Greetings from South Texas where we are in the depths of a HOT HOT Summer!  We are hitting the 100 degrees plus with horrible humidity.   But only 37 days until September when things could cool off! (Fingers crossed)

I just could not let Clay be the only one to get to ride to the Hospital in the Meat Wagon!  I brought this one on myself!  As you know I walk 30 minutes in the morning!  Well, things have to change on that one.  On Thursday I woke up with some radiating pain in the left shoulder!  I figured it was my Fibro.  We had 2 doctor appointments, grocery pick up, etc.  Got home about 3:00 and waited for our Hair Dresser to come and give us haircuts.

Long story short – I was getting my hair cut about 6:15 when the pain came back and I did not feel right.  I told Clay to call EMS.  They came and my BP was 200/91 – NEVER HAD THIS BEFORE!  So off we went for a ride to the Hospital.  They would not let Clay come in and that was horrible, but I had to do it.  On the ride to the Hospital they gave me aspirin and 2 nitro tablets.  Somehow I made it through this!

I was extremely low on Potassium – like 2.6 (anything lower I would be gone) as we have to maintain Potassium levels from 2.2 to 5.5 before we are no longer here!  And if too low or too high one can get into trouble.

I have experienced this before I think because I did not listen to my body the last 6 months that I really got in trouble.  They kept me overnight for observation.   Clay came home.   I was released about 2:00PM Thursday and so happy to be home. They pumped 2 bags of Potassium and Electrolytes and that brought it up to 4.0.  One great thing is that my Lungs and Heart are 100% fine!   This is a blessing and all that walking during the last 40 years has really paid off!

Now to prevent this from ever happening, I will go back to a banana and keep lots of Gatorade around for after I walk, or if I start sweating when my sugar drops.   BIG LESSON LEARNED.    I laughed with my EMS guy who kept me calm (me and my Anxiety Crap) and told him that the Cooks only did things like this on big Holidays!

I will be off the blog for awhile again – I get my eyelid surgery on Friday and looking forward to getting them fixed and those black eyes!  LOL

All in all, I am fine, feel so much better and will be smarter.  We will reduce the walking to 20 minutes only until things  cool off!

Have a great couple of weeks, and Hoping to be back in the quilting world by August!

Hugs, Nanette

WOW – 2 posts in one day, but I thought that everyone would enjoy seeing some of the “goodies” I purchased lately to keep my sanity and to have inspiration to get back to making quilts!!!

The first thing is a new Item that Quilt In A Day (Eleanor Burns) is selling.  It is basically a roll of plastic that is 1 1/4” wide on a spool and cut in strips to wrap around your thread spools to keep the thread from making a mess.

I am sure that every quilter (especially those that hand applique) will love this product and it works!  I use this type of plastic that I purchase from JoAnns, etc in long sheets to cover my fabric stash in the Studio.  Here is how it looks on some thread that would drive me nuts when I could not keep them from raveling project bag.

Next  good is a great fat quart bundle of French General’s Le Beau Papillon.  I am usually late in collecting certain fabrics and this is one.  This is my 2nd French General bundles.

Now lets go to Sashiko Projects!  Sylvia Pippen has great pre-printed projects and I really liked the two that I ordered.  One is for Nordic Christmas Panel for  20XX and the other is a panel with Sashiko Sea Reef.  Love them both!

Next is a preprinted block for hand quilting.  I purchased 2 different ones from The Stencil Company.  They had a great sale and I participated!  They are both preprinted on a black back ground.  Should be good practice for my hand quilting in 20XX!

And if the above wasn’t enough goodies that I did not need….Here are 2 books that were on sale with Connecting Threads.  I also purchased Book 4 for EQ8 software and hopefully by 20XX I can design my own quilts!  LOL

Now for the one that I had drooled over since Lynn from Sew’n Wild Oaks began working on the quilt.  I found the fabric at Shabby Fabrics (and purchased 3 fat quarter bundles of 14 fat quarters each). I believe this will be adequate fabric to make this quilt.  I normally do not use the same fabrics for quilt patterns, but this quilt screamed for the same fabric.  You be the judge.

My list of ‘quilts to make’ has grown and I realize that at my age I may never get them all made, but I am going to give it Hell when I am finished recouping from eyelid correction by the end of July.  Clay is doing well, but could the African’s keep their dust?  It is interfering with our morning walk!

Hugs and have a great day!

Linking To:  My Quilt Infatuation; Confessions of a Fabric Addict; Finished or Not Friday ; Em’s Scrap Bag; BOM’s Away;  Sew Fresh Quilts; Crazy Mom Quilts;  Oh Scrap; Scrap Happy Saturday; Slow Sunday Stitching  Quilt Fabrication Mid Week Makers; Peacock Party; Design Wall Monday

Greetings from a very hot, horrible air quality South Texas where we are on a Vacation from Walking!  YEA!  (Not really).  Looks like it will be a very hot summer again!  Only 2 more months and maybe we will be a nice Fall in September.

I have been trying to catch up on all things that had been put aside.  One of the things was to work on my new iMAC that I got for Christmas.  It feels good to be caught up with things that I have wanted to do.  Along with that I am “de-stressing” from the last 6 months.

I am just now beginning to think about all the projects I want to get started on!  So many, so little time. But by August I firmly believe I will be back at it 100%!

I finished one small thing I have accomplished!  I took the little block made from 4 OMG blocks that I was not going to use in my OMG quilt and made a pillow case for hand applique. I am pleased with how it turned out.

I am really enjoying just taking each day as it comes – if I feel like quilting I do, if not , it is OK.

On 10 July (unless cancelled) I will finally get my eyelids fixed. I am excited to get this done and over also!

Have a great week and stay safe!

Hugs, Nanette

Linking To:  My Quilt Infatuation; Confessions of a Fabric Addict; Finished or Not Friday ; Em’s Scrap Bag; BOM’s Away;  Sew Fresh Quilts; Crazy Mom Quilts;  Oh Scrap; Scrap Happy Saturday; Slow Sunday Stitching  Quilt Fabrication Mid Week Makers; Peacock Party; Design Wall Monday

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Connie, Bella, Gretchen, Daisey , Kathie.

Greetings from South Texas.  It is so wonderful to have Clay walking with me each morning as soon as we get up!  Love it – Although he walks the circle while I do my 9 times to the gate (which is 1.5 miles) he is walking 30 minutes each morning.  He is walking at a faster pace than I have ever seen before.  What a miracle!

This week I completed the basket block for the lower quadrant for Celebrating Mary Brown quilt project.  I have 2 more blocks to complete and all 4 corners will be finished – with the exception that I need to add the fines to connect the leaves and basket blocks.  I have now finished 14 blocks.

My friend Jaydee and I started on Brinton Hall Quilt a couple of years ago.  I changed the pattern and used batik fabrics with Asian fabrics in the Center of the Medallion.   I have not been able to quilt mine due to life, but hopefully by 2021.

My Brinton Hall Modified Pattern

Jaydee finished hand quilting her quilt.  She used Reproduction fabrics and Toille fabrics for the Center Hexagons.  It is a beautiful quilt and I wanted to show her work.  She is very pleased with the outcome and so am I!  Quite interesting how different fabrics can change the look of a quilt pattern.  Jaydee changed her quilt from the original pattern also and she did a beautiful job!

I am so happy to be back to my quilting.  Today I am going to do some piecing on OMG and another project that I started last year.  In fact it was August 29, 2019 when I had made the following blocks using EQ.  I have since upgraded to EQ8 with my new iMAC and hoping that I can transfer the EQ7 file without a problem to EQ8.  My friend Gretchen suggested that I go back to this project and finish it.  I remember I had so much fun making the sample blocks, so it will be great to finish this project!   In fact I started this right before the Cataract surgeries that we had in Sep/Oct timeframe.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful week.  I am really looking forward to it.  Just one short trip to SA on Wednesday and we are free until the 23/24 Jun for Clay’s last appointment to BAMC for his hand and a checkup with the Cardiologist!  Light at the end of the tunnel.  I am trying to schedule my eye surgery around the 20th of July when Clay will have been given the green light to move on with life!

Hugs, Nanette

Linking To:  My Quilt Infatuation; Confessions of a Fabric Addict; Finished or Not Friday ; Em’s Scrap Bag; BOM’s Away;  Sew Fresh Quilts; Crazy Mom Quilts;  Oh Scrap; Scrap Happy Saturday; Slow Sunday Stitching  Quilt Fabrication Mid Week Makers; Peacock Party; Design Wall Monda

In September 2019,  Karen and Cathy selected Celebrating Mary Brown as their next project and invited anyone to join in the fun!  The following quilters are participating.  We will be showing completed blocks on the 30th of each month!  Take the time to visit them to see their completed monthly blocks!  If interested let Karen know you are interested in joining the group.

I started having issues when I visited my favorite Bloggers when I tried to leave a comment.

IF you are using Safari (iPhone, iPad) do the following:

Go to your Safari -> Settings -> Privacy -> uncheck “Prevent cross-site tracking.”

It has to do with how the new “Blogger” works.  I googled the problem and this is what they said needed to be done for Apple users!

AND yesterday I worked on a block for Mary Brown, should have it finished today – so I am on the quilting road again!  Now looking forward to this afternoon which will give us the beginning of 10 days before we have 2 doctor appointments for Clay!  We are really going to enjoy this time.  I plan on working on my hand projects and OMG, or if bored with it after I complete one more block I will start on another pieced quilt!

Quick update – I am heading to my Eye Surgeon today – I am going to try to get a surgery date around the 20th of July.

Clay had his 7 day check up – he walks 30 minutes each morning and is becoming a dedicated walker.  The Nurse Practitioner told us that he was at Critical Mass with his valve and that he would have died instantly if he had not shot himself in the hand, which of course led us to where we are today.  His valve was opened about 1/4 of an inch!  She believes it was Devine Intervention.  The walking will help repair the damage done to the heart (not real bad) due to the valve problem.   How about those apples for the day!  He is doing great only 10 days after this procedure – Only has to be on Plavix for 3 months (YEA).  AND his hand is improving quicker – guess it needed some blood to heal!   He has the greatest immune system – wish I had some of it!  LOL

I just had to tell the great news.  Life is really beginning for us again!  HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020!

Hugs,  Nanette

Thank you to everyone again who has offered a prayer for Clay during the last 5 months.  I apologize for not responding to comments lately.  That will change from now on.

Clay came out of the procedure with anesthesia psychosis which was very scary for me and him.  It lasted over 30 hours.  He went 48 hours with no sleep (wired and hallucinating).  I made it with 30 hours of no sleep before I gave up and came home and slept 3 hours on Wednesday.  I went back to the hospital that afternoon and by then Clay was 100% better.  I do wish the Nurses would have told us that what he was experiencing was from the anesthesia but they did not – only when we left did the hospital doctor tell Clay that was what had happened.  It would have been the decent thing to do and helped us understand.

Clay never had a problem with the heart valve replacement, his vital signs were back to normal with 8 hours of the procedure!  He is a tough guy for his age and that wonderful immune system of his really helped.

We were grateful that they let me stay with him in the CVICU both nights.  The Doctor would not release him until the anesthesia had worn off.  By Wednesday afternoon he was my Clay again and he was released on Thursday morning.  By Saturday we had recouped some of the lost sleep and have been back to our little routine of life.

Friday I get to go see my eye surgeon and am so ready to get the eyelids fixed from Cataract surgery.  The next 2 months will have some doctor appoints (mostly mine that I had to put off).

Today I am trying to work on my Mary Brown blocks and get back to my quilting.  But I have a feeling that it will take me a bit to get over what we have been through.  With my personality I expect to bounce back at 100% quickly, but guess I will have some good days and bad days as the stress level is reduced.  Clay always does better than me in situations like this and probably due to his years as a Lt in the SA Fire Department.  The Government only made me more nuts!  LOL!

I am so grateful to both heart doctors who cared for Clay.  Dr Palomino saved his life with his aggressive testing of Clay’s heart and Dr Alverez gave him a new Aorta Valve!  Together they saved his life and we will be ever grateful.

We are through the rough times and trying to get back to normal life which is getting up each day and spending the day in the Studio.  My goals are to get a good nights sleep, walk in the morning, and today the third goal is to start quilting again!

Have a great week and down here in the South we have already hit over 100 degrees.  I will say that I really have to push myself to want to do that early morning walk when it is 75+ degrees and 90+ humidity.  But it is worth it because it clears my mind and I have a better day from doing it!

I promise the next post will only be on QUILTING!!!!!

Nanette

Clay is in recovery.   Valve was shot. He was in and out of surgery within 50 minutes.  All went smoothly. He looks great color wise but very uncomfortable   His blood pressure will have to adjust.  Hoping to go home no later that Thursday

Amazing what increased oxygen in the blood does for the body.

We have made it through a maze of accidents, surgeries, stress beyond belief and the witnessing of a miracle for him today.   We had the best TAVR Doctor

I wish to thank everyone who said special prayers for Clay.  God was listening

Here is my favorite Psalm that always sustains me thru health issues and especially surgeries

The LORD Is My Shepherd

23 1  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2  He maketh me to lie down in green [1]pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest [2] my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. [3]

Her is Jan’s block for May.

Here is the bottom right section of mine – I did finish the Pineapple this month – 3 more and I will have 16 blocks done – more later in the month – maybe!

Tomorrow is Clay’s TAVR procedure.  Sharon sent us this sweet picture to give us peace!  Have a blessed week and until next time!

Thank you Sharon for caring!

Nanette

I would have never in my Blogging life thought that Number 400 would NOT be about quilting!

Excellent Stress relief going on here!  Clay will have his Transcather Aorta Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure one week from today!  2 Jun at 7 AM.   We have to be at the hospital at 5:00AM – I am wondering how it will feel to set the alarm for 2:30….. LOL…. Guess we will find out.   We are about 50 miles from the hospital so it means a target leave time of 3:45!

We will begin life again on 3 June as he should be released to come home.  It was rather funny when we saw the Thorasic Surgeon (the guy who cuts your chest to fix the valve) when he told Clay – “you are healthy and it is your choice” – well that was a no brainer for us!   TAVR – that is the procedure where they go through the groin to replace the Valve – similar to stint a blockage!  We have a wonderful doctor and Clay will be fine – not sure if they will let me see him after his procedure.  Sleeping in the car is the other option!

Today we are going to BAMC this morning for his last therapy at BAMC.  He has decided to not go the remainder of the week.  So if all goes well we have 5 days of relaxation before he has to go on Monday for Pre-Op and then Tuesday is FIX THE VALVE DAY!

We are not stress free, but to have received a date last Thursday was a HUGE stress relief.  We went through 5 months of personal health stress PLUS the delays from the Chinese Virus!   Life is getting better.

Have a great week – Texas is open and we will be glad to see the remaining states open up!  I have kept my mouth shut on this subject, so here are my only thoughts about this Virus.

This country needs to be OPEN for business not closed.  Now it is up to all businesses to keep their facilities clean (which they quit doing) AND the responsibility of all Americans to wear masks, keep hands clean and off your face!  My personal opinion is that Americans were forced to close the Country too long by Doctors who based their decisions and guidance on ‘pie in the sky’ data!  We must be responsible for our own health and hygiene and businesses to CLEAN THEIR FACILITIES!    Governors who continue to arrest people who want to open their business and acting like Dictators taking away freedoms will have to face Election Day!  I hope the people of their states realize that their Leaders want to control them for political reasons!   Personally I am tired of paying for States that did not prepare for a situation like this!  Remember this when voting in November!  It just did not have to be this way!

My sister had polio in 1952 and I did not get it.  They tried all the things that are going on now especially “social distancing” and it did not work!  The virus was in the water (dirty swimming pools).  Check this out 1952 Polio Epidemic in San Antonio Texas

PROOF of what works – Clay and I went through all we did and never got sick – but we used masks, sanitizer, washed our hands often, kept our hands off our faces, changed clothes after being in a doctor’s office/hospital, and stayed out of the grocery store (curbside).  We took responsibility!   I understand that it is different when families have elderly parents and young children.  But it is possible to not catch the flu or the virus.  Businesses and Americans must take personal responsibility to rid the country of horrible flu seasons and viruses brought in from other countries.   KAGA2020 AND MAGA 2020!  GO TRUMP!

Stay healthy and hope you come back again!

I have something to show – Surprise Surprise.  It is not much, but better than nothing.

I have 3 blocks for OMIGOSH completed.  I will be making 2 blocks of each color. I have to complete another of the middle block.  Each ‘block’ consists of 2 each 9 patches and 2 ShooFly blocks – The individual blocks are unfinished at 5” and when all 4 are sewn together they are 9 3/4”.  I have no idea if they will be 9 1/4” finished or 9” finished.  Will see whenever I finish the quilt.  Think it will not really matter!  LOL

Next I did finish the 2nd pineapple block for Mary Brown.  I have a Sunflower block and then the 2 corner blocks with the vases!  These are the 4 blocks that will go in the bottom right hand corner.

Not sure what I will finish this week, we shall see.  Clay may have Therapy and Tuesday we see the 2nd doctor!

If we are lucky he will have the valve replaced on 28 May, maybe a day or so sooner.  Whichever it cannot be soon enough for us.

Have a great week!

Nanette

Linking To:  My Quilt Infatuation; Confessions of a Fabric Addict; Finished or Not Friday ; Em’s Scrap Bag; BOM’s Away;  Sew Fresh Quilts; Crazy Mom Quilts;  Oh Scrap; Scrap Happy Saturday; Slow Sunday Stitching  Quilt Fabrication Mid Week Makers; Peacock Party; Design Wall Monday

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Connie, Bella, Gretchen, Daisey , Kathie.

September 2019,  Karen and Cathy selected Celebrating Mary Brown as their next project and invited anyone to join in the fun!  The following quilters are participating.  We will be showing completed blocks on the 30th of each month!  Take the time to visit them to see their completed monthly blocks!  If interested let Karen know you are interested in joining the group.

Greeting from South Texas where we are in a nice rain pattern that comes and goes.  It would be great if our summer continues on like this, but probably will be in the 100’s this summer.

Last week we were referred to the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TVAR) Doctor in San Antonio.  TVAR is the technique where they go through the arteries to replace the Aortic Valve.  We had a phone meeting with the Nurse on Friday which was enlightening.  We were told about the process and the recovery time.  It is unbelievable that they can go through the groin with a catheter and go into the old Aorta Valve with a stint replacement using a pig/cow valve!

On Tuesday afternoon we visited with the Surgeon – Dr Jorge A. Alverez!   God gave us Major Wilson (BAMC) to take care of Clay’s hand, advise us about the Heart Murmur, and now Dr Alverez!  What a sweet, compassionate, and talented doctor he is.  Right away we felt like we were with a friend – not a stuff shirt doctor with zippo for personality.  He put us at ease immediately, thanked Clay for his service as a Firefighter, and advised that the time to prepare Clay for the procedure takes longer than the actual Valve replacement!  I picked another winner for Clay! At the end of the session with all questions answered, I got the greatest hug from him and he told me to relax now.  What a gift!  I will also be able to be with Clay in the ICU, etc as they are beginning to relax some of the Chinese Virus rules.  I was planning on sleeping in the Town Car due to the idiots telling me I could not even stay in the waiting room all night.  I do not plan on leaving my Clay in the hospital without me being close!  WON’T HAPPEN.

After the visit, Clay had a CT Scan which provides the doctor with a roadmap of Clay’s arteries.  Medical technology has come such a long way – great to be in this position at a time when these type of techniques are available to us.  Less invasive than open heart surgery.

Clay has passed all the criteria with flying colors so he is a candidate for this technique rather than open heart surgery.  We are just so blessed and Clay is so blessed with a great immune system.

Tuesday (next week) we will visit with a Cardiac Thoracic Surgeon (open heart surgeon).  The FDA protocol for doing a TVAR requires this visit.  Then there are a 6 doctor committee (3 TVAR and 3 thoracic Surgeons) meet to discuss the different patients and come to a consensus that Clay will be a TVAR candidate – Now you know more than you wanted to know about what happens if you experience someone that has a requirement to have an Aorta Heart Valve replaced.  Dr Alverez already advised us that it will be TVAR!

The best of the best news is that surgery will be the week of 25 May!  Clay is relieved and I am but now my mind and body are really feeling all the stress from the last (almost) 5 months.  The end of our journey is near and we know that Clay will do well.  I just need to hold it together another 3 weeks!  Then I may be able to really relax!

I keep telling him that when this is over and my eye lids are corrected that we need to purchase a nice used Minnie Winnie and go traveling in our own bed again – no more hotels!  I hope that this dream can come true for us.  We have both had such a rough 5 months.

I am not asking for a pity party, because we are truly blessed, but today I am having my own little pity party today and praying that tomorrow will be better!

I miss my quilting and Clay misses his ability to get outside and do some work that he wants to do, along with his other hobbies.  I guess for 75 and 76 year olds, we have held up well, but I will tell you for both of us it has been difficult.  I am so glad that we have stayed so active in the 20 years of retirement – looks like it is paying off.

I do hope that all of you are healthy and well and looking forward to our Country to completely open up again.

Nanette

Great Saturday morning to all!  Clay came through the Heart Cath with only ONE artery 50% blocked!!!! Clay had to lay down on his back for 6 hours (of which he hated) and I sat in the waiting room from 6AM until 3:30PM.  But it was worth it.  I brought my guy back home with me!

The Doctor and his team decided to not put a stint in the artery yesterday as the next step is to see if Clay will qualify to have his Aorta Valve replacement done by TVAR procedure rather than by open heart surgery.  They go through the groin to replace the Aorta Valve – Isn’t Technology and Medicine wonderful?

When Dr Palomino came to talk with me after the procedure, I saw happiness in his blue eyes (remember he was wearing a mask)!  He was probably shocked when he found that only one artery was 50% blocked, as he just knew that Clay had more blockages.  We were both happy!  It was the first time since meeting with him that he had those blue eyes smiling!  I just know that doctors feel our pain and really share our joys!

The Doctor who will do the stint (not sure when) was a great Doctor also.  He told me that Dr Palomino had saved Clay’s life.  I agreed with that and the fact that Major Wilson and his team at BAMC really drove it home to us that Clay’s heart Murmur was a potential problem.  The very very mild indicator that he had on 19 Feb with another ride in the meat wagon to ER was probably going to be the last warning if we had not switched heart doctors.  AGAIN, if he had not shot himself accidentally in the hand on New Years Eve, I would be sitting here all alone in the world without a husband.

I am such a firm believer now with the saying “everything happens for a reason” and consider all things now blessings.

I feel so relieved.  Next step will be to go through the evaluation protocol for TVAR with Dr Palomino’s partners and then hopefully by the end of May all is done and Clay is on his way to living again!  I know he will feel 100% better!  His hand is progressing very well, he is working every day doing therapy trying to get the scar tissue to release the repaired tendons.  The Doctors have said it takes about a year to be able to have the hand working well, but I bet he beats that record!

I am now ready to do some sewing for OMG.  Maybe some hand work also.  Think I am almost finished with the 4th leaf block.  On to the other 4 of the bottom corners for Mary Brown.

Have a great day!

Nanette