Virginia (Ginger) French  Trudy, No question God is listening to prayers and granting them. Elizabeth grits here today, which will be great!

Been out to see your new granddaughter yet?

Love you so much!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Bob, Thank you for being there. You are right that Jim picks up a lot. Glad Linda does too! Support is so essential, but so is accurate information!

We are taking a mini-recorder with us today when we meet with my valve surgeon. Then we can pick up anything we may have missed!

Thanks for the encouragement and you are also in my prayers and thought. May all go well for you.

Virginia (Ginger) French  Stace, You are such a great encourager and cheerleader for me. After yesterday's cath my weight limit is ten pounds! My purse weighs more than that! And I have even tried to thin it out.

Hope you are feeling great, too! This is Day 30 on the Count Up to 42. Feels great to be that far along and to look back and know those days were each making a difference in the grand scheme of things.

Feeling good, icing my Achilles' still, but that will eventually resolve. :o)

Hugs to you and Max, sweet angel!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Bless you, my dear sister! Slept great but wanted to sleep longer. Jim's alarm going off every half hour made it hard. C'est la vie!

Still waiting to see what Dr. S has to say and when surgery will be. Hope to have the time tonight!

Bunches of hugs and love!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Lynn,
Bless you for your warm thoughts and good wishes. So far so good and I'm looking forward to the days ahead, with positive expectations!
Love and hugs,
Ginger

Virginia (Ginger) French  Terrie,
Could not have gone much better today. Only the delays here and there made Jim concerned as to whether I was all right.
Looking forward to time with both the appointments tomorrow and knowing "The Plan".
Love you dear sister! Thinking of and praying for so many, but really want to know when there is news on little Mia!
Till tomorrow...

Virginia (Ginger) French  Bless you, Olga! I cannot tell you how very much I appreciate your praying for me and your encouragement, So far all is well.

May you keep thinking positively and learn enough not to have concerns by the time your surgery date is set and comes.
Love and hugs,
Ginger

Virginia (Ginger) French  Terrie,
It was a fine, easy going day - even with 11 tests, exams, and appointments to fit in! It really feels great to have today ending and we'll be able to relax a bit tonight!

Have BEE WELL sitting here where I can see her while I type and from my spot on the bed! Makes me think so much my newest Sister! :o)

Got to go! Calling for cath time!

Love you to pieces!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Stace & Max,
Figure there's a reason God gave us humor. It certainly helps to lighten the heart (small pun) if we can only remember not to take ourselves to seriously, and that He is in charge and, as a result, the people caring for us are under His control.

What He wills will be, so best not to get too wrapped up by whatever the current trial may be!

Love you Angel and that red bearded man of the house! Take care of you and I am looking forward to seeing you again soon. ;o)

Virginia (Ginger) French  Stace n Max,
Bless you dear ones. We are fine! Had a great dinner with friends who drove in 2 hours tonight. Have 11 appointments, treatments, and tests tomorrow starting at 6:45 AM. Could be a long day! But one more day up on the count! Feeling good, vertigo at bay, and praying it stays that way and the longer fast than my body usually tolerates does not become a problem.

Hugs to you both! Thought I heard Max drumming outside, then realized it was thunder! :D xoxoxox

Virginia (Ginger) French  Julia,
I appreciate your thoughts and encouragement. Getting close and certainly is something my body is in need of, so no questions there!

Hope you are continuing to recuperate at a pace you can tolerate.

Sending love and hugs,
Ginger

Virginia (Ginger) French  M,
Yes, both on 31st - I take it as a good sign! I will be supporting you and vice versa. Had a great day today although need to sleep. Tomorrow have 11 appointments for tests, lab, x-ray, CT, etc. So just taking it one appointment at a time.

Send over the pond prayers and thoughts of peace, calm, strength, courage, love, and more! And they will be coming steadily in the coming days!

Please, take care of YOU!

Virginia (Ginger) French  My Sister Terrie,
Bless you, I love this, but not as much as I love you! Little Autumn was squealing with all of her two teeth showing in a wide grin before she kissed Bee Well for her time in the hospital with me!

So I will respond with a prayer very close to the one we used to say before the Lord's Prayer as we sat on Mom's side of our parents' bed, starting with Mom and going down by age.

Jesus, tender Shepherd hear me;
Bless Thy little lamb tonight;
Through the darkness by Thou near me;
Watch my sleep till morning light.

All this day they hand has led me,
And I thank Thee for Thy care;
Thou hast clothed me, warmed and fed me,
Listen to my evening prayer.

Let my sins be all forgiven;
Bless the friends I love so well;
Take me. when I die, to Heaven,
Happy there with Thee to dwell.

Amen.

Then we would sing,
"It's a long, long traill awinding
Into the land of my dreams. ..."

I don't know if I ever told you, but our mother's mother, the grandmother we never knew but only saw in pictures and heard about from Mom, was a devout tiny Quaker woman who spoke in "Thee", "Thou", and "Thy". So the prayer is even more fitting in light of that heritage.

Thank you for your prayer and good wishes, and know that you are carried in prayer always, and our Heart Family as well...

Find Joy in every day, for miracles certainly do happen.

With the greatest of love I carry you with me, Terrie, in spirit so that when your time comes you will already made a practice run! Blessings!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Bless you Mia! Please, if you want to do something for me don't spend your energy worrying. It is so destructive. Instead spend that energy getting yourself prepared in positive ways, I have even laid out what I will wear first when I come home!

And my blessed husband stopped by the green grocery here tonight to buy more of my favorite "Thing I can drink when I am too nauseated even for water." It's gotten me through these three days of vertigo. Now if I can just get to bed...

It's Reed's Raspberry Ginger Brew! Comes in a brown bottle that made my boss do a double take when I had one on my desk in my office years ago! It has 17 gm of ginger in it -- an actual therapeutic stomach-settling dose. May have one more tonight before closing everything down and nodding off!

You are in my thoughts and prayers. Take good care of YOU!

And if I haven't told you already, we have a sun-bleached small poster in the mirror in our bathroom that says, "Relax God's in Charge". Really, if we keep our eyes and our focus on Him what can go wrong? He has brought me through so much and I am joyful because despite all else He is in control. May you feel that too!

Butterfly kisses and Eskimo hugs, and when I see butterflies I have always thought of my Mom - now you are a part of that!

Bless you and I'm with you, Counting up, in spirit!

Virginia (Ginger) French  "Mia,
You are in my thoughts and prayers. Remember that if you do not hear from me for a few days. We have to travel for surgery. With the heart valve and a brain injury to contend with, my cardiologist was very selective in what was required for me to safely survive this surgery and come out on top at the end.

So keep your chin up, that smile on your face, and know that I am with you in spirit.

It could be an interesting trip since my injured Achilles' have flared up on both sides.

Then there was the unrequested visit from the Fire Department and EMS yesterday. I am FINE! But somebody thought they had to follow a protocol. So I have learned that not only my son-in-law the WFD Firefighter knows where I live, but others do, too. They were a nice bunch, I was just sorry their time was wasted. (I could have been napping, but nooooo!) We laughed about it last night, and I know which station house they are from because I drop off donuts there once in a while.

Still too much to do and too little time. My young adult daughter told me tonight on the phone that I am always having more to do than time, what makes this different. I said, "A ride, a flight, then a bunch of tests, a big procedure, and surgery." She agreed maybe that did make it different!

I had hoped to be far enough ahead to be able to go and put my little granddaughter, Autumn Grace, in for her last bottle of the night and then into bed on her 10 month birthday, but this was my second day of vertigo making it too unsafe to drive. (I still am hoping maybe tomorrow???)

I saw a beautiful garden bowl with fantastic butterflies for water for birds yesterday and thought of you. It was gorgeous, but I am currently trying to dig out, so adding is not an option!

Enjoy each moment and get your rest and I must say I am impressed that we are closing out on the 24th day out for our Count Up to 42! Not bad, not bad at all! Many hugs and butterfly kisses until I can get back on line!

With love,
Ginger

Virginia (Ginger) French  Hello Terrie,

Good morning still, at least in CA! Almost 1 here. Have had my hair trimmed, which feels good. I cut 7 inches off before my first surgery, which was in the end of August three years ago. I had been warned ahead of time to expect excrutating pain for 10 to 14 days and did not want hair in my face or sticking to my neck. Fortunately, Jim liked it. And so glad I did it because I had problems with dissolving sutures that were taking their ever loving time to dissolve and in the meantime puzzled the docs and kept the pain in high gear for over 5 weeks! But, that was a different kind of pain then is likely to occur with heart valve replacement. Just very glad the hair is trimmed.

Yes, yesterday was very productive, happily for me. I wish I could say all is completed, but I will be resting on Sunday if not before. (But before would be nice!) I still have two beds to clear off before leaving so I have them and two recliners to settle into them. ......Phone call from church - now leaving for last appointment (I hope!) More later.
Bunches of love and hugs to my precious sister, Ginger

Virginia (Ginger) French  M,
You are so precious to me! And I know the delay of your surgery must have upset much of your mental preparation. But WE ARE NOW SCHEDULED FOR THE VERY SAME DAY! That totally excites me, because I have many people praying for me and have been asking them to pray for others, too. But foro July 31, M, you are going to be absolutely Flooded! with prayers. I am calling my church (of 2000) immediately to notify them that I want your name with mine on the prayer list! And I will do the same with the place where my friends, neighbors, former co-workers and others are getting their information. A double blessing for each of us! I have a huge smile on my face because of you, M!

I want you to know that YOU ARE GOING TO BE FINE! You will take it all in stride and come out on top! And frankly. I think a good cry is cathartic! Gets a lot of those pented negative feelings vented.

I like the way Max Lucado put it - That tears are tiny messengers, and just as the tears shed by Jesus on the cross were each filled with meaning, so too are yours. Each tear releases something inside you and allows you to relax and be more comfortable.

You are certainly correct that the global news is very disturbing. And I am usually very attentive to what is going on - one of my favorite podcasts is the BBC Global News. They cover everything and do not have the slant that is put on my the media here.

But I highly recommend that you divert your focus from the news right now so you can do what is most important - getting your mind, body, and soul ready for what lies ahead, for which surgery is only the BEGINNING! You are going to be feeling so much better as your recovery start, then picks up, then becomes "What surgery? Oh, Yeah!"

If you have not, take a look at my photos. For on there I have put not only pics of things that are family and the like but other things that remind me of the journey and where my focus should be - on - on taking care of myself and praying to and drawing strength from God and His creation. Let me know what you think! I hope to add more to it if I can fit it in!

I love you so very much, M, and we are in good hands - our medical teams hands and God's hands.

Have a great day, find the small miracles in each one, and if you think of anything negative replace it with I am fine and I am going to be even better! It is true!

Bless you my dear sister of the heart,
Ginger.

Virginia (Ginger) French  Mia,
You are getting to know me pretty well when you tell me to get to bed at a decent time, then say you know I won't!

I have started some packing and have set out what I want to get into when I get back home. A very welcome thought that is!

Many of my friends are getting just a bit freaked. Most thought there would be one more week for some reason, although I thought all were fairly well informed! One teared up at the door when she was leaving. I said, Hey, I'm fine. I want you to be too! I got a smile and another hug.

So there was a steady trail of people today and I have put them to work. And as I am alongside them they tell me to sit down or don't get down there, I'll get it, that sort of thing.

But I sleep just fine once I get there, and things are clearing out so there will be more room for me to maneuver when I get home.

I am definitely on the prayer warrior circuit, and will continue to pray for our big Heart Family and those they love.

New quote for you:

Live each day against the backdrop of eternity. Don't know who said it but it is probably in one of my quote books.

Butterfly kisses and major hugs headed back at you!

Love and hugs, dear one,
Ginger

Virginia (Ginger) French  Molly and Tim,
I cannot tell you how extremely delighted I am to hear from you! You two, but one, are such an incredible couple with a beautiful family. I am sure you have raised them all to have Faith.

I miss you both and Annie and Mike, too! I think of your dad, Jack, Molly and that there is still a Jack here on earth named in his honor.

Bless you all and thank you for your prayers. We are fine. We know Who is in charge, and that is everything. And I am so grateful that you are keeping me in prayer. It has been amazing to me how faithfully God answers the prayers of those who serve Him. And even with many different boulders, you might say, I have yet to go into surgery without feeling His presence and being completely at peace. What a gift!

I used to say that the greatest thing one person can do for another is to tell them they will pray for the other and DO IT! Now I know that there is no question in my mind. I have experienced His presence too many times to believe otherwise.

Thank you for your encouragement, support, and prayers! (And Molly, what is the story on the election? If you do not win the voters have to be blind, deaf, and dumb!)

I love you both so very much, and Jim is a great support, even Elizabeth is taking time away from her wee Autumn Grace, 10 months old in two days, to be with us the evening before surgery and several days after - something I could never have asked or even expected her to do.

Bless you and your family - sending hugs and love, Ginger

Virginia (Ginger) French  Lynn, That really is what I planned. I just did not realizing how big of a bite I was taking. But I know you are correct and I rested a good part of the day today and sleep like a rock!

Thank you for being there! You are a tremendous Heart Sister to have through these times, and I appreciate it that you care enough to give me wise advise.

Hugs and prayers,
Ginger

Virginia (Ginger) French  Olga,
I'm not sure what happened, but I responded to you once already and came back and it was gone. So once again---
I totally agree with you that this is a stellar example of what happens when people with a common goal come together and support one another, and in the process become friends.
You continue to be in my prayers, and I am delighted that you are getting to know some of the people better.
May all go well with you, and have a great day tomorrow!
Hugs,
Ginger

Virginia (Ginger) French  Julia,
Bless you for your kindness in continuing to update me about what is going on with you and how you are feeling. Numbness is probably from nerves cut during the surgery, and in all likelihood you will slowly regain feeling. That was my experience after my breast cancer surgery. I appreciate your many tips like how long to consider staying on the pain meds.

Most of all, Julia, I am grateful for your encouragement! Thank you for being there for those of us awaiting surgery and working at remaining positive.

Love and hugs, Ginger

Virginia (Ginger) French  Mia, My Count Up Heart Sister!
What a delight to hear from you! I am glad all is well and that you have that bunch of long days over so you can store up the energy you will need for surgery and healing! Wow!

You are totally correct that my heart cath will be the day of your surgery. That will give me lots of time to keep prayers shooting up for you. And for longer prayers, too. I call my little prayers that shoot up arrow prayers. And my quiver will be full and my bow at ready!

I have a quote for you today:

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness. -- Seneca

My sisters and I collect quotes and sometimes pass them back and forth. Were it a contest, my younger sister would win. I know she has books and books full of them. In my photos is one of my favorite picture with a quote. It is called Judgement. Take a look if you have a chance. It means a lot to me because everything that I have injured or have had major surgery on is not visible. It's not a matter of wanting people to feel sorry for me, but once in a while I could use a break,

What a saint your lawyer friend is to take care of your will and medical directives for you pro bono. That is a tremendous complement telling you how much she likes you and appreciates the work you are doing. Bravo!

I am still working at clearing things out at my home so I can get around easier after surgery and my granddaughter will be safer around here. We have gates and outlet plugs and all of that sort of thing, but it is the little things that are around after living in a home for 35 years that need attention.

Glad you have had such a beautiful day! I was out only a little for some of the early night air, cool and fresh, on the front porch swing.

Then had to come in to eat before it got too late and wanted to see if you were back and how M's surgery went and see if anyone has heard back from Eleanor after her surgery on the 14th.

By the way, my dad always thought of my mom as such a free spirit that one of the things he called her was his butterfly. In fact the last thing he bought for her that she never took off was a necklace with a butterfly on it. So I have some butterfly things around my house! :o)

Hope you sleep well and am sending back butterfly kisses and Eskimo hugs and plenty of prayers and love! Bless you my heart sister!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Bless you, Terrie,
Just overwhelmed with more people here and more activity and some unexpected less than delightful occurrences.

I am exhausted, but still counting up and hoping to get some rest these next few days.

Hugs, prayers, thanks for the help, and more, Your Sis

Virginia (Ginger) French  Susan, thank you for your encouragement. It is really unsettling when someone I have trusted and have had a strong relationship with comes out with remarks that are not just unnecessary, but are not true.

I have no idea now what she thought she was doing and saying or why, but you have put that behind me and I am very grateful to hear the reality from someone who has actually been through what is ahead for me.

You have encouraged me and I feel like I am back on track after an unnecessary detour! But now feeling positive again and moving ahead.

Bless you, Susan, for being here for some of us still in the pre-op as opposed to post-op stages!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Ted, You are like a breath of fresh air! I got pounded (not just lightly brushed) with some untruths, and you are a huge inspiration.

Normally I would know better than to listen to someone who has not been through what we are facing or have faced. But this person has the credentials and has been accurate in the past.

I am very grateful you took the time to blow those bits of bad info away, and to instead encourage and inspire with your own experience!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Olga,
Thanks for the great hello! My sister and her husband were spared by having a concrete room with a steel door poured into the lower walkout level of their home when they built it. She was here this weekend and very helpful just clearing out and freshening some of the things I have been unable to do. Now the place feels more open and relaxing, which is what I will need when I come home.

I have been praying for Eleanor, too, and now M. I have not explored enough to know if there is any word about either, but wish them both God's blessing.

I am glad you have joined this big Heart Family, Olga. We are all hear for each other. Hope your weekend is a fine one!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Colette,
Sorry I am so late responding to you, because your post was just what I needed to toss out some false information and remind me of what to do post-op to prevent problems with the sternum in addition to what the surgery has done.

I am very grateful, particularly because the person who gave me the information who is a close friend who is usually right on target. So I was a bit stunned since I had not seen reports of problems, but believed her.

We have been praying for you some time and it does not seem like it could be seven weeks post-op! Drop a note and let us know how you are doing.

Sending gentle hugs and healing prayers along with my gratitude,
Ginger

Virginia (Ginger) French  Dear Mia,
I had been talking with Terrie that as we got close to surgery time, it's probably a good idea to avoid malls and movies and some of the places where there may be a lot of people - exposing a person to unnecessary risks that might throw surgery dates off.

Then I got to thinking about you and the mass of germs I know abound in preschools. But making a lesson and game out of it might help keep your surgery Count Up from becoming Count Stall!

I've had a very unusual but good day. Will post some of it.

Love those butterflies and sending you some back your way!

Hugs and prayers!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Dear Eleanor,
So glad the culture came back negative and you can move on as your mental preparations don't need a detour at this point!

That plug fascinates me. I will look into learning more about it. It sounds like it is great for the patient!

Relax as much as possible and don't expend your energy. You will need it later for healingQ

Lots of prayers headed your ways in these days to come!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Dear Meredith,
Wow - horror story for the first time but great that for the second you were assertive in making your needs known and had a much better experience.

This is good for many of us to hear. It really is important to make one's needs known and to ask questions if one if not sure what is going one.

I really appreciate your sharing the information! It is really appreciated!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Jeffo you are a wealth of information. I appreciate your response, because I want to be as prepared as possible by taking what I need and not worrying about it later.

So appreciate your willingness to share your experiences!

Virginia (Ginger) French  I'm Impressed. Your body may have done a great job of stopping the bleeding! My instructions say to shower the nest day, take off the dressing and apply a small bandage. Since I will not be in my own town and would like to bring whatever I need, Can you estimate how large a "small bandage" is? Are we talking large Band-aid, extra large Band-aid, or tape and a couple of gauze pads. I realize everyone is different, but would like to have an idea.

And thanks for the post, because being released that soon is new to me, but promising.

Virginia (Ginger) French  Tony,
Thanks a bunch. I was thinking earbuds, but noise cancellation headphones are a tremendous idea!

And I had never heard of an Angio Seal - but it sounds super! Thanks for educating many of us!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Mia,
Thinking of you. I worry about you with all those preschoolers. Coming into contact with new bugs would be tough to do in a preschool setting, I would think. At least for your last two weeks before surgery, is there something you can do to minimize exposure.

This is the first Idea that popped into my head: Go to a local medical supply place and get a box of surgical masks, and make it a game. Two weeks of pretending we have to be extra clean because there is a hospital play area??? You could mark a n area by hanging some red crosses, or let the kids wear construction paper red crosses held on with a safety pin.

Then everybody gets a mask - you could even put their names on them. And you wear a mask and they wear their masks except for snacks and lunch time. The masks that lie flat and are tied on are usually less expensive than the formed ones most of the time and fit any size of face. Maybe the hospital where you will have your surgery will donate a box for you??

And you could do a session on good hand washing. One of the rules I have heard is that you should wash as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday to You" song - Not fast!. (Surgery washing, of course, is longer.) You could even get yourself a box of disposable gloves that only the teachers wear (because they don't make a preschool size?) and you would have even more protection.

Eleanor, who is scheduled for surgery on Monday, said yesterday she is concerned because a urinary intection detected. Usually the urine is sterile 24 hours after starting the antibiotics, but they still have to be taken until gone to finish off the germs for good.)

You may not want to do this, but I am trying to find a way to help you stay away from contagious germs in the couple of weeks just prior to surgery!'

Hugs and Butterfly kisses on their way!