Welcome to my Med World!! I'm so glad you are back home. Paul might be able to get back home tomorrow but all that is kind of iffy with this weather. Keep me on that short list if you guys needs some "meals on wheels." I hope and pray you are now out of the woods so to speak. You looked really good when I saw you and thank you and Sue for the info you gave me. I'll fill you in on what I found out when I see you. Love you!
Ronnie

You have to get well enough so I can come and visit!!! I have been dying to see you, missing our late evenings at school catching up on all of the news when there is no one left in the building :)

Thinking of you and knowing things are going in the right direction and so thankful and happy for that. Your in good hands spiritually and physically :) Your like the tulips that make their way back. Don't rush it, you will be home blooming and spreading your incredible sunshine soon. I miss that here at school. But all in good time.
Kris T.

thinking POSITIVE!!!!! hope the echo brings the news that sends you home today! deb c

I have been praying for you and your great big caring heart, Lor. Keep up the positive vibes and I will try to get by to see you soon. Please know that many people are thinking and praying for you every day. Get home before the snow.... Love ya!!!
Candy

positive is up Lori and for all those that are aring for you. The kids say so too. Carolyn

Have I told you lately.....YOU ARE AMAZING! Continue to be strong and positive! Many prayers and lots of H.O.P.E. (thanks Susie) coming your way! Love ya..........Me.

Hello again, Lori,

I just read your post to my guestbook. Thank you for the information. You are the second person to tell me they did not need the Incision Shield. I will take your advice and wait. Thank you for your words of encouragement. I am looking forward to my surgery as a positive thing, knowing I will feel much better after I have it and recuperate. All will work out and will be good! I will be following your posts as you continue to recuperate. Take care!

Tia Phillips

Hi Lori,

I am glad to hear you are continuing to do well. It is good the dr. is making sure everything is well before sending you home. I hope you will be home and continuing to recuperate and relax. You have such wonderful husband, family, and friends. You are blessed. I'm sure you miss your students. At least you get a break from IEP's and other paperwork. Take care!

Tia Phillips

Hey Lori,

I was wondering how much 770cc's came out to be....when my brother's lung collapsed years ago he had fluid surrounding it pushing it down and it was 2 liters. Crazy how that accumulated so fast. I am glad to hear you are doing much better and taking your time. KP let us know you looked great and were doing good when she say you. Let me know when you are home again....food is waiting for you! :) talk to you soon

Wow!!! I can't believe that they pulled that much fluid out from around your heart! No wonder you didn't feel good & was sluggish. That explains a lot. Wishing you bright skies & butterflies. Ignore the snow stories that they have for the next several days. ~Grace

So sorry Lori you have had this set back, but so glad they found it and took care of it quickly. Did Deb's tell you that we have another friend having the same done, but is at Northwester. She had complications also. Our best to you. Get home and begin healing. You'll get there! Carolyn Carlson

lori, so glad that you are feeling better. i can 'hear it in your voice' through your typing. it is amazing that having your own pillow makes any bed or place feel more like home. keep putting one foot in front of the other. i so appreciate you keeping all of us informed about your journey. be kind to yourself! hugs! deb c

Hoping today finds a new strength, peace and joy in your heart (and valve....lol) ! Love ya BFF!

Greetings, dear Lori. Hope you did, indeed, have a good sleep last night, since you had your pillow with you :) I WAS wondering just how much fuid they had taken out and was amazed to realize that it was almost a liter. No wonder you are feeling so much better again! Have I mentioned b/4 that I really like this journal? Being able to daily check on your progress is just great. Tell me about your Nook (or is it a Kindle?) that Deaf/HH chipped in for. Like it? Been able to read any good books?

lin

Lori,
Glad you are feeling better!
Tina

*singing and signing with The Black Eyed Peas* I got a feeling that tonight's a good night!!!!!!

Wahoo! Glad you are feeling better.

-June

Hi Lori,

I am sorry to hear about the problems that sent you back to the hospital. I am glad you found out what was causing your low energy. It sounds like you are on the mend. You have a wonderfully positive attitude. Your sister sounds great. What would we do without family? You are in my thoughts and prayers. Continue recuperating well!

Tia Phillips

Hii with hugs, I always keep you in my prayers. UPS and DOWNS are very normal in your everyday's life.I know it is very very hard for you but you have your "champ and positive" attitude going on. Hang in there and go with the flow with everything you do daily. Hey, you guys have plenty of food coming in to your home. Nice!!! You will have my Beef Brisket meal after Super Bowl!!! Look forward to getting them and eating them too. Yummy!!! Deb K.

Lori....I am so glad that you are feeling better! Remember one day at a time and keep thinking positive! You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers each day.

Dana R :)

When I first read you were back in the hospital it was quite a surprise! I talked to Al. The first thought I had was that the heart is a muscle and a damaged muscle collects fluid. So that made sense. I'm so glad they found this and could help you. You are in my prayers and I know you are going to recover from this. Let me know when you need me...I'll be there. Love you!
Ronnie

Oh Lori,
I am so happy that you know & listen to your body. You are really blessed to have Sue & Al there at you side watching over you too.Thank God that you got that fluid drained from around your heart & you're now feeling better. I always hold you in my heart & prayers. Grace

Hi Lori!
Keep thinking positive and all things will continue to improve. My thoughts and prayers are ongoing......
Tina

I've been thinking about you everyday and reading your updates, Lori. Ups and downs are to be expected....as long as there are more ups we're on the way home! Keep the faith...I'm channeling my energies to you!

Susan C

Lori,

I hope you are resting up and are home and everything is beating along as it should.

I wanted to tell you that our 1st period P.E. boy is redoing his swimming and I interpreted this morning. He was laughing and playing around during free time and generally enjoying himself. He does make my day brighter.

Best, Pat Dragisic

Hi to Lori! I'm so sorry to hear about the fluid buildup. Glad to hear that it's been fixed. But revisiting ICU isn't fun! My best wishes go out to you that this is the last small complication, and all that will be left is SMOOTH SAILING.

As far as energy level...Lori, I was a ZOMBIE for 3-4 weeks after my surgery!! So don't fret too much about having no energy. I had none, either, and normally I'm the energizer bunny! Could barely get off the couch. But that passes, and all of a sudden, you will feel better...I'm certain of it! Keep your good attitude, and the body will follow!

Hey Lori,
So glad to hear that your procedures relieved your symptoms and has brought your appetite back. You are a Super-Wakat :) I wonder if I can make that into a t-shirt?! Keep working at resting up and taking it one day at a time. Hope to hear from you soon.
Courts

Hang in there dear friend. I can't wait to see you tomorrow. Your determination continues to AMAZE me........talk to you soon! Love ya

Aw, poor Lor. But actually, I am glad it was only pericardial effusion, because that explains the fatigue and lack of appetite. And it's easy to solve! Let's just hope it doesn't come back.

I have had PE twice; the first time, the excess water just dissipated into my body. I have it again and am due for another echo to see how it's going. Your situation has caused me to vow to call the doc tonight to set up an appt. So thanks for that!

I look forward to hearing that you are back home and rapidly improving.

Deaf/HH misses you!

lin

Hi, Lori,
What a day for you! Have a friend who's had the cardiac conversion when in dfib, and it worked fine too, but am glad your symptoms were relieved with the draining of fluid. An appetite is always a good sign:) so hope you'll be back home reading and walking by the time you read this. Love, Barb

Lori,
We miss you but we know you're working hard on recovering! Definitely 2 steps forward and one step back but that's exactly the dance we want to see you doing! It means a stronger recovery for you!!! Keep thinking positive and we're thinking of you always! HUGS!
Kathy My-house-key

Hi Lori,
Whew, glad to hear that your whole team is on top of what's going on each step of the way to full recovery and to know that you are still headed in the right direction. What's that phrase we are seeing more and more?...Stay calm and carry on!

Karen

Well, that sounds like a heck of a day! Glad you are feeling better now. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers...

Linda

Your last blog spoke of Energy--- it has been 3 days without an entry.

Hmm... has the energy hit you hard?
Or is it that you have more energy now and no time for blogging? I chose the latter!

I had envisioned you watching daytime soap operas, reading several books already on your nook, and taking hundreds of mini walk around the house.

Hang in there, girl! One day at a time!

- June

Hi Lori - i am going into hospital to have a mitral valve replacement in 2 1/2 weeks and your journal has inspired me and given me a boost. i was very happy to see that the pain that some people write about is not a 24 hr a day thing.
I feel for you with all the medication, i also have rhumatoid arthritus and i take 6 pills a day for that, so i am not looking forward to all the others as well - take care heartfully yours
Marjorie

Holey buckets. Glad to see you are on the mend. Keep the faith. Tim T

Dear Lori,
Prayers and wishes continue on their way to you since learning about your surgery. So grateful to know you are making wonderful progress. You have always been an amazing person and an inspiration. With support and warmest regards, Jo Anne Gebbie

Hi Lori...
It's me Courtney! Just being a pest :) Nothing new and exciting to report here. We have 2 games tonight vs. Wheaton 200- Talk to you soon.

Hello Lori,

Been keeping tabs on you thru work, thru Deb. C. actually. She connected me with your blog info. Lori, you are doing great. My brother had this in Aug. last year. You had your health before, you're progressing right along, and when you have healed more, you will feel better than before. But for right now, take it one day at a time. You will get where you are going! Stay positive! Take care, Kathleen Kaegebein ( HS Cafeteria)

Aw, Lor...your energy WILL come back. Please don't get discouraged. Each day just do your "homework" i.e. walk, rest, eat well, take all those meds, and healing will follow!
Thank you so much fir your heart journal. I check every day and say a prayer!

Everyone at South misses you!
lin

Hi Lori,
Keith and I are keeping you in our prayers and really looking forward to visiting you! Good job of keeping up with your walking and hopefully each day you are experiencing a little more strength. Sounds like a hard job keeping track of your daily pills, the chart idea sounds great and it's right up your artistic alley. You can decorate it with fun scrapbook stuff! We'll see you soon...... Love you! Julia

Hi Lori-I'm Deb's mom. Sorry we haven't met yet. Very sorry you have had to go through this, but glad they were able to do the surgery and you are doing this well. Recuperating must be terribly frustrating. It is hard to take it day by day.

Deb comes home every day with a story of your class. She is enjoying them.

My best wishes are with you. You're not missing anything outside except a touch of fresh air and cold!

Carolyn

Lori, we will walk as many laps as you need us to!

As Bob said, "Baby steppin' baby steppin'..."

Hugs! Deb C :)

Hi Lori,
We are a few days apart. I am trying to hit the mall today to do a bit of walking.
For the pills_ I was so over whelmed. I bought little pill bags and put a date and AM or PM on each one.
Then I filled the bags as needed- which to take every 12 hours, which every day, which only for 7 days. Then I just needed to pull out the packet each AM and PM and not worry which was which.. it worked for me and i hope it can help you
take care
susan

Hi Lori,
Following your journal and your progress. You are truly amazing! Baby steps will turn into leaps in no time. Keep up the good work. Paulette and Niko are taking good care of us in the mailroom!

Kathy Phillip

Hey Lori,
Just wanted you to know that I'm keeping up with your journal. Sounds like you are making great progress! Daytime TV is a joke, so I hope you've got a good book or two to keep you interested in between naps. Take care.

Jan Blum

Hey Lori.....

FOOD is here!! Deb would like to drop it off this afternoon. Soup, Turkey Chili, Chicken Bake, and Turkey Brgers to start off. :) Let me know if that is okay! Have a great day. Miss ya
Court

So girl.... what daytime tv shows have you developed liking for?

Nap throughout the day, oh how nice it sounds! One word-- RELAXING!!!!!

One day at a time, you will be bouncing around before you know it.

-June

Lori,

You are truly my hero!!! Home already, on the road to complete recovery! You are incredible! Continue to be strong and patient throughout this whole process ... it'll all be worth it!! You go, girl!!

Meg HF

Hey Lori,

Just thinking of you.....

So proud of you as you continue to be so strong. I know this road will be long, but your steps are very sure. I am so happy you are surrounded with so much love. Know that we are thinking and talking about you every day. Thank you for sharing so much, you are amazing!!!

Hoping to find my way there very soon;)


We Love You

Sean, Lori, Sara, Jack and Scot