March 31: A bad week

You have all read about Bidge/Willard, my long-time friend who has been in charge of the renovations at the new house. He's been doing a spectacular job, and getting things done very quickly, really pushing himself. I kept saying that I was worried about him over-doing it, he kept reassuring me he was fine. Lots of stress because of some problems with the "antiqueing" side of his life. Well, late Weds night he had a major heart attack. He didn't immeditately recognize it--thought it was just using his arms so much getting the drywall in. While Phoenixville Hospital acted very quickly and professionally, for various reasons (not their fault) by the time they got to the blockage and opened it up 4-5 hours had passed. For those who are medical, he had a blockage in the mid-LAD, which is very bad because it supplies blood to the left ventricle of the heart, which is the most important. While he is doing well, he has lost over half of the squeeze of his heart because of the damage. He is coping with it very well, but is somewhat unrealistic in how he is going to feel for the next few weeks. We have joked that this was a very bad time for him to have a heart attack in my life, but that's how it goes.

On other somewhat unrelated news, I am feeling the strain of everything. I knew that these few weeks would be bad, and they are. Still have not gotten any offers on the house, have to keep it looking perfect all the time and control my "attack" cat. Working, exhausted and never seem to feel better. While many are being incredible about chipping in and helping, there are many things that no one but me can do. I keep telling myself that it will be over soon, as moving day is in less than two weeks now (4/12), but isn't helping right now.

I also have another appointment in Boston this week. It's always a concern, since I'm not feeling well, about what will be found.

Thanks for checking, Laurie

March 31: just testing

Firstly, I am having some problems with my computer. AOL kept kicking me off. I'm just trying this again after erasing and re-installing AOL. So far, so good. Maybe I will publish this so that if you don't see anything you will know why.

Laurie

March 25: fairly boring update

Well, am sitting in my spectacularly clean study after an "open house". Very good showing, had 13-14 people/couples come through, which my agent was very happy about. Did a fire in the fireplace for effect, and KC co-operated by stretching out and warming himself in an apparently very photogenic fashion. Chester and I ran errands. Hopefully will get an offer or two out of this. One woman did come back who had come on Weds with 2 out of 3 kids, brought her mother today to show her how the study could be used as a bedroom for her as she is unable to do stairs. Kids are in the same school district, so that sounds good. Had another caravan up to Phoenixville. Thanks to Brenda, Joanne, J.T. and Kevin for all their help and hard work. Brenda came back and did her best imitation of a woman possessed and managed to get the basement cleared and swept. While I slept. Isn't that incredible?! You'd think it was a miracle if you could have seen it. Really.

Not feeling an better on the new medicine. Trying to lose weight. I don't think it is realistic under the circumstances to lose more than a pound a week. My appointment up in Boston is on April 4, going up the evening before so I don't have the difficulty of a one-day trip as I did last time. Still get very tired and out of breath easily. We'll see.

Thanks for checking in, Laurie

March 4: Update for 2 weeks

Again, I plead lack of time and exhaustion for not posting. Obviously, I usually do this on the weekends, and last week was very busy. Got a lot of stuff up to the new place. Mom came over and helped pack breakables. Last weekend was the first time I could access the garage, and several friends pitched in to drive up there with fully loaded vehicles. Thanks to Ellen, my real estate agents and their son, and Carole & Stan. That big 2-bay isn't looking so big anymore! My friend/contractor is proceeding amazingly quickly with the renovations. The place is all torn up: rugs are out and hardwood exposed and set for refinishing in a couple weeks, the horrid dropped ceilings are out as of today and will be replaced with drywall so I don't feel like I am in a hospital or office, the brick pillars inbetween the kitchen/dining rooms are out, walls starting to be covered with drywall to get rid of the dark paneling, the stackable washer/dryer is there, old stove and range and cabinets ripped out in preparation for redoing the kitchen, a doorway is partially moved and I ordered the stove and microwave hood yesterday. Moving is set for the second week in April. Worked every day this week, only one of them a full day, which my bank account will appreciate. The house is due to go on the market on Wednesday, so that will be on everyone's screens for house hunters next weekend. Has been shown three times, to one person twice, but nothing heard. But I am hopeful, because that is interest just within the local office of the realtors, not even listed yet. All three times I took my "attack cat" in the car, drove to another part of the development and waited until the "all-clear" from the agents. The other three cats are fine. Now that I have done it three times I am happy to report that I have found a location near a bird feeder, which keeps Chester happily occupied.

OK, Boston. Didn't go as well as I would have liked. My lung pressures are not any better than before the surgery. My left atrial size is not better. No one is happy. So, they switched me to a different beta-blocker to slow the heart rate down and allow more time for the left ventricle to fill in-between beats. I'm tolerating this one, Coreg, better than the other ones, but only the tiniest dose. My BP is now running 100/60, sometimes lower, and that is when I get dizzy and lightheaded. I can't say I feel any better, however. Will not be able to take the diuretics while taking the beta-blocker because then my BP gets too low. And although I have lost 12 pounds in the last four months, they want me to lose 15-20 pounds more, and without exercising. And don't get too tired. Yeah, right. You come down and move me. Anyway, the follow-up was initially three months (late May), but they just e-mailed me Friday that the cardiologist up there wants to see me in April, more like six weeks. So, we'll see.

Thanks for checking, Laurie