Happy Easter from our family to yours!

Easter Sunday we took the family out to eat at Golden Corral for a brunch. Combo breakfast and lunch. Afterward we took a drive to Metro Beach and sat by the river in the marina area. The sun was bright and warm, and most of us got a little sunburnt after such a long winters rest! LOL!








This is Wendy, me a Sarah and Matthew! Wow her son is getting so tall! He's age 11 and Sarah's 12. Her Husband, Mark did not go because he's having health issues with his blood pressure and he's trying to stay on a diet.










This is Barlow and me with Wendy's kids.















Here is Caroline and her family. Dont Darin look Buff! He's been working out with weights and really loosing his baby fat and pumping up his muscles!












Barlow with Darin and Amber and Me!
















This is when we arrived. Nice day out!

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This month I was sent to have another Cat scan to check on my corotid arteries from the last stroke. The doc says its about the same about 60+ %. He sent me to a heart doctor to verify that my heart does not have any problems and can withstand the surgery. She sent me to get a Stress test that showed that there may be some problem with my heart. This Thursday I go in for a heart catheterization to verify, and put a stint in any part that is getting blocked.

They say that if I do get a stint, I will have to stay overnight, otherwise I get to go home the same day. I get to go through this again maybe next month, because the vascular doc says that he can do the same thing to open my right corotid instead of cutting my neck again. (At least Im praying he can. My right neck was cut real bad already a couple years ago for the Perotid surgery i had. The skin is already tight there. Well, I pray that it all goes well for me.

Had a triple biopsy on Wednesday.

I saw my family doctor last week and he noticed a note in my Cat Scan results that said that I had some type of growth going on in my throat at the base of my tongue. He sent me to an ear, eye and throat doctor to have it checked.
Last Wendsday he scheduled me for a triple biopsy of my throat, lungs and esophogus just to be on the safe side. He did a little scope in the office to see into my throat and just noticed some swelling of my throat near the base of my tongue, but could not see much else.
Let me tell you, when I woke from the anastesia my arms and the back of my calves hurt like charlie horses, and I was stiff and sore! I remained sore and the pain remained in my lower back , my hips and legs, and my arms hurt to raise them. It was great pain like I had been dropped from the table onto the floor or something. The doctor called me on Saturday and he said the pain was from the anastesia! Let me tell you, that I have had LOTS of surgery before and never had such pain from anastesia like this time. My family doctor recomended Advil for the pain, and by Sunday evening I was feeling much better, but still a little sore.

Today I went back to the ENT doctor for the results of the biopsies. Praise the LORD! The results were NORMAL! No sign of any cancers! Let me tell you, I was praying a lot since the operation while thinking of my Daddy, who died about 7 years ago from Mouth cancer. He had a growth under his tongue which was removed along with part of his tongue, a small part of his lower jaw and had lymph nodes removed from under his chin in his throat. The poor man had to liquify all his food, and drink energy drinks while he went through kemotherapy for almost a year, before the cancer returned in his lymph system again that finally killled him a year later. That picture was in mine and my husband's thoughts as we waited for the results of my tests.

I thank the LORD that I have been spared one more time! Now my next thing I have to work on is quitting smoking! Thats gonna be the hard part, because my Husband still loves his smokes, and doesnt want to quit. LORD give me the strength!

A little bit of our Christmas Eve

Wendy and her Dad





Matthew and Sarah













Caroline at my tree

Matthew ---->

Bits and Pieces of our Christmas Eve -----------

Caroline, Frank and family portrait!

I had the privilage to scan a copy of a Family picture that Caroline had made a few weeks ago at the Value Fresh store near me. They did a great job and everyone looks fantastic!

A very happy family for Thanksgiving!

Amber invited her boyfreind, Khalil, standing next to my new Blue and Silver tree.












Sarah and Darin in the play room

Wendy looks good!

Wendy with cousin Steve, Uncle Ed, Caroline, and Aunt Sally. Glad they could still make it for this Thanksgiving!

Sarah and Matthew digging in to the meal!

Darin and Khallil played some pool!

Amber and Khallil going to play some pinball.

Barlow and Frank got their plates, not enough room at the table, the family room is comfortable.

The lovely Caroline, looking great!

The Bufffet full of food!

Barlow getting his serving, happy dance! lol!

The Buffet, (2 turkeys, potatoes, stuffing, yams, and gravy, with sides of Vegies breads, cakes, pies, and jello. Caroline made the deviled eggs and brought her special spinach/ cream cheese dip for the crackers! Thanks Caroline!

Everyone loved the food and the deserts, we even made muscles and shrimp cocktail, for treats. Darin and Frank polished off ALL the muscles! Full bellies were the word for the day. Frank and Darin headed up to Caroline's freind , Barb's house last night for a chance to kill a Bambi's dad. Hope they get one, Darin is rooting to get one this time!

Still doing good!

Well, so far so good again! I saw the vascular surgeon today, and he doesnt think my corotids are quite as clogged as the hospital thought. He says its about 60% or a little higher, but they dont feel surgery is necessary yet. He wants to talk to the Doc who did my Cat scan once more, but he dont feel I need surgery yet. 70% or more they would do it right away, but he has scheduled me for 6 months from now. He also will discuss with my family doctor to folllow up with a cardiac doctor to check if the clots might be somewhere in my heart area. I got back in mid May for another ultrasound of my corotids again. Phew!

So far so good!

Well, so far so good. My vision is back in my left eye and on October 20th I went for the CAT scan with dyes to have my corotid arteries checked and see how much blockage is really in there. I go to the surgeon on November 9th to see the results. Ill report his findings soon.

The hardest thing is staying away from smoking any more. My husband smokes like a train and I enjoy my smokes. I know they told me to quit, but it is SO HARD! My hubby tried to smoke outside, but that only lasted 2 days! It got cold outside! I have tried to reduce my smoking, and spread out the cigarettes about an hour apart. There is NO magic pill to help me. (I wish there were) I want to be around for a long time Any sugestions to help with the cravings?