Movin' On

Dad's funeral was Saturday afternoon. The service was very well done. Both the funeral home and the preacher did an excellent job. It was hard but we made it through..... For now, Mom is doing better than I expected she would. She's a strong woman. Rick, my brother, is staying with her for a while and helping her get organized. I spent most of today with them and can say that I'm impressed with how she is handling all of this, particularly given that she will be 90 years old on Thursday...... Although she is the oldest of her siblings, she has managed to outlive 5 brothers and sisters. She's hanging tough. I can only hope that I will be so lucky and be able to live that long.

Christmas Morning

As I sit here Christmas morning, it just isn't a merry day - at least not yet. Dad has only been gone for two days, and it won't seem like Christmas without him. He is at least pain free now. We are gathering at Jeremy & Erica's house for lunch and the usual festivities. When I get around my boys, their wives, and the grandkids, they will all undoubtedly cheer me up. I need them with me now more than ever.

"End of the Line"

Dad (aka Grandpa) passed away this morning at 4:37AM at Huguley Hospital. As always, he was a fighter until the end. I will miss him as will all the family..... The memorial service is Saturday at 2:00pm at Crosier-Pearson Funeral Home in Cleburne. His obituary - http://www.cpcleburne.com/content/obituaries/view.jsp?OID=43065.

MRI...!!!!!!!!!

Had an MRI today ordered by the doc from UTSW. Still trying to figure out why I've lost some peripheral vision. Connie set up an "open MRI" so that they don't put me in one of those tube type MRI machines. She tells me that my claustrophobia won't be a problem with the "open MRI machine". Turns out that she don't know s%#$. As we left for the appointment, I realized that I forgot my valium prescribed specifically for this event to combat my claustrophobia (but we're at Dad's hospital and the valium is at home). Connie says "no big deal, it's an open MRI". I go along with that - I'm a big boy - right? Crap! Holy crap! OPEN my ass!!! That damn machine is about 2 millimeters from my face. Close the eyes - breathe - think of something else! The damn thing sounds like I have a bucket over my head and some SOB is banging it with a baseball bat! Then the sound stops for a minute and I realize that I'm sooooo tensed up that I'm resting on the tips, yes the tips of my shoulder blades! With my legs on that foam doohickey, I am so tense that ONLY the shoulder blades are touching the machine! Deep breath, relax... Ahhhh now I'm on my back. Oh crap - here goes that sound again and it's LOUD!!! Tense up...... This goes on for like 6 hours (the clock says maybe 15 minutes but the bitch rigged the clock - had to). Now she's sliding me out and says: We're on the home stretch. HOME STRETCH! We should be done. Nope. Gives me some dye with an IV and here we go again!!! This lasts FOREVER!!! Somehow I survive. Where's my valium???? My neck, back, butt, sides, etc. hurt from being tense for so long. Turns out the clock says that the whole process took maybe 35-40 minutes. My initial estimate was 12 hours - at least it seemed that way...... Ain't doin' that again unless I've got a butt load of valium in me - or better yet knock me OUT!. And if they ever put me in one of those tubes I WILL dismantle that sumbitch from the inside out! GOD I'm glad that's over.....

Grandpa Update - Monday, 12/22

Dad had most of the family visit last night which I really appreciate and I know that he did too. He seemed a bit agitated most of the time but I think he just wanted to talk and couldn't. As soon as everyone left, he went to sleep and slept relatively peacefully. This morning he continues to rest well with intermittent bouts of coughing. Probably fluid buildup in the lungs.... We are meeting with a social worker and hospice late this afternoon to understand the options for moving forward. It looks like the decision for the next step is almost upon us.

Grandpa Update - Saturday, 12/20

Went to see Dad today. They moved him from PCU back to a room. He was asleep and slept the entire hour+ that I was there. Nurse told me that they had given him some pain medication. Also said that he ate a little bit. I left him a bottle of chocolate Boost - his favorite. Maybe he'll drink it when he wakes up. They still have him on IV feeding and hydration and now have him back on a catheter.

Grandpa

Things aren't looking so good for Grandpa. The hospital moved him to PCU when his heartbeat starting racing and became irregular. I spoke with his Cardiologist today who said that they will do everything they can with medication to stabilize his heart. But, his heart is so weak that they can't do surgery to remove the lymphoma and it's too weak for them to even do chemotherapy right now. It doesn't look good. He refuses to eat (abdominal pain from the tumor) and just continues to get weaker. The prognosis is not good.

Confirmed

Dad had his surgery today and, yep, it's cancer - lymphoma. Doc said it was a large mass and it's interfering with / causing a partial bowel obstruction. He stopped the operation and conferred with the Oncologist by phone. They decided that the procedure to remove the mass was too risky compared to the risk of chemotherapy. So they took a biopsy which will allow them to pin down the type of lymphoma and closed him up..... After recovery, they moved him to ICU for the night. He seems in good spirits and looks better than he has in several days. He's ready to go with the chemo and I'm optimistic. After some nutritional supplements and some time to recover, they'll start his chemo.... Mom is suffering more than Dad right now from the anxiety and being home-bound. She's a basket case right now.

Not Good

My Dad was supposed to have surgery yesterday to biopsy a mass in his abdomen. Of course we're concerned that it is a cancerous tumor since he's had surgeries for that twice before. To our surprise, the doctors decided to postpone the surgery because his heart is too weak (less than 20% normal function) to take the strain of anesthesia. So they will try again on Thursday after some meds to stabilize his heart and replanning the procedure to use maybe a local and a sedative rather than traditional anesthesia. This doesn't look good but with a bit of luck and a prayer maybe he can make it past this too. After all, he is a pretty tough old man.

Test, Test, Test

Saw the Neuro-Opthamologist at UTSW Med School again. Dude seems baffled by my loss of peripheral vision. Further testing showed a slight reduction again and he has no diagnosis. Now wants me to have an MRI and then another appt in 2 months - probably retesting. Keep using the eye drops he says. At first, he says it's not related to the accident. Now he's asking if they did an MRI at JPS. How the H#$% should I know - I was in a coma: I told him. These introverted, anal retentive specialists are annoying when they don't LISTEN but stick their head in test results! His time is running out.

Unplanned

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Started the day just being lazy. Then "the clan" (or at least most of them - Kyle & Taryn are in Alabama) came over for Thanksgiving dinner last evening along with Erica's bro, Scott. Now this was all planned. As everyone starts to say their goodbyes Booger & Sissy decide that they want to spend the night with Gran & Papa. DEAL! We love having GrandKids around so it took less than a nanosecond for us to decide and not much longer for the parents to go along. Alas, Lefty (aka Gage) was having NO part of being away from his Mama for a night so he went home. Guess we'll just have to wait until the Mama-bonds fade a bit before he'll stay over.... So we're sharing a lazy morning after with two GK's. Booger was still asleep a few minutes ago. Good sleeper..... Again no pictures. I bet Erica & Kelly come up with some pics on their blogs though. Can always count on them.

Jelly Bean spent the night on Thursday night and with Gran's help treated me to a little fashion show. Then she and Gran watched movies from the Gran pallet spread out in front of the big screen. Her Dad picked her up after work on Friday and she had something of a "meltdown" to be leaving Gran. Well, my gosh! She's treated better than Queen Elizabeth when she's with Gran!! ...... Gran & I went to a couple of soccer games Saturday morning and, after a team pizza party, Alex came home with us to spend Saturday night. Now she's more interested in intellectual pursuits so she colored, wrote her name for us, and watched some movies on Gran's pallet. Then it's off at noon Sunday because she had her final soccer game of the season.... What a treat to have such wonderful grandkids!

Remember the Alamo

It's still there..... We took a long weekend and drove to San Antonio for the weekend staying at the Hyatt Regency on the Riverwalk. We spent time strolling the Riverwalk Friday night and yesterday and visited the Alamo yesterday for the first time since we were small children. Amazing how many of the men who fought for our independence from Mexico weren't even Texans! .... We capped the visit off last night with dinner at The Palm. I ate my first steak since the heart attack nearly a year ago. Ok, ok, I was bad but once a year isn't so bad --- is it? Mmmmm, mmmmm, it was awesome. Think I'll do a steak every year now. Can't wait 'til next year! :o) ...... oops, sorry, no pictures - forgot the camera again.

$2.10

We went to Grandparents day at the Grandtwins pre-school this morning. What a hoot! Thanks to Austin & Alex for inviting us. See Kelly's blog for pictures...... We got into Burleson a few minutes early and couldn't resist stopping for gas at $2.10 a gallon. Seems like a long time since we have seen it that cheap. Why is gas in Burleson always so much cheaper than any place else?! And then Jeremy calls me in the afternoon to inform me that it was lowered to $2.08. Gas prices going in the right direction for a change - wonder how long that will last.

Vision Update

I had my appointment with the Neuro-opthamologist yesterday at UT Southwest Med Ctr to get his diagnosis of what's causing the loss of my peripheral vision. This guy is supposed to be the best of the best in North Texas. So he says that he thinks the problem is not the optic nerve, but with a cell layer in the retinas. Not sure why. So he sent me off for blood tests (they took nine vials) and I'll be back in two weeks for another round with him. He did say that he doesn't think that it is accident related. I disagree - it's just too great a coincidence. I'm running out of patience with this. Need to go from thinks to knows.

Butch & Papa

Today was Play Day for Texas Rangers season ticket holders. I don't usually go to these things, been to too many already. But, Butch wanted to go so off we went. Taryn & Gran took Mandy shopping while I was left alone with Butch. OMG, my first time all alone with a grandkid! No problem. Butch was great - what a trooper..... He got to go out on the field and see all the sights at the ballpark - the locker room, the dugout, the bullpen, the press box, etc. He was miffed that the concession stands weren't open (he was hungry) and couldn't understand why no Ranger players were there...... So, I called the girls and we met them for dinner at TGI Fridays to end a very good day with my grandson..... Sorry there are no pictures - forgot the camera.

Old Geezers

What a busy day yesterday! Started with Booger's soccer game in Cleburne at 9:00 (so we're up and on the road by8:00). Visit with Mom & Dad afterward then back to soccer for Sissy's game. Booger thinks Papa's getting senile - kept telling me that I'm lost (he rode with Gran & Papa). He's showing a bit too much attitude! :o) ..... Then it's off to Alvarado for a quick visit before heading to a Classes of the 60's High School Reunion. Lots of fun but lots of old people there! Amazing how the conversations have changed over the years. Now we talk about classmates who are gone as well as those still around and compare our maladies such as comparing heart attacks! Holycow - where have the years gone?!!!

Busy, Busy

What a weekend! Friday night was date night. Yep, these old farts went to a movie. We went to see Appaloosa which I recommend to anyone who misses the good, old fashioned westerns. It's the first movie in a loooong time that I could sit through again....... Saturday - up early and off to see the grandkids play soccer - what a hoot! I actually got to hold hands with and walk Sweet Pea (aka, Mandy) to the concession stand. It all started with Booger wanting a hot dog. Satisfying kids' desires is what grandparents are for. So, Booger and I started to the concession stand only to be joined in quick succession by the other four grandkids and Gran and Shawn. A one hot dog trip turned into a six hot dog trip in the blink of an eye. Oh, and when Sweet Pea got her hot dog, she reverted to form and spurned me for Gran. Devilish little girl! She's workin' me again! Then some quality time with three older grandkids at Taryn's house while Gran visits Mama Baechtel. Gran shows up and it's off to Jeremy and Erica's to complete the rounds and so that Gran can neaten up Jelly Bean's self administered hair-do...... Sunday - we take a ride with the old group of biker friends to the Smoke Stack in Thurber for a late breakfast followed by a visit to see Don & Diane's new house. Then off to the shop where I service my new bike while Gran grabs a nap in the air conditioned office. Slacker!...... Back to work tomorrow. Ho hum..... Next weekend is a class of the 60's high school reunion where I get to visit with a bunch of old people. How the hell did my high school buddies get so old? Must have gotten caught in a time warp! Glad I missed it!

Vacation Pictures

Okay, it's a rainy dreary day thanks to Ike so I finally am getting around to posting some pictures from our vacation. Here goes:

Aircraft Carrier - Norfolk Navy Base ________ Siege Line at Yorktown


Jamestown Church _________ Marine Corp Museum at Quantico

1st Governor's Mansion at Williamsburg ____ Parlor in McLean House at Appomattox where Lee surrenders to Grant

Monticello ____________ George Washington's Tomb - Mount Vernon

History Lesson

Well, we're back from vacation and facing going back to work tomorrow. At least we had a good time and some good relaxation. Here's how it went:
Saturday (the 16th) - catch a flight to Richmond, Virginia; pick up rent car; drive to Hampton - it's farther than I thought and the drivers in Virginia are the worst!
Sunday - we drive to Norfolk and take a 2 hour cruise of the Norfolk Navy base seeing lots of those big Navy ships from supply ships to an aircraft carrier... we then drive to Yorktown for a tour of the Yorktown Battlefield where the Continental Army under George Washington defeated the British Army under Cornwallis - learned some new things about history.
Monday - drove to Jamestown the first English settlement in America (1607); this is a truly fascinating experience to see what the earliest settlers endured.
Tuesday - woke up with a sick tummy but started feeling a little better so we visit the Virginia War Museum. Memorabilia from every conflict the U.S. has been involved in. Pretty good.
Wednesday - spend the day in Colonial Williamsburg. This is excellent! You really get a feel for what life was like in the 18th century!
Thursday - check out of the hotel in Hampton switching the focus from southern to northern Virginia. Visit Appomattox to see the courthouse where Lee surrenders to Grant to end the Civil War. Oops, he didn't surrender at the courthouse but at a private home - the McLean house which is a couple hundred yards from the courthouse. Yep, saw the actual spot where the surrender was signed.... Then, its on to Monticello - home of Thomas Jefferson. Learned several new things on the tour. Interesting how I lacked an understanding of Jefferson's basic history.... Check in to the hotel in Richmond.
Friday - visit Mount Vernon - George Washington's home / plantation. Learned again about my lack of understanding. Fascinating history here too..... Then it's on to the Museum of the Marine Corps. They have a rich history of defending the nation. I'm sure glad that we have the corps. Oohrah!
Saturday - Catch the flight home via Newark. What a sweet place for a layover. :-)

So, what did I learn? Well, the Revolution was started by a bunch of very wealthy guys from very wealthy families who wanted more control. Not much has changed in that regard in the more than 200 years of history since that little conflict! For example, Jefferson inherited a 3,000 acre plantation at the ripe old age of 21. But wait - Washington inherited an 8,000 acre plantation at the age of 22. By todays standards, they were multi-multi millionaires & among the wealthiest in the colonies. Ditto for other patriots like Patrick Henry, etc. Like I said, not much has changed....... I'll post some pictures later.

12 Hours

Tomorrow morning Connie and I are flying to Virginia for a week's vacation. A whole week to tour historic sites from the birth of our great nation - the Revolutionary War with maybe a mix of Civil War sites. It will be good to just chill out for a week. Our first vacation in more than two years!

Whew!!!! Good News.....

I'm home! The news is good. The doc says that the stents look good and the blood flow looks good so there was nothing to do except take a look and plug the artery up where he inserted the catheter. I am on restricted activity for 48 hours - no lifting, too much walking, etc. So I'll be back in the gym next Monday..... I think Dr Gojer is great. Not only is he an excellent doctor but has a great sense of humor as well. I can be a smartass and he responds without missing a beat. He walks into the cath lab after I had been prepped. And the exchange went something like this:

Me: How do you feel Doc? I want you at the top of your game if we're gonna do this!
Doc: I feel good but I forgot to take my seizure medication.
Me: That's a problem!
Doc: Don't worry, I had some Jack Daniels to calm my nerves.
Me: Give me a shot if you have any left. :o)

We both have a good chuckle and the banter stops as the doc goes to work. Love this guy - my kind of doctor!

Too bad the insurance company opted to force this procedure rather than a CT Scan. Oh well...

New Baby

My new baby: 2008 Harley Davidson Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic Electra Glide.

Date Night

Last night Connie & I went to the Rangers game - heat and all. Great game .... Rangers won with a walk off hit in the bottom of the ninth. One of the Ranger photographers captured this shot as we arrived.

Monday Schedule

I have to be at the hospital at 8:30 & the procedure is scheduled at 10:30. It is basically an exploratory procedure. If they find no problem, I should be able to go home Monday evening. If the doc has to do another stent or anything else, it means at least one night in the hospital. I'll post up when I get home.

Monday is the Day

I am scheduled. Monday morning at 10:30 for the cardiac catheterization procedure to see if there is any problem with my stents / artery. Doc will do it at Harris Methodist HEB in Bedford. Go for pre-admission paperwork and blood tests tomorrow. Should know more then.

%$@#&!!! Insurance Companies

Another story of short sighted insurance companies: the little anomaly on my nuclear stress test is probably nothing the doc said - just a test blip. Lets confirm it with a cardiac CT Scan. Sounds like a good idea to me - a five minute procedure utilizing the latest technology. No pain and, if it's nothing (like the doc thinks it is), I'm reassured. No wait! The health insurance company says they won't cover it. I can pay the $2,000 myself..... BS! We'll just do the much more expensive, invasive cardiac catheterization. How much will that cost? I don't know but with the cath lab, doctor bills (including an Anesthesiologist), hospital, etc. I would bet that the costs will be 5 or 6 times as much. Isn't that dumb? ..... If they find nothing, a lot of money spent and pain endured for nothing. The good news is that, if he does find a problem, he can just fix it while he's in there. We will get it scheduled as soon as they can do it. I'll post an update when we get 'er scheduled.

Careful Now.....

Every four years (now five years) I have to requalify for my CHL (Concealed Handgun License). Today was the day! I passed both the written and proficiency tests (the shooting portion) with flying colors so I'll be packing for another five years.

Goin' Crazy!

Well, I did it. We sold Connie's Road King and bought a new Ultra Classic Electra Glide. Back to cruising in comfort. Now I have to figure out how to operate all the new fangled bells & whistles that H-D has added. Pictures to come later.