Texas in winter

Praise God, we had a good show at Rosenberg, TX.... now we're on the way to Abilene, TX which is a bit to the North.

We're awaiting confirmations on other shows that will be lined up for Feb... we've got to find somewhere that we can get mail at.

If we're heading for GA then we won't be able to get mail for another week as we'll be on the road with no firm address until after that show.

Peter is tired from driving today as we had a high head wind the hole way and we only went just over 100 miles.  We're staying at the little town of Rockdale in the middle of the state.  Lots of Pecan and Oak trees, even in winter they are majestic.

We're going to stay here an extra day just to catch up on the taxes, it's that time of year for state taxes and Peter has to get them electronically filed.

Going back to Houston, Houston, Houston

Yesterday we left indio with me driving... Peter was not supposed to due to the angiogram that he had on Saturday. They told him that he needed to stay away from any movements that could dislodge the plug that they put into his artery in his thigh.
So, here I am driving the RV with the trailer on behind through town to get to the interstate. It was tense at first, but once I relaxed it worked out fine. We got into Phoenix in good time but then a schoolbus pulled up beside us on the passenger side and told Peter that we had a flat. We had not felt a thing.
We pulled over, made a few phone calls and got someone out to fix it for us. The insurance will pay for the service call even though we have to pay for the tire. It was the extension of the valve stem that caused the tire to go flat. But the flat tire could not be fixed due to the big hole in the sidewall that happened on the road while it was flat.
We finally got back on the road but found an rv park as quickly as possible as it was starting to get dark.
We slept great and got on the road early, trying to make up some time from the flat tire. I called Rob and let him know that we were passing by Tucson and couldn't stop to see him as we were behind schedule.
Peter got to drive today and he made good time, we are currently in Anthony TX which is just over the state line from New Mexico. Not much to tell about the drive as it's very much the same the whole way. Lots of rocks, flat land, dead grass and slight grades.
We are up higher and tonight is supposed to be down in the low 30's. We'll just make sure that we have a second blanket on the bed and snuggle close.
It's nice to have the dogs keep our feet warm when it's cold outside.
We'll get an early start tomorrow and try to get halfway across TX before stopping.

Peter coming home Today

We're just waiting for Peter to get checked out of the hospital so I can pick him up.

His heart is what is making him short of breath.  The pneumonia is all gone and his lungs are clean.

He has been evaluated by the respiratory therapist and has been told that there is no reason for oxygen due to the fact that his lungs are getting the air to his heart but his heart is not pumping correctly so cannot get the air into his blood stream.  Without the pneumonia his heart functions are now up to 40% (normal is 60-70%).  He cannot be zapped if his heart goes into fibrillation again because his functions has to be above 45% so we have to watch that.

His blood pressure is down, he is taking 4 different medications and one of them he takes 3 times a day.  

His blood sugar is still very high, can't figure out the reason for that... we'll have to see a endocrinologist to get some answers there.

He will still get tired easily and be short of breath so he has to be careful of what kind and duration of exercise he can get.  He was hoping that he'd be able to get on a bicycle but not sure now.  Walking is a struggle, while taking his respiratory test an old lady (70's) challenged him to a race and he had to admit that she would beat him. 

His is not liking that fact that he is so limited but he is praising the Lord for allowing him to continue on his lifes journey.  He has been enjoying running around the country so much.  A week stuck in a hospital and he's ready to get moving again, he says his feet are itching really bad LOL.  So we're heading off for Houston tomorrow morning, will be there by thursday. 

 I just went and got 12 new drugs for him.  Keep us in your prayers, and thanks to all who prayed for 

Peter's heart is clean

Peter will get getting out of the hospital on Sunday.  The angiogram today showed that his heart is completely free of blockages.  The doctor was amazed, everyone Peter's age has some signs of blockages, even very slight.  But Peter has none.. he is bringing home a CD for me to see of the angiogram.  I'm really excited, I love to see that stuff.

It's been a long week, both the girls and I have been missing Peter something awful.  We've been trying to keep busy, I've been taking both of them out for a run each day, Nougat starts out at 7 MPH but then slows down a couple of MPH as she gets tired.

I've been cleaning house and rearranging stuff, hoping to get more space for us.  Nougat has taken to watching outside for "the man", staying around the door a lot.

When I've called Peter he will occasionally say hello to the little dog over the phone and she kisses the phone and looks at the door.  

It's going to be great to have him home.  The neighbors to my left have offered to drive me over to get him home.

This hospital that he's in is 12-15 miles away and I haven't been able to see him for the last few days.

More Hospital Time for Peter

Looks like Peter will be in the hospital for over the weekend.  Good news is that his heart dropped out of fibrillation (called converted) so it's in the correct rhythm .  But now they have to back off all the drugs they've been giving him and start over to do drugs that will keep him in correct rhythm.  His BP is also in the correct numbers, he's going to feel really great once they get him stabilized.

The pneumonia is cooperating too, his fluid levels in his lungs are dropping and he doesn't have a rattle any longer.  

He's still on oxygen because the oxygen in his blood is still low, but that's coming up too.

His blood levels this morning were looking good although his red blood count is down to 10.8.. when it goes below 10 he gets procrit shots to put the count up over 13 (normal is 13-18)

I'm tired, running around on my bicycle, I go to the store, hospital, all sorts of stores within 2 mile radius.  Hoshi is loving it - she's in heat again so I have to be careful that there's no dogs in the area but going with me everywhere is her delight.

We were coming back from the hospital the other day and a person drove up beside me and hollered out the window "excuse me" it was at a light so I stopped and asked her if I could help her.  She asked me why I didn't stop and let my dog rest, didn't I know that I was pushing her too hard?  she said "it's so cruel to keep her running" she had seen us for the last two blocks and I hadn't slowed down for that whole time.(going 8 MPH - just a long stride for Hoshi) I just laughed and told her that Hoshi was having fun!!   -  I was panting but Hoshi was ready for more.  We went over to the office to get mail a bit later and she was jumping around and tugging at her leash!!

Peter

Praise the Lord, He is faithful, Peter is doing better every day.  The pneumonia is under control and his lungs are starting to clear up.  The doctors are able to get his BP under control too.  They are telling him that his heart rate will probably not change but with caution he will be able to walk a little (better than he's been able to do in a while).  They may prescribe oxygen for him at home, they were surprised that he hasn't been on it already.

His blood sugars are still really high, they are pumping him full of all types of insulin but nothing is helping.  He is eating well, they are feeding him 3 times a day, a diabetic diet but they are still really concerned that the sugar levels in his blood are so high.

He sounds great, getting lots of rest.

I went to the MAC store today and they plugged my computer in and it worked fine. GRRRR  figures, I checked it this AM and it still wouldn't work for me.  Now I get home and it's all better, I think it missed being bumped around so wanted a ride on the bicycle!

So I'm back on my own computer and I can start getting the taxes finalized, (I was really good about keeping up in 08) I don't have that much do to, when Peter gets back we can put in the cash receipts and send it off to the accountant.

Hoshi and I had a good ride this morning, Mac store was 1 mile one way from the RV park and I had to get my drugs for the month from Walgreens which was 1 mile the other way from the RV park.  Also this AM I took both girls for a ride around the park while I was doing laundry.  Nougat loves to run, she sets the pace for us and we do about 6 mph.  Hoshi at that point is just doing a long stride.  When Nougat slows down that means she's had enough and I take her back to the RV.  Then she spends the rest of the day on the front dash soaking up the sun.

God is good, I am praising Him all day long for His protection and Blessings to us.

Hospital Stay for Peter

Peter landed in the hospital on Sunday Am... he refused an ambulance but took a taxi there.  They got him into the ER immediately and started helping him to breathe better.  He couldn't catch his breath at all and we were told that he has pneumonia and congestive heart failure both.  Don't know where the pneumonia came from the but CHF is from his leaky valve.

He is in ICU in a little hospital in indio, ca called JFK memorial and he is drugged with Valium to keep his stress level down and on two antibiotics for the pneumonia and lasix to get the fluid off his lungs.

He is doing OK and the dr thinks they will keep him for at least 3 days.

I drove the rv with trailer from the polo grounds where we had set up the booth for a show over to the rv park (about 3 miles with a couple of turns) and did OK.  It's cold this morning and am waiting for it to warm up a bit before I ride my bike over to the hospital.

Nougat is freaking out because "the man" is not around, she is so bonded to him that she misses him alot!!!!

It is weird to not have him sitting across from me, I don't want to do this for long!

God is in control and we are both awaiting His pleasure!

January 2009

The first week of January 2009 and Peter has caught something.  He woke this AM gasping for breath, couldn't catch it at all... he got up and he was able to breathe, the first thought that he had was his heart was giving out.  (Both parents had bad hearts)  but after I called Connie and talked with her and he did some research on the computer he came to the conclusion that it wasn't his heart but could be either valley fever or a virus that's been going around.

Whew!!! he had me scared there for a bit.

He is running a fever and is getting more congested as the day goes on but has stuff that he can take and we'll see a dr when we get to Phoenix on Tuesday.

This show in Indio is one of the worst that we've done.  No one has any money and all the vendors are hurting.

We're praying that God supplies so that we can get the toilet replaced, it's been leaking fresh water from the seals.

We are trusting Him for all our needs.