Friday's Progress Report

It has been a good day. We have female nurses today and tonight. That is sure to help! (Most of the staff helping Curt the last two days have been excellent male staff members.) The Twins are playing and there are several Twins fans on staff so they stop by often to check out the score. Curt's head nurse tonight knows more about the Twins than he does. She could name the starting line-up and knew all about the trade. He was impressed. She had also been in KC for the games earlier this week.

Curt did a walk earlier today on his own and we'll do another long hall walk tonight before I leave. Then we'll get ice cream for a reward...sherbet that is. Hopefully, it will help make Curt a little more tired so he sleeps better tonight. Hopefully, there won't be any thunderstorms tonight either. We both woke up during last night's thunder and lightning show.

There have been quite a few visitors today, too. Thank you for staying for short periods to visit with Curt. He loves the company, and shorter visits allow more visitors. All the talking should help him sleep tonight, too. Willa was in a much better mood during her visit this afternoon. She was not happy when she was here last night and' Daddy took her home after about 20 minutes of crying.I mean crying so hard the tears came. Broke my heart!

This afternoon I made a quick trip home to check the mail, the garden and get more clothes for me. Curt hasn't needed 'clothes' yet as he loves the hospital wear that is furnished. Everything is  fine on the home front thanks to friends and neighbors. The teeny teaspoon tomatoes are ripening, but they will be there next week, too, and taste just as good and look just as cute. (Marge they are not cherry tomatoes as cherry tomatoes are the size of the grape tomatoes.)

We thank you for the prayers, comments & concerns. Hugs to you all..

Grandpa's Visitor

Willa was dressed and ready to take a little road trip this morning, wearing a new outfit.

But first, Grandma had to play with her a little bit. She is holding the puppy rattle I bought on the last day of our last week with Willa. She doesn't reach out and grasp the rattle, but she will clutch it if it is near her open fingers and does watch it as she moves it around and will taste it when it gets close to her mouth.

Willa didn't have too many smiles for Grandpa this morning, but...

Grandpa certainly smiled when he saw her! Maybe she will visit again later today.

The Straight and Narrow

It is about 30 hours after surgery and it is hard to believe Curt had open heart surgery yesterday. Other than the incision running the length of his chest and the even longer one on his left leg. One would think he had a much simpler reason for this hospital stay.

This morning he ate a clear liquid breakfast while sitting in a chair. He was in the chair for 90 minutes; not because the staff was so busy and they forgot about him, but because this was a goal for today. And RN Jeremy is all about reaching the goals! Curt was such a 'good boy' for eating all of his breakfast (and keeping it down, I guess) he was rewarded at lunch with chicken rice soup with veggies and chocolate pudding, again in his chair followed by 90 minutes of sitting time. Both of those milestones were followed with 60 minutes of quiet, lights off, sleepy time. And believe me, Curt was ready for the sleepy time!

It is almost time for dinner, but...before Curt can eat his food, he must take a wee little walk down the hall. The wheelchair has been moved into the room and will hold the 'discharge' bags and will serve as a support for the 100 foot walk. I will serve as assistant for the stroll in the hallway of purple pod and move the one IV stand. (The IV stands have gone from three down to one late this afternoon, along with numerous tubes and lines.) WHOOPEE!

Later:
The stroll went well and the patient is now resting comfortably in the chair, awaiting supper. Another milestone.



If you check the Avera Heart Hospital website, a short message can be sent to Curt and will be delivered to his room.

The Curve Rounds the Bend

Curt left his room at the Heart Hospital at 6:30 this morning. At 11:15 the doctor reported he had come through the triple bypass heart surgery in very good order. I did stop in to see him at 1:00, but he was still under the influence of the 'sleepy' medicine. I checked in a couple of times later in the day. The kids went to see him at 7:00. Curt was sporadically watching the Twins & Royals game. I went up a bit later. Our thought was to keep the conversations and visiting to a minimum.  Curt however, was expecting me. That is all a good sign. He knew I wasn't there and wondered why. I promise to be there all day tomorrow.

He is in a lot of pain of course. His chest incision is quite long and very sore. But the breathing tube was gone and his voice was easier to understand by when I left. He was getting a sponge bath yet tonight and would be sitting at the edge of his bed before the night was over. I'm impressed!

We are both very thankful for all your prayers and concern. I hope to talk to the doctor tomorrow and will update tomorrow night.

Life Throws a Curve

Curt & I decided the blog would be a good place to let you all know...

On Wednesday of last week, Curt went to his physician because he had been having heartburn for about 10 days and over the counter meds did not seem to be taking care of the problem. His doctor treated him for the GERD problem but also began tests for his heart. Curt had an EKG on Wednesday and then had a stress test with the dye pictures on Friday. The dye pictures showed some blockage. The stress test & EKG were normal. His doctor scheduled an appointment with the cardiac doctor in Watertown for this morning. We expected to have a stent or possibly a balloon procedure to clear the blockage. Fifteen minutes after the doctor looked at the blockage he reported it was too severe and Curt would be moved by ground ambulance to the heart hospital in Sioux Falls.

It is Monday evening and he is resting comfortably before his 6:30 AM multiple bypass surgery.

We are thankful this was all caught early. It is very scary to know there is a 90% blockage, a 70-80% blockage and a 50% blockage. We are learning much about the heart & heart surgery.

I will post tomorrow evening after the surgery.

First Tomatoes from the Garden

A friend told me about a 'teaspoon tomato' plant. It isn't available at many green houses or nurseries. In fact, I have only seen it once. So this year I decided to try growing the interesting plant. If you look at the center of the photo, you can see the little green orbs attached to a stem. This photo was taken on June 26th.

On July 18th, some of the teaspoon tomatoes were beginning to turn color.

Little buggers, aren't they?

Today it was time to pick tomatoes. That is the first lemon tomato of this season, and the first grape tomatoes of the year (they are on the left) and the first 'teaspoon' tomatoes ever.

You can understand how they get their name. Wouldn't they look cute and colorful in a summer salad?

Red Hats on the Trolley

This afternoon I joined a Red Hat group (I'll have to get the chapter name) and rode the trolley. I thought I took a picture of everyone alongside the trolley, but only two pictures downloaded when I got home. Oh well, such is life.

There were about 20 of us. This was the first gathering I was able to attend all summer. The trolley driver did not give any narration, so the ride was just so-so. Good thing the windows opened as the humidity was about the same number as the temperature. Hot and High! Ahhhh, summer in SD.

Our Last Day with Willa

Not only was Grandpa the photographer today, but he also did most of the Willa day care 'cause I was out shopping. Again. Shopping for me and for Willa.

Willa and grandma having a conversation...

and some laughs...

and still more cooing...

Rocco and Willa

Backyard

Our daughter-in-law has done an amazing job creating a colorful oasis in their backyard. She had a rainbow of flowers blooming at different times of the growing season providing little splashes of color and interest. I have truly enjoyed sitting at the kitchen table admiring her creativity with perennials.

Thursday with Willa

Willa went out for breakfast this morning. Willa wasn't happy with the change in her routine. To show how disgusted she was, the only way she would sleep for any length of time was when she was assured she was held. It was grandpa duty this afternoon...

It wasn't a hardship though...

she looks quite content in my opinion. That's one way of wrapping grandpa around her finger!

More Wednesday Pictures for Auntie

Willa is telling you how much she loves her outfit and how much she will enjoy the Gophers!

She loves to stick out her tongue. Grandma's attempt at 'staging'.

Go Gophers!

M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A

YEA! Gophers!

She knows the cheer...

Wednesday Pictures with Willa

Auntie: These are for you.

We'll try more 'Little Gopher' shots today. This one is after the diaper change, ready for a nap, but need a bit of milk before I'll do anything else for you, including smile!

My 'job' this week was to find the onesies that still fit, thus all the outfit changes and photos. It's a tough job and quite a responsibility this grandparent business. But somebody has to do it!

Tuesday Willa Pictures

It was bath time for Willa last night.

She could see her feet. Willa was very intent watching her foot move up and down along the edge of the sink.

Then mom put soap in her hair and laid her back in the water to rinse. Not happy about that move!

She was in a much better mood once she was back to sitting up in the sink.

And for those of you wondering if I ever get to hold her, this is it...when she is hungry and wants to be fed, NOW! She tracked grandpa and the camera, but wasn't about to let go of the bottle and give him a smile.

Her hand grasped the bottle, but she isn't ready to hold it herself. Nap time...

Monday Willa Pictures

Willa is 11 weeks old and we are spending another week getting to know her. Today we got brave and took Willa along when we met Jerry & Linda for lunch. It was good timing as she had been fed, changed and was ready for a long nap. She slept all through our 2 1/2 hour visit! But when she woke, it was time to get out of the car seat, get changed and fed, now! Luckily we were only 10 minutes from the house. We thought we might do a little shopping after the feeding, but she did not appreciate getting back in the car seat. Maybe tomorrow...

Here are some pictures from today:

She had just been changed so had a clean, dry diaper. She loves taking to somebody, in this case grandma.

When it is time to eat, it is time NOW. She wasn't happy with grandma because the bottle wasn't ready.

Much better after the bottle! I have the camera in front of my face so often, she has started tracking the camera!

When Rocco got close to the action this afternoon, she watched him as he moved from one side of the blanket to the other. Rocco thought grandpa should play with him, not Willa.

She would grasp the bib and found it got in the way when she tried to put her hand in her mouth. She pulls it up into her face, but doesn't pull it off her face, yet. She was really watching grandpa on this one.

After all that playing, it was nap time. I can hear snoring and I don't think it is Willa or Rocco!

More Flowers from my Yard

I am posting some more flower pictures today. These were taken before we had the weeks of hot temps and high humidity.

My friend Diane helped me select the varied pink colors of impatiens for the display in the front of the house. Although it is on the west side, there is very little direct sunlight due to the large silver maple trees that provide much appreciated summer shade to the house and yard. Diane also convinced to  plant many impatiens very close together. Thanks for the hint Diane, because this is the best the impatiens have looked, ever!

I think I finally found the right plants to put in this cool cup and saucer planter from Kari, a Mother's Day gift several years ago. I've tried quite a number of different flowers, but the impatiens are doing the best. It helps that they are on the north side of the house and do not get any direct sunlight.

This was the flower planter I put together based on the color of the coleus. The yellow daisy-like flowers with the dark purple centers looked just right with the coleus and the deep purple sweet potato vine. This was the first group of flowers I bought in April when the temps were in the 70s and before we had 3 weeks of below normal temps for May. But they all survived.

The 'new' green rimmed pink petunias are also a summer hit. That planter looks really good with the matching pink 'double' petunia plant and the ice plant for contrast.

I brought the hibiscus home from AZ this spring. It has faithfully produced one bloom on its spindly stem. I noticed this week, there are several buds and the spindly stem is beginning to look like a real plant. It will make the journey back to AZ, if I can keep it alive in October and November.

It is a Willa week next week so look for probably daily posts of our favorite grand daughter.