Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:46 pm on June 26, 2021 Permalink  

  What Great Rain 

  Long waited and much appreciated rain today.  It will be interesting to see how long the brown stubble takes to change back to green. Dennis’ mower feels as it it has been abandoned over the last three weeks.

  My accomplishment today was to work towards filling the recycling bin.  Most of that came off of the dining room table.  Each trip to Mayo brings a multitude of paper.  I did go through each and every batch to make sure there was nothing important.  What does make it easier to recycle the wealth of paper is the Mayo Portal. Every appointment, visit, test, or clinical summery is right at the tips of my fingers.  

  Flat surfaces can’t help it.  It’s as if there is a homing device built in,  “Come here and let’s save it, let’s stack it, no one will notice.” After a week of it, we are lucky to have enough space for a cup of coffee to sit.

  The weekend is upon us.  We have plans to be in our beloved home.  I am in a state of feeling content taking the day as it comes.  Dennis has the option of taking his little red pickup for a spin to check out the town and his buds.  It works for both of us.

  Yes, Carrie, I am eating.  Nothing really appeals, but then what does that have to do with the price of rice.  This noon I had cold, diced, leftover liver with honey mustard for dipping.  Hmm . . . there was no one around to beat me to it. I wonder why.

   
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  Noreen 3:16 pm on June 25, 2021 Permalink  

  Leave It To Me 

  Sneezes have their purpose.  Let’s keep things tidy in the nose.  Sneezes can be quite the challenge when your chest is wired and glued together.  I have my hospital-given heart pillow close at hand and then hang on to it for all it’s worth.  The pillow was clutched as hard as I could and the chest was fine.  But, I puled a muscle in my left side.  Good grief!  Leave it to me.

  My first visit to a doctor since surgery.  Blood pressure and temp were good.  The incision looked AOK.  My hemoglobin was 8.3 when I was discharged.  In the six days I have been home, we have been working on getting more red meat into me.  A Kid’s Happy meal is not going to cut it.  Dennis was off to the store.  One of his purchases will be on the menus this evening . . . liver and onions.  We’ll get this done.  

  This morning it was brisk for the walk outside at 6:30.  No matter.  Me, my long pink nightie, slippers and the walker stepped it off.  Mission completion.

  I now have graduated to having a second chair for hanging out in that I can easily get in and up and out of.  Success in healing.

   
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  Noreen 12:53 pm on June 24, 2021 Permalink  

  No Rain 

  A few areas got well needed rain . .  not so much for us.  Dennis got the hose out to water our new shrubs as well as the two huge house plants that are sheltered under the Lilacs.  The leaves on the ornamental crab tree look shriveled today with the hot dry wind. 

  My heart rate does increase a bit getting the bra on each day.  Hey . . . I feel totally dressed up with no where to go.  The walker and I take a stroll down the drive and back,  around to the patio in the back and then enjoy a cup of coffee with Dennis.  It sure beats walking hospital halls.

  We had a visitor on the patio today and was questioned how I had avoided the swing bed in our hospital after being released as they would have started rehab immediately.  The first time my children met with the cardiac surgeon, the message was that when they released me it would be to my home for me to continue recovery.  Swing bed staff, sorry to say, are not aware of what to continue with in regard to heart surgery.  When leaving Saint Mary’s, I had the real deal instruction.  

  I believe from experience of the stroke, you are put in a swing bed and there you stay until you are lucky enough to have a nurse answer your call light.

  I am not to be pain free or not winded upon moving at this stage of the game.  I have lots of time to let my body heal from one hell of a job that the surgeon did.

   
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  Noreen 1:28 pm on June 23, 2021 Permalink  

  It’s Good 

  Last week at this time I was two sheets to the wind in the ICU, so knocked out by drugs that I would look at my hospital red wrist band to remind myself who I was.  A whirlwind of medical gowns in various colors.

  Today after a nap I still feel like I have been knocked out but when the eyelids flutter, I know I am in my beloved home.  The one puttering round and about me is my ole cowboy.  Sweet.

  There was activity in the kitchen today.  All that was required of me was to be sitting in the dining room chair if advice was needed.  There was a chocolate cake in the making.  Using what is on was the mission.  We now have a chocolate cake with Lemon frosting. Hmm.

  Chicken salad was to be noon lunch.  We both never get weary of chopped onions.  I can’t do it and Dennis can’t do it well.  Dennis cleaned and chunked the onion and put it in the blender with some water.  After he drained and dried the onion, we had noon lunch . . . with a whole lot of onion in a container for another day.

  Today I feel naked.  No longer does my incision need to be bound and covered, thus says the surgical nurse that called us this morning.  Air drying is the rule going forward.  The next highly suggested surgical step is putting on a bra.  Oh my gosh.  My sweet ole cowboy is just an innocent, but he is on board helping this evening.  Life is full of highly educated advice, who are we to argue.

   
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  Noreen 1:23 pm on June 22, 2021 Permalink  

  Each Day 

  When I realize that one week ago today, I was in ICU, what difference each day makes.

  It no longer feels like I am going to pull apart when I get up in the morning.  I am able to get myself going to be mobile round the house.  I do go to bed about nine each evening.  When there is no longer any spot that is comfortable, lying flat feels like an oasis.

  During the three months I was recovering from the stroke, each day there were new horizons to face and challenge through them.  I had energy.  That was then.

  Right now I see much that I would have been on like a flea on a dog.  Not right now.  By the time I am ready for the day getting dressed and breakfasted, I am ready for a nap and nap I do.

  I was hungry this noon and I got what I was hungry for . . . a Kid’s Happy Meal.  Go figure.

  Yes, I like each new day.

   
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  Noreen 2:17 pm on June 21, 2021 Permalink  

  Chilly Day 

  All four seasons in several days.  

  I slept for five hours straight last night.  Sweet!

  We have a walker that can have the wheels locked and can be sat on.  That is my driveway exercise for waking.

  St James’ nurse just called for a phone review.  All is progressing as deemed.

  Time for a sit-down.

   
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  Noreen 4:15 pm on June 20, 2021 Permalink  

  Wow 

  There has been a successful day on Stauffer. 

  Carrie came out from the metro to check on us.  Kevin and Kersten had brought me home from the hospital stay.  I had not seen Carrie since I had woke up from the surgery.  She filled in and added to the missing blanks I had from the time I took that first inhalation of gas that put me to sleep.

  Today I had a full shower and perhaps after quite a few more showers, the iodine will wash off of me from head to foot.  When Carrie left, I was sound asleep in my chair within moments.  Sweet.

  Dennis has an oven meal in the oven.  I pulled myself out of sleep to visit the bathroom and am going back to my wooden rocker until supper is ready.  It’s great to be home.

   
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  Noreen 5:21 pm on June 19, 2021 Permalink  

  I am home 

  Open heart surgery was on Tuesday and today is a short four days later and I am home after a successful surgery.  Will be laying low for a time to come.

   
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  Noreen 2:53 pm on June 12, 2021 Permalink  

  Tick-Tock 

  This was the best patio-sitting weather we have had for one long time.  Temps in the 70s with a breeze to blow my white hair at will.  There is considerably less of it than there was several days ago.  It was hair cut day on Thursday and I had Brenda trim it up and even do some thinning on the sides.  I know from experience, the “hospital bed-hair” look.  Why fight it.   

  It is actually a very quiet day for Dennis and me.  What we could imagine that needed tending, fixing or stocking up on before next week . . . has been done.  It is a more relaxed situation than being wheeled out of our home not knowing who or what has been left behind or for how long.  

  My ole cowboy is being left in the good hands of his family and friends.  Did I have second thoughts of not having Dennis stay with me in Rochester?  No.  Dennis will be tending our home while being where he can, and will stay on track with meds, rest, nourishment and the constant support of the three patio kitties.  The first thing I put in my hospital bag was my phone stand and phone charger.  There will be no shortage of “Can you hear me now?”  There are few things that are harder on the hardiest of family members than waiting.  Dennis will be waiting for news while being able to put his head back on his rocker and checking out his eyelids for cracks.  It will be for the best for the both of us.

  I have been doing quite a bit of walking these last several days.  Being in the Cat scan for the 45 minutes, it did a number on my back and hips.  Talk about a hard surface.  I also needed to have both of my arms held straight above my head for the scan.  They needed to assist them in place and put a band with padding on my wrists to hold together where needed.  Afterwards they gently helped them go to my sides.  The reverse shoulders may not have been fond of it, but I surely didn’t  want to have to repeat the scan by not getting the reading that was needed.  I don’t know why it needed to be as cold as it was in the room.  I know my teeth were chattering and that may have been in part that my heart rate needed to be brought down to 50 before the dye was injected into the IV.  They apologized for it.  With being cold, muscles tighten up and walking since then has helped to loosen up before the next instance will be taking place of not being mobile for a duration.  The best news was that there was no narrowing or blockage of arteries and veins.  It was all worth it.

  With the great plans of Kevin and Carrie, Sunday evening, I will be in Rochester to finish up the tests on Monday morning bright and early.  First thing on Tuesday, the 15th, I will be in the hands of the Lord and a skilled heart surgeon and his team.

  This will be the last posting until I am back home on Stauffer Avenue from Saint Mary’s in Rochester.  It’s been great folks and I will look forward to being with you soon.

  “Because He Lives . . . I Can Face Tomorrow.”

   
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  Noreen 2:13 pm on June 11, 2021 Permalink  

  Welcomed Rain 

  The rain came at a great time this morning.  Dennis had been hell bent on mowing to even things out.  Now with this rain he can mow without it looking like a stubble field after the oat harvest had been completed.  Many had mowed their yards as the days of 90+ degrees continued and the results were stubble field looks.  The rain has taken the temps down into the 70s.  It may be a short reprieve but well deserved.

  Things are going along great.  I tested negative for covid.  Great news.  All of the prep work for surgery would have been in vain.  I had heard too many stories of false positives.  One of the surgeon’s assistants called this noon and the 3-D Cat scan paid off. I have no narrowing or blocked issues with my arteries.  

  Today was a day for me to get my home in order.  I know dang well that it is going to not last . . . but I know I did my due diligence before turning it over to my ole cowboy on Sunday.  His daughter stopped in this noon and assured me, there will be plenty of distractions for Dennis while I am in the hospital.

  The house smells so good with both beds having had freshly-laundered bedding.  I prefer sleeping under a sheet and then under feathers.  Getting the duvet on is something else.  I have watched videos on it and it is still a pain in the drain.  I have wondered how many times some of the videos needed to be repeated before there was the one that made it seem as if success was done the first try.

  The last “i” to dot came this afternoon from a pharmacist in Rochester to go over meds that I am taking, those that I have stopped taking for the procedure on their timeline, and what I will resume after.  I must say, the communication through these last weeks has been awesome. 

  Nonetheless . . . “All is Well With My Soul.”