It's been great spending the past month in Lenoxdale, housesitting for our good friends Karen and Pierre. I think one of the things I've enjoyed the most is our time on the front porch. We eat breakfast, lunch, and our snack out there, read, work on the computer, and watch the neighbors walk by. In Tennessee, my mom tells me it's called "porching", and I think it's a lovely past time.
We've been reaping the harvest of their garden, another joy of summer and picking currants from two large bushes. I am not sure what to do with them, so I'll just keep them in the fridge.
We also take long walks. Russ is going about four miles a day, and I try to keep up. For the past two days, we have taken the back road to Laurel Lake and discovered the Lee town beach and a homemade ice cream store (with heart healthy sorbet). Kennedy Park is also a wonderfully shaded area with several different walking trails.
Going into the center of town feels like we are somewhere else. Having worked in Lenox for six years, I never really walked the downtown section. With it's cute boutiques and sidewalk cafes, it feels like we are on vacation. Tonight we came across a concert in Lilac Park and we plan on going to Tanglewood next week.
I went back to the high school today, and it felt like I had never left. Except that I did not have mountains of work as I would normally over the summer. I loved seeing co-workers. Several former students have been in touch with me, which has warmed my heart. They were the highlight of my time there (ok, most of them). Our social action group SAVE continues to grow, and I am so proud of the students who want to stand up for and help raise awareness about injustices around the world.
This will be my last blog on this site. Thank you for supporting me in reading it. The new site will be http://theq8report.blogspot.com and I hope to have a post up later this week.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Signed, sealed, delivered
Summer has arrived, and we are thoroughly enjoying it. Our time in Lenox is relaxed and carefree. The other times are not so much so as Berkshire Medical Center evolved into our second home last week with several doctor visits and medical "events" (lab work, heart tests, cardiac rehab, and so on). Everything has been going well, it's just a lot to happen all at the same time. As you might imagine, talking with the insurance company is often frustrating.
Partly because we are getting good feedback from the doctors, we reaffirmed our decision to go to Kuwait. We had so many different emotions arriving back here at the end of May, and then with medication complications and side effects in June, we just weren't sure. So with much thought and prayer, we decided decisively to go and feel good about it.
There is much to do, but it will not be like last summer. For one thing, we own a whole lot less and will not be shipping anything, but will be bringing some excess baggage on the plane. We still have to be medically cleared (including being negative on Hep B and C, HIV, syphillis, TB, malaria, and filiaris), as well as criminally clean (which included a letter from our local police chief, authenticated at the state and then the national level). And then sending all of it to the Kuwait Embassy so they can issue the work visa before we leave in the third week of August. Not really a problem except the time it takes to overnight mail documents and hope the right people process them quickly.
Russ is walking up to four miles a day, which means I am also walking quite a bit. It feels great. There are so many different paths to take around here and sometimes we'll walk up in Dalton when we are there for the day.
I have begun a shiny new blog, but nothing is posted there yet. You will be able to find it at http://stephsQ8report.blogspot.com
We are so thankful for everyone's support.
Partly because we are getting good feedback from the doctors, we reaffirmed our decision to go to Kuwait. We had so many different emotions arriving back here at the end of May, and then with medication complications and side effects in June, we just weren't sure. So with much thought and prayer, we decided decisively to go and feel good about it.
There is much to do, but it will not be like last summer. For one thing, we own a whole lot less and will not be shipping anything, but will be bringing some excess baggage on the plane. We still have to be medically cleared (including being negative on Hep B and C, HIV, syphillis, TB, malaria, and filiaris), as well as criminally clean (which included a letter from our local police chief, authenticated at the state and then the national level). And then sending all of it to the Kuwait Embassy so they can issue the work visa before we leave in the third week of August. Not really a problem except the time it takes to overnight mail documents and hope the right people process them quickly.
Russ is walking up to four miles a day, which means I am also walking quite a bit. It feels great. There are so many different paths to take around here and sometimes we'll walk up in Dalton when we are there for the day.
I have begun a shiny new blog, but nothing is posted there yet. You will be able to find it at http://stephsQ8report.blogspot.com
We are so thankful for everyone's support.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Four kids and wii (as in us)
We are back in the Berkshires after a few days in Carmel, Indiana. Mom drove Russ and me up to Louisville, Kentucky where Beth and the girls met us for a picnic. It was a halfway stop and we then drove the rest of the way with Beth. Both girls are very cute and adore Russ, who in turns dotes on them. It's a win-win for everyone. In fact, normally squirrly Rachel insisted in church on sitting on Russ' lap so he could rub her back, which put her into some kind of trance.
Some of our favorite sayings from the girls -
I said, "Ok,hugs before bed" and four-year-old Rachel piped in "What about high fives?"
Five-and-half-year-old Faith was always asking where Russ was if he was not in the room. She matter-of-factly told me before bed one night "We were praying for Uncle Russ when he was sick. When he had his heart attack, his caterpillers did not have enough blood" (she meant capillaries, and apparently learned that from Bill Nye, the Science Guy)
The boys are quickly grown-up and spun us with tales of what they are working on for the 4-H fair (archery, chicken bbq and geneology for ten-year-old Zack and steak bbq, Star Wars collection display, and bicycles for twelve-year-old Marshall). Both boys are still plugged into music and help their dad out Sunday mornings. Zack is on swim team and Marshall just started football conditioning.
We played tennis, swung at the playground, and fed ducks. All four kids gave us lessons in wii, so we also bowled, shot decoys, and played party games. Let's just say their hand-eye coordination is light years beyond mine. A jolly good time though.
Beth and Max have done a wonderful job making their home very cozy and comfortable. We slept soundly in their king-size bed, although we also got lost in it. It was great catching up with them, and we always enjoy Max's salsa. They are on the same two-meals-a-day plan as Mom and Dad, which we have been continuing since then. It is very satisfying. The kids are still eating up a storm though.
Beth also took me to her favorite Goodwill store. I swear that Carmel has the best thrift shops I have ever seen. So, I am slowly rebuilding my wardrobe. Mom helped too. Beth also gave me a purse to replace the one that was lifted on the flight to Gabs to Joburg; things are slowly getting back to normal. (There was nothing in the purse, but it was really nice)
As in Tennessee, the weather was cool and pleasant. I think this will be the forecast for the summer, even though I wish it was a bit warmer.
The whole trip was a good diversion for us and it went by too quickly. We are now housesitting in Lenox, which is a nice change. We are enjoying discovering our neighborhood, walking, and sitting out on the porch.
Some of our favorite sayings from the girls -
I said, "Ok,hugs before bed" and four-year-old Rachel piped in "What about high fives?"
Five-and-half-year-old Faith was always asking where Russ was if he was not in the room. She matter-of-factly told me before bed one night "We were praying for Uncle Russ when he was sick. When he had his heart attack, his caterpillers did not have enough blood" (she meant capillaries, and apparently learned that from Bill Nye, the Science Guy)
The boys are quickly grown-up and spun us with tales of what they are working on for the 4-H fair (archery, chicken bbq and geneology for ten-year-old Zack and steak bbq, Star Wars collection display, and bicycles for twelve-year-old Marshall). Both boys are still plugged into music and help their dad out Sunday mornings. Zack is on swim team and Marshall just started football conditioning.
We played tennis, swung at the playground, and fed ducks. All four kids gave us lessons in wii, so we also bowled, shot decoys, and played party games. Let's just say their hand-eye coordination is light years beyond mine. A jolly good time though.
Beth and Max have done a wonderful job making their home very cozy and comfortable. We slept soundly in their king-size bed, although we also got lost in it. It was great catching up with them, and we always enjoy Max's salsa. They are on the same two-meals-a-day plan as Mom and Dad, which we have been continuing since then. It is very satisfying. The kids are still eating up a storm though.
Beth also took me to her favorite Goodwill store. I swear that Carmel has the best thrift shops I have ever seen. So, I am slowly rebuilding my wardrobe. Mom helped too. Beth also gave me a purse to replace the one that was lifted on the flight to Gabs to Joburg; things are slowly getting back to normal. (There was nothing in the purse, but it was really nice)
As in Tennessee, the weather was cool and pleasant. I think this will be the forecast for the summer, even though I wish it was a bit warmer.
The whole trip was a good diversion for us and it went by too quickly. We are now housesitting in Lenox, which is a nice change. We are enjoying discovering our neighborhood, walking, and sitting out on the porch.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
On the western end of the eastern time zone
(...or where to spend the summer soltice)
We are towards the end of our visit with my parents in Tennessee. It's been great. Not that I am a particular fan of the state itself, although it is really lovely. Russ and I have gotten the resort treatment - long walks down country roads, time to sleep in and read, and healthy delicious spa cuisine. Mom has always had a knack for cooking low fat meals, with lots of grilled fish, decadent desserts, and an abundance of fruits and veggies. I think Russ can hardly believe how well he has eaten.
All hail the vitamin queen who found a combination of supplements to finally balance our individual systems after months of being out-of-sync. It has also settled some of Russ' side effects from his heart medication. We are definitely healthier now than when we first arrived last week. Not something too many visitors to Tennessee can say with its country fried, gravy-covered, sweet tea diet. Mom said that the ladies at the church asked her not to bring anything to the church potlucks; we laughed because her food was probably too healthy for them, more likely they were just being gracious.
One of the changes my parents have made in the past year which I think is fabulous is eating just twice a day, once at breakfast and then a late rather filling lunch, with maybe a light snack or dessert later in the evening. This works for us and I hope we can incorporate it into our lifestyle when we return.
I love the longer evenings when the sun only goes down after 9:30.
It's hot and humid, but not unbearable. It has rained for some part of every day. We had a lovely time down in Chattanooga yesterday at what must be the largest aquarium in the world. It was really outstanding with one five-story building for ocean fish and another for freshwater species. Both were abundant with flora and fauna and it was really well done.
We've been out on the nearby lake twice. For some reason, I really like the smell of boat diesel in the summer. Mostly just guys fishing so the water was glass. Would have been nice to have skis.
We flew down here on Southwest Airlines, and I asked myself why we hadn't flown with them before? The check-in was a breeze, no extra fees, pleasant boarding process and great service on-board. So we signed up for their frequent flier program, as they really made it a pleasure to fly. National carriers outside the US also do a pretty good job but let's face it - domestic air travel sucks most of the time. My parents just booked flights for later this year to California and Charleston for unbelievable rates. Looks like I will be the armchair traveler for awhile.
Tomorrow we will meet my sister in Louisville and then drive up to Carmel, Indiana for a few days. The pace is likely to pick up as we reconnect with the four nieces and nephews, but we can't wait.
We are towards the end of our visit with my parents in Tennessee. It's been great. Not that I am a particular fan of the state itself, although it is really lovely. Russ and I have gotten the resort treatment - long walks down country roads, time to sleep in and read, and healthy delicious spa cuisine. Mom has always had a knack for cooking low fat meals, with lots of grilled fish, decadent desserts, and an abundance of fruits and veggies. I think Russ can hardly believe how well he has eaten.
All hail the vitamin queen who found a combination of supplements to finally balance our individual systems after months of being out-of-sync. It has also settled some of Russ' side effects from his heart medication. We are definitely healthier now than when we first arrived last week. Not something too many visitors to Tennessee can say with its country fried, gravy-covered, sweet tea diet. Mom said that the ladies at the church asked her not to bring anything to the church potlucks; we laughed because her food was probably too healthy for them, more likely they were just being gracious.
One of the changes my parents have made in the past year which I think is fabulous is eating just twice a day, once at breakfast and then a late rather filling lunch, with maybe a light snack or dessert later in the evening. This works for us and I hope we can incorporate it into our lifestyle when we return.
I love the longer evenings when the sun only goes down after 9:30.
It's hot and humid, but not unbearable. It has rained for some part of every day. We had a lovely time down in Chattanooga yesterday at what must be the largest aquarium in the world. It was really outstanding with one five-story building for ocean fish and another for freshwater species. Both were abundant with flora and fauna and it was really well done.
We've been out on the nearby lake twice. For some reason, I really like the smell of boat diesel in the summer. Mostly just guys fishing so the water was glass. Would have been nice to have skis.
We flew down here on Southwest Airlines, and I asked myself why we hadn't flown with them before? The check-in was a breeze, no extra fees, pleasant boarding process and great service on-board. So we signed up for their frequent flier program, as they really made it a pleasure to fly. National carriers outside the US also do a pretty good job but let's face it - domestic air travel sucks most of the time. My parents just booked flights for later this year to California and Charleston for unbelievable rates. Looks like I will be the armchair traveler for awhile.
Tomorrow we will meet my sister in Louisville and then drive up to Carmel, Indiana for a few days. The pace is likely to pick up as we reconnect with the four nieces and nephews, but we can't wait.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The birthday boy
Today is Russ' 44th birthday. He says he feels his age but looks good to me. Well, I feel old too. Sometimes I literally shock myself when looking in the mirror when I wake up. What is most important though is that he is here, alive and in good health.
We are going to have lobsters and corn tonight, which is maybe his favorite summer meal. Who knew that scientists recently discovered that the previously dissed shellfish is high in Omega-3s? Those are the magic words for us but we will obviously be skipping the butter. Let's not tempt fate here. In place of butter, I think a tasty combo could be using garlic, lemon, and plain yogurt. On this heart friendly diet, we have been eating very well, but not exactly losing weight. I think when we are housesitting next month, it will be much easier.
I found all sorts of good things at the library yesterday - "109 things you can do to prevent, halt, and reverse heart disease" and "Understanding pain" (Time magazine) for Russ; a mindless summer novel and the latest New Yorker for me. He could probably use something fluffy to read too.
We welcomed the Stanley Cup as a nice diversion. Amazing how the Bruins pulled it out after three seven-game series. The Tour de France is next!
We are going to have lobsters and corn tonight, which is maybe his favorite summer meal. Who knew that scientists recently discovered that the previously dissed shellfish is high in Omega-3s? Those are the magic words for us but we will obviously be skipping the butter. Let's not tempt fate here. In place of butter, I think a tasty combo could be using garlic, lemon, and plain yogurt. On this heart friendly diet, we have been eating very well, but not exactly losing weight. I think when we are housesitting next month, it will be much easier.
I found all sorts of good things at the library yesterday - "109 things you can do to prevent, halt, and reverse heart disease" and "Understanding pain" (Time magazine) for Russ; a mindless summer novel and the latest New Yorker for me. He could probably use something fluffy to read too.
We welcomed the Stanley Cup as a nice diversion. Amazing how the Bruins pulled it out after three seven-game series. The Tour de France is next!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The north country
With some time on our hands and not having seen certain people in a long while, Russ and I left about a week ago to head into upstate New York. We enjoyed taking the back roads up to Glens Falls, which was our first stop. Russ' Aunt Kathy and Uncle Don live in this lovely hamlet on Lake George.
Kathy and Don are easy to talk with and we had much to catch up on. The next morning, Don drove us up the lake to the Sagamore Hotel, a grand hotel from the late nineteenth century.
Even on the water, the air temperature up there was quite warm for early June.
From there, we drove into the Adirondacks up to Plattsburgh on the shores of Lake Champlain to see Aunt Sally. Beloved Uncle Don died in November so it was particularly heartwarming to reminiscence on his life. He was a swell guy.
Food is a common theme in many families and this was no different. I appreciate the sensitivities that people have taken to accomodate Russ' diet. Aunt Kathy crafted a grilled Scottish salmon with hoisin sauce, orzo salad, green salad, and sorbet for dessert. Aunt Sally discovered what I think is a brilliant service - there is a woman in Plattsburgh who devises a menu every week and then people order the prix fixe dinners for carry-out from her kitchen. We had a delicious tuna steak with tortellini one night, and stuffed portebellos with bread salad the next. Not entirely on the heart plan but we were able to adapt it. Each meal for under $8 a person, which doesn't seem possible.
We came back on the weekend to Lucy's ballet recital in Dalton and she was as graceful as ever. We have seen every rehearsal since she was three, and she has developed great poise and stamina.
For the first time in seven years, I did not have to go to Lenox High School's graduation at Tanglewood. Not that I missed the pomp, but I still from time to time miss the students.
Now the weather is quite cool again, which makes it wonderful for sleeping. We are packing our bags again and will be visiting my parents from Saturday onwards.
Kathy and Don are easy to talk with and we had much to catch up on. The next morning, Don drove us up the lake to the Sagamore Hotel, a grand hotel from the late nineteenth century.
Even on the water, the air temperature up there was quite warm for early June.
From there, we drove into the Adirondacks up to Plattsburgh on the shores of Lake Champlain to see Aunt Sally. Beloved Uncle Don died in November so it was particularly heartwarming to reminiscence on his life. He was a swell guy.
Food is a common theme in many families and this was no different. I appreciate the sensitivities that people have taken to accomodate Russ' diet. Aunt Kathy crafted a grilled Scottish salmon with hoisin sauce, orzo salad, green salad, and sorbet for dessert. Aunt Sally discovered what I think is a brilliant service - there is a woman in Plattsburgh who devises a menu every week and then people order the prix fixe dinners for carry-out from her kitchen. We had a delicious tuna steak with tortellini one night, and stuffed portebellos with bread salad the next. Not entirely on the heart plan but we were able to adapt it. Each meal for under $8 a person, which doesn't seem possible.
We came back on the weekend to Lucy's ballet recital in Dalton and she was as graceful as ever. We have seen every rehearsal since she was three, and she has developed great poise and stamina.
For the first time in seven years, I did not have to go to Lenox High School's graduation at Tanglewood. Not that I missed the pomp, but I still from time to time miss the students.
Now the weather is quite cool again, which makes it wonderful for sleeping. We are packing our bags again and will be visiting my parents from Saturday onwards.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Sensing summer
I love the longer days of June. And it was downright hot until three days ago when the weather kicked us right back to April. It is still not as cold as when we left Pretoria, and can be quite pleasant in the middle of the day.
The through hikers are walking the Appalachian Trail, which Fred and Carol's house is located on. We can hear the crack of the aluminum bats from softball games across the street at the park. (I always liked that sound and the smell of freshly cut grass as indicators that summer had arrived.) The flowers are coming into bloom. Summer is absolutely the best time to be in the Berkshires, I'm convinced.
Russ' mom Carol is a much better nurse than I am. I'm ok with that. With doctor advice, we adjusted Russ' meds so he has more energy during the day.
We did not need to be in our current situation to be thankful for socialized medicine, but we are doubly so now. Health insurance in mandatory in Massachusetts and we signed up for the state care which seems remarkably comprehensive. We can go to all our previous doctors and it's based on a sliding scale (of which we have slid to the bottom). Gone is the stigma of having to sit hours in welfare offices just to fill out forms. This process could not have been simpler. Some people will be relieved to know that Mitt Romney did everything in his power to go against the plan when he was governor; we think it is one more reason not to vote for him as president. Is he for the health care plan now (because it is so successful) or against it (because he needs tea party votes)? Hard to tell; he is one sly chameleon, but once again I digress. It is a huge relief to have medical coverage.
Who knew that I would need settlement papers from when Russ bought the house in 1996? Turbo Tax obviously did, but not me. After much sweat and a few tears, I could not find the box with the records in our storage room on Old Windsor Road. Sigh. We filed today anyway, but the program would not let me e-file because I cannot get rid of a form that we do not need. I know this must be some kind of test but I am not quite sure if I passed.
We are shocked at the $3.89 price per gallon of gas and surprised that no one else seems to be. That is about what we paid in Botswana, but not quite what South Africans are paying.
Most peculiarly, the money transfer from the car sale in Botswana never went through, although Zane tried it twice. Maybe it is just on Africa time and will take a couple of months instead of days. I am not holding my breath though.
The little bumps in the road are just that. We are completely glad to be home, and every day gets better.
The through hikers are walking the Appalachian Trail, which Fred and Carol's house is located on. We can hear the crack of the aluminum bats from softball games across the street at the park. (I always liked that sound and the smell of freshly cut grass as indicators that summer had arrived.) The flowers are coming into bloom. Summer is absolutely the best time to be in the Berkshires, I'm convinced.
Russ' mom Carol is a much better nurse than I am. I'm ok with that. With doctor advice, we adjusted Russ' meds so he has more energy during the day.
We did not need to be in our current situation to be thankful for socialized medicine, but we are doubly so now. Health insurance in mandatory in Massachusetts and we signed up for the state care which seems remarkably comprehensive. We can go to all our previous doctors and it's based on a sliding scale (of which we have slid to the bottom). Gone is the stigma of having to sit hours in welfare offices just to fill out forms. This process could not have been simpler. Some people will be relieved to know that Mitt Romney did everything in his power to go against the plan when he was governor; we think it is one more reason not to vote for him as president. Is he for the health care plan now (because it is so successful) or against it (because he needs tea party votes)? Hard to tell; he is one sly chameleon, but once again I digress. It is a huge relief to have medical coverage.
Who knew that I would need settlement papers from when Russ bought the house in 1996? Turbo Tax obviously did, but not me. After much sweat and a few tears, I could not find the box with the records in our storage room on Old Windsor Road. Sigh. We filed today anyway, but the program would not let me e-file because I cannot get rid of a form that we do not need. I know this must be some kind of test but I am not quite sure if I passed.
We are shocked at the $3.89 price per gallon of gas and surprised that no one else seems to be. That is about what we paid in Botswana, but not quite what South Africans are paying.
Most peculiarly, the money transfer from the car sale in Botswana never went through, although Zane tried it twice. Maybe it is just on Africa time and will take a couple of months instead of days. I am not holding my breath though.
The little bumps in the road are just that. We are completely glad to be home, and every day gets better.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Minor adjustments
Adjusting back to life in the US is not as extreme as it was ten years ago, but it is still a bit rough at times. There are times throughout the day where I feel completely emotionally spent. Arriving on a relaxed holiday weekend did help tremendously to ease us in to "normal" life. I think we are just about over the jet lag and are sleeping through most of the night.
Driving on the right side of the road is still a little weird and still requires quite a bit of focus. At long last, Russ got his driver's license so I don't have to drive everywhere. Fred and Liz are loaning us one of their Subarus, which helps a lot.
I was not overwhelmed by being in the supermarket or Target, but still slightly blown away by how quickly things add up. We are using up our traveler's cheques which became obsolete overseas rendering them useless, but are incredibly helpful back home.
We are enjoying catching up with everyone. Russ and I set out the calendar yesterday to plan visits and get-togethers. It's so good to see people again.
We are staying on High Street in Russ' old bedroom. We find that we are already walking more, being in the center of town. That is a good thing as we both went a little soft and squishy over the past month. Everyone we talk to asks the same thing - "you are the healthiest people we know so how did this happen?" Well I think we are not as healthy as I believed, even though our diet seemed pretty balanced. Seems to be a relative thing. We can do better.
Hmmm, that is hard to do as I have been working on our taxes this week in the dining room of my in-laws, snacking away. We are rolling the dice for a big return this year but I am baffled at how complicated taxes can be when you throw in rental and foreign incomes. Thankfully, I have TurboTax, but even they cannot answer everything.
The girls are as tall as I am and Freddy is not far behind. Is it possible to grow this much in such a short time? They have all certainly grown up in the past eight months. Zach will be a senior next year which is just ridiculous.
I am recovering from what is possibly the worst haircut I have ever had. It's really awful. A reminder to be careful what you wish for - I had been wanting a change, something lighter and springier, and got something that will take a VERY LONG time to grow out. Thanks goodness for hats and hair ties.
Blogging is such a catharsis. I think I will probably keep writing on this site until we make a decision about what we are going to do next in our lives, and then go from there. Stay tuned. I'm headed for more ironing now.
Driving on the right side of the road is still a little weird and still requires quite a bit of focus. At long last, Russ got his driver's license so I don't have to drive everywhere. Fred and Liz are loaning us one of their Subarus, which helps a lot.
I was not overwhelmed by being in the supermarket or Target, but still slightly blown away by how quickly things add up. We are using up our traveler's cheques which became obsolete overseas rendering them useless, but are incredibly helpful back home.
We are enjoying catching up with everyone. Russ and I set out the calendar yesterday to plan visits and get-togethers. It's so good to see people again.
We are staying on High Street in Russ' old bedroom. We find that we are already walking more, being in the center of town. That is a good thing as we both went a little soft and squishy over the past month. Everyone we talk to asks the same thing - "you are the healthiest people we know so how did this happen?" Well I think we are not as healthy as I believed, even though our diet seemed pretty balanced. Seems to be a relative thing. We can do better.
Hmmm, that is hard to do as I have been working on our taxes this week in the dining room of my in-laws, snacking away. We are rolling the dice for a big return this year but I am baffled at how complicated taxes can be when you throw in rental and foreign incomes. Thankfully, I have TurboTax, but even they cannot answer everything.
The girls are as tall as I am and Freddy is not far behind. Is it possible to grow this much in such a short time? They have all certainly grown up in the past eight months. Zach will be a senior next year which is just ridiculous.
I am recovering from what is possibly the worst haircut I have ever had. It's really awful. A reminder to be careful what you wish for - I had been wanting a change, something lighter and springier, and got something that will take a VERY LONG time to grow out. Thanks goodness for hats and hair ties.
Blogging is such a catharsis. I think I will probably keep writing on this site until we make a decision about what we are going to do next in our lives, and then go from there. Stay tuned. I'm headed for more ironing now.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Back in Mayberry
...as surreal as that might be. We arrived back in Dalton Friday night and it seemed as though we had never left. We are just about over the nasty jetlag that seems to get harder to recover from the older we get. The flights could not have gone smoother though. We got to Oliver Tambo airport outside of Johannesburg late Thursday afternoon. I am glad we got there early because the ticketing process bordered on the chaotic. Although he is plenty fine to walk, Russ got a wheelchair which helped a lot with our carry-on bags and his stamina. With time to kill, we hoped to get wireless access, which was expensive and not very effective, not to mention that there was no place to plug in. So even with cappuchino counters and luxury duty-free stores, we were reminded that yup,we were still in Africa. (By the way, I am loving the fast, consistent access we have now. Yippee!)
We scored bulkhead seats, right next to a two-year old and her mother. Thankfully the child was the perfect passenger and slept most of the trip. We managed to sleep for most of the trip, but it is amazing how airlines try to keep people up for most of the flight. We boarded at 9:45 pm and dinner was served at 11, while breakfast was served at 4 am, which really only left us with maybe four hours of quiet anyway. Even if we did not eat, impossible to sleep with all the noise. My thoughts drifted to how we could possibly get into business class on our next overseas flight. There must be a way.
We arrived in Cairo at 5:30 am and the airport was a pleasant surprise. Very nice and easy to navigate (easier again with the wheelchair). We waited comfortably for a few hours before going through another security checkpoint. Never mind that I had other small bottles of liquid in my carry-on (some more than 3 ounces); it was imperative that I drink my water before boarding. Grrr...
On the second segment, one of us had a bulkhead seat (with another adorable and perfect child with a grin stretching from ear to ear), and the other had the whole middle row behind so we switched back and forth. Not that we could sleep much, but nice to stretch out.
We arrived at JFK earlier than expected but Fred and Fred were there to pick us up. We breezed through immigration and customs despite having six large bags and lot of prescription meds (now of course I am wishing we had bought more because they were unbelievably cheap in South Africa). Even the drive out of New York on a busy holiday weekend was relatively pleasant, just taking under four hours. Of course I was not driving, which after driving the past 10,000 miles in Africa was a treat to sit in the backseat.
Oh, to be back in the land of miles, ounces, pounds and inches! I love not being bothered to to think about such conversions. To be back with highspeed internet (and caught up on my emails), total familiarity, and recycling is bliss. Food options are great except for the high fructose corn syrup which was completely absent in southern Africa, but which we try to avoid anyway. It was refreshing over there just knowing it did not exist.
Reunions with the Sears family and running into friends has made up most of our short time back here, when we are not napping or unpacking. Lucy and Freddy made welcome back signs for us. The weather has just started warming up, and I love being back in summer again. Fred just opened up his pool.
We scored bulkhead seats, right next to a two-year old and her mother. Thankfully the child was the perfect passenger and slept most of the trip. We managed to sleep for most of the trip, but it is amazing how airlines try to keep people up for most of the flight. We boarded at 9:45 pm and dinner was served at 11, while breakfast was served at 4 am, which really only left us with maybe four hours of quiet anyway. Even if we did not eat, impossible to sleep with all the noise. My thoughts drifted to how we could possibly get into business class on our next overseas flight. There must be a way.
We arrived in Cairo at 5:30 am and the airport was a pleasant surprise. Very nice and easy to navigate (easier again with the wheelchair). We waited comfortably for a few hours before going through another security checkpoint. Never mind that I had other small bottles of liquid in my carry-on (some more than 3 ounces); it was imperative that I drink my water before boarding. Grrr...
On the second segment, one of us had a bulkhead seat (with another adorable and perfect child with a grin stretching from ear to ear), and the other had the whole middle row behind so we switched back and forth. Not that we could sleep much, but nice to stretch out.
We arrived at JFK earlier than expected but Fred and Fred were there to pick us up. We breezed through immigration and customs despite having six large bags and lot of prescription meds (now of course I am wishing we had bought more because they were unbelievably cheap in South Africa). Even the drive out of New York on a busy holiday weekend was relatively pleasant, just taking under four hours. Of course I was not driving, which after driving the past 10,000 miles in Africa was a treat to sit in the backseat.
Oh, to be back in the land of miles, ounces, pounds and inches! I love not being bothered to to think about such conversions. To be back with highspeed internet (and caught up on my emails), total familiarity, and recycling is bliss. Food options are great except for the high fructose corn syrup which was completely absent in southern Africa, but which we try to avoid anyway. It was refreshing over there just knowing it did not exist.
Reunions with the Sears family and running into friends has made up most of our short time back here, when we are not napping or unpacking. Lucy and Freddy made welcome back signs for us. The weather has just started warming up, and I love being back in summer again. Fred just opened up his pool.
Monday, May 23, 2011
102 hours
Never thought we would finally come down to this - roughly 102 hours left in this long saga until we land in New York.
I was worried that we would have a hard time getting through this past weekend. Thursday and Friday were particularly tough. We were both going a little stir crazy, and we did not sleep well Friday night. As someone who puts great value to “be” in a space of my own, having all the time in the world is not an easy thing. Part of this restlessness is that while Russ does not think he is a good patient, I am equally not convinced that I am a great nurse. Secondly, we discussed some pretty big decisions, which left us mentally and physically tired. Thirdly, there hasn’t been a whole lot to do that does not involve spending money, of which we have very little.
Saturday however was a beautiful warm day and we ventured over to the public golf course not too far from the house for a picnic. It featured a lovely shady walking trail and as we meandered through the course, we came across a small herd of blesbok, a few ostriches, and a troop of vervet monkeys. We laid in the sun and watched golfers try their best on the driving range. It was the best way to spend the afternoon.
When we got back, Russ’ brother Steve and partner Maria called us. This was the first time we had spoken to them and that lifted our spirits. Russ instant messaged with his brother Fred and his parents called later in the evening. Sue tried to called but we never got a good reception. I had spoken to my mom a couple of days before and so we were rather caught up on familial connections.
Add to the list of people who have been especially kind to us -
Out of the blue, we got a call from Dr. Cedric Yoshimoto, the regional Peace Corps medical officer. We had been in email contact with him, as he highly recommended Dr. Bennett. Cedric coordinates all med-evacs for volunteers in southern and eastern Africa which is a huge responsibility. He was maybe the most laid back doctor we had ever met. Anyway, he took us out to dinner at a fish restaurant and for the first time in almost two weeks, we did not watch a movie to kill time in the evenings.
Yesterday, we picked up our boxes in Joburg from Leungo and Vincent, friends of our friend Chris, who drove them down from Gaborone. These are the last remains of the shipping that came last December and represent most of what we own. We will take them back as excess luggage. So that too brings us one step closer to home.
Today was our last visit with Dr. Bennett. Good news is that Russ has no functional heart damage (technically there is some, but it does not affect the actual heart function of pumping). We were wishing for better news in the med department, seeing as the doctor wants him to continue taking the four medications he has been on for the past month. I am sure he is just being overly conservative, but we were hoping to get down to just two meds.
Thank goodness the sun still shines every day. It definitely makes things a lot easier.
I was worried that we would have a hard time getting through this past weekend. Thursday and Friday were particularly tough. We were both going a little stir crazy, and we did not sleep well Friday night. As someone who puts great value to “be” in a space of my own, having all the time in the world is not an easy thing. Part of this restlessness is that while Russ does not think he is a good patient, I am equally not convinced that I am a great nurse. Secondly, we discussed some pretty big decisions, which left us mentally and physically tired. Thirdly, there hasn’t been a whole lot to do that does not involve spending money, of which we have very little.
Saturday however was a beautiful warm day and we ventured over to the public golf course not too far from the house for a picnic. It featured a lovely shady walking trail and as we meandered through the course, we came across a small herd of blesbok, a few ostriches, and a troop of vervet monkeys. We laid in the sun and watched golfers try their best on the driving range. It was the best way to spend the afternoon.
When we got back, Russ’ brother Steve and partner Maria called us. This was the first time we had spoken to them and that lifted our spirits. Russ instant messaged with his brother Fred and his parents called later in the evening. Sue tried to called but we never got a good reception. I had spoken to my mom a couple of days before and so we were rather caught up on familial connections.
Add to the list of people who have been especially kind to us -
Out of the blue, we got a call from Dr. Cedric Yoshimoto, the regional Peace Corps medical officer. We had been in email contact with him, as he highly recommended Dr. Bennett. Cedric coordinates all med-evacs for volunteers in southern and eastern Africa which is a huge responsibility. He was maybe the most laid back doctor we had ever met. Anyway, he took us out to dinner at a fish restaurant and for the first time in almost two weeks, we did not watch a movie to kill time in the evenings.
Yesterday, we picked up our boxes in Joburg from Leungo and Vincent, friends of our friend Chris, who drove them down from Gaborone. These are the last remains of the shipping that came last December and represent most of what we own. We will take them back as excess luggage. So that too brings us one step closer to home.
Today was our last visit with Dr. Bennett. Good news is that Russ has no functional heart damage (technically there is some, but it does not affect the actual heart function of pumping). We were wishing for better news in the med department, seeing as the doctor wants him to continue taking the four medications he has been on for the past month. I am sure he is just being overly conservative, but we were hoping to get down to just two meds.
Thank goodness the sun still shines every day. It definitely makes things a lot easier.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
The countdown begins
We will be leaving the continent one week from today. We have been waiting for this for a long time, and the days cannot go by quickly enough. I vacillate between feeling stressed out about things beyond my control and then being quite at peace. It’s hard staying occupied and we often feel bored and restless. That being said, we are trying to stay busy. We read and compose emails offline. We read magazines (although we are both in great need of a good book). We visit with the neighbor. We go for walks a couple times a day. We go grocery shopping and cook. Two days ago, we discovered what was a close cousin to a Whole Foods Market. Yippee!
We are watching more movies than ever before. Most of them are repeats which is ok. Pay it forward was one, which is such an excellent movie about being compelled toward random acts of kindness. Tonight it might be Zorro. Couldn’t do the Lord of the Rings saga, but think I might be up to see the Bourne trilogy again, especially if it decided to rain and we watched the movies as a marathon.
Russ feels better each day and his level of activity grows exponentially. We found a couple of places outside of the complex to go walking. But every day he still takes a short nap, which isn’t a bad thing. I often join him.
The days are beautiful and there are always a few hours in mid-day that are rather warm. Yesterday was downright hot. In the mornings and late afternoons however, it is quite chilly and we find ourselves changing clothes a few times a day. The house is not heated, which makes for lazy mornings under a big duvet in bed. Russ says it feels like October in Dalton; there is something about the air though that reminds me of Southern California in the middle of winter. There are even oak trees losing their leaves. In any case, it is lovely.
It feels like we are on weight watchers again, which again is not a bad thing, with now so much more motivation. I have no problem abstaining from red meat, as we focus on lean sources of protein. Russ is ready to totally cut out all foods high in saturated fat. Thank goodness that does not include avocados, fish, and nuts which we both love. Our weakness is French fries, so we are baking them. The fresh produce selection here is incredible and I am thankful for that.
Annette stopped by yesterday as she is in the area for a training program. It was good to see her again. It was also a national holiday because of municipal elections. Record numbers of people stayed away from the polls; they are disillusioned with ANC but will not vote against the party. One of the major issues was not having proper sanitation. Een toilet, een stem (one toilet one vote) was the rallying cry. Not sure if anyone was listening.
But I digress…time to go back out and sit in the sun.
We are watching more movies than ever before. Most of them are repeats which is ok. Pay it forward was one, which is such an excellent movie about being compelled toward random acts of kindness. Tonight it might be Zorro. Couldn’t do the Lord of the Rings saga, but think I might be up to see the Bourne trilogy again, especially if it decided to rain and we watched the movies as a marathon.
Russ feels better each day and his level of activity grows exponentially. We found a couple of places outside of the complex to go walking. But every day he still takes a short nap, which isn’t a bad thing. I often join him.
The days are beautiful and there are always a few hours in mid-day that are rather warm. Yesterday was downright hot. In the mornings and late afternoons however, it is quite chilly and we find ourselves changing clothes a few times a day. The house is not heated, which makes for lazy mornings under a big duvet in bed. Russ says it feels like October in Dalton; there is something about the air though that reminds me of Southern California in the middle of winter. There are even oak trees losing their leaves. In any case, it is lovely.
It feels like we are on weight watchers again, which again is not a bad thing, with now so much more motivation. I have no problem abstaining from red meat, as we focus on lean sources of protein. Russ is ready to totally cut out all foods high in saturated fat. Thank goodness that does not include avocados, fish, and nuts which we both love. Our weakness is French fries, so we are baking them. The fresh produce selection here is incredible and I am thankful for that.
Annette stopped by yesterday as she is in the area for a training program. It was good to see her again. It was also a national holiday because of municipal elections. Record numbers of people stayed away from the polls; they are disillusioned with ANC but will not vote against the party. One of the major issues was not having proper sanitation. Een toilet, een stem (one toilet one vote) was the rallying cry. Not sure if anyone was listening.
But I digress…time to go back out and sit in the sun.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Kindness from strangers
Throughout the past three weeks, we have been blessed by people with whom we were barely acquainted. Some of these people knew our situation, but others didn’t, going far beyond what I ever thought someone would do and made our lives infinitely easier.
In Windhoek,
Dr. Gild was a doctor on holiday that took half a day to initially check out Russ and take him personally to the emergency room.
Claudia Horn, the owner of Casa Piccolo, did our laundry and cooked for Russ in the first few days. After we checked out, she let us use the internet for free. She also pointed us in the right direction as we needed to finish up some errands.
When we needed pula to go back to Botswana and it normally required the 24 hour notice that we did not have, Wilbe Januarie, at First National Bank Foreign Exchange, delivered it within an hour.
The nursing supervisor in the ICU was incredibly supportive. She sat with us every day and took time answering the questions that the doctor was too busy to. She explained the procedures and medications. I am sorry that I forgot her name.
Charlie at the consular office at the Embassy called almost every day to see how Russ was. I am glad we did not need his services (like arranging for med-evac) but it was comforting to know he was there anyway.
With two public holidays within four days, Steyn at the Multicomponents mechanics shop, squeezed us in to replace a wheel bearing before we left for Botswana.
In Pretoria,
Dr. Bennett’s secretary Marti got us in earlier than we could have expected even though the doctor was supposedly booked until June. Ditto on scheduling the surgery and followup appointment.
The neighbors in the housing complex we have been staying in were amazingly friendly and helpful. Dolf organized transport for us when we had no car. He continues to come by every day to see if we need anything. He is one of the most optimistic people we have ever met…and also has terminal lung cancer. Van took us out of his way to and from the hospital for that first visit. Christa provided all sorts of referrals, directions, and fresh lavender from her garden.
During the long day at Wilgers hospital, Annegrette, the owner of a nearby guesthouse, let me use her internet so I could update the people at home.
When all I thought I needed were my bangs trimmed, Zica gave me a twenty minute scalp massage and then blew my hair out. It’s amazing how much better I felt when my hair looked good.
Yaseen at Egypt Air made the reticketing process infinitely easier and arranged for special seats, meals, and airport access. From previous airline experiences, I know he did not have to go out of his way and especially waive all the fees, for which I am thankful.
Back in Washington state, Dr. Kevin Foley, a cardiologist colleague of my Uncle Gary, answered each and every one of my emails from the very beginning. He looked at reports, read treatment plans, and was completely reassuring. He treated Russ like one of his own patients even though he has never met either of us.
Uncle Jim Clifton, certainly not a stranger but also a cardiologist, also gave feedback on diagnosis and treatment plans while on vacation visiting his grandkids in Scotland. He assured us that everything that was being done here was what would happen in the States, and explaining the process definitely made us feel better. He was a beacon of calmness.
And unexpected love and support from friends. These people are our angels.
Clara Donkor, the Peace Corps nurse who always liked Russ the best, often stopped by the Windhoek hospital to visit and advocate for him. She still calls us here.
Libet Maloney took me in for that first long weekend even though she had just gotten back from a tiring trip with a case of the flu. She cooked, drew baths, and was my sounding board. We hope to see her in Truro this summer.
Annette and Eicker deKlerk insisted we stay with them for the week after Russ was discharged. They gave us our own space, indulged us, and loaned us their car when ours was being repaired. Now that we are in Pretoria, we are also staying in their flat for as long as we need. They provided solutions before we knew we had problems.
Hannalie van der Merwe, my dear friend from Mariental, organized with her two boys to pick us up at the airport and helped with anything we needed. Calling just to say hi was huge.
Driaan and Bassie van der Merwe are grownup versions of the well-mannered, talented boys I knew twelve years ago. Busy college students halfway across the city, they still made sure we had a car to use for most of the time we were here.
Accepting gifts and kindnesses is not always easy, because of pride, embarrassment, stubbornness, or feelings of inadequacy. Our former pastor, Bill Imes, has talked to us about how it is a spiritual discipline to learn, to take a deep breath and let the grace of God through so many people wash over us. OK!
In Windhoek,
Dr. Gild was a doctor on holiday that took half a day to initially check out Russ and take him personally to the emergency room.
Claudia Horn, the owner of Casa Piccolo, did our laundry and cooked for Russ in the first few days. After we checked out, she let us use the internet for free. She also pointed us in the right direction as we needed to finish up some errands.
When we needed pula to go back to Botswana and it normally required the 24 hour notice that we did not have, Wilbe Januarie, at First National Bank Foreign Exchange, delivered it within an hour.
The nursing supervisor in the ICU was incredibly supportive. She sat with us every day and took time answering the questions that the doctor was too busy to. She explained the procedures and medications. I am sorry that I forgot her name.
Charlie at the consular office at the Embassy called almost every day to see how Russ was. I am glad we did not need his services (like arranging for med-evac) but it was comforting to know he was there anyway.
With two public holidays within four days, Steyn at the Multicomponents mechanics shop, squeezed us in to replace a wheel bearing before we left for Botswana.
In Pretoria,
Dr. Bennett’s secretary Marti got us in earlier than we could have expected even though the doctor was supposedly booked until June. Ditto on scheduling the surgery and followup appointment.
The neighbors in the housing complex we have been staying in were amazingly friendly and helpful. Dolf organized transport for us when we had no car. He continues to come by every day to see if we need anything. He is one of the most optimistic people we have ever met…and also has terminal lung cancer. Van took us out of his way to and from the hospital for that first visit. Christa provided all sorts of referrals, directions, and fresh lavender from her garden.
During the long day at Wilgers hospital, Annegrette, the owner of a nearby guesthouse, let me use her internet so I could update the people at home.
When all I thought I needed were my bangs trimmed, Zica gave me a twenty minute scalp massage and then blew my hair out. It’s amazing how much better I felt when my hair looked good.
Yaseen at Egypt Air made the reticketing process infinitely easier and arranged for special seats, meals, and airport access. From previous airline experiences, I know he did not have to go out of his way and especially waive all the fees, for which I am thankful.
Back in Washington state, Dr. Kevin Foley, a cardiologist colleague of my Uncle Gary, answered each and every one of my emails from the very beginning. He looked at reports, read treatment plans, and was completely reassuring. He treated Russ like one of his own patients even though he has never met either of us.
Uncle Jim Clifton, certainly not a stranger but also a cardiologist, also gave feedback on diagnosis and treatment plans while on vacation visiting his grandkids in Scotland. He assured us that everything that was being done here was what would happen in the States, and explaining the process definitely made us feel better. He was a beacon of calmness.
And unexpected love and support from friends. These people are our angels.
Clara Donkor, the Peace Corps nurse who always liked Russ the best, often stopped by the Windhoek hospital to visit and advocate for him. She still calls us here.
Libet Maloney took me in for that first long weekend even though she had just gotten back from a tiring trip with a case of the flu. She cooked, drew baths, and was my sounding board. We hope to see her in Truro this summer.
Annette and Eicker deKlerk insisted we stay with them for the week after Russ was discharged. They gave us our own space, indulged us, and loaned us their car when ours was being repaired. Now that we are in Pretoria, we are also staying in their flat for as long as we need. They provided solutions before we knew we had problems.
Hannalie van der Merwe, my dear friend from Mariental, organized with her two boys to pick us up at the airport and helped with anything we needed. Calling just to say hi was huge.
Driaan and Bassie van der Merwe are grownup versions of the well-mannered, talented boys I knew twelve years ago. Busy college students halfway across the city, they still made sure we had a car to use for most of the time we were here.
Accepting gifts and kindnesses is not always easy, because of pride, embarrassment, stubbornness, or feelings of inadequacy. Our former pastor, Bill Imes, has talked to us about how it is a spiritual discipline to learn, to take a deep breath and let the grace of God through so many people wash over us. OK!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
The days after
Later Thursday afternoon after I wrote my optimistically sunny blog, we met with Dr. Bennett, who explained that Russ’ artery was 90% blocked. That was sobering and we were doubly glad it was stented as soon as it was. Then after the doctor left, we found that the incision at the femoral artery was oozing blood, which was not supposed to happen. Russ handled it better than I did. Usually the sight of blood doesn’t affect me much (unless it’s my own), but I had to step out of the room before I fainted. That was a weird sensation. Erma, the young, attractive and incredibly knowledgable nurse had to press on his groin for twenty minutes. So, things could have been worse. ;-)
They got infinitely better. After that incident, we were not sure if he would be discharged yesterday. He was, but needs to take it really really easy.
We are settling into a somewhat laidback routine here which is the complete opposite of our “normal” lives. We usually sleep in until at least 8:00, have breakfast and talk about the day. Depending on how he slept, Russ may go back to bed. We try to go out every day, for a short walk or trip to the grocery store. There is an extensive tv and movie library here, one that even supercedes our friend Rick’s collection. So far, we’ve watched The Interpreter, The Devil Wears Prada, a couple episodes of Mythbusters, School of Rock, Avatar, Sherlock Holmes, and half of Lord of the Rings (don’t think we will make it through the trilogy though) We have a queue of a few dozen more films to watch, but also read, cook, and compose emails offline.
Russ talked to his brother Fred, sister Sue, his parents and mine today. Absolutely made his (and my) day.
If things continue to go well, we plan to see the doctor a week from Monday and hope to fly home within two weeks. Given that the heart attack happened only two and half weeks ago, that seems like a really long time down the road still. But we will try to make the most of our time here.
The more time we spend here, the more it looks and smells like California in January. The air is clear, although there is also a haze on the horizon. The rooftops are mostly tiled, the lawns manicured, and it is quite green (it does rain more than SoCal). There are uncountable mega and strip malls. The weather is one for a long sleeve shirt with shorts.
They got infinitely better. After that incident, we were not sure if he would be discharged yesterday. He was, but needs to take it really really easy.
We are settling into a somewhat laidback routine here which is the complete opposite of our “normal” lives. We usually sleep in until at least 8:00, have breakfast and talk about the day. Depending on how he slept, Russ may go back to bed. We try to go out every day, for a short walk or trip to the grocery store. There is an extensive tv and movie library here, one that even supercedes our friend Rick’s collection. So far, we’ve watched The Interpreter, The Devil Wears Prada, a couple episodes of Mythbusters, School of Rock, Avatar, Sherlock Holmes, and half of Lord of the Rings (don’t think we will make it through the trilogy though) We have a queue of a few dozen more films to watch, but also read, cook, and compose emails offline.
Russ talked to his brother Fred, sister Sue, his parents and mine today. Absolutely made his (and my) day.
If things continue to go well, we plan to see the doctor a week from Monday and hope to fly home within two weeks. Given that the heart attack happened only two and half weeks ago, that seems like a really long time down the road still. But we will try to make the most of our time here.
The more time we spend here, the more it looks and smells like California in January. The air is clear, although there is also a haze on the horizon. The rooftops are mostly tiled, the lawns manicured, and it is quite green (it does rain more than SoCal). There are uncountable mega and strip malls. The weather is one for a long sleeve shirt with shorts.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Being (a) patient
We arrived at the hospital at 6:00 this morning after sleeping quite well. I think the waiting is the hardest part and we did that for an hour before being admitted. Russ was checked into the GYN ward because of a shortage of beds and put in the MALES ONLY room. I think most of these were urology patients, and they just lump everyone, males and females, with issues in THAT area together (the catheter goes in through the femoral artery near the groin). More waiting until 9:00 when they brought him into theatre (what a silly word). Russ was rather calm and had a good presence of mind. I was told it would not take long, so I ran downstairs to get something to eat, came back up, and ten minutes later he was out. The whole process just took thirty minutes, which I think is remarkable. He was then admitted into the Cardiac ICU across the hall.
The technical stuff: He did in fact have a narrowing in the left anterior descending artery which they stented. He also had an unrelated spasm in another artery during the procedure which went away with medication. The doctor did not seem concerned about that. He will stay in ICU tonight and Dr. Bennett expects to discharge him tomorrow morning.
He is groggy and will probably sleep most of today, probably getting better rest than he has for a while. He was only sedated for twenty minutes so coming back to normal is not too bad. Now the deed is done and he can work on building up his strength.
An upside to not having insurance (and we are looking for any upside we can) is that we do not have to wait for any authorization. Russ received the angio-seal which stops the bleeding at the femoral artery almost immediately instead of using manual pressure which can take several hours to stop bleeding. Apparently, insurance companies are hesitant to pay for that. The gold card gives instant authorization (and we are earning lots of frequent flier miles!)
The sisters (nurses) in ICU are helpful and pleasant, but I have to say that my experiences here and in Windhoek (not to mention my own at BMC) show that intensive care units are not conducive to healing. Florescent lights, bells and whistles, constant talking and activity all make it difficult to rest. I will bring him an eye mask and ear plugs to help things along.
It has been a long morning already, but has also gone by quickly. I am so thankful for how smoothly everything went, and for the support from friends and family.
The technical stuff: He did in fact have a narrowing in the left anterior descending artery which they stented. He also had an unrelated spasm in another artery during the procedure which went away with medication. The doctor did not seem concerned about that. He will stay in ICU tonight and Dr. Bennett expects to discharge him tomorrow morning.
He is groggy and will probably sleep most of today, probably getting better rest than he has for a while. He was only sedated for twenty minutes so coming back to normal is not too bad. Now the deed is done and he can work on building up his strength.
An upside to not having insurance (and we are looking for any upside we can) is that we do not have to wait for any authorization. Russ received the angio-seal which stops the bleeding at the femoral artery almost immediately instead of using manual pressure which can take several hours to stop bleeding. Apparently, insurance companies are hesitant to pay for that. The gold card gives instant authorization (and we are earning lots of frequent flier miles!)
The sisters (nurses) in ICU are helpful and pleasant, but I have to say that my experiences here and in Windhoek (not to mention my own at BMC) show that intensive care units are not conducive to healing. Florescent lights, bells and whistles, constant talking and activity all make it difficult to rest. I will bring him an eye mask and ear plugs to help things along.
It has been a long morning already, but has also gone by quickly. I am so thankful for how smoothly everything went, and for the support from friends and family.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Being patient
The past forty-eight hours have been a whirlwind. On the day we were to leave Gabs, we closed our bank account, packed our bags, said goodbye to friends, and sold the car to Zane. Everything went smoothly. The fifty minute flight was also uneventful, but our arrival in Joburg was the start of the adventure. We arrived early and I called Driaan, my friend Hannalie’s son who is studying in Pretoria. When he drove up to the curb, we could detect the strong smell of antifreeze. We thought it initially was a gasket, but turned out to be a disconnected hose. In any case, there was no water in the engine and it had to be towed. So we waited as Driaan called his brother Bassie to drive forty minutes to the airport and then we transferred everything from one car to the other. Driaan and Bassie live on the west side of Pretoria, and we were staying on the east side. Bassie loaned us his VW, so we drove to their place first, then Bassie drove us over to the flat so we would know where it was, then we dropped him back to his place, and we finally arrived at 11:45 pm, three and half hours from when we landed. We were exhausted and slept well.
Yesterday morning, I woke up and wanted to get some groceries. A tiny detail Bassie forgot to tell us about was the alarm. So I managed to set that off and most likely woke anyone who wasn’t up already in this small complex. After doing some light shopping at the KwikSpar, I got into the car again, and the alarm would not turn off. Fortunately, I was in front of a security system company and the owner found that the battery was not working properly. So we got that all straightened out and I went back to what will be our home for a few weeks to have breakfast with Russ.
Russ and I wanted to get a SIM card for the phone and look for an internet connection. We got into the VW, turned the ignition, and nothing. The engine turned over and the battery sounded strong. We thought it must have been an immobilizer switch. Out of his flat comes Oom (Uncle) Dorf, the self-appointed mayor and watchdog of this small housing complex. We explained our situation - that we had a doctor’s appointment later on and asked how could we access a taxi. Explaining how difficult it was to get a taxi in the suburbs, he took it upon himself to call Bassie and Driaan (they were both taking exams and did not answer), then started talking to the neighbors. Within a couple of hours, we had met three other people in the complex. One of them, Vannie, was an older man who ran a nursery business. He offered to take us of his way to the hospital, and then picked us up again when we were finished. The hospital is twenty minutes north of here and his business is almost in Joburg, but he did not hesitate to do either. Another woman Crystal drove me to a store where I could get airtime and a SIM card. In the meantime, Dorf called a mechanic friend to come look at the car and he could not figure out the immobilizer problem either.
We were at the hospital for a couple of hours. Our time with Dr. Bennett was helpful. Yes, Russ has some heart damage. Yes, he should be scheduled for an angiogram soon. No, Russ’ heart flutters are nothing to worry about. Yes, he is on all the right meds for now. His secretary Marti was even more helpful, getting Russ into the schedule first thing Thursday morning. We went through pre-admission at the hospital, where we got a bit of sticker shock. They required an 85,000 rand deposit (about $12,000) which we were expecting but when faced with the numbers is still mind-blowing.
It feels like southern California in January here. It is comfortably warm during the day, but not too much. However, it is quite cool in the evenings, much more than we expected, and I think we may have to buy some warmer clothes. The flat is really a small one-story house with living room, kitchen, one and half baths, and three bedrooms inside a walled community. We had a nice dinner of fish, rice, and peas and then watched a movie, of which there are hundreds to choose from here.
Driaan, who is studying engineering, came over later last night to try and fix the car. It was a good diversion for Russ. Together they determined it was a faulty fuel pump, so that grounded use of the VW. Driann however had fixed his Toyota and is lending it to us for a week, so we drove him back to his place and then came back here. We are hoping this is the end of the car troubles! We are taking it easy today.
Yesterday morning, I woke up and wanted to get some groceries. A tiny detail Bassie forgot to tell us about was the alarm. So I managed to set that off and most likely woke anyone who wasn’t up already in this small complex. After doing some light shopping at the KwikSpar, I got into the car again, and the alarm would not turn off. Fortunately, I was in front of a security system company and the owner found that the battery was not working properly. So we got that all straightened out and I went back to what will be our home for a few weeks to have breakfast with Russ.
Russ and I wanted to get a SIM card for the phone and look for an internet connection. We got into the VW, turned the ignition, and nothing. The engine turned over and the battery sounded strong. We thought it must have been an immobilizer switch. Out of his flat comes Oom (Uncle) Dorf, the self-appointed mayor and watchdog of this small housing complex. We explained our situation - that we had a doctor’s appointment later on and asked how could we access a taxi. Explaining how difficult it was to get a taxi in the suburbs, he took it upon himself to call Bassie and Driaan (they were both taking exams and did not answer), then started talking to the neighbors. Within a couple of hours, we had met three other people in the complex. One of them, Vannie, was an older man who ran a nursery business. He offered to take us of his way to the hospital, and then picked us up again when we were finished. The hospital is twenty minutes north of here and his business is almost in Joburg, but he did not hesitate to do either. Another woman Crystal drove me to a store where I could get airtime and a SIM card. In the meantime, Dorf called a mechanic friend to come look at the car and he could not figure out the immobilizer problem either.
We were at the hospital for a couple of hours. Our time with Dr. Bennett was helpful. Yes, Russ has some heart damage. Yes, he should be scheduled for an angiogram soon. No, Russ’ heart flutters are nothing to worry about. Yes, he is on all the right meds for now. His secretary Marti was even more helpful, getting Russ into the schedule first thing Thursday morning. We went through pre-admission at the hospital, where we got a bit of sticker shock. They required an 85,000 rand deposit (about $12,000) which we were expecting but when faced with the numbers is still mind-blowing.
It feels like southern California in January here. It is comfortably warm during the day, but not too much. However, it is quite cool in the evenings, much more than we expected, and I think we may have to buy some warmer clothes. The flat is really a small one-story house with living room, kitchen, one and half baths, and three bedrooms inside a walled community. We had a nice dinner of fish, rice, and peas and then watched a movie, of which there are hundreds to choose from here.
Driaan, who is studying engineering, came over later last night to try and fix the car. It was a good diversion for Russ. Together they determined it was a faulty fuel pump, so that grounded use of the VW. Driann however had fixed his Toyota and is lending it to us for a week, so we drove him back to his place and then came back here. We are hoping this is the end of the car troubles! We are taking it easy today.
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