SharivilleLife stories from Shari

Now that we are short timers, soon to head out for the “Wild West,”  I  am thinking of all the wonderful things here in the DFW Metroplex that we will miss.  It has been a wonderful adventure, started out very scary but thanks to all the prayers and wonderful people and the extraordinary heart surgeon, Dr Michael Mack, the nurses at Baylor’s Heart Hospital , and the rehab nurses at Baylor’s Rehab Hospital, our newest adventure has been wonderful.  We have had the most special loving support from our kids, that really saw us thru.  We most of all will miss them, Tommy and Angie, and Felecia and Tyler.  The 4 legged family we will so miss too.  They have become like our own and I treat them so.  They have accepted us unconditionally, and I know they will miss us.  I know we will be in phone contact but it’s just not the same. Ruby won’t be able to tell me how she is, I can tell now by looking at her. Tommy will have to hook us up to the camera on our laptops.  It still wont  be the same.

We have been to so many restaurants, from the very high end, Texas de Brazil, to the many Mexican restaurants , “Rose’s, ” where they have the best taco’s and condiment bar,  and “ Mi Cocina,” where they have the wonderful Mambo Taxi’s   This is a frozen margarita type drink with secret ingredients, and believe me two is the max, or else you could be sorry. They are the best.  The fried pickles at Hooters are great, and Bone Daddy’s has good pulled pork sandwiches, both have scanty dressed , pretty girls to wait on you. . There is of course our good ole standby “ Joe’s,”  they have the best down home country cooking.  They also have a singing waitress that sings Happy Birthday to you on your birthday and she does it in a most unusual manner.  Sooo funny. This week end we are going to try “Babe’s,” a very popular place in Roanoke, a little town nearby.  They specialize in fried chicken and chicken fried steaks.  Guess you can tell we love to try all the different foods in all the areas, esp cultural foods.  We like gourmet restaurants, but who doesn’t and let me tell you Dallas, Fort Worth area is the place to be.  It’s definitely ” Happening Here.” Tommy and Angie have seen to it that we have been totally exposed to the very best of all  here.      And I will miss Sonic drive inn’s, ask Jerry, the best burgers.

I will miss the shopping here, there is everything a person could possibly need and more, esp lots of  speciality places. It’s all available and with same day delivery.  The one thing that really impresses me is the people around here.  Texas folks are wonderful, friendly and most helpful in any manor you need them to be.  They are just polite and accommodating.

Some odd things that I will miss……….like driving the 114 or the 121 after dark and watching the jumbo jets lining up to land at DFW airport. Often there are 5 and 6 coming in at various altitudes,  the landing gear is down and all the headlights are ablaze.,at the same time on the other side of the freeway are various planes departing and gaining altitude at various levels.  They fly right over the freeways and it seems like you could just reach up and touch them. I would not want to be a traffic controller here…….I will miss listening to 96.7 Platinum radio show..while driving anywhere…..I will miss the wonderful efficient health care here.  They have their system down pat. The hospitals are beautiful……..I will miss all the beautiful spectacular buildings  in the Metroplex.  It’s really an experience to drive in both cities.  Dallas is very sophisticated, while Forth Worth is laid back and country. I love both cities.  I will just flat miss TEXAS!!  Plain and simple….I will really miss Three Dog Bakery and so will Teddy…..speaking of Teddy his full name is,” Texas Teddy.” We are bringing home a genuine Texas cow dog.  Teddy is a georgous Red Heeler, and as smart as a whip.  His breed is one of the most intelligent dogs there is, really I didn’t just make that up. Teddy is a whole nother blog., soon to be included. He will always be our pride and joy from a Texas street corner.

The saving grace is, is that we will be back.  There is so much here for us and it will always be wonderful to spend time, lots of it here in The Metroplex. Our kids are here after all.

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.