Endings and Beginnings

This is a strange week for me, faithful readers.  In my happy little department at work, I am officially losing one of my people, and am also officially getting a new person to replace him.  AN is moving on to the Engineering Department, and I know he will be awesome at his new position.  And his position has been filled by none other than KP, aka Danger Kate.  She has caught on so quickly to all of the goings on in our department, and is doing great.  

Today, we all were part of another new beginning.  Today was the official groundbreaking on a multi-million dollar training center being built at work.  A lot of Zoeller family members were there today to have their pictures taken holding the cool silver shovels.  And I am proud to say that the Production Scheduling Department was the only department that stepped up and put on the cool construction worker hard hats and scooped out dirt with the aforementioned silver shovels.  As soon as I get a copy of the pictures taken, I will proudly post one on here and on Facebook.  I think it was a very momentous occasion - it was our happy little family with our new girl and our soon-to-be old guy.  But we smiled proudly as the photographers took our pictures. 

 

Cray Cray Monday

It's been a cray cray Monday.  

I had planned to leave work at 10:00 to go to a funeral to say goodbye to a dear, sweet friend from church, but due to a big drama in the office, that didn't happen.  So that put me in a mood.   And the mood got progressively worse as the day went on.  

As I type this, my mood is continuing on its downward spiral here at The Compound.  I ask you - how can we lose a big bag of new plastic bowls that I just purchased last night? Well, anything can happen here at The Compound.  But as my dad says now, let it go.  I can go to the store again tomorrow and buy more. Which I will do, in hopes that we will keep track of. 

Link Of The Week

The 'Rents and I both have Anthem health insurance, and unfortunately, the three of us received letters last month saying that we were among the millions that had their information stolen from hackers.  We all three are in Lifelock and the identity theft protection that is part of our AAA membership, so we feel pretty safe.  

This week, I read an article about another kind of identity theft that we all need to be aware of.  It's medical identity theft.  They use our name and insurance health insurance account numbers.  Using this info, they can see a doctor and get prescription drugs.  With as much as we have to pay for our medical insurance and with all of the effin red tape we go through with our claims, EOBs, etc, this shit has got to stop.  Please read this article for more information on how to stay safe.  http://www.whas11.com/story/money/personalfinance/2015/03/28/the-new-kind-of-identity-theft-you-havent-heard-of/25091257/.

I Hate Facebook

It's times like this that I hate Facebook.  And I'm not real happy with protocol at my church, either.

I was at church early this morning for our quarterly women's group breakfast and meeting.  Before the meeting started, I got out my iPhone and checked out what was going on in Facebook.  The first post I saw was from someone that doesn't go to our church.  It was a post about a dear church member and that had died last night.  It's not something that you want to read about on Facebook, especially from someone that is not even connected to your church family anymore. 

I shared this with the ladies that were there at the meeting, and it was news to them, also.  One of the ladies was sad and then mad - mad because the church staff or deacons had put together a phone chain to notify people. 

We can be mad at how we found out, but it really doesn't change the fact that our dear friend Ivan has died.

Way To Go, UK

TWIT and I are very happy to report that UK is going on to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.  It was a late game last night, and I admit I went to bed before the game ended, but they won while I was asleep.  Now on to the big game tomorrow. 

Good Luck, UK

TWIT would like to wish the UK Wildcats good luck as they play the N.C. State Wolf Pack tonight in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.  We are all confidant that the BBN will prevail.  

Let It Go

As I said a few posts ago, my Dad's new mantra is "let it go".  First of all, let me say he has no idea about "Frozen" and the big "Let It Go"song.  All he knows is after his brush with death and his quadruple by-pass surgery, he (and all of us) need to let go of things that don't matter.

Case in point, supper tonight at The Compound.  This morning, I wrote down a recipe for a pasta salad that I've been wanting.  Dad had it for supper one night when he was in the hospital, and that same day they had it in the hospital cafeteria.  I asked one of the cooks if the could give me the recipe, and he did.  It was a very simple recipe - so simple, even I could make it.  I immediately bought the ingredients, but life got in the way and I didn't have time to make it.  So this morning, I left the recipe out, and gathered all of the ingredients before I went to work, and the 'Rents said they would make it for me.

Flash forward - after a phone call at work and much discussion, they made the pasta salad.  When I came home tonight and expected to see it on the table, I was very surprised to see it in a bubbling casserole dish, just coming out of the oven.  Yep, they baked the pasta salad instead of serving it cold as it was intended.  But as Dad said, it didn't matter.  And let me tell you - our pasta bake tonight was awesome.  We ate half of the bowl.  And it was about 75% heart healthy, too!  So instead of me getting upset over not having a cold pasta salad to take to work tomorrow for lunch, I let it go, and was happy for the meal we had tonight. 

You Go, Ann Wilson

You rock, Ann Wilson.  In more ways than I can describe.  Not only do you have one of the best voices in the history of recorded music, you are looking awesome and proving that us ladies in our 50's and 60's still rock!!!  Keep you the good work.

Hogzilla Update

We had several Hogzilla sightings this weekend.  He's getting bolder and braver.  With the BMW gone from the carport, he's venturing more toward the house and last night before it got dark, he was up to almost the beginning of the carport.  

I could have gotten the trusty Mossburg shotgun and at this close of a distance, I'm pretty sure I could have gotten Hogzilla, but I stood down.  The shot needs to come from Dad.  We'll just bide our time, and when the doctors say Dad is ready to shoot, I am confidant he will make the shot that will get Hogzilla once and for all.  

Team Bud Update

So far, so good! Dad is going great. Yesterday, he walked from the house to the far back - almost an acre's length one-way. Twice! Once trip in the morning and another in the evening. He did great walking and he said he's looking forward to getting out and walking again this afternoon. He didn't get out of breath, and his only complaint was his arthritis bothering him a bit on the walk back to the house. 

His first cardiac rehab visit is Tuesday. They will be doing a stress test, too. He's a bit nerved up over that, but he realized and said "After what they did to me in the hospital, this should be a piece of cake." He continues to do his breathing exercises and his arm and leg exercises throughout the day. 

He wanted me to thank everyone that has been asking about him and praying for him. He said to tell his church family that he hopes to be able to see them in two or three weeks.

Spring Is Here!!

TWIT would like to officially welcome Spring.  Normally I don't like spring, with all of the storms that usually happen during the spring months, but this year after all of the cold and snow this winter, I am glad spring is here.  

Dad is also glad, spring is here.  He's still doing awesome, and in fact, the three of us just now got back in the house after a walk to the back of The Compound.  Other than him saying his hip was hurting a bit (which normally happens after a long walk) he said he was doing fine. I noticed his breathing was normal, which was an awesome sign.  

Mom is glad spring is here, too.  That means better weather for her to do her walking.  She did her walking for the day before breakfast this morning, and then got in another round of walking with me and Dad. 

And the whole family, along with half of Jefferson County, is glad that spring is here because that means it will soon be time to plant the garden and grow the awesome tomatoes. 

Flashback Friday

Today I was reminiscing on the old BMW.  It was a fun car, and it served its purpose -- I drove it quite a bit and kept a lot of miles from going on the old Blazer. 

I remember the first time I drove it - it was in January, and it was cold, and it took me 15 minutes to figure out how to turn on the seat warmers.  Mom was pretty impressed that her butt was getting warm in the back seat. 

Then as more people saw the car, they were impressed that it was a 12 cylinder.  I told a lot of them that the car had three times the engine than a lot of their cars had. I wasn't bragging on the Beemer - I just thought it was pretty cool that it had such a big engine in it.  I'm not ashamed to say that once on the Greenbelt, I had it up to 110 mph, just to see what it would do.  The car handled as if I was doing 40 down my street. 

All in all, it was a very fun car, and I have no regrets.  It was an awesome ride on some trips to Cincinnati and to Nashville, and I especially loved the built-in cell phone.  

Lost And Found Update

Well, I am sorry to say that my search and rescue mission did not recover any matching plastic containers and lids last night.  At this point, I am going to say my dad's new mantra, "let it go".  In the whole scope of things, it doesn't matter. I'll just buy more containers and not worry about it.

Lost And Found

As I type this, we are on a massive search and rescue mission here at The Compound -- we are searching for matching plastic bowls and lids.  As you probably know, this is not an easy task.  At this point, I am tempted to just drive up to Krogers and buy some more.  But I am going to be vigilant and go down to the basement, where I am pretty sure I will find one or two garbage bags full of plastic bowls and lids, of various shapes and sizes. 

As I type this, Dad is at the kitchen table using the vegetable peeler and peeling fruit for fruit salad.  Hopefully I can run down to the basement and find a big enough container with a matching lid for our fruit salad. 

Good times.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

The 'Rents and I would like to wish everyone a very Happy St. Patrick's Day here from us at The Compound.  We had our traditional corned beef, cabbage and potatoes tonight.  I had collard greens instead of the cabbage, so I still ate green veggies.  We also had our traditional green Jello for dessert.  The only thing missing tonight was having some green beer.  

So have a great rest o' the day, ye lads and lasses! 

Team Bud Update

Dad is still doing awesome. He has only complained a few times in the past two weeks about discomfort in his bones - where they had to crack open his rib cage and breast bone for the surgery. This morning before work, I reminded him just what he went through during the surgery - how they made the large incision and then cracked open his rib cage and then his breast bone to get inside and work on his heart.  He is still doing his breathing exercises and other PT exercises daily like he should, and the past few days that it's been nice, we've been outside walking a few times a day. I know he is getting antsy and wants to be out and able to do a lot more.

As always, thanks again for your prayers and support for Dad, Mom and me during this ordeal. We can't thank you enough. Keep up the prayers for patience and healing.

Link Of The Week

Anyone that follows NCAA basketball knows what today is -- "Selection Sunday".  And any boss out there knows what tomorrow is -- "No Work Gets Done Monday Because Everyone Is Filling Out Their Brackets."  But I digress.  Tonight, the NCAA mens basketball tournament bracket will be announced and then the fun begins.  I don't follow basketball during the season, but I do slightly get into the tournament, mainly because my Uncle Roy loved it so much.  So if you fill out a bracket for a work contest, visit http://games.espn.go.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2015/en/bracket?addata=2015_TCMen_BracketURL and fill out the bracket here online.  It's cool because it tells you your percentage correct.  

Good luck, and may your favorite college team win!  Go Cats!  BBN #1 ! ! ! ! !

Farewell, Beemer

With everything going on in the past three weeks, I didn't take time to properly tell an old friend goodbye. The old BMW is gone. It was a fun car [until it started overheating] and was a fun ride on trips to Cincinnati and Nashville during the time I had it. No regrets. But it was time to let it go.

Flashback Friday

This morning, I got out in the monsoon and made a trip out to our new library here in the south end.  It's an awesome library - and we proudly have a sign in our front yard saying how much we love the new library.  But I digress.  For a moment, I wished that we still had the book mobile to come around and save me a trip to the library in the rain.  

First of all, I don't begrudge the time and effort it takes to go to the library for Dad.  But today, it sure would have been nice if the book mobile was still running and could have come to The Compound. 

New Recipe

Since Dad came home from the hospital, we've been eating "heart healthy" -- mainly low sodium.  Last week, we discovered that Cracker Barrel has a "Wholesome Fixins'" menu - hearty healthy low-calorie but high flavor items.  One of them is a corn flake-crusted chicken breast.  And Cracker Barrel even has the recipes on their menu site.  So we decided yesterday that we would like to try this.  So low and behold, I got the ingredients and made it tonight. It tasted OK but was not as pretty as I'd hoped.  And the cooking time took about twice as long.  We ate it, and the 'Rents said it tasted good.  Not sure if that was a sympathy vote for my chicken or not.  But I will regroup and try it again - next time, I will pound the chicken breasts to make them thinner so we can reduce the cooking time, and I will add more corn flakes and reduce the amount of spices.  But you know I don't cook.

Snowmageddon, Part Two Update

This time last week, we had a foot of snow on the ground, and it was still coming down.  Right now as I type this, it is 64 degrees.  Nuff said. 

Team Bud Update

We had Bud's first follow-up visit with a "regular doctor" today. Everything went awesome. The doctor even recommended that one of his medications be cut in half because he is doing so well. That's just what Bud needed to hear. 

Now we wait two weeks until he goes for his cardio-rehab visit, and then about 5 weeks until we take him to see the cardio surgeon that did the by-pass.

So far, so good. 

I know this sounds like a broken record, but once again, thanks so much to everyone for their prayers, texts, emails, calls and messages. You all rock.

When It Rains, It Pours?

This has been an interesting and tiring day.  We woke up this morning to a very cool house and to the furnace not working.  I immediately called our normal HVAC guy, and he came out within two hours, only to tell us that he couldn't work on our furnace because it was older and he didn't know how.  Yep.  He didn't know how.  So I called the HVAC company that installed the furnace/air conditioner back in 1990, and they had a guy out within two hours.  Let me interject that while this was going on, I was down in the basement with a Shop-Vac scooping up water that is leaking into the basement after all of the two big snowstorm's full of snow and all of the two big rain storm's full of rain.  

The HVAC guy got the furnace going, and said it could possibly need a new motor, or maybe have the whole furnace replaced.  Not what we needed to hear today.  Let me also interject that while all of this was going on today, I did my best to keep my father calmed down, after just being home less than a week from the hospital after quadruple by-pass surgery. 

Long story short, the HVAC guy got it running, and we did some preventative maintenance. The guy signed us up for the yearly service agreement -- which means no labor for any time they come out.  Saving $$$ here.   And we are hoping and praying that all is well for the rest of the winter, and possibly the summer.  But if not, the unit has a lifetime warranty on the heat exchanger.  Bad news, they no longer make that heat exchanger, but they would give us credit towards a new entire unit.  Good news, that credit would hopefully be the majority of the price. So as of right now, we are warm at The Compound.  

This leads us to another drama we are dealing with.  We have a leak in the basement, and I spent a few hours this afternoon with the Shop-Vac scooping up the water.  I'm worn out.  But after I give my supper time to digest, I will be back down in the basement for more exercise and more scooping out of water.  

Through this all, Dad has maintained composure and hasn't stressed out.  That was the main thing I have been praying for.  

As always, I'll keep you posted.

Monday Updates

It's been a pretty good day here at The Compound.  The Patient is still doing great.  He did say that he had some "discomfort" last night trying to find a position to get comfortable in while sleeping, due to his rib cage and breast bone being cracked open, but he said he didn't need a pain pill, so that's awesome.

I worked from home today for 3 or 4 hours, and tomorrow morning when the home health care nurse and the physical therapist are here, I'm going to try to go in to the office for two meetings.  I'm optimistic that all will be ok while I'm gone.

So, so far, so good.  It's different -- when we would have normally thought "let's just get some carry-out" instead of cooking, we are planning meals two days in advance..  But Mom and even me, the one that doesn't cook, are cooking heart-healthy things for us all to eat.  And I am so thankful that I didn't buy any Girl Scout cookies from anyone at work, and I'm even more thankful that on the few trips I've been to the store, there haven't been any Girl Scouts selling cookies.  I'm proud to say I've lost 10 pounds since I took Dad to the emergency room two weeks ago, and Dad said he's proud of me, too.  

Thanks again for your prayers and well wishes.  

Flashback Sunday

I've thought a lot about Grandma over the past week and a half with Dad being in the hospital.  Grandma was born on this day in 1906.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of her.  But thank the Lord they are all happy and great memories.  

This morning, Mom and Dad and I were laughing about St. Patrick's day coming up - Grandma would put green food coloring in the mashed potatoes and would make green jello.  On Valentine's Day, she would make a heart-shaped cake and would make cherry or strawberry jello.  

Grandma was a very strong-willed woman, and she followed Lord's commandment of "love thy neighbor", because in all of her years, we can honestly remember her saying that there were two certain women that she "just couldn't like".  If it's any consolation, me, Mom and Dad didn't like those two women, either.  But I digress. 

I'll end this post with one of the best quotes from Grandma "Old time friends - they're the best."  

Team Bud Update

It's been a long day -- the ResCare RN came today, and the physical therapist came (both at the same time).  Both said he was doing awesome.  The PT went over a lot of exercises for him to do, and the ResCare RN said he was doing great. 

It's still hard for me to believe that just one week ago this man had quadruple by-pass surgery.  They sure don't make them tough like him anymore. 

Flashback Friday

Yesterday, the day after we brought Dad home from the hospital and the day that we woke up to a foot of snow on the ground, our microwave crapped out.  We smelled that familiar burnt plastic smell when we turned it on, and after seeing that the carousel wasn't turning, I unplugged it and decided to buy a new one, which I did this morning.  But yesterday afternoon, we were talking about the microwave and got to reminiscing on what we did before we had the microwave.

1. We thawed out meat in a pan in the kitchen sink instead of using the "defrost" setting on the microwave.
2. We put hamburger or hot dog buns in the oven to toast them instead of heating them for 30 seconds in the microwave.
3. We made our popcorn in a big heavy pan on the stove instead of pressing the "popcorn" button on the microwave.
4. We used a pan in the oven or on the stove to heat up leftovers.
5. We used a tea kettle on the stove to get water hot for a cup of tea or hot chocolate

Snowmageddon, Part Two

Thanks to the Lord and to the discharge nurses at the hospital, we got Dad home last night just as the sleet had turned to snow and started to stick.  And stick.  And stick.  We got home at about 5:30, and when I went up to the corner to get his prescriptions an hour and a half later, our road was already treacherous.  The snow piled up quick and when we got up this morning, we had eleven and a half inches here at The Compound.  I am thankful I was proactive yesterday and had already made arrangements for someone to come and clear off our long driveway.  Believe me when I tell you it was the best $40 I've ever spent.  

Just a half an hour south reported a foot and a half of snow.  Dad's cousin who lives about an hour south of there said they got 20 inches.  

It's still hard to believe that:

1. yesterday the high was 62 degrees 
2. last night we got almost a foot of snow here in Louisville
3. tonight, it's supposed to get down to 6 degrees
4. next Thursday, it's supposed to be close to 70

Team Bud Update

It's been a little over twenty-four hours since Bud got home, and he is doing great. He looks great and says he still feels great. He said it was great to sleep in his own bed last night. I realize I'm over-using the word "great" but it is what it is. He even wanted to help with supper tonight so he made our salads. He's following the doctors' orders and doing everything he is supposed to be doing. Some people would just stay on the couch or recliner all day, but not him. While he did spend a lot of the day on the couch or recliner, just about every hour he's gotten up and walked to their bedroom and back. And I've taken on the role of respiratory and physical therapists, making sure he does his breathing exercises and other strengthening exercises throughout the day. 

The Team Bud Updates might be less frequent, but I will keep you all posted on his recovery. 

He wanted me to thank every one of you for the prayers, well wishes and support for him, and for your concern for Minnie and me.

 

Team Bud Update

This is the best update since Bud went to the ER last Monday night: he is home!!! We got home at about 5:00 - just when the snow started to stick. He came in the house, sat down in his recliner for a few minutes, and then he and Minnie and I had supper together at the kitchen table for the first time in over a week. He looks and feels great. If anyone were to come here tonight, you would not believe that this man had quadruple by-pass 5 days ago. The timing of getting him home was perfect. The roads were just starting to get bad, and I just now got back from a trip to the drugstore for his meds, and our road is treacherous. So once again, prayers were answered!! 

As I type this, he is back in his recliner reading the newspaper and watching TV.

Team Bud Update

I will pass on the details, and go straight to the news - if all goes well tonight and tomorrow morning, Bud should be getting out tomorrow! The Lord has answered our prayers so much in the past week, and I know He will be with us again as we get him home in the midst of the forecasted 8-12 inches of snow tomorrow.
They put him on the pill form of his heart med today, and wanted to wait 24 hours to see how it does, so when those 24 hours are up tomorrow, we'll get the verdict. He's getting antsy, and said he just wants to get home and rest in his new recliner and sleep in his own bed. Nobody can blame him for that. 

If you would have walked into his hospital room today, you would have sworn that there was no way in blue heaven that this 81 year old man had quadruple by-pass surgery just four days ago. 

Now is the time for more specific prayer -- for continued healing for him, and for patience and strength for all three of us. 

Once again, thank you so much for your prayers, phone calls, texts, and support. Being an only child with no other siblings to help me this week (or in the weeks ahead) I don't think I could have made it through the past week without the prayers and support from everyone.

Team Bud Update

Bud continues to amaze the doctors and nurses (and us). His surgeon saw him today, and said if he keeps this up, there's a chance he might get to go home this weekend. The doctors also said for him to walk. So shortly after his lunch today, the nurse came in and took off the oxygen and he and I and his IV on wheels and Minnie set out walking. He did awesome, and got a bit winded, but today is the most he's walked since we came to the ER a week ago tonight. And this is the 81 year-old man who just had quadruple bypass three day ago and who has been laying in a hospital bed for a week. His vitals are still great, and I'm hoping that he wore himself out enough this afternoon so he'll sleep good tonight. 

I can't say it enough - thank you for the prayers and support.

Team Bud Update

It was another long day of waiting, but this evening after Dad ate supper, they said his BP was high enough for him to be moved. So for the next week or so, his home-away-from home is on the fifth floor. He wasn't as antsy or nerved up like I thought he would have been, and he sure was glad to take the wheelchair ride up to his new room.

Once again, the doctors and nurses are amazed at how well and quickly he is recovering. His nurse last night said he is truly a rock star. And he thinks that since the doctor told him that he was doing as well on his first day after surgery as people do on their fifth day, that means that he will get out of there five days quicker. If he keeps on progressing like he has in the last twenty-four hours, I can see that happening.

Thanks to all of the prayer warriors that prayed today for high blood pressure for him; praying for high BP is not something we normally do, but in this case, it worked. As I said yesterday, and will say for days and weeks to come, please continue the prayers for healing, patience, and strength. 

Thanks again for your comments and messages. I've read them to him every day since he's been in the hospital.