Karen's Journal

Dave, Kristie, Kathie, Jon, Rhonda and I will be leaving in about 10 minutes for Tacoma General. Just wanted to send lotsa love to all of you. Have a super day and continue reading the saga. Talk to you soon. :-)

My daughter, Kathie, got here about 30 minutes ago so I\'m giving her in-service on how to be able to keep my journal going while I\'m under the influence of drugs. The other 3 will be trickling in as the day wears on. I\'m still pretty much at Peace and know that God is totally in control. Thank you again for all the love you\'ve shown and your notes. Love, karen Each of your prayers and well wishes will a piece of the \"fabric\" that will bring me to a complete and thorough recovery.

Here it is less than 48 hours that we head to the hospital. It all still seems like one of those dreams you hope you wake up from and say, \"Whew, glad that was only a dream.\" But alas I know that it is a reality and it will soon come to pass. I\'m trying to look on the positive. I WILL feel better--but--I have the healing that has to transpire first. I have so appreciated Adam\'s blog, book, and reading others journal. Each story is so special and helps give insight to what I might encounter. I know that the stories are all different, but we all have a poignant common bond. Appreciated my sister, Joyce and hubby John coming over today to spend a couple of hours. Have a good night\'s sleep and may God watch over you and keep you.

The day started going to get the Ultra Sound on the carotid arteries, met with the pre-opt lady to get all the information (again) have the operation explained to us, met with PT, practiced blowing into the Spirometer, met with an anthesiologist (spelling), had blood draws and had a chest exray. WOW what an array of tests and info. Not long after we got home my sister, Joyce and her daughter, Sue came by for a little while. Then my cousin, Colleen and her husband, Mike came and she fixed homemade chilli and cornbread for dinner. Colleen, once again, beat me in a game of Scrabble. Then it was time for them to say good by and we had a lot of hugs. Next time we see each other I will have a new healthy heart. Blessings to each of you that read this. Thanks again for the notes, kind words and prayers. luv each of u. Good Night dear ones, karen

Good Evening. Here I\'m sitting in my new \'raspberry cream\' colored chair. It\'s very comfortable and I know that it will be a real blessing when I get home from the hospital. The day has been quiet and uneventful. Tomorrow I go get the Carotid Duplex and chest X-ray. Then head out for pre screening and pre admit. Later my cousin and hubby will come to visit. A couple of games of Scrabble should help occupy my mind--especially if she shows some mercy. Thanks again for the notes and love you send me. Hugs to each of you. K..

Just wanted to say once again that I love the notes. It\'s interesting that unless you \'sign\' your name I have to sometimes read between the lines to figure who it is from. LOL. An unventful day. Thank you for the phone calls today Kathie, Kristie and Rhonda. You all are so so special and I am so blessed to have such an awesome family. Also had a call from the hospital reminding me about the appointments I have tomorrow. Each phone call and/or reminder brings me to a point of \'reality\'. I\'ll be glad to be on the \"other side\" and on the road to recovery. Hugs to all my friends and family. Probably will write more later.

I\'m doing okay, but I do know why my doctor said that he didn\'t want me to do too much. Kathie came by this morning and she helped me purge a few things from my closet and SHE loaded up her car to make a Goodwill deposit later today. Thank you so much for all your help, Kathie. Then I went and got a hair trim and stopped at Walgreen\'s. Dave and I then went to Costco grazed and did a little shopping. I got to second guessing my decision about the chair so talked Dave into going back to Lazy-Boy and checking out the chair again. It\'s being delivered tomorrow. :-) Then off to Subway at WalMart for take out and home to eat. Played a little Bingo Blitz on the computer and \'Words with Friends\" where my cousin is showing no mercy for my puniness. LOL After I got my second wind I did a little more purging. And Dave kept scolding me. Now I\'m watching reruns of NCIS--feels good to relax. Now a note to my children--don\'t freak out I AM FINE. Have a great evening.

Today we went out and Dave decided to buy a \'lift\' recliner rather than rent one. Hopefully it will make getting up and down easier and less painful. Since I have not traveled this road before I\'ll let you know if it was a good decision. In reading some of the other journals so far I haven\'t seen this subject talked about. Have a great evening. Don\'t know if anyone is reading this but I rather like to think that some are.

Good Morning. I trust that your day is going well. I\'m not even sure why I\'m writing since, so far, this has been an uneventful day---which is a good thing. I just want to make this a habit to write something each day at least once. We still are \'shopping\' for a lift recliner so that may be on the agenda. I trust that each and every one of you have a super day and remember...\"YOU HAVE THE FAVOR OF GOD TODAY\".

I\'m told that the mitral valve may be repairable. If so then he will repair it and replace the aortic valve with a tissue valve. If both valves have to be replaced then he will use mechanical valves. I have real Peace about all of this. I know that God knows what is best. I pray for this same Peace to be yours. PS. Remember that the sweets are for the children tonight.

I just wanted to tell you I have the greatest sister in world. She has already traveled this road 4 years ago and is doing great. Joyce, John, Dave and I had lunch at Olive Garden today and then went and looked and tried out some recliner-lift chairs. We may rent or possibly buy one. I\'m enjoying the notes--thank you.

I\'ve been relatively healthy all my life and here at 75 years old I began having chest pressure, congestion, & weakness. After a few trips to the ER and doctors visits I was diagnosed with Aortic Valve Stenosis. After comparing my Angiogram and Echo, Dr. Graeve the Cardiac Surgeon decided I needed a TEE (gag) test. The first TEE test was unsuccessful so one week later I had a second attempt, which was a success (Thank Goodness). It also confirmed I needed my Mitral Valve also replaced. I\'ve only had three weeks to mentally prepare for Open Heart Surgery scheduled for Novemember 7, 2011. Yikes, one week to go. I\'ve decided for my \"last meal\" prior to surgery, I want Chinese. Not Dave\'s favorite, but hey this is all about me, right???