“It was the best of times, it
was the worst of times”. I believe this quote sums up our winter of 2012.
I felt as though we were
wintering in Minnesota. The
weather was a little better than Rochester, MN, but the number of hospital and
doctor visits had me thinking of the Mayo Clinic. Normally one doesn’t plan
their vacation around medical issues, but this winter was just that. It started
the first two weeks we were here. For some still unknown reason I was running a
low grade fever each and every day. No other symptoms, just that dragged out
feeling you get when running an elevated temperature. A doctor visit, an
antibiotic, and things returned to normal after two weeks.
But the real medical focus
was Mary Ellen. It started with mid-sternum pressure. But when Mary Ellen said
she thought maybe she should see a doctor, I knew it must hurt more than she
was letting on to me. When she first saw the internist, he immediately sent her
to the ER at Baptist in Gulf Breeze.
This Tuesday will be her
third and hopefully final hospitalization. The right leg femoral artery is the
one in need of stents. Doctor Carter, who specializes in problematic leg
blockage will be doing this surgery.
Until this month, the weather
has been atypical as well. We’ve had several days where Elkhart, IN had higher
temperatures than Navarre, FL. January and February were disappointing weather
wise. One water line freeze and plenty of fog and moisture made for a few
‘cabin fever’ days. I don’t want to give the impression that winter 2012 was all
about negatives. There were plenty of positives as well.
The crew that changed all
four tires on our camper comes to mind at the top of the list. Jim Murdy, Jeff
Bloss, and John Pratt handled most of the labor. They did a super job in record
time with nary a vulgar word spoken. Jim also provided knowledge and the tools
to help me construct a guttering system for my sewer line. I’m sure many of you
are thinking, “didn’t you do anything”? Let me think about that one...I guess
not!
I did manage to have a two
day battle with an upset stomach that brought on nausea and unpredictable
vomiting The most memorable sudden onset nausea occurred at Walgreens. I did
manage to get out to the truck where I proceeded to puke on one of my tires!
I’m still trying to fully
recover from what I assume is a pulled muscle in my back. I’d say I’m 87%
cured. In the past it has usually taken a couple weeks and that’s just about
what its been. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Certainly in the realm of the atypical was a five day trip to Ohio for my sister's funeral in Akron. In my last blog I talked about the funeral, but I don't believe I mentioned that the wind and cold at the cemetery was very close to unbearable for the six of us who carried the coffin to her final resting place.
We have had some memorable
get togethers and will most likely have a few more. My total focus now is
getting Mary Ellen “fixed” and back home. There’s probably a better word than
“fixed”, but you get the idea.
We’re looking forward to 2013
and a reversal of fortunes. Say a prayer for my wonderful wife.
jim
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