Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig !

During one of the boring times waiting for AJ to come out of his Procedure, Jennifer visited the Gift Shop and got AJ this candle and Balloon. She was really a little put out with the Shop. She said everything is Girly. There is nothing to buy for a Guy.

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When I got to the Hospital this morning, this is how I found AJ. I think he is ready to "Blow this Pop Stand".

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He had been hooked up to an IV and all all kinds of machines taking his vitals.

When I got there all wires and tubes had been removed. He was out of the gown, dressed and ready to leave. The only thing holding him up was the Paper Work.

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This is AJ's $2000.00 a day View from his room. He was on the 8th floor,

the Heart/Cardiac Floor.

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After AJ's Failed Procedure yesterday the Doc decided to keep him over night. If all had gone well he would have been on the table 2 hours. He was on the table 4 1/2 hours and the SVT was not fixed.

ME, Wade AAron, Julie and Ryan went home about 7:oo PM and Jennifer stayed. Wade brought Madison and Cassie up about that time. They visited some and then went and ate supper there in the Hospital Cafeteria. AJ had been given his supper earlier.

AJ is not a picky eater and will eat just about anything I fix. There are 2 things he draws the line on. One is Pork Roast and the other is Baked Chicken. He calls Baked Chicken "Road Kill". When his meal was brought in to him it had a dome cover on the main course to keep it warm. He had not had a thing to eat since the the evening before so he was ready for a little nourishment.

He lifted the lid and there it was........BAKED CHICKEN/ROAD KILL!!! He did eat it though. Jen did bring him her left over Spaghetti and Meat Balls and he ate that also.

The night didn't go well for him, he could not sleep and as soon as he would drop off a Nurse would come in to check on him. Then he would lay there awake again.

The night went well for me. I was so very tired I went to bed and slept through the whole night.

I went to the Hospital the next morning and he was dressed and ready to leave. The Doctor had been in and had released him. All we were waiting for was the Paper Work and we could leave.

After about 1 hour I went and ask the Desk if they had forgotten him and they said

"No we are working on the "Paper Work". What is this Paper Work?

Pretty soon after the trip to the Desk a Young Man came to the room with a wheel chair. Yippy we are going home! He then says AJ is scheduled for a Cat-Scan. What!!!! We are going home I say. AJ says the Doctor did not say one word about a Cat-Scan. I follow the Young Man to the Desk and now the Nurses are all checking on the Cat-Scan. I go back to the room determanded AJ is not going to have a Cat-Scan. Soon the Young Man returns and says "Sorry a little mix up". I then start thinking, this is the way they cut off the wrong leg-"Sorry a little mix up!".

Finally AJ and ME are on our way home. Just one more stop

The Fried Pie Shop. Yum-Yum.

We get them to go.

AJ sleeps most of the afternoon. I am so happy he is home. I am still very sad that the Heart was not fixed. I still have the same AJ, not a New and Improved AJ. He will be on some new oral drugs and maybe these will solve the problem or he may have to go ahead and have the Precedure again.

We will Pray about it and I am sure God will tell us what Path to Follow.

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March 30, 2009

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Today the alarm went off at 5:00 AM. I did not want to get up, but I knew I HAD HAD HAD to. I was scared and happy at the same time. The day was finally here. The day that would make AJ's life better. After today there would be no more of the Dreaded, Hated, and Detested SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia, a very rapid heart beat, 200 or more beats a minute). I got up and made coffee for ME, AJ was not allowed to have anything to drink after midnight the night before. Drinking coffee without my Drinking Buddy was not that satisfying, but it did help wake me up. We left the house at 6:30 AM, we had to be at the Hospital by 7:00 AM.

We got there right at 7:00 and we were scheduled for 9:00 AM, the first Procedure of the day. After the Paper Work was filled out AJ was taken to the prep area and was put in a Hospital Gown and an IV was put in the back of his hand. I was then allowed to go back with him. He was taken into the Procedure Room at 8:45 AM.

We were told by the Doctor these Procedures take 2 hours, 3 at the most. They were going to go into the heart with wires through veins in the groin. They would speed up the heart, find the spot where the trouble was and he would have a Cardiac Ablation (burn and remove). He would be sleeping this whole time. 4 Hours in the Recovery Room and then home.

Sounds fairly easy.

Guess again!

At 9:00 AM Wade, Julie, Ryan, Jennifer and ME were in the Hospital Cafeteria eating breakfast. We were taking our time, watching and enjoying the Baby, after all we had till 11:00 or maybe 12:00 before AJ would be out. We then went back to the waiting room. Wade and Edward settle back for some conversation, Jennifer and Julie talk "Kids", and I watch Price is Right. Now it is 11:00. Wade and Edward are still deep in conversation, Julie has taken Ryan for a walk and Jen has joined ME in front of the TV. Ok, 2 hours has gone by, the Doc said sometimes 3 hours. It is now Noon. No word on AJ. I am now staring at the TV but not seeing it! Jen picks up on my uneasyness and goes to the desk to see if she can get any information on AJ. In a short time a Nurse from the back comes out and tells us AJ is still on the table.

What!

Why?

She says he is still sleeping comfortablely.

What is going on? This is not going the way I was told.

Now I am scared, no I am mad, no I am confused!

Thank God! here is the Doctor.

He says "It's a Failed Operation".

He did all he could and just could not find the problem. He said if he had worked the heart any longer there was the chance AJ could have had a Heart Attack. He then went on to say that AJ would have to wait 2 months to heal and then be admitted to the Hospital where a Team of Doctors would do the Ablation. This time the Procedure could last 12 to 15 hours.

Oh my gosh! I can not believe this! All this for nothing! I thought it was over, but it's just beginning.

20 minutes later AJ is in the Recovery Room and is awake. After 4 1/2 ours I can go back to see him. He is still groggy and kind of funny acting. I choose not to tell him yet about the Failed Procedure. The Doctor decides to keep AJ over night and he is admitted to the Hospital. AJ is now wondering whats going on, this is not happening the way we were told. "Did something go wrong" he asks. "You're ok" I tell him "They just want to watch you for awhile". They take him to his room and 2 Nurses are getting him settled in. We are all outside the room waiting to go in. When the nurses finish settleing him in we are allowed in and he says "The Nurses said I did not get the Ablation, is that right?". I am speechless! Jennifer tells him the problem the Doctor had. She then goes on to tell him what had to be done next. AJ looks the way I feel.

The Doctor now comes in and goes into great detail about what had happened and what needs to be done next.

The Doctor is very disappointed and he shows it.

He tells AJ he really wanted to fix him.

I really believe this Man did all he could to fix AJ's SVT and had the good judgement to stop before there was a bigger problem.

I am sitting here all alone and feeling very sorry for myself.

AJ will go back on his Oral Drugs to help controll his SVT.

I will go back to watching him for tell-tell signs of a problem, like swelling ankles, and paleness.

The next 2 months will go by so slow, but yet they will fly by.

I know there are people out there with bigger problems then this and I do feel for them,

but right now all I can think about is AJ's SVT

and it is really consuming me.

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March = In Like a Lamb & Out Like a Lion!

I think this could be concidered a visual Oxymoron.

Sunflowers and Snow?

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My Little Maple Tree is all leafed out and covered with snow.

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These are my Perennials. They thought it was safe to come up.

Mother Nature is saying "Fooled Ya!"

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This looks so cold and un-fun.

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A few weeks ago the Girls were having fun in the back yard.
Lots of sun and warm enough for no coats.
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I grew up hearing my Mom and Grandma say "If March comes in like a Lamb it will go out like a Lion". Well this year that is exactly what happened. March started out so mild, like a Little Lamb. Our Crocus, Daffodils and Tulips all came up and bloomed. The grass is turning green and the weeds are thriving. There has been no heavy coats, just wind breakers and hoodies. Spring is HERE and Summer is peeking around the corner.
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Then on March 28, the end of March, the Lion Roared!
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We woke up to "SNOW" !!!
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Well Mom and Grandma, your Old Wives Tale was 100% True this time.

True Story Telling

Before the Big Show a little Orange Juice helps settle the nerves.

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We have a big crowd. There was sitting room only!

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Julie did so well at keeping the Children's attention. She told Ryan's Story in detail using words and props a Child could understand.
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Here Julie is holding a little stuffed doll, she had made heself, that shows the exact size of Ryan when he was born. In comparison she had a doll the size of a full term Baby.

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After Julie had told most of Ryan's Story and had showed the size he was at birth, he was brought out from behind the Stage and the Children got to meet him.

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She then had a Question & Answer time. The Kids got to raise their hands and ask anything they wanted to know about Ryan.

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We made it! The pressure is off and we can now kick back and enjoy our thumbs.

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After Julie spoke to the Kids there was a Chorus of 5th Graders that sang. They were really good.

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The Chorus sang and 3 Children kept the beat to the music on drums.

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Our Ryan was born early and only weighed 1 1/2 pounds. Through the Grace of God he has grown into a Wonderful 2 year old Little Boy. Ryan and Julie are "March of Dimes" Representatives. They were invited to come to Madision's School for a Kick-Off Assembly for the March of Dimes.

Julie had a Little stuffed doll she had made herself that is the exact size Ryan was when he was born. She also had a doll to show the size of a full term baby when it is born. I am still amazed when I see how tiny he was.

She told the story in detail, but using words the Children could understand and props they could relate to.

After she told the story Ryan was brought out from behind the stage and the Children were then able to meet him and see the Little Boy she had been talking about.

She then told the Kids a box would be put in every room and they could bring any coins and donate to the March of Dimes. She told them this money would go towards helping Babies not to be born to early, but to be born very healthy. The Principal also gave the Kids a surprise and told them what ever Class raised the most money would get a PIZZA PARTY!

After Ryan's Story there was a Chours of 5th Graders that sang a few songs for the Assembly. They were really great.

It was such a nice morning. After the Children went to class we all visited awhile and told stories about our Kids. It was hard to break up the fun but teachers had to get to class, Jen and Julie had to get to work and Cass had to get to school.

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Stars of the Show:

Julie & Ryan

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Producers:

Jennifer & Madison

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Stage Hand:

Cassie

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Photographer:

ME

Breaking (Italian) Bread with Friends

The past few years our Small Town has grown by leaps and bounds. We have quite a number of nice restaurants to choose from. One of my favorites is

"Johnny Carino's".

Great Italian Food!!!

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Dear "Out of State Friends" of AJ's and Me's were in town for a while , and we decided to get together for an evening meal. They enjoy Italian, so Carino's worked out well. The menu is large so it takes awhile to decide on what you will have.

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Jennifer and Cassie decided very fast. They are both on Diets, so they choose Chicken. Cass's was Chicken Parmigiana and Jen's a Grilled Chicken Panini (a very trendy name for a grilled sandwich).

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Madison is easy, plain spaghetti with butter and lots of Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated at the table of course! AJ has his old stand-by Lasagna and a Caesar Salad.

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Donna and Edward both choose something "White". Ed went very Italy and had a glass of Wine with his meal.

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After Mini Loaves of Bread dunked in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar and then soup or salads, the meal comes and you barely have room to put it.

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One thing I like about Johnny Carino's is you can dress up or go in your "Oklahoma Sooner's T-shirt and Ball Cap!

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There are many acceptable ways to eat spaghetti. You can twirl it with a spoon and fork, just twirl it on a fork, you can cut it and eat it with a fork (that is my way) or you can just suck it up and when you get a good mouth full bite it off.

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This was my my meal Italian Chili and Egg Plant Parmigiana. I shared soup with Madison and Egg Plant with Jen and still had to have a to-go box.

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This is Jen's Trendy Sandwich. It just did not hit the spot for her, so I shared my meal with her.

Isn't that what Moms do?

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AJ ate his Lasagna "All Gone". No sharing here!

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This is the Dessert Tray. Madison, ME, Cassie and ED all sharred the Turtle Cheese Cake (the one on the right). Somehow we all found room for a few of bites.

Trust me it is WONDERFUL!!!

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After the meal we went over to Wade and Jen's place for coffee and Chit-Chat. The evening was so great! We all could have stayed into the wee hours of the night and visited, but Madison and Cass had school, AJ, Wade and Jen had work the next morning and Donna had an early morning appointment. So the party broke up around 9:30.

The next morning Edward gave ME a call and thanked AJ and ME for such an enjoyable evening. He said if he had to write a script for an evening he could not have wrote it better!

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Thanks Ed,

AJ and Me miss you!

Giving Credit to Whom Credit is Do

One of AJ's favorite things to do in the evenings is to look on eBay for Vintage Records.

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He has found rare records. Records he has been searching years for.

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Thank goodness this is not one he wanted! It sold for $1,913.00. Tell me who in their right mind would spend this much money on a record in this Economy Crunch we are having?

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Sharing is something we start teaching our babies at a very young age. We hope by the time they are grown they have learned it well. Sharing is a very big part of a marriage. I think I have shared well in my marriage to AJ over the 30 + years.

I have shared with him:

secrets....the bathroom....the bed....the money....my life....children....grandchildren

pizza....the TV....yard work....cars....at one time a storage building (have my own now!)

a bag of popcorn at the movies....a cold....the laundry hamper.... in our younger years, the shower....a tooth brush....clothes....ailing parents....vacations....car accidents....good times, bad times....tears....pets....early sun rises and evening sunsets.

All these have been done with a loving heart. But I do draw the line--MY COMPUTER!
For about the last month AJ's computer has been down. I have mentioned how AJ and ME lean gently on our childern. Well our son Wade is (in our eyes) a Computer Genius! Wade removed the computer from our house and took it to his home to work on it and get it up and running again. This left only one computer in our home...MINE!

I really tried to share. I would be sitting and doing my eBay work and would look up and there was AJ looking at me. A little more work and He was still looking. Next thing he would say was "I have made coffee want some?". I would say "Sure Honey, would you like the computer?" He would say "only if you're done" and I would say "I'm done". We were so polite! This went on for a number of weeks. Finally we got the PHONE CALL from Wade, "The computer is ready". It felt like Christmas morning! AJ drove the 40 miles and got the machine and brought it home.

We are now almost back to normal. The machine still needs the "Touch of the Master Hand". AJ says Wade has to do something to it to get it to load faster or something? But for now we are again a 2 computer family.

AJ and ME got through the crisis of the sick computer. I give all the Credit to our very own Computer Doctor: Wade Aaron.

Thanks Wade,

you are Loved and Appreciated!

G

White Collars Get Dirty

Jen pruned this tree.

Oh my!

She will also cut your hair or groom your dog!

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If you get it started, I can run it!

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Thanks Wade! It is nice to have a Man around.


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Do not rush me. This has to be precise.

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I know just what I'm doing. Trust Me!

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Mowing is good for the waist line. Twist and Turn.

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Now Step-Step-Step!

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Pruning is also good excerising. Stretch high-

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bend low.

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Feel my muscle. I'm pumped!!!

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Who are my "White Collars"?

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Son-in law: Wade--CPA

Daughter: Jennifer--Network Manager

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What do they do on week-ends?

They get down and dirty!

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Sunday I had my very own Lawn Crew come over. They scalped my lawn and edged. Jen did some pruning. When they arrive, I just go in the house and let them go at it! After all it is just grass and trees and it will grow back! I sure do not want to make them mad, they do this pretty cheap-FREE!

Monday through Friday these kids are very White Collared. They both sit with their noses pointed into their computers and telephones taped to their heads. We all know how important CPA's are in a businesses and when it comes to April 15th, they are Gold! Jen works for an insurance company and makes life changing decisions every day.

When the week-end comes they both just kick back. Wade spends time with Madison. Every Saturday Wade and Madison have lunch together. He lets her pick the restaraunt they go to. This can range from places like McDonalds to Outback Steak House. Her choice! Then if a new PG movie is out, off they go to it.

Saturdays, Jennifer hits the Garage Sales and Thrift Stores and of coures I tag along. We dine on Big Gulps, Cappuccinos, doughnuts and peanutbutter cheese crackers from 7-11 Stores. Trips to Lowe's are usually on the agenda to see what new flowers and plants have arrived. Then she has an afternoon of planting and they both then have an evening of recooping.

Sundays are modge-podge! They do whatever needs done and sometimes that is helping AJ and ME. AJ always needs that extra hand (Wade) and I can always use some help (Jennifer). They do come in handy and they are always willing to help or just do it! Sunday evenings AJ and ME usually find ourselves at Wade and Jen's for supper.

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I hope Jen & Wade know they are Loved and Appreciated.

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The older AJ and ME get the more we lean gently on ALL of our Childern.

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Thanks Kids!!!

Friday the 13th

This is a Patch (1 of many) that is put on a person when they get an

EKG=Electrocardiogram, A recording of the electrical activity of the heartbeat.

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Am I superstitious? Not really. Yet I do throw salt over my shoulder when I spill it, do not walk under ladders, do not really enjoy a Black Cat crossing my path, hate it when I break a mirror and when the 13th falls on a Friday try to just stay home.

This past Friday the 13th, March of 2009, my day started out normal. AJ had gone to work and I got up soon after he left. Usually by mid-morning I have called him or he has has called me, for just idle chit-chat; really just checking on each other. I did recieve that call and he seemed fine. At noonish he walked in the door. It was to early for his lunch break. As soon as I saw him I knew something was wrong. He was very ashen. "What are you doing home?" was the first words out of my mouth. He snapped back, "My heart hurts". Now comes the feeling every woman knows when their child or husband is ill.

This man is my LIFE-Mate and I am not ready to lose him.

He goes straight to the blood pressure machine and his pulse reads 201. I get him an asprin and and he decides to lay down and see if some rest slows it down. I mention 911 and Emergency Room and of course he says, "NO". He is very adgitated. His very loved cat, Murphy was getting on his nerves, the phone rang and he cursed it, and I could say nothing right. At this point I started getting ready, he was going somewhere! About that time he also started putting on his shoes and I asked, "Are we going somewhere?" and he said, "yeah, maybe the Emergency Room". We take the blood pressure again before we leave and this time it will not even register his pulse, meaning it is over the machine's limit.

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We get to the hospital in just a few minutes, we live close. They get him in a room immediately, start checking him and asking questions. He is hooked up to the machine that shows his vitals. Everything looks good except for his pulse, which is now 213 beats per minute. AJ's norm is about 72 beats per minute. We know exactly what is going on. He is right in the middle of a SVT (Supra Ventricular Tachycardia) spell. This has by now been going on for about 2 hours. The heart can beat fast and slow down and thats no problem, but when it beats at this rate nonstop for this length of time, there is the chance it can just wear out.

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AJ now has all kinds of patches on his bare chest. They take a chest x-ray, an EKG (Electrocardiogram-a recording of the electrical activity of the heartbeat), and an IV is put in his arm (for fluids). Soon the doctor comes in and says the only thing to get the heart rate back to normal is to defib the heart. This was done to AJ about 8 years ago when the problem first started. They do not use a defibrillator, but put a medicine in the IV that does the same thing; actually shocks the heart and stops it. As they start administering the liquid defibrillator into the IV we are told he will feel warm all over; and at this point I am watching the monitor and the pulse is 213. In just a matter of a few seconds the rate goes to "0" and then to 107. The heart has been stopped and restarted. Yes this is scary! This took a tole on AJ. He at this point is very emotional and I am so full of anxiety I could just pass-out.

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The heart rate stays at about 100 for the next hour, so they did not have to defib him again. If it had sped up we would have had to go through that again.

His heart doctor was called by the ER doctor and he has an appointment on Monday to see him. The doctor at the hospital told us he is a candidate for a procedure called "Ablation". They will go to the heart (how? we do not know yet) and cauterize (burn and remove) the area that is causing this problem. This will all be discussed Monday.

AJ left theEmergency Room feeling better, but very tired.

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This Friday the 13th was not fun.

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You might say an extra Prayer for AJ & ME.

Thanks!!!

Remember When ? 1977

Dearest AJ,

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Remember When

I was young and so were you and time stood still.

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Remember When

we vowed the vows, gave our Hearts and made the start. We lived and learned, there was Joy and there was Hurt.

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Remember When

thirty seemed so old. Now looking back, it's just a stepping stone to where we are and where we've been. We'd do it all again.

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Remember When

we said "When we turn gray and the children grow up and move away, we won't be sad, we'll be glad for all the Life we've had

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and

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We'll Remember When.

ME

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(Remember When: by Alan Jackson)

Recycle

We must all do our part in keeping our world Cean and Safe.

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One of the easiest ways is Recycling.

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Recycling usually brings to mind Newspapers, Plastics, Batteries and Soda Pop Cans.

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Sometimes Recycling can also be other things.
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This Aquarium once stood in my Mom's Home. She had it for at least 8 years. She kept about a dozen or more Tropical Fish in it. She fed them and kept the water and filters clean. The aquarium was really very pretty and the Fish thrived. Mom is almost 84 and one day she said she was just tired of the tending to the Fish. What to do with this large aquarium and the healthy fish? Well the Fish went to her Grandson Wade. He has a very large aquarium and these fish would fit in well. The aquarium sat empty for a few months. One day the aquarium was mentioned to Wade Aaron and Julie, also Grandchildren. They said they would love to have it and they thought Baby Boy Ryan would enjoy it. So on a week-end trip here, the Aquaruium was packed up in the car and off it went to a New Home. The Aquarium (as seen in the pictures) looks Great! The Fish look happy! And I do believe the whole Family enjoys it!
The point I am trying to get across is if you have something you no longer need or want, before it is tossed out ask a Family member or a Friend. Also if you look under Thrift Stores in the Yellow Pages and give one a call they will be very happy to come right to your door and pick items up. Another thing is Churches or Charitable Organizations like the March of Dimes, usually have a Garage Sale and are happy to get items.

A few things I do to help recycle and keep our Earth from getting over loaded with Trash is:
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When I get a Coke or Coffee from a Convenient Store I keep the Plastic or Foam cup and use it again next time. Refills are even cheaper in these stores.
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I always ask for paper bags in the Grocery Stores. Paper will rot away but Plastic stays forever!
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I never by scratch pads. I get so much mail and so do you. If you go through your junk mail and even you bills, you will find there is alot of paper with blank backsides. I aways use this paper for joting things down, grocery lists or messages. You say why go to the trouble, it saves our Trees and saves you a little money!
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I really do have more but will let you in on them some other time.