HeartRocksHome

A two part story.

Part 1:

Have you even misplaced something?
Finally just given up on EVER finding it again?
I did - it was my big fake teeth.
My sisters and I wore them for a skit at a family reunion.

(Sorry Barb..I know you hate this little snap - she is a beautician and her reputation is on the line)
I carried them around in my purse for a long time.
LOVED them.
Then they just went missing.
Who knows where?
I gave up on them.
THEN - just the other day - rooting around I found them.
So excited.
Aren't they great?
I use to love taking them out of my purse and slipping them on and turning to RR at unexpected times, ie - driving in the car -  church - shopping - lunch.
HA HA HA


Part 2:
I think my teeth need whitening.
Not "these my teeth" - but my real teeth.
I called around to check prices and then decided since our mail box is having to do jumping jacks to gasp for air with all the incoming medical bills - I'd do the Crest white strips.
They are pretty good, actually.
They are better than last time I used them, have a little adhesive in them so they aren't flipping off while you are wearing them.
I felt like I was making progress and so walked in to ask RR if he could tell....

HA HA HA
I love that I found my fake teeth.
Even RR laughed out loud.
I loved hearing him laugh out loud.
I loved laughing out loud.
HA HA HA

It has been a month.

Post about heart surgery. Sorry, I just still have to talk about it.

Actually four weeks and four days.
If you are counting.
And we are.
Heart surgery is just a big deal.

We met with Dr R - the surgeon that can perform miracles...today.
For the last time.
He is quiet and unassuming.
And a genius.
As we left today (after he said everything is perfect)...I said, "This has sure been a big deal."
And he said, "It is a big deal."
I can't seem to quit thinking and talking about this event in OUR lives.
I didn't have surgery - you'd think I could just move on with my life - wouldn't you?
I can't.
What RR had was a deformed mitral valve.
He does not have heart disease - we count our blessings.
But his value was 'severely prolapsed'.
So it had to be repaired - or replace. (Gratefully his was repaired - not replaced)
Because he has excellent health and after a battery of tests were performed - it was determined that he would be a candidate for robotic surgery.
Sounds so simple - right?
Just make some little incisions and go in there with robotic arms and and fix that dang valve.
Well....
Our first clue should have been in the prep area when they put the ID tags on his ankle instead of his wrist.
If you have ID tags on your ankle - it is probably a surgery - that is a big deal.
Like Dr R said...little incisions - big surgery.

Not only was the surgery a big deal.
What has happened since the surgery is a big deal.
Before the surgery - the little yellow tab indicates what his lung capacity was...

In the hospital he could get that plunger up to 1000 just 400 shy of pre-surgery. He was limited by pain and inflammation, mostly.
Well - just last night his capacity was 3500.
A big deal.
in fact, the funniest story.
The first week we went to church after the surgery on the way home RR said, "I can sing!"
I gasped, "You mean - the surgery made it so you can carry a tune!"
"No (dang it) I had enough air to say all the words."
We shared that with Dr R today and he laughed and said - he would have to charge extra if he could carry a tune, now.
Heart surgery is traumatic in so many ways.
BUT....each day there is an upward trend as he progresses and gets better.
Because his heart was working twice (that is RIGHT - TWICE - normal) the heart muscle became enlarged and now it has to restructure. Just like when you don't use a muscle it changes...the heart is a muscle and RR was 'overworked' and so it has to restructure - back- to a healthy size.
That takes time and well, it takes a lot of energy.
RR will probably not be back on top of his game for several months, but each day a little better.
So naps are in order.
All the things we are grateful for:
1 - The miracle of information that the Lord has revealed to scientists and medical professionals.
Did you know that after they stop a heart and operate on it...the way to get it pumping again - is- they just put blood back into it and it begins to pump.
2 - Wonderful nurses. There are only two kinds of nurses "wonderful or terrible". There is just no middle ground in this profession. We had some of the best:
  Thank you C  - for your kind and tender and professional care.
(This is just 24 hours post op..if you can believe? He is sitting up in a chair and disconnected from all the life support equipment.
The body is amazing.)

And H...Thank you - dear nurse. We love you.
3 - That our local hospital is a world leader in heart surgery.
4 - Dr R - thank you for studying and learning instead of watching old reruns of Gilligans Island.

AND for a body that can heal. Think on it, our bodies can heal. Just such a miracle.

A BIG DEAL
(I  know he still looks a bit raggedy..but oh. my. he. has. had. a. BIG. surgery. and he is healing.)

Easing my way back in

To real life.
It has been a rough few months.
But...we are beginning to feel some 'normal' round here and we like it.

My sweet niece has a blog.
And I am hi-jacking her little "ABOUT ME".
A gentle way to get by blog brain working again.

(If you decide to join in...send me a link so I can come visit)

Four shows I like to watch...

I don't watch much TV..but when I do:

1. Cash Cab - Between RR and I, sometimes, we win the prize - but we are always to chicken to go for double or nothing.
2. Dirty Jobs - Mike Rowe makes the show. Sometimes I have to cover my mouth and nose as I don't like bad smells...and I have claustrophobia - I don't even like the drive through car wash - so I could NEVER do the jobs, but I find them interesting.
3. BYU- TV - whatever is on. Family history, devotionals, nature etc.
4. Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck - I tune in once in a while to catch up. AND I am so conservative, I like their take on things. Don't watch much as I don't like the wrangling. But once in a while.

Four things I'm passionate about...

1 Seeking to live the life I am suppose to live. The life that Heavenly Father wants me to live.  All that entails...service, devotion, good Christian living.
2. Staying connected to family.
3. The other things I enjoy - creating - in the magic room, reading good books, family history, being a good wife and grandma.
4. My iPhone. I am a mess. I just love having that little device, I feel like it is such a luxury and I get to enjoy it everyday. I don't NEED it - I just really like having it.

Four phrases I say a lot... Mostly write instead of say....

1. Hummmmm
2. Delightful
3. Mercy
4. And of late, I SAY this a lot..."How you doing hon?"

Four things I have learned from the past...

1. Everybody has a story - don't pass judgments
2. Most people do the best they can - in any situation
3. I am 'out blessed' by the Lord.
4. I am never sorry when I do the right thing.

Four places I want to GO...

1. My own back yard. Don't really like to travel. I like home. I like being, Right. Here.
2. But if I have to travel....Back East - see US history sites - church history sites. I don't want to plan my trip, I want someone to take me and say - "Look out the window - see that?"

Four things I did yesterday

1.Walks with RR
2. Finished a book - "Blind Your Ponies" - good book - but I would enjoy the Readers Digest version better - like RR says too much character development.
3. Made jingle socks
4. Delicious - divine - much needed nap, with an ice pack on my sizzling hot shingles.
5. Worked on Family History Indexing - doing census from Missouri. Interesting.

Four things I'm looking forward to...

1. Life - back to normal.
2. Sisters reunion
3. Three new grand-babies this year...WOOT
4. Hummmm....

Four things I love about winter...

Don't love winter.
But the better parts of winter.
1. A break from yard work
2. Snuggled in - being here with RR
3. Wearing sweaters - love sweaters
4. Hummmm...

Four things on my wish list...

1. Our daughter and her sweet family to live closer.
2. Good health
3. That I will have my eyesight...all my life.
4. That I not disappoint those I love. Family, friends, the Lord.

Something to bring a smile...your way...
This little guy found his pockets:
(Picture taken with my iPhone - I can just take it out of my pocket and snap a photo. I like my iPhone, have I mentioned that?)