My battery is dying . . . . .

The battery on my iphone is dying.  Maybe it’s time as I’ve had it for almost 3 years (got it 3 years ago in February).  I know batteries don’t last forever, but it’s getting to the point that it won’t even last a day.  ■  My battery (my heart) seems kind of ok.  I’ve had some little pains from it today, but I’m sure it’s nothing to be concerned about.   ■  We’re supposed to get a lot of snow between, or including??? Tuesday and Wednesday.  They say it’s a blizzard coming.  I had been planning on going to the Kalo Foundation meeting on Tuesday night, but now I’m thinking NOT.  ■  For some reason the text on my post has turned from black to brown.  ???? – yup another question mark.  ■  Tuesday I’ve got to get my blood checked for “thiness”.  We’ll see how the Coumadin is doing.   ■  Bullfrog practiced today.  It went well.  Pat’s going to try and book us.  I know we can do a gig – no problem.  It’s time for bed.  ‘NIght  ■■■■■

Tingling . . . . . I wish it would stop . . . .

Yeah, the bottom three fingers on my left hand still tingle – like they’re going to sleep.  I’m guessing a pinched nerve.  Pinched by what I don’t know.  Maybe arthritis.  ■  It’s past bedtime.  But, not too far passed.  ■  Drawings to start and finish, etc.  ‘Night.  ■

Dr., Mr. MD. . . can you tell me what’s ailing me?

Saw my new cardiologist today.   They’ve got me on Coumadin for at least the next month.  They want to see if I’ll convert from the AFib back to a normal rhythm on my own.  The blood thinner is also there to prevent any strokes.  In a month they’ll make a decision on the electrocardioversion (known to them as “Shake & Bake”).    ■ I’m back at work.  Thank goodness for that.    ■  Just saw a reminder that I’ve got to get Zoe in for her annual checkup and shots.  ■  Time for bed. . . . . .

Cold . . . my fingers are tingling . . . . .

It’s still cold out.  But, heck, it’s January.  We haven’t had a lot of snow, but what we’ve had has stuck around.  ■  I see my new cardiologist tomorrow.  I have several questions amongst them is that the little, ring, and middle fingers on my left hand are tingling – constantly.  I’m wondering if it has to do with my heart failure, or perhaps a result of the transient stroke I had.  And I need to see if I’m clear to go back to work and what things I’m able to do, or restricted from doing.  ■ 

Salmon tonight . . . cold tomorrow . . . . .

Doing salmon on the grill tonight.  Should be good.  ■  Having band practice tomorrow morning – then Bears/Packers game in the afternoon.  ■  Got a CD from my brother-in-law of songs that they normally do.  Now I’ve just got to figure out bass lines for them.  And he wants me to learn scales!  This could be hard. ■  Toilet’s done.  I know you were just wondering about that!

The “simple” jobs that seem to take so long . . . . .

It’s always the simple jobs that seem to take way to long!  I need to change the innards of our master bath toilet – and I have done this before, but because it’s in a tight space and my wrench handles are too long (I keep running into the walls while turning the nuts) it’s taking longer than I expected.  For a plumber it’s maybe as 10 minute job.  I’ve been working on this on and off for a couple of hours.  It’ll be done tomorrow.  But I am going to see if I can find the right size crescent wrench with a shorter handle.  Nothing like the right tool for the right job.  One of the reasons that it’s taking so long is that I’m getting winded easily while working on it.  I’m sure that’s a heart not pumping enough oxygenated blood from my heart back into my blood stream.   ■  I am feeling better today than I was the previous few days.  That’s good news.  ■  

And I thought I’d publish the child’s book this week!

Not to be.  It’s got to be at least 24 pages!  I was thinking 10, or so.  Now the story has to expand.  ■  It’s my across-the-street neighbor’s birthday today – Happy Birthday, Jac!  And many more!  ■  Got a ride to our Chamber’s networking group’s breakfast this morning – Thanks, Donna.  The doctor doesn’t want me driving yet.  ■  Got some more drawing to get back to.  ■ 

Doc appointment OK . . . cardiologist next week . .

My doctor’s appointment went ok today.  Not a whole lot to report.  I’m still a little off balance, but that may be due to some of doseages that have increased and/or an additional med.  I think the key doc to see is the cardiologist and that’ll be next Tuesday.  Until then I’ve been told not to work.  ■  Bummer, I could use the money.  ■  Working on a children’s book for friend of ours’ daughter.  It’ll be short, but will have illustrations all drawn by me on the iPad.  I hope it’s interesting.  ■  Tomorrow morning I’ve got an 8 am breakfast meeting to go to.  I’m getting a ride there and back.  Thank goodness. 

Snowy . . . and off kilter . . . . .

It’s been snowing this morning.  Not heavily, but somewhat steadily.  I’ve heard the plows go by and my next-door-neighbor Steve shoveled my sidewalks and driveway.  ■  Now I’m waiting for the home health care nurse to show up and check my blood for thinness.  I’m on a blood thinner to prevent blood clots and strokes.  ■  Yesterday and today I’ve been feeling kind of off-balance.  I’m bumping into things that I shouldn’t and slowing down on stairs so that I know exactly where my feet are.  Too much stumbling.  ■  The home health care nurse is here.  ■  It looks like I’ll be having a couple of more visits by the nurse.  ■  I see my doc tomorrow and my cardiologist next Tuesday.  ■  Back to some pen & ink work.  ■

Me & the dogs . . . . . mom took the picture . .. .

Holly took this picture of me on the couch with one dog on each side of me.  The dogs are had to see ‘cause they’re black, but they are there.  ■  The Bear’s won as did the Pack.  It should be a good game next weekend.  And a tough one.  ■  Since this whole heart and stroke episode this past week, I’ve noticed more and more that I’m tired after simply climbing stairs.  And maybe even more importantly that I’m getting “clumsy.”  Since I’ve been home I’ve stumbled on stairs, bumped into things I shouldn’t have bumped in to.  I wonder if that’s something residual from the stroke, or due to my heart problems?  I see my primary care physician on Tuesday and I’ll ask him.  Kind of has me wondering.  ■ 

Delicious .. . . . . . .

Holly and I are blessed with such good friends and neighbors.  Our next-door-neighbors helped watch over Holly while I was in the hospital and Sue and Jac our across-the-street neighbors helped with Holly’s car today and Sue baked some delicious bread.  That’s actually an image off the net, but it’s close to what the loaf looked like until we ate at least 2/3rds of it.  It is delicious.   ■  I’m upstairs on my pc and Holly’s watching the Packer game.  Tomorrow the Bears play.  ■ 

Out of the hospital . . .

I finally got released yesterday around 6:00 pm.  I’m on a couple of new meds for my heart problems.  Plural – problems.  AFib and my left ventricle is working, but weakly.  At least I’m not hooked up to an IV, or heart monitor.  My left foot hurts and I think it may be gout.  It wasn’t bad yesterday, and the pain was on top of my left foot, but it’s gotten worse and it’s painful to walk.  In the hospital it seems they give you your meds when they feel like it – usually towards the end of the day.  That’s too late to take allopurinol – which prevents a gout attack – it doesn’t cure it.  I think I’ve got a gout attack again.  Bummer.  And I won’t see my doctor until Tuesday.  If this continues, I probably won’t be able to walk tomorrow.  ■  I’m going to limp downstairs with the aid of 2 canes to make some breakfast.  ■

You know you're bored when . . .

You draw your hospital room! Saw one doc this morning. He talked about doing an angiogram, but that's the call of the cardiologist, so we'll see what happens.

And the time drags on . . . . .

Being in the hospital is boring. I've learned that my double vision that prompted this visit may have been caused by a transient stroke - a very short stroke that will not show up on an MRI. It looks like I may still be here for a couple of days while they stabilize me on some meds.

Heart monitors & other doo dads

I'm hooked up and monitored. They're trying some new meds on me.
Waiting for meds and sleep.

In the hospital . . . Again

This time it's heart failure . . .

Enter your post title here. Right here! Not over there!

No picture, no fantastic post title today.  Just a post.  ■  I haven’t been feeling 100% for the past few days.  My head aches and my stomach isn’t what I’d call queasy, but it’s not quite right either.  And today my back started aching.  Please, no back problems.  I’ve been back-problem-free for quite awhile.  And it’s a little harder to breathe.  I hope this general poor feeling ends soon.  I don’t think it’s anything to call the doc about.  ■  We’re putting Bullfrog back together.  While it never disbanded we couldn’t book any gigs due to our vocalist/guitar player being unable to gig due to work.  Since then a sax/harmonica teacher at the store wanted to put together a band.  It’s been he, I, and Charlie our drummer from Bullfrog for the past few weeks.  We’ve gone through 3 bass players – the last one being Gary, our Bullfrog bass player, in just a couple of practices.  Gary has joined another band, so he’s left this one.  Now Pat, our vocalist/guitarist, has decided to try and get the band to gig out again.  We’ve got another bass player lined up – and we’ll see if this person works --- if not, I’m sliding over and playing bass.  It’s easier to get a guitar player than a bass player.  I’ll let you know what happens.  ■  It’s way past time for bed as it’s 1:00 a.m.  ‘Night.  ■ 

The new year has begun . . . . .

We kicked it off with our annual Bullfrog Family & Friends brunch on New Year’s Day.  (Pics above are from that.) This was the 6th one, so we’ve been at it awhile.  Two hams on the grill, multiple breakfast casseroles, French toast, and a slew of other foods kept us in food.  Football and good conversation were the norm.  I think a good time was had by all of us.  ■  Two drawings to redo.  One is on my board.  ■  Off to work.