The hush after the storm.......

I don't like to think of my girls visits as a whirl wind storm....but sometimes it is. They are very rambunctious, full of life...and well the activity around here never seems to stop.

My girls and their friend went home today. There is an eerie hush in my house....Bert is wondering around wondering were everyone went. The only reminder that they were here is the mountain of laundry left behind.

Yes....all the bed linens, and towels that need to be washed. Funny thing is, I just did 4 loads of laundry yesterday. I forgot how much laundry needs to be done when you have a houseful of people. I remember the days when the girls were little....I would do a couple of loads of laundry every day....now I am lucky(or unlucky however you want to look at it) if I do one every other day.....Then there are the dishes....I don't think my dishwasher has had so much use since their last visit Oh and then there are the showers and baths.....I can only imagine my hydro bill next month. Ah, but it is all worth it in the end.

It's been enough.....enough Christmas, enough celebrations....I need to rest. I have overdone it....my girls were very helpful...but they don't know where everything is, or where things should go...you know what I mean....you see things in your house that others don't. Anyhow, there has been a lot of activity around here.

Yesterday brought more snow....the girls were to go home....but that didn't happen. So the girls and hubby decided they were going to go out on the quad and have some fun. First they hooked up a tube with a long rope and got dragged by the quad....then if that wasn't enough they decided they wanted to try and ski behind the quad....yup you got it.....Quad skiing....who knows maybe it will become a winter Olympic sport. Middle daughter took footage of hubby and their friend trying their hand at this sport...it was hilarious. The skis would get stuck in the ruts in the road...and well lets say there were some interesting landings.....the not so graceful kind. Eldest daughter has a few choice bruises to show for her efforts. The flying into snow banks did not seem to deter any of them. After a few hours of this they all came in with rosy cheeks and sore bodies but still laughing.

It will be a quite New Years Eve for hubby and I.....and I am ok with that. Eldest daughter thought that she might come back for New Years...but I suggested she stay on the mainland with her friends for a couple of days and then come back. I think she is going to take me up on that suggestion. I think she is a little home sick for her friends. New Years day I am hoping I will be strong enough to do the Polar Bear swim....not sure about that...but I will let you all know if I do.

A year in review Meme......

I was tagged for this meme by Peppylady it's called "The first sentence Meme" I like to call it a year in review. You see you take the first sentence from the first post you made for each month over the past year. It was kind of fun. I didn't realize all the different things I had done over this past year....from a Polar bear swim, shoulder injury, to weddings, travelling to the interior to see friends,getting a new job, boating, many visits from family and friends, to having surgery....yes it has been a very full year and then some. I'm not going to tag anyone...but if you would like to play please do....but let me know if you do so I can come on over to read about your year in review.

January 2008 1st sentence of first post......."Well here we are January 1st 2008 the beginning of a new year and my 2nd Polar Bear swim."

February 2008 1st sentence of first post for that month........"Is anyone else having problems with Blogger? I can't seem to get my spell check or the uploading of pictures to work either yesterday or this morning......Urgh!"

I actually liked the other parts of that post when I was talking about pictures mysteriously falling....

March 2008 1 st sentence(albeit a run on sentence)of first post for the month......"This weeks theme is PARTY....oh my goodness I feel like I should be putting up banners...maybe I might...who doesn't like a good Party......growing up in a family of 12 children there was always a party, birthday parties, Halloween parties, Christmas parties, valentines parties, St. Paddy's day parties...you get the idea......we celebrated everything....oh the parties we use to have...and still do....... so when I started looking through old photos I noticed a theme..it would appear that I certainly liked parties from an early stage....I certainly liked to wear Party hats.....yes party hats....so here is my take on the theme of Party......

April 2008 1 st sentence of the first post for the month........"Well I haven't been around for a couple of days...not much to post about.."
.
May 2008 1st sentence of the first post for the month......"Another week has begun....my gosh how time flies...

June 2008 1st sentence of the first post for the month...."We made our way home from Kamloops via the Coquihalla Highway,the scenery is very different from the Fraser Canyon route"

July 2008 1st sentence of the first post for the month..."I'm am sure we have all heard remakes of songs.

August 2008 1st sentence of the first post for the month...."I finished at my old job on Saturday morning and I started a week of holidays!

September 2008 1st sentence of the first post for the month......"This past weekend hubby and I had the pleasure of traveling to the mainland to participate in my nieces’
wedding."

October 2008 1st sentence of the first post for the month....."Life is funny sometimes isn't it?"

November 2008 1st sentence of the first post for the month....."Do you remember the Andy Griffith Show.....with Gomer, Opey and the gang?"

December 2008 1st sentence of the first post for the month....."Well here we are only two weeks away from Christmas"

Baby Update........

Baby finally arrived at 0037 this morning. It's a boy! 8lbs. 2 oz. 20 inches long......he was delivered into a tub of warm water and I am told mom and baby are doing swimmingly.....Looking forward to getting some pictures of the new little guy. I was saying to my hubby that the male gene seems to be predominant in his family. Out of the 9 grandchildren 6 of them are male and the two great grandchildren are both male.......anyhow hopefully there will be pictures to follow soon. So I did finally get to eat the chocolate. Congratulations to the new mom and dad.....and welcome to the newest addition to our family.

Bit of this and that......

We got the call this morning.....my hubby's niece has gone into labour, contractions are 5 mins. apart.

About a month ago at my niece's baby shower they gave everyone a little package consisting of a candle and a chocolate. The idea was that everyone would be notified when she went into labour and that we were all to light our candle. Once baby is born, the chocolate can be eaten in celebration. We got our call from soon to be great grandma at 0830 this morning. We haven't heard anything since.

My niece is planning on delivering her baby at home. Her mother (my sister in law) has delivered many babies and is planning on delivering her 1st grandchild. I am told they do have a midwife on standby. By delivering baby at home it will be natural childbirth....so in order to ease the discomfort she plans on delivering baby in the bath......I am sending them all good vibes their way...and pray for a safe delivery and for a healthy baby.

Yesterday we all gathered at the in laws for more Christmas celebration. Originally we were to gather on Boxing day but it was snowing and brother in law and family couldn't make it...so it was postponed until yesterday.

Brother in law was planning on cooking a turkey....he was planning on deep frying it...I don't know about you, but I only heard recently about this deep frying a turkey.....and I have actually seen funny commercials about cooking a turkey that way but the house blew up. So I wasn't sure what we were in for. It turned out to be a very pleasant surprise....it was one of the best turkey's I have ever eaten.....very moist..... After a fantastic dinner, we all gathered in the living room. My hubby's family are all very musical. Brother in law brought his guitar and we started with singing Christmas songs which then led into some Cape Brenton songs and finally just whatever he could think of. Father in law plays a mean harmonica....it truly was a lovely time....again lots of laughs.

It was very nice to see my husband's niece and her little boy. He is 4 1/2 months, just a darling little boy who is very active and animated.

Today has been a rather relaxing day.....reading my book....doing some laundry. The girls have been playing games and watching TV.....just a chilling kinda of day. The girls are planning on going home tomorrow. It has been so much fun having them here. Eldest is going to go back to the mainland with her sisters and stay there for a couple of days and then come back to the Island to help me out again.

In the big scheme of things I am doing very well. I was actually able to do 23 mins on level three on my stepper yesterday! I am optimistic that I will be able to do the Polar bear swim on New Years day....that is one of my goals I think this will be my third year doing the swim so I really want to do it. I might not be able to go in as far as I have in the past....but I will give it the ol college try.Grandpa aka father in law in the kitchen...it's was the men's turn to cook the dinner

Nephew playing with his new guitar he got from his mom and dad.

Great nephew....just taking in all the feastivities.

Some of the men singing their rendition of a particular Christmas song......

Oh grandpa do I really have to wear this silly hat and Christmas booties......

And of course here are my girls.......

Here's wishing you all good health!

Our take on Christmas.....

Phew.....well they made it....hearing about all the winter storms and people getting stranded at airports desperately trying to make it home for Christmas I was fearful that my girls weren't going to be able to make it.

When I was speaking with their father on Christmas Eve it was snowing and he wasn't even sure if they would make it out for the Christmas Eve festivities. You see the area in which they live didn't budget for snow removal equipment this year, so the residence have had to fend for themselves in order to get out of their complexes. Well with a little determination on all parts they were able to get the vehicle out and participate in the Christmas Eve events.

Christmas morning we were on the phone.....well are they going to make? Are they going to be able to get to the 1230 ferry. Oh the telephone calls back and forth trying to coordinate rides, drop offs and pick ups, but in the end they made it....yes in deed! Eldest daughter and father in law went to meet my other two daughters and a friend who was coming to stay as well.

They arrived at the ferry terminal in plenty of time. Eldest was very excited to see her two baby sisters walking down the the aisle....she was jumping up and down...and there wasn't a dry eye amongst them.....lots of hugs and kisses, and I anxiously awaited their arrival home.

They finally made it.....I greeted them at the door with open arms...ah there is knowing like giving your children welcome home hugs.

We quickly settled in as the girls were anxious to exchange gifts....the gift exchange went wonderfully spoilt all around......it was now time to set the Christmas table....put the finishing touches on the dinner. The in laws arrived shortly there after....father in law with turkey in hand....this year it was a combined effort.....WE all gathered around the table father in law gave the blessing and then it was time to dig in. I must say father in law makes a mean turkey....it was very moist....and the turkey stuffing (made from scratch of course) was to die for. My compliments to the chefs all around.

The girls were on dish duty....once the table was cleared it was time to set up for the desserts.....coffee was on we moved into the living room, the fireplace was warm and inviting...we sat and chatted for awhile....had our coffee....but then it was time for charades. My daughters friend had never played charades....oh was he in for a treat. The girls decided that it would be the younger ones' against hubby, I and the in laws. There were some very funny moments, like eldest daughters trying to act out "Recipe for the Bees" I must say she does a great bee inpersonation....LOL. After many giggles and belly laughs it turns out the seniors won!!! How does that saying go.....Seniors rule Kids drool.....lol.....again a good time was had by all.

If that wasn't enough fun.....I had asked youngest daughter how her dance performance for the Thanksgiving day assembly at her school went, when eldest daughter piped up and asked youngest daughter to show us the dance....she didn't want to...but after much encouragement from eldest sister...youngest agree only if eldest would perform with her. So off to another room they went...youngest trying to teach eldest the dance steps.....you could hear the giggles and laughter into the livingroom. A little bit later they came back ready to perform....and perform they did.....hubby video taped it....we teased them saying we were going to put in on Facebook or uTube....it was just priceless.....there wasn't a dry eye in the house from laughing so much.....it was suppose to be serious, but eldest was being such a clown and shall we say providing us with her interpretation of the dance......oh what fun.

It was getting late....I was getting tired as was mother in law....it was time for us to bid everyone good night.....mother and father in law made their way home, I prepared and went to bed...the younger ones stayed up playing a variety of games.....funny they are still sleeping as I make this post.

I hope all my blogger friends had a wonderful Christmas....and Happy Boxing day to you as well!

Christmas Poetry......

Wonder

There is faint music in the night,
And pale wings fanned by silver flight;
A frosty hill with tender glow
Of countless stars that shine on snow.
A shelter from the winter storm,
A straw-lined manger, safe and warm,
And Mary crooning lullabies,
To hush her Baby's sleepy sighs.
Her eyes are rapt upon His Face,
Unheeded here is time and space;
Her heart filled with blinding joy,
For God's own Son--her little Boy!

~ Author Unknown~

Christmas Long Ago
A Christmas Poem by Jo Geis

Frosty days and ice-still nights,
Fir trees trimmed with tiny lights,
Sound of sleigh bells in the snow,
That was Christmas long ago.

Tykes on sleds and shouts of glee,
Icy-window filigree,
Sugarplums and candle glow,
Part of Christmas long ago.

Footsteps stealthy on the stair,
Sweet-voiced carols in the air,
Stocking hanging in a row,
Tell of Christmas long ago.

Starry nights so still and blue,
Good friends calling out to you,
Life, so fact, will always slow...
For dreams of Christmas long ago.


Candles Are a Gift of Light

Candles are a gift of light,
A tiny sun, a bit of star.
No other dancer in the night
Dances with such sheer delight,
Little souls serene and bright,
Each a glimpse of what we are
Shining innocent and pure
~ Author Unkown~

Winter is certainly upon us.....

Christmas is in 3 days....Yesterday I was starting to panic as there were some things I still needed to get to at the stores but with this weather I wondered if I would be able to make it out. We do have four wheel drive vehicles but the weather conditions have just been miserable.

I have been home a week now from my surgery and the weather has been frightful. Snowing and freezing temperatures and it doesn't look like it is going to ease up anytime soon. I am not allowed to drive for 6 weeks post surgery so I call upon my father in law yesterday to see if he would be willing to make the 45 min. trek to town where I could do some finishing touches on my Christmas shopping.

Bless his heart he agreed. Other members of the family are starting to feel a little cooped up so they also decided to come along for the trip. Looking at the road conditions they said snow covered road with good visibility....the snow was only falling lightly....so off we went. Once we unburied my truck got it turned around we met up with the in laws at the top of the drive and all settled in for the drive. It wasn't bad at all.

One thing about shopping during a winter storm, the stores are not as crazy as they normally would be...can you imagine there were actually open cashiers when I went to pay for my purchases...that is so unheard of this time of year. We shopped for a couple of hours, and I was beginning to feel weary...we decided it was time to head home. As my daughter, mother in law and I got ourselves into the truck we all decided that we were hungry and it was time for some lunch. We wanted something more than McDonald's.....so I suggested the pub down the road which was on our way home.

Good choice....the food was good and reasonably priced, the atomosphere was casual and it almost made you forget there was a storm outside. The big screen flat LCD TV was showing Sunday football which the men were enjoying,l we could have stayed there for a little while, but the reality of the weather reminded us that we should start our trek back home.

During our drive we only came upon one vehicle that had jack knifed in a ditch...and that was a fuel truck...it was stuck pretty good and they were waiting for a crane to come lift it out. We took the more peaceful route home....following the shoreline....even still the tree branches hung low over the roads due to all of the snow. It was actually very picturesque...but of course I forgot my camera on my desk at home. Father in law got us all home safe and sound....the only little hiccup I will call it was when we drove down their drive to let them off closer to their door....the drive is relatively steep at places and snow covered...normally we leave the vehicles at the top of our drives during this weather in order to avoid getting stuck in the drive...but yesterday with parcels in hand we thought it best to drive down the drive...I won't say we got stuck....just kind of slid a bit....but we managed....daughter was a tad nervous and closed her eyes...the only time I got a little nervous was when we came within inches of losing my side view mirror to the hydro pole...but we didn't hit anything...my hubby got us turned around and the in laws made it safely into the house.

We made it down our drive....hubby has to still help me get in and out of the truck these days....last thing I need is to slip....while he was getting me settled in the house daughter gathered the parcels and brought them in....the fire was stoked....kettle put on for tea....I had my book and I settled myself in for a nice read on the couch...occasionally looking out the window to see what winter continued to bring us.

My eldest daughter who has been my godsend during this past week is planning on going back to her fathers for Christmas Eve to spend the day and evening with her sisters and dad. All of my girls will return to me on Christmas day weather permitting.

Wishing you all the very best for a wonderful day.....stay safe out there~~

Looking up my driveway.....

This is a view from my front door

Some Ramblings.......

Here it is December 20th, there is about 3 feet of snow on the ground and it is a cool and crisp -15 Celsius outside. We've had cold temperatures and snow for over a week now....it's been a long time since we have had weather like this. I have been watching the news and I see that most of Canada has been blanketed with the white stuff as well as the mid to eastern states. I think this is going to be one of those winters that we won't forget. Mind you it isn't even officially winter yet...not until tomorrow....never understood why they don't consider it winter until the 21st of December, I know it has something to do with the winter solstice...personally I think that once the 1st of December rolls around we should call it winter....generally by that time most eastern provinces and states have had some form of winter weather.

Yesterday when my daughter and I were out for our walk we met up with one of the neighbours out walking her dog. I was surprised to see this 70 year old lady out in the frigid weather and snow covered roads walking her dog. My daughter and I met up with her while we were half way into our walk....we chatted for a bit and then I told her I needed to get on with my walk...she asked how far I was going and I told her...she asked if she could come along that it would not only be good for her but company for her dog as I had our dog Bert out as well.

Off we went down the next road turned the corner and continued on for another block. The destination was not bad....it's the coming home....most of it is a gradual incline. It's good for me to help build up my stamina but I worried about her....she held her own. Got a little winded at times but she held her own. My daughter marched ahead with the dogs....the neighbour and I talked, she asked about my health which lead us to discussing about health in general and lifestyles. She is definitely a person that I would categorize as someone who is very "earthy". At 70 she doesn't take any medications what so ever. She said she used to take thyroid medication but gave that up and substituted seaweed and aloe vera liquid instead and she says she hasn't felt better. She doesn't have a doctor....and states she feels better than she ever has.

As a nurse I am always amazed when I hear of elderly people who are not on any medications, or who haven't seen a doctor in years or who have never been in a hospital. I say good on you! Whatever they are doing they are doing it right.

I know after my surgery my heart rate was a little high as was my blood pressure. The doctor thought about putting me on medications. I refused. I told her that my heart rate and blood pressure would settle down once I got out of the hospital and my pain was under control. Today my heart rate is 54 my blood pressure is 110/73 perfect! I am very familiar with the medications they wanted to put me on and I also know of the side effects...and personally I would rather do something to help control both than to take a pill. Sometimes I find that the medical field is to quick to push a pill rather than suggest alternate ways to control heart rate and blood pressure.

I don't know about you but when I watch those commercials on TV about medications they want us to take and then they go into all the side effects.....I can't help but think who would want to take those medications when you run the risk of kidney failure, glaucoma, cancer, COPD and they list goes on. Not me thank you very much. I would far rather walk the extra block, take the stairs instead of the elelvator, eat less fatty foods and at this time of year that means trying to watch not to eat to many sweets.....hard I know....but I try.

Anyhow, my walk yesterday with this dear lady inspired me to keep on trucking....although I feel weak at times I know this to shall pass and I will be back to my usual self in no time....without any medications!

Stay healthy and have a fantastic day!

Gingerbread houses..................

In my past couple of posts I have written about Christmas memories from my childhood. Today I would like to share a more recent memory of when my girls were little.

It would be just about this time of year just after the girls would got out of school for winter break. My sister who had two boys similar in age as two of my girls would host a gingerbread house day.

My dear sister would invite my three girls, and another sisters with her two girls and of course her two boys. My sister would bake from scratch gingerbread shapes for houses for all of the children. When we would arrive. She would a place set at the kitchen table for each child. Each place setting there would be the frame to build the gingerbread house. My sister would go to the trouble to make the icing and supply all of the treats the children wanted to put on their ginger bread house. Of course such a task required assistance from mom or dad. When we first started doing this my youngest would have been about 2 or 3....so the children present ranged from 2 -10. They all just loved it. It was their own creation....they were allowed to use what ever was on the table....oh what fun....it kept them occupied for a few hours.....it was wonderful to watch. It also provided an opportunity for the adults to enjoy some time together. It was a wonderful break from the hustle and bustle of the stores.

After a long afternoon of gingerbread house making...we would order in pizza watch a movie and then head on home. My girls still talk about those years when we use to go to Aunty Eileen's and make the houses.

Ah Christmas full of memories......

Life is a gift......

It snowed most of yesterday but that didn't stop my daughter and I from going for our walk. At the hospital they told me that I should walk as much as possible. Hubby of course is supportive of this but was very nervous about me making the trek out in the snow(which was almost knee high) so he got out the ATV and flattened the driveway so a least I could make it up the drive and back.

I am a goal orientated kind of person. I decided that each day I would set a walking goal. Since my surgery I have walked every day. Some days I might have walked a little farther than I should, but that is me. Since I got home I have wanted to make it to the end of the road and back, and yesterday I achieved that. Not only did I achieve it but I did it in less time that I did the day before when I only walked half the distance. So giving myself the high five on that one.

You don't realize how fragile life can be until it hits you in the face. Kinda of like a huge wake up call. We all know we should eat right, don't smoke, get regular exercises, minimize our alcohol consumption and so on. Most of us try to follow those rules, some days are better than others. But even when we follow those rules there are things in our lives that are out of our control that affect our health.

For me that would be my heart. I have always been active....as most of you know I love to run....I enjoy yoga and recently started belly dancing. I have tried to live a healthy life style and yet I have been plagued with a ticker that sometimes just misbehaves. I told you all about my surgery in my previous post, and I have received some wonderful emails of support. One of the things they mention as part of the rehabilitation process after open heart is they say the person might go through episodes of depression. I am not sure that I have experienced episodes of depression as much as I get hit sometimes with the reality that my situation could have gone either way. It sounds so trite to say but I truly am fortunate to be here today.

I was speaking to my sister in law on the phone yesterday(she is also a RN)and she was telling me that she had a friend who is an OR nurse at the hospital where I had my surgery. My sister in law was telling her about my case, her friend told her that she was in the OR right next door to mine....she told her that it got rather cahotic once they a had nicked my aorta, rushing around getting extra equipment and such....yes the surgery that was to be 2 hrs ended up being 5 hrs.. After talking with my sister in law...one who understands the complexity of the situation and the way in which she explained what she had heard gave me shivers. Almost immediately after getting of the phone with her I went over to the couch and snuggled in the best I could to my hubby and just asked him to hold me....and told him how happy and fortunate I am to be here right now.

I have said this before, but now more than ever I realize that everyday is a gift....live it to it's fullest....take nothing for granted.....and hug those you love.....

It looks like it might be a snow day......

Do you remember those days when you were a kid? I loved snow days. My mum didn't, at this time of year she needed as much time without children underfoot as possible so she could prepare for Christmas.

Today would be one of those days. Mum wouldn't be able to get out shopping because the roads would be covered as would our very long driveway. I am sure we must have driven her crazy. So what to do with a house full of children? Send them out doors. Well no problem there mum, we loved to be outdoors.

Of course the first thing we always had to do was shovel the sidewalk and the driveway....now that was a chore and a half. Not only was the driveway long but it was on a hill. It often seemed that by the time you got halfway down the drive the part you had shovelled was already covered in snow. We didn't have a snow blower...no sirree we had good old man power or girl power who ever turn it was that time. My sisters and I worked well as a team.....we did try the some start at the bottom and others start at the top and meet in the middle.....but then it came the "you aren't shovelling fast enough" or "you don't shovel enough". Yet somehow we managed to get it done.

Once the chores were done and we still had the energy we would build snow forts......oh how I loved snow forts....hours upon hours we would spend trying to create the most perfect fort. And of course no front yard is complete without it's very own Frosty. I never figured out we ever managed to get the third huge ball of snow on top....I think sometimes that is why Frosty looked like maybe he had one or two to many....lol.

The only thing that brought us in from the snow was the rumbling tummies or the socks that we used for mittens were absolutely soaked. I know mum bought many many mittens and knitted her share of mittens as well....but it always seemed that when the snow came we couldn't find our mittens(no mittens you naughty little kittens). So into the "odd sock box"(that's a story in itself) we would go. Put on as many socks as we thought we needed and out we'd go. You know I never thought anything of it then....but I guess now looking back some might have considered us poor. But never ever did I feel poor.

After filling our tummies with soup and crackers and maybe some baking we would put on some new socks both on our hands and feet and make the trek outdoors again. This time we would venture down to the park. That would be about two long blocks from the house. We would take a sled if we had one....or a garbage bag. Down at the park there was the greatest hill. Everyone in the neighbourhood would go there. Some who had skis would try their hand at skiing, but most of us just had sleds, or magic carpets or garbage bags. Oh what fun we would have. We would stay there until almost dark or until our poor little hands were to frozen. Making the trek back home always seemed such a chore.

Ah yes, snow days......I used to just love them!

Where I've been....and tis the season to be thankful....

People have asked me where I have been. In simple terms, I have been to physical hell and back!

On December 4th I went to Vancouver to have what is considered a risky surgery yet becoming a more common surgical procedure. You see, I have a pacemaker. I have had one for almost 25 years. Through those years I have had 4 pacemaker replacements and one lead replacement. I won't get technical about pacemakers et al here, but if you would like to know more you can send me a private email.

Anyhow, some time ago I started having increased discomfort at my pacemaker site. I spoke with the surgeon. Already having done some research I asked him about pacemaker lead extraction. He said of course it was tricky and that he didn't do it, and suggested I get a second opinion from a surgeon in Vancouver. I saw that surgeon at the end of September. He gave his suggestion of what could be causing the problem and suggested what should be done. I followed his suggestion, I opted to have the surgery to have the pacemaker and the leads extracted and a whole new unit put in. I did lots of research.....the more research I did the more anxious I got. I checked out a Pacemaker website where people who have had pacemakers or ICD's(implantable cardiac defibrillators)and read about their experiences. This site is an American site so there are a lot of variables....but the heart is the heart and hence the common ground.

The surgeon who performed this procedure is the only surgeon I am told in Western Canada that does this procedure and he only does one a month. So I was his December date.

My hubby and girls accompanied me the morning of the surgery, how they did it I don't know. We had to be at the hospital by 0615 in the morning. We arrived with bells on. The one thing I can say about this hospital is that everyone was so efficient,polite and generally helpful. By 0630 I was changed into my hospital gown, I had already briefly been seen by a nurse. By 0645 I was called again by another nurse who went over my documentation, ensured I had removed all of my jewelry, identified me and my list of allergies. That was it....I was to get settled into a bed and prepare to be taken to the OR. I kissed and hugged my hubby and daughters gave them all bright smiles and off I went.

The surgeons assistant came in to see me along with half a dozen other people....I had been well prepared for all the invasive lines that would be inserted into my body...of which again I won't share here....but if you would like to know you can email me. Anyhow, I enter the OR suite there are about 16 people in this room....a group of them are responsible for the open heart equipment if that should be needed.....of course never in a million years did I think they would be needed but it was a precaution that had to be in place. My procedure was scheduled to take 2 hours. The last thing I remember was the anesthetist inserting an IV in my arm, the OR nurse putting a warming blanket on me(me commenting on how nice it felt) and then the mask.....It was lights out time.

Next thing I remember I had a tube being pulled out of my mouth. I looked at the clock.....I could have sworn it said 11 am.....I looked again.....it was 1500 hrs (3pm)! What happened? Almost as I said that I felt my chest....the pain. Yes my 2 hour surgery turned into 5 hours and I was the recipient of open heart surgery. The worst case scenario reared it's ugly head. Apparently whilst they were trying to laser a lead it nicked a heart vessels and I bled, necessitating them to crack open my sternum and do the repair.

Once I was extubated from the ventilator I looked over and saw my husband and daughters.....I made some kind of motion pointing to my chest...and I pouted....hubby nodded....we all knew what that meant. The next 18 hours were the most painful hours of my life. I would honestly have to put it right up there with childbirth. Actually at least after the birth the pain is gone and you have this wonderful baby to hold. Not so in this case.

My nurse, I will call her my angel worked so hard at trying to keep me comfortable, she bathed me, provided mouth care, gave me medications as needed(which seemed to me to be all the time). She was quick to give me ice chips and whatever else she could do. By 0630 the next morning still being attached to all kinds of machines and equipment she had me standing......vomiting of course....but I did stand. By 1100 I was out of the CSICU(Cardiac short stay intensive care)and up on the cardiac step down unit. That is where I spent the next 4 days. I was discharged on the Monday.

I spent the next couple of days convalescing at my sisters before I made the 3 hour journey home. Here I am just a week post op, up and writing a post about my experience. If you had asked me then...I would have said hell no. But every day I get stronger.....every day I can walk farther.....I can manage walking up and down my stairs with minimal assistance, and although uncomfortable at times I am surviving on extra strength Tylenol.

I am not allowed to lift anything greater than ten pounds, here in Canada that would be like lifting the Toronto telephone book. I am not allowed to lift my arms above my head, and I am not allowed to drive a vehicle for 6 weeks. My chest looks like a very bad painting. My eldest daughter has come to stay with me for a couple of months and for that I am truly thankful.

My husband has been my life support. He has bathed and dressed me, fed me when needed positioned and repositioned me to help me find my comfortable spot, he has just been amazing.

I have been surrounded by so much love and support....and I truly believe it is all the well wishes that have been sent my way that has helped me through this first week.

I was thankful that I did so much Christmas preparation before the surgery. I had decorated the inside of the house, put up the lights, done some baking and left things relatively presentable for our arrival home. Funny, prior to surgery hubby and I had been working on our bathroom we have painted and repainted and have now decided we don't like the current colour...I told him that I would paint when I got home from hospital.......guess that isn't going to happen....ah well best laid plans.

So there you have it, my story about where I have been. Every day is a gift...and I am thankful for the gift of today!

Cheers all!

Christmas memories.............

Well here we are only two weeks away from Christmas . So much to do and yet so little time.

When I reminisce of Christmas from the past, all I recall are fond memories, with Christmas Eve being my favourite of all the Christmas season. Yes. Christmas Eve was and still is my favourite day of the year. Generally by this time the Christmas shopping is done, you are putting final touches on Christmas gifts and the start of the Christmas celebration begins.

When I was growing up Christmas was always a very hectic time in our household. Can you imagine having to buy Christmas gifts for 12 children and then wrapping them....or what about doing the grocery shopping for the next few days. When I was a child the stores closed at 6pm on Christmas Eve and didn't open up again until Boxing day. Which then that would generally only be the electronic stores or such.

Anyhow, I can remember mom coming home from grocery shopping absolutely exhausted....we all had to pitch in to bring the groceries in from the car and put them away. My elder sisters would be busy helping to start to prepare Christmas Eve dinner, which consisted of calamari, oven roasted potatoes with onion, garlic and lemon and salads. We always had huge ante pasta dishes going throughout the day. The younger children(that would include me) would be relegated to ensuring our chores were done ie. our rooms were clean, our clothes were ready for midnight mass. We would sit downstairs and one of the all time favourite Christmas movies would come on. Can you think of what it could be? Well for me it was Alistair Cook's 1938 Scrooge. It use to scare the heck out of me when the third ghost arrived....or when Bob Marely came walking up the stairs shacking his ball and chain. Ah yes what fond memories. Generally once that was over it was time for us younger ones to go for naps so we wouldn't be so tired when it came time to go to midnight mass. It turns out that was also the time mom and my elder sisters did the power Christmas wrapping.

I loved midnight mass. My father loved it as well. He would almost single handily decorate the church alter with Christmas trees and lights and of course the nativity scene and the advent wreath would be prominent. Yes it was a very special time. Most of us younger sibs were in the school choir so we did have to be there early. It was always such a crazy rush for my parents, but year after year they did it.

After mass and wishing friends a Merry Christmas we would go home. Dad would light a fire, put on Christmas music and we would all have a late night snack....the anticipation of Christmas was still in the air....trying to get us to bed so mum and my sisters could finish off the final details was always a bit of a chore.

I will leave you with these thoughts......I was raised with many traditions, which I will endeavour to share with you over the next couple of weeks. What memories do you recall during the preparation of Christmas? Was it the shopping? The baking? The services you would attend? Or did you Christmas entail preparations for a special vacation? I would love to hear about your Christmas memories. If you have a Christmas story you would like to share please just leave a link and I will be certain to check it out.