Life Update

I'm up in the wee hours drinking hot chocolate because I can't fall asleep. This is the 312th night I have gone to bed not knowing what is wrong with me. I just counted.

I finally got to see a pulmonologist this week, but he needed radiology results before he could make a diagnosis. I did have a lung function test which went very well and showed I did not have COPD or asthma. My heart also checked out pretty good for its age. I am no longer in Afib. I am still on supplemental oxygen all day and night, and my O2 level still drops into the 80's with any exertion. The doctor had me raise the output level a notch. I have portable oxygen now, so I am not homebound. 

The pulmonologist encouraged me to exercise, and he loved the plan Susan had suggested for me. I go to a large facility which has baskets (like Pottery Barn Outlet), and put my oxygen concentrator in the basket. I walked over 2000 steps Tuesday using that plan...and shopping! I haven't been shopping in person in months.

 The walker would serve the same purpose, but getting it in and out of the car is difficult for me. I have been unable to make it back to our church service because of that and the fact that my oxygen is noisy and doesn't last but 3 hours at best. Actually, it is less than that if turned up a notch as the doctor suggested. I am blessed to be back leading my class on Sundays.

I'm also again a "lady who lunches." Now I just have to watch the clock to be sure I don't outstay (and out gab) my oxygen!

Yesterday I overdid. First I mentored my student, which is a big undertaking for me with my carrier for our activities, our snacks, and my oxygen machine and purse! After that I drove to my oxygen company and picked up supplies. Then I went for a relatively healthy lunch alone at Cheddar's. I dropped off dry cleaning and a couple of returns to the UPS store. That was the most I had done in months. So...today I definitely reverted to underdoing!

I guess you can imagine how grateful I am for all the wonderful trips I've gotten to take. And...I haven't thrown in the towel on getting to take more! I would certainly encourage my younger friends (which is just about all of you who are reading this!) to GO if you can, while you can, where you can, as often as you can! This well worn luggage tag has traveled many a mile with me and was/is my motto! (Well, one of my mottos anyway!)

It is so worn it is hard to read. "The world is full of people who will go their Whole lives and not actually Live one day. She did not plan on being one of them."

I have lived a beautiful, blessed beyond measure life.

I see the pulmomologist again in six weeks.

You can read details of how this all began by going to the previous blog, "My Life/Interrupted."

Night, night. I'm gonna go try again!

My Life/Interrupted

According to my plans, today I should be cruising on this beauty, the Navigator of The Seas, from Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas. Seven glorious days sailing the Mexican Riviera. But I'm not.

You see, my life has not been normal as of late. My wings have been clipped. My best laid plans have been interrupted. And I have been remiss in letting you, dear friends, know.

I had been short of breath at times for a few years, but on Monday, May 15, 2023, I had a real scare. I got so out of breath loading my car that I could not drive to mentor my beloved 6th grade boy. I was diagnosed that day with AFib, sent to a cardiologist,  and placed on medication. Four days later I was hospitalized for 12 days after additionally being diagnosed with pneumonia. The lengthy stay was due to my blood oxygen level (02) failing to stay above 90. You know...it's measured by that little thing the doctor clips on your finger (pulse oximeter) during a check-up.

I missed my boy's end of school activities and party. I missed 7 Sundays with my Sunday School class. The medication didn't control my AFib well enough for me to pursue life normally. I opted on October 24, 2023, to have a cardioversion, a shock to the heart under anesthesia to restore normal rhythm. It was successful with only one shock. I was out of AFib, but unfortunately I was still also out of breath. I just never regained the ability to walk any distance at all without very frightening huffing and puffing.

I limped along through November and December with some adjustments. My mentee would meet me in our room rather than my going to get him. I ordered all my groceries and even my Christmas gifts. I was extremely blessed to be able to hostess my Sunday School class for our Christmas party and then my family for opening Christmas gifts, with a lot of help from my girls! Both events were simply wonderful.

By January 2, 2024, I realized my 02 was dropping and staying below 90 again. (With my history I had bought a pulse oximeter.) I went to my primary care doctor but didn't feel bad while I was there, and my 02 measured 92 (of course it did!) Therefore, I came home and got worser and worser! I took 4 Covid tests, all negative, and I believe it was just a horrid cold. But my 02 levels demanded attention, and I was put on supplemental oxygen. It didn't even seem real that was happening to me!

Since that day I have been tethered to a 50 foot tube connected to an oxygen concentrator 24/7 inside my home. I have only ventured out three times to get my hair done (I know!) and a few times for doctor visits and another CT scan. Susan has taken me each time wrangling a large wheeled oxygen tank as well as a spare in case it runs out.

I finally had an appointment with a lung doctor on Monday, January 29th after the results of the latest scan raised some questions. He listened attentively to my story and took a progressive but conservative approach. We are waiting hopefully for all of the congestion in my airways from the cold to clear out before doing further lung testing. In the meantime the doctor  prescribed a lightweight portable oxygen concentrator which will give me some freedom to leave my home and put some normal back in my life...and Susan's!

This is the scripture I have clung to during this recent phase of my plight:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Whether here on this earth or in heaven above, my future is secure because Jesus died in my place. He paid the highest price so that, by believing in Him, I might live forever in heaven. 

 

                                                                      

A Picture Perfect Mother/Daughter Cruise

 First, you need to play like it's still May. Cause that's when this cruise took place--May 7th to May 14th. If you've been following my blog, disaster began to befall on May 15th, but not during our wonderful week!

We drove to Galveston on Sunday morning and parked right across the street from the huge, beautiful Allure of the Seas. What a treat not to have to fly! Excitement is running high!

Thar she be--just waiting for us!!!

Don't leave us! We can't figure out how to get there!!!

We made it!

Our official Bon Voyage portrait!

Our unofficial selfie by Susan...

The obligatory relaxation pose!

By the greatest of timing, we got this shot of the Port Bolivar ferry traveling back to Galveston as we cruised away. For the first half of my life this was my cruise ship. Riding it multiple times was a highlight of our family's Galveston vacations! I never even imagined cruising on a luxurious floating city like the 

Allure of the Seas!

Now I'm going to admit right up front here that having my own very willing private photographer along was an exciting first for me. I might have gone a little crazy on shopping for a "never   before seen" wardrobe. Susan might have gone a little crazy parading me around the ship from photographer to photographer and "helping" them just a bit with their posing of her mama! I absolutely loved it.

But...Warning: Possible Picture Overload Ahead!

View at Your Own Risk!

Boardwalk and the Aqua Theatre From Above

I'm tellin' ya. This thing is HUGE!

Our cabin was on the 9th deck and had a window which overlooked Central Park and the Rising Tide Bar.

When we first arrived and opened our door, we LOL'd a lot!

It was tiny and had as little storage space as

any room I've ever had! Susan took a video, but I can't talk

videos into appearing on my blog! So here is the hilarious

best still shot I could get from said video!!! 

"My, Linda, what long legs you have!"

Really great spot for people watching!

(That's me watching them, NOT them watching me, I hope!)

Our first meal in the Solarium Bistro!

Yes, we ate like little birds.

Waiting for dinner!

We were pretty excited about the Broadway show aboard the Allure - an uncut version of MAMMA MIA! Susan has played the part of Tanya, and the set was identical! She enjoyed it so much that she went back to see it again later in the week! One of many high points of our trip!

  

And my first professional portrait of the trip!

Susan was hilarious in her "handling" of the photographers.

She would tell me, "Now we'll let them do one or two of their hokey poses, then I'll step in and give them a hand!" Those of you who know Susan, a.k.a. Dolly Levi, will have no trouble believing that. 

We got to the ice skating show very early and got to sit on the front row right by one of the entrances and exits for the performers. And...yes, unobstructed pictures!

Before we left Susan asked if there was any excursion or activity I might like to do since she was going to be with me. The only 

one was "swim" with dolphins. Or maybe, pet a dolphin!

So in the port of Costa Maya, we did just that! A first for me!

It was a very long, hot walk to and from the port. 

We're not the first ship in this picture; we're the second! 

But I made it and got a kiss from a dolphin in the bargain!

I think I'll show you my favorite picture while

you're still with me!

How's this for a hot tub with a view? 

My photographer also brings me ice cream cones!

This outfit was my first purchase for the cruise.

I thought it was so festive and, well...cruisy!

Royal Caribbean has done an amazing job on my recent cruises at placing me with great table mates! This trip was no exception.

We had the best time every night with Sharon and her husband Ron, and their friend, Dale. They were from the Houston area.

As usual we found a "small world" connection. Sharon and Ron's son got married at Christ Chapel in Fort Worth. 

More about Dale later!

The Sunday our cruise ended was Mother's Day.

Susan found this shirt for me in one of the shops on the ship.

I was the only person I saw wearing one, but several asked me

where I got it!

As the week progressed, we discovered that Dale, our table mate, was an expert chess player. I have always been interested in chess, and would especially like to be able to teach the 6th grader I mentor to play if he is interested. There is a lovely table with chess set in Central Park, which is a feature of this class ship.

So Dale set a time for me to meet him for a lesson. 

Dale and I are waiting for the table.

I am clueless.

   Dale had been coaching this young man, too, so he had us
(try to) play each other. I won't be teaching my mentee.
He could probably teach me! But it was fun learning what
little I did!


One more new ensemble...

And my beautiful girl showing me how to pose by the fancy car...

Sharing a cruise with my daughter was just perfection!

She was more like my "lady in waiting." 

Remember our laughs over the small room? No problem!

We got all our overpacking hung in the closet and had 

one (1) drawer each--which was plenty. We went our own 

way some, agreed on keeping our room freezing cold, and

listened to each other's music some! 

We did have to drive home in a torrential downpour,

which might have been a precursor of things to come...

I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation the day after we

returned from this cruise.

Three days later I was in the emergency room 

with pneumonia and remained in the hospital 12 days.

It was miraculous that I did not feel the least bit

ill for the entire week we cruised!

"Thank you, God, for this, another miracle in my life."

Where In The World Has Linda Jane Lynn Stovall Been?

 What? You didn't even know I have been missing?  Well...I have; since May 7, 2023, not a peep from me. My absence began most pleasantly!

My daughter, Susan, and I drove to Galveston on Sunday, May 7th, and set sail on our first mother/daughter cruise! Before I show you pictures of our 7 days of mahvelous adventures, I'm going to tell you about what happened after that.

The day after we returned from our wonderful cruise, I suddenly realized that I was terribly out of breath. It was bad enough that I was in my primary care doctor's office by 3:00 P.M. She did an EKG and diagnosed Atrial Fibrilation. I was able to see a cardiologist the very next day who confirmed the diagnosis and started me on the required medications. 

On Thursday evening, I still felt poorly, so I took my blood pressure. It was okay, but while I was at it I popped my pulse oximeter on my finger, and it was not okay. My blood oxygen saturation level was in the 80's. This is what happened when I had blood clots after my knee replacement. I was scared.

Susan and Rob took me to the Emergency Room at UTSW'n in Dallas. We had already decided that if there were problems with my heart, we wanted to go there for solutions. We arrived a little before 9:00 P.M. and weren't in a room to be seen until 3:05 A.M. But, I was given supplemental oxygen immediately. I had no idea I would keep it for 12 days.

I was diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Failure due to pneumonia, in addition to the AFib. But I had no blood clots! At 5:00 P.M. I was wheeled to a room on the 10th floor of the Clements Building.

Along the way, I met Moxi! I wanted the girls pushing me to stop and back up so I could take a picture, but they didn't accommodate my request! Later I found out that wouldn't have worked. She moves pretty fast.

Later, Susan and I got a video of Moxi which is a hoot, but I can't get it to show up here on my blog. I'll put it on Facebook!

Then when I got to my room, it overlooked the helipad. We got to see several helicopters land, deliver patients, and depart. Susan and I took pictures "to show my boy I mentor," but it was quite exciting to me, too. 

And for 12 days, I had a different view of the sunset.

Still beautiful from any location.

I didn't know when they brought me my bright yellow plaid gown that it identified me as a "fall risk!" 

So one day I decided that I would just get up and do my own thing, not knowing that my chair had an alarm which would sound if I did    so! I found out a fast way to get a lot of attention!

I was so blessed to be able to be in such a caring place and have such loving and pleasant caregivers. I was grateful that they kept me until they were absolutely sure I was ready to be released. I was certainly glad to come home, but the cocoon of safety I felt while I was there  was invaluable.

Now I'm just learning about dealing with AFib!