The angiogram went well the other day -no blockages and little evidence of cholesterol -but John does have a weak heart. The left ventricle is having problems. So, he's on a new regimen of medications and is a candidate for an implanted defibrillator. He came home Wednesday evening, and will stay home until the coumadin levels are stable. He also needs to do something in the diet and exercise departments - not a bad thing for either of us!
But beautiful weather has arrived for the weekend, and it will be really hard for him to take it easy over the next few days!
Spring is definitely here with the birds and the frogs and flying insects. The early bulbs are into bloom and the patio chairs were put out this morning! David and Steph are coming tonight just to help out with spring cleanup. (and to check out his Dad!) I'm home today, too, and trying to get into the home-work groove. Not doing too well yet.....
Friday, April 24, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Health
John has been in ICU at the Brockville General since Saturday with "unstable angina". Meaning that he has irregular heart-rate and blood pressure readings. He's been breathless on exertion for a while, but last week he also had chest pains (which he didn't tell me about until Saturday!) and went to the doctor on Friday afternoon to get checked out. The ECG machine wasn't working so she told him to get to Emergency, upon which he said that he was babysitting his grandaughters and was expecting their parents for supper!
They did have a wonderful time, and Opa enjoyed them so much! They had to get cleaned up before their nap/quiet time, (there's a sand pile outside that acts like a magnet!) and he said that they had a great time singing and dancing in the shower! Must have been a happy noisy time! (I was at work.) And the house looked like a tornado had come through again! But that's a mess I don't mind cleaning up at all - it's evidence of a wonderful time.
John is going to Kingston on Wednesday for an angiogram, and will be off work for a minimum of 3 weeks - depending on what the doctor finds. The diagnosis of unstable angina is a bonus in that it puts him on the priority list for treatment.
Pray that he will get the best treatment needed for whatever is going on.
They did have a wonderful time, and Opa enjoyed them so much! They had to get cleaned up before their nap/quiet time, (there's a sand pile outside that acts like a magnet!) and he said that they had a great time singing and dancing in the shower! Must have been a happy noisy time! (I was at work.) And the house looked like a tornado had come through again! But that's a mess I don't mind cleaning up at all - it's evidence of a wonderful time.
John is going to Kingston on Wednesday for an angiogram, and will be off work for a minimum of 3 weeks - depending on what the doctor finds. The diagnosis of unstable angina is a bonus in that it puts him on the priority list for treatment.
Pray that he will get the best treatment needed for whatever is going on.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
100 Mile Challenge?
We enjoyed Barrie again this weekend. The cantata was done very well, and Stephanie's solo was well worth the trip! We hope we'll be able to hear her sing again! Christmas cantata?
We arrived home in time to catch the first program of the "100 Mile Challenge" on the Food network. It's a new show about the efforts of some residents of Mission, BC, as they clean out their pantries to help keep our earth green: ALL the foods that they prepare and eat must have been produced in a 100 mile radius of the city. (The show can be seen on the net on Monday- go to www.foodtv.ca) No lettuce and strawberries from California, or oranges from Florida, or bananas or pineapples or spices or other items from other countries. I guess that means muisjes from Holland, too!
I've been intrigued by the idea on and off in the last while, but I'm not sure how well it would work here in eastern Ontario. We definitely do not have the variety of fruits that BC has, nor the longer growing season. And our 100-mile radius is cut in half by Lake Ontario and the Canadian/US border!
John drew a radius on a map - our 1/2 circle starts just west of Brighton, goes up to Norwood, over to Bancroft, just east of Barrie's Bay, just south of Pembroke and then into Quebec, and comes down at Lachute, QC, over to Salaberry-de-Valleyfield and down to the US border.
So the next question is: what IS available in this area? And how intensive about this do we want to be? Do we really want to forgo tea and coffee and spices and oils and....? How about a compromise? Is there another way to look at this?
We arrived home in time to catch the first program of the "100 Mile Challenge" on the Food network. It's a new show about the efforts of some residents of Mission, BC, as they clean out their pantries to help keep our earth green: ALL the foods that they prepare and eat must have been produced in a 100 mile radius of the city. (The show can be seen on the net on Monday- go to www.foodtv.ca) No lettuce and strawberries from California, or oranges from Florida, or bananas or pineapples or spices or other items from other countries. I guess that means muisjes from Holland, too!
I've been intrigued by the idea on and off in the last while, but I'm not sure how well it would work here in eastern Ontario. We definitely do not have the variety of fruits that BC has, nor the longer growing season. And our 100-mile radius is cut in half by Lake Ontario and the Canadian/US border!
John drew a radius on a map - our 1/2 circle starts just west of Brighton, goes up to Norwood, over to Bancroft, just east of Barrie's Bay, just south of Pembroke and then into Quebec, and comes down at Lachute, QC, over to Salaberry-de-Valleyfield and down to the US border.
So the next question is: what IS available in this area? And how intensive about this do we want to be? Do we really want to forgo tea and coffee and spices and oils and....? How about a compromise? Is there another way to look at this?
Friday, March 27, 2009
Love that syrup!
Even though I managed to burn a batch of syrup last week, I've filled several pint jars so far! 18 sealed jars, and about 1 enjoyed already!
We've discovered that maple syrup is a delicious addition to a bowl of shreddies or oatmeal porridge for breakfast, and of course, it's great on vanilla ice cream, and pancakes, and.....
The flow of sap has slowed down some due to the above-zero nights. I don't want to admit it, but I do hope that we get some of that cold stuff that's being forcasted....more sap to syrup next week! I'll have to sell a couple of jars, though, to help pay for the propane!
We've discovered that maple syrup is a delicious addition to a bowl of shreddies or oatmeal porridge for breakfast, and of course, it's great on vanilla ice cream, and pancakes, and.....
The flow of sap has slowed down some due to the above-zero nights. I don't want to admit it, but I do hope that we get some of that cold stuff that's being forcasted....more sap to syrup next week! I'll have to sell a couple of jars, though, to help pay for the propane!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Oma's Little Girls
While Martin and Stevin enjoyed a few days with Michael at Lake Louise, Emily and Baby Maria came to eastern Ontario, and spent a couple of days on the farm with the Schuler's and a couple of days at the lake with the Geertsema's. But two and a half days is not enough when getting acquainted with a little one! So I simply soaked in as much Maria-time as I could!
Maria really enjoyed her time in this Jolly-Jumper. She'll likely be getting her own, soon!
Most little girls enjoy dressing up, and these girls are no exception. No doubt Maria will join them as soon as she can, because Naomi is a good teacher! 
Petra is cute and lovable, and is usually quite easy to get along with.
I finally got my wish for a photo of me and mine!
Noami really enjoys holding her little cousin Maria!
And I do, too!!
Maria really enjoyed her time in this Jolly-Jumper. She'll likely be getting her own, soon!
Most little girls enjoy dressing up, and these girls are no exception. No doubt Maria will join them as soon as she can, because Naomi is a good teacher! 
Petra is cute and lovable, and is usually quite easy to get along with.
I finally got my wish for a photo of me and mine!
Noami really enjoys holding her little cousin Maria!
And I do, too!!Monday, February 16, 2009
Cousins on the Ice
The days and evenings since surgery have been extraordinarily busy! John has started going to Indiana again, and between working at Kriska and church activities, I have been putting in some very long days. I'm seeing signs in me that I need some down time.
We were looking forward to a relaxing family weekend when we heard that David and Stephanie were planning to come, and Stevin and Katrina and the girls planned to come some time, too. But when we heard that Mom G. wanted family over, too, I must admit I stayed in high gear instead of moving into a lower gear.
But as you can see by the pictures, Sunday afternoon at the lake was a good thing! If you've read David and Stephanie's blog, you know that John and David spent some time on Saturday preparing a skating surface for the younger kids to enjoy. Take a good look at the pictures - you'll see that the older kids had just as much fun!!
Naomi is just beginning to discover the world of skates, so she got a little help from Daddy.
But she quickly discovered that Josina's nifty contraption allowed her to move along very nicely!
Resting at the feet of her Opa gave Naomi the chance to watch how the others do it!
What's a winter day with boy cousins without hockey?
David made sure Hadiya was included in some swinging time, too!
Who needs a fancy rink or arena, when a sunny day on a frozen lake and a couple pairs of boots for nets will do just as well or even better! These cousins know how to have winter fun!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Belly-Buttons
I showed Naomi all my little incision marks on Sunday - she was quite fascinated, asking the usual why and what for and commenting on the colour of the bruises around the incisions. On Monday, she asked to see them again - twice! She was checking to see if they were getting better yet.
But she was also quite amazed at the difference between her belly-button and mine."Oma, why does yours look like a hole?" You see, the incision is just above the navel, and it is larger than all the others. It's also the most colourful! But the swelling around it right now is making the navel look, well, like a hole in my tummy. "But mine doesn't look like a hole" and up went her skirt so I could see hers. "Look - my belly button is round. Why isn't yours round?"
But she was also quite amazed at the difference between her belly-button and mine."Oma, why does yours look like a hole?" You see, the incision is just above the navel, and it is larger than all the others. It's also the most colourful! But the swelling around it right now is making the navel look, well, like a hole in my tummy. "But mine doesn't look like a hole" and up went her skirt so I could see hers. "Look - my belly button is round. Why isn't yours round?"
Friday, January 30, 2009
A Pajama Day
Well, it's done.
I had my laparoscopic cholecystectomy yesterday. At 11:00, it felt strange to walk into the operating room, rather than rolling in on a stretcher. After several minutes of rather painful searching for a vein in my left hand for the IV, they successfully inserted into the right and 30 seconds later I was out. I wakened around 1:45 and went home at 3.
It hurts to cough, and I need to cough because apparently they also inserted a tube down my throat to keep my airways clear. My voice is rather on the hoarse side.
The four incisions are tender, and lying on either side is uncomfortable, but a good supply of Tylenol 3's take care of that. The doctor had said that some people go to work the day after surgery of this kind, but he didn't recommend it - and neither do I!
John finally got a call to go to work this week -wouldn't you know it -leaving on Thursday. He didn't leave until I was home, though.
And I'm having a relaxing-do-what-I-feel-like kind of day - I haven't spent all day in pj's in a long time! Although I am up to providing simple meals like oatmeal porridge and tea and toast and canned soup, Mom G. has brought over a couple of meals, and some pink carnations.
So I do feel kinda spoiled with it all.
I had my laparoscopic cholecystectomy yesterday. At 11:00, it felt strange to walk into the operating room, rather than rolling in on a stretcher. After several minutes of rather painful searching for a vein in my left hand for the IV, they successfully inserted into the right and 30 seconds later I was out. I wakened around 1:45 and went home at 3.
It hurts to cough, and I need to cough because apparently they also inserted a tube down my throat to keep my airways clear. My voice is rather on the hoarse side.
The four incisions are tender, and lying on either side is uncomfortable, but a good supply of Tylenol 3's take care of that. The doctor had said that some people go to work the day after surgery of this kind, but he didn't recommend it - and neither do I!
John finally got a call to go to work this week -wouldn't you know it -leaving on Thursday. He didn't leave until I was home, though.
And I'm having a relaxing-do-what-I-feel-like kind of day - I haven't spent all day in pj's in a long time! Although I am up to providing simple meals like oatmeal porridge and tea and toast and canned soup, Mom G. has brought over a couple of meals, and some pink carnations.
So I do feel kinda spoiled with it all.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Snow much fun!
We had a fun day today. The Fisher Price house and barn was played with; the dolls got cuddled; a fahion statement was made with several strands of beads around the neck while a camouflage cap was worn on top of the head; and markers and papers were found, too. 
In the photo on the left, Naomi is trying to tell a story to a very interested Petra. On the right, Petra found a hat and Opa's shoes to wear, while Naomi counted out straws to drink snow when we got outside.
We tried to slide down the driveway in boxes at first, but they soon gave way to flying carpets instead, so that we could see who could go the farthest.
And we discovered that it is hard to drink snow with straws, so Naomi tried to catch the snow falling from the trees with her tongue instead!
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