More of the Same

SO...............I've completed my first full week on the CPAP!  WOW....This is definitely going to take some time to get used to.  I thought this was to help me sleep......but I spend more time awake than I do sleeping.......... BUT.... if I want medicare to pay the  the machine and the equipment I have to show proof that I am using it.  I pray every night that this starts to get a little bit easier.

Still very black and blue.......and a bit sore for the heart catheter, but glad that I've been able to stop  all the heart medication. Still having some stomach and chest pain, and squatting, bending or lifting still bothers me. 

Today I had my appointment with Dr. Thakkar ( Gastroenterologist) and I am scheduled for surgery ( Upper Endoscopy) on 5/15 and then between the 6th and 11th I have scheduled blood work, ultrasound of the gall bladder, follow up with Cardiologist, and Primary Care Doctor.........

But it was a pretty good weekend. Rich did a lot of work in the yard..........I helped a (very little bit)!!  But he fertilized and watered the azalea plants, trimmed the Ixora and Firecracker bushes, watered the new sod and trimmed more of the palms!  And check out this pineapple plant!  FOUR on this plant! And we have that's been rooting inside that is ready to be planted.

 Speaking of plants..........Finally got a bigger pot for my bamboo plant!  It has grown so tall!...









Rich has continued to wait on me hand and foot...............and even after working hard in the yard..........He mad pizza for dinner on Monday.  I did put a ham in the oven on Sunday, along with some scalloped potatoes..........and made four dozen cookies ( oatmeal chocolate chip, and chunky chocolate)  That should hold him with goodies for the week.

And the baby Blue Heron are growing so fast!  Momma still hanging around and feeding them....... but they are spreading their wings and jumping to  branches out of the nest.  They should be fully fledged real soon.........and ready to independently leave their nest.

Change of Plans.... More Backyard visitors.....Recovering from Surgery

And so the drama begins..... We headed for Orlando on Thursday April 18th for my surgery (heart 💓catheter).  We left for Cardiology Consultants in Orlando at 7:00AM and didn't get home until after 8:00PM.  It was just under 2 1/2 hourse one way!  The surgery itself went very well, and very quickly, but in recovery, I did experience a Hemotoma, followed by what they call a Vagal Response, which was pretty spooky and had about 5 people working to stop my nausea, get me elevated, start oxygen, and saline solution.........while still trying to keep pressure on the hemotoma!  Fortunately they had it under control quickly.........before the back starts to cramp and you lose consciousness! BUT  Good news is that the problems I am having are NOT caused by my heart.  Small amounts of calcium buildup/blockage......Heart is in great shape for my age!.   Below is picture of surgical office in Orlando, and Dr. van den Berg's office here in Sebring.  And that is an exact replica of the surgery table.

Post surgery: ride home in a reclined position... remain in a reclined position for the next two days - get up only to walk to the bed or go to bathroom. No lifting, no bending - pretty much do nothing for 5 days except to take a shower!   Rich was great.... and waited on me hand and foot - fixing meals, washing dishes, making bed, making coffee..... and just making sure I was comfortable and in need of nothing!

Thank you to everyone who sent prayers, checked in on me, sent get well wishes, flowers or food, or stopped by to visit.  You are all very special!

And then it was EASTER!

Plans were to spend Easter Sunday with Nathan and Krystal at their house.... but
I was just not feeling up to it at all..........and unfortunately we had to cancel.  Rich fixed Chicken and Baked potato for our dinner!  I had fixed him a small Easter Basket a few days before.....




On Monday, after Easter, I had an appointment at Encore in Sebring, to get my CPAP machine, and learn how to use it/set it up.... I've used it for three nights
now.  Needless to say I do not like it.  They tell me after a few weeks it will get better.........I sure hope so!

The one good thing about these newer ones, is that they are not as noisy.



The next couple of days was enjoying all of God's creatures.... and Rich captured some pretty good pictures.

We continue to watch the Blue Heron..But what was three babies is not just two.  These two 22 day old Blue Herons forced their sibling out of the nest several days ago.... and Mom just watched it happen!!!  So instead of watching three babies fly away to be on their own.. it will only be two.  I think they are a couple of bullies!!

The Ash Throated Flycatcher's are back and appear to be nesting in the bird house out back..........stopping from time to time on the back deck or sliders. 

AND.... Rich spotted a green iguana down near the boat dock.   "Wildlife officers say green iguanas are one of Florida's most destructive invasive species destroying shrubs, trees, fruit and and landscape plants.  Generally they are not a threat to people or pets.  The reptiles are expanding north into Sarasota and Manatee Counties.  They are not a threat to people or pets!"

And now they are right here in Highlands County - in our back yard. 

 And today.......Bob and Lavern stopped by!  Bob has one more doctor's appt. and if he get's the OK - they will be heading north to Ohio for the summer.  It was so nice of them to stop by and say good-bye before they left.  Always keep you laughing!

Eat, Work, Play.....

First off ...... we continue to watch the Blue Heron Nest.... And over the past few days we have been able to determine that Mama and Papa Great Blue have given birth to 3 little ones.......We thought a couple of times that we saw more than 2 - but we were able to get a couple of pictures that showed all three.  It's interesting to watch the Mama and Papa - as they take turns leaving the nest to get food.  One afternoon, one of them stood almost perfectly still on the edge of the water in the back yard.............just waiting to dive for a fish,  And on another day - Rich saw one of them flying through the yard - taking a freshly caught fist to the babies.

Rich and I teamed up in the kitchen again one afternoon. He was in the mood for baking - so we pulled out the old Betty Crocker Recipe Book and he made his Cream Puffs.  Normally he fills them with a whipped cream/vanilla pudding mixture...... but we didn't have the pudding.. so we used the rest of the heavy cream in the fridge and made our own whipped cream.........then he covered them with confectioners sugar.   

In the meantime I put the chicken, cheddar cheese, cream of chicken soup and seasonings in the crock pot for serving over noodles for dinner..........AND made up a dozen or so meatballs, to make meatball subs for dinner the next day.

Of course, there is always something that needs to be done outside......A few weeks ago, the guy from Maximum Pest Control, sprayed a large spot in the back yard, where a lot of carpet grass was growing.  Unfortunately, when you kill the carpet grass any other grass dies right along with it.   When Cindy, the lade who mows the lawn came  last week, she told Rich to pull the dead grass and prepare the ground, and she would bring and lay new grass and lay it next week.  So while shoveling out the dirt from that area, Rich transferred it to a few areas down near the dock.

And then it was time to get away for a good meal and enjoy some time with friends.  Plans for Easter Dinner this year was set to take place at the Showalters....but with Dianne not being able to walk, and in the wheel chair....it would be pretty difficult for her to get up the steps to the house, so they had to decline the invitation.  So......we decided to all meet for an early Easter celebration ( nope - not at Hibachi!) so that Buddy and Diane could be included.  We had a great dinner tonight at Red Lobster!   On Easter Sunday we will be having dinner with Nathan and Krystal....working with the horses, and Nathan and Rich plan to do some target practicing, while Krystal and I play some games. AND  we get to see miss Ava!

Dennis called his Dad yesterday to let him know he'd taken a fall at the Dog Shelter and wasn't sure if he'd sprained or broken his left arm.....Doctor did his thing, wrapped the arm, and put him in a sling.........He had to go back today for x-ray.......and learned that it was a  wrist fracture.  So now he has a hard cast that he has to wear for two weeks.  And of course he managed to get them to do the cast and wrap in Iowa Hawkeyes....Black & Yellow!

Been checking out some cruises lately.........we've been talking about going some time in November........So that will be on my to-do list for tomorrow... then off for surgery on Thursday, and recovery on Friday..... and then it will be Easter!

Yard Work, Dr. Visits, Enjoying Mother Nature.... and more Birthdays

Pick up this past week for yard waste, so Rich and I spent some time in the yard, trimming palm branches and topping off bushes.  Rich also did a lot of work in the back yard, raking out the area where the carpet grass died, and getting it read for new sod.  While trimming near the back deck we noticed that we have FOUR pineapples getting a good start........ and I guess the Blue Heron though every thing looked pretty inviting, returning to his favorite spot on the back deck.

 Speaking of Blue Heron..... we've seen a lot of activity in the nest over the past few days.  The eggs have hatched, and so far we've seen three new baby Heron.  Obviously they are still quite small - but we hear the chirping and see them pop up from the next and show themselves.

I am still not feeling the best.  Got the results of the Sleep Apnea - but still waiting for the C-Pap.  Completed the 24 hour heart monitor... and  the heavy heart beat continues, more frequently.  Saw the cardiologist today.  I just picked up a month's supply of nitroglycerin patches that I have to wear all day, along with a magnesium oxide tablet twice a day.  I'm scheduled for surgery/catheterization  in Orlando on the 18th which will determine whether or not I need a bypass.  They said from preparation, to surgery, to recover will take about 6 hours!   No cooking tonight - we went to Golden Corral for dinner!

Our son, Dennis shared a picture that recently posted on the QC River Bandits Instagram story.  This was taken in 2014 with James Ramsey OF, who is from Brandon, FL.  He went to a rival HS, several years after Dennis..Dennis got his game worn signed jersey.  ..Thanks QC River Bandits

And of course we celebrated a few birthdays.   On April 8th......

We Celebrated Rich's brother's Birthday......🎈 Happy Birthday Bob Donald!! 🎈Wishing you a day filled with fun, laughter, and lots of CAKE!🎂🎂🎂

On April 9th

🎈🎈Happy Birthday to our Beautiful,  Smart Hard working, absolutely Awesome grand daughter, Chauna.  Pa Pa and I are so very proud of your.  As you celebrate your 20th..... just know that the sky is the limit for you, today and beyond.  We love you to the moon!  Forever in our hearts. 💕

And back in Iowa, the family is celebrating her birthday at the Texas Roadhouse in Coralville.  Dad and Mom (Dennis & Crystal) Brother Dalton, Chauna and her boyfriend Ryan.

And on Sunday the 14th we will be celebrating our Sister-in-law's Birthday!  

🎈🎈Wishing you a Very Happy Birthday, Diane Burger Donald! 🎈🎈  And may your day be filled with forever memories...... and lots of cake!🎂🍨⚘