Happy Birthday Joe

Binoculars from Deb......sweet!
all my presents
whoops! I'm sideways
Gifts from Jaris & Nichole a broadhead / knife sharpener and indoor/outdoor slippers
under armour shirt from Deb


Thank you everyone for making my birthday special.

Joe's knee

We went to church today and let's just say Joe was limping really bad afterwards. he was needing to put it up and get it elevated but that was not an easy thing to do. Needless to say that the minute we got home I got out an ice pack, had a glass of water with ibuprofen and pills ready by the recliner as soon as he was able to get his clothes changed. He hasn't moved since. Poor guy! I wish I could make his pain all away. Keep him in your prayers. I sure do love him and don't like seeing him in pain.

Christmas 2008

First of all, Joe is doing better, had a rough day yesterday and I called his Dr. but seems to be moving around a bit more but still MUST take it easy...so Bill don't call and let him rest.

Second, thank you Amber, Jon and Addison for chancing the roads to come spend Christmas with us, we really enjoyed our time together with you...wish you could have stayed longer, but I understand. Trust me I would have left too if only I could (I'm sure you know what I mean by that). Kimi we miss having you family with us but are happy to know you have started some very meaningful traditions in you family. The kids sounded so great and were having a good time. Sorry to hear you are so sick.

We started off the day waiting for Jaris and Nichole to emerge from downstairs...sheesh, I think it was something like 8:30 before they finally made it upstairs. FINALLY we could start opening presents, something I look forward to every year. We receive beautiful pictures of our grand babies and kids , something we can really enjoy throughout our lives.I got a much needed massage gift certificate, candy to keep me "fluffy" a throw, earrings, just to name of few things. The kids were very generous to us as always.

Grandma & pa Neilson came up for breakfast which consists of homemade hash browns, scrambled eggs, cinnamon rolls, bacon, sausage, o.j., chocolate milk, egg nog. I think everyone was pretty stuffed by the time we were done eating.

I think Jon was missing his family as well as Nichole, I understand how they fill when you are not with "your family" at Christmas. We are happy that you were able to sacrifice and be with us. We do love you and always want to make you feel welcome and comfortable after all you are part of our family too.

For dinner we had turkey, stuffing, extra whipped mashed potatoes, gravy, beans, rolls, fruit salad, fruit punch. For dessert there was cake and marion berry cheesecake (which no one has eaten yet) I guess that wasn't a good choice on my part.

Amber and Jon left yesterday with little Addison, what a doll she is.I was so sad to see them go, I wish they could have stayed longer but the babies were really feeding off of each other. On Christmas night I think it was a competition to see who could cry the loudest and longest...at least Amber & Jon took Addison in the other room to try and calm her while Nichole didn't even attempt to give us a break by taking Austin downstairs. I think she likes to torture us all by letting the poor baby just cry. I think next time, I'm going to go downstairs. Geez! Ok, enough about that or I am going to start crying again.

Merry Christmas Everyone

We sure miss having Kimi and the kids here this year ...maybe in 2 years we can all be together again

Another wonderful Christmas

Joe is home from surgery

This is a copy of Joe's knee. We had to be at the Slocum building at 6:00 am this morning basically to fill out some paperwork and the get Joe prepped for surgery, He was in surgery approximately 20 minutes. Dr Shapiro came out to let me know all was fine and that he has to repair torn cartilage in his left knee. A few minute later I was brought back to see Joe by a CNA named Tanya (we used to work together at the DA's office)Man was Joe loopy! I don't know what was in the Anesthetics they gave him through his IV but he was one wired guy. He was talking abut doing some pretty crazy stuff that I can't repeat on the blog or people might get the wrong impression of my husband. He was given the instructions to limit his activity, especially weight-bearing over the next 48 hours. He must use crutches the day of surgery, with minimal weight bearing, no matter how comfortable his knee might feel. he is to to remove the TED stocking only when showering beginning 2 days after surgery provided the incisions are dry and not draining. His steri strips are to remain in place for 5-10 days and then may be removed at 10 days if still in place. He is to use an ice pack for 30 minutes at a time several times a day.
On our way home I needed to stop and get his prescription filled but the Pharmacy I went to (Hiron's) was not open until 9:30 and I didn't want to wait that long so we headed into Springfield to Safeway. Joe sat in the car while I waited to get his pain medication.
He is home and seems to be doing fine. I'm just glad the wacky drugs have worn off...wow, that was a real trip.
He will have a follow-up appointment on Jan. 7th. For now he is home and resting doing what he does best....watching hunting shows....yeah!
If things change I will do another update otherwise rest assured that he is healing fine.
We hope you all have a great time tonight anticipating the arrival of Santa Claus. I know I will do my best to try and get some sleep so he can come to my house.

Joe's surgery update...

Joe went to the Dr. for he's pre-op today and was told he will be off work until at least Jan. 7th. He will be on crutches for approx. 2 days. The surgery itself is quiet quick and depending on how well Joe stays off of it and doesn't overdue, he should heal up rather quickly. As far as the time of the surgery, we won't know until the 23rd, that really sucks not knowing what time on Christmas Eve it is going to take place. I just want everyone to encourage Joe to rest and stay off his leg as much as possible because they will not pay for him to have the surgery again and I don't want his knee messed up for life.
Needless to say we won't be going anywhere over the Christmas holiday but to the Dr. and back home. So no extra fluff for us this year. The most important thing is having Joe heal properly. I hope everyone understand.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES

Dad & I want to wish Kim & Amber a very Happy Birthday today. We want you to know that we love you so very much and are proud of who you are. You have brought a great deal of love and laughter into our lives. We hope you will have a wonderful birthday.
Since we can't be there with either of you to celebrate we wanted to at least sing Happy Birthday to you blog style.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR KIM & AMBER
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

We love you.

Baby it's cold outside

Sheesh! It is freaking cold outside. Joe did manage to make it into work this morning but not without slipping a few times. He called to say don't even attempt coming to town until it's light and only if I absolutely have to. Now I have to worry all day about Joe making it home safely in the crappy truck he has to drive.
Jaris tried his hand at going to work around 7:15 but had to turn around in Pleasant Hill due to the icy conditions.
Amber text messaged me to say they are having treacherous conditions, yet she is still at work, and will need to get home this morning.
Kimi called to say their weather shifted form in the 80's yesterday to the 30's today and possibly snow by Wednesday.
All I can say is it's not worth driving if you absolutely don't have too. IN other words, STAY HOME if you can.

Yep, I think I am all but ready for Christmas to be here. I just have to shop for Joe, other than that all the presents are bought and wrapped. I will need to start doing some serious baking this next weekend............lots of Christmas goodies. I can't wait because I love Christmas.
Here are a few pictures of some of my decorations....enjoy! Sorry the outside lights look so dark, it's because well....it was dark when I took the pictures. HEHEHE

Some of our Christmas decorations

Yep, Amber you are right I do take come blurry pictures

Nichole & Austin having a good time playing cowboy
Ok, so in my picutres this picture is turned the right way, sorry you'll just have to look at the little cowboy sideways
yes, this is a weird angle of the babies but no matter what they are still really cute
Papa adoring baby Addison....too cute!

New Braunsfel resort, Kimi & family and Sofia at the Children's Museum

Visit to Texas

Sofia playing at Landa Park

I wasn't sure who was having the most fun....Kimi or the kids
Look at our little cowgirl and cowboy
Dallin was constantly sticking his tongue out at me
Cute kids
Sofia being one crazy little girl!

Test results

Yesterday, I went to Oregon Cardiology at River Bend to have the Rest/Stress Myocardial Perfusion (MPI) SPECT. The results are the the overall impression of the results and the stress electrocardiogram combined with my age, sex, symptons, and coronary risk factors. The study was performed in order to evaluate coronary artery disease in me since I have had a history of chest pain. Symptoms include atypical chest pain.

* Exercise duration was 10:15 minutes to a heart rate of 156 (91% of maximum predicted). Exercise was terminated because of generalized fatigue. (too bad Jillian wasn't there screaming in my face to push me harder - maybe I'd loose some weight) No chest discomfort or other anginal symptoms occurred during the study. The resting blood pressure was 112/70 and maximum blood pressure was 170/80 (a far cry from what it was Saturday the 1st). The resting ECG showed low voltage QRS. The stress ECG revealed no ST segment depression (so I'm not depressed!)

* Exercise(Same day protocol) gated myocardial perfusion SPECT (stress/rest sestamibi) demonstrated no perfusion abnormalities. Thank goodness!

* Resting gated SPECT revealed an ejection fraction of 87% with end-diastolic volume of 51 ml. Post exercise resting gated SPECT revealed a normal left ventricular ejection fraction of 80% with end-diastolic volume of 47 ml and no wall motion abnormalities. Resting and exercise post stress gated SPECT revealed no wall motion abnormalities.

* In conclusion:
Perfusion: Normal
Clinical Response: Nonischemic
Gated Function: Normal
ECG Response: Nonischemic


These test results indicate a low (<10%) likelihood for the presence of angiographically significant coronary artery disease.

Thank you Amber & Addison for going with me to the appointment. Sorry I didn't get to spend much time with you. I so wish we had more time together. You are always so willing to jump in the care and be here at a minutes notice. I love you so much. You are always so supportive, kind and extremely generous.

Thank you Joe for all you love and constant support. I love you with every fiber of my being, without you who knows where I'd be.

Kim & Jaris thank you for your love and support.

Tomorrow, I leave for Texas, at least now I can going knowing my heart is ok. I just need to remember to RELAX and have fun.

I'm more than ready to walk away from work for a bit, it has been a huge burden weighing on my shoulders lately.

Ok, I need to go make dinner, even thought it's not my night to do it. Hint Hint Hint.

Have a great rest of the evening. I need to go to bed early to leave by 5:15 am to board the airplane. I will miss my dear husband, I really don't like being away from him. I am looking forward to spending time with Kimi, Sofia and Dallin again. I really wish they lived back in Oregon so we could all get together more often.

Ok, I've now written a novel time to stop.

Sofia Happy Birthday

Sofia is 6 yrs old today. She is such a beautiful girl. She loves school,dance (she's a beautiful ballerina), singing, Tinkerbell, laughing, Girl Scouts, playing, and of course being with her Nana & Papa. Sofia, we hope you have a wonderful birthday. We are so sad we can't be there to celebrate your birthday with you but Nana will be there next week and we'll party then,k?

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday Dear Sofia
Happy Birthday to you.

WE LOVE YOU WITH ALL OUR HEARTS

Love,
Nana & Papa

Update......

Ok, I'm still not up to par but doing better.

Here is my update... Yes, I am still having chest pains but only 2 have been strong enough to really get my attention but not strong enough to take a nitro. My left arm continues to ache,feel numb and tingly for the most part.

I called my Dr. and finally this afternoon they call me just to say they received my paperwork from McKenzie Willamette Hospital. Oregon Cardiology is to call me wither Tuesday or Wednesday to schedule a stress test. Once I have that I will update everyone.
Meanwhile, I will be fine, no worries. As I am looking forward Sofia turning 6 years old tomorrow - HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOFIA - I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I really wish I could be there to celebrate with you. Also I get the privilege of baby-sitting Addison on Wednesday, then next week I will be flying to Texas to visit with Kimi and her family and staying at a brand new resort.

Thanks again for all you love and concern.

911 - Ambulance - Hospital

I've had quite the week and 1/2. It all started last week with me having some achiness in my chest then Friday after leaving Jon's birthday party I got heartburn like never before. Not only was it the heartburn but Nichol's snoring was awful, she flipping' gurgles when she snores. I was having such awful flash back of when my Dad died that I couldn't handle it anymore, I really thought I was going to throw up right then. I leaned forward and asked Joe to pull over NOW so she did at some podunk town. I got out of the car and vomited then I got the rolaids out of my purse in the trunk hopign that would help. The ride home was miserable. Then I was up most of the night because I couldn't kick the darn heartburn. Saturday I felt completely out of it and just wasn't myself,I was having some chest pains....then Sunday came and went and I felt the same except the chest pains were increasing.

By Monday morning I made a Dr. appointment, they got me right in. The Dr. was really rude and sarcastic, I wanted to slap the stupid woman but I didn't have enough strength. She sent me in for an EKG and a bunch of blood work. Everything cam back normal, except my chest pains were increasing and my left arm was really achy. I went back to work and with everything that is happening there and with finances, and just the crap that goes on from day to day I was a complete mess.

My pains continued to increase throughout the rest of the week. Then yesterday the pain was intensifying so I walked across the street to Lance & Laura's house to ask for an aspirin, since I didn't have any. They asked what was wrong, sheesh........I shouldn't even take without tearing up. I was trying really hard to put on my brave face, but they weren't' buying it, not one bit. They asked where Joe was and I told them I had been trying to call him all day but was unsuccessful, he was gone hunting. Laura decided to take my blood pressure it was 148/100, after another chest pain and trying my best to relax she took my blood pressure again 139/105 and boom a big chest pain hit me this time I felt like someone was standing on my chest and the teard really began to flow. Lance called Joe, then he called 911. Next thing I know Joe is there, Gerry from down the street, Lynn & Ryan with their baby, Jaris & Nichole w/Austin and about 6 EMT's. I was so embarrassed. They check my blood pressure, not sure what it was, the check my blood sugar and it was good, not bad considering all I had ate all day was a piece of toast and a brownie with a Pepsi. They ran an EKG, Gerry looked at it and I looked up at her and asked her what she thought I should do, since she is a retired charge nurse in critical care department. She said I need to go to the hospital and go by ambulance. So I did.

In the ambulance I was hooked up to an IV, given more aspirin, and a nitro.......finally some relief, the chest paina were subsiding after the nitro. Joe actually beat the ambulance to the hospital.

At the hospital I was given Nexum intravenously, draw more blood, another EKG and hooked up to a heart monitor. My heart rate was down to 52 but mostly around the 54 to 55 rate. My blood pressure took a while to come down but it finally did, what a relief. After a couple hours, several text messages later from our girls and phone call from Jaris, I was told my EKG looked fine, but that I need to call my Dr. first thing Monday morning to get in for a stress test. They gave me nitro and direction on how and when to take it. Then we were released and sent home.

I was woke up during the night with one really hard pain, other than that I've had several lighter pains through today but none that were alarming.

So thank you all for your love and concern. I just need to de-stress my life........yeah right.............as if that is ever going to happen. Meanwhile I will go have the stress test,wait for the Dr and ambulance bills to pile in so I can be medically broke along with everything else.

I will update everyone once I get the test results from the stress test. Again thanks for all your love and support. I love you all.

Addison & Austin,,,,,,,,,,,so cute!

Addison loving her bath time

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Aunti Amber holding Austin........Amber you're look really good....cute picture.

Austin sleeping

Addison & Austin you are so A*D*O*R*A*B*L*E and so is the guy holding you.