A slight blip

Good Morning and Happy Friday to Everyone!

It's going to be a phenomenal day.  I slept through the night and feel like a million bucks.  What a difference cutting my steroid in half in the evening makes.  It feels really good to sleep through the night and be able to dream.

After visiting with you early yesterday morning we had a slight problem around 4 AM.  I went into PAT/SVT (very rapid heart beat to the tune of about 180 beats per minute).  I awakened Jerry and was, fortunately, able to convert myself w/caratode (sp?) massage, cold water to the face and back of the neck, bearing down, etc.  As most of you know, I've had this off and on for about 28 years. 

The bad part was,  it hit again while I was fixing breakfast at 6 AM.  When I saw stars and felt ye olde heart start beating like crazy again, was I ever PO'd!  Jerry, having had all the fun he could stand, called 911 and a parade of EMT's, the Fire Dept, and a Sheriff's Deputy all showed up within 10 minutes of the call and converted me on-scene with medication.  Then away to the hospital we went in the ambulance.  The hospital checked me out, everything was fine, and I swear we were home before the emergency team could get their paper work filled out.

Our Granddaughter, Jenni, showed up  right behind the ER personnel and seeing the relief on Jerry's face to have a family member there brought home to me what a wise decision it was to move to Gillette.  While I do miss Colorado City and our mountain, this is home.  The family support is priceless.

Spent yesterday afternoon visiting with my step-mother, Barb, and then we had 17 family and friends over and Barb bought pizza for us all.  I was even up until 10:00.  Lastest I've made it since before surgery.

Tammi and Bruce's friends, Sally and Rick, are visiting from Arizona and they came over as well.  Sally has been battling bladder cancer for 7 years and is now a cancer survivor advocate.  What an inspiration she is.  When I finish visiting with you I am going to get on the Internet to see what I can find for kidney cancer survivors.  I can't think of a better use of time than to try to help someone else cope with a renal cell cancer diagnosis.

My brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Gail, will be here from Westcliffe tonight and Barb is taking us (John and Shauna, Jerry and me and Steve and Gail) out to eat at The Prime Rib, one of the two great steakhouses in Gillette.  Sure wish our big sis Sherry and her Leo were here to join us ... however, they will be with us in spirit.

This has turned out to be a mini War and Peace, which wasn't intended when I started.  There's just so much to share with you.  I continue to get stronger each and every day and so appreciate all the cards, thoughts, prayers and love being sent my way.  Have a fabulous day and I'll be chatting with you tomorrow.

Loads and Loads of Love,

L