Saturday, May 16, 2020

Putting One Foot In Front Of The Other. That Is, When I'm Not Laying Down


Hank's still in the hospital and his girl is with him. They kicked her out last night but let her come back this morning and I'm so glad. I love how they love.
My boy seems in good spirits and is in no pain. The AFib continues but he saw a cardiologist today who mentioned that they may have to shock his heart back into a regular rhythm. We'll see. The cardiologist probably won't be back until tomorrow at the earliest or maybe Monday. So Hank's going to have to stay a few more days.
Better there and safe than at home and not safe.
But of course we all want him home AND safe and that will happen.

I've had a very, very lazy day. Somehow I got worn out just from life, I suppose. You know how these things go. Here's a few pictures from when I did stir from the house.


The hydrangea is rewarding me for freeing its roots by putting out a few buds.


A leisurely picking of the garden and visit to the hen house. Those are the first potatoes we've dug. Even under their dirt coats you can see the red shine of them. I'm going to make a salad with the greens. We've got your kale, your arugula, and well, that's all. That new row of arugula I planted is the best. Peppery as can be. I've got more squash in the refrigerator and that'll be turned into squash croquettes and I think we'll celebrate the new potatoes by eating them. Oh, wait! There's a few little carrots in there too that I'll scrub and slice for the salad. 

We've had a small but profound miracle happen here the last two days. Remember how Jack the cat was standing guard over the food bowl that I'd put out for Maurice, refusing to leave it even though it was empty and he had his own full bowl a few feet away?
Well, Mr. Moon put his bowl over near Maurice's bowl and yesterday and today this has happened.


They are eating within two feet of each other! At the same time! And no one is snarling or growling or spitting flames! I really never do expect to see those two cuddled up together but just the fact that they're in the same room eating at the same time is more than I ever thought I'd see. 
Must be all that yoga the three of us are doing together every day. It's mellowed us all out. And of course the green tea we drink all day long. 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

And I have nothing more to say. I believe I am dealing with Hank's situation by sheer and persistent denial. This generally works for me. Of course there is a bit of dissociative behavior involved but that's another good friend of mine. Ya cope with the mechanisms ya got. But quite honestly, I really DO think he's going to be fine and his spirits are so good and he's such a trouper and he's not in any pain and he's got Rachel with him and hospital ice (which is the best ice) and he's being monitored and as Jessie said last night on his FB post: "I love you and your arrhythmic heart so much. Always beating to your own drum."
And while she was working today she got to sneak in to see him. 
He'll be okay. 

So will we all. 

Love...Ms. Moon

33 comments:

  1. What drugs have they tried? Before they go shooting electricity into him, there are drugs that can be used. My experience taught me to not trust the cardiologists, do your own research and question everything.

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    1. I don't intend to "do my own research" and try to second guess doctors who are trained specifically to deal with something as common as AFib.

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    2. Your brain still working great, I see! Good luck, you'll be fine. Courage!

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    3. An excellent electrocardiologist is a good thing, too. I credit my husband's going on 8 years of extra life to his team of heart guys. Took 3 tries and a few years but he hasn't skipped a beat since Georgia lost to Ole Miss. And an extra beta blocker fixed that.

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    4. Sorry Hank, didn't mean to give offense. My experience lasted years, and wasn't good. Hopefully yours will be better.

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    5. Ooh boy. Some good points here. I'm hoping that this is something that can easily be treated with first-line meds.

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  2. I think they do the shock thing when it doesn't stop on it's own. my episodes would always stop after a few hours though I have had long ones 7+ hours but I would have them most every day. my sister has a friend who gets shocked whenever it happens. if it persists he may want to see an electrophysiologist (specializes in heart rhythms) instead of a cardiologist. nothing the cardiologist tried helped mine.

    my neighbor gifted me with a bag of squash from his garden when I walked by this evening.

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    1. Remembering all of your experience with this helped keep me calm, Ellen. So thanks for writing about your experiences.
      What are you going to do with your squash?

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    2. make your squash croquettes with some.

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  3. Fortunately I can say nothing to Hank except thanks for getting to the hospital, and get well.

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  4. glad Hank is under good care.......and I trust they will treat him accordingly so that he can recover nicely and go home soon. Not soon enough, though! Glad Rachel is with him, the best medicine. Your garden veggies are beautiful and will make a lovely dinner. I know your heart is heavy and stressed......but ...... may all be well soon. Heartfelt love and wishes to you all
    Susan M

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  5. Your basket of garden delights is like an important painting. So beautiful, glad you took a photo, I may make it my screen saver. Glad also that hank is being looked after by the pros! So sorry that you have to be a mother of worry right now, if not the virus THIS!! NOT cool , Universe, not cool at all. Sending Hank well wishes of course- wish upon wish!

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    1. Well, the universe could have done a lot worse and I am so grateful that things seem to be returning to what we call normal today.
      Glad you liked my basket of garden and hen house pickings. It always makes me feel so rich.

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  6. Is the cardiologist going to bring a cavorting ten foot alligator into the ward? That will shock Hank right enough. As for the cats - they prove that cat psychology is complicated. How could we mere humans possibly interpret it?

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    1. You know, Hank's a pretty laid back guy so I'm not even sure that would shock him very much. We do live in Florida, you know.
      I would never try to analyze a cat's behavior. You're correct- they are way too complicated.

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  7. I Hope all of Hank's Treatment goes well and the Hospital stay won't be prolonged... Healing Energies and Glad he has a good Specialist.

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  8. Denial is my method too, Mary and it keeps you from loosing your mind which is important for Hank. Hank is right AFib is common and it may take a while to sort it out but the doctors have many tools in their case and he is young.

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    1. Denial has always worked for me.
      Things seem to be looking up as to the heart.

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  9. Hi Mary,
    Hank doesn't know me but I send my best. He(you-they) are so lucky to be able to be with him while he is ill. Here, Texas, absolutely no one is allowed in to visit a sick patient. That means even if your spouse is dying, so I've been told. We get these bulletins from the hospital ever so often. I think I would hire a bucket truck to lift me up to the window if that was happening, so I could at least be with my spouse even if it was 13 stores up and through a pane of glass.
    Curious times we are living...

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    1. I wasn't sure that they'd let Rachel in either but this hospital's policy at the moment seems to be one visitor if you're not in the Covid area.
      I hear you on the bucket truck. That is the saddest damn thought in the world- not to be with your loved when at such a time.

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  10. I'm glad to hear Hank is doing OK, but I'm sorry he'll be a few more days in hospital. How could he tell that his heart was beating irregularly? Did he simply feel it, or were there other indications?

    And denial -- well, who could blame you? I think in the face of a situation like this, particularly at first, there's always a degree of denial.

    I'm glad Rachel is with him.

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    1. He could feel his heart rate rising and not coming down and he just felt "weird."
      So. He knew to call the doctor and I'm so glad he did. And SO glad that Rachel is with him.

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  11. "I love you and your arrhythmic heart so much. Always beating to your own drum." That is so perfect! Such a witty, funny family you are! Hank and Rachel have an aura about them, they are soulmates for sure. May he be completely well again very soon.

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    1. Thank you, dearheart. I love my family so much. And you are right about Hank and Rachel. They are so good for each other and they make each other so happy.

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  12. Hang in there,Mary.And Hank-get better soon!

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