Results

Well, I had the sleep test and apparently I have sleep apnea about 5 % of the time but only when I'm on my back. So if I lose some weight perhaps that will fix that. The stress test was interesting. They gave me the radiological marker through a IV and after 45 minutes they had me lay on a table to x-ray or some such machine to look at my heart. Then off to the stress test which was not as bad as I thought it would be. They used some kind of drug that opened up my arteries and allowed them to get what they wanted without making me work real hard on the machine. Then more x-rays or whatever. The PA that did the test said it look good and I should hear something from him or the cardiologist within a few days or so. So the PA called and said they found nothing really wrong with me but I can call the cardiologist in a day or so. I haven't! If there was something there I figured he would have called me. So I plan on exercising as much as I can. I've been walking at lunch time during work and I will do extra exercise on the weekends. Eating? I'm slowing down and trying to watch what I eat but it's hard sometimes. I like food. So I may not die this year, which is making Grammy and the kids happy. I think I will stick around a while longer.

Monday nights

Mondays for us are special! Besides being our Family Home Evening, Grammy has taken to having a family dinner but not just any dinner. It has to be FUN and with a Theme. So, she has pulled off some really fun things so far. There was Cowboy night where we ate and dressed up (the grandkids) like Cowboys! There was camping under the table. So she put blankets over the table and the kids got to eat under the table. Problem is we couldn't see what Lee was doing! Like eating someone else's food! We had a picnic in the livingroom on the floor! Then there was St. Patricks day! All of the food had to be GREEN! The grandkids wore something green as well! So you get the picture. The kids love it and it's building great memories for everyone.

It's Springtime in the Garden

Well, it's slowly being more like spring and of course the outside projects have started. Grammy wanted a Strawberry box built but it needed to be tiered so we needed to be creative. First it would be in one spot then that changed to next to the shed. Okay how many tiers did you want? So finally I got it done. See picture below. Then we filled it with topsoil and peat. Finally Grammy put the strawberries in. So what do you think? Not to bad.

So what does Grammy tell me yesterday? You should have made it bigger so we could have one more tier! Really? Of course we want more strawberries. Perhaps next year.

Cardiologist visit

Well I saw a cardiologist today. I won't bore you with details but the plan is to put me on some new med's. I have to do a stress test first. That will be in about two weeks. He also wants me to be checked for sleep apnea. Not excited about that. If the new med's work great. If not, then a possible oblation is the next best option. However he also said that a more invasive procedure is to have surgery where the Doctor cuts two eight inch slots on each side of my chest and they do a thing to the outside of my heart. Humm? Let me think on this! Nope, I think the other options are better. Other wise I'm fine. The doc did say if these episodes continue and get more frequent over time I would be more at risk for a possible stroke. Well, I need to lose weight and exercise more so I will plan on more walking and or a trip once in a while to the Gym.

Papa's Heart

Well after getting on a Beta blocker and meds for my Thyroid, I figured I was going to get past this rapid heart rate thing. I had a few episodes of elevated heart rate but it was barely noticeable. Rate around 120 or less. Well, about a week and a half ago I was woke up around midnight with my heart racing again. Yep, woke me up! I had bought a watch that allows me to check my heart rate by pressing a button. Mt rate was around 152. It was a fitful night and I kept checking my rate which at one point it was as high as 167. I really wore me out. I just wanted to stay in bed. Luckily I had taken the day off so I didn't have to go to work. Well, Grammy and I talked and agreed I should make an appointment with my Doctor again and see what to do.

I stayed busy and would get to it when I had time. Well last night, I was awakened again with my heart racing. I didn't wake up Grammy, I just lived with it and when 4am came around I got up and went to work. It was hard, I was exhausted but I had a lot to do at work and I knew it should quit fairly soon. I picked up my coworker and we headed to work. Well it slowed down just as we pulled in to work. I called my doctor and got in to see him around 3:45 today. He told me to double up my Beta blocker and go see a Cardiologist. He recommended one and now I have an appointment for Thursday. So, at least I will see a specialist and hopefully get this fixed. I'll let you know.

Hard to be upbeat!

I've had a few issues at work lately. Some of you know about it. Well, last night was the Annual Awards Ceremony for us and our team was put in for a Team Award, which I think is a great idea, since everyone has worked so hard at getting our goals met that HQ hands down each year. Of course without our Supervisor John steering things it would not have been a success as a team. So I debated whether to go or not but felt this is a team thing so why not. Support the team. Martha decided she wanted to go along since Grammy was working. Martha met me in town at the train station and we went to dinner. Nice to have a Daddy-Daughter time together. Then we went to the ceremony. Everyone but three of team came. One was off on a vacation with family the other two don't normally do these things. So, the ceremony is about to start and Martha and I sit down with everyone else. I pick up the program and what do I see? I'm getting an "Unsung Hero Award" Are you kidding me? I turn around and said to John "What's this?" He just smiles and shrugs. I don't care for individual awards. Never have, never will! I don't do my work for an award. I do it to care for my family and if anything made me feel good it woulf be the occasional thanks for helping me, kind of thing or when a Stakeholder finally see the purpose of why I'm there and they willingly do what we asked them to do! Really! These awards are so biased and they always leave out someone who works just as hard as me and I feel bad they didn't get something as well. So for me this is was just bad timing. With everything that has been going on at work. Unexpected sure, but not needed.

Then last night I was awakened several times as my heart was doing it's high speed thing again. Not sure how long it lasted but it didn't stop until approx. 0915 this morning. At one point the rate was as high as 167 beats a minute. Mostly around 120 to 145. Grammy thinks I need to go see my doctor again go get my beta blocker dosage upped. Eventually I may have to go see a cardiologist in the future. I've been beat all day. I took a bit of a nap at Heathers house today since I had taken the day off from work.

So hard to be upbeat! But, I know I have many blessings in my life, my sweetie, my kids and grandkids! I have been thinking a lot about retiring lately. But, until Grammy and I get out of debt that won't happen anytime soon!

Busy - Crazy times

It's March and I've not been very good at keeping this up to date. Sorry! It's been very busy around here and after everything that happened in January I was grateful to just be home and take it easy. Grammy has two more days to go before she is finally done with college. I'm so proud of her. She is a amazing example to her children and grandchildren. She walks on May 28th.

Micah came to visit last weekend and it was great seeing him. He had dates with two girls while he was here. I don't think either one will go anywhere but at least he had some fun while he was here. I was going to go to a Jazz game with him but he took a girl instead. Okay I'll give him up for a girl. So I took Nate to the game and we were able to watch from the nose bleed section. It was fun even if the view was so high. Good times.

Happy January is over!

This month I have had a string of health issues. It started in December with my heart doing the fast Atrial Fibrillation which means the top half of your heart beats (quivers) faster that the rest of the heart. My heart rate would go up around 148 and down to 130 beats per minute. I went into the ER and they gave me medicine to slow the heart down and as long as the heart doesn't keep doing this for more that 24 hours then in came the Gen. Practice Doctor and he prescribed a beta blocker and a thyroid medicine and released me back to work. He said that if it keeps on happening after this then they would explore other options. Now fast forward to January and I needed to have my 5 year colonoscopy done. So in one week I was diagnosed with the A-Fib heart and the scope confirms that I have Ulcerative Colitis. It's only a 5 cm portion but the Gastro Doctor explained that it would be best if I took medicine for the rest of my life. So this confirms what the military doctor tried to tell me about 3 years before I retired. Of course Micah has UC full blown but I had a Sig done while we were living in Casper. That doctor didn't see anything so I must have not been flaring up at that time. Ok, I have it, it just means I believe the doc's now and Micah and I have more in common. Then I've had this persistent head cold going on for over 5 weeks. I've tried various meds but it keeps staying with me. Well, then last Sunday I was up waiting to go to church when all of a sudden I get hit with what felt like a muscle spasm or strain in my back right side lower area. I chalked it up to the normal I wake up and somethings hurts for some unknown reason. At church it hurt so bad I felt like crying a few times. Then Sunday night I could not sleep more that 2 hours because of the pain. I tried various positions, chairs and beds. No luck. I went to work where I somehow made it through the day and again Monday night was tough, only 2 or so hours of sleep. Lari got me an appointment with a doctor who said that I'm now passing a Kidney Stone. Very painful for those of you that have not experienced this before. The doctor told me that I would just have to wait it out. He gave me pain killers and something to help it pass. So a week goes by and I'm peeing into a strainer and hating every moment. I was having a really hard time sleeping and even with the pain killers I was in constant pain. Finally on the next Monday I go into the doctor again except the Dr I saw is not in so I get my regular doctor to see me. He agrees that I need to see a Urologist and get this over. He gets me right in and the Urologist takes a look at my Cat Scan and pronounces that I'm not passing any kidney stones. Really! So what is going on. He says perhaps a pulled muscle or rib. Okay no more peeing in the strainer. Whew! So, at this point I'm headed to a Chiropractor. I head to one the next day and he agrees that I'm out of kilter (I admit what else is he going to say! New patient! Yea!) So he adjusts me and after a second adjustment I'm sleeping better. By the following Monday I'm pretty much pain free.

Now a point on painkillers. I hate them! Since I was taking one quite regularly I had a few episodes of upset stomach due to the medicine. Three times losing whatever was in my belly in the process. How in the world do these people get hooked on them I have no idea. I mean really? The way they made me feel was no picnic. I many times preferred the pain vs the way the pills made me feel.

Finally a point on my sweetheart! She was great taking care of me! Isn't it awesome when someone loves you and will take care of in the middle of the night. I'm a very lucky man.

Christmas 2009

So how many months do we plan and prepare for Christmas? How many times do we tell the Christmas story to the children and grandchildren so they know the true meaning of Christmas? How many times do we shake our heads saddened by the news of constant attacks by those who do not want to celebrate Christmas and feel neither should we! Yet with all of this activity and hustle and bustle we find ourselves finally sitting around the Christmas tree, some of us are tired from putting the last presents out after the children fall asleep. Others are just tired from playing games with family late into the night. Perhaps a few just can't believe we are getting up before 8am to open presents. No matter how we come to this moment, here we are, sitting waiting for the Mom or Grammy to say "This is how we are doing it this year!" Amazingly the children who have been looking at the ever growing presents that seem to show up day after day under the tree, sit still! Even the littlest child is watching and learning from the older children on how this process works. Then suddenly an adult grabs the first present and says who it is for. Excitement fills the childrens faces as they finally get one of the presents they have been looking and poking at for at least a week! Parents and others sit and warmly smile as they watch the children excitedly rip into each present! They giggle or laugh as they see a child do a funny war like dance as they get some expected or unexpected toy or gift! What seems like a slow process each present is passed out and opened. The excitement slowly ebbs and the cleanup continues from ripped open packages and boxes. Then as the children run off to thier rooms to put new toys away someone looks at their watch or the clock on the wall and they realize all of these presents were opened and touched within an hour or so. All of that planning and purchasing is over in a few shourt minutes! Yet we will do it again, next year! Now comes the decision which parent can sneek back into bed for a few more hours of sleep. While the other "Dads!" lay on the floor and play with the child and thier new toy or video game. Amazingly most Moms are okay with Dads playing video games on Christmas day, as long as they get to go back to bed! Later the Christmas dinner is prepared and we over eat for the second time in two months and tell ourselves we will do better next year!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year, Mamaw came for Christmas! She visited Ricky and Bart during the first part of the month and really enjoyed herself. We also had a huge suprise when Roger Jr, Alyssa and Madison and Little Roger showed up on Wednesday night from Texas! What a wonderful surprise! We sorely missed Micah who had to stay in Wyoming to keep working on the railroad and Leo wh was visiting his dad in Kansas City. Maybe one day we will have them all for Christmas!

Mamaw and Lil' Roger

Grammy and her Lil' Rog

Lee Phillip or "Philly" as Grammy calls him.

Maddie isn't she beautiful!

Taylor James "TJ" and his 1st present.

Triniti and her new Christmas dress!

Chance and his new comforter for his bed!

Lil' Roger

Like Father like Son!

I'm sure I saw this is in the movie "Forrest Gump"!

Just a great picture of Roger Jr! The women folk never like thier pictures on Christmas morning!

Dec 09 and I'm Late!

Okay, okay! I know several of you have checked this blog and wonder why I don't update it with something new! All I can say is I'm sorry and I'll try to do better. It was a crazy few month leading up to today. While I had the chance to get the last few "Outdoor Projects" done before the weather turned cold I had to do that. First was the Storage shed! It's 95 % done. The outside is all complete but I have the inside shelves and perhaps a window for Grammy to look out at her yard to finish it off. The shelves will be so she can do early plantings with a grow light. Of course that takes electricity which I haven't run yet. One thing at a time.

Next is a last minute sidewalk. Grammy has wanted a way for the family to use the garage in the winter to take off boots and coats instead of the front door. Last year the front door was always a mess. So I quickly dug out the sidewalk layout and formed it up and them put the entire family to work. Nathan was a HUGE help! The sidewalk looks pretty good for an amateur! It looks like we have pretty much train everyone to use the side door.

Then there was the shelves in the garage by the kitchen door for Grammy to put her extra kitchen things on. Again Nathan was a big help! Following that I started the repair of the kitchen light area after the kitchen fire. That is not done yet but I have time.

Work has been very busy and I'm quite tired when I get home. Ten hour days followed by a 30 to 45 minute car drive home doesn't leave much room for much except dinner and get ready for bed. 4am comes awfully early!

Of course we have Heather and Nathan living with us now, which makes for a very busy house. It gets mostly quiet around 9:30 pm. They close on thier house in SD this week and if all goes well they will buy the new one before the end of the year. Matha and Leo will move in with them which will leave Sara and the kids here.

Of course there is the issue of San Diego. I still haven't heard anything at this point. I will call my friend there after the New Year if I haven't heard anything by then. Again, if I don't get the position that is okay, but it would be nice to get the pay raise. We will see! If it's meant to be then it will happen!

Christmas is fast approaching and we will have Mamaw stay with us thru the holidays. We flew her out here on Dec. 4th. Due to some rearranging with my brothers in Wyoming, I took her to Rock Springs on the 6th and she stayed a week with Ricky and now she is with Bart and his family. I'm really glad she has had the opportunity to go there and see everyone. It's hard to be with everyone all the time but this is the best we can do. I just hope she is happy!

Last night was a strange one! Mondays are normally hard on me as it's the first day back to work and I normally don't get alot of sleep the night before. Makes for a long day! Well due to some extra work taskings I was going to go into work this morning at 8am instead of 6am. That allowed me to stay up with Grammy as she wanted to do some shoppig last night. Well needless to say we got home around 10pm and I saw the heavy snow on the bushes on the side of the house that were possibly damaging the bushes so as we walked in i stopped to clean off as much as I could really quickly. I was close to being done when I started feeling really tired and just generally didn't feel well. I came in and told Grammy and Heather I wasn't feeling well and my heart felt like it was racing! Grammy touched my nech and said it feels alright to me, I think yor just tired! Go to bed and get some sleep! So I started to do just that. However by the ime I rawled into bed I was not feeling good at all. My chest felt like I had one of the grnadkids on my chest! I knew something wasn't right! So I went down stairs and found the little blood pressure machine we have and strapped it on. My BP was like 130 over 83 and my heart rate was around 120 bpm. Martha insisted I they call 911 or take to the hospital but I didn't want to go just yet!. Basically it stayed like that until almost 11pm when I bored down and got it to stop or slow down finally! I know many of you will tell me I should have gone in or called 911. I just felt it wasn't time to do that. However in hindsight, if it happens again I will do just that. This has scared me a bit! I need to stay off the chocolate and stop eating the kid friendly food that we seem to eat around here! I take my vitamins and I need to go see a family doctor for a check up anyway for some regular tests. So I will get things looked at!

Okay, I will do better at updating this thing and I want to say Merry Christmas!