My trip to the hospital

About two weeks ago I had a pain in my abdomen which I thought was a pancreatitis attack which I haven't had for about ten years. I am going to give the shortened version of this. About 30 hours later (10 being in the ER) I had gall bladder surgery which went very well. They kept me in the hospital an extra day because my pancreas showed some damage from my previous pancreatic attacks. So, they had me on dilaudin (a narcotic pain killer...note the word 'killer').

I was minding my own business looking forward to being released to go home and was under the care of two darling student nurses who said to "pretend" I was real sick so they could bathe me and wait on me like a real sick person. It was about 9am and as they were washing my face and brushing my hair, I felt REAL nauseous (like where's the garbage can). So, at first, I think they thought I was kidding....but then I went green around the gills and they asked my nurse for an anti-nausea shot. I had that at 9:15am. It was time for my pain shot at 9:30am and I had the dilaudin which I had been having every 3-5 hours as prescribed. At 9:32am, I asked for them to help me back into bed because I became very, very tired. I didn't feel surprised at this, because I hadn't slept for more than 1 hr in a row for about 4 days, even after the surgery.

The student nurse said she would wait until I fell asleep and then would be waiting outside my room till I woke up and would be doing paperwork for her class. At 9:35am, she said I started snoring and she pulled my curtain and left my room. At. 9:38am (we know the time, because Jim missed a phone call and looked at the time on his phone), Jim came for a visit and sat down on a chair to read the paper and my phone rang and I didn't stir. He came up by the bed and saw that I was foaming at the mouth. He called my name and tried to wake me but couldn't.
He called the student nurse and she called my nurse. They had to call the narcotics rapid response team and they came and gave me "nar-can" or "nar-cam" or something like that which did bring me out of it. I was "awake" by 10am but it took till about 2pm before I was all bettter.

What a time that was.......I didn't know where I was. I couldn't speak, I couldn't hear, I was in a dark tunnell with no bright light at the end of it. So wierd. I saw a big calendar and it was going backwards from 2009, 2008. I got to 2003. Wierd. They kept asking me questions like 'Do you know your name...do you know who is President...do you know where you are" I guess people pay good money for "tripping" but this is one thing that I do NOT ever want to do again. If I am going to hallucinate, it better involve a lot of money and Pierce Brosnan.

So, I just wanted to thank God for sending Jim to visit me at that particular moment otherwise I might not be here.

Boredom Sets In!

I am really, really bored! Too much time sitting around after my gall-bladder surgery and that was after being told I should be in a wheelchair till my foot heals up. So I have had it up to here!!!! (putting my hand up to my eyeballs). I am sick and tired of being sick!!!!! And I am not going to take too much more of it. So............I just have to be patient a little while longer, like maybe another two weeks and then maybe, just maybe, I will get the doctor's ok to be able to take walks. So say a prayer, light a candle, whatever it takes, to think of me and remember me in the next couple of weeks. We have been here for two years and I have been in the wheelchair for most of the time that we have been here. Yuk!

Guatamama and Mumble (Monkey is his name now) came to visit in January are here are some fun pictures of our time together.

He is growing up so fast!! He is 2 1/2 years old already........babbling like a brook......and we can even understand his words. Pretty good for a tyke who only heard Spanish until he was 8 months old.

Hey!! this is too small for me..............................nani's tub is way better!!!!

First I make my breakfast................................then I have to clean it up!!!

Then I have to go to work!! Cissy is off this week........man, I am pooped! This is hard work sending all these people to Timbukto. I think that I am going to puke. Maybe my cousin,

'So-juh' will help me out a little!

After a nap, we had a fun time at the park...........I love all kinds of animals, especially doggies.

Then we went to a festival where a guy Talk about balloons!!!!!

made a balloon doggy for me.

I had a great visit!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Blog!

POOL TIME AT NEENEE'S AND POPPY'S -2PM EVERYDAY!

It has taken me a week to blog about my birthday last week. Mainly because I was called into work and had to fly to silly Indianapolis. Mean-o's!

Anyway, I woke up on June 11 and promised that I would take the day and write my list of 100 things that I wanted to do in my lifetime (which I hope is another 40 or 50 years!). And I wanted to list my 6-month goals to accomplish by Chirstmas, 2007. I also thought that I should make a list of 100 books to read AND figure out a good hobby. Then I rolled over and went back to sleep! At least I accomplished one goal.............sleep in!

What a silly, backward day it was. First I went to go for a swim in our beautiful pool.

Oops! There was no water in it!

Then I needed to go to the bathroom but the toilet was not in there...it was in the Arizona room!

So, I thought that I should help the tile people rip up tile (which is why the toilet was in the AZ room). But they made me stop........some silly insurance rule or 'something like that'!

Next, I took our dogs to the P A R K(I have to spell it because they know the word and get too excited) but they wouldn't play with me.

Come here! Come here! Play with me! Drat!

Everything was so discombulated that day!!! I flew to Indianapolis the next day and when I came home, my family surprised me with a birthyday party!

We had a great time, we made homemade pizzas, played games, and I opened gifts. I did not have to open the gift from my husband (our new tile) because it is all laid out and the toilet is back where it should be. Talk about happy!

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HELPED PLAN THE GREAT PARTY!!!!

I HAVE A GREAT FAMILY!!!!

ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO B-WIN FOR HIS PROMOTION TO STORE MANAGER!!!!

THAT'S ALL FOR NOW..............I HAVE TO GO MAKE MY LISTS!

1. 100 THINGS TO ACCOMPLISH

2. 100 BOOKS TO READ

3. 1 NEW HOBBY

4. 5 GOALS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

BYE TO NOW!

Just Another Day in Havasu....

Sunset view from my kitchen window

(now we like to do dishes!)



What a nice way to end the month of May!!!! The last week has been pretty busy....people actually are showing up to work on our pool, stucco wall, and new back patio. Soon there will be workers starting mom's casita. Yay for June! We were extra happy because Guatamama heard from the adoption agency and she said that Guatababy Mumble will be here in 2-4 weeks!!!!!!!



Yippee!!!!

Guatababy Mumble

(cause he is always kicking his feet like in 'Happy Feet')





Yesterday, we looked at a pontoon boat that we may buy with another couple. And we had some bids from the tile stores to replace our kitchen, dining room, Arizona room and entryway old stuff with new beautiful tile. Problem is we will probably either buy the tile or the boat and I want the boat! We will see who wins this one!




Today we had a double date with my sister and her husband, Neenee and Herc (at least I think that that is his nic-name...Herc is either her husband or her son-in-law!) We think that this is the first time in 35 years that we have double-dated!

First, we took a ride in an "air-boat" that a friend of my husband's (no nic-name for him yet....I get scared of what I will call him depending on the day!) brought up from Florida to give tours on. He wanted to test it out and asked Neenee to write a history of Lake Havasu so that he will know what to say. The friend asked Neenee if she would like a part time job...the problem with Neenee's narration is that she cannot (being a good Christian woman) say any swear words. She won't even say "Lake Havasu was formed by the Parker Dam" She would say " Lake Havasu was formed by the Parker Darn". I suggested (being the good Christian woman's sister) that I could make flash cards with swear words on them and then she could just hold them up when applicable!

Then we took their speed boat out and went to Copper Canyon to jump off the cliffs.









Aren't you impressed? I jumped liked a trouper.................and all Neenee did was just sit there and look pretty.






Poppy was going to jump off the high cliff until he saw the vultures sitting in the trees!

After boating, we had dinner at a great restaurant, Javalina Cantina, where Brad Pitt and Anjolie Jolie eat when they are in LHC. Even besides that, we love the place. It was a real fun day! Oh, and an update, we are buying the boat AND the tile! Now I have a name for my husband......Loverboy!

By the way..by jumping off the cliffs, I mean jumping off the boat! And poppy is going to make the jump from the cliff as soon as he has a bigger audience!)

Anyway.........................it has been a great day! Just another sweet day in Havasu

I "Heart" Our Troops

ARMED FORCES DAY LAKE HAVASU CITY 2007

Last Saturday morning we attended Armed Forces Day 2007 in Lake Havasu City. I was especially proud to attend because my son-in-law is in Army fighting in the Operation Iraqui Freedom. He is part of the 1st Cavalry Division. I love this picture of him and one of his dogs, Aries, which was taken last year.

Here is a picture of me, my husband, and daughter waving our flags and homemade signs during the ceremony. There were speakers and a singer (we could have used Neenee's group from Kenosha singing the Armed Forces March). I was very glad that he had attended one our Fourth of July programs before he was deployed. I had cried when he stood up (during the Army part of the song) and saluted the flag. You can't see it in the photo but my hat says

'Army Mom'.

Here are a few shots of the crowd:

Two young men in the Armed Forces spoke to the crowd and a chaplain prayed for our soldiers who are fighting for our freedom. God bless our troops!

P. S. Dear Son-in-law, I sent you a care package today.....I hope you like it! Love, Mom#2

I must admit that my buttons burst with pride when I talk about our armed forces and what they have sacrificed for us.

Kid's say the darndst's things!

Last Wednesday, Neenee and I went to my niece Juju's class to attend her Mother's Day Breakfast that her first grade class had prepared. We "adopted" a little girl for breakfast because her mother could not attend. She is in prison and they don't let them out for a Mother's Day Breakfast at their kids' school. So.........it was a tear-jerk morning (see more on imokwiththat.blogspot.com) but I have to add that during the fire drill (which was perfectly timed because all the mothers were crying from the story time) I was just making conversation with a couple of kids. I said to this little boy who had REAL spikey hair..."I like your hair"...and then I said "I don't like mine so much" and this kid next to him looks up to me and says" Oh, you mean because it's orange???"

You just gotta love kids.

Back home for the weekend

A note from Havasu Gal,

I am finally writing my blog from my first weekend flying back "home" to Chicago to visit friends and family. I will get better at this...my daughter had to help me sign in after not blogging for two weeks. We are settling in nicely in Lake Havasu City, Az, after moving here in early March.

Nice! Huh?

I have included a pix of our lovely home and we will have an awesome pool that is being built (and yes, it is BIGGER than my sister, Neenee's!) . Hopefully it will be ready soon since it is 104 today! ("But it is a dry heat", said the skeleton)

OUR HOUSE and THE VIEW FROM MY FRONT DOOR

Usually I fly home to Lake Havasu City (from now on LHC), AZ, in between my jobs in the midwest but the last weekend in April presented an opportunity to attend a friend's daughter's wedding and visit my Auntie, my great nephews and great niece, and a friend from work. So I decided to do a marathon weekend in Chicago, Kenosha, and K=town.


Friday night I flew from Indianapolis (which after working there for 4 weeks I found out that there is only 1 "N" in the word) to Midway Airport in Chicago. I drove to my Aunt's condo in Chicago and spent a lovely evening reminiscing about old times. She always tells me that when I was a baby she would sometimes take care of me but she did not have a crib so I slept in a dresser drawer next to her bed. She told me a story about a doll that she loves to look at every day. She bought it for me one day because she knew that I collected dolls. But she fell in love with the doll and kept it herself! I told her she could keep it but she had to name it "Carole"!

She showed me pictures of her two awesome grandsons (here as little boys and older) and I have added a picture of my favorite photo of their mother (Meems) when she was a little girl. This portrait hung in my aunt's house above their beautiful piano. When we were growing up in Kenosha, Wi., we visited them very often, and I always admired the photo. Meems was a beautiful child with golden curls and even though she is grown up with children of her own, I fondly remember her at that age.

In the morning, we worked on her computer and I started my blog. She promised to start her own blog as soon as we can figure it out. Help, Amy!

Then I drove to K=town, Wi, to visit my niece and her family. She is a big blogger and writes often of her three kids: BDE (Best Daughter Ever), Dimples, and Baby. We had a picnic in the park, had a race over the picnic tables (I kept saying to myself 'I am going to kill myself falling off this table' ), played Twister (Dimples said that I cheated) , and looked for bugs (boy can BDE ever scream loud!)

We blew bubbles and talked to the new baby (Pineapple) in my niece, Teeners's, tummy. She is due the same day as her sister, JuJu. Their mother, Neenee, is already trying to figure out how she can be two places at the same time! She may have to do a 'Quantum Leap'...oh boy...

It was a wonderful visit....

Then I got all dressed up and drove to Kenosha (first I had to steal their bumper seat which was in the back seat of my rental car and leave my $811.00 pair of shoes at their house.........not my Monolo Blahnik's.....my orthepedic tennis shoes!). I was to attend a wedding reception of the daughter of one of my "ya-ya's". We have known each other for many, many years and it is such fun to get together. We are missing one of our group who has moved to the Charlotte, NC area. Last year we all flew down there to surprise her and I hope to see this whole group this year or next year in LHC! Don't surprise me, though.....I need time to prepare the pool (and bake the gourmet treats that we are all accustomed to having....oh and to hire more pool boys)

The next morning, I attended church with my son, AJ. We had lunch at IHOP and spent a nice afternoon talking and sharing. He is a great son and I "heart" him. He drives a merchandise van for a living so he is out of town a lot, too.....just like me. Someday, he wants to move to Hungary and be a missionary. That works for me, too, because someday I would love to live in Italy! (Summers in Tuscany.....mmmmmm) Andrea Bocelli better watch out! I can learn to make some good pasta!




Then I had coffee with my old "pod-peep", C , before heading back to the airport. C and I used to have a blast working together. I love her because she always laughed at my jokes and even when I wasn't trying to make a joke: one time I was calling about 10 hotels in Europe for availability. When the hotel operator would answer (whether it was Italian, or German, or whatever), I always said, 'Do you speak English?'. So on and on it went. Then I called London and said 'Do you speak English?' and then I laughed and said 'Of course you speak English, you speak the proper English!'....C cracked up over that and whenever she needs a laugh she IM's me and says 'Do you speak English?.............Nein!'

Then I stepped on a pebble and sprained my ankle. After all that hoopla of dancing and running over picnic tables and twister.....

I didn't mean for this pix to be so big! But my ankle hurt like a mama so I had to take a wheelchair at the airport. Sheesh. It still hurts and I have a Dr's appointment Tuesday to see if I have a stress fracture or whatever. Anyway...

Back to work and we will see what other trouble I can get myself into!