On the Mend and Other Thoughts

Today we go back to the hospital to see how Mike's recovery is progressing. Today and tomorrow will be critical days, but we hope all goes well as he begins the recovery process. If all goes as planned, he will be able to return home on Monday. Amazing how quickly they send you home after a major operation. I will add more later when we have additional news.

Today is Jerry's 47th birthday. It does not seem possible to me that he could have celebrated so many birthdays. Linda, his cousin, turned 50 this week and celebrated with family and has another celebration planned for later in the month. Tonight we will have a birthday dinner here at Jerry's home and have brother Scott to help with the celebration. I think the menu includes steak and twice baked potatoes and maybe key lime pie for dessert. It should be a fun evening.

It has turned cold here and HW2 is pleased since she does not handle heat very well. I guess it is time to break out light jackets since it is also a bit windy here. That is all for the moment.

Mike was sitting up in a chair when we got there. He visited a bit and then went for a walk with Sue. They have removed some of the tubes, and he has had two transfusions. His color was back to being pink rather than pasty white. His progress seems excellent to us and if all maintains he will go home on Monday. Thank the Lord. Happy travels.

Lunch after the good news about Mike

The surgeon came by and told the family that Mike's surgery had gone well and that he was in recovery. After an hour or so he could be visited by immediate family for a minute or two but only in groups of two. We all felt he needed the rest and we needed to get out of the waiting room for awhile. We went to the Route 66 Diner which was close by and sat down. The relief was palpable in all and we finally got organized enough to order lunch and just quietly visited among ourselves. It has been a long three days.

Mike had suffered a heart attack in 2006 which he had not realized and one nine years ago when they put in the stints and then his third early Monday morning. We are glad he got quick attention and support from the medical profession. Most impressive was the outpouring of support from colleagues, friends and church friends and family. One day this family took over an entire waiting area/room because they had so many visitors. We have been fortunate to meet and greet so many of Mike and Sue's friends. He will have quite a road for recovery but knowing how stubborn he can be, he will do it very well. Thanks for all the the thought and prayers.

We expect to return to Texas on the weekend once we know there are no further complications. Happy travels.

Mike's Progress

Mike has had his surgery, a four way by-pass. He was in the operation for about four hours and the surgeon just came by with the good news. Now for a speedy recovery. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Mike's Web Site for Updates

This is the link to the site for Mikey's updates:

www.carepages.com/carepages/MichaelDemers Surgery is at present scheduled for 7/7:30 tomorrow morning for at least a triple bi-pass. Please keep Mike and all of their family in your prayers!

The spirit leads on

On Sunday as we were getting ready for church, the phone rang. It was my sister Sue with news that her husband Mike had suffered a heart attack during the night. So, plans quickly changed, and we packed the car and were on the road to Albuquerque within an hour.

The nice thing about West Texas roads is the 80 mph speed limit. We did that part of the trip quite quickly and then headed cross country on 285 to Clines Corner and then west to Albuquerque. Jerry and Marlene had dinner waiting, the hot tub going, and we ate and relaxed and went to bed after having determined that Mike was stable.

On Monday we met Sue and her family at the New Mexico Heart Hospital and visited Mike quickly, as his only visitors are immediate family. The rest of the time the family talked and entertained many of their friends who came by to give support and prayers.

Anne, you will be pleased to know that now that whole family plays Pitch. We played two rollicking games and left for home quite tired.

Sue is holding up well, and they have a pump in Mike's veins to try to rest his heart and get ready for by-pass surgery currently scheduled for Wednesday. They are resting his heart as much as they can so that the grafts will succeed. Mike is flat on his back and trying very hard to be a good patient. He sleeps much of the time. Nine years ago he had angioplasty, and they managed to put in several stints, but all these veins are completely clogged now. So they are now anticipating at least a triple bi-pass. Please put this lovely family in your thoughts and prayers for the days ahead. Son Charles the Geek is putting together a web site that allow anyone interested to keep up with Mike's progress As soon as he has it up online, we will let you know what the link. Ooops, here it it! www.carepages.com/carepages/MichaelDemers . This will be updated by Charles as he receives news.

This year the Spirit has been leading us to many different family needs, and it has been our joy to help where we could. We never know where we will get lead next. Happy travels.

Change your clock?

Did you set your clocks back an hour? We did! We have a clock in the bedroom which can do much by itself. Clever thing that it is, it will reset itself to the correct time if you unplug or lose electricity and it also project red time numbers on the ceiling so that when you wake up in the night you can check to see what time your insomnia began. We got this idea from granddaughter Michelle and really like the clock. It is supposed to reset if you change time zones but after being dropped several times, this quality is suspect. However, it did reset itself to daylight savings time in the middle of the night but I was not awake to see it happen. I hope it occurred at 2:00 am. Anyway most of our visible clocks have been reset and WE GAINED AN HOUR!!!!

Now we have an extra hour to get ready for church and maybe even have a good breakfast. The sun is up and day begun, so, enjoy your extra hour. Happy travels.

Great Grand Parents we shall be

Ashley called this evening to let us know that in May, 2009, we will become great grandparents! We were delighted, of course, but then into my head popped the thought, "How old are we?" Ashley and Tom are so pleased, and we hope and expect that all will go well. Soon we will add another child to our growing family. I then asked HW2 about her necklace. She has had a wonderful necklace with little people each representing one of our cherished grandchildren. They each know which figure is theirs and enjoy it when Grammy wears her necklace. So the question becomes, "Do you get another necklace for great grand children or keep adding to the existing one, or, do something different?"

Necklaces aside, it is an exciting time for Ashley and Tom, and we were delighted to be called so that we could enjoy all the excitement, too. There is a rumor floating about that Ashley's dad and step mom might get called Gumbo and Poppy. After all, grandparents like to choose what they will be called by the grandchildren. We chose Grammy and Grandad and love those titles. My mom chose to be called Nana as she did not think she was old enough to be called grandmother. Her mother-in-law was called that. Such fun, but, "How old are we?" Great grand parenting will take a bit of time to get used to. I guess I have till May, 2009, to get it together. Happy travels.