Life Interrupted

When someone is sliding a bedpan under your bottom, you know you are in the twilight zone of monitors and tubes.    But I digress.

Several weeks ago, Des and I were enjoying a visit from the busy bees from Brocton, New York.  Translation:  our niece and nephew came out to see us and help us do stuff.  Marv and Joyce Zirkle to be specific, although Des refers to Marv as Whiskers.  It promised to be a good time when they arrived on a Wednesday afternoon.  That changed with severe chest pains that hit me on Friday night.  The rest of the story became a blur of a trip to the ER where doctors noted my history of stents in my major artery and decided to admit me. 

Marv and Joyce went back to our house to let Des know he probably should wait before replacing me.  It ain't over till it''s over, mister.

  Meanwhile, the ER  white coaters hooked me up to stuff in the temporary cubicle while they pondered my next move.  I fished for my cell phone and snuck out calls to people.  Hours later, I ended up in the coronary care unit, with tubes hooked to both arms and oxygen in my nostrils.   This is where I had the urge to pee and started to swing my legs gently over the side of the bed when all hell broke loose.  Sirens and white coats piled into my room.  I got yelled at.  One does not leave the bed in the CCU without help.  Thus, cometh the bed pan.

Bed pans are cold and wobbly and when one slides under you,  everything comes to a standstill  Bodily fluids go on strike, than suddenly let go.....yikes, you think, wondering if it all stayed inside.  Thankfully, all was well.  From then on it was xrays, sonagrams, BPs and the heavy portable EKG monitor hanging over the pocket of my flimsly nightie.

Okay, cut to the chase.  I spent two nights in the hospital while there was a debate about an angiogram in my future.  Happily, on Sunday morning I got to go home.  Passed the nuclear stress test, heart enzymes okay.  Conclusion, the flu and heavy coughing the week before plus stress  conspired to cause the chest pains.  Prayers answered.

A few more days of the busy bees meant that lots of things are now painted green, the garage got cleaned out, weeds pulled, pantry organized, egg custard made for my salivating husband.  Even got the car washed. 

Thankfully, our visitors got to make a few trips down to the Marina, my pal Donna showed them the Ojai Valley, Chuck showed off his garden and red blazing pointsettias..    We ate beef stew, my gluten free lasagna, Chinese take out and, of course, nightly serving of ice cream.  Joyce brought her famous cinammon roles which are in the freezer, doled out to Des on a need to plead basis.

During these two day, I got my Kindle by my side, plus my Smart Phone, so I never felt abandoned...well only the long last night when I didn't know whether the morning would mean the angiogram or home.   Turned out to be my blessed home.    It never looked so good, hungry cats and all.  One thought for the hospital suggestion box:  any way to warm up the bed pans?

So says Sassy