Happy Halloween

I had a wonderful evening tonight. I got to go out trick-or-treating with a very special little boy. We had a wonderful time... and came home with lots of treats! I forgot how much fun it is to go out with little ones. Who knows, maybe next year I'll be able to go out again....

Are You Kidding Me?

Believe it or not, I landed back in York Hospital on the cardiac floor yesterday. I went back into "active" heart failure. I was stunned. I've been feeling so well that I didn't even consider the fact that I could be in trouble at first. Fortunately I didn't ignore the signs I was seeing.

I began feeling a little tired a week ago. I've been working very long hours so I figured that was the culprit. Then this past Tuesday (three days ago) I noticed I was walking slower through the school and a little short of breath. That DID stand out as being unusual. On Wednesday I noticed that my legs were very swollen in the evening, plus I had coughed up some frothy sputum that morning. I realized I was in trouble but figured I'd give it another day and see what happened. Yesterday I had the school nurse check my legs and see what she thought. She immediately told me I needed to call my doctor. I knew that was what she was going to say. I waited until school was over and called when I was on my way to my "part-time" job. The doctor said she wanted to see me immediately. I went straight in and before I knew it I was being sent to the hospital by ambulance. She wouldn't even let me drive myself.

By the time I got to the hospital I had an IV in, had 4 baby aspirin in, and 2 doses of Nitro sprayed under my tongue. My B/P was very high (180/140 range). I was given 40 mg. of Lasix which made me pee like crazy. I finally made it to a room at 2AM this morning and was back up by 6:15 to get ready to go downstairs for some cardiac tests. I got a total of 2 hours of sleep. Fun. I was so tired by the time I was finished with everything. All I wanted to do was sleep. There's nothing restful about being in a hospital. All the tests came back ok, my labs showed one elevated level which is consistent with heart failure. I was put back on a heart med (which had been discontinued when I had surgery). My B/P should come down as the meds start working again. Yay. Now I'm just waiting to see if I can go home this evening. I hope so. I want to get into my own bed and hibernate for a few days.

As a final note, I was warned that just because I had the gastric bypass and lost weight, it would NOT "cure" the CHF. It would, however, make the condition more easily managed and less likely to occur as often or as severe. They were right. It's a good thing I have made the positive changes so far that I have. I can only imagine how much worse I would have been had I not lost over 100 pounds already. Another confirmation that I made the right decision to have the surgery.

Five Months and Counting

I'm back. Here are this months photo's of my transition.I got Mr. S., the teacher I work with to take the pics for me. He's such a sweet guy. He's young enough to be my son... and I tease him every chance I get. He was a good sport about taking the pics for me. See you next month.

Brie's First Homecoming

Homecoming finally arrived and Brie was beside herself with excitement. She had been looking forward to this since Emile went to her first homecoming dance 5 years ago. Believe me when I say that the past few weeks have been insane to say the least. Brie is a total girly girl. She wanted everything to be just perfect. We searched for dresses a couple of times and she tried on over 20 dresses from four different stores. Finally she found the dress she liked the best. Of course she also had to have matching shoes and accessories. It was an experience in and of itself. When all was said and done, here is how she looked.She's so cute. She told me she felt just like a princess.A bunch of Brie's classmates went to one home for photo's to be taken. I was amazed that not one dress was duplicated. The girls all looked lovely.Here is one of my favorite pictures. It's my softball girls (minus one player) all dressed up and ready to go. They cleaned up nicely. It's so hard to believe how grown up they're all becoming.

A large group of kids went to Fujuhana for dinner, followed by the dance at the school. Chelsey came over and spent the night afterward. I'm glad Brie had a fun evening. She is making memories that will last a lifetime. Before she knows it the whirlwind we call life will blow the years past her. These are the times she'll look back on and smile when she remembers. One down, three to go.

Four Months and Counting

Here I am again... A new and improving me.I'm feeling better and better with each passing day. I'm still amazed at how much different I feel from just a few months ago. I can walk faster and longer without losing my breath. I can tie my shoe laces in the middle of my shoe instead of off to the side. I can fit into chairs that were too tight before. I'm actually beginning to "live" my life again. It's so much fun!!

I Got It!

I got the job! The interview went fantastic and my impression as I left was the position was mine if I wanted it. There were four other candidates that were also being interviewed, however, I had a gut feeling about it. I received the call from HR a few minutes ago. Now I'm doing a mad dash to get all my clearances completed so I can be ready to shadow the out-going PCA this coming Thursday and Friday. I'll start on my own on Monday. Let the fun begin.

A Change is Coming?

Just a quick entry. Later today I will be interviewing for a position as a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) with Spring Grove Area School District. I'm excited about the possible opportunity this position will bring. I would be working with the same individual I work with through Maxim Healthcare Services. I'm feeling positive about getting the position. Here goes.

And She's Off

Brie began her freshman year of high school last month. So far she's off to a good start. Obviously with the beginning of school we also have the beginning of football season. Yay! I love high school football. It's so much fun to see these kids play their hearts out. Here are some highlights from our opening game against Central. Even though we lost the game, we still had a fun night.Band playing the Bulldog "fight song" as the team makes their way onto the field!Field show. This year the show features the music of Elvis. The band's doing a great job.Brie is just to the left of Mr. Meckley in this picture.

Have a fantastic time, Brie! These are going to be some of the best years of your life. Enjoy them.

Paging Noah

I-83. Southbound between Rt. 30 and the Market St. exit.

WE NEED SOME HELP FROM NOAH!!! I need some pointers on how to build an arc. You think I'm kidding, right? I'm not. I really do need his help at the moment. Many of us here in central Pennsylvania do. It's flooding... I mean BIG TIME flooding! The rain began last Wednesday (the 7th) and we've really been hit hard.This is just one of many examples of how much water we've received in our area.I normally take this road (College St. or as locals call it, "Dog Town Road") to work and back. Wrongo! Obviously I wasn't getting through here at all.This is Market St. and I-83 just north of Memorial Hospital. Crazy.And here we see Poplars just at the Green Valley Pool. This is where Brie spent hours swimming with all her friends from school this past summer.Codorus "Creek" running VERY high through downtown York. Normally the creek runs a good 15 feet lower than this.This is one of my favorite pictures. For some reason this shot totally fascinates me.Hershey Park under water. Bummer! So much for Hershey Park "happy."Sherman St. So much for "turn around, don't drown." What a moron!Pizza Hut in Hershey, PA. I don't think they'll be making deliveries for a little while.This is the Sheetz where we always stop on our way home from Hershey Park. Take notice to the fast food joints in front and to the side of Sheetz. We had insane amounts of rain fall.

Thankfully the rain has finally stopped (at least the heavy deluge we had last week). We had some minor issues with the house. We had water in the basement, my bedroom, and the kitchen. The rain was so heavy that there was no way to keep ahead of it. Compared to others, we got off easy. There were over a dozen deaths due to the flooding. At Zoo America in Hershey Park, two water buffalo had to be euthanized rather than have them drown. Additionally, there were several dogs in the area that did drown. So sad. I've honestly never seen flooding like we had here. I'm in no hurry to ever see it again. Once in a lifetime is more than enough for me. Now all we have to do is dry out, clean up, and move on to bright, sunny days.

REMEMBERING... September 11, 2001

America, America, God shed His grace on thee! And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea...

Remembering 9/10

Oh, beautiful for patriot's dream that sees beyond the years; whose alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears...

Remembering 9/9

Oh, beautiful, for hero's feet... proved in liberating strife; who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life. America, America, May God thy gold refine; till all success be nobleness, and every gain divine...

Remembering 9/8

America, America, God mend thy every flaw; Confirm thy soul with self control.. Thy liberty in law...

Remembering 9/7

Oh, beautiful for pilgrim's feet, whose stern impassion'd stressed. A thoroughfare for freedom beat, across the wilderness....

Remembering 9/6

And crowned thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea...