New Years

I forgot to tell about our New Years Eve tradition.... We always stay at home and just relax, watch TV and try to stay up until midnight (I can't remember the last time we made it up to midnight though) We always eat shrimp too. Well, this year was no different except our grandson stayed all night. When it was time to eat the shrimp, Jonathan took one, peeled the tail off, dipped it into the cocktail sauce, began to chew it, and immediately spit it into Monica's hand. He did though, enjoy peeling off the tails, so Jonathan was my official tail peeler. We had a great time.

More Suns Photos

Here are a few more photos from the Suns game...Jumbotron, Cheerleaders, and Monica and me.

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS

It has been a busy month preparing for the holidays. I had some mixed feelings this year due to the events in my life these past six months. We have never gone all out materialistic at Christmas, but this Christmas I really felt like going overboard. So many people have been here for us, and I just wanted to show my appreciation. Needless to say, we did not go overboard, but instead tried to get gifts with a significant meaning for friends and family.(the one picture is of my daughter Marissa with a very significant gift) It was mostly about our grandson and his joy at each gift he opened. We again had the family over (Monica's Mom, sister and brother-in-law were here from Ohio). Christmas is very casual, no sit down dinner, just come and drop in and visit and eat. We are not real big football fans, so watching football is not a problem. We do have some traditions though, We go to Christmas eve service, and then as part of our Christmas gift to our kids, we go to a Chinese Buffet. Everyone came over after the buffet;we just visited and since Monica's mom and sister were leaving on Christmas Morning, Jonathan opened their gifts. He is so much fun to watch. He is very dramatic with his expressions. A very nice Christmas and New year.

Monica has a cold, so she has been "taking care of me" by sleeping on the couch, so I don't catch the cold. Not much fun for either of us. She just doesn't want to take any chances.

I have been doing Pulmonary Rehab at St. Joes two days per week, and taking a mind and body class three days a week. But both are done now, and I am wondering how to spend my days. The insurance company approved rehab until the end of Decmber, that time really went fast. On my last day, Bonnie the director of Rehab, went over my exercise charts with me, from the first session to the last session. The first session, I could not walk on the treadmill even THREE minutes as a very slow speed and stationary bike for five minutes The last session, I was walking 25 minutes at a much faster pace and riding the bike for 20 minutes. I am planning on continuing my rehab at the gym at the senior center down the road. (Just incase you are wondering, the gym at the center is open to the public)

SUNS GAME

When I went to the grocery store with Monica one day, a young lady approached me and asked me if I were a Phoenix Suns fan (I was wearing a Suns playoff jersey from 2007) I told her I have been a Suns fan since about 1979 when I moved here. She identified her herself as a marketing intern for the Suns organization. She explained to me a promotion that was going on in conjunction with Checker Auto parts. That if I filled out the entry form and if I was chosen, I would get to go to the suns game and be center court with the captians of the game. Well, I was chosen and we went to the game on Dec. 6th. By the way the tickets were free, and the seats were good. Monica and I had a real nice time. In all of the years I have lived here, I have never been able to get to a game. There is alot of entertainment during the time outs, I didn't even miss chanel surffing since there were no commercials. Monica took some pictures that I will try to post later. I just got this picture in the mail today, notice that Steve Nash and I are the same height! What do you think of the Suns recent trade?

TWO YEARS!!!

Well, tomorrow will be two years since I first went into Scottsdale Healthcare for my "cold". On Sunday, the 30th, it will be two years since I was put on life support. Little did I know how long and hard the journey was going to be. I have had so many emotions and feelings going through my head lately. Mostly they are feelings of thankfulness and gratitude. First of all to God. He is always there. Then the person who donated their lungs, what a wonderful gift of life. I feel words aren't really enough to thank their family. Then there is just about EVERY person who I have come in contact with these past two years. I know that sounds like I am being extreme. but I mean it. I could name so many people... my family (here and in Ohio), my grandson (he always makes me smile), church family, STARS employees, old friends, new friends, ALL OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, The Transplant team at ST. Joseph's, the home healthcare people, and the people who gave Monica support throughout this whole ordeal, I am so thankful for. Today Monica and I had to return a monitor to St. Josephs from a test I had to take. We had our grandson with us and sometimes he has to do exactly what I do, and today was no different. When I go into a hospital, I always need to wear a mask. Well, our grandson had to wear one too. So we were walking down the hallways of the hospital, holding hands with our masks on. Oh yeah, he also had a blanket tied around his neck like a "Superman Cape" as we walked. His first question when I put the mask on was "Are you sick again Papa?" When I told him I wasn't sick, he just said oh, ok. We also went back to the 4th floor Rehab at Scottsdale Healthcare. They hadn't seen me since I was using the wheelchair and using oxygen. It felt so good to walk in there, on my own, to say hello and thank them. They were all so kind and supportive to me and Monica both times I was a patient there. So, on my two year anniversary...(anniversary doesn't almost sound right) and after many changes in my life, I am alive... given a second chance..Thanks to God, everyone in my life these past two years and the person who made the unselfish donation of their lungs to me. One request....PLEASE CONSIDER BEING AN ORGAN DONER.

OHIO

OHIO 11/08

My Sister and Brothers

Well, it has been awhile since I have posted and Many things have been happening. The main thing is that my Drs. said it was ok for me to travel(fly). So after much thought... Ohio or Redondo Beach (actually it didn't take much thought at all) we decided to go back home to see family in Ohio. My two brothers and sister live in Ohio, and Monica's Mom and Sister live in Ohio, along with many other family members. By the way, thank you Susan and Greg for making this trip a reality for me. We had a non stop flight from Phoenix to Cleveland and I didn't even feel weird having to wear my mask on the plane. We sat beside a young mother with a 13 month old son. I thought "Oh boy is this going to be a long flight!" But he was the best little boy during the whole flight. My brother picked us up in Cleveland, the last time I saw him was a year ago, and I was still using the wheelchair to get around. I could walk, but lost my breath after just a few steps. I also was on 4 liters of O2. Needless to say, I was very grateful to be able to walk off the plane to meet him. My sister hadn't seen me since Dec. 9th, 2006, when I was in ICU, in a medically induced coma, medically paralyzed, and on life support. When we got to her house; there was a long hug and some tears. I got to see my other brother too. Again, I felt such gratefulness to be able to stand and give him a hug too. We spent alot of time with both sides of our families. Many special meals, familiar activities- even some new ones like tag sales, rides through our hometown, visits with aunts and uncles, and even a birthday dinner with ice cream cake at Monica's Mom and Bill's house (the cake was for a combined birthday celebration for Monica, Susan, Susan's husband Greg, and me). I got to do so many things I thought I would NEVER get to do again. It just felt great, like I again have a life. One of the things Monica and I like to do everytime we get a chance to go to Ohio, is to go to Amish country. This is something that I have done as a child and something that Monica has always done with her kids when they were younger. We have a routine(for those of you who know me, I have to have routines...routines for everything) Anyway, we start out at the Mennonite Thrift Store in Kidron. We can always find something to buy for CHEAP. We then go down the road to Lehmans Hardware Store. It used to be just a small hardware that catered to the Amish and selling the non-electric appliances they use, but now, it is just too comercialized. They have added on so much, it almost looks like a Wal mart with many reproductions. Lehmans also has a smaller store in Mt. Hope that still has the non electric items. Next stop, the Kidron auction(selling pigs, cows, hay etc...) So cool, that hasn't changed too much at all. I noticed that after getting back to Az. I am pretty tired, so maybe we over did things a bit. But it felt good. Well, that is it for tonight: there are clinics, chest x-rays, and pulmonary function tests tomorrow morning, oh, and rehab. It does feel good to be back HOME with my familiar routines!