Playing with the barking doggie Great Grandma sent her and Kristie!
Jumping!
Sticking out her tongue...
I love my froggie!
Two pretty girls!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Fun Photos
Playing with the barking doggie Great Grandma sent her and Kristie!Jumping!Sticking out her tongue...I love my froggie!Two pretty girls!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Kristie update
Kristie had her pap smear and EKG on Monday. The pap smear did not go well but we muddled thru it...she's never had one before so you can imagine what that was all about. The EKG went well, her heart is normal so that's good news.
All we have left for the pre-transplant tests are the shots - we'll do that at the next doctor's visit.
We see her kidney doctor on March 10 and will review her stats at that time.
Please keep praying.
Yesterday, after dropping Kristie off at her program, I went to the dentist to get a cavity fixed in my wisdom tooth of all places. It was horrible! The whole right side of my face was numb and it was in such an awkward area that it was hard to reach...sigh, so hard. Anyway, glad that's over with! Came home and took a two hour nap to get rid of the splitting headache.
Okay, I'll quit whining now.
I LOVE
the sun's warmth - I've had one day of sun in the last month!
blue skies
carnitas
Trader Joes
California oranges
Lemons from Katie's tree
All we have left for the pre-transplant tests are the shots - we'll do that at the next doctor's visit.
We see her kidney doctor on March 10 and will review her stats at that time.
Please keep praying.
Yesterday, after dropping Kristie off at her program, I went to the dentist to get a cavity fixed in my wisdom tooth of all places. It was horrible! The whole right side of my face was numb and it was in such an awkward area that it was hard to reach...sigh, so hard. Anyway, glad that's over with! Came home and took a two hour nap to get rid of the splitting headache.
Okay, I'll quit whining now.
I LOVE
the sun's warmth - I've had one day of sun in the last month!
blue skies
carnitas
Trader Joes
California oranges
Lemons from Katie's tree
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Kristie Update
A quick Kristie update...her kidneys are still at 17% but now she is feeling nauseous at times which is a sign they are not functioning well. We go to the doctor tomorrow to finish the tests the transplant unit assigned us. She has to have a couple of shots and an EKG and a pap smear (which she’s never had before) so please pray for her in that regard; that it will be easy for her.
She had a GREAT time at Katie and Nich's - we just returned from Sacramento late last night. Thank you Katie for being such a fantastic, loving, supportive sister and thank you to Nicholas for always having such loving spirit towards her...you know she ADORES you!
Callamazoo was soooo SWEET! We had some major bonding time. I think I left my camera at their house...oops! Check Katie's site for some up-to-date cute photos.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Photos
Miss Mazoo and her double chin
Kristie brailling one of Calla's baby board books
She loves her highchair!
I like applesauce, bananas, rice cereal, sweet potatoes...but not carrots!
The cutest baby in the whole world!
This is the Raggedy Ann I personally sewed for Katie when she was a baby. She nows shares Calla's crib with Raggedy Andy that Nich's Mom made for him when he was a baby. It was meant to be!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Travel
We're just arrived home from our trip to Las Vegas...had SO MUCH FUN! We went to M&M world - unbelievable!
We had our Valentine's Day on Sunday by going to Mario Batali's restaurant at the Venetian in Vegas, called the B&B. It was incredible! So delicious! We had the tasting menu and Nigel declared it the best Italian meal he'd ever eaten. That is exactly how Katie and I felt when we ate at his restaurant - Babbo - in New York. If you ever have the chance to eat at a Mario Batali restaurant....do it!
Then we went to a show...the LeRev at the Wynn. We didn't expect it to be very good; I don't know why. Probably because we really wanted to see either The Producers with Tony Dansen (over with) or Bette Midler (doesn't open until the 20th) or Toni Braxton (on vacation)...sigh. So we settled for this show and it was INDESCRIBEABLE! I would highly recommend experiencing this show. We even got front row seats. Its a show by circdosole - okay you now who I mean - and if you ever see its shows, you know what I'm talking about.
Its 9:30 p.m. I'm leaving tomorrow at 10 a.m. for Sacramento to give my Kristie a big hug who's been at Katie's for 6 days and snug bug with Callamazoo! Gotta go repack!
We had our Valentine's Day on Sunday by going to Mario Batali's restaurant at the Venetian in Vegas, called the B&B. It was incredible! So delicious! We had the tasting menu and Nigel declared it the best Italian meal he'd ever eaten. That is exactly how Katie and I felt when we ate at his restaurant - Babbo - in New York. If you ever have the chance to eat at a Mario Batali restaurant....do it!
Then we went to a show...the LeRev at the Wynn. We didn't expect it to be very good; I don't know why. Probably because we really wanted to see either The Producers with Tony Dansen (over with) or Bette Midler (doesn't open until the 20th) or Toni Braxton (on vacation)...sigh. So we settled for this show and it was INDESCRIBEABLE! I would highly recommend experiencing this show. We even got front row seats. Its a show by circdosole - okay you now who I mean - and if you ever see its shows, you know what I'm talking about.
Its 9:30 p.m. I'm leaving tomorrow at 10 a.m. for Sacramento to give my Kristie a big hug who's been at Katie's for 6 days and snug bug with Callamazoo! Gotta go repack!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Women and Heart Attacks
Here is an article I received from one of my friends that I thing is definitely worth reading!
Women have different symptoms than men.
A NURSES HEART ATTACK EXPERIENCE
Please read, pay attention, and send it on!
FEMALE HEART ATTACKS
I was aware that female heart attacks are different, but this is the
best description I've ever read. Women and heart attacks (Myocardial
infarction) Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic
symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack...you know, the
sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest
& dropping to the floor that we see in the movies.
Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack.
"I had a completely unexpected heart attack at about 10:30 PM with NO
prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect
might've brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold
evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story
my friend had sent me, and actually thinking,"A-A-h, this is the life,
all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up
,"A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when
you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it
down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like
you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion
and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it
down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink
a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was
my initial sensation---the only trouble was t hat I hadn't taken a bite
of anything since about 5:00 p.m.
"After that had seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little
squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it
was probably my aorta spasming), gaining speed as they continued
racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses
rhythmically when administering CPR). This fascinating process
continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws.
"AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening--we all have
read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of
an MI happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat,
"Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack !"
I lowered the foot rest, dumping the cat from my lap, started to take
a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself "If this is
a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the
phone is or anywhere else.......but, on the other hand, if I don't,
nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not
be able to get up in moment."
"I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the
next room and dialed the Paramedics... I told her I thought I was
having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum
and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just
stating the facts. She said she was sending the Paramedics over
immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to
unbolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me
when they came in.
"I then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness,
as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting
me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the
call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken
when we arrived and saw that the Cardiologist was already there in his
surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of
the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably
something like "Have you taken any medications?") but I couldn't make
my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded
off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had
already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into
the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side by side stents
to hold open my right coronary artery.
"I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have
taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the Paramedics, but
actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the
fire station and St. Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my
Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going
on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival
and the procedure) and installing the stents. "Why have I written
all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who
are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand."
1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body
not the usual men's symptoms but inexplicable things happening (until
my sternum and jaws got into the act). It is said that many more
women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't
know they were having one and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take
some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation and go to bed, hoping
they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up....which doesn't
happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like
mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is
unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to
have a "false alarm" visitatio n than to risk your life guessing what
it might be!
2. Note that I said "Call the Paramedics." Ladies, TIME IS OF THE
ESSENCE! Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER--you're a hazard to
others on the road and so is your panicked husband who will be
speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of
the road.Do NOT call your doctor--he doesn't know where you live and
if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his
assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the
Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to
be saved! The Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP.
Your Dr. will be notified later.
3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a
normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol
elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's
unbelievably high and/or accompanied by high blood pressure). MIs are
usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which
dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things
up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be
careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could
survive.
Women have different symptoms than men.
A NURSES HEART ATTACK EXPERIENCE
Please read, pay attention, and send it on!
FEMALE HEART ATTACKS
I was aware that female heart attacks are different, but this is the
best description I've ever read. Women and heart attacks (Myocardial
infarction) Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic
symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack...you know, the
sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest
& dropping to the floor that we see in the movies.
Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack.
"I had a completely unexpected heart attack at about 10:30 PM with NO
prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect
might've brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold
evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story
my friend had sent me, and actually thinking,"A-A-h, this is the life,
all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up
,"A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when
you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it
down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like
you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion
and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it
down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink
a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was
my initial sensation---the only trouble was t hat I hadn't taken a bite
of anything since about 5:00 p.m.
"After that had seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little
squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it
was probably my aorta spasming), gaining speed as they continued
racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses
rhythmically when administering CPR). This fascinating process
continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws.
"AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening--we all have
read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of
an MI happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat,
"Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack !"
I lowered the foot rest, dumping the cat from my lap, started to take
a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself "If this is
a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the
phone is or anywhere else.......but, on the other hand, if I don't,
nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not
be able to get up in moment."
"I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the
next room and dialed the Paramedics... I told her I thought I was
having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum
and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just
stating the facts. She said she was sending the Paramedics over
immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to
unbolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me
when they came in.
"I then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness,
as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting
me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the
call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken
when we arrived and saw that the Cardiologist was already there in his
surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of
the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably
something like "Have you taken any medications?") but I couldn't make
my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded
off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had
already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into
the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side by side stents
to hold open my right coronary artery.
"I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have
taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the Paramedics, but
actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the
fire station and St. Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my
Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going
on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival
and the procedure) and installing the stents. "Why have I written
all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who
are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand."
1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body
not the usual men's symptoms but inexplicable things happening (until
my sternum and jaws got into the act). It is said that many more
women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't
know they were having one and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take
some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation and go to bed, hoping
they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up....which doesn't
happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like
mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is
unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to
have a "false alarm" visitatio n than to risk your life guessing what
it might be!
2. Note that I said "Call the Paramedics." Ladies, TIME IS OF THE
ESSENCE! Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER--you're a hazard to
others on the road and so is your panicked husband who will be
speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of
the road.Do NOT call your doctor--he doesn't know where you live and
if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his
assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the
Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to
be saved! The Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP.
Your Dr. will be notified later.
3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a
normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol
elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's
unbelievably high and/or accompanied by high blood pressure). MIs are
usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which
dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things
up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be
careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could
survive.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Kristie Update
Kristie had her monthly appt today. The good news is that her creatnine level is 3.2 and her hematocrit was 3.7, so she didn't have to have the EPO shot.
The bad news is her kidneys are only functioning at 17%. (Down from 20% last month. If they get down to 10%, she has to go on dialysis. The transplant team has given us a list of tests she has to do; our Dr. suggested we get those done by the end of the month.
We can check off the eccocardiogram and the chest xray.
Please pray. Thanks.
The bad news is her kidneys are only functioning at 17%. (Down from 20% last month. If they get down to 10%, she has to go on dialysis. The transplant team has given us a list of tests she has to do; our Dr. suggested we get those done by the end of the month.
We can check off the eccocardiogram and the chest xray.
Please pray. Thanks.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Casey Helm
I attended a Celebration of Life for Casey Helm last Wednesday. Casey was a child with special needs and he was 17 years old. It was a time to remember how delightful Casey was and how many people he touched during his short life. His Mom, Kristi, is a good friend of mine.
The flyer his family created for each attendee had Casey's photo on it and this inside:
Casey is and was an angel. He deeply touched everyone who knew him with his special joy of life. In remembrance of Casey and to honor his legacy, we ask you to try to live your lives with these commitments:
1. Smile more and often
2. Every day, laugh at a silly joke, be a little goofy, hug a friend.
3. Every day, learn at least one important fact about history that will teach you how to make the future better.
4. Ask a question, don't stop asking until you get an answer that satisfies you. Be persistent.
5. Every day, say to at least one person, "I love you."
These are things that Casey did daily. Think about how much better the world would be if we all did these five simple things every day.
This is GREAT advice...let's all do it! Thank you Casey for your legacy and I know you're smiling down at us right now!
The flyer his family created for each attendee had Casey's photo on it and this inside:
Casey is and was an angel. He deeply touched everyone who knew him with his special joy of life. In remembrance of Casey and to honor his legacy, we ask you to try to live your lives with these commitments:
1. Smile more and often
2. Every day, laugh at a silly joke, be a little goofy, hug a friend.
3. Every day, learn at least one important fact about history that will teach you how to make the future better.
4. Ask a question, don't stop asking until you get an answer that satisfies you. Be persistent.
5. Every day, say to at least one person, "I love you."
These are things that Casey did daily. Think about how much better the world would be if we all did these five simple things every day.
This is GREAT advice...let's all do it! Thank you Casey for your legacy and I know you're smiling down at us right now!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Eccocardiogram
Kristie had her Eccocardiogram today at 11 a.m. Basically, is an ultrasound for the heart. Took about 20 minutes. She was very brave since she HATES ultrasounds. When she had the kidney ultrasound, she fought it the entire time. Anyway, this one she took well. She liked the technician, Doug, and he talked to us the whole time. Even turned the sound up so she could listen to her heart make all these interesting sounds...who knew your insides make all this noise?!
Then we went to Kristie's favorite place for lunch which is Taco Del Mar. She always has the half size burrito with beans and chicken. I usually have the fish taco.
Then we went to Costco to get birthday gifts for Nigel...I forget how old he is but anyway he's the birthday boy today. We're going to Cafe Juanita for his birthday dinner tonight; never been there before, so will let you know how it goes. Kristie is hoping they have chocolate cake...hmmm.
Am in Reno Friday and Saturday until 4 p.m. Get to see Callamazoo and Katie and Nicholas tomorrow and spend the night with them in Reno at the Silver Legacy. I think its time Katie and I win at the 21 table...yes, definitely, its time. Will let you know just how much we win upon my return.
Monday is Kristie's monthly appt with the kidney specialist - a shot that day too. Not fun for her.
Still reading Eat, Pray, Love...she has arrived in Indonesia where she wants to live for 3 months, but when she arrives they tell her she can only stay for one month. Well, well, well.
Then we went to Kristie's favorite place for lunch which is Taco Del Mar. She always has the half size burrito with beans and chicken. I usually have the fish taco.
Then we went to Costco to get birthday gifts for Nigel...I forget how old he is but anyway he's the birthday boy today. We're going to Cafe Juanita for his birthday dinner tonight; never been there before, so will let you know how it goes. Kristie is hoping they have chocolate cake...hmmm.
Am in Reno Friday and Saturday until 4 p.m. Get to see Callamazoo and Katie and Nicholas tomorrow and spend the night with them in Reno at the Silver Legacy. I think its time Katie and I win at the 21 table...yes, definitely, its time. Will let you know just how much we win upon my return.
Monday is Kristie's monthly appt with the kidney specialist - a shot that day too. Not fun for her.
Still reading Eat, Pray, Love...she has arrived in Indonesia where she wants to live for 3 months, but when she arrives they tell her she can only stay for one month. Well, well, well.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Ramblings
This billboard was put up last year in Texas. It worked! Butch received his kidney - and 5 responded to the billboard! Kristie has Type A blood by the way.Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is my new favorite book. Run, don't walk, to the nearest book vendor and buy it, RIGHT NOW! Women will LOVE this book!
Elizabeth eats her way across Italy for 3 months, healing from a nasty two year divorce, and learning the Italian language, which she has always wanted to learn but never could because she was supposed to live a boring suburban life. Then she goes to India and lives at an Ashram for 3 months, learning how to quiet her mind and trying to focus on finding God. Then she goes to, mmm I forget where, to love...haven't gotten to that part yet.
She starts out the book by going on an assignment for the magazine she writes for and meets a "medicine man" who tells her that she should come back and live with his family; he will teach her his language and she will teach him english. He also tells her that she will lose all her money and almost immediatly will earn it all back.
Sure enough, she does lose all her money in the divorce (she was the main breadwinner for her husband and herself - no kids) but then she gains it all back by receiving an advance for this book from her publisher.
Her story about her journey and her writing is fascinating. I'm captivated.
Riverdance - yes we went to see it at the Paramount in Seattle on Saturday night. So much talent...they fly across the stage. It was awesome. Incredible. I wonder how much they have to practice?
Juno - we went to see it Sunday since we're not football fans. FANTASTIC! Go see this movie! Its quirky, funny, real, and has GREAT acting! Really well written. Its been nominated for 4 academy awards too. It brought back memories when I was pregnant with Katie when I was 17 and still in high school. Katie attended my high school graduation with me - she was 3 months old and was so adorable! I remember there were 6 in our high school class of over 350 that got pregnant in our senior year. We all tried to hide our "condition" but of course everyone knew. At least I graduated early and saved myself having to be in the high school environment where they were constantly whispering behind your back. So I stayed home and ate instead - gained 60 pounds - actually that was quite fun! I did enjoy it, I must admit.
Carnitas - I'm on a quest for the perfect recipe. Send me one if you have one.
Kristie Update - they are scheduling an eccocardiogram, maybe Thursday, but if not, we'll try to get the EKG and chest xray done instead. Her blood pressure was up for the last two weeks so her kidney doctor upped her blood pressure medication from 25 mg to 100 mg. Please pray her blood pressure stays in the 120 to 130 range. And pray that her kidneys stay at the 20% functioning level.
A reminder to all women out there - get your mammogram - had mine yesterday. And if you're thinking about being tested as a donor for Kristie, you have to get one done anyway.
I'm headed to Reno on Friday and Saturday to do some training for my team there. And, as a bonus, Katie, Calla and Nich are driving up to spend the night so I get some Calla time in. Yay!
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