Seeing Cardiologist today

Mama Trudy has an appointment with the cardiologist today, in Chattanooga.

We took our picture before we left to go to the doctor.  (I cut the top of my head off!)

But even though I can’t seem to get to many pictures with my mama, it’s not about me…  it’s about her.  For the first time in her life, it’s going to be all about her.  I’m going to make sure of it. 

The love and joy in her spirit shines in her pictures even though she doesn’t feel good.  She makes an incredible effort to keep people from knowing that she feels like poo and her head is swimming.  She comes from a tough generation and somewhere along the way, she learned to make the best out of any situation and hide her feelings.  In my eyes, she has never been more beautiful.

From the back seat, I took this picture not far from Mama’s apartment.

The trip to the cardiologist went well.  They provided mother a wheelchair while at the clinic and that kept her from getting exhausted.  Her diagnosis is congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, and tachycardia. He prescribed something to help lower her heart beats per minute, which currently ranges from 80 to 136 bpm.

Here’s the email update I sent today:

The cardiologist prescribed a low dosage of med to help slow her very rapid heart rate (which may be the cause of her 'swimmy' head). If her body tolerates the med and she feels better, PTL. If not, he will try a low dosage of diuretic. He is being very attentive and cautious and we appreciate that. She will have blood work done, locally, in a week to evaluate the level of the new medication in her system.

Dr visit went well. I know all your prayers are making a huge difference. She's tired, back home but not completely exhausted.

Stay tuned. :-)
LaVon

Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

The first email update:

Dear family,

Just a note to keep you informed as much as possible.

In addition to he "swimmy" head (her word) , Mama Trudy has gotten much weaker in just the last month. The arrhythmia is more and she now has congestion forming around her heart. These conditions cause her to cough a lot and she is very tired. Walking from one room to another wears her to exhaustion and breathing is also a challenge most of the time. The only time her head isn't swimmy is when she is lying down.

Her body does not tolerate medication well, at all, but tomorrow we (Jonny & I ) are taking her to her appointment with the cardiologist in Chattanooga. She is not looking forward to the 45 minute drive but she's not complaining. We just praying for short wait time.

Primarily, we want to find out if a diuretic will help her with fluid and a Med for her arrhythmia that maybe she can tolerate.

Her comfort is a priority to us.

She's ready to go Home, she told me tonight. Jonny and I are processing letting her go. Pray for us.

I am so thankful at how awesome God is to get me here with mama so quickly. A true testament of His love for us. There are some wonderful, precious, obedient servants of God in this family and we love you all.

Until the next report, keep singing His praises!

Sunday is here

My handsome brother, Jon, came by after church.

First sunny day came on Sunday

The sun came up this morning and we saw it!  The clouds are gone.  We had a very heavy frost this morning and the trees were shining in the early morning sun coming over the mountain.

This afternoon, I bundled Mama up and she sat out in the sunshine to get a little natural vitamin D.  Tonight, when she saw this picture, she said the funniest thing:  “That makes me look like an old woman.”  Mama is almost 93 1/2 years old! At first, she couldn’t figure out what I was laughing about and then she got tickled at herself.  I love my mama.

I understand, though, why she said that… she really doesn’t look like an old woman, even in this picture.

See the house above the apartment across the parking lot, the one up on the side of the mountain?  I wonder what it looks like close up?

Now, I wonder if anyone lives there.  If so, they have a nice view in the winter when all the leaves are gone.

Mama didn’t stay outside very long.  Got tired and we went back inside.

Don called me after church this morning.  In fact, several friends from the park called me to tell me how good church was this morning and what a wonderful sermon Don preached.  I miss hearing him preach.

Georgia bound

We had to be at the airport at 5:00 AM, which meant that I was up at 3:30 AM.

It seemed rather quiet at the air port, so Don and I sat in the lobby and chatted until almost time for me to board at 6:25 AM.

This Christmas tree in the lobby is one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen.  I love how they have decorated it.

The leg of my flight from McAllen to DFW was in the worst seat on the plane… last row by the window.  I opened the shade on the window and there was an engine.   I didn’t care, I was on a plane going to my mama!  The next leg, DFW to Nashville = First Class… that was N.I.C.E.  Sat beside a nice lady and chatted a little.  Was met at the Nashville airport by my brother, Jon.  The two hour ride to mama’s apartment went by quickly as we visited.

We stopped in Trenton and I bought a poinsettia for Mama Trudy and I had purchased a red ribbon for my hair.  When we walked through the door, she didn’t recognize me at first and then she realized who I was and I sat down on the couch beside her.  She grabbed me and just sobbed and sobbed.  We both did.  No. We all cried, my brother, included.  This picture was taken after we regained our composure.

She was so surprised and she can’t believe I’m here.  She knew our plan was to spend next summer with her, but she’s been telling my brother she doesn’t think she will make it to next summer, so she’d been praying that God would let her live until Don and I got here.

She’s very weak and coughs a lot.

Kris Update: The very latest news

To all our dear friends and loved ones!

The last update, dated November 16, was chocked full of great things and uplifting experiences during my week’s visit with Kris back in November. I was excited to just send it out to you all. Without being too much of a kill-joy, however, let’s just say not every day can be so “chocked full of great things,” and such was the case the week after I left.

Kris became very ill, I’m afraid, and was finally diagnosed with pneumonia. It’s bad enough when anyone is down with the “bug,” but it’s really very difficult in Kris’s situation. She cannot speak, so she can’t tell you what hurts, where she feels bad, or even that she needs her nose cleaned out. She evidently ran a fever for several days, and they started her on an antibiotic. That didn’t seem to help, so she was given another stronger antibiotic, and that must have helped a good bit. She wasn’t taking her tube feedings for a while, so they started her on Pedialyte liquid for hydration. She was in bed, however, a number of days for the most part, and that’s not good for someone who is already having trouble with muscle tone. She didn’t seem to want to go to therapy, and likely had some depression in there as well. Who wouldn’t?!!!

The worry factor hit an all-time high for me, so the telephone conversations between Sebring, Florida, and the director of nursing, the assistant director of nursing, the nurses on duty, and the therapy gals became even more frequent. They were all concerned. Fortunately, the medical doctor for the facility has an office there in LaVernia, too, and he seems very good about coming in to check on patients. Kris was better by the end of last week, finally, and today I understand she had some mashed potatoes and gravy; at least several teaspoons full. Another good sign. She’s back in therapy and was even playing checkers the other day.

Last Wednesday, Kris had an appointment for more evaluations back at the newly opened VA Audie Murphy Poly Trauma Center in San Antonio. Russell went with her, of course, and he said Kris will likely be fitted with a neck brace of some new design that has helped quite a few people with her type of disability. Kris is now more and more prone to having her head to the left side and down, and it’s becoming more difficult for her to keep her head up. That will make it really hard for her to drive her motorized wheelchair when she gets it, because she has to be able to look ahead and see where she’s going. This new neck brace should help, and we are very hopeful that it will.

Even now, it is so difficult not to be there, but I know that everyone is doing their best to take good care of Kris. Russell will go with her again this Wednesday for two more appointments at the VA, and a final determination will be made the first week of January as to whether Kris will be able to come there for several weeks of in-depth therapy and speech training. Fortunately, I will be able to be there that week, and I am truly thankful and praise God we’ve been able to book some more shows in January and February especially to help with our finances. In the meantime, I talk to her every day via Susan, the speech therapist there at Country Care Manor, or through Russell. It is such a help to me to be able to do that.

Now, for those who have asked... a very quick update on the remodeling of the double-wide we bought last spring. We bought it in late March and left for Texas April 2nd. We decided to paint when we get back. Once we returned to Florida in the middle of October, however, we decided the kitchen needed some work on the cabinets, and then we’d paint. It’s now December 12, and the kitchen will be done when the new floor covering is in (coming soon to the Home Depot!). Never say you’re going to “just paint” when you’re married to a carpenter/electrician/plumber perfectionist!!! I’m the painter, he does the rest, but I feed him well so that keeps him happy! After 30 years of marriage, we’ve decided we will definitely live through this whole-house renovation project, and it will be lovely when it’s done!

We’ll miss not being there with Kris for Christmas this year, the way we were last year. But Kris’s family is close by and they will be with her I’m sure. Russell said they attended the special Christmas party for residents this past Thursday evening. He took a picture of Kris with Santa, and he said she even tried some stuffing at the dinner. These are all positive things and we just thank God for and for giving us such hope. This is the time of year to have hope, after all, to rejoice in that Hope, and to praise Him for every joy that we have, and even for the rough spots. Corrie Ten Boom once said, “In order to feel the worth of the Anchor, we need to feel the stress of the storm.”

May your Christmas be blessed, may your New Year be filled with health and happiness, and may you find the peace that is brought to us in the form of a Babe in a manger. This is the time when it’s hard to be away from all our children and grandchildren, and so we wish all of them a joyous Christmas, too. But Jesus is the reason we celebrate, after all, and so, with grateful hearts, we wish to all of you... a very Merry Christmas!

Blessings and love,

Carol and George

PS:

Truly I meant to put Kris’s mailing address in last night’s update. Now that several people have already asked me, George said, “Why don’t you send it out to everyone now!” Good idea!!!

Maj Kristine Ratliff

Country Care Manor

2736 FM 775, Room 302

LaVernia, TX 78121

At this beautiful season of Hope and Love, Kris will be delighted to hear from any who wish to send a card. And, again, a very Merry Christmas to you all!

Blessings and love,

Carol and George

God is so good…

Don checked online for an airline ticket to Nashville and found nothing for less than $700+…. ouch.  As you may know, I swallowed my pride and sent out a request for air points.  Within a couple of hours, God had provided a ticket for me for next Thursday.  That’s day after tomorrow!!  Wow! God is awesome!!  Many, many thanks to my step-nephew who works for an airline, for stepping out with mega blessings.  The airline even flies out of McAllen, so Don will not have to drive me to San Antonio or Corpus Christi and back to the Tip alone.  The McAllen airport is about 10-15 minutes from our park.

I hardly know where to start to get ready.  Don took me shopping for a pair of boots… it’s colder in northwest Georgia than it is in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas this time of year.  Found a really comfy pair at a really good price.

I have really fretted about leaving Don alone, but God has worked this all out way ahead of me, so I know Don will be alright.  My Heavenly Father is the best keeper and I trust Him.

… All the time.

Christmas fellowship with friends

This evening, we were invited to Gene and Rosalyn’s for a little Christmas fellowship time with friends.Wava loves to bake!!Rosalyn’s cousin and Wava’s husband, Ralph, makes the punch.Rosalyn sets out plates and cups.

Wava serves up the punch.  It was yummy!

Well, this is where we were when I got the call from my brother that Mama Trudy wasn’t doing well at all.  I have some mental processing to do.

Feeling really creative ;-)

Just click on the picture for the recipe to this amazing Carmel Corn Mix.

Note:  In the Q, I only have one microwave bowl, that I actually purchased today to make this recipe and didn’t realize I needed two microwave bowls…. so, I actually prepared the syrup in a pan on the stove top.  Just as fast.

2nd Note:  I also added just a smidgen of baking soda to the syrup after removing it from the stove and before pouring it over the pop corn, rice Chex mix and roasted peanuts. (that’s the ingredients I used).

This would make great Christmas gifts in individual containers and it’s soooo easy.  Takes about twelve minutes, total.

Dizzy Day

Well, for Pete’s sake…. Walk Away the Pounds kicked my patootie today!  We did the Walk Strong segment with intervals of squats and lunges with 2 pound weights.  During the last segment of cool down, I thought I was going to pass out and had to stop.  The rest of the day, I felt really “punky” as Don calls it.

Walking to the main hall, Don had to stop walking for a second, because he was feeling very light headed.  This happens occasionally with him.

During Bible Study, Louis, the gentleman sitting across the table from us, was telling his wife that something was wrong, he just didn’t feel good.  Don asked him if he was dizzy and he said he was.  Louis stopped Connie and said he needed prayer so we stopped right there and prayed for him.  And then Barbie, nurse and the first responder in Bible Study, drove he and his wife to their house.  Barbie checked on him all through the day and he said he was better.  I walked with him out to the car and he said at one point, he could not even see Connie.  Barbie said his blood sugar may have dropped or he may have had a T.I.A.  Don suggested he see a doctor, also.

We needed to go over to Donna to see the man who is going to repair the Q.  He was out for an hour or so, so we drove over to Weslaco for lunch. (I wonder if he was dizzy, too.)

Main street.

Not Main Street.

Very pretty Catholic church on Oklahoma Avenue.

Back at the Q, I spent the rest of the day, horizontal on the sofa.

It was a dizzy day.

Lunch with Donna

Finally, Donna and I met for lunch today.

Donna and Jim were our park managers last season.  Donna was also my walking partner.  This season, Jim has taken job outside the park and Donna is being the stay at home …. oh wait, she’s retired!!!

It was so good to see Donna again.  We had a great time catching up and made plans to meet for lunch again soon. 

It’s beginning to look…

I found a Christmas tree!!!  Grant it, it’s only thirteen inches tall, but it fits in the Q.  And I love it’s message.

These are decorations from last Christmas…. that have been hanging, oh my goodness, for a whole year.

So, I found a few more red and gold decorations to go with them.

Here. You get the full effect.Hmmm. It looks more festive than this picture reveals. I think.

I’m already wondering where we will store these decorations.  I know.  You’re hoping I don’t store them right where they are.

Onward Christian Soldiers

Honestly. What does a personal relationship with Jesus Christ look like?

The Psalmist writes:

13:5 – But I trust in your unfailing love.  I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

13:6 – I will sing to the LORD because He is good to me.

Verses 5 and 6 are the last two verses in chapter 13, so had the LORD already “rescued” him when he wrote this?  Let’s check:

13:1 – O LORD, how long will you forget me?  Forever?  How long will you look the other way?

13:2 – How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?  How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

13:3 – Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!  Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.

13:4 – Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”  Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

Doesn’t sound like someone who has already been rescued, does it?  But it does sound like some one who has a personal relationship with the LORD. He talks to the LORD, honestly.  Immediately, he reminds himself and the LORD, that he trusts HIM. 

Read verses 5 & 6 again.

David knows Who is with him.  He knows Who is all powerful and he know Who loves him.  So he begins to praise the LORD!

No matter what is going on in your life, God is with you, if you have made Him LORD and Master of your life.  No matter your trials and troubles, praise God.  Satan will not hang around when his purpose (to kill, steal and destroy) is not being established but instead, God is being praised!

A personal relationship with God starts with knowing His word (the Bible) and believing what you know. What follows the knowing and believing is acting on what you know and believe.   A personal relationship with God is inviting and involving Him in every area of your life, intentionally, until there is no difference between your life and His life.

Marvelous Monday

Wow! Our December calendar is getting busy!  Lots of things going on this month.

I managed to make it to Walk Away the Pounds this morning.  Worked up a good sweat for 2.5 miles.

Next was the “lets watch wet paint dry” time.  Better known as the Monday Morning Meeting here at the Tip.  However, it was more interesting this morning, thanks to characters like Rene St.James. 

A new website is being created to help residents know what’s going on in the park.  http://totfyi.com

I’ve made an ‘executive’ decision.  We have officially started an iPad Fund at the Q.  Got to have one of those.

Don and I had to make a trip to Camping World for a few RV items this afternoon.  Being so close, we buzzed on over to visit Snookie and Bob and wound up staying for a few hours.  What a good time we had with them.  Loved hearing about their trip to the Bull Fight at Santa Maria in LaGloria.  I still can’t believe they are this close to us this season!

We stopped at a fresh produce place.  They had fresh squeezed orange juice and grapefruit juice.  Yum-yum.

Beautiful day today.  Cooler, but very nice in the sun.

What??? No pictures???

Sunday is Here

I have a difficult time writing about our Sunday’s simply because they are so delightful and praise worthy that I don’t feel like I do them justice with my meager words.

Don’s sermon was “What is Hope?”

Look up these scriptures and see if you can write a sermon about HOPE:

1 John 5:11-12

John 3: 16

Isaiah 9:6-7

Isaiah 49:23

1 Timothy 2:1

Psalm 33:16-22

Don told this story:

There once was a fabulously wealthy man who loved his son above all things. To stay close to his son, they began to build an art collection together. Every spare minute, they were out at auctions and sales acquiring rare works of art: everything from Picasso to Raphael. By the time the Vietnam conflict broke out , they built one of the rarest most valuable collections in the world. A letter came one day informing the son he had been drafted. The father offered to pull some strings, but the son felt compelled to serve his country as his father and grandfather did before him.
The son went off to war, but he wrote his dad everyday. One day the letters stopped. The father's worst fears were realized when he received a telegram from the war department informing him his son had been killed while attempting to rescue another soldier. About six months later, there was a knock at the door. A young soldier with a large package under his arm said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the man your son saved on that faithful day he died deep in the jungles of Viet Nam. He had already saved many lives that day, and as he was carrying me off the battlefield, he was shot through the heart and died instantly.
Your son was my friend and we spent many a lonely night "in country talking about you and your love for art." The young soldier held out his package and said, "I know this isn't much and I'm not much of an artist, but I wanted you to have this painting I've done of your son as I last remember him. The father tore open the package and fought back the tears as he gazed at a portrait of his one and only son. He said, "You have captured the essence of my son's smile in this painting and I will cherish it above all others." The father hung the portrait over his mantle. When visitors came to his home, he always drew attention to the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other masterpieces.
When the father died the news went out that the entire collection was being offered at an exclusive private auction. Collectors and art experts from around the world gathered for the chance of purchasing one of them. The first painting on the auction block was the soldier's modest rendering of his son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel and asked someone to start the bidding. The sophisticated crowd scoffed and demanded the Van Gogh's and the Rembrandts be brought forth. The auctioneer persisted. "Who will start the bidding? $200? $100?" The crowd continued to turn up their noses, waiting to see the more serious paintings. Still the auctioneer solicited, "The son! The son! Who will take the son? Finally a squeaky voice from the back said, "I'll bid $10 for the son." The bidder was none other than the young soldier the son had died saving. He said, "I didn't come to buy anything and all I have is $10 to my name, but I bid it all." The auctioneer continued seeking a higher bid, but the angry crowd began to chant, "Sell it to him and let's get on with the auction." The auctioneer pounded the gavel and sold the painting for the bid of $10. An eager buyer from the second row bellowed, "Finally, on with the auction." And just then the auctioneer said, "The auction is now officially closed." The hostile crowd demanded to know how after coming, all this way could the auction possibly be over? The president of the auctioning company came to the microphone and said, "When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a stipulation in the will I could not divulge until now. According to the wishes of the deceased only the painting of the son was to be sold today and whoever takes the son gets it all. So today, for $10 this young man has bought one of the world's most priceless art collections and the entire estate in which it is housed -- auction closed." And with the swing of the gavel, the crowd sat in stunned silence staring at the young soldier.
The moral of the story is simple. You can stop trying to be good enough for God. If you take the son, you'll get everything else the Father has to offer.

It's this simple and yet this sublime: "whoever has God's Son has life; whoever does not have his Son, does not have life.

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:12-13)

You could hear the air leave the room when Don said, “Whoever takes the son, gets it all.”

Do you know the definition of Biblical Hope?

Don is preaching with such urgency and passion and folks are listening and being affected by the Holy Spirit.  It’s a beautiful thing to watch the Light come on.

There were about a dozen more in church than last Sunday. I love seeing folks for the first time after being apart for the summer… lots of hugs.

This afternoon… nap.  New sofa sleeps really good!

Super Saturday

Do you see it?  In our beautiful palm tree?

A squirrel in a palm tree just doesn’t look normal to me.  We are curious as to what they eat here.  This palm trees don’t have nuts or dates, but they do have an abundance of little black seeds certain times of the year.  Nonetheless, he’s here in a palm tree that doesn’t offer him much play area. He was stretched out on a hanging basket hanger, that’s nailed much lower to the ground, when we came out of the Q this morning.  He scampered up to the very top and watched us.

I’m so excited!  We decided on the bonded leather sofa over the microfiber one.  Both were bargains.  Before we purchased this one, we went to another store and looked at a Lazy Boy high grade leather sofa.  Very comfy, but I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy it knowing how much it cost… well, it was just way out of our budget.  We are very pleased with this one.  It is very comfortable.

It was almost dark when our new sofa was delivered. We were glad that they picked up our old sofa and recliner and will take them to the Salvation Army to be repaired and used. 

We needed drinking water, so I rode my bike up to the main hall to get a gallon, taking my camera with me.  The indoor pool area is very pretty in the evening.  I’m wondering why Don and I aren’t stirring up these waters.

The front of the Main Hall is pretty with Christmas lights. This building houses the hall where church is held, kitchen, the manager’s office, meeting rooms, billiards room, library, store, indoor pool, post office, sewing room, arts and crafts room (where chapel choir practice is held), showers, small prayer chapel (which is closed for renovation), and the large laundromat.  It is a big building.

Well, that’s the last time I go with them (wink, wink)

Today was an amazing day, except for the part where I forgot to go to Walk Away the Pounds this morning!  And Friday is my day to ‘man’ the TV!  Thank the Lord for Lynne and Betty who stepped up.

9:00 AM – Bible study.  This year, Connie is teaching Until Christ Returns by David Jeremiah.  There was already a bunch of folks attending.  That’s wonderful!

After Bible Study, we stopped by a gentleman’s RV to visit.  Very interesting visit.  I could have listen to him for hours.  God has truly worked in his life and I love hearing about that.

Around 11:30, Nancy and Jeanelle picked me up and off we went to lunch at Friends, a lunch café, and then to the Fashion Bug in Edinburg for a little shopping.  I tried on an outfit, but decided against buying it because I just wasn’t sure I would get that much wear out of it because the top is a lightweight sweater.  When I came out of the dressing room, I hung the sweater and pants back on the rack to not purchase.  Nancy promptly picked them up and she purchased the pants and Jeanelle purchased the sweater… for me.  I would like to say that I will never go shopping with them again, but I would be lying.  Now I have a new Date Night outfit! … complete with necklace and earrings.  Hey Girls, I’m free the 16th to go shopping again!! 

Seriously, I’m joking around because, “Thank You” just doesn’t seem like enough to say.  I’m so blessed to have these girls in my life.  They are amazing friends.

I must tell you an amazing story that happened this week.  It involves our LaNae.  She’s been having a very rough week that started last week.  Out of the blue, she received a text message that was nothing but a verse or two.  She received a verse every day from the same person, someone she did not know, and the verses were exactly the encouragement she needed each time.  Well, today, she finally called the mystery person to thank them and find out who it was.  It turns out that he’s a farmer/rancher in north Texas who thought he was sending encouragement to a friend who had the cell number LaNae now has… got it last Friday.  He was thrilled that God’s timing was perfect for LaNae and that God had used him.  Oh, how God loves us!  LaNae asked the gentleman to keep sending her verses!  He said he would be happy to.  I’m blown away.

5 questions you should ask your child(ren) every day:

Connecting with your kids doesn't have to be complicated. With just five questions a day you can build a stronger relationship with your kids.

1. What is the most important thing that happened today? This is a great way to get more than a yes or no answer.

2. How are you and your friends getting along? You'll get to know your child's social circle and may get a heads up on drama that could be brewing and may cause some later problems

3. What Is Something I Should Know About You? This question is great for growing any relationship - and you're guaranteed to learn something surprising. Just be prepared to have an answer, too!

4. What Should We Celebrate Today? Make it a goal to have fun with your kids and bring joy into your family's life on a regular basis. It can be as simple as popsicles on the back porch, a good grade on a quiz, or your favorite show being on TV. Savor the little things together.

5. Do You Know That I Love You? You can never say this too much. Always tell your kids you love them - and for who they are, not just for what they do.

I thought these were really good and I’ve even used them with my granddaughter … texting.  I learned that she wants to be an astronaut!!!  Wow!  (She’s so funny)I also learned that her daddy will be deployed again on Dec. 13.  Please keep Mike in your prayers.