Great to see you are "Lucid" but I don't know about that Nancy, judging from your writing.:)
I will need your coaching...20 days to my big day!

Glad your back home. Now relax and don't overdue. Yes the recliner is your freind....lol....you are doing great.

Jennifer

Hi Nancy!

So happy to hear you are doing so well! I didn't have a recliner but if I ever have to go through it again, I'm getting one! Yes, a lot of pills. But they'll start to go away soon.

Glad Dick did well at Tiffanys!
Ricki

Hey Nancy,

Glad you are home and doing well. I still use my shower chair to sit in my bathroom,[ just not in the shower]. I use it to rest and dry off,
curl my hair etc. that way I am not standing so much.

I just got out some of my older looser bras to wear when I first got home.....worked fine.
I never felt like I had an elephant on my chest. You may be having angina....might want to see your cardiologist just to be safe.

Best of everything to you. I drove yesterday for the first time @ 5 weeks. Probably could have driven sooner except the A-fib drug made me quite sick. I still have not regained my pre-op appetite. The half-life of amiodarone is like 2 months I guess....so it is probably still in my system.

One day at a time. You will come back strong as ever!

Take care and glad you are on the other side

Pat Culley

Nancy - It's so glad to hear from you. I hope you are doing well and resting and walking when you can. Monday will be here before you know it..

That's great advice on the recliner...I am actually going to use this glider chair w ottaman we have in our sons room. Will use it with a wedge pillow. My recliner is the kind you have to put down with leg force and I am not sure I will be ready for that.

Keep us updated on how you are doing. Thinking about you!!

Jimmy

Good Morning Nancy.. so glad to read your recent post...So Happy to hear you are doing so great considering the surgery you just went through. So Happy to see your smiles in your photos... You are amazing... keep on doing what you are doing because it is working... love ya.
Deb, Ron & Rocky too... mmwwaaahhh

So happy you are doing so well. I knew you would. Your girls were wonderful updating us on your progress. Continued recovery, my friend. Love, Janis Kielbasa

Cuz is back, YAY!!!! Welcome back cuz, we missed you. So glad to see you are lucid. One day at a time my friend, slow and steady wins the race.

I actually swiped one of Janis' sport bras when she was out driving. Unfortunately, she found out and swiped it back when I was in ICU, something about needing to wear two at a time, go figure. So since then I have been enjoying the 'free and easy' life up top and can't help you with which bra anymore.

Be well.
-Mitch Friedman

Welcome back to the world. Those meds will keep u happy. Glad to hear Tiffany's worked out for you
All our love
Fred and Sue

Way to go Nancy!! Glad to have you back & lucid!

It must have been fate. When I rebuilt our master shower, I built in a bench. Guess I'm going to really apprecaite it.

Take it easy and heal well.

Chuck Holmgreen

Hi Nancy,

Welcome back, it is great to see your posts again!

Enjoy your recliner, now you have a reason to spend a lot of time in it.

Best wishes your your continued recovery! You will be back on the road/in the plane in no time.

John Lund

Girl...you are just too crazy! I mean really...Mitch, what kind of bra did you tell me to get???? Oh my...I just told Mitch I was gonna have to stay off the site after my surgery, he was gonna kill me. Now I have to add you to the list! Gotta love ya!

REALLY getting closer...Linda Dixon

Welcome back home Nancy. Love that recliner. I cant live without mine. Used it for my last surgery a long time ago. Anyway take it easy.
Until Later Linda H

Wonderful news!! So glad you are doing well.
Love you,
Nickol, Ernie, Patterson

Down in Florida with the Maurices who join me in sending love to you. Sounds like you are really making great progress. Dr. Herb says "take those naps- your body needs rest time for healing".
Marion and crew

Nancy
I hope you are doing great! I know you wont probably miss a beat...(heart humor) I am doing great! I hope to see you soon.

Kurt Mueller
Kurt's CARSTAR

Hey. How. R ya? The chair is great. Dick a big help. And everyone doing good left my aerator at hospital. They dont sell em Walgreen. Going back later today. To get it - Chest still very heavy. No real pain. Love being home. Talk soon I hope. Nanc.

Hi non cuz. Thinking of you. Hope all is going well. I know how nice it is to be home. Welcome home, again. Take it slow. Speak to you soon.

- Non Cuz

How wonderful is that!!!! Many naps, that is the name of the game and recovery period. So glad she is home, and thank you both for this update. Regards to all.
Cynthia & Richard

Such great news....the healing will really begin now. It is soooo wonderful to be home again. God bless you Nancy....praying for a speedy recovery. You are well on your way...Jamie Todor

Mazeltov, Congratulations, Etc.
Love, Fred and Sue

Welcome Home. And, Happy Valentines day from all of us who love you. M & H

Wow, what a way to remember you "coming home" date!! Valentines Day - with an improved Heart.

Can't BEAT that!! (sorry, bad joke).

Glad to hear you've made it home.

Chuck Holmgreen

Welcome Home Nancy!!!!

Enjoy the comforts of home and your beloved family BUT don't overdo!!!

Ricki

Happy Valentine's Day Nancy. What a wonderful gift! Glad to hear you are home. Wishing you a speedy painless recovery. God Bless, Love - Jill & Jim

Yay Nancy, home sweet home!! Take care and Happy Valentine's Day to you with your practically brand new heart!!!
Getting closer...Linda Dixon

Great News! Happy Valentines to all.


The Deitz Family

HOME!!!! That is my favorite word in any HVJ!! Way to go cuz!!!! Welcome Home!!!

Of course, Happy Heart day too. Now this day has special menaing for all of us that have been fixed. You are one of the newest members of this club. Welcome to it. Enjoy this amazing day of hearts. Rest, relax. And don't do like I did, no going out to dinner tonight or tomorrow night. Learn from your non-cuz, if you take it easy and give yourself the time and space to heal, you will do fine. If you don't, you will add to the time it takes to recover.

Be well and enjoy your recliner.
-Mitch Friedman

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, NANCY
Great reporting and so happy that each day you get better and stronger. You are special, Nancy - will check on you when you get home.
Your favorite cuz (?) Joni

Nancy - Happy Valentine's day one day in advance! I'm sure tomorrow will be doubly special now. Hope your recovery continues to go well and you're up and at 'em in no time. Look forward to reading your posts ASAP! Will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Dick Miller

Hi Nancy, great talking with you, you sound great! Whew!!!!! Aren't you glad that's over? Now on to recovery and getting back to living without the anxiety of OMG I have to have open heart surgery! Take it easy when you get out, let everyone pamper you and...no playing in the snow!!!
Take care and hugs to you!
Your friend...Linda Dixon

Hi Nancy What a great valentines present to your family. You take care and go slow. Hope all goes ok for you.
Until Later Linda H

Great speaking with you today Nancy. You sounded great! Just saw you are staying one more day. Enjoy the pampering.
Jeff Shebovsky

For some reason that extra day will make all the difference in the world. Besides, it will be a great Valentines Day gift to the family!! In my prayers

Robert Hartner

Well, Feb 14 sounds like the PERFECT day to go home -- What a Valentine's present.

Hang in there, Nancy. It gets better. :-)

I'd like to say that the entry below is only because Nancy is on a pretty high dose of pain killers. But it's not. :)

Linda (the daughter)

Ok. Here go. To all go you is big heart/s smack Kiss for thanks for keeping kids on tap. For keeping dick on tract & for all the great thoughts & for everything you did & didn't do that i knew about. Lov u all. Great. Girls - boys & famiky& extended Fsmily.

I come home Tuesday. Fun. Stiill hard htd type. More later. U know that.

Linda,Jeff Mitch Jane Janie Janis john chuck andalusia else who's payers were found on my store step. Loved em. Sorry for the poor typing.

I shall.return Stay tuned Xxxxx

We are so happy to hear that your recovery is going so well. Sounds like the extra day in the hospital was a wise choice. No rush to get home. The cleaning, cooking and laundry will just have to wait!
Love and hugs, Marion & Herb

Hi Nancy
I have just asked Es to come up with something appropriate for this email, it is obvious now that he can't, all of his suggestions are unrepeatable here. But suffice to say you would be laughing now if I had the nerve to type it all up.
Well my dear I am so pleased you have recovered so wonderfully from your op and I am happy to hear you will be going home soon.
As soon as you are well I think a phone call is in order, let me know. Wishing you well and sending you lots of love, Lynne, Eric and the boys xxxx

Great news Dr accepted bribe from Dick to delay the start to his nursing days by one extra day!! -Mitch Friedman

Good decision...Nancy doesn't need to rush. Besides, I saw on the weather channel this morning that the weather in St. Louis is not good today. Home will still be there tomorrow! Enjoy an extra day of being taken care of. Keep up the good work!

Getting closer...Linda Dixon

Nancy,

After the mountain you've been over, this extra day doesn't even amount to a pebble in the road.

Think happy thoughts and you'll be flying high in no time.

Chuck Holmgreen

Staying another day sounds better. Nancy should feel fairly strong before going home. I stayed 6 nights, could have gone home after 5, but didn't feel strong enough. Don't let anyone rush you. You do not want to land back in the hospital.

Been reading all the posts to see how Nancy is doing. Thank you so much for all the updates. Glad everything is progressing well. Nancy will be up in no time as long as she takes it slow!

Pat Culley
AVR, Thoracic aortic aneurysm repair
1/10/12
UCLA

Damn!
Fred and Sue

You are doing so well. Glad to hear you will be coming home soon. Your kids did an excellent job updating us. Sending prayers and good thoughts your way as you continue your recovery!! Janis K.

So happy you are doing so well. An extra day's rest in the hospital is good . . . I took an extra day and was happy I did.

Keep walking and using that spirometer. Your spirometer is your new best friend (for a while.)

Have a great last day in the hospital!
Ricki

Good advice from the doctor! An extra day can make a big difference. Nancy is doing well, nothing wrong with being careful, she will be up and running around soon enough!

John Lund

Way to go Nancy!! Thrilled to hear you are going home to start healing process.

Hopefully being at home will give you a much better quality of rest to help you kick the healing into high gear!!

Congratulations Nancy!

Chuck Holmgreen.

Wow Nancy, you guys sure are settting the bar high for me!!! That is wonderful! You are my new hero! Take care, enjoy home and don't overdo! Hugs to you!
Getting close...Linda

Yay!!!! Way to go non cuz. Way to show everyone how it is done!!!! You are my idol.

I almost went home Sunday night from my Thurs surgery, then my complications hit. In hindsight, I am glad they did because it served me the piece of humble pie I needed to better understand recovery. Keep in mind what we discussed, take it S-L-O-W and you will continue to show us all how it is done through recovery. -Mitch Friedman