There was a post from my cousin Tim's wife, Noreen. After a week, his labs were looking good. He was eating a regular diet. It just seemed such a remarkable recovery from a heart transplant, at least from my perspective, which I admit comes from a place of ignorance.
Friday, just before 10, a post went up that there was a complete electrical block in the new heart, and he was back into surgery just over an hour later to install a pacemaker.
The latest that I have heard is that he is doing well.
Latest update: he is showing mild signs of signs of rejection. They are trying to control this with drugs.
This has been a busy week. I tweaked my back helping Tim carry 16 12-foot boxes of siding from the front of the old house to the back. We got it done.
At the same time I did myself damage, I was coming down with the dreaded 'Dylan-bug' that my son carried home from a California convention. To be honest, I did not realize I'd hurt myself until the flu went away and I was still gimping around.
It has gotten cold enough at night that dehydrating has begun. Carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, corn and green beans for my 'soup jar'. I will do some potato slices for 'instant' scalloped potatoes. The dehydrate over night. The low oven keeps the house warm without turning actual heat on.
I have been collecting seeds from the garden for drying in the greenhouse. As they dry, I put them in pill bottles and label them for next year. I have Roma tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, peppers, sage, dill, basil, hyssop, and spearmint. That is always such a hopeful thing...planning for next year's garden.
We built a grape arbor today. The back needs attached still, but I did get the four grape vines planted.
I also planted six raspberry plants Tuesday behind the house in my 'berry patch'.
So, that's what we have been up to.
At yoga class, the instructor always ended the class with an affirmation, an encouraging word. I thought it was a nice thing. When I saw a deck of mantras at a thrift store for a buck and a half, I picked them up. Midterms are coming up and it is hard to keep myself focused and positive.
(Example: today at the protest an ugly MAGA rolled down his window and yelled, 'Why don't you all get a life??!!!' I came back from a place of peace and light and yelled, 'We all have lives. What are you doing with yours, loser??!!' He wasn't prepared for a comeback and tried to come up with a retort but it just sounded weak. I sent him off with one more mighty 'LOSER!' One of the protesters laughed with raised eyebrows. I said, 'I just did not want him to feel like he got the last word...')
So...yeah. a little affirmation would probably do me some good. I opened the cards.
Just great. The universe throws me a deck of MAGA mantras...
The cards are funny in a ridiculous way and not what I was expecting.
ReplyDeleteYou've done well with your fresh food growing, ready for the civil war in a month or so.
I hope your back is ok.
Not what I expecting either. I think I shall call these cards 'daily negations' and have a little burning ritual every morning.
DeleteI hope your cousin recovers quickly and this was just a temporary setback. Hope you're feeling better, too. Your comment about the cards made me laugh!
ReplyDeleteYeah, worst buck fifty I ever spent.
DeleteMAGA Mantras. 😂
ReplyDeleteI am not thrilled. I think that I will burn an affirmation every day.
DeleteSorry to hear your cousin has a set back after doing so well. Hope your back gets better, I know what back pain is, and it is a chore to move even when I know I need to move to help it. My old body is wearing out little by little. I have used it for 81 years, so I am in pretty good shape for that long.
ReplyDeleteThe worst back damage I ever did to myself was helping Tim move a cast iron bathtub down a a flight of stairs. It was a disaster. We got in unstuck, but I could not walk upright. I could not get in the truck. The next day, I went to the doctor and learned about the joy of muscle relaxers.
DeleteLaughed out loud about the MAGA mantra cards. What a hoot!
ReplyDeleteCertainly nor the encouragement I was looking for.
DeleteHoping that Tim's body soon settles down and accepts his new heart.
ReplyDeleteOuch to your sore back. I will have to be careful with the lifting today. No twisting! Sorry that you got the flu. That always knocks you sideways.
The last time I heard of a grape arbour was in Gone With the Wind!
Really? I suppose they are not common here, but they are not uncommon here. I had four grape vines, and I had a bench. So...I thought it would be a nice touch to combine the trellis with an enclosure for the bench.
DeleteI hope the setback is only temporary. He does look good though. Those are some weird mantras!
ReplyDeleteTangobird Miracle Mantras and Affirmations, if you are interested in purchasing a set of your own.
DeleteI guess it's a little too much to ask for such a procedure to go without any hitches. I'm glad they were able to solve the problem and save the day.
ReplyDeleteI don't even know what those mantras mean.
You're such a fantastic preserver of food. And of growing it too!
Welp, I learned quite a bit this year. Mostly because of the things I did wrong.
DeleteHope you're feeling better Debby... my gosh Tim, nothing good comes easy, does it.
ReplyDeleteHe has had a struggle to be sure, but he and Noreen are such positive people.
DeleteI hope your cousin is ok and that the docs are able to treat his rejection. Scary stuff.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of the same when it comes to people verbally harassing me, except mine usually involves swearing too:)
Definitely maga mantras, or prosperity theology.
I have to say I can swear like my father's daughter, but to be honest, I rarely swear at people.
DeleteWhen I read the cards, I thought I was missing the point. Did not realize that MAGAs have mantras, too. Glad Alt Time is hanging on. Organ transplants ae massive endeavors, it amazes me that people are brave enough to try. Feel better, baby the back.
ReplyDeleteI just dubbed them Maga mantras because everything seems to focus on money. Well, not everything. There is an awful lot of stuff about how irresistible I am, how men pine for me, I haunt their thoughts...an awful lot of bullshit, to be sure. I guess I was hoping for something...oh, I don't know...spiritual, maybe.
DeleteHope the other Tim keeps recovering and they solve all of the medical problems that pop up. No wonder your back hurts, you are never sitting down to rest! Building an arbor sounds like back-breaking work, Debby.
ReplyDeleteI generally move alright, but moving those boxes was a bridge too farm. They were only 100 pounds, but they were 12 ft long and I think it was just the awkwardness that did me in.
DeletePositive vibes to Tim and you and the election and this messy world. I'm encouraging everyone to put a little good into the world, a kind word, an encouraging smile, a little bit more if you have the opportunity. Every little bit of pushback helps.
ReplyDeleteWise words, Susan. It is all we can do.
DeleteYou've had a busy week I hope Tim's transplant goes well
ReplyDeleteThat transplant is done. I guess, in my ignorance, I was thinking that his rollercoaster ride had ended. It appears that the ups and downs will continue for a bit
DeleteFingers crossed for the other Tim, heart transplants are not an easy road to travel. MAGATS, what are ya gonna do........
ReplyDeleteI found that yelling back at them is cathartic as hell. Heaven help me.
DeleteFingers crossed for Tim.
ReplyDeleteAlso this: your diligence & resourcefulness? Inspiring.
There have been no updates today, which is a bit worrisome.
DeleteI hope your cousin recovers well despite these initial hurdles.
ReplyDeleteI’m not a huge fan of mantras. I prefer dark humor. 😁
Is gray haired ladies thundering 'Loser!' Black enough?
DeleteOn the contrary, that's uplifting! :)
DeleteOf all of your setbacks this week healthwise, I think the buck fifty that you dropped on Maga Mantras is possibly the most hurtful!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe it!
DeleteSending good energy for your brother!
ReplyDeleteYou have had a time of it for sure. But all the garden and planting things sound just perfect, Debby. Enough to cancel out MAGA bs and being sick? I hope so. Grapes and berries in your future!
The other Tim is my cousin. I am closing up my gardens right now. Tomorrow I will give them a good raking and toss in some manure and mulch. I will get my garlic planted. In between, I will try not to fret about these midterms, but I am struggling a bit.
DeleteWishing Tim well and even though it’s a worry when issues crop up, he is in the right place with the right people to get sorted.
ReplyDelete