Not so Random Thoughts & SNAGS

Hunh, try again....I actually lost an entry before I could save it.  I'm tired but I'll try again.

I took the pooch for a walk in the meantime because I was frustrated at AOL.

I've been a bit worried about what my BF would do once he got home.  He didn't get out today.  Maybe tomorrow or Tuesday.  The caseworker said he should have someone 24 hrs a day with him for at least 2 weeks, preferably a month.  His insurance will pay for someone to be there in the daytime to cook, clean, do laundry, etc.  I'm going to go after work and stay the night for a week or 2 and see; maybe a month.  We decided this tonight.

Today was a bad one to begin with.  Meg and I went to the hospital around 11 am.  I knew something was wrong.  My BF became very distraught and started crying.  I pushed Meg out of the room and asked him if he was depressed.  That is quite common after open heart.  No.  He said he was in unbearable pain.  The night nurse was giving him Tylenol because she said he would become addicted to the Percocet.  WTH????  3 days after open heart surgery?

I flew out of the room looking for a nurse, any nurse.  I grabbed one almost literally and asked what was going on.  She was shocked because the orders were for one Percocet every 6 hrs or 2 lesser dosages every 3 hrs.  The night nurse had, indeed, taken it upon herself to give him plain old OTC Tylenol since 5 pm the evening before.  This nurse peeked into his room and saw that he was beside himself crying.  I've never seen him cry ever.  I've seen tears well up but not like this.

She immediately gave him a Percocet.  Within a half hour, he was much better.  Meg and I went on a shopping spree at Target.  I had a 10% off coupon.  We stopped at Dairy Queen to pick up Joey's birthday cake.  He turned 25 on Friday.  We made shish kebobs on the grill.  My BF called while we were at Target and sounded sooooo much better.

I stopped in after dinner.  The day nurse called the surgeon who came into talk with him.  He is not depressed.  He was in unbearable pain.  The night nurse was way off base.  The doctor explained to my BF that he needs the Percocet for a while.  It will be tapered as he heals.  He is also in a private room because his other room was too hot.  He laid in sweat last night, soaked.  The night nurse never changed his bedding or his clothes.  The surgeon was appalled.  It also explains why he had been refusing to eat.  He was out of his mind in pain.  He ate a huge lean hamburger for dinner with carrots and chicken noodle soup.

So, all is well for now.  My BF is not used to needing an advocate and was very surprised at how forceful I can be.  LOL...he's just never witnessed it because he's never needed to.

I'm posting some pics of my hair.  It's sort of greasy looking coz I have to wait 48 hrs to shampoo it to let the color set.  Not crazy about the bottom one either but I do love the colors.

 

A couple of snags below and off I go to get ready for another week.....Hugs to all!   CHRIS

                       

                     

                              

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Odd Weather, Update and a SNAG

   

Autumn is here or so they say but more of that in a few......

Yesterday, I had to get up at 3:30 am to be at my BF's at 4:30 am to be at the hospital by 5:00.  By the time we got to the hospital, he was so nervous, he was nauseated and almost vomiting.  They took him back and sedated him a bit to prep him.  His brother and I saw him about 6:45.  He was then taken off to the OR. 

I had a pager but never left the surgical waiting room.  We both actually fell asleep for about an hour.  I woke up when the hosp. phone rang for an update.  He was tolerating the surgery extremely well.

The surgery wasn't over until around 11:00.  They did a quadruple bypass.  Three arteries were 90% occluded (clogged) and they also did a bypass on the stented artery.  They weren't going to do the stented one unless he was tolerating surgery well.  The doctor had told him two arteries were 40% and said nothing about redoing the stented one.  I don't think they wanted him to worry before the surgery.

I saw him for about 5 minutes afterwards.  I went back for about 10 minutes after dinner.  He was far more alert.  When I called this morning, he was doing great.  He was sitting up.  When he knew it was me, he starting joking around.  I could hear his voice.  I took his duffel bag in this evening.  He was not feeling great.  He had to do some stretching thing that hurt the crap out of the breast bone and he almost passed out.  He was back to feeling crappy but that's expected.

My SIL came home Tues nite already.  My BF should be coming home Sunday.  They kick them out the door more and more quickly here in the good old USA.

I came home yesterday and floated in the pool and fell asleep.  I swear the weather is more like summer now than it was in July.  The sun feels eerily hot.  Usually this late in the year, the air temp canbe 90 but the sun just doesn't feel so hot.  Weird but the trees are red already.  I took pictures with my cell phone on my walk at work last week of trees turning red.  I cannot remember ever seeing a red leaf in August.  I have a yard full of leaves to rake already.  They started falling at least a week ago.  The middle of Oct. is the best time usually for seeing pretty leaves in western Pa.  My trees are not totally bare until the first week of November.

           

               

These pictures were taken a week before we went to Lake Erie.  I was walking at lunch.  The temps were in the upper 80's and low 90's yet the leaves look like they should in the beginning of October.  Weird.

I'm getting my hair cut and colored tomorrow.  Can't afford it but need to or should I say want more than need.  My hair was out of control when we took our little road trip plus the sun has bleached it totally in the past month.  This is a picture I took on my cell phone on Aug. 5 of my hair.  LOL...I also had not had any sun exposure at that time because we had no sun to expose myself to.

             

I'm getting it cut just as short but I'm getting more drastic with the color and highlights.  I want the back to be almost black with red and blonde in the front.  If I wasn't so darn exhausted, I'd take a pic of it now.  It's really blonde in the front and the sides are long.   I want the sides long and the back spiky. 

I'm off to bed.  I'm totally exhausted....totally.  Thanks for your prayers and thoughts!  HUGS Chris

We Just Want to Have a Good Time & We Did

 

Have we ever had a Labor Day weekend in western Pa. as nice and sunny and hot as this one?  Not for a long time.  Considering the sucky summer we had, August and even now is gorgeous.

I found out that D (Donna) was in Erie on Presque Isle the day before we were....bummer.  It really is pretty.  I've always liked to go there.  The kids were never crazy about Lake Erie.  Hey, 86 miles from home...sand and some surf.  The Isle extends, I think, about 10 or so miles out into Lake Erie like a hook.  One side is the bay; the other the Lake.  There is a bike/walking trail the whole way around.  There wasn't a bike to rent so we hung out at the beach and carried on. 

Becky was whiter than Casper the ghost and got burnt.  We had seafood at a great restaurant and headed home.  I would have loved to have stayed the night but Becky wanted to get home.  Meg and I hung out at the pool yesterday.  Hot, it was and gorgeous again.  Ribs on the grill....yum.

Now, back to reality.  I got my car inspected today and yet again had problems.  I had to put $150 into have the brake calipers cleaned and lubricated and, of course inspected.  This wasn't covered by the warranty.  Sucks....blah.

And my BF and I have to be at the hospital at 5am tomorrow morning.  Sugery at 7.   His brother will be there.  Not my choice but I'll deal with it.  He's a handful, though.  I have a headache and am jumping down everybody's throat tonight.  I'm fit to be tied.  I want to run away to Erie again and just lay on the darned beach.  BTW:  my doctor started me on Zocor.  Dang, my cholesterol is borderline high.  So back to tweeking mydiet again and more walking.

I just want to have fun.  Megan just wants to have fun.  Poor Becky is so serious and can't understand how goofy we get.  She thinks we have no stress...boo ha ha.  She is still weepy and sad about her BF.  And I'm rambling like a fool right now.

Prayers, good thoughts, etc. please for the surgery.  I'm off to walk Grizzly.  I sort of like going when it's dark now for some reason. 

Love you all.....Chris

Updates and More Updates SNAGS

    

I'm going to try and make this very quick, right, hunh?  The girls and I are off to Erie today to for a mini-vacay.  We plan to bicycle around Presque Isle, hit the beach for a bit, and eat, of course.  Boy, I think we all need it.  Becky is still sad, I'm a jumble of nerves, Megan also.

My SIL......she had a strep infection that she thought was a virus in May.  She never had it taken care of.  It moved into her heart and destroyed her aortic valve.  In fact, the valve was totally missing.  She had emergency open heart on Friday and is doing pretty well considering.  The docs are surprised that she is alive.

My BF is having his surgery Wednesday.  I try not to even think about that.  I'll be off and there.  We went out Friday night and he had renewed energy.  We had a wonderful time together.

Now, this mama sweats the small things.  Meg's loans again.  Any of you that have been with me a while know that this is a total nightmare for at least a month to get my co-signed loans through each and every year she has been in college.  Wellllll....I signed on to the bank website as always and was directed to AES.  I cringed because AES is servicing all alternate loans now.  That org. is a nightmare.  I started Aug. 22.  I've had 3 applications rejected for silly reasons.  They wiped them all out and let me set up a new one up on Friday.  Everything was going smooth.  Meg got an e-mail that said the co-signing went through and all was ready for review and for her to e-sign, which she did.  Next morning  ....REJECT.  They don't open until Tues.  Now, I have no idea if the application was rejected or I was denied as co-signer.  There is absolutely no explanation online.  I couldn't sleep last night.  This stuff drives me out of my mind.

My car was back in the shop two weeks ago getting a sway bar and bushings and a new fan for the AC/heat; all covered by the warranty, thank the Lord.  Now, it's making another clunking noise under the hood in a different area.  They had my car three days the last time with no loaner.  It's going on Tues. I need it by Wed.  Ugh.  So, do we take Becky's new car with the manual to Erie?  I have always driven sticks but Joey said these are newer and different. She doesn't want to drive it that far yet.  Do I chance my car for 85 miles there and back?  Oy?

Well, I need to get my butt in gear and read some journals while I drink my coffee.  I'm taking my camera so I'll be posting some pictures tomorrow.  Love & Hugs to all............

 

                

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Would You Like to Fly? SNAGS

              

Yesterday was a different day, for sure.  The weather both today and yesterday was gorgeous, warm and just right for the pool but also for flying.  Yep....Megan's early graduation present to herself was skydiving.  She and a friend had it planned for a while.  I knew about it but not the exact date.  She talked her sister into going also so Joe and I went to observe.  I did a photoslide of it.  Not the best because I resized the pictures so they didn't come out as clear as they should.

 

 

It was fascinating, amazing, a myriad of things all rolled into one just watching.  I'd love to do it but don't have the money right now.  It's tandem jumping with an instructor with you.  I'm not sure about other states, etc. but it's the law in Pa. to tandem jump at first.  Megan love, loved it!  Megan is my daredevil who'll ride every single ride in the amusement park.  Poor Becky got nauseous but did see it through to the end.  Megan's instructor was flipping them upside and all around.  13,000 ft in the sky.  The plane looked like an ant.  Megan is living with Becky now and school starts tomorrow for her and Joey also.

Prayers/good thoughts, etc. needed again.....my brother's wife is severely ill and in the ICU.  She's 58, started running a fever a few days ago and now most organs are just shutting down.  She's in an excellent hospital here barely hanging on to life and no clue, at this time as to what is wrong.  They just keep doing test after test.  She has always been extremely fit and eats so healthy.   I know my relationship is strained with my brother and his wife but truly I do pray that she gets better.  My brother is beside himself.  I actually feel terrible for both ofthem.

Someone asked me about tutorials and PSP.  I rarely do them because they never seem to come out right or something is forgotten.  I use parts of tutorials at times.  The top tag and bottom tag are both adapted from the same tutorial but changed somewhat. 

AND....am I doing 10 hr days ASAP?   Nope....weird hunh?  I fussed for two years but am somewhat apprehensive about doing it again.  Don't know why but I think I'll wait a while.   Now, how about that???  Surprised the family, for sure.

HUGS to all...........CHRIS

               

 

 

Catching Up/SNAGS

                 

Hi all!  I have so much to say that I could write a book.  I definitely need to start updating more often and catching up with alerts.  I just can't keep up with everything but I'm trying. 

My BF saw the doctor yesterday.  The dr. who did the stents is not doing the surgery.  Each doctor has specialties.  The surgeon is the chief of staff.  He sees him Tues and will have the date scheduled.  There will be one bypass....the artery is 90% blocked and couldn't be stented because of the location.  I'm seeing my doctor Monday for my yearly check up and plan to have another stress test done.  It's been 4 years since my last one.

I'll save the news about the "three stooges" of mine for later. 

I'm walking 4,200 steps a day which is about 2 miles.  It takes 30 min.  According to my BF's cardiac notebook, which is extensive, that is what I should be doing for my age.  I've cut back on the cheeses, etc.  I'm eating steamed veggies and chicken for lunch.  I've only lost 5 lbs. in a month but that's good enough.  LOL...yesterday we had pizza and a cake for a guy who was retiring at work.  So.....I totally blew it.

I'm off for my walk in a minute or two.  Many of you commented that my place looked rural and sort of scary.  Actually, (hope I'm not jinxing myself) it is very safe.  We rarely lock our doors.  It's like a step back in time here.

Anyway, one more thing, and this cracks me up.  Compressed time has been approved for our division.  So, am I starting the first of September on 10 hr days????????  I think I'll do a poll on this one because y'all know I've been fussing for two years about working five days a week so here goes.....  (An explanation for those who are confused....I worked 4 10 hr days for 8 years.  I had every Wed off.  Two years ago, I was promoted to a new division but had to go back to the traditional 5 day work week.  I have never stopped fussing about that since that time.)

 

 

I'm off for my walk.  The weather is hot today so I'm going to float in my pool...whoo hoo!

                

Welcome to my Neighborhood & Some SNAGS

             

I've been taking some new directions in my life lately.  One is walking.  I started at lunch a couple of weeks ago with a ten minute walk.  Now, I'm doing 30 minutes at lunch daily.  I walk Grizzly around our cul-de-sac at night which is about 1/2 mile.  Now, I haven't lost one lb. :( but my blood pressure is super, and my pulse is lower than it's been in years.  I'm going to tweek my diet around a bit although I thought I had or was at least eating the same as pre-exercise.  Plus I can have little conversations with myself and many times God which helps relieve the stress. 

I walked a couple of miles around my neigborhood today and photographed my journey.  LOL...probably pretty boring but I did a photo slide and captioned it.  It's sort of rural; something I love after the "burbs."  I love being able to walk outside and see woods.  So, if you care to see a piece of my world, feel free to take in a bit of the video.  The music is from Rockyou.com and will last until I add enough entries to "lose" it.

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