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

Greetings from South Texas where summer is here and Texas is going to be opened up on 1 May 2020.  

Some good news!  We were advised last Tuesday that Clay was Number One on the list for his Heart Cath and Aorta Valve Replacement for 1 May!  We are so glad!  We will not know which way they will replace the AVR until the Heart Cath is done Friday.  We will be there at 6 AM and the procedure will start at 8 AM.

Friday I had an eye appointment and Clay had an appointment at BAMC for a checkup.  It was an interesting day getting out of the house since we had not been anywhere but curbside HEB for groceries for 6 weeks!  I picked up some things at Whole Foods and as I came out of the store it felt like it was just yesterday that we had been out and about.

So for those who have not been out yet, believe me, once your area opens up, you will have the same feeling.

Today Clay had an appointment for Therapy at BAMC this morning.  He had purchased a gift for his surgeon Major David Wilson.  We were told Friday that he would be deploying in the next week or so and we would not see him again.  This morning we stopped in at the Clinic to leave his gift – a set of Oak Leaf Clusters that he will pin on when he is promoted to Lt Colonel hopefully by the end of the year.  We had prepared a card for him expressing our gratitude to him for saving Clay’s hand.  We left the Orthopedic area indicating we were heading to the Business Office to pay another bill.  When I came out of that office I looked up and here came our beloved Major Wilson looking for us to thank us for the wonderful gift and card!  I will admit that we broke all the rules because I gave him 2 great hugs and Clay also gave him a hug.  If we could adopt him we would!  LOL.  This was the highlight of the day for us!

Sunday our new yard man, Roger, did the yard!  He is absolutely one of the hardest working individuals that we have hired.  I do believe we have a permanent yard man forever, as needed.

I have been working on Celebrating Mary Brown this month (and it is not a lot).  I have mostly bought books or patterns (like I needed more) and gave up on OMG – difficult focusing.  I have finished 3 of the last 4 leaf blocks for Mary Brown.  I am almost finished with the 4th and hoping that it will be a quiet day tomorrow and I can do that!  So here is what I have done.  The  blocks will go on the bottom of the quilt.  I have not done the blocks with the Vase’s.

Here is a picture of the right hand corner of the quilt.

Lot of work yet to do to catch up, but I will be happy to finish the 4th block of leaves.

Again, I have not really had time or ability to focus on reading other Blogger’s post!  We are praying that things go well and our lives will return to normal in June, if not before.  I believe that our 2020 will begin in July which is fine.  We have received so many many blessings this year it is unbelievable.

Today was no different because we were unaware that the Base entry rules had changed and we had to go back to the Visitors Center to get Clay a temporary pass (I have a permanent one because I am a retired Civilian).  IF that had not happened, we would have been in the Orthopedic Clinic 30 minutes earlier and Major Wilson would have not been able to chase us down.  Life is good, even when we do not understand why things happen when they do!

Wish all a great week and will try to get an update out in a week or so!

Nanette

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 appears that I have lost my desire to work on quilts since Clay’s accident on  New Years Eve.  I do understand that this is only a bump in the road and things will return to normal later in the year!   My focus has been 100% on Clay and getting him back to where he will feel better and his hand will be working much better!   He has always supported me when I went through surgeries and health issues, so I do not mind taking a break from quilting in fact, I am learning how to day each day as it comes – Good or Bad!  I began helping him with his therapy yesterday  – we work on his hand every 2 hours and our goal is to do it 4 to 5 times a day.  Since yesterday, his wrist seems to be doing a little better as far as movement.  YEA! A Blessing.

Blessing 2 – I found a great person to take over the yard work!  He and his wife came by last week to give me an estimate and he ended up taking the time to mow the grass in the yard (not the outside acreage since the ‘weeds’ were not high enough!   I was overcome with relief!  I also found a great company to come and exterminate at a later date.

Blessing 3 – I was able to obtain enough chicken to cover me for the entire month and all other essentials and food that we needed.  It took me 3 weeks to get all the groceries that I usually buy at one time at the first of each month.  I ordered from Walmart, who delivers to the house, and went to the local store and pick it up at Curbside.  I had to wait 9 days to get the first order – unbelievable!

Blessing 4 – 7 inches of RAIN in the last week!!!  YEA

But enough of this boring stuff!  Now having said all I have to say about life, here is what I have accomplished in a month – A MONTH!  Would you call this a record for me?  LOL

These are 2 blocks for OMIGOSH!  I am using reproduction fabrics from Barbara Brackman’s Lady In Red an Richmond Reds.  To make a ‘block’ it takes 2 each 5 inch (unfinished) 9 patches and 2 shoofly blocks.

Monday morning I woke up with a creative idea as what to do with old bath towels that we usually lay at the doorway to clean our shoes whenever we get rain!

This is what I started with (old towel)

I had a total of 4 towels to retrofit to inside door mats that do not slip or slide!

Well, this is all I have for the month so far!  I am now relaxing and just enjoying life with no issues at this time.  With all the madness in the world, we are at peace.

Nanette