Pacemaker Checkup

Today was my office visit with Dr. Christopher Johnsrude. 

He's the doc that is in charge of my pacemaker.

You see, I actually have 2 cardiologists.

Dr. Keller focuses on the actual functioning and structure of my heart.

the doc and I in March 2014

 Dr. Johnsrude tends to the electrical system that has been added to help my heart function.

I know!  Technology is so cool.

 Every 3 months I am seeing 1 of the 2 cardiologists.

Today was the day to get the old pacemaker checked.

The pacemaker likes to act up every now and again so Dr. Johnsrude and his team have had a good ol' time managing this hunk of medal that has been strategically placed in the left side of my chest.

The drive up to Louisville this morning was lovely. 

When I was a wee little girl the drive to see the cardiologist was a whole day affair. At that time we lived 3hrs away from my pacemaker specialist and 2 hrs away from the heart function specialist. 

But since then I have married and moved closer, by the act of God, to both of my cardiologists.  Going in for checkups every 3 months isn't that big of an adventure anymore. 

And, on top of that, if I ever need to go to the ER I simply drive up to the hospital that already has all my information. 

 It's pretty perfect!!   

They know me, my docs, my medical history, and I am sent on back in a flash.

Today was my first checkup since making it to the milestone of  30years old.

I AM 30!!!!!!!!

Saying that out loud puts a smile on my face every time.

I have been so bubbly lately that I'm even pissing myself off.

You know those people that are just happy all the time and joyful in every situation, to the point of absolute annoyance?   

Yep

I have been like that this past month.

I want to skip everywhere I go and show off my coffee stained 30 year old teeth by smiling until my face hurts.

Today's visit was celebratory. This lovely team of people have helped me to see 30.

my pacemaker tech holding up 30, me, my pacemaker doc, and my cardio nurse

They, along with Dr. Bradley Keller, have helped me to birth 2 children and to have the energy to thoroughly enjoy those 2 children.

age 6 and 8

The song Girls Chase Boys by Ingrid Michaelson has me dancing around lately.

I love specific lyrics throughout the song that I have made to be my little 30yr old anthem.

Here are the lyrics that I have plucked from it to give the song a whole new meaning for me.

"All the broken hearts in the world still beat
Let's not make it harder than it has to be"

" I'm a little let down but I'm not dead
There's a little bit more that has to be said"

" I got two hands, one beating heart
And I'll be alright
I'm gonna be alright
Yeah I got two hands, one beating heart
And I'll be alright
I'm gonna be alright"

Here is a link to the song if you would like to take a listen.  But you have to promise to dance if you click on it.

In regards to the pacemaker checkup, all seems to be well and I am set back to see the team again in 6 months.

(click here if you are interested in knowing a bit about my heart condition and the reconstructive procedure I had at 3months of age)

Tuesday's History Lesson with Brenda

Oh you all, my summer break is here!

Yesterday I emailed in my last term paper.

Good God Almighty, it took me forever to get up the will power to type that thing out. I just did NOT want to sit down to type out any kind of paper. I had gotten to the point of no return that takes place at the end of the semester.

I was burned out.

Done.

As soon as I emailed my paper to the professor I headed to lunch with the lovely Brenda, her gran-daughter Jillian , and my 2 children. 

 We were on a mission to explore an old farm in Glendale so we opted for the Whistle Stop for lunch. Over lunch Brenda shared stories of her time growing up in such an adorable Kentucky town.

Nope, I'm not going to tell you her stories.  You'll have to get them straight from the source.  That's the fun part of the stories, that they're from Brenda.  That woman needs to be on Broadway.

The farm we explored is owned by relatives of Brenda's so we weren't EXACTLY trespassing.

The house pre-dates the Civil War and has been passed on through the family for generations.

The kids and I followed Brenda around the old homestead as she introduced us to her relatives through the stories passed down from generation to generation. Oh, and to the actual relative that stopped by on the four-wheeler to see who in the world was poking around his old farm house.

Jilly and Anna were more interested in chasing each other than listening to history. But Paul, now that child LOVED listening to Brenda's wild stories of Generals and Indians . . . and ghost dogs.

The house is incredible!

And MASSIVE.

Family members are currently in the process of restoring it, which I think is fantastic . . . and a LOT of work.

Paul said his favorite part was the 30 foot hand dug, stone lined, well. There's no doubt this was dug by the slaves that lived on the plantation.

Brenda said there used to be a gazebo around the well that the family members would spend their Sunday afternoons around. "They'd just sit here sipping cold water from the well, talking the Sunday away."


Yesterday was beautiful! 

 I am in love with this bluegrass state

Oh Dear God will this semester EVER end?

Oh Dear God will this semester EVER end?

I am currently taking a break from typing my last term project.

It is excruciating.

I, no kidding, broke down into tears this morning and started throwing the F-bomb around because I am THAT done with grad school.

I need a break. 

Well, technically I DID have a break.

Roger and I got back from our week in Manhattan this past friday.

It was wonderfully enchanting

.

We were there to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary.

And boy did we celebrate!

Most of the days were spent meandering around the city taking in the energy, meeting people and taking the time to hear their stories, and eating at random spots that appealed to us at the time.

We stayed at a house on 19th Street in the Gramercy Park Area that is owned by Mennonite Missionaries. The house includes office space for the missionaries and living quarters for the missionaries, as well has rooms that can be rented out to guests visiting New York City. We shared the kitchen, bathroom, and living room with the missionaries and the other 2 guests, but had a private room. 

reading in the living room

Knowing that we were going to New York City in May, for Christmas Roger bought me tickets to see Wicked on Broadway . . .  ON BROADWAY!!!

Yep.  It was AMAZING!!!!

But alas, we are back to the real world of laundry, yard work, child rearing, and oh for crying out loud, PAPER WRITING.

I do not want to do it.

It is due today.

I have put off doing it until the last possible moment because I am sooooooo insanely burnt out. My brain can NOT take any more learning. . .  or thinking.   

I want to read something stupid.  I want to have a mindless conversation with someone.  I want to sit on the back porch drinking too much wine, laughing at the hilarity of these crazy squirrels that have taken over our back yard. 

I want to do ANYTHING besides this term paper.

A part of be just wants to email the professor and be like "sorry dude, I'm not doing it. Give me whatever grade. I don't care."

But alas, I shall go back to writing this term paper because my husband is on my case about it.