Monday, July 23, 2018
Making quick decisions
Wow.... it was such a short time that I made the last post... but we have done so much.
House is now listed on the market, have 98% of the packing done.... that was a task, sorting through what to keep, what to store and what to sell......
The pod is being delivered one week from today, movers the next day To pack it up...
August 1 we will begin living in the RV, finishing up our life here in Little Rock...
August 17-19 is the estate sale, just about all of our furniture is to be sold.
Then plans are to head to Florida about the 23rd of August....
We are excited to begin this new adventure...
hopefully our house will sell quickly so we can move out of the rv....
Will try to update more often....
Friday, June 15, 2018
Setting goals for our future....
How often do you sit down, talk, and then reevaluate your path in life and your goals? Until Larry and I married, I can say probably never, I let life just happen.... and I think he did as well.
We had very little when we met, I had just gone into debt on a small condo and was struggling with working 2 jobs to keep it... he was recovering from his first heart attack and 5 by-passes... we had failed marriages in our pasts.
Then it was like finding my soul mate and best friend.... we talked, we shared, we just were right for each other... I was content to just be, but Larry is old fashioned and said marriage... so we began planning but then he went into the hospital with gall stone induced pancreatitis and after 22 days which he almost didn't survive, he got out of the hospital, we got married and began setting goals.....
Sold the condo, bought a house, remodeled every room in it, took 3 cruises, Alaska and 2 Caribbean, I began watercolor painting and signed up to be guest artist on 3 cruises, 2 in Mediterranean Sea and 1 thru Panama Canal for free, bought a motorhome, sold it because it was crap, bought a new one, traveled to about 45 states..........
Why this long intro......
because in February 2017 we were on a 2 month trip to Florida and Larry began having heart attacks. I was told to arrange hospice, that he would not live.... but he rallied, we got to Little Rock, our home, he received a LVAD heart pump, and began a year of recuperation... so we are AGAIN looking at our goals. Actually we were seriously thinking about moving before this health issue and had been looking at Appalachicola Florida area... but there is no LVAD hospital there, so that is no longer a consideration.
We no longer feel like we will be traveling long distances, Too hard on Larry and I am not comfortable driving this 40’ too much, and we are too upside down $ to downsize it right now.... but it is going to serve another purpose. Lol fulltime, our backup, but just for a short time....then it will be great for trips between Arkansas and Florida,
We have made the decision to DOWNSIZE permanently and go warmer, yes Florida.... we are doing all of the brain work and leg work to make a move to Hudson, Florida area... north of Tampa.. (Tampa has a LVAD hospital) we have looked at homes, lots, 55+ communities, park models, and modular homes....
while we have not made a decision, we are closer, and have a better understanding of what we need to do.
Our goal is to return home the end of next week, and begin the downsizing process..... to include selling our home... we can live in the rv if needed.. I want to sell or donate as much as we can, less to move... the house is too big and I just cant do the maintenance anymore... so I will be having furniture postings and estate sale.... and lots of donations...
We will be cancelling our reservation to the GC in Macinaw City in September... hate to cancel, but it is just not feasible at this point.
If things go well, we can maybe make our move in 6 months or so... at least we hope so... but if it takes longer, then it takes longer... and if this doesnt work out, then when can set new goals....
And this is the light at the end of the tunnel..... Mobile, AL tunnel....
We had very little when we met, I had just gone into debt on a small condo and was struggling with working 2 jobs to keep it... he was recovering from his first heart attack and 5 by-passes... we had failed marriages in our pasts.
Then it was like finding my soul mate and best friend.... we talked, we shared, we just were right for each other... I was content to just be, but Larry is old fashioned and said marriage... so we began planning but then he went into the hospital with gall stone induced pancreatitis and after 22 days which he almost didn't survive, he got out of the hospital, we got married and began setting goals.....
Sold the condo, bought a house, remodeled every room in it, took 3 cruises, Alaska and 2 Caribbean, I began watercolor painting and signed up to be guest artist on 3 cruises, 2 in Mediterranean Sea and 1 thru Panama Canal for free, bought a motorhome, sold it because it was crap, bought a new one, traveled to about 45 states..........
Why this long intro......
because in February 2017 we were on a 2 month trip to Florida and Larry began having heart attacks. I was told to arrange hospice, that he would not live.... but he rallied, we got to Little Rock, our home, he received a LVAD heart pump, and began a year of recuperation... so we are AGAIN looking at our goals. Actually we were seriously thinking about moving before this health issue and had been looking at Appalachicola Florida area... but there is no LVAD hospital there, so that is no longer a consideration.
We no longer feel like we will be traveling long distances, Too hard on Larry and I am not comfortable driving this 40’ too much, and we are too upside down $ to downsize it right now.... but it is going to serve another purpose. Lol fulltime, our backup, but just for a short time....then it will be great for trips between Arkansas and Florida,
We have made the decision to DOWNSIZE permanently and go warmer, yes Florida.... we are doing all of the brain work and leg work to make a move to Hudson, Florida area... north of Tampa.. (Tampa has a LVAD hospital) we have looked at homes, lots, 55+ communities, park models, and modular homes....
while we have not made a decision, we are closer, and have a better understanding of what we need to do.
Our goal is to return home the end of next week, and begin the downsizing process..... to include selling our home... we can live in the rv if needed.. I want to sell or donate as much as we can, less to move... the house is too big and I just cant do the maintenance anymore... so I will be having furniture postings and estate sale.... and lots of donations...
We will be cancelling our reservation to the GC in Macinaw City in September... hate to cancel, but it is just not feasible at this point.
If things go well, we can maybe make our move in 6 months or so... at least we hope so... but if it takes longer, then it takes longer... and if this doesnt work out, then when can set new goals....
And this is the light at the end of the tunnel..... Mobile, AL tunnel....
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Getting out
Sometimes the easiest thing to do is to stay tucked into our cave and just let the days go by, However I truly think that Larry was given this opportunity to get out again...... possibly it is my desire and not his, but whatever the cause, we are traveling again.
We discussed this and with Nurse Tori as our text companion we decuded to go..... where? Well why not back to the beginning, Tampa Florida.... after all my son and daughter in law are both MD’s there, we have been in the Medical system there, they have a LVAD hospital, we still have our FMCA coverage, and there are 3 grands that I need to see....
Cut back on the amount of hours we travel each day, altered routes so we are closer to major medical systems, and stopping to and back to visit with dear friends...... should arrive today for a month stay.... even returning will be anticipation that the other 2 grands will be able to come spend time, since school will be out for summer...
I am not brave, just take things one day at a time... the only way I know how to deal... making grandiose plans for the future are fun, a trait my oldest son also does, but whther the happen or not, so be it, the plans are a learning tool too..... last tear we talked about buying a home in old Florida, once before we discussed moving to Ecuador... i like where we live,
Most important is my best friend in life, Larry, is still by my side......
Friday, May 4, 2018
Monday, April 30, 2018
Ruzich LVAD vest
Larry received his new Ruzich LVAD vest on Friday. Wore it yesterday for the first time. Right now it seems like this will be the best option of anything he has yet tried. Wore it all day with no extra strain on his back... he was also able to just get up and go without having to grab his bag.... has tried other vests, but they were not as well thought out as this vest was....
I am so grateful for the Ruzich’s for creating this vest and then creating for others... the link is on my list to the left.... Ordering another right now.
Thursday, April 12, 2018
No power....
This morning, at 5am, we were awakened by a loud screaming alarm.... power outage..Larrys controller was telling us it needed power....
By the time we jumped up to start the cord to battery change over, the Generac generator kicked in...
Within 2 minutes our power was back on..... there was no storm, no winds, but this morning we realized that our decision to spend that money was a good decision...
Met 2 new VADers today on Facebook...
I have always thought that information is powerful....
I like FACEBOOK, it empowers me to meet others.....
prayers to my new friends...
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Vad vest
Like every other LVAD patient, Larry has tried many different ways to carry his equipment. It is the equivalent if carrying a heavy purse ALL of the time, when he is on battery and not connected via his direct power line.
At the LVAD Support group here a few weeks ago, aman had some of these that he really liked, so Larry has ordered on to see if maybe that will help him. His back hurts constantly....
Here is the link to their website.
Ruzich Vad Vest
https://vadvest.com
At the LVAD Support group here a few weeks ago, aman had some of these that he really liked, so Larry has ordered on to see if maybe that will help him. His back hurts constantly....
Here is the link to their website.
Ruzich Vad Vest
https://vadvest.com
Microsafe Capilary Tubes
When we find new products, I try to add them to my link here. Some of them are great for other health issues.
Microsafe Capilary Tubes are very small suction devices...
Microsafe Capilary Tube video
when Larry tests his blood sugar only a drop if blood is needed, but when he tests his INR for blood thinner, more is needed, and to get an accurate reading requires some careful maneuvering, because the devuce has to be level on a table..... we automatically receive 6 a month, and he tests once a week, so little room for mess up..... these cute little things allow him to draw enough blood to place the correct amount on both meters with one stick........
He first bought them on Amazon, but then bought them on Ebay cheaper. There are a couple of different brands....
Microsafe Capilary Tubes are very small suction devices...
Microsafe Capilary Tube video
when Larry tests his blood sugar only a drop if blood is needed, but when he tests his INR for blood thinner, more is needed, and to get an accurate reading requires some careful maneuvering, because the devuce has to be level on a table..... we automatically receive 6 a month, and he tests once a week, so little room for mess up..... these cute little things allow him to draw enough blood to place the correct amount on both meters with one stick........
He first bought them on Amazon, but then bought them on Ebay cheaper. There are a couple of different brands....
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Good read
This was on facebook this morning. An excerpt from a new book by Daniela Lamas, MD.
Posted by the New York Times....
A very insightful read.......
The Man with the Battery Powered Heart
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Today was the first time we have gotten to attend one of the LVAD support group meetings.
Twice before we missed because Larry was back in hospital..... most of the people who attended had gotten their LVAD within the past 2 years, so it was very interesting to hear them talk about issues we are haing as well...... the most common problem seems to be back aches from carrying the batteries.. some had vests, some had bags and belts.... 2 of the 14 there were women... It seems to be more men that get LVADS.
But it was very informative, and Larry also learned about a new glucose minotoring device FreeStyle Libre, going to try to get one.
FreeStyle Libre cgm link
Many were on the LVAD friends group on Facebook as well.... If you are new to this blog and are trying to find a specific post, you can use the search. If you are looking for one of the tips I mentioned today, they are in the topics on the left panel. Prayers for each of you...
Twice before we missed because Larry was back in hospital..... most of the people who attended had gotten their LVAD within the past 2 years, so it was very interesting to hear them talk about issues we are haing as well...... the most common problem seems to be back aches from carrying the batteries.. some had vests, some had bags and belts.... 2 of the 14 there were women... It seems to be more men that get LVADS.
But it was very informative, and Larry also learned about a new glucose minotoring device FreeStyle Libre, going to try to get one.
FreeStyle Libre cgm link
Many were on the LVAD friends group on Facebook as well.... If you are new to this blog and are trying to find a specific post, you can use the search. If you are looking for one of the tips I mentioned today, they are in the topics on the left panel. Prayers for each of you...
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