After spending a lovely day on Key West we spent the following day in the emergency room on Marathon Key. On Monday morning Jan 30
th, Lee told me he thought he might be back in A-Fib. I checked with our insurance and found out where we could go for emergency care. We went to the emergency room and Lee was indeed in A-fib and they would not release him. Lee spent 3 days in the emergency room there. This hospital was about 25 miles from the campground.
We were in a new area, a new campground, didn't know anyone there and in the worst place to deal with heart issues. I was really concerned but the Lord kept telling me," You are not alone, I am with you. I know a support group is nice but all you really need is me." During that week the Lord met all our needs. On Wednesday the hospital on the Keys knew Lee was not going to respond to medication and a cardio version would be necessary. This is a procedure that shocks the heart back into normal rhythm. The equipment for this procedure was, of course, not available in this small hospital on the Keys. Lee had it done once before and it worked very well for him. On Thursday morning Lee was transported by ambulance to the Baptist Hospital in Miami, FL. This was about 78 miles from our campground. Thursday afternoon the procedure was done on Lee and his heart once again jumped back into normal rhythm. He was monitored overnight and released on Friday morning.
The Lord provided me with the patience to work with the insurance company through all this, he provided a dog sitter while I went to the hospital, and he provided me with enough strength to drive the 78 miles through heavy Miami traffic to the hospital.
After getting there with no problems, I was about to turn to go park the car when a lady ran into the passenger side of my car. I just sat there and said."now you're stretching it God". I got out and the security guard at the hospital came over and told the young lady," You, my dear, were trying to make 2 lanes out of a one lane road." The police came and she was issued a reckless driving ticket. Once again God was good-- the Jeep was totally drivable. If it had not been we would have had an RV 78 miles away, a disabled vehicle in Miami and no transportation.
This was one of the worst weeks of my life and one of the best. I learned how truly sufficient my God is. It's a lot easier getting through a difficult situation when you are surrounded and upheld on a daily basis by all your friends and family. God taught me it is he alone who carries us-- yes sometimes he uses others to minister to us but He is our source of strength.
Lee and I drove from the hospital to the campground and then packed up the RV because Saturday was our day to leave.
A lovely couple in the campground had us over to dinner that night and helped both of us calm down after a very hectic week.
This is Chris and Cynthia and we so enjoyed meeting them. They too have been the proud owners of a stand Poodle.
It was so good to be packed up and on the road again. Our next destination--
Wauchula, Fl. A small ranching and farming town. We would be camping at Peace River campground and meeting up with a lot of our friends.
We set up camp down by the Peace River and it was like we could catch our breathe again. That Sunday we heard a fantastic sermon at the First Christian Church.
Nicky has found a new way to entertain
himself. He loves chasing remote control cars.
We got to babysit Nicky's good buddy, Miss Molly" while at Peace River.
Isn't she adorable? Jane I know this makes you miss her.
There is always a resident alligator present in the river.
One day my friend Janie and a couple of other ladies went strawberry picking. There is something so special about picking fresh strawberries in February.
While in
Wauchula we did some visitation to the elderly widows from the church and it was such a blessing to us. They ranged in age from 85-97, and they all still live on their own at home. They sure had some stories to tell and we were so glad we could brighten their day by breaking it up with a visit and letting them share their memories.
This is one of our ladies, Francis, and she was a joy to visit with.
I made up little baskets for them so they could have some nice snacks.
After a relaxing week in Peace River where we met up with friends and just relaxed we were off again. Our destination Venice,
Florida on the Gulf.
We love this area on the Gulf. While there we met up with our good friends Mark and Chris and were able to spend a little beach time and dining out time with them.
Their dog, Teddy, and Nicky get along very well.
Isn't Teddy just too cute??
Chris , Mark, Lee, Teddy and Nicky having a fun day on the dog beach.
That's Teddy saying,"Wait up big guy"!!!
We had so much fun watching them. It's as though they were saying to one another,"what shall we do next?"
Chris and Mark helped us celebrate Lee's birthday on February 23rd.
This is the four of us at the
Nokomis Grove store where they have the best Key Line/chocolate swirl ice cream in the world.
One of the owl's in the park.
The Rookery is a bird sanctuary in this area and Mark spent a lot of time over there taking pictures.
Lee and I spent several nice days just relaxing on the beach.
Friday evening. after a visit with Mark and Chris, Lee began having extreme pain in his back that radiated down his leg. By 8:00, Lee said," you better take me to emergency room." We did not get home from there until about 2:00 AM. Lee was diagnosed with a pinched
sciatic nerve. They pumped him full of pain killers, did a CT scan and sent us home with all kinds of
meds. We did a follow up visit on Monday and then a MRI
on Tuesday and on Thursday we will meet with the doctor again after he sees the MRI report.
I had also spent some time at the Doctors the last 2 weeks. I had a pain in my lower right side. They did a CT scan and found nothing and it has almost gone away so I'm hoping it was all from being so stressed on the Keys. My knee was also acting up also. It too seems to be on the mend.
We also were able to get the car fixed while here in Venice so all of that is done. A new tire, fender and running board.
We were supposed to leave here on the 26th. Due to the medical issues they extended our stay another week. Lee is still not able to get around well, so I'm really not sure when we will move from here.
Last night there was a really great pot luck on our street. A Hungarian couple made the main course--Hungarian Goulash and stuffed cabbage.
I'm sorry I did not call all my friends but all of our phone minutes were used up keeping up to date with the children and dealing with Doctors and insurance. I also had so many emails to keep up with. I hope the blog had updated you.
It's not been the most restful winter but I have really had the opportunity to grow in my faith and in my appreciation of our many friends that God has blessed us with.
Love to all of you, Judy
This is what I've been up to during the time Lee is re cooperating from surgery. I'm getting the vegetable garden ready for planting.
This is a picture of my brother's new dog Sherlock. He is a Golden doodle.
He and Nicky are already hanging out together.
As you can see from the sun porch spring has sprung. If we needed to come home from Florida early this was the year to do it. The weather has been unusually warm for spring.
After all the children left after Easter, Nicky collapsed. He had not had a serious nap in 5 days. He couldn't find a quiet spot in the house.
This is our youngest, Brandon, and our eldest, Suzanne.
This is Brandon with our youngest daughter, Karen, who was in from California for the Easter holiday.
There was not a lull in the conversation for 5 days.
When our three girls--Karen, Suzanne and Michelle get together, you might as well give up the idea of getting any sleep.
It is such a wonderful thing to experience the love our children all have for one another.
Just before Easter I had gone with my brother to look at dogs at a dog breeder near-by.
I felt like I was in dogie Heaven.
These are standard poodles in this pen and as it got cool in the evening they all piled on top of one another.
These are the Golden doodles.
These are 2 of the standard poodle pups. Isn't the sable colored one with the green eyes gorgeous?
My grand daughter, Hollyn, and the bear I just gave her.
This is Hollyn's dog, Rio.
As you can see, everything is in blossom here and it is beautiful.
This is my new respite room. All ready for Jim and Jane.
My girlfriend, Renee, was selling her curio cabinet and I bought it to display the porcelain dolls that I made over the years.
I rearranged the great room to accommodate our new piece of furniture.
Suzanne and Rio
This was Nicky relaxing on the way home from Florida.
Chris and I just before we left Florida.
