Colette's Journal

Yippee! First day back to work yesterday. I can't believe I have been away almost 5 months! It was so nice to see everyone and so nice to be missed. Very sweet everyone went easy on me and didn't overload my desk. Much appreciated. Had a really good day but was surprised that four hours of work resulted in a significant afternoon nap. :) Oh well slow and steady will win the race. Thanks Dwayne for busting me responding to work emails. I promise I will behave :) well most of the time unless we have any crazy road permits at the 11th hour. HEHEHE Went to Cardio Rehab today and pleasantly surprised that my heart is becoming for efficient. I am sure next week Whitney is going to ramp up my routine to ensure I drip with sweat before I leave. Looking forward to work again tomorrow morning. Everyone has been so sweet and understanding I am very humbled by it all. :) The snow white song Hi Ho Hi Ho keeps playing in my head. Love it.

Yesterday I headed into St. Paul's with my parents for a follow up with the surgeon. It was nice to go back and send thank you's to the staff in the ICU, Cardiac Ward and of course my surgeon. The crew is just amazing. A few tears of thanks. Dr. Ye is amazing. The surgeon would like to send me for an ultrasound in September to check the pressure again around the valve as the last test was a little high. But could be a technical error so he would like me to have the scan performed at St. Paul's. Still working out the low iron, blood pressure and high heart rate. Adjusting the meds again as the heart rate is still running a little high and it should have dropped by now. But it might be part due to the low iron. On a good note, the valve and hole no longer leak. And I am getting stronger all the time. Highlight yesterday was walking with my parents in north Burnaby prior to the appointment to ensure I got my cardio done. Great walk. Can almost keep up with mom. She motors. Had to leave them cleaning salmon as I was too worn out. Felt a little guilty leaving them with such a mucky job. My boys have been away for three days camping and the house is a little too quiet. I hear they are on their way back now. Bring on the laundry. I wonder if they caught anything? I have a feeling we will have more than enough fish to take us into next year. :)

Still on the mend but beginning to think of work again. At least looking for work outfit ideas on Pinterest. Must be a good sign. :) I see the cardiologist at the end of this coming week and hope he has some insight into my blood pressure issues. 78/59 is just a little too low for my liking. I am back into working out YAH ME. So still moving forward...its a good thing. My goal was to exercise every day this week and I only missed one day. Not bad. Spent a great day with the family at the water park, hence the day i didn't exercise. The kids had a blast and we adults got to visit lots. Glad we had a shady spot. Well challenge this week is to work out everyday and try to hit the gym 3 times. :) Won't quit till I am fit :)

Well a few steps forward and a few back. The news is that I have iron deficient anemia. No hard workouts for this week permitted. Just iron pills and a little more blood work later in the week. Doctor says I can take some light strolls but most importantly I should learn to love afternoon nap. Oh I think I can definitely learn to love that. :) No problem.

Wow I can't believe how long it has been since I have been on this journal. Just to update everyone. I am now physically active with the exercise program at the Abbotsford Rec Centre. The program is tied into the Abbotsford Hospital Cardiologist. I go twice a week early mornings and undertake 30 minutes cardio, 30 min weights and 30 minutes core and stretching. We had to adjust some meds but the heart rate and blood pressure have responded well. We are hooked up to heart monitors and are using amazing equipment. I think I am in heaven. The staff and other patients are awesome. It's only the end of week two but I can't say enough about how great it is. All the other days I am working in a walk for about 2.5 km, and really notice that my speed is picking up... at least on level ground. The blood work for the blood thinners is still a challenge as I ate WAY too much basil this weekend and dropped my INR value too low. I have to keep away from vitamin K while I am on Warfarin and had no idea basil was a no no. Opps. Husband and son are doing well, though it must be hard staying in town all summer as we are so used to sitting at a lake or ocean somewhere. We have been going to Cultus Lake but wow is it busy. OMG the blood lab was hilarious this week. The neighbour who happens to be one of the staff at the clinic was killing herself laughing as she almost shouted out across the room full of people."How's REHAB going" Hilarious. I told her I would have responded that I have fallen off the wagon. I love those girls hilarious. Well hope everyone is still enjoying this fantastic weather. Drop me a line on my guestbook. Would love the company.

Started the Cardio rehab education YAH moving onward and upward. I have an appointment for the 24th for the physical test to see if I am able to start the exercise portion of the program. Fingers crossed. Had a lovely visit with the family at the longshoreman's picnic. Too bad it was so brief but I find I tire out in the sun. But still so nice to see the family and baby Harvard for the first time. SOOOOOO cute! I also had Terri and Barb from work stop by with a spa gift and get well card from Engineering. Once again you guys timed it perfect. And you guys are a hoot. I laughed my butt off. Boy I miss you all! Friday and Saturday were a little slower as I was a bit worn out but that's ok. Sunday got a really good walk in so I am back up and running. Well walking LOL Very happy for the weather to have cooled a little. I think we all needed it to clean the air a little. Hope everyone is enjoying the summer thus far.

Well it has been 7 weeks now since my surgery and I am finally allowed to drive. Nothing like having a little freedom back :). And it feels pretty good. I actually went to the mall and bought a couple of shirts and shorts as it has been so hot here. Drove myself for blood work and picked up chicken for dinner. Of course followed by a rest on the recliner. I can see the errand list beginning to shift my way again. Good news is that it is nice and cool early in the morning and I am able to get a 2km walk in before the heat takes over. And our small dog Scottie and I seem to walk at the same pace. Golden oldies are still lapping us but I gain some speed when walking down hill. It's also the start of my Cardio rehab program on Monday. I hope I pass the stress test so that they can get me moving on some gym equipment. Gotta keep moving. Best part of my week was having dinner at Cultus Lake with hubby and son and watching them kayaking. That did wear me out a bit but I think it must have been the heat. Lesson learned this week....stay away from anything salty like those oh so good potato chips....apparently I turn into a blow fish and spent two days trying to get rid of the water retention. Going to have to find a new weakness to replace my moments of insanity for something salty. Maybe a healthy chocolate iced desert??? Thanks Mom and Dad I think they are going to do the trick. As long as I can keep the boys from devouring the box in one night.

So nice to see everyone at work today while we were in to pay our taxes. Boy I miss you all. Can't wait for my visit with Barb and Terri in a few weeks. Hopefully they let me do some house cleaning before you come :) We have a few appointments and tests this week and I am hoping they might let me drive or start rehab after our appointment with the cardiologist next week. Fingers crossed. My pace is really beginning to look a bit closer to normal during my walks this week. We had a little BBQ for my Dad and Kedan (nephew) at Cultus Lake and Craig after working a long night came home took care of it all. Really meant alot to spend some time with the family and Aunt Shirley before she returns to Winterpeg :) Funny thing...every time I see a City Truck I am like a dog with a ball...oooooh there's a truck ....look at the truck....I wonder what their up to......I wonder who's working....SERIOUSLY I think I need a hobby.

Just wanted to say thanks to my good friends. Wade who ran me to the blood clinic. Craig your myth is busted I can walk two flights of stairs :) and my good friend Shelina who took me to walk the Vedder River (picture). Love the conversations and the company. :) :) :)

I have happened to see a few friendly faces from work in my neighborhood on my daily walks the last few days and it was so nice to catch up with them. Craig has been taking me for walks on nice level ground on his days off and we got to visit Cultus Lake this week. Picture attached. OMG just loved sitting on the dock with my feet in the water with a steamed milk with vanilla to keep me warm. Just awesome. My ability to stand up straight is improving and my walking is getting a little quicker. :) Beginning to panic a little bit a night but have a great meditation app that keeps the worry at bay. This anxiousness is fairly typical from what I have read but it is nice to know ahead of time that it can creep up on you. So I am armed well with my apps. :) Keeping busy writing thank you cards. Wow so many people to thank. Everyone's help has been amazing. Time for another walk and it looks like the sun is coming out Yippee!

I can't believe it has been three week since the surgery. Wow that went fast. It has been a very busy week with Doctor appointments and blood tests (that Warafin blood thinner). I feel like I know all the girls at the BC Bio Med :) The highlights of my week were my family coming out to visit and had become the best cleaning crew. I know Craig certainly appreciated coming home to a clean house after starting back to work. Thanks Mom Dad and Shirley. Essie and Lorna have also been helping out tremendously with the dogs and ferrying Duncan around to a job interview. Thanks so much. And it was a highlight to drop by work to pick up flowers that Formula M sent me see pictures attached. I have received so many lovely arrangements. It really brightens up my day. Loved seeing everyone at work. You guys are so sweet. I miss you guys and the lunch room banter. I will come and have lunch with you in the next few weeks. I can now walk for about a half an hour. Very slow pace mind you but still moving forward. Oh and I only sleep with 4 pillows now instead of 7 so making some progress. Dad was out yesterday taking me to the cardiologist and more blood work but it was awesome spending some time with him. Should do it more often. Maybe I will make it out to the rotary trail for a short walk this weekend. :) Yup that's the new goal for the week.

Tough little morning with incision pain and lots of sleeping today. Must have over did it yesterday. What made my day was beautiful flowers arriving today from work :) You timed it perfect.

It's been a couple of days at home now and just getting my bearings. My amazing husband purchased a recliner for me....slept in it the first night WOW the most comfortable chair ever. What a nice guy I have. The weather is beautiful and have managed walking to the driveway a couple of times today. Nicest person today at BC biomed gave me an early number than I chose from the machine so I was in and out of there in no time. Whoever this woman was, a big thank you. Almost made me cry. :)

The doctor came by and sprung me today! Just on our way home now. So good to be out! Amazing doctors and nurses at St. Paul's hospital! Feeling extremely thankful. Ps I am certain it was due to Auntie Pat coming by and bringing her lucky streak!

Had a much better day today. Just a little speed bump yesterday. Had nice visits today really broke up my day. They are adjusting the beta blocker and considering sending me home with a monitor. Learning about warfarin and INR as well. Thanks for the homemade cookies Shane and the lovely figure Uncle Rick and Aunty Pat. Luck is. Moving up as I won $15 on the scratch from mom and dad! :)

Today things are looking much better .Must be the sunshine. So we are just waiting for the blood to thin a little more and the heart rate is down to 93 this morning. I finally broke the 100 barrier. Beginning to feel much better. Beta blockers must be finally kicking in. :)

Thanks for the kind thoughts that help me on the rough days. I did have a nice visit from Mom and Dad and Uncle Rick and Pat on the patio yesterday. So nice to see them:) Made my day. Jeff came by and had me in stitches last night. :) Tomorrow will be another day. Col

So today was a little hard. Looks like I might be here until Monday:( Rough to be away from home but it could always be worse . It's really been only a week so far. Craig has been amazing and bought me some new roots pants and shirt and helped me shower again. Feeling a lot better. Time for Craig to head home and take a break and spend some time with Duncan. Still on the right side of the dirt ;)

Tough morning running out of spots to poke and place Ivies. Not looking good for getting sprung out of here :(. Old timers are lapping me in the hallway. If I could trip them I might get ahead briefly.

Well much more progress today. Got the wires (jumper cables lol) pulled off the heart today. Dan and Lindsey came for a visit with a few treats in tow. Finally had a proper shower. Too bad I had the shower after my visitors. The best shower of my life I would say. Craig and Dan said flies were chasing me down the hall on my walks. lol Had to up the pain meds a little this afternoon, should have done it two hours ago but guess I am a little stubborn. Beginning to feel really good now. Craig has been a superstar. I really have an amazing husband who has just blown me away with his love care and generosity. Best thing I ever did was marry this man. Tears me up just thinking how amazing he has been. Mom and Dad thanks for the Tablouee today, totally hit the spot!! Times like this makes you have a whole new humbling appreciated for the wonderful family and friends in your life. You all have been so amazing and the support of the BFD continues to completely blow me away. Means so much to have the brothers and their families watching over us. XOXO