad? I don't know. I was thinking this morning that most of my friends are women. My best friend is a beautiful lady with a wonderful little girl.
There are times that I want to share things with someone but may be on a topic that I wonder about ... the proper nature of man and woman that was drilled into me in an upright era growing up in England. With an era from just before my time that enforced the man does not have emotion and thus I wonder if the rage that is built up in the men my father's age is not a result of repressed emotions from years past.
Then again if emotion was displayed it was in private and being the young boy growing up there I would not have seen this, being four hours away when my grandfather died I do not know what processes my family went through. By the time we had the funeral in Norwich two or so weeks later there were minimal tears and maybe all the grieving was done, or maybe it was repressed.
Regardless, now it is just a matter of time. My grandmother had her last wish fulfilled I believe. To see her son. Her first born there to say "hello mum, I love you" and let her know that it is now in her hands.
It is always just a matter of time.
Good night friends, good night fellow bloggers, good night internet.
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Who should get the shot?
Time to get your flu shot, but just one this year
It's flu-shot season already, and for the first time health authorities are urging nearly everyone to get vaccinated. There is even a new high-dose version for people 65 or older.
What a difference a year makes: Crowds lined up for hours for scarce shots during last fall's swine flu pandemic, when infections peaked well before enough vaccine could be produced. This year, a record vaccine supply is expected — an all-in-one inoculation that now promises protection against that swine flu strain plus two other kinds of influenza.
Shipments began so early that drugstores are offering vaccinations amid their back-to-school sales.
But without last year's scare factor, the question is how many people will heed the new policy for near-universal vaccination. No more stopping to check if you're on a high-risk list: A yearly dose is recommended for virtually everyone except babies younger than 6 months — the shot isn't approved for tots that young — and people with severe allergies to the eggs used to brew it.
"Influenza is serious, and anyone, including healthy people, can get the flu and spread the flu," said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Flu vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and those around you."
The CDC was moving toward that policy even before last year's pandemic brought home an inescapable fact: The flu virus doesn't just kill grandparents and babies and people with weak lungs or hearts, although they're particularly vulnerable. It also can kill healthy pregnant women and 30-somethings. And 5-year-olds.
"We were discussing how we were going to go get his Star Wars Halloween costume after he got out of the hospital ... and all of a sudden his eyes lost their focus," said Serese Marotta of Dayton, Ohio, describing for reporters how her son Joseph, 5, died of swine flu last October before vaccine was available in her community. She urged families to make vaccination a priority.
Here are some questions and answers about flu:
Q: I got vaccinated against both seasonal and that so-called H1N1 flu last year, so why do I need vaccine this year?
A: It protects against a different strain of the H3N2 influenza family that has cropped up, as well as last year's swine flu, part of the H1N1 family, and a Type B strain. Every year a different flu vaccine is brewed to match the constantly changing flu strains that circle the globe.
Q: Why is there a new high-dose version for seniors?
A: Your immune system weakens with age, so it doesn't respond as actively to a flu shot. Sanofi Pasteur's Fluzone High-Dose quadruples the standard dose for people 65 and older. This winter, scientists will track if that translates into less illness. Until that proof's in, the CDC says it's OK to choose either option.
Sanofi is finalizing how much to make, and availability may vary with location. For example, Dr. Marvin Bittner of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Omaha estimates the new shot might benefit one in four seniors and said his center has ordered enough for that population, while other VA clinics aren't ordering as much.
Q: Will I need just one shot?
A: Most people will, but any children under 9 getting their first-ever flu vaccine will need two, a month apart, to prime their immune systems.
Q: What if my child's first-ever vaccine was last year and she got one dose of seasonal and one dose of swine flu vaccine?
A: She wasn't primed enough and needs her two doses this year, said Dr. Michael Brady of Nationwide Children's Hospital, who co-authored the American Academy of Pediatrics flu vaccination guidelines out Monday.
Q: Will there be enough vaccine?
A: Manufacturers project 170 million doses. Obviously that won't cover the entire population, but the CDC knows its near-universal vaccination policy won't spark a stampede for shots. Before last year, flu vaccine was recommended for 85 percent of Americans but only about a third got vaccinated. Last year nearly all 114 million doses of seasonal vaccine were used, but as the swine flu outbreak slowed, just 90 million doses of the special vaccine were used out of nearly 162 million eventually produced for the general public.
Q: Who's at high risk from flu?
A: Young children, anyone 50 or older, anyone with chronic medical conditions such as asthma or heart disease, pregnant women. Also, health workers and caregivers of infants can infect the vulnerable unless vaccinated.
Q: Who can use the nasal spray vaccine?
A: FluMist is for healthy people 2 to 49, no pregnancy or underlying health conditions.
Q: When should vaccination start?
A: Chain pharmacies already have started vaccinating; protection will last all winter. It takes about two weeks to kick in, and flu typically starts circulating around November.
Q: How do I know it's safe?
A: Unprecedented safety monitoring last year turned up no rare side effects from the special swine flu-only vaccine sold in the United States. "We're hoping a lot of the myths people had about the influenza vaccine may be a little bit less of a concern," said pediatrics specialist Brady. Abroad, a few reports of narcolepsy after a European swine flu vaccine are being probed; that vaccine didn't sell here. An Australian seasonal vaccine dosed for young children won't be sold here after being linked to some fever-related seizures in that country.
Q: Why should I bother since fewer people than usual died last year?
A: Last year's U.S. toll: about 12,000 deaths, 60 million illnesses and 265,000 hospitalizations. New CDC statistics last week suggest flu strain mortality varies widely, from 3,000 in an exceptionally mild year to 49,000 in a recent really bad one — and it's impossible to predict how bad each year will be.
It's flu-shot season already, and for the first time health authorities are urging nearly everyone to get vaccinated. There is even a new high-dose version for people 65 or older.
What a difference a year makes: Crowds lined up for hours for scarce shots during last fall's swine flu pandemic, when infections peaked well before enough vaccine could be produced. This year, a record vaccine supply is expected — an all-in-one inoculation that now promises protection against that swine flu strain plus two other kinds of influenza.
Shipments began so early that drugstores are offering vaccinations amid their back-to-school sales.
But without last year's scare factor, the question is how many people will heed the new policy for near-universal vaccination. No more stopping to check if you're on a high-risk list: A yearly dose is recommended for virtually everyone except babies younger than 6 months — the shot isn't approved for tots that young — and people with severe allergies to the eggs used to brew it.
"Influenza is serious, and anyone, including healthy people, can get the flu and spread the flu," said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Flu vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and those around you."
The CDC was moving toward that policy even before last year's pandemic brought home an inescapable fact: The flu virus doesn't just kill grandparents and babies and people with weak lungs or hearts, although they're particularly vulnerable. It also can kill healthy pregnant women and 30-somethings. And 5-year-olds.
"We were discussing how we were going to go get his Star Wars Halloween costume after he got out of the hospital ... and all of a sudden his eyes lost their focus," said Serese Marotta of Dayton, Ohio, describing for reporters how her son Joseph, 5, died of swine flu last October before vaccine was available in her community. She urged families to make vaccination a priority.
Here are some questions and answers about flu:
Q: I got vaccinated against both seasonal and that so-called H1N1 flu last year, so why do I need vaccine this year?
A: It protects against a different strain of the H3N2 influenza family that has cropped up, as well as last year's swine flu, part of the H1N1 family, and a Type B strain. Every year a different flu vaccine is brewed to match the constantly changing flu strains that circle the globe.
Q: Why is there a new high-dose version for seniors?
A: Your immune system weakens with age, so it doesn't respond as actively to a flu shot. Sanofi Pasteur's Fluzone High-Dose quadruples the standard dose for people 65 and older. This winter, scientists will track if that translates into less illness. Until that proof's in, the CDC says it's OK to choose either option.
Sanofi is finalizing how much to make, and availability may vary with location. For example, Dr. Marvin Bittner of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Omaha estimates the new shot might benefit one in four seniors and said his center has ordered enough for that population, while other VA clinics aren't ordering as much.
Q: Will I need just one shot?
A: Most people will, but any children under 9 getting their first-ever flu vaccine will need two, a month apart, to prime their immune systems.
Q: What if my child's first-ever vaccine was last year and she got one dose of seasonal and one dose of swine flu vaccine?
A: She wasn't primed enough and needs her two doses this year, said Dr. Michael Brady of Nationwide Children's Hospital, who co-authored the American Academy of Pediatrics flu vaccination guidelines out Monday.
Q: Will there be enough vaccine?
A: Manufacturers project 170 million doses. Obviously that won't cover the entire population, but the CDC knows its near-universal vaccination policy won't spark a stampede for shots. Before last year, flu vaccine was recommended for 85 percent of Americans but only about a third got vaccinated. Last year nearly all 114 million doses of seasonal vaccine were used, but as the swine flu outbreak slowed, just 90 million doses of the special vaccine were used out of nearly 162 million eventually produced for the general public.
Q: Who's at high risk from flu?
A: Young children, anyone 50 or older, anyone with chronic medical conditions such as asthma or heart disease, pregnant women. Also, health workers and caregivers of infants can infect the vulnerable unless vaccinated.
Q: Who can use the nasal spray vaccine?
A: FluMist is for healthy people 2 to 49, no pregnancy or underlying health conditions.
Q: When should vaccination start?
A: Chain pharmacies already have started vaccinating; protection will last all winter. It takes about two weeks to kick in, and flu typically starts circulating around November.
Q: How do I know it's safe?
A: Unprecedented safety monitoring last year turned up no rare side effects from the special swine flu-only vaccine sold in the United States. "We're hoping a lot of the myths people had about the influenza vaccine may be a little bit less of a concern," said pediatrics specialist Brady. Abroad, a few reports of narcolepsy after a European swine flu vaccine are being probed; that vaccine didn't sell here. An Australian seasonal vaccine dosed for young children won't be sold here after being linked to some fever-related seizures in that country.
Q: Why should I bother since fewer people than usual died last year?
A: Last year's U.S. toll: about 12,000 deaths, 60 million illnesses and 265,000 hospitalizations. New CDC statistics last week suggest flu strain mortality varies widely, from 3,000 in an exceptionally mild year to 49,000 in a recent really bad one — and it's impossible to predict how bad each year will be.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Red Wine, Mistakes, Apologies
So this was a couple of nights after Mat Kearney - not as close to the stage but pretty damn cool. Actually it poured on us while we were getting there, we got soaked walking the waterways and forest trails to the amphitheater, steamed as the rain stopped and the heat set in (it is open air), paid outrageous prices for a couple of non-alcoholic beverages and then had a freaking GREAT time when Jack Johnson came on stage.
All with my love. That is all you need ... love and life ... live it, love someone and the world is a great place to enjoy a little bit of music.
Did you have fun this summer?
Monday, August 2, 2010
Thoughts from a 90 year old lady ...
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch!
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion.
22. Over-prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch!
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion.
22. Over-prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Tough choices
Make sure you have the discussions you need to have with your loved ones now.
You scratch your head and wonder what the heck is up with Philip. Well I will tell you. It was one of those weekends. One of those weekends that led to a brief discussion in a car ride home from watching Toy Story III with the girls that was short but poignant.
It all began with a text about someone being in the hospital. A trip there and to see the situation of a man who was fighting to get out to feed an addiction. A man who is now sedated in ICU to detox. A wife of this man who is trapped in the fact that she has, for so long, been the person who has lived with this addiction beside her. A woman who knows she should do that which she does not want to and is torn.
It was so hard to see. So uncomfortable to watch this situation unfold, the nurses frustration, the anger of the wife and the spiteful need that horribly rolled from the face of the man. It sunk into the core of me. Even now, a couple of days later, I am chilled inside thinking about what I saw.
I turned to Tammy in the car after the movie I had tried to enjoy, but had this separate filmstrip running constantly in the background of my mind, and told her that if I am ever like that she can absolutely walk away. I give you that right to do that today before it happens.
Her response was that what she would do would be out of love. She would have me declared incompetent so that she could do what needed to be done. That I could be placed where she would know that I would be taken care of and she would have that piece of mind that she was doing the right thing.
As with the thoughts of that man in the hospital that revisit me these words hang on and today I am still severely humbled by her love for me and that she would do what she needed to do for me while still being able to maintain her sense of sanity and live how she knows I would want her to.
Saturday night for me was a night of pondering. A night of cataloging the day and pondering the thoughts of tomorrow.
As reasonable and responsible people we need to make sure that our loved ones know our wishes. As much as we may not want to discuss those possibilities, tomorrow may never come, or at least come in a form that we are cognizant of. I love Tammy for saying what she did. I know that both of us watched at the hospital and had our minds in disarray for the rest of the day as we personally digested what we saw, thought about it and finally that evening after the day was under control compared notes, shared opinions and understood that we cannot understand or predict what will happen with those two impacted by one man's addiction.
That man's addiction and obsession though does impact 3 others, and from that 6 children and those whom love those 3 and 6. Thus things are in motion that need to be in motion. The hospital stepped in and took care of a situation that they could and had power to take care of. Thus the wheels on that life story are progressing forward.
They could move more smoothly though if we take control today over what may or will happen tomorrow. Take control now of those things you need to and talk. Push aside the fears and be pleasantly touched by the love of those whom you love.
as I began I close this thought ...
Make sure you have the discussions you need to have with your loved ones now.
You scratch your head and wonder what the heck is up with Philip. Well I will tell you. It was one of those weekends. One of those weekends that led to a brief discussion in a car ride home from watching Toy Story III with the girls that was short but poignant.
It all began with a text about someone being in the hospital. A trip there and to see the situation of a man who was fighting to get out to feed an addiction. A man who is now sedated in ICU to detox. A wife of this man who is trapped in the fact that she has, for so long, been the person who has lived with this addiction beside her. A woman who knows she should do that which she does not want to and is torn.
It was so hard to see. So uncomfortable to watch this situation unfold, the nurses frustration, the anger of the wife and the spiteful need that horribly rolled from the face of the man. It sunk into the core of me. Even now, a couple of days later, I am chilled inside thinking about what I saw.
I turned to Tammy in the car after the movie I had tried to enjoy, but had this separate filmstrip running constantly in the background of my mind, and told her that if I am ever like that she can absolutely walk away. I give you that right to do that today before it happens.
Her response was that what she would do would be out of love. She would have me declared incompetent so that she could do what needed to be done. That I could be placed where she would know that I would be taken care of and she would have that piece of mind that she was doing the right thing.
As with the thoughts of that man in the hospital that revisit me these words hang on and today I am still severely humbled by her love for me and that she would do what she needed to do for me while still being able to maintain her sense of sanity and live how she knows I would want her to.
Saturday night for me was a night of pondering. A night of cataloging the day and pondering the thoughts of tomorrow.
As yesterday is history, and tomorrow may never come, I have resolved from this day on, I will do all the business I can honestly, have all the fun I can reasonably, do all the good I can willingly, and save my digestion by thinking pleasantly.Oh there are so many reasons to save my digestion from thinking pleasantly today about right now. BUT there is a need to have the talks that husband and wife, two people committed to each other, parents and adult children, and in some cases parents with children that may, if I can pervert Robert Louis Stevenson's words, give us indigestion by thinking unpleasantly.
Robert Louis Stevenson
As reasonable and responsible people we need to make sure that our loved ones know our wishes. As much as we may not want to discuss those possibilities, tomorrow may never come, or at least come in a form that we are cognizant of. I love Tammy for saying what she did. I know that both of us watched at the hospital and had our minds in disarray for the rest of the day as we personally digested what we saw, thought about it and finally that evening after the day was under control compared notes, shared opinions and understood that we cannot understand or predict what will happen with those two impacted by one man's addiction.
That man's addiction and obsession though does impact 3 others, and from that 6 children and those whom love those 3 and 6. Thus things are in motion that need to be in motion. The hospital stepped in and took care of a situation that they could and had power to take care of. Thus the wheels on that life story are progressing forward.
They could move more smoothly though if we take control today over what may or will happen tomorrow. Take control now of those things you need to and talk. Push aside the fears and be pleasantly touched by the love of those whom you love.
as I began I close this thought ...
Make sure you have the discussions you need to have with your loved ones now.
Monday, April 12, 2010
A tale of two trees
OK that is me. Me. No not the tree on the right side of the picture the other tree on the left side wearing blue. WOW was that a wake up call. I thank my beloved for taking pictures for a change with me in them.
I am still huge. Well that is how I see myself when I look at those pictures. You know I don't see this when I look in the mirror. I don't see this when I look at myself and I needed to see this. I need to have the issue reinforced that I look like I am wearing a tent cos I am.
Oh well.
Good news is that Tammy and I have a little friendly challenge going on from the 15th of April to the 30th of June. I need this. She wants to shed a wee bit and I need to keep losing ... losing ... losing. Now I have motivation. A little contest. We both win for getting a little bit healthier. I win for dealing with the continued weight loss after the strokes, she wins as she gets her goal accomplished. We have a little friendly wager on prizes and if we are both diligent, and we both agree that we have been diligent, then a weekend getaway in July.
Let me see. FAT like me in the photo's horrifying. Lose some weight with my wonderful love and we both get more fit, a little wager and weekend together. Hmmm I vote for less of me in a picture of us both together on a getaway weekend. Sounds good to me.
But I am sharing the pictures of me as this is me today, 12th of April, 2010. I have gone quite a way but I have quite a way to go.
I am so looking forward to this little challenge. In reality I just want to be in the lower 200's again and that is 100+ lbs away.
Hello me ... say goodbye to this me.
Oh and baby ... don't stop taking photos of me because of this post. I need this. I need to be reminded of who I am and who I am becoming from the perspective of others.
(oh the wonderful 6 year old in the pictures with me is Elizabeth. I love her spunk. She reminds me of someone I know :)
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Lifes Wonders
Meet Carter. Carter is the wonderful curly haired son of two great people. They also have another just as awesome some named Kevin. My cousin Alex and his wife, Demi, are the proud parents of both children. The dynamic in their world shifted a little bit over a year ago or slightly longer when Carter was diagnosed with Autism. Thus they have taken their own adventure in the land of Repair, Learn and Live. Although I am still learning about Autism while reading about strokes, heart conditions, Lupus (my gal Sarah has this) and other medical ailments I have decided to act.
I have signed up under Carter/Demi's team for the 2009 Walk Now for Autism Houston 5K in October. I was not able to participate last year but this year am going to find some way to be involved in the life of this wonderful boy and family. Here is the link to my page and of course the team page link is here.
Now I was privileged to be one of the people sharing in the first time Carter says "I love you" and asked if I could share. So without further rambling I give you Carter:
I have signed up under Carter/Demi's team for the 2009 Walk Now for Autism Houston 5K in October. I was not able to participate last year but this year am going to find some way to be involved in the life of this wonderful boy and family. Here is the link to my page and of course the team page link is here.
Now I was privileged to be one of the people sharing in the first time Carter says "I love you" and asked if I could share. So without further rambling I give you Carter:
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Living life
Wow....this has been a great weekend. Well except for the fact that my phone fell apart and I had to by a new one. But even that worked out not too bad in the long run. This evening was spent at my hang out spot....Central Market. With Sarah, Bruce, her Dad and his wife, Rebecca, Nick and their precious son William. Good fun, good wine, good music, good food and good entertainment....got to love that little boy.
Nick got to finally chill with a beer while Bruce and I....well two bottles of Chardonnay went away over the course of the evening.
Sarah was in heaven with her time with William. I can tell by that smile in the last picture. She took some of me with William and I hope that I am allowed to have a copy or two.
To end the evening we took a stroll over to Borders and timed our exit to coincide with tonight's Concert in the Gardens firework show. I have to say that was a great way to end out the day.
It is weekends like this that reinforce our love of life. A good evening involving three hours of fun and relaxation for less than $20.00 with friends and those we call family. This is what life is all about.
Enjoy it my friends!
See ya!
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Sunday, May 3, 2009
Neurologist
Maybe I am becoming immune to more news, maybe I expected to hear what I heard. It is just another step.
Dr. Blair's office on the morning of the 2nd. Results of transcranial doppler performed by the heart center.
Grade 3 right...what the heck does this mean. Let me explain - there are complex journals out there that talk about Grade III RLS and then others that are technical papers with strange images. But in normal person talk it means that I have a hole in my heart. We are all born with this and it closes up in most of us. They used to think it was only a small percentage that it stayed open in but when they see healthy (for the most part) people with strokes at a young age they started looking and 50% of those people the whole did not close up. So now we have about 25% of the people wandering around with holes in thier hearts. This holes can create disturbances that cause clots that can do exactly what they did to me.
So my brother and I are sitting there and I say OK. Now I know Dr. Blair's opinion is to operate and close that hole. But I need to have a transesophageal electrocardiogram. Now I know what a TEE is and I am not happy about it. You can click on the links to learn more but once again we are getting invasive.
Sad thing is that my doctor (Dr. Garcia) said that this is what we would have to do in the very beginning. I was not happy then and I am not happy about this now but I guess I will have to see a heart specialist to figure out exactly what needs to be done. Then the cardiac specialist and the neurologist can have a thumb wrestle to see whose opinion is good.
Oh and by the way I did have two TIA's not just the one. The one on the right side was the big one and the one on the left side was rather small. But it does confirm the suspicion from before that I saw two areas of disturbance on the MRI results. Sigh. Two strokes for the price of one...
Dr. Blair's office on the morning of the 2nd. Results of transcranial doppler performed by the heart center.
Mean doppler flows are ok
Doppler flow directions are ok
No spontaneous emboli
Then came the agitated saline injected in the right arm - monitored of right middle cerebral artery.
Injection at rest: zero hits
Injection with valsalva number one: 16 hits
Injection with valsalva number two: 26 hits
Impression:
Normal baseline transcranial doppler.
42 embolic tracks with valsalva during intravenous infusion of microbubble contrast. This represents a grade 3 right to left shunt.
Grade 3 right...what the heck does this mean. Let me explain - there are complex journals out there that talk about Grade III RLS and then others that are technical papers with strange images. But in normal person talk it means that I have a hole in my heart. We are all born with this and it closes up in most of us. They used to think it was only a small percentage that it stayed open in but when they see healthy (for the most part) people with strokes at a young age they started looking and 50% of those people the whole did not close up. So now we have about 25% of the people wandering around with holes in thier hearts. This holes can create disturbances that cause clots that can do exactly what they did to me.
So my brother and I are sitting there and I say OK. Now I know Dr. Blair's opinion is to operate and close that hole. But I need to have a transesophageal electrocardiogram. Now I know what a TEE is and I am not happy about it. You can click on the links to learn more but once again we are getting invasive.
Sad thing is that my doctor (Dr. Garcia) said that this is what we would have to do in the very beginning. I was not happy then and I am not happy about this now but I guess I will have to see a heart specialist to figure out exactly what needs to be done. Then the cardiac specialist and the neurologist can have a thumb wrestle to see whose opinion is good.
Oh and by the way I did have two TIA's not just the one. The one on the right side was the big one and the one on the left side was rather small. But it does confirm the suspicion from before that I saw two areas of disturbance on the MRI results. Sigh. Two strokes for the price of one...
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