Day of Discovery

Yesterday was a day of discovery for me. I had to go to my cardiac Catherization yesterday and was really concerned about the test to say the least. It is not considered a vacation to lay on a table naked while they weave a line up through your leg to look at your heart.

The day started out slowly. We had to be there by 9 am. They got me all prep'd and there I laid until 11ish when they finally took me back to the room. I don't think the people in the room were ready for me. I made sure they were all in a good mood - didn't want anyone to take their aggressions out on me! After the prep work in there was done the doctor appeared and began the procedure. He told me when to breathe, when not to breathe, etc. After about 5 minutes or so he said that he would be right back. This was funny because the prep team had told me that the doctor was in his office looking at his picture books trying to figure out how to do this proceedure. So, when he had to leave they said that he had forgotten how to do something and had to go figure it out.

Well, he came back in and took one more look and then told me the good news. He said that the stress test and month long heart monitor were both wrong. I had not had a heart attack and my heart is perfectly fine. He said that I don't have one ounce of plaque in my veins at all and my heart looks like it did when I was born 9,000 years ago. He is not sure why both of the other tests showed heart attack - and both of them in the same area. But, I am not upset - just counting my blessings. I am not sure what to think of this test. It is a little un-nerving to have 2 different test say that you have had a heart attack in the lower front chamber of your heart and then another one show that your heart is fine.

So, after a week of rest I can begin my exercise program again. I am still planning on doing the boot camp, but am not sure at this moment.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Tom, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Tommy, Happy Birthday to you.

I am married to a very old geiser and didn't realize it until today...He is 47 today...wow...only 3 more years until AARP - then the discounts really start!!!

Bad Heart Day

Well, my visit with the cardiologist didn't go as well as I would have liked it to...it appears to him that at some time I have probably had a heart attack in the lower part of my heart. I am pretty sure I know exactly when it happened...September 27, 2007. Yes, I know the exact date since that is when I thought I was dying of a heart attack. See, I was in Estes Park Colorado hiking to a waterfall with Terri, Daryl, Brian, Megan, and Tom. We were hiking up hill (ok, it was really a mountain) and the entire time I was having trouble breathing, my chest hurt, my heart was beating a million miles a minute, and I was really weak. Anyhowmany...I know when and where...just not sure of WHY????

The next thing to do in this case is a cardiac cauterization to determine one of 3 things...

1.) My heart was only joking and I didn't have a heart attack - just a bad stress test. 2.) That I have "mud" (as the doctor puts it) in my veins and need to go in on Wednesday for roto rooter to clean out my veins. 3.) The damage from the heart attack and mud is such that I would need open heart surgery. We are praying for option #1. As you all know, I am a jokester and my heart is part of my body - so it would only be fitting for it to play a nasty joke on me.

We will know which of the above options is designed for my on Tuesday. He said that I will know before I leave the office. So, until then - no strenuous activity. This means that my 5K on Saturday is out of the question...and boot camp is still on hold. We will see what happens on Tuesday.

Marie

Ok, I have not forgotten you all

Well, I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off for the last few weeks. I really think that I am going insane sometimes! I feel really bad about not updating this more often, but sometimes I think if I only had 24 more hours in a day I could get it all done.

Where do I start????

Mom is doing quite well now. We finally got the infusion pump removed - had to go to the doctor to do it, but it is gone. The instructions say to gently pull the tape back and pull on the line from the pump that led into her incision. Well, the line would not move - even though I was just about pulling her off the chair. So, she called the doctor and the next day we went in to have it removed. They pulled all of the tape off her arm (I could have done that) and removed the line. Then they put a small bandage on it and sent her on her way. She had her official post-op appointment last Thursday and it went well. Still can't drive for 3o more days - and that is driving her more crazy then not being able to use her arm. She has been caught quilting a time or two lately! She starts physical therapy (or has Kristi puts it - Physical Torture) this week.

Kristi has been really busy at work, sometimes she is so frustrated with work that she wants to give up - but because of Alayna she stays there. She has one more class with this teacher (who is an idiot) and then she starts psychology. Then she will be in my neighborhood. I minored in Psy because I enjoyed it so much.

Alayna got her hair cut short about a week ago - a really cute little bob haircut. When we asked her if she wanted to get her hair cut she said yes, and sat very still while the girl cut off about 6 inches of her hair. Other than that she has been obsessed with asking everyone if they have a mom and dad. When you ask her about her mom and dad - she promptly answers that she has a dad too and his name is "Grandfather" which is what we have been telling her. We think it is better then our usual terms of Sperm donor or drive by shooter. I am not sure what we are going to do if she keeps this up. Today we spent the day cleaning out the garage and of course Alayna loved it because she got to play outside all morning.

Tom is the same. His boss was on vacation for spring break and this left Tom in charge. So, he put in 12-13 hour days each day. He was really glad to see spring break come to an end. Of course that was the week that I worked 8-5 which is the only week in the month that we get to ride together, but not this week.

Brian has been really busy at work. This time of the year he appears to be busier due to the weather. His job is tech support for an Internet company - so power outages are a real hassle for him - when the power goes and computer go down, people hit the phone lines to call in for repair. Megan and Brian are looking for an apartment so they can move in together. They hope to have one by mid-summer.

Ok, now about me...where do I begin??? As some of you know I have been having some issues with my heart and blood pressure. I had to wear a heart monitor for a month and went back to the doctor for the results. Well, he didn't like what he saw and sent me for a stress test - and that was about 10 days ago. I just about didn't make it though the test. My blood pressure got really high and my heart was about jumping out of my chest. They called a couple of days later and said that my results were "abnormal" and are referring me to a cardiologist. My first appointment with him is April 8th. I am concerned about this visit - I don't know what to expect since I have been having a lot of chest pain in the last 6 months. The last one was yesterday at work. I was sitting quietly at my desk working on paperwork and had some really sharp chest pains. After about 15 minutes I checked my blood pressure and it as 168/119. That is not good at all. I came home and took a power nap for about 15 minutes and it was down. But, I can't figure out why I keep having these issues when I am on blood pressure medicine and trying to be good.

Because of my heart/blood pressure I had to halt my boot camp until May 5th, but am not the cardiologist will allow me to do it then. I also have my next 5K walk next Saturday if the doctor will allow it.

Mom, Kristi, Alayna, and I are planning on going to Minneapolis on May 8th. The trip originally for mom to fly to see her friend Bridgett. However, the price of tickets were more expensive and would take longer then it would take me to drive her. So, I decided that I would just drive her. Then I decided that I would take Alayna since I would have 2 days to myself in Minneapolis and wanted to go to the zoo. Then Kristi decided that she would like to go. Now, it is all 4 of us going. I am really excited about it. My hope is to go to 4 zoos in 4 different states this year - and this would be the first. We planning on going to Arkansas in June and are going to the Little Rock Zoo, and then going to the St. Louis Zoo. Not sure if the 4th one will be Chicago or Omaha Zoo (or both!!). I just found out that the Mega Bus goes from Columbia to Chicago for $1 one way - and so that is my plan!!! I am glad that Alayna likes zoos as much as I do.

I guess I will quit for now...I will update you after my doctors appointment on Tuesday.