SharivilleLife stories from Shari

Well we started out with good intentions, went to Garden Ridge, in search of the perfect Christmas tree, soon got side tracked because Garden Ridge is as large as a big Costco, and stuffed to the gunnel’s with Christmas stuff, and everything else you can think of for Christmas.  Never did find the perfect tree.  We ended up at RJ Gators for fried pickles and margarita’s. YUM!! Fried pickles are a southern treat, as I’ve not found them anywhere else. If you get a chance try some.  Hooter’s make the best one’s around here.  From fried pickles we went to flavored popcorn at the theater.  Caught a great action movie, ” Law Bidding Citizen.”  Here the theaters are so large we took 2 escalators to get to the area of the movie.  Around here going out is an expedition, you never know where you are going to end up and what most interesting things you may encounter en route.  One thing about our safari’s they are always great fun to participate in. The evening ended with a late night snack, I say snack, because after fried pickles and popcorn, I was anything but hungry. We had snacks at Applebee’s, some really delicious French onion soup.for Angie and I,  Cesar salad for Felecia and nachos for Tyler and Tommy’s stand by Chicken , some type , sandwich.  Jerry is still on the mend, so decided to spend a quiet evening here at the house.  He is getting better by the hour.

Family is everything to me.  We are  fortunate enough to be able to spend the 2009, holidays with 3 generations  of family,  Jerry and I, Angie and tommy and  Felecia and Tyler.  We had the best Thanksgiving , ate wonderful leftovers. This morning, Thanksgiving Saturday, a unanimous decision was made, ” lets go to brunch at Joe’s”.  So all 6 of us piled into 3 different cars, not just usual cars, mind you, but very special wrapped cars , the kind that turn peoples heads. (Joe’s is a special hangout for Jerry and I from our first visit here several years ago.)

Then, Oh my goodness, Tommy mentioned Gelato.  Everyone who knows me knows my weakness is ice cream, my favorite dessert, unless of course gelato is available , by most very favorite dessert. So off we went to South Lake Town Center, for the best gelato around, with visions of gelato dancing thru my head.  Would it be Birthday Cake flavor or Bubble Gum, or Cookies and Cream or Pineapple or even Carmel and Sea Salt, which Angie had. I ended up with Snozzberry, very distinctly delicious. Now where did that flavor come from?  It was a breezy day but warm in the sun, so we all gravitated to the benches surrounding the huge fountain to partake in our wondrous tasting delights.  There was Felecia  with Chocolate Covered Cherry gelato dripping down her chin onto her boots, just like days of old.  Brought back more memories of days gone by.  Now tho she’s all grown up. Thank God , for years gone by and memories.

South Lake Town Center is one of my favorite places, esp during the holiday season.  The smaller fountain is running red and green water, to set the stage, and best of all Santa has arrived.  There are carriage rides and busy holiday shoppers everywhere.  There are dozens of gorgeous shops and very fine restaurants, including my favorite, Mi-Cocina.  Best Mexican food ever, and I’m not even exaggerating.We all spent some time at Barnes and Noble Book Store, here it’s so large they have escalators to the second floor.  We all have an affinity for reading and could spend hours perusing that store.  What a wonderful day spent with wonderful loving people, then home for order out Pei-Wei, Chinese food, great ending to a fabulous day.

Such a grand, made with love for all, Thanksgiving meal, made by all. A very special get together, esp for Jerry and I because without devine intervention,  Jerry would not have been here. We have many blessings to count this year. 

The evening was made even more special, for us, with the Paul McCartney concert, “Good Evening New York City.”  Oh what memories were conjured up.  They only aired one hour of his three hour concert, where somewhere in that time period he sang, “   SOMETHING”,  that was Jerry’s and my song while we were “courting.” A very wonderful and memorable time in our lives. It was during this era that both of us discovered what real love is all about . We found OUR soul mates.

Here we sat 3 generations,  all enjoying this concert, staged where the Beatles made their first debut 44 yrs ago. Before two of our three generations were even born.  It’s odd how music crosses generational bounds and brings people together.  It was interesting to see my 22 yr. old granddaughter enjoying Paul McCartney.

9″ pie crust

l egg yolk beaten

1 can apple pie filling

1–60z raspberry jello gelatin

1/3 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter

1tsp cinnamon

Brush pie shell evenly with egg yolk.  Bake crust 5 to 7 min. until golden brown.  Remove from oven. Spread pie filling into crust. Sprinkle gelatin evenly over filling.  Combine flour sugar, salt and cinnamon in a bowl, then cut in butter until crumbly.  Sprinkle on top of filling and bake.      375 degrees for 25 to 30 min.

As I’m writting this I’m looking out on to Angie’s beauthful backyard and pool and counting my blessings to be here with my family for this special holiday, my favorite of the year. To have the pleasure of cooking dinner with my daughter and granddaughter, and to have Jerry healing and doing so well, and to have the best son in law possible.  Very often we, as people, tend to take so much for granted. I find the older I get the more I appreciate things in life.  I guess thats how it usually goes.  I have had a longer time to reflect back and see the difference. We have had the opportunity to see our daughter grow form a wonderful inquiring child to a confident georgous , very successful woman, mother and wife.  She has grown both personally and professionally, and just keeps on surprising me with her entrepreneurial  spitit and capabilities.  We have seen  our totally beautiful granddaughter, Felecia, grow up and  have had to previledge of watching and participating in all her growing up experiences, thanks to her mommy, Angie, always including us in her mile stones.  Soon we will see her graduate from the University of North Texas with a degree of Business, with emphasis on entrepreneurship.  She has such a bright future ahead of her.  She is in a relationship with a very fine young man, Tyler Dunn who is responsible and hard working.  He will soon be discharged from the Army after just completing a tour in Afghanastan.  We could not be prouder of him. We have had the opportunity to see our daughter happily married to her “soul mate”, Tommy.  We love Tommy as our own.  Talk about a dynamo, he never ceases to amaze me with his imagination and super positive attitude. He can accomplish things that most  people only dream of. Tommy is the most creative thinking person that ever entered our lives.  He combines his creativeness with his productivity and gets miracles done.   He manages to do all these things and still remain the most thoughtful , caring and real person you would want to know. Tommy goes out of his way to make life better for other people with never a selfest bone in his body. Jerry and I are truly blessed to be here with this wonderful loving family for this splendid holiday, made so by the combined effort of all. I wish you all a HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

At least Tommy thought he did!

A funny thing happened to Tommy on the way to work the first night Jerry was home from the hospital. It seems early on Thurs morning Tommy passed our bedroom on the way to Angie’s office to get his car keys, glanced in an discovered someone was missing in the bed.  I usually sleep on the right side of the bed, but when Jerry came home here , he felt it easier to get in and out of bed on the right. Seeing the left side of the bed empty he immediately missed Jerry.  He searched the house , back yard, and garage, notified Angie and the kids upstairs and was already backing the Scion out of the driveway when Angie caught up with him. I had slipped out of bed into the bathroom and not turned on the light, like I know where to go in there,  even if its dark.  Since the bathroom was dark all he could think of was that Jerry was gone.  I heard all the commotion and said” whats going on out there,” that’s when Angie figured it out and caught Tommy before he started to cruise the neighborhood in search of what he thought was a wayward Jerry.  Bless his heart he would have had the whole neighborhood up an running at 6:30 Am.  That’s been our laugh of the week. I think he thought Jerry’s first night home from the hospital, maybe he got disoriented and took a stroll. Thank goodness Jerry doesn’t get disoriented.

In fact he is doing very well, a little stubborn on occasion, but guess that’s OK after what he’s just been thru.  Today he and Tommy went to get haircuts and go to lunch at HOOTER’S, so I guess he’s getting back into the swing of things. Jerry is very proud of the wrap Tommy and Tyler installed on his pickup.  It’s hard to see in the picture, but it’s a map of the USA, That way we can pick out all the places that we have traveled to. It’s a really cool idea. The kids have made it very comfortable here for us, even putting their very own huge king size bed in the guest room so we can be more comfortable and have lots of room for Jerry to stretch out.  We go over to the trailer daily to check on our cats, love them awhile. I’m getting used to driving the little Scion.  I’m going to fall in love with that little car, it’s so fun and easy to drive.

There is a book about Military life and those who have lived it coming out.  Angie has her story published in it.  To find out about it go to her web site. www.angiestrader.com and check it out.  It’s a great book about the folks that are giving their all to keep us safe.  I’m glad someone had put it all together in a book.  I’m proud that they picked up her story for the book and made it through 5 cuts.

I finally found my nitch, since I love to cook, I have been signed on for awhile as chief cook and bottle washer here at the Strader house.  They get to taste test all my recipe’s, old and new.  They all like comfort food and I am good at that .  Tomorrow a breakfast of sausage, scrambled eggs with cheese and potatoes and toast.  Then since it’s Sun we will have a pot roast with all the trimmings for dinner.  Even the 4 dogs are in agreement, as they get extra scraps and bites. I am also getting my dog fix, I have 4 precious ones to hug and love on, they and the 4 cats keep us busy.

I hope all is well with all of you and that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving planned.  This will truly be a thankful year for all of us,  we still have a healthy Jerry. God must still have plans for him, I know we do.    Hugs to all,   S and J.

Well this looks like our last night here at the Baylor Heart Hospital. That is of course if Jerry has a good night tonight.  He is being weaned off the oxygen, which is proving to be somewhat difficult.  This Blood Pressure thing is beginning to resolve, and he is on oral meds entirely now except for occas IV potassium or mag.  He’s had good results with the diuretics and he’s not so puffy now.  Jerry is a tough bird and was in good shape coming in here.  He had been quite active, non-smoker or drinker, and all his previous grafts from his first surgery bypass are good and clear.  So we have been doing something right. This is just another stumble along life’s path that we have to overcome.  Its been great that I have been able to stay here at the hospital. They really encourage family involvement.  Last night he even got a sponge bath from his life long nurse (me).  It did help him relax and sleep better, either that or he is definitely getting better, and he is. He is out walking in the hall and I have to hurry to keep up with him.  The nurses say he is doing remarkably well, a lot of prayers have gone into this medical course, for which I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you all.

This will be night 6 here and the only down side is that I never get more that a couple hours sleep at a time, because he has such a busy schedule.  I have a really comfortable bed to sleep in and a nice shower in the room, Jerry’s not using it.  the staff bring me linen and towels, etc. They come in at night and do their best to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb me, I’m a light sleeper is the problem, but the best part is that I am able to be here to help him with the things I know he needs help with and he doesn’t have to ask others for help. We could not have accidentally landed in a more perfect place, I give all the credit to my special friend Joy, my high school classmate form Calif. class of “60″.  Joy lives in a small town about 60 miles from Dallas.  She was so kind as to come here on Jerry’s surgery day and sit with us for support.  She is one of Gods real angels. They have the best staff here form the housekeepers to the MDs, they are all wonderful. Jerry got the pacemaker wires pulled out of his chest today and all he has left is his central line, they are using that for IV supplements and to draw blood. The food here is great, it costs me $10.00 for a guest tray and I cant go down to the Heart Rock Cafe and get that kind of dinner for less.  Tonight I had home made chicken noodle soup, green salad, fillet Mignon, asparagus, baked potato with butter and sour cream and an dinner roll and strawberry sauced angel food cake and of course Starbucks coffee. Last night I has grilled salmon with similar side dishes. In the mornings I usually order a bagel and cream cheese on Jerry’s tray, at lunch time if I don’t go downstairs I get a sandwich out of the frig across the hall form his room.  They keep that fridge stocked with sandwiches, puddings, ice cream, pop sickles, sodas, milk, jello, small salads, of course theres always crackers and cheese and graham crackers and Starbucks coffee, which I really like.  Ive been known to be eating a turkey sandwich a 1 AM, if I can’t sleep and get hungry more than once this past week. The staff makes it known that the fridgee food is for the families of the patients and encourage us to partake. I may even miss this place and I never thought I would say that about any hospital.

We have decided finally to go to Angie’s house for the first few weeks.  It would be to difficult to get in and out of the trailer since it’s so high off the ground and Jerry is not to use his arms to pull or push for awhile. It will be two weeks before he starts Cardiac Rehab and he will need to keep up the walking prior to that. It will just be easier from Angie’s house. I will go over and visit with the kitties in the mean time.  Angie has a nice guest room. Well, all is good here, so far, hope all is well with you all.  Let me know otherwise.  I will be in touch when I have something more to catch you up on.  Hugs,   S and J.

Hello everyone, all our prayers and good will thoughts have been answered.  Jerry got out of surgery yesterday evening about 6 pm.  His surgeon replaced his aortic valve and decided that was all that was necessary, after looking the situation over up close and for sure.  He was unable to put in a larger valve due to the small size of Jerry’s vessels, so he put in the same size only new.  I guess the old valve was very calcified and bordering on useless. We got here just in time.  Anyone of you who have googled Dr Michael Mack know how brilliant he is as surgeon and I’m here to tell he’s a wonderful human being also.  Very laid back and down to earth. We have been so blessed to have him.

While here in the Dallas area, I connected with a fellow class of “60″, classmate, Joy Jones, and she asked us to consider Baylor Heart Hospital for the surgery.  It’s a Christian Hospital , based on Baylor Christian University. Let me tell you all about this fabulous hospital. Talk about being blessed with the heart surgeon, this hospital is a work of art.  It’s a 100 million $ facility.  It has 68 beds and 400 employees. It has 4 floors, 3 cardiac catheterization labs, 3 operating rooms.  It has free wifi. There is the Heart Rock Cafe a nice dining venue.  In suite dining, valet parking Concierge service and a heliport.

Each room is a spacious, private suite.  Family and friends may visit here as their schedules permit. When Jerry is ready for breakfast, lunch or dinner we simply pick up the phone an dial ”ROOM SERVICE”. Food service has already been notified of his particular diet plan and he is able to select from a personal menu.  The meals come with fine china and cloth napkins delivered by a tuxedo attired server.  Families can use the room service also for a charge.  They serve Starbucks coffee, and oh well, if I can’t get Green Mountain, Starbucks will do.   They also have a great cardiac rehab program here that Jerry will make use of.

I spent last night here in the room with Jerry and will again tonight.  There is a comfortable day bed in his suite and huge bathroom where I can shower.  The kids brought me a change of clothes and other things I needed so I am all set. He really feels more comfortable if I’m here.  I am able to help him with some of his activities.  He is doing super will.  Liz, they already DC’d the Swan and Largest chest tube, 2 Peripheral IV’s. He’s been up and down in his chair, tolerating it well, they will be walking him in a little while. He is eating some, not a lot yet, but all seems to be progressing well. They have not snowed him with pain meds, a little bit goes a long way with Jerry.   All the rooms have floor to ceiling windows, wood laminate floors and comfortable furniture. It’s more like a hotel than a hospital room.   They use the universal bed concept where , GUESTS, as the patients are called, stay in one room during their entire hospitalization. No crazy multiple transfers from room to room. We are having some blood pressure problems, too high. They are working diligently on that.  This floor is run primarily be nurse practitioner’s.  Hey Liz, one for our side. Well so much for the less than 24 hour post op update.  I will keep all informed of Jerry’s status. The kids have been right here with me all along except to go home last night to sleep.  Once again this is a 3 generation operation we have going here.  Thank goodness for their constant support.   Hugs.  S and J.

Hello after some quiet days. We are getting closer to surgery date, day after tomorrow.  I think all of us are on edge somewhat.  I think we all truly believe it’s in Gods hands now, and that all will turn out fine.  I just dread the recovery time, it’s so unfair for Jerry to have to undergo this procedure twice. I wish I could change this and make it all better at once. This for me is the frustrating part, there seems like I can’t do anything to spare him.  Jerry is so brave and taking in all in stride.  I think he looks like it as just a little inconvenience along life’s path. We both know there’s so much ahead of us, so many more roads to cross over and more adventures to conquer, still a lot of roses to smell along the way. We have so many plans for the future.  In 37 yrs. it’s always been one adventure after another.  He is and has always been THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS.  He’s always put me first in his life and been there for all the support he could give me in all circumstances and trials of my life.  We have been together more that half my life and we still have lots of life to still be together.  So, I guess we can take a little time off now and get ready for the rest of our lives. He will come out of this breathing so much better, with so much more energy and vitality. Please keep us in your thoughts and esp prayers.  We can feel the love and support.

I  would love to tell you all about my wonderful birthday weekend, but I need to save that for when I can really do it justice.  The best part of my birthday was that we were all together, all 3 generations, Jerry and I, Angie and Tommy and Felecia and Tyler. How blessed could we be?     Hugs.    S and J.