Going out to breakfast !!!!

It's 10 degrees out and Mr. DEDS wants to attempt to go out to breakfast somewhere! And to take pics for his blog!

Update on how we do when we get back....

(gulp)

UPDATE:

OK.....we're back.

Upon leaving the house, Mr. Downeastdoingstuff says, "Let's see how the lake looks first." (That was his first thought.)

So, off we go to Sebago Lake. Sebago Lake has a nice boat launch that is used in the winter for the ice fishermen. (ICE FISHERMEN n. 1. A lifeform, from unknown origin, that has lost its mind and labors under the illusion that fishing, especially  when it's 10 degrees outside, is fun.)

Now, Mr. DEDS hasn't been out very much since his heart repair and need to be careful. He still has some anxiety/hyperventilation issues that he needs to conquer. So, cognizant of this, I pull the car up to the ice as close as physically possible so that he could just open the door, step outside, and take a shot.

Yes?

NO!!

Off he goes......slow but steady.....out toward the ice. Just a little at first, and then a little more.

Next thing I know he's ON the glassy ice in his Sperry Rand topsider boat shoes, shuffling along.

And he keeps going....

Meanwhile, I'm in the car freaking out. I've seen him lose his breath just opening a bag of prunes. (That's another story...) As recent as last night!

I unbuckle my seatbelt just in case I need to make a dash for him. My hand is on the door handle ala Meryl Streep in Bridges of Madison County in a white knuckled grip.

I have issues with lake ice under normal conditions. I do not believe that it can hold a lot of weight. I KNOW that if I, Elenka, ever step out onto a frozen body of water, EVEN if there are trucks, snowmobiles, ice shacks, overweight fishermen and elephants on it, the additional weight that my body would put on the ice would be the straw that breaks the camel's back. So I don't even try.

But there goes my delicate, newly repaired husband, getting smaller and smaller in the grey distance.

I just about called the psychiatric version of 911.......for myself. I was that freaked out.

Would YOU walk out onto this......EVER??? Even in perfect health?  Not me.

Oh yeah, we did go out for breakfast, to the Front Room. It was very nice.

Then after that, I chauffeured him around town, down obscure streets along the docks, dodging wharf cats and high tide puddles. All for the cause of his blog. 

Another adventure under our belts.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET LITTLE SISTER......

He's drained....

"Mr. Doingstuff, we couldn't find the really big, gargantuan needle, so we're going to have to use this one. We'll just do it a couple of times."

Mr. Downeastdoingstuff is now one Liter lighter.

1 Liter = 1.05668821  Quarts (US)

That's how much fluid was sucked out of dear hubby's chest cavity.

1 Liter of stuff pressing against his delicate, pink little lung.

No wonder he couldn't breathe!!

Now he's probably going to start talking foolish again. 

We can't have everything.

First outing....Walmart! (parking lot)

There are many souvenirs of our adventure last week. This handy-dandy drinking cup from the hospital, which was invaluable when he was there. It's losing it's novelty here at home, but we have other cups....

The flowers behind the cup settling in next to the Christmas Poinsettia.

Many cards and food from family and friends.

THIS ring was around my neck. If Mr. Downeastdoingstuff couldn't wear it, (for the first time since we were married) then I was going to wear it. And I did. Along with the heart locket he gave me a long time ago. (which houses a photo of my son when he was little, and it used to have a picture of Mr. Downeastdoingstuff at one time, but he fell out....)

Today he got to put it back on. So now when he hugs the heart pillow the hospital gave him to use when coughing or sneezing, the ring is in its rightful place. Amen.

Fifth Day.....

Pretty good day. He's getting bored, but he's also tired. He isn't getting much sleep ..... it's a pretty noisy place and they keep coming in and out of the room. He's eating a little, but not great. It's very tough to cough. He's been walking around as he can now, with the aid of a walker, get up and walk himself down the halls and to the room where the computers are. He even left a comment on his own blog today! (Good job, Birdman!)

He still might be coming home tomorrow, but we still don't have the final OK. His sugar levels are still a little too high. 

My son and I went in to visit this afternoon and before I knew it, after our walk, #1 son laid on the bed and promptly fell asleep and Mr. Downeastdoingstuff fell asleep in the lounge chair and there I was, staring at the both of them sleeping. The nurses thought it was quite humorous. I read the paper, did a crossword puzzle and went and got an ice cream in the family kitchen. I almost fell asleep as well! We're an exciting bunch.

Hopefully I'll be tellling you all next that he's home. Although I don't want him home if he's not ready. I, myself, am not ready for that!

Thanks for all of your comments of support. It means a lot to me.

Third Day.....

What a change! Yesterday (Friday) was his best so far. He had the drainage tubes removed which made him much more mobile, although the process they utilized to remove them was very technical and complex:

"We're going to take these tubes out today."

"OK. Good"

"Now this is going to hurt somewhat...."

Nurse grabs a hold of the 1/2 diameter clear tube protruding out of patients stomach and using her best pull out methods, with one good yank, out it comes.

"&^$@$%*(((()(*&#@@@#$%!!!!!!!!!!!",  replies the patient.

By the time I got to visit Mr. Downeastdoingstuff, he had already taken two walks, and had managed to eat more than yesterday. He seemed much more comfortable, although we all would probably be more comfortable if we didn't have a garden hose in our guts anymore.

Just looking at the way he was sitting in the lounge chair told me so much. Much more relaxed, leg crossed or one foot up on the bed and leaning back. I could tell he was feeling much better. There is still a tube in his neck, I think it's a port because it wasn't connected to any saline bags and he is still on oxygen and still wired to the temporary pacemaker. But all in all, a much better day.

They tell him that he might be coming home on Sunday!!

Guess I have to go out and load up his birdfeeders which I just noticed are empty. I've been coming home in the dark everyday and didn't notice that. It's 20 degrees out in I'm in my PJ's. That ain't happening for a while.......

It's over!

Heart surgery for Mr.Downeastdoingstuff aka Birdman finally happened yesterday.

Surgery was scheduled for 12:30 pm. We went into the hospital in the morning and spent time with him until around 11, when they took him to the holding area for surgery. Not knowing where to go and how to get there in this massive hospital, the driver of the bed told us to come into the elevator with him and he would drop us off at the floor where the cardiac waiting rooms are.

That was one of the hardest parts, for us. Having said goodbye and wishing him well in his room, we now found ourselves leaving the elevator with Mr. DEDS/Birdman still inside. We tried to hold it together as best as we could for him, but were overwrought with emotion as the elevator door slowly shut with us on the outside waving goodbye to the inside of the elevator. 

The operation was supposed to take 2 1/2 hours and actually took 2 3/4 hours. Not bad.

The doctor came in and told us that everything went very, very well and he was happy with the outcome. His valve did NOT have to be replaced, just repaired. That was what we were hoping for. 

After about 45 minutes more, we were able to go into the ICU and see him. We were told that he would look terrible and to be prepared, but I think it was one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. There he was, not really bloated, pretty good color, breathing calmly with 20 million machines, tubes, wires and pumps all making sure my guy was alright. We stayed for about 5 minutes, talked to him a little and then left. I knew he didn't know we were there, but just in case he somehow subconsciously felt our presence, we wanted to be there. This was about 4:30, I guess. I lost track of time after diligently watching the clock during the surgery.

We had planned on going back in around 9:00, just in case he would wake up, but once we got home, we both discovered just how exhausted we were and decided not to take the 40 minute drive back. I called the hospital and they told me that he was starting to wake up, they were giving him ice chips to quench his massive thirst and the breathing tube was out. That was good news.

I went to work the next day (today) and while driving in, I got a phone call. It was Birdman!!!!

I was shocked beyond words. By 2:00 am, they had put him into a chair and by 6:00 am he was moved into a regular room! AND he sounded very good. Music to my ears.

We went in around 10:00 am for a quick visit. He was up in the chair again because he is the most comfortable there. This time he sounded quite a bit more tired, but still was very, very chatty! Talked nonstop. Voice was a little hoarse from breathing tube. Said he wasn't in very much pain, although a hiccup, cough or laugh made him uncomfortable.

Went back around 3:45 and stayed until around 6. He seemed a little more uncomfortable, but still good. He was quite tired and if I wasn't there, he probably would've dozed off right in the chair. He will be walking tomorrow.

I am soooo  tired, that's it for me. Hoping everyday gets better.

My first anniversary !

One year ago today I was sitting on my couch and Mr. Downeastdoingstuff, also known as Birdman on his blog, said to me:

"You should do a blog."

This was from the mouth of a person that had just started his own Daily Photo blog the day before, so by now, he was a blog expert.

"What?"

"You should start a blog."

"Nah.""I don't need one more thing to do...."

"Well, you should just check it out."

So he told me where to go on the internet and by that night, I had a blog.

One year ago today.

I just want to thank all the lovely folks that have bothered to eyeball my blog and especially to the people that have written comments. It's been a lot of fun and I so enjoyed reading all of your blogs. There are so many lovely, lovely people out there. 

As Birdman and I go on our next adventure (his heart surgery on Tuesday), I know I will be given so much support via this blog. It's been a wonderful journey.

Thank you all.

Surgery is ON!

Let the games begin!

OK, seriously, went back to the hematologist and all blood counts are back to normal ! It seems that the antibiotic that was given to him about 3 weeks ago for a finger infection caused his white blood cells to bite the dust !!!!!!!!!!! In case you want to know the name of the culprit, it was a drug called Bactrim. The doctor told him never to take it again!!! Doctor's orders.

So, what now? New surgery date: January 5th, 2010.

Here we go again.......

yummmm.....good blood....(or at least, better)

More delicious blood was taken from Mr. Downeastdoingstuff, a hematologist seen, white blood cell counts have doubled since Saturday.....a good thing.  Things are getting better, not there yet, but better. More doctors on Friday. May have been the antibiotics he was on for a boo boo on one of his fingers recently, but not sure.

We hope that was it. Yet to be seen, but it's better news right now.

Another day.....another unexpected development...

(also see update below....)

Today was hospital check in day. ( See yesterday's post.) Our son and my sister-in-law took Mr. Downeastdoingstuff into the hospital to be prepped for the heart surgery scheduled for tomorrow. (I worked) They weren't there very long when the surgeon said that the results of Saturday's blood test showed some sort of abnormality and that they cannot proceed with the surgery right now until all that is figured out. More tests are on the horizon, but the mental and therefore, physical drain of this let down has been difficult. He worked so hard on being prepared for this day and to have a positive attitude that this burst bubble he experienced today has been tough.

So we don't know how this story is going to pan out. We're hanging in there and praying for everything to come back to normal so that this procedure can come to fruition.

Dangest thing.

Update: OK, I'm trying to be serious here as this a very serious subject. Mr. Downeastdoingstuff (also known as Birdman on his blog...) makes a very serious observation. If you scroll in the 'comments' section, you will find his astute observations well documented.

Another adventure.....or something.

Today, the love of my life is going into the hospital. On Tuesday he is going to have open heart surgery to repair a valve. We knew about this since late summer and he picked this date himself so that this wouldn't interfere with work very much. That's my guy.

Here he is at a table at a restaurant in Portland. Probably pondering life, or if he'll have time for a second beer or not before it gets dark. (That light colored one is mine, he didn't start out with 2 beers...)


Lovely windows in this old port restaurant, right bratcat? (up on second floor this time...)

Sun setting on gorgeous buildings that line the streets of the Old Port.


The Old Port was wonderful on this cold, sunny day. Christmas decorations, carolers, and millions of tiny white lights. Spent the day with Mr. Downeastdoingstuff's sister having all the fun we could muster. Sunday was spent home with relatives and friends watching football and eating chili, trying to relax.

Downeastdoingstuff Junior and his sister will take him to the hospital in the morning. I will go to school and go up to see him right after school. He will be undergoing more tests all day getting ready for the surgery.

He says he is ready for this. I might be ready, as best as I can. I know that the surgeons do this work day in and day out, but never to my guy. In the end, he will be fine, probably better than he was. It's just going to be hard to watch the person that I love go through this pain.....

Wish him well.

Thanks.

I love you Birdman.