A WEEK FULL OF UPS AND DOWNS

Phil is sick. His first cold in six years!!! We had to come back to Washington for him to catch it and I am probably next. Around here we call it the Washington “Crud” and everyone catches it sooner or later. No work today … just sleeping and resting.

I had my echocardiogram on Monday. Nothing more was learned about my so-called blockage in the new valve. My cardiologist suggested we wait and test again in six months to see if there is any change. I’m considering another opinion because I do not like playing the game … “stump the cardiologist.” I’ll let you know what I decide after I consult my PCP.

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Phil had a follow up visit at the sleep center on Tuesday and the prognosis is he will most likely need this machine the rest of his life to thwart the sleep apnea. He was not thrilled about that but if it continues to give him the rest he needs (and me too) and even possibly (as the experts predict) extends his life … oh well, it is a good thing over all! After his appointment, we went to brunch at a nice little restaurant by Wright Park in the historic Stadium district then drove over to the W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory located in the park. It was all decorated for Halloween and the floral displays were gorgeous. More than 500 species of exotic plants (including more than 200 orchids) are housed in this spectacular greenhouse constructed in 1908. This elegant Victorian conservatory is one of only three of this type on the West Coast and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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A second echocardiogram in my family was taken on Thursday. They continue to look for a cause of the many PVCs in Phil’s heartbeat without success. We may learn more after he consults with his cardiologist in the next week or so. Until then, it remains a mystery. That same afternoon, my wonderful new (to me) Cadillac decided to begin making a very loud noise that did not sound good at all. We drove it to the mechanic’s shop and left it for the owner to assess on Monday. He has been on vacation and will be back tomorrow. Phil has many ideas about what could be wrong but until an expert mechanic takes a look, we are only guessing. At that point we became car-less because the Ranger has lost its heater and has an appointment on Wednesday for a new heater core. With the rainy and cold weather we are having we do not want to drive it because it fogs up and it is impossible to see out the windows. So. our friend Les to the rescue as usual. What would we do without him? We are driving his Ford Ranger pickup until our wheels are repaired and rolling again.

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Our sweet Carly (great granddaughter) came to spend the weekend with us on Friday afternoon. We took her with us to my sister’s “Happy Halloween” dinner party that night. As usual, there was enough food to feed an Army and dozens of family and friends and I believe all had a good time. I know I did!
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The next day, my niece, Tammy and her husband, Steve hosted a pumpkin carving dinner and dessert party at her house and so we spent another wonderful evening with family and met many of Tammy’s co-workers and friends with small children. Carly had a great time and her Papa, who was already starting to feel sick stayed with her and helped with the hard parts until she was finished. What a trooper he is when it comes to all our grands!

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I am back from taking Sara to her job interview. Hooray, she was hired!!! She is so excited because it is a great job. One of the best paying jobs in the county plus many benefits. She worked there several years ago and being just a kid, she made some foolish mistakes and lost the job. She learned her lesson well and was thrilled when they called her back. Sara has assured us she will not make those same mistakes again.
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Thanks for stopping back by and your patience with me today!
Until next time