G-BOX

December 13, 2008

2008-12-15T00:53:00.004Z

Fifteen years later and Bella Ciao is still out of our league. :)

Last night we braved the semi-icy road conditions and ventured to Ann Arbor. We celebrated the 16th anniversary of our first date as well as the 15th anniversary of our previous visit to Bella Ciao.

Dinner was delicious and we had a wonderful evening.

Happy Anniversary, Sweetie.

December 13, 1992

2008-12-10T16:18:00.003Z

Saturday, December 13, 2008 will be the 16th anniversary of my first date with Tony. Sixteen years, omg! That’s rapidly approaching 20! Okay, we’re not going to go there. I’m still just shy of my 20th class reunion, so let’s deal with one sobering milestone at a time.

We don’t celebrate our December 13th anniversary every year, although we do acknowledge it in some way. Even if we just exchange a “Happy Anniversary!” it never goes overlooked.

This year circumstances have aligned in just the right fashion to make this one special and worthy of celebration. First of all, the date falls on a Saturday which just screams Date Night. Secondly, I recently heard a radio advertisement for Bella Ciao in Ann Arbor, which is where we celebrated our one year anniversary back in 1993 (omg! 199-frackin-3?!). Our love for Italian cuisine is prompting us to seek out new dining options, so Bella Ciao sounds perfect.

I mentioned the radio ad to Tony, we checked the calendar and discovered the 13th falls on a Saturday, Tony made dinner reservations, bada bing bada boom, we’ve got ourselves a celebration!

I’m excited to go back to Bella Ciao, not having been since we celebrated there 15 years ago. At the time it was WAY out of our league and a little intimidating. Of course that was back when I considered Red Lobster an upscale dining experience.

It’ll be interesting to see if our memories of the restaurant stand up to the test of time. But I think it’ll have to go pretty far to disappoint us. As we go out to eat a lot, and regularly enjoy “nice” Italian places, it’s surprising that I’m so looking forward to it. But I can’t wait for Saturday!!

'Stache Time

2008-12-06T02:47:00.013Z

Creepy 'stache

Awesome 'stache

Doesn't get better than this 'stache

What type of sale?

2008-12-02T13:09:00.004Z

I drove by the local mall this morning and saw the following event proudly being promoted on one of their large outdoor signs:

Macy's One Day Sale

12/5 - 12/6

Maybe they're having two back-to-back One Day Sales. ;)

I shouldn't pick, as I'm already getting excited about the thought of a two day Macy's One Day Sale.

Page 56

2008-11-21T01:47:00.008Z

I have been tagged by my friend Random Thinker to make a post on my blog. I admit, I've been lax in making new posts and am long overdue. Thanks for the prompt.

The requirements of this particular post are as follows: Open the book nearest your computer. No fair hunting for something that sounds intellectual and impressive, to page 56. Post the 5th sentence,plus one or two thereafter for context.

Alright, Random Thinker, here's my homework:

"I looked around. Most of the remaining women were now having fights with men said to be their husbands. Even Jordan's party, the quartet from East Egg, were rent asunder by dissension. One of the men was talking with curious intensity to a young actress, and his wife after attempting to laugh at the situation in a dignified and indifferent way broke down entirely and resorted to flank attacks -- at intervals she appeared suddenly at his side like an angry diamond and hissed "You promised!" into his ear."

--The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I admit I debated for a minute on which book to grab for this post. Looking around my desk I saw Peachtree Accounting 2005 (snooze), Slaughterhouse Five ( racked with guilt over borrowing it from my brother a year ago --at least I hope it’s just a year-- and still not done reading it), God Delusion (didn’t want to open that can of worms) or Festivus: A Holiday for the Rest of Us (don’t know why I didn’t go for this one).

The Great Gatsby (along with many many other books both fiction and non) had been sitting on my “I’ll read it one day” shelf for, oh let’s face it, years! Finally on Monday I decided that good old Gatsby’s day had arrived. He was selected from the masses for a variety of reasons. I really really want to finish reading another book before the end of the year and its non-overwhelming size appealed to me. It’s an American classic. No offense to Sue Grafton, but I needed a break from Kinsey for a while or it would have been S is for Silence.

Just started reading it this week (okay, I've picked it up once) and have yet to make it to page 56, so now I have something to look forward to.

Hey, isn't that that one guy?

2008-03-21T18:25:00.001Z

Is it my imagination or is the "Do you have a Beaumont doctor?" radio spokesman now moonlighting in the Jimmy John's radio ads?

Stupid Half Deaf Moment

2008-01-25T12:45:00.000Z

I'm wearing new earrings today. They are dangly hoops inset within each other. When I move, the loops tinkle against each other.

I periodically wonder why I'm only hearing the left one.

Old habits ("I can hear 360 degrees") die hard, I guess. ;-)

Random Thoughts

2007-10-09T21:20:00.000Z

If I were a man, I'd be wearing a Tag Heuer watch. They're just so cool (the ladies models are lame in comparison).

One of my biggest fears is walking out of a restroom with a streamer of toilet paper stuck to my shoe.

I love Fergie's Big Girls Don't Cry.

I'm such a geek -- I'm so so so looking forward to both the cartography and the Darwin exhibits at the Field Museum when Tony and I visit in December.

"GBox"

2007-08-12T16:52:00.000Z

I wonder how many people will be misdirected to my blog while searching for music online...

http://www.gbox.com/

More Cool Stuff!

2007-07-26T11:13:00.000Z

My brother's been keeping busy....

http://www.cafepress.com/WageSlaveGifts

Posh and Becks

2007-07-24T13:45:00.000Z

I'm an internet tabloid junky, I love reading the celebrity gossip sites. Not every day and only a couple of sites, but still I love it. Therefore, I have a relative understanding of who David and Victoria Beckham are -- a celebrated soccer player and a professional paparazzi fave, repectively, together turned "international celebrities and fashion icons". Now that David Beckham has signed with the LA Galaxy franchise and the family has moved to Los Angeles, their names and images are getting splashed across US media, and not just the celebrity pages.

Driving home from work yesterday I heard a "weekend celebrity news" recap on the radio. Of course there was news about the lavish welcoming extravaganza thrown for "Posh and Becks" by TomKat (Cruise) and Will and Jada (Smith) with detail of all the accompanying hoopla (Who's Who, etc).

The dj then wrapped-up the segment by speculating "One day people will realize that they're nothing more than a washed-up soccer player and a former Spice Girl.... (whispers) It's not that big of a deal."

I loved that. :-)

Does Koosh make bike seats?

2007-07-17T12:04:00.000Z

Tony and I went for a bike ride last night (yay, us!). Only the second ride so far for the year which is sad until you realize those two bike rides are more than we've done in probably the last six years combined. I know! We're lazy, that's just the way it is.

I'm in the market for a new bike seat (Tony, too). By the end of an hour-long bike ride, the seat (and by extension my shorts) had just too severely violated my personal space. Not good at all. Maybe this is why we don't ride that often. This and the whole lazy thing I mentioned earlier.

We've got some La-Z-Boy furniture at home that's extremely comfortable. Do you think they make bike seats? What about Koosh? If they could make a bike seat out of that stuff, that would be heaven!

Is this what we're doing now?

2007-06-27T16:31:00.000Z

Driving by a Wendy's today at lunch I noticed several professionally printed signs in their yard indicating there was some sort of fund-raising effort being undertaken inside.

In large bold letters the signs proclaimed "Help Support Kidney Disease".

Sure, there was smaller text on the signs indicating exactly how you could go about helping to "support kidney disease" while patronizing Wendy's. But by then, my literal, unforgiving mind was too focused on exactly why they were asking us to help support kidney disease instead of supporting the research and treatment of kidney disease.

Hey, that's my cardiologist!

2007-01-07T22:05:00.000Z

I was driving west on I-94 yesterday, heading to Ann Arbor. Just past exit 183, I saw a Saint Joseph Mercy Health System billboard. They're all over in southeast Michigan, sporting the distinctive maroon banner declaring "Remarkable Medicine, Remarkable Care". I've seen several different versions, each with a larger-than-life likeness of a medical professional or a patient.

I always wondered if they are real doctors and patients or just models. My hunch was real doctors and patients. Yesterday my hunch was confirmed as I approached the sign and delightfully realized the doctor's likeness on this particular billboard is Dr Wilks - my cardiologist!!

Don't ask me why I was so excited, considering the first time I met him he made me cry -- "Nice to meet you Mrs Gartrell, let's get that heart valve replacement surgery scheduled decades sooner than you'd ever dreamed" (and we all know how that went!). But it was very cool nonetheless seeing Dr Wilks ("MY" cardiologist) on the St Joseph's billboard.

Puppy. Had. To. Go.

2006-11-13T22:13:00.000Z

Ripley (aka "Puppy") didn't have time for polite chit-chat when I came home from work today. She's generally pretty excited to see me return after a long day and she'll take a moment to greet me with a kiss and accept a pet or two before following me to the door to be let outside. Not today.

Today I walked into the family room where she was sitting in her kennel; as soon as she saw me, she stood up (sort of) and started scratching a front paw against the metal bars. I opened the door, she squirmed her way around the door and me and bolted straight for the sliding glass door and started scratching (pawing) FRANTICALLY at the glass.

I opened the door thinking "Oh, she must have seen some wildlife (stray cat, squirrel, what have you) scamper across our deck earlier and was in hot pursuit". No. She made for the deck steps as quickly as her little legs could carry her, ran out into the lawn in a circuitous path, finally slowing down and settling into a squat in her usual "area".

I know a full day in a kennel can be a long time and small puppy bladders can be really put to the test. Poor little Puppy, you just know her only thought once I got home and opened her kennel door was "Grass! I need grass NOW!!!!"

Note to Waitstaff Everywhere

2006-11-06T22:14:00.000Z

If we'd earlier discussed (twice) my desire for a refill on my iced tea, and during your second trip through the dining room SINCE removing my glass to "bring me a refill", I catch your attention and tap my empty drink napkin, please do not stop to ask me innocently what I need.

I understand you're "new here", but you're dancing dangerously close to incompetence.

Blonde Joke

2006-10-19T19:07:00.000Z

There's this blonde out for a walk. She comes to a river and sees another blonde on the opposite bank.

"Yoo hoo!" she shouts. "How can I get to the other side?"

The second blonde looks up the river then down the river and shouts back "You ARE on the other side!"

(Thank you for the joke, Aunt Max)

Frack Me!

2006-10-15T23:18:00.000Z

I blame it on the dramatically sudden and remarkably unexpected road closure.

Today while driving my parents to lunch, I let the F-bomb slip. In the FCC-approved language of Battlestar Galactica, I believe the expletive I used was a bitter "Frack me!".

Obviously, the ease with which it escaped my lips indicates that it wasn't the first time the F-bomb has been uttered by me. But I do believe this was the first time my parents were forced to bear witness. They took it graciously, though. I almost immediately issued an embarrassed apology. My mom responded, ever so sweetly, from the backseat with "Oh, honey, that's all right".

I guess no harm was done, but still.... Oops!

Pantry secrets

2006-09-22T12:05:00.000Z

Tony cleaned out and organized our pantry cupboard this week. Quite an undertaking - the thing was packed with God knows what. Strange because we never seem to cook at home, so why do we have (and keep buying!) all this food? I'm glad I missed the adventure of the task, but I did come home to the carnage of all the discarded/expired items.

The oldest (known) item he found and disposed of? A box of crackers that expired in 1998. Most troubling considering we didn't move into the house until 1999.

Apparently the one-year expired crackers were of such import to us at the time we deemed it necessary to move them from our apartment, stash them discreetly in the back of the pantry cupboard and hang onto them for another seven years.

Not our proudest moment by any means.

Vacation pics

2006-09-08T12:40:00.000Z

The trip to the UP with Tony and my parents Labor Day weekend was really nice. It was good to spend time together; we did some gambling, some sight-seeing, and lots of dining! Tony, Dad and I finished the bridge walk in about an hour and forty minutes (Mom was under the weather and unfortunately missed it). Several freighters were passing through the straits as we walked, but crossed under the bridge long before we were anywhere close to them.

We walked the bridge,

saw Tahquamenon Falls,

and toured a lighthouse...

where my vertigo kicked in while climbing down the tower stairs.

(sure, this image is taken looking up at the stairs, but you can imagine the view looking down is even less friendly)

All in all, a very good vacation. In spite of the vertigo.

Mackinac Bridge Walk

2006-08-24T16:26:00.000Z

Next week Tony and I are heading to the UP with my parents for Labor Day weekend. On Labor Day I'll be walking the Mackinac Bridge with my parents (along with thousands and thousands of other people). Tony's passing on the fun -- for some reason waking up at the crack of dawn to walk five miles (the first half of which is uphill!) just doesn't do it for him. My parents participate pretty much every year; I've done it three times, most recently in 1997 with Tony and my parents. I'm due to give it another go.

Since the end of '05 I've been looking forward to the trip north with my parents and walking the bridge again this year. I knew my surgery was coming up, but I didn't figure my recovery would prevent a five mile walk more than seven months later. Well, let me tell you, it was a wake up in late April when I realized the bridge walk was only four short months away and I wasn't even able to tackle a mile yet!

But that was months ago and I've felt "fully recovered" for quite a while now. I know I'm still working my way back to "normal shape" exercise-wise, but I have so much energy and strength now, the only thing holding me back is pure laziness. Working out with Heather once a week, and swimming once a week with Stefanie is helping me to get back in shape (plus whenever I get on my treadmill in between workouts). I have no doubts about being able to complete the five mile walk without any problems.

Although, looking at that picture.... those cars are awfully small which makes the bridge look pretty intimidating!

M V E M J S U N ... period!

2006-08-24T14:18:00.000Z

Tony's going to be disappointed, the International Astronomical Union just downgraded Pluto to a "dwarf planet". Pluto has always been Tony's favorite.

How are children going to learn the planets now? We'll need a new mnemonic device because I have a feeling "My Very Educated Mother Just Showed Us Nine" isn't going to cut it without the critical "Planets" at the end.

(yes, I had to look up "mnemonic"... who knew it started with an "m"!)

Today's Headlines

2006-08-17T16:26:00.000Z

More often than not, I find internet news headline quotes to be absolutely ridiculous and absurd. I know they have to try and grab your attention with a tantalizing teaser but I think today a simple "JonBenet's suspected murderer arrested" would have sufficed.

I don't think I'm the only one who gets a little queasy reading the choice quotes used for today's headlines:

"Accused JonBenet killer says death was accident" -- I suppose this article will enlighten us as to how Karr HAD intended to kidnap, drug, beat, and have sex with a six-year old girl but had NEVER intended that she die, God forbid.

"JonBenet murder suspect 'I was with her when she died' " -- No coincidence here, most murderers are with their victims when they die, you a**hole.

And the fact that he was arrested while living in a Bangkok hotel .....well, I say they just throw away the key now. Even if -- no, I mean especially if he's lying.

The Devil's Rejects

2006-08-13T21:55:00.000Z

This afternoon Tony and I watched The Devil's Rejects. Not the most up-beat movie watching weekend as this selection follows up yesterday's viewing of The Machinist (Christian Bale as a 120-pound -- yes, 120-pound, the man was SKINNY! -- blue collar worker dissolving into insanity after he ... wait, I can't tell you, it'll ruin the movie).

The Devil's Rejects is Rob Zombie's (writer and director) sequel to House of 1000 Corpses about a serial killing family who kidnaps, tortures, and eventually kills hundreds of random passersby. Lovely! Need I say this movie was a Tony selection?

I don't know much about Rob Zombie's music (no titles come to mind) but the man can make a movie! Who would think you'd be made to feel compassion (not just once, but twice!) for the family of heinously brutal unrepentent serial killers? No, it's nothing as easy as a deep-seeded rationale for their behavior; it's much more unexpected than that. They tease each other about whether to stop the car for ice cream, and if so, what flavor would they get. They have home movies of happy carefree times laughing together. Times they weren't in the basement hacking strangers to bits, that is. Okay, so they weren't exactly the Brady Bunch, you still felt something for them and it definitely caught you by surprise.

Now I've got to watch House of 1000 Corpses. And I see he has two more movies in the works. And I really can't blame the selection on Tony as I menioned earlier -- I'm TOTALLY into horror/slasher movies recently. Can't wait to see Saw II (just discovered that Saw III is coming out in October!) and Ring II (we're behind in our rentals).

Caffeine or Calories?

2006-08-08T16:34:00.000Z

I used to be addicted to Diet Coke. Sometime last year I figured my consumption to be 100+ ounces a day and that's what I would admit to. Since January (and my ordeal) it just hasn't tasted right to me. Granted, I haven't even tried it since March but I figure hey, I broke an ugly habit, why tempt fate by trying it just to see if I like it; let's just assume I don't and I can move on with my life.

Side note: I chalk at least one of the "unresponsive" days in ICU up to kicking my caffeine habit.

I still like to drink pop and my carbonated beverage of choice is now Diet Squirt. Yes, Diet Squirt, I know it's unusual, but it was my go-to drink in February (loved the fruity goodness). Diet is still my preference (no calories) and I'm enjoying being free from the caffeine (and the health related implications of over-consumption). My pop consumption has been reduced to about 20 ounces a day. Yay, me!

Going out to eat poses a dilemma, though. Have you tried to find a diet caffeine-free soft drink in a restaurant? Not really going to happen. Sometimes you just gotta have the pop, though. Water or iced tea doesn't really do it for me next to my combination plate at Mexican Fiesta. So the question is... should I partake of the calories of Sprite or Sierra Mist, or just throw caution to the wind and go for good old fashioned zero calorie Diet Coke?

Instead of opening the Pandora's box of Diet Coke, I have decided to make a habit of opting for the calories over the caffeine. Heck, I'm already addicted to calories so what's a few more?

Poofy Hair

2006-08-03T12:34:00.000Z

Wow! Has it really been over a month since I've posted? Shame on me!

Over the last couple weeks I've noticed that the back of my hair has been inexplicably poofy from time to time. I wash and straighten it about every other day, sleeping at night with it up in a pony tail. A couple weeks ago I started to notice (while running my hand over the back of my head to smooth my hair) that apparently a cowlick had developed, causing my hair to poof out in one section. Some days I noticed it, some days I didn't but it was always in the same place.

About a week ago while straightening my hair in front of the bathroom mirror, I turned at just the right angle and finally got a peek at what's been going on back there. New hair! New hair has been growing (and thankfully filling in those pesky post-traumatic bald spots) for a while and is now long enough to wreak havoc (you've seen my hair - thick and lots of body). Probably just long enough now (parts over 2" in length) to clamp in my hair iron and get them to calm the heck down.

I'm not complaining. I'm just taking opportunity to brag about my hair growing back.

:-)

Bizarro Day at the Pool

2006-06-15T14:34:00.000Z

Yesterday evening I went swimming with S, and I swear it was Bizarro Day at the rec center pool. The pool is usually moderately busy but we don't have too much trouble finding a lane we can share to do our laps. Generally the lanes are occupied by at least semi-serious swimmers who are doing laps and tend to keep themselves moving. Last night the pool seemed to be about as busy as usual (not too bad) but by some bizarre circumstance, the lanes were riddled with...."amateur" swimmers.

I'm not criticizing their abilities; hey, I still barely put my face in the water if I can help it (seriously...if I were meant to do that, wouldn't you think I'd have gills?). But I do tend to keep moving (kickboard or back stroke) if I'm occupying a lane. Last night there were three women STANDING in the shallow end of one of the lanes talking (okay, in the half hour we were in the pool, the women each swam about two complete laps, but promptly returned to their standing and talking). Two men (sporting life-preservers) were occupying the deep end of a DIFFERENT lane. There's only three lanes, and the third was occupied by a semi-serious swimmer (we had no gripes about him).

Finally we were able to claim a lane and we started our first lap with our kickboards (which we do to warm up a little before trying something more challenging -- okay, and yes, we are able to talk more while using the kickboards). Before we completed our first lap, Creepy Guy enters our lane and starts some semi-serious laps, giving us the evil eye everytime he passes us. At this point we decide not to surrender our kickboards as neither of us really is interested in having an inadvertent collision with this guy.

By now, Life Preserver Boy has ditched the perserver and decided to try some free style in the shallow half of his lane. I've never seen anyone SPLASH more than he did. So now we're dodging Creepy Guy in our lane and trying to avoid the pseudo Snake River Falls (Cedar Point reference for those not in the midwest) sprays coming from the other lane.

After a while and way more laps trying to steer clear of Creepy Guy, we move into the lane occupied by the women, figuring we can use the other 90% of their lane. About two (almost full) laps in, we find two more "splashers" have entered the lanes - one in our lane and one in Creepy Guy's lane right next to us.

That's pretty much when we called it quits for the night.

Explore Store

2006-06-15T14:32:00.000Z

Check out the cool stuff my brother has been working on (in all his spare time).

http://www.cafepress.com/explore_store

Clean bill of health (finally)!

2006-06-09T17:47:00.000Z

It dawns on me that I haven't made a general post about my health and post-op recovery in quite a while. So here goes...

I'm back to working full-time (as of this week) and I definitely feel up to it. The last few weeks have found me feeling better and better, having more energy, and starting to establish (and maintain this time) a regular exercise routine. I'm walking a mile on my treadmill three times a week (with a dab of jogging thrown in here and there) and swimming for 40 minutes once a week. Both activities are enjoyable for me and I feel good just getting back to them. I think my biggest obstacle right now is that I'm out of shape from four months of not being up for a regular exercise routine.

Over the last couple weeks I had several doctor appts (kidney specialist, cardiac echo, and my primary care doc). Just routine follow-ups that were scheduled three months ago; I've been having no difficulties. The word from all three docs is WONDERFUL! The kidney specialist (after reviewing all my current test results) kept asking why I was even there to see him since everything looked so good. Apparently my type of kidney failure generally recovers completely (assuming you make it through the event that caused the kidney failure in the first place).

So you can all hold onto your kidneys, as I won't be having to hit anyone up for a kidney any time soon. I already told my brother he's off the hook. Isn't it siblings that you generally hear about as being donors?

My primary care doc and I had a nice little chat during my visit - again, strictly a routine follow-up so nothing too heavy was discussed. She LOVES my new patchwork purse by the way! If I'd have been thinking I would have asked her to write me a note for Tony indicating that the purse(s) purchase was medically necessitated - "Please excuse Christine for buying two Coach purses. She's been ill following surgery and deserved to treat herself".

The echo was just this week and seemed to go very well. The tech was young (mid to late 20's I'd say) and chatty, but overall the best tech I've had for an echo. We talked about my surgery and complications (she was duly impressed). She was also impressed with the amount of work Dr K had done on my heart during the surgery. I told her that he had planned on doing what he could while he was in there (he ended up replacing the two valves (Ross Procedure), fixing my tricuspid valve and repairing my aorta). She looked at my chart and nodded saying "well, they definitely did 'while we're in here'!".

So everything has worked itself out for the better. My blood sugar results continue to indicate that I am not diabetic (not even close) and I've been told to put my glucometer in the closet. My iron is continuing to increase. Dr S is starting to wean me off one of my blood pressure medications. Any lingering concerns I had have pretty much been eliminated after these recent appts. It's good to have such encouraging news and a clean bill of health just four months after my surgery. :-)

Buying Coach Without Prior Authorization

2006-05-23T18:05:00.000Z

On Monday I bought a Coach purse. It's a new style (patchwork tote) that just became available yesterday. I don't make a habit of monitoring these things (availability and release dates of designer products), as until recently I never even considered buying a Coach purse (too many $$). However, the style and fabric were just too beautiful to ignore and I knew I had to own this purse. So I bought it!

Here's where the story gets fun (fun for me, anyway) but we need to back-track a couple days. Saturday I was shopping with a girlfriend in Ann Arbor and became aware of the newly arriving Coach lines. I fell for the patchwork fabric immediately, but didn't see the purse style I wanted (found out later it wouldn't officially hit the shelves for another two days). Alas, it appeared I would have to leave the mall Coach-less. Usually this is no tragedy, but I really had my heart set on getting that purse.

However, in our Briarwood-wide search for the specific purse/fabric combo, another Coach purse caught my eye (straw with large brightly embroidered flowers and bees). So, on Saturday I ended up buying the flowers/bees purse which had really grown on me throughout the day. Trust me, it's really cute and definitely was worth picking up - my weak description doesn't do it justice. Partly also as a consolation to soothe myself after not being able to leave with the purse of my dreams. Oh, and since I so admired the patchwork fabric, I treated myself further by grabbing a wallet while I was buying.

Which brings us to Monday. The new line was available on the shelves at Coach. The patchwork tote was just calling my name and I was helpless to resist. So I ran out on my lunch hour to pick it up!

Definitely a fun couple of days! But now let's do the math. Not the $$ math, that's too scary, just the items:
one Coach purse + one Coach wallet + one Coach purse = one very happy Me + one less than thrilled Husband

Tony really doesn't seem to be NEARLY as excited about this Coach spree as I am. He has placed me on punishment - I'm not allowed to buy another purse until 2011. But apparently I will be up for parole sometime in 2009.

The Little Blue Bag

2006-04-23T00:09:00.000Z

Tony returned home from Dallas this afternoon. He's been traveling for work for a few weeks, so it's good to have him home for a while.

And as luck would have it, he came bearing gifts. Well actually it was just one gift but it was all for me and it is very nice -- beautiful garnet earrings!

The earrings came housed in a simple but elegant black suede box.
The suede box was wrapped in white pearlized tissue paper.
The tissue paper-covered box was nestled inside a blue cardboard box.
The cardboard box was wrapped in matching blue gift wrap.
The gift-wrapped box was tied with a white satin ribbon.
All nestled in a distinctive blue bag bearing the name Tiffany & Co.

Tony calls the earrings an early anniversary present. I think they're a combination "anniversary"/"glad you didn't die" present. Either way, they sure are gorgeous!

Interesting postscript to this story...the blue Tiffany box is stamped "Made in Thailand" and the matching blue Tiffany bag is stamped "Made in China". I guess Tiffany blue is Tiffany blue no matter what part of the world you live in.

Nap Time!

2006-04-07T19:35:00.000Z

I went back to work this Monday!! I'm only doing half days right now, but it's very exciting to be back, and very encouraging for my recovery. It was good to see everyone and to start resuming some of my work responsibilities. The half days are working well to ease me back into my old routines, as well as to gently get me back into the swing of work. I admit I'm also enjoying my moments in the "glad to see you back!"/"what the heck happened?!" spotlight.

The last few weeks I've been feeling better and stronger each week. I know I'm not at 100% yet, but I'm on my way. I haven't even felt like taking a nap in several weeks. Until today, that is. ;-) I've fallen asleep on the couch a couple afternoons this week after coming home, but today was the first time I felt like some dedicated nap time.

I like taking advantage of my urge to nap and I do enjoy it. When Tony's here (like he was today) I ask him to wake me up at a certain time. Unfortunately, the most comfortable position for me to lay in is on my left side - ie my "good ear" is down. But it's sweet waking up to see Tony sitting patiently next to me, gently stroking my hand to wake me up. :-)

Walking AND Chewing Gum

2006-03-26T19:37:00.000Z

Everything is continuing to get better here. Things are so much easier for me and I have been more active over the last couple weeks. Last week I started walking regularly for exercise. I only do 1/2 mile a day, but I have done it six out of the last seven days. Looking forward, I'd love to get back in the swimming pool within the next month, but I think the racquetball will have to wait a while. I am a little bummed, however, that with all the other limitations of my body, I haven't been able to take the new and improved ticker out for a test run to see what it can do.

Ironically, I also found that last week I started doing some really quality "vegging". In large part that's because I finally feel comfortable (physically) lounging around on the couch. Part of it might also be that I'll be returning to work soon and want to soak up the rest of my time off while I still can. ;-) Ripley, of course, has fully supported my couch time by graciously keeping me company and continuing to look out for me.

Looking back, February was a blur. I came home on February 4th, and it was a good three weeks that I didn't notice much improvement at all. Actually, it was just a few weeks ago that I suddenly found myself starting to improve and feeling better and stronger.

As far as on-going issues, I'm still on blood pressure meds, but honestly, I'll probably always have to be treated for that. I'm continuing to take an iron supplement, but I'm only expecting that to last for another couple months. Also, I'm continuing to test my blood sugar each morning, but I'm not being treated currently (I'd love to avoid that if I can!).

The hearing loss in my right ear is still 100% which continues to suck. I am getting used to it, though, and trying to make the proper compensations. We saw an ear doctor last week - he listened to our story about my hospital stay and thinks that while I was being treated for the blood disorder, I had a small blood clot that lodged, essentially causing a mini-stroke that solely affected my right ear. Hearing aids won't help as there's no hearing left to work with and the nerves have been damaged. However, once you start hearing "blood clot" and "mini-stroke", suddenly the hearing loss is put into perspective and you realize it could have been so much worse.

Now that I'm well into healing, before you know it (okay, next Monday, April 3rd!) I'll be back at work. It'll be difficult getting back in the routine, I think, and catching up on all I missed should be interesting. But it'll be nice to see all the familiar faces and catch up with my friends.

Oh! Today while I was outside walking, I was also chewing gum, so...... well..... you know.
;-)

Finally, a new post!

2006-03-17T18:27:00.000Z

I haven't posted in a while because I thought I had nothing to say. There's been no earth-shattering events -- which if you think about January, it's a good thing there's no new big events to talk about as they are not always the happy type.

I do have news, however. I'm doing so much better in my recovery! It's been over 7 1/2 weeks since my surgery and I've been home for almost six weeks. Somewhere in the last week and a half, things have started coming together. I'm more active around the house and have been less hesitant to venture out. I have been climbing the stairs and doing laundry (Tony still carries the basket back up as the stairs do wear me out). I'm also driving now.

The doctor appts are fewer and farther between now. I had an eye exam yesterday - figured I was due and since everything else on me went south recently, I thought it wouldn't hurt to check out the old peepers. Everything's A-Okay with them which was good to hear!

There's been no improvement in my hearing loss, however -- this still pisses me off as it just seems so random. Monday we have an appointment with another ear doctor and we'll be prepared with "what can we do to live with this condition?" type questions.

I plan to go back to work on April 3rd. I still have two weeks at home and I'm looking forward to continued improvements and increased energy and strength during that time. My legs still feel weak if I'm up too much - I'm trying to challenge them more as they might just need the exercise.

Happy St Patrick's Day!
:-)

Care to make a donation?

2006-03-07T15:53:00.000Z

Yesterday we received a call from St Joe's asking if we'd like to make a donation to support the construction of their new cardiac surgery wing.

Luckily Tony answered the phone and responded with a polite "not right now". My response? Ummm, yeeaahhhh.....I'm going to have to pass. January wasn't that long ago - I know you guys pulled me through, but the whole "almost died" thing is just too fresh. Call me back in six months and we can talk.

;-)

Getting Better

2006-03-03T14:24:00.000Z

It's been five and a half weeks since my surgery (I can't decide if time is flying by or creeping by - it's sort of a combination). I had a series of doctor appointments this week and things are looking better. Tuesday we saw the kidney specialist, then my primary care doctor; Wednesday we met with my surgeon.

The kidney specialist thought things were looking good but she was hesitant to give a glowing report. A couple of levels were high (like protein) but she assumes that was just a temporary abnormality from the sample that was tested. I had additional lab work done before I left and will see her again in three months to have an ultrasound of my kidneys so she can get better information. What we learned is that kidney damage, to some extent, is permanent. Yes, the kidneys can repair themselves, but that will leave scar tissue which can still inhibit performance. Looks like blood sugar and blood pressure will be something I'll need to keep my eye on from here on out as they both can lead to further kidney damage if the levels get too high.

The visit with my primary care doctor went very well. I've been wearing a pedometer since coming home from the hospital, but my walking has just been around the house, going out to eat, or quick grocery trips with Tony. No walking for exercise yet. But the time has come and Dr S wants me to try some dedicated walking - outside or in the mall. Her recommendation is to try to do a full lap of the mall - if it takes me an hour, it takes me an hour. I'm going to start this today - Tony and I'll head up to the mall later, do some walking, then grab lunch.

Then on Wednesday, we started the morning bright and early at St Joe's where I had an echocardiogram, then a visit with my surgeon - everything related to the surgery looks terrific. Dr K seemed very excited (beyond the valve replacements, he'd made a couple other corrections while he was in there). There's still some fluid around my heart, but it's nothing at all of concern to him. As far as he's concerned, my cardiac recovery is 100% and there's no need to schedule any additional follow-ups (although next week I do check in with my cardiologist).

I'm looking forward to the walking - at first it's going to be hard (just don't feel I have the energy and my legs do get weak if I'm up too long) but I'm hoping after a couple days the activity will start feeding my energy level. I know my body was zapped by the post-surgical complications and the week in ICU, but it's also been over a month since I've asked my muscles to perform beyond the bare minimum. Maybe it is time to start pushing myself a little. I'll let you know how it goes. :-)

Souveniers

2006-02-19T15:09:00.000Z

I went into the hospital on January 23 to have my aortic valve replaced. All things considered, I had a pretty good attitude - not a lot of concerns. I've been under general anesthesia twice before so I was confident all would go well this time, too. Well, something went wrong - too long of a procedure? the heart lung bypass machine? Who knows. Either way, my body rejected something and I spent a week in ICU fighting to survive.

I was discharged from the hospital on February 4 - almost two weeks later. Alive, yes -- that does count for an awful lot! But also with a range of weirdness that had happened to my body (or would start to happen over the next few days) from all the trauma.

thrush - a yeast infection in my mouth
100% hearing loss in my right ear
GIGANTIC bruise (darkest purple I've ever seen) on my upper left thigh
high blood sugar
high blood pressure
various blotches, tape/sticky marks, etc - but these are pretty much standard
two arms which were TERRIFIED of needles for the next couple weeks - I swear my veins all went into hiding (who could blame them)
rather startling hair loss (this started the day after I got home)
dry, flaky skin - practically leper-like (between the hair and the skin, Tony was constantly vacuuming up after me)
scabby knot on the back of my head (where did this come from? We noticed it several days after I was home)
concerns about kidney function
concerns about fluid around my heart

I've been home a couple weeks and things are starting to settle down a little. Everything seems to be healing well and the weirdness seems to be subsiding a little.

the thrush was gone after about a week (what a gross week). I still can't really taste much, but my doctor assures me that is only temporary
still no hearing in my right ear, but we remain optimistic that once things settle down and my body heals itself, this might correct also
the bruise has pretty much disappeared (believe it or not, there's still evidence four weeks later - it was a hell of a bruise)
I'm off the insulin (way to go, pancreas!) but continue to monitor my blood sugar twice a day
I'm on medication for my blood pressure - hopefully this will come under control and I can get off the meds
all the tape/sticky marks have been washed away (several showers later)
my arms and veins are relaxing a little - they've only been poked twice in the last two weeks
the hair loss has reduced dramatically (no harm done - I started with a lot of hair so it never reached the point of being noticeable, other than to me)
the dry, flaky skin has subsided after a change to a milder soap and applying plenty of lotion
the knot is gone, but the scab remains
I have appointments with the kidney specialist, as well as my surgeon in a week and a half, so these last two concerns will be answered then

Day by day, inch by inch my body is recovering. My energy level is very low and I do feel weak - but if my body needs that energy and strength to heal itself, I can hold off on running any marathons until it's done. ;-)

"You almost died!"

2006-02-14T20:12:00.000Z

I had an appointment today with my primary care doctor, Dr S. Sort of a post-surgery follow-up to bring her into the loop (my surgeon's office had sent my records) and to touch base on some pesky little irritations I have going on. Tony and I've been seeing her for years; of course neither of us has been really sick, so luckily we haven't had to see a lot of her. Well, turns out, she's pretty cool.

We were waiting in the exam room for a while (I wanted Tony to come back with me as he knows more about all the post-surgical complications than I do). At one point Tony said "hopefully it's taking a while because she's reading the novel the surgeon's office faxed over". He was right. There was a knock, the door started to open, and before her head even appeared, we heard Dr S say sympathetically "You almost died!"

Over the next half hour (yes, we had her full attention after she read the surgeon's report) we covered all aspects of my surgery, complications, recovery, etc. Dr S was very sympathetic (lots of "you poor thing", pats on the shoulder and the knee) and understanding of how I feel physically. When I told her I have no energy she said "well yeah, you almost died!" It was actually sort of cute the way she kept saying this - equal parts impressed and sympathetic.

It was a very good appointment, and we think Dr S is sort of excited to have such an interesting patient case to monitor and treat. I go back in two weeks to check-in again and see what's happening. I was happy that she wants to be so involved in my recovery; as well as her support of my just wanting to take it slow.

She checked my blood sugar readings and recommended I discontinue the insulin but continue to monitor my blood sugar and report to her. She prescribed a powder for a skin irritation I have -- that's all I'll say about that. And she told me that the pasty-mouth not-able-to-taste-anything thing I got going is not an infection, but it's just traumatized taste buds and she assured me it will get better. That earned me another "you poor thing" and a pat on the knee.

So, I'm improving, but it will continue to take time - I'm excited to get off the insulin, and I've noticed that my hair loss has slowed dramatically from what it was last week (thank God I had so much to begin with!). Tony and I are taking it day-to-day and he says he is more than happy to take care of me (which is nice because he left the appt with a whole new list of "To Do's").

We did lunch at Ground Round after the appt -- we know how to do Valentine's Day up right. ;-) I joke, because having Tony here wanting to take care of me, filling all my prescriptions, buying me fruit, etc, is about the best Valentine's gift I could hope for. :-)

I'm home!!!

2006-02-05T10:00:00.000Z

I think I owe my own tremendous-sized update after all the work Tony went to over the last couple weeks. I will be working on one in the next couple days.

In the mean time, rest assured I'm home and alive and well. The "well" bit gets a little hazy in areas, but I'm a trooper, I'll survive.

Just know that I'm cognitive, coherent, strong, etc. No rolling-eyed, drooling, touched in the head burden for Tony to have to deal with (at least not since like last Monday or something).

I can't express my appreciation to Tony, my parents, and my in-laws for all of their hands-on love and support over the last couple weeks. Remember, this was their emotional and physical burden for over a week before I was clued-in and had to upgrade my own fight.

And thank you to everyone who sent their best wishes, positive thoughts, prayers, etc. Visits were truly appreciated (not just by me), but even if you weren't there in body, I know you were in spirit.

The Pig Might be Spared

2006-01-20T15:12:00.000Z

Slight change of plans -- I think I'm going to go a different way with my surgery on Monday. After a last-minute consultation with my surgeon, I'm opting for the Ross Procedure instead of the pig valve.

Throughout my research of the last six months, I've read about the Ross Procedure (moving my pulmonary valve to replace my aortic valve, then using a human donor valve to replace my pulmonary valve). Somehow it never clicked with me (I was never aware of the benefits for a patient my age) and I was stuck thinking "why replace two when I only need one?".

This week at St Joe's I was given a booklet about heart valve surgeries (explaining the variety of procedures, hospital stay, recovery, etc). Wednesday night I was idly flipping through just reading random snippets - confident I knew all I needed to know after months of research and consultations. For some reason I stopped and read the two quick paragraphs describing the Ross Procedure -- how the repair lasts longer than pig valve replacements, also does not require blood thinners after recovery, and is a very good choice for young, healthy patients expecting a smooth recovery. "Particularly women of child-bearing age requiring aortic valve replacement." Ding ding ding -- a bell started to ring, and I mulled over the Ross Procedure for the next 24 hours. Last night I mentioned it to Tony and we did some quick research to reinforce what we already suspected -- that this might be exactly the surgery for me!

Today I called my surgeon's office and asked if he considers me a candidate, does he recommend the procedure for me, and can we still plan it for Monday? Yes, yes, yes were the responses! No final decisions yet, however, he's going to see what's the best he can do for me come Monday morning.

Sure, I'm a little disappointed that he hadn't tried to sell me on the Ross Procedure originally, or that he hadn't made sure I understood the benefits before I dismissed it as a possibility. But I guess this is why it's important that patients do their own research - not to second guess the docs, but more to be fully knowledgeable of their condition and possibilities for treatment. I'm glad I've done my research.

The surgery is a little riskier due to the replacement of two valves instead of just the one. However, now that I've got my mind wrapped around the need to have the surgery, I'm not so concerned about the risks of what he does while he's in there. Honestly, my concerns are more general - having the surgery at all, and going on and coming off the bypass machine with no problems. Beyond that, once he's in I don't care what he does and if he spends another hour Monday morning which buys me ten years on a redo - I say go for it!

Here's a little bit of info about the Ross procedure:
http://www.cts.usc.edu/rossprocedure.html

So yes, the pig may be spared ("Whew!" says the piggy). I am leaving the final decision in the capable hands of my surgeon - I told him I want to try the Ross Procedure but to do whatever he thinks is best when the time comes.

In the meantime, I'd like to give an enthusiastic, appreciative shout out to all of the organ donors and those considering organ donation -- THANK YOU! I'm not even remotely able to wrap my mind around this one right now (receiving a donor organ). But I do appreciate the opportunity it provides me.

All About Monday

2006-01-18T21:31:00.000Z

I had my pre-surgery physical today at St Joe's. I think they are a little excited to have someone under the age of 70 to work with. :-) Two Physician Assistants (one experienced, one in training) came in and asked me the usual (although extensive) battery of "have you ever had/experienced (fill-in-the-medical malady)?" questions. I maintained an almost steady shaking of the head "No. No. Uh uh. No." They looked a little surprised - in their usual course of work they probably run into people with any range of health conditions other than the heart condition for which they are being treated (face it, you live long enough you acquire a laundry list of "yes, I have/had _____". My summary to them today was "nope, just the pesky heart defect".

I do have a CAT scan scheduled tomorrow morning (that came up late this afternoon so I haven't had a chance to mention it to my boss -- but his wife reads my blog, so he might be just about to find out). The CAT scan just gives the surgeon a little more information about what he'll find Monday morning. I'm all about him getting all the info he needs before he gets in there!

We learned more about next week's hospital stay and what to expect during the procedure and recovery. Lots of valuable information and it's nice to know as much as you can ahead of time, but there's a point where you just say "yeah, yeah, yeah, let's just do it already and get it over with!"

I'll be in the intensive care unit for 24 hours after surgery, which means Tuesday morning I'll be moved (by wheelchair even, not by gurney) to a regular recovery room (private, thankfully). My total hospital stay (I'm expecting a swift, smooth recovery with no complications) should have me home Friday or Saturday. I'm shooting for Friday.

Visiting hours are 11:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. Tony'll be pulling some long hours at my bedside so he would welcome some friendly faces, too, I'm sure. Here's where to find us:
http://www.sjmercyhealth.org/body.cfm?id=33

Wish us well and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Home stretch

2006-01-16T14:57:00.000Z

Well, I'm in the home stretch leading up the my surgery and reality is setting in. Yesterday at home I started having what can only be described as sudden, violent mood swings. Poor Tony didn't know what was happening. I apologized and advised him that his best strategy for survival over the next week is to keep a very low profile and/or bow to my every whim. He seemed to understand and began obliging me.

Despite the aforementioned mood swings, it was actually a very nice weekend. We had friends over Friday for dinner and games. Saturday I met a dear friend in Ann Arbor for lunch, shopping, and catching up. The rest of the weekend was spent at home with Tony, watching tv and movies. Absolutely nothing was accomplished and I loved it!

At work this morning I sent my company-wide email informing everyone of my upcoming leave of absence. None of the gory details of why I was going to be gone -- I approached it strictly as the practical need to inform everyone of my absence. After the initial email, however, I sent some individual notes and responded to questions as they came. I definitely don't mind talking about my upcoming ordeal, but it seems so dramatic to just whip it out of the blue and say "oh, I won't be here Monday, I'm having open heart surgery".

This Wednesday I have my pre-surgery physical at my surgeon's office (he comes highly recommended, by the way - we've heard excellent things from other medical professionals, as well as former patients). After Wednesday, I'll have more information about my hospital stay. At that time I'll post information about visiting hours and directions, as I would LOVE to have visitors and see some friendly faces while I'm laid up.

Cow valve?! What the.....?

2006-01-04T19:49:00.000Z

Tony and I went to St Joe's yesterday afternoon for office visits with my surgeon and my cardiologist. All went well - no new roadblocks, some questions answered, minimal poking and prodding, and no one made me feel like crying - generally good visits.

During the surgical consultation, my doctor asked what type of valve we are thinking about - I said a tissue/pig valve. Doc agreed with my reasoning in selecting the tissue over the mechanical valve at this time. Then he asked if I wanted a pig valve or a cow valve. Now, I was aware that cow valves are also in the pool of possible replacement parts, but most of the reading I've done was centered on pig valves. Apparently cow valves are equally popular as pig valves and offer a viable option.

Two things:
1 - My first thought was "Pig valve! It's gotta be the pig valve! Months worth of teasing and mockery have been endured with more to come -- we can't change tracks now!!"
2 - I can't imagine I'm going to notice the difference, and I have no criteria with which to make this decision (is one prettier than the other? does it clash with my aorta repair? which one is more slimming?).

I figure I'll leave the final decision to the doc, but here's hoping for the pig valve.

Missing!

2006-01-02T22:59:00.000Z

My darling brother created this and presented me with a full-size copy (suitable for wall-hanging) at Christmas. It's very creative and a very entertaining read.

http://home.comcast.net/~gartrell/Arnold_is_Missing.pdf

There's nothing quite like a brother's love to help see you through.

Thanks, Rich.
:-)

Lists

2005-12-30T16:47:00.000Z

The past month has found me drowning in lists of things to do. Mental lists and paper lists, it seems I've been just swimming in details.

List of things to do at work before holiday shutdown
List of things to do for work during holiday shutdown
List of Christmas gifts to buy and wrap
List of Christmas goodies to make
List of groceries to buy in order to make Christmas goodies
List of things to do over holiday shutdown (personal appts as well as yes, some recreation)
List of things to do for Tony Co (aka CompuLogic) before year-end
List of doctor appointments to schedule for January
List of things to do at work the first three weeks in January (closing out 2005, getting 2006 up and running, preparing for my leave of absence)
List of people I want to email - some I get around to, but too many I don't

Some of the lists are now completed, while others remain outstanding. As I work my way through them, I do feel the weight of all the details lessening a little; things start to come into sharper focus as the flow of To Do's subsides a little.

Luckily, it seems that one event has escaped the whirlwind detail frenzy that has been consuming me lately. New Year's Eve is tomorrow and Tony and I are planning our traditional New Year's Extravaganza(!!). Somehow, things are falling into place nicely without me sweating any of the details. I'm glad for this, as the last thing I need right now is another list. Maybe New Year's is going to be the oasis in the middle of these two chaotic months for me. I can definitely handle that!

Have a Happy New Year!!
:-)

Perfect Timing!

2005-12-14T17:17:00.000Z

My Chocolate-Covered Caramel Corn arrived today!!!!!

:-)

(reference previous post "Chocolate-Covered Caramel Corn", 11/8/05)

D-Day 2006

2005-12-14T15:10:00.000Z

Okay, not D-Day, more like HVR Day. I've scheduled my heart valve replacement for Monday, January 23. Bright and early - gotta be there at 5:45 and then surgery at 7:30. Tony's not going to like having to get up so early - that's the sort of thing which could really throw his day off. ;-)

Glad I don't have to stay over in the hospital the night before (creepy!) but it seems odd to go into this "cold" without the overnight monitoring (or whatever they'd be doing to me if I were there).

The doctors and staff all seem so casual about open heart surgery... like it's no big deal. Which, to them, it really isn't; they're professionals, this is what they do, and they know that the risks to the patient are low. I'm glad for this confidence, and it doesn't come off as arrogant at all, purely self-assurance in what they do. Which gives me peace of mind to put myself in their hands.

However, I did get the feeling that I was scheduling to take my car in for service -- "Drop her off first thing Monday morning, leave her with us a few days, we'll have her up and running and back on the road by Friday".

Alcohol + Surgery = ????

2005-12-11T02:04:00.000Z

Two scenarios:

1 - Tony is NOT allowed to be at the bar while I'm in surgery. That's just a non-negotiable, no matter how much he begs.

2 - I will be on blood thinners (aka - no alcohol consumption) for three months after surgery.
Let's see.... surgery late-January, three months will take me to February, March, April....

Mark your calendars now for Cinco de Mayo - 2006!!
Better show up early; once I'm out of the gate, there's no telling how long I'll last.

Alas, my poor heart

2005-12-08T03:33:00.000Z

I've always had a heart murmur. By definition, my congenital heart defects were present at birth. Chronologically, in order of correction: holes in my heart as a newborn, coarctation (narrowing) of the aorta as a pre-teen, and now stenotic (narrowed) aortic valve. As one of my aunts lovingly described me at a gathering this summer "She was born all messed up." Thanks, Aunt _____, I'm taking that with a grain of salt. ;-)

However, I've been lucky never to have experienced a moment of symptoms or limitations as a result. The holes in my heart at birth corrected themselves (I guess this condition isn't entirely uncommon in newborns and most often the heart can heal itself as it continues to develop in early infancy). The two more permanent defects are related to my aorta and aortic valve.

The aorta is the main artery leaving the heart and feeding the entire body (with oxygen-rich blood straight from the lungs). The aortic valve is the gateway from the left ventricle to the aorta. My narrowed aorta was repaired when I was 12; my aortic valve will be replaced next month. Apparently, these two defects often travel as a couple, which makes sense - they're both in the same general area and if that part of the heart hasn't developed properly it stands to reason they'll both be affected. I was comforted to see that the treatment I've been receiving seems pretty textbook (aorta repaired pre-teen and valve replaced later in adulthood).

Back to the murmur.... I've always known I had a heart murmur, but it wasn't until .. oh, about a year and a half ago, that I really and truly understood the uniqueness of my heartbeat (resulting from my defective valve). At my annual OB/GYN appt (of all places!) last year, I finally heard a side-by-side comparison of my heartbeat and a "normal" heartbeat. Wow! That was an eye-opener!

If a normal heartbeat is ba-bump ba-bump ba-bump, then mine would be more like ba-swoosh ba-swoosh ba-swoosh. Definitely not "normal"!

Well, after the dust from my doctor/surgeon appts this summer settled, and a course of action (valve replacement) was planned, it dawned on me that my heartbeat will be altered as a result. How weird to think of something so elemental to your existence as being changed! Not wanting to miss out on what was happening to my body, I went out and dropped a few bucks and picked myself up a shiny new stethoscope.

Now I (and anyone else with an interest or curiosity) can hear my heartbeat any old time. And then next year listen again and see how it's changed. [enter pig valve oink/squeal joke here]

mmm....Flannels!

2005-12-07T12:26:00.000Z

I love my flannel sheets!! My husband isn't too crazy about them (he's basically a human furnace, though, so the added warmth isn't welcomed by him). I tend to run a little warm myself but crawling into a cold bed is just not fun. And I do love cozying down under all the covers in the winter.

I'm taking advantage of this week by putting the flannels on the bed. Hey, what he doesn't know won't hurt him.

I love my flannel sheets!!

Bread and water, again?

2005-12-01T12:58:00.000Z

Thinking ahead to my up-coming stint at St Joe's, do you think they let patients register at the hospital gift shop?

Yesterday I was admiring some of the goodies in the Oakwood Hospital gift shop window (we were visiting Tony's grandma -- she'll be okay, just had some nasty side effects to being taken off her blood pressure medication cold-turkey). As we passed the gift shop window, several things caught my eye - the oversized teddy bear dressed for the holidays, the snack basket (complete with a can of Pringles and a box of Whopper's), along with all the usual hospital gift shop staples (flowers, cards, stuffed animals, etc).

I'm not sure if registering is the way to go, but I expect I'll be extremely appreciative of any edible contraband smuggled in via family and friends as they visit me (once I'm allowed "solids" of course). I'm sure I'll be limited to standard hospital fare while at St Joe's (although I hear hospital cuisine has been making major advancements in the past few years). Double whammy to me, I'll be recuperating in a cardiac care unit so I'm sure I'll be facing more than my fair share of sugar-free, sodium-free, caffeine-free whatever.

Not like I'll feel up for any gourmet multi-course meals those first few post-surgical days, however. But the occasional curly fry, or bite of a roast beef sandwich (complete with Arby's AND Horsey sauces, of course) might just lift my spirits more than low-sodium chicken broth with a sugar-free clear jello chaser.

Indulgence

2005-11-22T15:18:00.000Z

I've been indulging myself lately. Food, drink, the mall.... I'm diving into all the classic vices. It's the perfect season for it though. Hey, I'm a little stressed, so I'm cutting loose a little and allowing myself to get away with it guilt-free.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thinking about my upcoming surgery, but it's not like I'm burdened with worry. And face it, this is a normally stressful time of year for anyone. Why fight the urge to spoil myself? I figure I'll ride it out, make myself happy, and worry about "being good" next year.

In the meantime I say "eat, drink, and be merry"!

Holiday Season

2005-11-20T13:56:00.000Z

The holiday season is upon us!! The last couple months have flown by so friggin' fast, I just can't believe it. I know I say that every year (along with everyone else), but man, this year it was record speed!

I really have an itch for Christmas this year; I've even started a little Christmas shopping! Pretty impressive when you consider I usually wait until at LEAST the late teens of December before I venture out, then it becomes a chaotic, unenjoyable race against time. However, the record should clearly show that I have not, repeat have NOT, listened to a single Christmas carol yet -- once I pay Turkey Day it's due respect, then I move my attention fully onto Christmas, but not a moment sooner.

I have this week off from work (pretty much a tradition now); and as luck would have it, Tony's work schedule has him at home (working part-time from home) this week, too. Yes, there's a "Honey Do" list of holiday-prep for the next few days (getting ready to host the big meal on Thursday), but also plenty of time to relax and enjoy being home (watching movies, sleeping in, etc). It's also on the agenda (hopefully today) to venture to a theater and see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Happy Thanksgiving!

'Tis but a scratch!*

2005-11-17T15:59:00.000Z

Much to my husband's disappointment, I've never been one to show a lot of cleavage. Not a prudish decision, just hasn't been my style. I've got the goods, I just haven't been one to flaunt them. Lately however, I find I'm seeking out tops with slightly more daring necklines; nothing flashy or inappropriate, just a little more oomph. Wearing softer necklines does make me feel more feminine, and if a little extra attention or appreciation is generated by them, I don't hate that.

I suppose it could be seen as pathetic or needy (vain, actually) of me, but sporting my future surgical scar is the part of my valve replacement I'm least looking forward to. Okay, the part about them stopping my heart isn't my favorite either. But I have full faith in the doctors to get the old pumper working again on cue. The scar, however, will be with me the rest of my life. A small price to pay when you consider the alternative, but still.

I guess altering my style of dress is a pre-emptive strike against any insecurities I'll feel about the scar. I'm not going to wear turtlenecks every day for the rest of my life, which means the scar WILL be partially visible on a regular basis no matter what I choose to wear. I don't want to gross anyone out (me in particular) but I don't want to feel I have to hide it either.

All things considered, there are much, much worse conditions people live with every day. I'll try not to let a little scratch turn into a chip on my shoulder. Plus, sporting a visible war wound could be an ice-breaking conversation starter!

* Black Knight, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 1975.

I've got a good husband

2005-11-08T15:56:00.000Z

Flowers were delivered to me at my desk today at work. Just because, from the husband. He's alright.

Thanks, Tony.

:-)

Chocolate-Covered Caramel Corn

2005-11-08T13:16:00.000Z

I LOVE chocolate-covered caramel corn!! A couple years ago, a boy scout fundraiser table by the checkouts at Kroger helped me to discover this fact. What the heck I'll buy some, it's for a good cause and it sure sounds like it'd be tasty enough ... Man, was it!!!

Unfortunately, I haven't had any luck in locating a fix outside of fundraisers. Recently I was able to satisfy my craving by picking up a couple of tubs from a co-worker (her daughter's fundraiser). Two tubs figuring I'd eat one right away and "save" the other one for later. Apparently two days later was "later" enough for me. (I'm weak what can I say)

Just now I saw another flier in the cafeteria. Whoo hooo!! More chocolate-covered caramel corn! Gotta love those fundraisers. What the heck, it's for a good cause.
:-)

Climbing out of my slump

2005-11-08T12:06:00.000Z

I've been in a physical and emotional slump for a couple weeks and I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe the time change, lack of physical exercise (yes, I've been sluffing off), just wanting to be into the recovery phase of my valve replacement so I don't have to think about it anymore (I think Tony would agree with this one). I've been tired the past couple weeks and start to think too much about whether I feel okay - am I feeling symptoms or am I just out of shape? Smart money's on the latter. But I'm happy to announce that I think yesterday was rock bottom of the funk and I'm starting to surface.

Heather came over last night and we worked out. Yes, the walk was pretty lame as I was nowhere near wanting to jog for too long (nor able to) but she really kicked my ass when we got downstairs working with our fitness balls. I am continuously amazed that she can show up each week with several new moves to show me -- but I guess that's why she's a great personal trainer. Although, there are times I start to wonder if she's really just trying to kill me. *evil sneer* (I'm not the most graceful person and balancing on that ball can be a challenge) but I pull through and am able to come out the other side of the workout. Bless her heart for not giving up on me. :-)

Opening Night

2005-11-03T22:04:00.000Z

Yesterday was the Pistons home opener at the Palace; Tony and I were lucky enough to be in attendence along with a couple of friends. Nice dinner at Monterrey Cantina in Royal Oak, then off to the game.

Tony and I both landed our "first 10,000 attendees" Ben Wallace figurines. Ah, Ben... *blush*

Is it my imagination, or is the figure the spitting image of Rip Hamilton just with more hair? (No, you can't tell from the pic) Either way, the "Ben" figurine makes a nice counterpart to my Chauncey bobblehead.

Donor Tryouts

2005-11-01T18:00:00.000Z

I've shared this picture with family and friends, but I definitely think it's worthy of posting here, too (the piggies are just too cute).

In an effort to do the little guy's (or girl's) contribution justice, I'm working with a personal trainer to try to get myself in shape. The piggy will be making the ultimate sacrifice on my behalf and I want to make the most of it.

The more I work out, though, the more convinced I am that all this (exercise) will be easier for me after I have my valve replaced. If my current valve is only opening about 1/3 as far as it should to allow blood to circulate to my entire body, it stands to reason that a new valve will make everything so much easier for me. Since this is the only condition I've ever known and have no other frame of reference for my physical potential, I'm excited to see what life will be like after the surgery (and how much easier - *fingers crossed* - everything will be).

Twelve Weeks and Counting

2005-11-01T17:48:00.000Z

The clock's a-tickin'and the countdown continues. Looks like January 23, 2006 (or the week of anyway) will be the big day for me. And a not-so-big day for the poor little piggy. Of course, he might already have made his contribution - is it weird that I really want to find out where and how the little guys are raised when their destiny is medical science (ie supplying me with a fresh new heart valve)?

Over the next couple weeks I'm going to call the surgeon's office at St Joe's and start making the necessary appointments. I've got to work in one more office visit with my cardiologist, too, before I go for the full physical exam, chest x-ray, blood work, and final surgical consultation prior to the actual Big Event (likely all this will happen in January). Also I need to work with the Red Cross to start banking some blood (shouldn't need it, but it'll be nice to have just in case).

First Ever Blog

2005-11-01T16:18:00.000Z

I have started a blog! Or maybe I have started blogging. I'm not sure if "blog" is a noun or a verb. Let's just assume it's both.
:-)