I’M LATE, I’M LATE, FOR A VERY IMPORTANT DATE

My date is with you! I was too tired yesterday to bother with the blog, so gave it a skip.

Not really much to tell you about, except Tom now feels like he’s been hit by a Mack truck!!

He’s pretty weak still, but trying hard to gain back his strength and we even went for a little walk outside in the glorious sunshine, this morning. He went exactly 270 steps!! Sounds like nothing eh? Well they told him he’d be up to 300 steps in two weeks, so he’s doing great!

He’s not sleeping well and is often up and sitting in the reclining chair and sleeping. Then he wanders back to bed again. Just hard to get comfy I suppose.

The little red heart cushion is what they gave him at the hospital to hold against his chest whenever he has to cough. He’s not without it!! It helps quite a lot. he hasn’t gotten into one of his sneezing fits that makes him sneeze really hard, at least 12 times in a row.

If he feels a sneeze coming on, he panics for his pillow!!

I went for a little walk this morning, and took a few pictures, which I’ll share here, but I’m going to have to learn to take more then just flowers, but I can’t resist the beautiful colours and out comes the camera. I’ll have to head the other way towards the beach and snap sunned and tanned half naked bodies laying on the beach! Yes? No?

I think not!

For some reason, I love the look of old, sun bleached old stumps, that washed in from the sea, one day long ago.

A couple of resting places, one of two cement chairs. No need to chain or bolt these seats down!!

This is the start of Ambleside Park and the start of seeing many,many families, setting up lawn chairs and taking out dishes of food that smelled so good!!

 

The family picnics reminded me of the ones we would have at Sauble Beach, Ont. or Harrison Park in Owen Sound, Ontario.

Great times!!! Wonderful memories. That’s my uncle Jack on the left, the boy, I don’t know who it is, then my Aunt Irene , the two boys in front of her is my brother Michael and my brother John. Standing on the right is my Aunt Colleen and I’m holding the ball.

British Columbia’s provincial flower …The Dogwood Tree.

 Then I wandered though a public garden where you rent a spot (I think that is how it goes) For all the apt. dwellers who miss gardening.

Look at that rhubarb, how big it is already! Lots of flowers and vegetables popping up from the ground. I should maybe think of doing this, as I do miss garden fresh, grown huge beef steak tomatoes!! We usually get those hard old tasteless hothouse tomatoes shipped in from the States that the grocery stores have contracts with for fruits and vegetables year round. We do have a wonderful friend who sometimes gives us a couple from his garden, and oh boy, do I love a toasted tomato sandwich made from them!! Yum, Yum, Yum!!!

Well, it’s time for me to get off here and do something else. Sherry and Humo in Australia, we got your wonderful Skype message and also a note from Ken in New York. We will answer soon. Wonderful to hear from everyone!! Sherry, you are a sweetheart!!!

PRETTY QUIET AROUND HERE THIS WEEK

Compared to last week, this week as of today is restful and oh, so much less stress!!

Tom has been snoozing off and on, and getting his health back. I’ve been doing zip! Just relaxing, and playing on the computer

We did take a little trip out, and Tom came with me in the car, just for some change of scenery. I just went for his favourite grain bread at the bakery, then to the Library so I could pick up a book I had requested by Lawrence Hill, called “Any Known Blood”. This is the book he wrote before he wrote the best seller book called “Book of Negroes”. I took all my 7 books I had checked out, back to the Library which where all unread!! Just couldn’t get into a reading mood!

I think I ate instead! When I get nervous I eat, when I’m sad, I eat, when I’m happy, I eat, when any mood hits me….I eat!!

The sun is out full on the deck, so we have just finished dinner, and now heading out for some of nature’s Vitamin D. Of course, I’ve got lots of sunscreen on and have to wear a wide brim hat, but it’s the kind of weather we’ve been waiting for, so off we go.

OUR NEST IS FULL AGAIN

 

How wonderful to have Tom home again! I must admit though that when I knew he was okay after the surgery, I did sort of enjoy a little different pattern in our lives. No meals to make for one, I had the TV remote to myself for another, and I could go to bed and have the whole bed to myself and I never got a poke in the ribs once all night for snoring!! But, really, it’s a wonderful thing he came though this surgery so well! When I think of the alternative, I shudder!!

This is Tom yesterday with his pillow held to his chest for when he coughs. You can always tell a heart patient by the pillow they cling to.

 

 Tom at home today, showered and has shaken off that horrible hospital smell, and feeling on top of the world!

These are also the BEAUTIFUL bouquet of flowers from Dean and Pauline, that have surprised and pleased both Tom and I to no end!! We just don’t know how to thank you for your  kindness! As you turn the basket around it has many different flowers, and all so beautiful!

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Granddaughter Sarah, who is 11 years old yesterday!!

Your gift is on it’s way Sweetheart!

Happy 17th birthday to my Grandson Brad whose birthday is today! Your gift is also on it’s way. Sorry I’m late this time, but you both know why! I was pretty busy with my mind on Tom this past week.

Also, hello to Bill at Bayview Motor’s in Belleville!! I hear you are a faithful reader!! Say hello sometime and thanks for following along.

Also today, I heard from a relative, that we found out we share the same great-grandparents, that I knew nothing about. We are still working out how that happened, even though there was nothing sinister or strange, just one branch of the family that fell away from the other for one reason or another. So, it’s exciting to learn more and apparently she has it traced the history back to the 1600’s or there about! Wow!!

I think there is lots of Irish from my mother’s side, but it’s beginning to sound like there’s more Scottish then French on Dad’s side!!!

So there Tom!!!

HOME SWEET HOME

You have no idea, how thrilled we are that Tom is coming home tomorrow!! He can hardly wait to get out of that hospital, as it’s a horrible place to be when you are feeling wonderful!! That’s how Tom is feeling….absolutely wonderful, and all of us are in awe of the powers of medicine, not to mention the positive thoughts and many prayers that were sent our way! Our thanks to everyone out there for all your help!!

It’s been one very, extremely stressful and scary week. But, it’s time for healing now, and Tom is healthier then he’s ever been and his surgeon said today, he could live to 100 if he wants to live that long!! He’s heading for 106 years old!! I hope he makes it, but doubt if I’ll be around to see it!! I’ve no desire to live that long, UNLESS, I’m healthy with my mind intact! I find that hope very doubtful!

I’ve had and have a terrible fear of driving in Vancouver. I’m fine on this side of the Lion’s Gate bridge, but get me into that very wild and crazy world of fast drivers, no proper signage, and so much construction in the city and I become paralyzed with fear!

My daughter asked me the other day, “What happened to my mother that used to go in car rally’s, win a few of them, and showed no fear at driving through Toronto, Montreal, and from the whole of Ontario from North to South and East to West, and not give it a thought!!”

My answer….I’ve gotten OLD, I’m full of fear, I haven’t the nerve I once had, I’m forgetful, and I’m a wimp!! How we change eh?

After I left the hospital and got home, Tom called with amazement at a beautiful bouquet of flowers that had just arrived for him. I was to guess who, but drew an empty every time!

They are from two wonderful friends we met on the Antarctica cruise, Dean and Pauline. Two of the nicest people you could ever meet!! We are both blown away by your kindness, and Tom will be in touch with you when he gets himself settled. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness!!! Wow…incredible people!!!

So, tomorrow he will rest and be comfortable at home sweet home, with a loving wife catering to his every need…….we’ll see how long that lasts!! hahaha

More later….

AN AMAZING MAN

Tom on his 2nd day after quadruple bi-pass surgery!

Can you believe that he had surgery on Friday and this is Sunday! He really is one amazing man. He is off all pain medication, still has the heart monitor which is that white bag, which has the monitor inside of it, and those cables come from it. He still has little wires coming from his heart area, in case the heart isn’t beating properly, they can reset, or fix that,  but it has been keeping a proper rhythms, right from the start. What seems to be bothering him the most is the leg they took the vein out to repair his heart. His chest and leg are full of staples!!

I tried to help move him so he’d be more comfortable, and I’m so scared to move him in any way, in case I cause him pain. Everything on him looks more painful then he says it is.

He’s up using the washroom on his own, which pretty well, exhausts him when he returns to bed. It’s going to take awhile before he chases me around the dining-room table!

Oop’s….after typing the last sentence, Tom called, and the physio gal had just finished having him up and walking the hall with her, which goes in a large circle! What a superman!!

He’s healing and coming along much faster then we ever imagined he would. I noticed though, he’s much quieter today, but then he’s not on the “joy juice” that made him a little high, I believe. I’ve heard that depression can set in after a surgery such as this, so I hope he doesn’t lose that ability to always  make me laugh, and for him to lose his wonderful humour! We still have a long way to go while he recover’s with still much stress, and a few “two steps forward, one step back” days.

As for me, I’m literally worn out!! The stress has done me in and seems to be catching up on me and I’m exhausted! Just getting ready each day and heading into Vancouver and sitting for hours and hours in the hospital room can be harder on the visitor then the patient at times. My eyes have all broken out with red rims and watering all the time, which I think is from the car fumes while walking the 4 blocks to the hospital and waiting for the bus. It’s the only thing I can think of why they have broken out. I’m not using anything different. Maybe I have developed allergies! Who knows!! Or was it all those tears shed this past week with at times tears of fear, and then tears of joy. It’s been quite a week!!! I’m so very thankful for the outcome, and that is all that matters.

Tom is out of the woods now, and I think tomorrow, I will take a day for myself and just catch up on things around home and work at getting the place ready for the patients homecoming which may be sooner then we think, with his incredible recovery. I’ll go get some flowers for the planters, and get that job done while I can, get some groceries and do a little cooking to put in the freezer, so I can devote all my time to giving him tender loving care and undivided attention.

Enjoy the rest of the long weekend!! I hope wherever you are, you have sunshine and warm temperatures and having a fun time. It’s gorgeous here!!!