It is Sunday evening and Andris is back at home. He had a very busy day - the excitement of getting ready to go home, a walk to the lobby, a walk from the car to the pharmacy and back, twice, a visit in the bookstore, a walk to the house, a walk to the car and into Castlegarth and to the car and back .... a multitude of phone calls.
In all the literature about cardiac patient care it says that there will be good days and bad days - and that the body will tell you if you have done too much. I am hoping that with all the excitement of today, Andris' body will be exhausted tomorrow. Why? Well - he was running about as if much more than 5 days (maybe even a few weeks) had passed since his life saving quintuple bypass surgery. If today didn't tire him out, then I don't know how we will get through the next 2-3 months; first Andris will get bored and impatient with seemingly doing nothing, and then I will go crazy trying to keep him "down"....
But for today, tonight, Andris is home and all is well with the world!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Napping
One of the things I read for caregivers of people recooperating from heart surgery is rest when they rest. Mind you - this was meant more for when they get home.
Currently, Andris is having a nap while I am writing - actually he would like to nap, but being in a room with someone else of course means that if they have visitors... so do you. Earlier Andris had visitors, and his roomie was "napping".
Personally I am tired but wired at the same time - and although on one hand I feel like I could fall asleepat a moment's notice, the other part of me feels like I am on a caffeine buzz.
Gee! One might think that I had something on my mind....
Currently, Andris is having a nap while I am writing - actually he would like to nap, but being in a room with someone else of course means that if they have visitors... so do you. Earlier Andris had visitors, and his roomie was "napping".
Personally I am tired but wired at the same time - and although on one hand I feel like I could fall asleepat a moment's notice, the other part of me feels like I am on a caffeine buzz.
Gee! One might think that I had something on my mind....
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
0ur son, the doctor - I mean: cardiac "surgeon"
Not a good shot (of either of us) - but that is Andris' cardiac surgeon. and doesn't he look young enough to be our son? After all - he is also an accomplished operatic tenor ... brains from Andris, music from me.... Okay. So you find that hard to believe.
If you want more info on Andris, check my guest blogs on his blog From the Heart at
madawaska1.blogspot.com
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Things that (happily) make you go "hmmmmm"!
For those reading this, but not my husband's blog (I don't think that that is any one) I would like to note that it seemed odd to me that every time I mentioned Andris as a self-admitted Olympic curmudgeon, he seemed to want to deny that - or at least say that he was watching some things. But he was SELF-admited. Now Andris himself is admitedly "de-curmudgeoning". Hmmmmmmmmm!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Naivite - or - he and she
It is difficult watching the Olympics in the house of a self described Olympic curmudgeon if one is a naive or obtuse sports "couch spectator". IF YOU READ HIS BLOG on the Opening Night Ceremonies(Madawaska1.blogspot.com) although he ends with what he considered a positive tone and open mind, you'll see he began with quite the rant on the corporate, non amateur, business run unfriendly development of the Olympics. He did watch the opening ceremonies but has no real interest in watching anything else, because he has no knowledge of or connection to the athletes or the sports involved.
In general there are many nights she is at her computer with the TV on, while he is in his chair - listening to his ipod and reading and reading and reading .... Separate rooms - separate activities. But as said in earlier blogs, she can use TV as white noise and work on something else. Once the Olympics began, this situation has only increased. Please note: she isn't watching the screen the whole time. In fact, she has so far "missed" many key moments as they actually happen, while looking at her computer screen. But she enjoys knowing what is happening "out there" and considers the Olympics something that should not be missed as important for Canada. Not necessarily for winning medals (although that would be nice) but the fact that Canada is the host. How often does that happen, eh?
Currently she feels bad that in these days / weeks before his surgery, she doesn't spend more free time with him. Instead of sitting and reading side by side, she is in a second room watching TV on the side. She doesn't think she agrees with all of his comments or criticisms of the Olympics, or just some. Perhaps she would prefer to be her usual ostrich self and ignore the negative - or at least be naively obtuse. At any rate,she is not able to counter his arguments when he skillfully expresses his (negative) opinions. She feels that she doesn't have the vocabulary or the smarts. For her it is intuitive. Not everything has to be thought through; it can be felt without having the explanation. Something like religion for her....
And so perhaps ostrich-like or obtuse, she did just turn her full attention to the TV screen for a few minutes to watch the Canadian flag rise, the Canadian national anthem be sung by the throngs in attendance of the awarding of medals for moguls, in particular the gold to Alexsandre Bilodeau. Could she explain it to him in words. No - but for her it was meaningful.
In general there are many nights she is at her computer with the TV on, while he is in his chair - listening to his ipod and reading and reading and reading .... Separate rooms - separate activities. But as said in earlier blogs, she can use TV as white noise and work on something else. Once the Olympics began, this situation has only increased. Please note: she isn't watching the screen the whole time. In fact, she has so far "missed" many key moments as they actually happen, while looking at her computer screen. But she enjoys knowing what is happening "out there" and considers the Olympics something that should not be missed as important for Canada. Not necessarily for winning medals (although that would be nice) but the fact that Canada is the host. How often does that happen, eh?
Currently she feels bad that in these days / weeks before his surgery, she doesn't spend more free time with him. Instead of sitting and reading side by side, she is in a second room watching TV on the side. She doesn't think she agrees with all of his comments or criticisms of the Olympics, or just some. Perhaps she would prefer to be her usual ostrich self and ignore the negative - or at least be naively obtuse. At any rate,she is not able to counter his arguments when he skillfully expresses his (negative) opinions. She feels that she doesn't have the vocabulary or the smarts. For her it is intuitive. Not everything has to be thought through; it can be felt without having the explanation. Something like religion for her....
And so perhaps ostrich-like or obtuse, she did just turn her full attention to the TV screen for a few minutes to watch the Canadian flag rise, the Canadian national anthem be sung by the throngs in attendance of the awarding of medals for moguls, in particular the gold to Alexsandre Bilodeau. Could she explain it to him in words. No - but for her it was meaningful.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Patience - tried
February 7th
Drove to Ottawa with Andris on Sunday night so we could stay with friends.
February 8th
5am Monday morning wake up to alarm (and we slept so well. NOT!)
5:30am Leave friends' home
5:45 we reach hospital
(Timing frustration:
pre admission unit (PAU) opens at 6am and they want you in at that hour
parking lot opens at 7am,
Tim Horton's opens at 7am )
At 6:15 Andris goes in to be prepped
About 6:20 I get to do the paperwork - sign away our life's savings if insurance doesn't cover something
By 6:45 Andris is shaved, showered and medicated with "happy pills" to ease tension
7:10 the gurneys arrive for the 3 patients scheduled for morning surgery.
7:15 Andris is wheeled and taken to the basement (where the OR is located) and I get to go down the elevator with him and say by-for-now
7:20 I have Tim's coffee and breakfast sandwich
By 8:00 I am at the home of friends, and given the OUHI efficiency, say that Andris' bypass should now be starting
8:10 I go for shower - to wake-up from restless night and early morning
8:12 I decide to bring cell phone to bathroom - just-in-case the hospital calls, though think that is actually silly
8:30 I am showered and dressed and just about to dry hair when cell phone rings
8:35 I tell friends that Andris' surgery has been cancelled - that is:postponed due to missing anesthetist (away due to illness of child)
By 9:00 I am back at hospital to pick Andris up (first time I go to the PAU room I forget to bring his clothes... must have been the breakdown moment)
By 9:30 we are back in my car heading for Arnprior, without a new date for surgery
Several times on the way home Andris checks our phone at home for message from the UOHI
Before getting to Arnprior Andris retrieves the message from the UOHI about the new date for surgery
February 23rd
the date for Andris' rescheduled bypass surgery
February 9th
I wish someone had given me some of the happy pills that Andris got .....
Drove to Ottawa with Andris on Sunday night so we could stay with friends.
February 8th
5am Monday morning wake up to alarm (and we slept so well. NOT!)
5:30am Leave friends' home
5:45 we reach hospital
(Timing frustration:
pre admission unit (PAU) opens at 6am and they want you in at that hour
parking lot opens at 7am,
Tim Horton's opens at 7am )
At 6:15 Andris goes in to be prepped
About 6:20 I get to do the paperwork - sign away our life's savings if insurance doesn't cover something
By 6:45 Andris is shaved, showered and medicated with "happy pills" to ease tension
7:10 the gurneys arrive for the 3 patients scheduled for morning surgery.
7:15 Andris is wheeled and taken to the basement (where the OR is located) and I get to go down the elevator with him and say by-for-now
7:20 I have Tim's coffee and breakfast sandwich
By 8:00 I am at the home of friends, and given the OUHI efficiency, say that Andris' bypass should now be starting
8:10 I go for shower - to wake-up from restless night and early morning
8:12 I decide to bring cell phone to bathroom - just-in-case the hospital calls, though think that is actually silly
8:30 I am showered and dressed and just about to dry hair when cell phone rings
8:35 I tell friends that Andris' surgery has been cancelled - that is:postponed due to missing anesthetist (away due to illness of child)
By 9:00 I am back at hospital to pick Andris up (first time I go to the PAU room I forget to bring his clothes... must have been the breakdown moment)
By 9:30 we are back in my car heading for Arnprior, without a new date for surgery
Several times on the way home Andris checks our phone at home for message from the UOHI
Before getting to Arnprior Andris retrieves the message from the UOHI about the new date for surgery
February 23rd
the date for Andris' rescheduled bypass surgery
February 9th
I wish someone had given me some of the happy pills that Andris got .....
Friday, February 5, 2010
Patience
"God, grant me patience ... and I want it now!"
That was a line that I often used to describe myself. Patience is NOT one of my strong points.
And yet with Andris latest adventure, and the bends in the road it gave us, patience is the one thing that we have needed, Andris naturally more than myself.
In a world wide context - the fact that Andris situtation was diagnosed and set for treatment (surgery) this quickly is remarkable. And when there is complete trust in the surgical team and the place for surgery, it is actually easier to draw on patience reservoirs.
Today Andris got the call that the surgery is a go for this Monday!
That was a line that I often used to describe myself. Patience is NOT one of my strong points.
And yet with Andris latest adventure, and the bends in the road it gave us, patience is the one thing that we have needed, Andris naturally more than myself.
In a world wide context - the fact that Andris situtation was diagnosed and set for treatment (surgery) this quickly is remarkable. And when there is complete trust in the surgical team and the place for surgery, it is actually easier to draw on patience reservoirs.
Today Andris got the call that the surgery is a go for this Monday!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Humility, or lack thereof
About a week ago, I was writing a blog that I had started with the title "pride". The topic was to be the question of the ability of politicians, diplomats and people in general to let go of pride and actually work together for the betterment of their country. It was sparked by an article from the New York Times that Andris had mentioned in his blog, Abraham Lincoln's getting his most bitter rivals in his government (so as to use their skills for the country), as well as my experience during diplomat courses 14 years ago with 52 diplomats from 27 eastern European and former Soviet block countries. During "Team building" exercises in courses in Strasbourg, we had one session where we were split into teams and told to get the best deal we could (some foreign affairs issue). Story shortened, everyone tried to come out on top - but the exercise was to make us see that win-win was better than win-lose. Unfortunately, in post exercise conversation, we the diplomats felt that although that sounded good in theory, no country we knew of (especially the big ones) would really work that way. How many countries, political parties, or individuals for that matter, can you really see saying "we don't really come out on top, but the other guy gets just as much as we do." For the bigger country, the party in power or the alpha individual, unless the situation is atleast 51% / 49%, unfortunately we felt that they would not go for it; we are all fairly egotistical and would see not the 50/50 as a win.
This was to be my blog - the fact that our pride has increased to block our abilities to work toward a common good.
I wrote the blog text as a word document so that I could play with it, edit it, and try to make it as well written as I see Andris' blog. After I read the text to Andris, I left the doc to return to it another day -so that with even better perspective I could improve the blog. The problem is - I lost the text. Over the last week,every few days I searched for the file in every way I knew how, because I thought what I had writen was fairly good. Ultimately I had to accept that the doc was gone and I could write another one - nothing I had written was worth more searching.
So - who had the pride, or lack of humility.....?
This was to be my blog - the fact that our pride has increased to block our abilities to work toward a common good.
I wrote the blog text as a word document so that I could play with it, edit it, and try to make it as well written as I see Andris' blog. After I read the text to Andris, I left the doc to return to it another day -so that with even better perspective I could improve the blog. The problem is - I lost the text. Over the last week,every few days I searched for the file in every way I knew how, because I thought what I had writen was fairly good. Ultimately I had to accept that the doc was gone and I could write another one - nothing I had written was worth more searching.
So - who had the pride, or lack of humility.....?
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