Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from our home to yours!

James is wearing his football uniform.  His team just finished the regular season 10-0.  They are the number one seed heading into the post season.  Very exciting.  His 12th (gulp) birthday is November 11th.  I am taking him to see Phantom of the Opera on 11/9. He has been talking about it.  The final straw was when he left the Performing Arts Center window up on my  work computer with a note saying that this "looks cool".   Hint, hint, huh?  James just finished his first quarter of middle school and kicked some serious butt.  He is taking three periods of Gifted, Advanced Math, Band, and Reading.  What a smarty pants.  Obviously intellect is not hereditary since he is significantly smarter than his parents. 

Riley is ObiWan Kenobi.  He looks too freakin' cute!  He was on the announcements at school this morning in his costume for having read 2oo books so far this school year.  What a hoot!  He asked if he can eat candy for dinner tonight.  Umm... that would be a NO!  He is loving the cooler weather.   Oh... and he has a MASSIVE crush on his teacher.  She can do no wrong in his eyes.  Talk about sweet.  Riley just finished his first season of flag football.  His team didn't win a game, but they had a blast.  He LOVES his trophy.  He has it displayed next to his pet hamster, Schnicklefritz's home.  He wants to make sure his little buddy can see it at all times.  He is one funny fellow.

Madeline is a princess.  Ummm... well...  hmmm.... We shall see.  She picked out the costume but really is a non-conformist like her mother.  I have a sinking feeling she will be outside tonight in her candy corn shirt, jeans and sparkly princess shoes without a  princess costume.  Madeline will turn three next Wednesday.  Talk about breaking a Mama's heart.  How on Earth did we get to this point.  It is just overwhelming.  She is too darn smart, too.  She knows her colors, counts past ten, recognizes several letters, has an opinion on EVERYTHING and sings, sings, sings.  She knows the days of the week in English and Spanish... she can also count in Spanish.  Her teacher at school is bilingual and teaches the kids both languages.  What a sponge!

Jerry is being ever patient with all of my drama.  He is a good guy.  (Don't tell him I said that or I will deny it.) 

I am revving up for surgery on November 21st.  I am sooooo ready to get this over with.  I am looking forward to feeling better.

Enjoy the weekend with your family.  We will be coming down from a sugar high.

Kisses!

Nuclear Stress Test.. not so good

Okay, I have been having cardiac concerns for a few weeks now.  With the 911 call and two days later a visit to the ER a few EKG's, and MRI, and more, I knew a cardiologist visit was soon to follow.  A week ago Monday I had my first visit.  Loved him!   He asked a million questions, was proactive and really wanted to get to the bottom of what is going on.  So... last Wednesday and Thursday I spent the days sporting a fashionable and quite trendy heart monitor.  Let me tell you... I can rock a holter!  ha!  Being the clausterphobic person I am, it was not fun... but I just did it.  I knew it would give more information to figure out what was going on.   I thought.. whew!  If I can do this the rest will be easy.

Silly me.

This past Monday I was scheduled for an Echocardiogram with bubble (sounds fun, huh?  I love bubbles!) and a Nuclear Stress Test.  The doctor said to expect about a 4 hour visit.   Jerry went with me... cause you know this is causing him to worry and panic.... and all was off to a good start.   

I was hooked up to the cath thingy in my arm.  Radioactive stuff was sent in.... then off for the Echo.   Well... during the echo the cath sprung a leak.  Nothing like a little blood going all over me and the room.  Very exciting.  People came running, trying to get it to stop.  Jerry looked like he had had enough at this point.  I felt fine... just hoping it wasn't getting on my cute little skort.  (You know... that is important during all of this!  PRIORITIES!)  They get the geyser to stop and continue the test.  What should have been about 10 minutes ended up taking about 40.  The good part of this was we only had to wait another 5 minutes before the Stress Test guy came to get me.

So... into the big revolving chair I went.  This is not designed for short people.  With my arms above my head, feet dangling, I was told it would be about 20+ minutes I had to sit completely still in this machine.  SO... I tried to get comfortable (ya right!) and find my Zen like place to ride out this part of the test.  I did it.  No problem.   Things were looking UP!!  

Next, they took me to the treadmill.  I was hooked up to my second set of electrodes for the day.  The fun part this time was when they used the human sand paper to make sure they had a good contact.  It hurt!!!!  I was tough and joked around the entire time.  They explained to me that the test would contain an initial 3 minute warm-up walk and then the treadmill would get faster and be on a more steep angle.  They would be monitoring my vitals and give me more radioactive "stuff" when I reached optimum heart rate.  They said the test could last as long as 30 minutes.   So, I get on the treadmill and start walking.  I fell confident.. and somewhat athletic.  (I think I look GOOD walking all confident and tall.)  Less than 2 minutes into the test the Dr. starts acting quite alarmed.

Well... my heart decided to jump to above the optimum rate in less than two minutes.  This is virtually unheard of for people of my delicate age.  The Dr. sent the Tech over to me.  He asked how I was feeling... and then my ears went numb.  Hmmm... guessing this isn't a good sign. ;-)  So.. the Dr. decided that was it!  Test done!   In less than 3 minutes my Nuclear Stress test was ended.  

No clue.

I go back next Monday to discuss results and to figure out the next steps.  They offered me no information, insight or options.  

I am thinking it will be fine.   I know it is probably something that a little pill can help.

No worries... just don't want to do that stress test again.  It tends to scare everyone around me.  I was fine, but everyone else in the room was not.

I don't like to make things easy for people.

WOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Rays are going to the WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!

Update Craziness

Well, here it is.. a long awaited post.  Who is waiting for it, I don't know... but thought I would update regardless.  :-)

My health has been up and down.  Surgery is scheduled for November 21st.  I can't wait!

I am hoping my recent issues will not postpone the surgery.  

Last Monday night I had some type of cardiac distress.  My poor family had to call 911.  It seems that my blood pressure is sky rocketing and then plummeting.

Last Wednesday my mother had to take me to the ER.  Again my blood pressure was very high. (bottom number was over 100)  I was also having chest pain and tightness.  I spent about 10 hours at the hospital.  Nitroglycerin finally brought my blood pressure down and helped with the chest pains.

So....  I am heading to a cardiologist today.  We shall see.

I am concerned that my surgery will have to be postponed until some answers are found.

In the midst of all of this we are in birthday party planning mode for Madeline (11/5) and James (11/11).    It is hard to believe Madeline will be 3 and James will be 12.  Where has the time gone???

Halloween costumes are purchased.   I will try to post pictures when the time comes.  

Thanks for checking in.  I miss writing... but need to concentrate on my health.

Hugs and Kisses!