Good Year, Sunshine!

Oh, how lovely it is today in Southern Florida! And today begins the second day of the New Year! Haven't been posting much because as everyone knows, it's been a hectic time of the year for many of us when we get our book in order, get ready to file our taxes, clean our homes, and put Christmas and decorations away for the coming year. It's been busy in Lake Worth and all is well!

Had a wonderful New Year's Eve spent with just each other and our Toy Poodle, Kody and first season of Game of Thrones on HBO. Wow ... incredible series! I've been contemplating my Life as of late. 

I've endured many losses over the past 18 months or so, yet am still positive and living in the Light despite them. I am woman, hear me roar! I lost my very sweet and dear friend Christopher in March 2010. He was only 37 years old, and the night of his demise we had chatted up a storm for over 2 hours! It's amazing how quickly someone can be plucked from your Life, which is why I try not to take Life for granted ... EVER. And why I forgive quickly, and keep my side of the street as clean as humanly possible. One never knows when creating one's reality with words, thoughts, and actions if he or she will see tomorrow or not. We simply can NOT take Life for granted. 

The following Spring, I had emergency open heart surgery in April 2011; lost my lovely, sweet, kind mother-in-law in August 2011; lost my very dear friend's Mom ~ whom I've called "Ma" for 40 years and who also was a sweet, kind, non-judgmental Soul ~ in November. Many losses, many tribulations but still I am strong, healthy, happy, and alive! 

And grateful! Eternally GRATEFUL for being happy, joyous and FREE! No drugs, no alcohol, no nicotine ... the only vice I still cling to is caffeine and food and I'm not sure I will ever give either up anytime in the near future! LOL

Just wanted to post a little something to begin the New Year right! Hope everyone has a wonderful week and I'll be writing more soon, I promise! Looking forward to the New Year with New Hope, New Attitude, New Promise, and New Strength! 

Sending healing Reiki energy to all ~

Namasté, my friends ... 

DAY III POST OP

Okay, so I was a little out of it yesterday what with being short of breath and tachycardic post op, so I didn't have the energy to blog on Post Op Day II.  My cardiologist changed my medications to decrease my heart rate and to flush the fluid out of my body (gained 10 lbs of fluid in one day post op!)  ... he's the best cardiologist around. Met my surgeon's partner ... he talked to his cell phone most of the time ... talk about bedside manner ... lmao!


But now I'm on the flip side and I'm feeling better and stronger each day. Just want to keep moving forward ... I would now be an awesome cardiac nurse since I've been there, done that! Who could deny that fact? You really tend to learn a lot about cardiology when you're the patient :) So yesterday I was scared to death when my cardiologist ordered STAT tests: echo doppler, ABG's, etc. I was mortified and behaved in such a way that was conducive to FEAR! LOL But I'm sure I'm forgiven ... it would be best if docs would 'splain things first and then order STAT tests. 


I've been told he coddles his heart patients ... and I'm beginning to see that. He's a fabulous physician and he knows his stuff. He's been my doctor for 8 years ... and that is precisely why I came to Bethesda rather than Delray. He no longer goes to Delray ... only Bethesda and JFK, but naturally prefers Bethesda. Who wouldn't?


Well, I'm about spent now. Hope you all have sunshiny days!!


Peace, Love, and Blessings
Kathi xoxo

This is IT! Thinking of Beautiful Rainbows ...

Greetings Friends & Family!  


Wishing you all the happiest and most serene of days as I sail towards the OR this morning! I have yet to prep myself with the final antibacterial shower ... I was grateful to speak with an old friend from high school last evening, who had this surgery many moons ago when he was barely into his 30's, and who lives today a stronger, happier, and healthier man! Thank God for that! He validated my fears and gave me more courage than I dare have this morning!

Rainbows is what I was thinking of this morning upon waking ... rainbows. And that beats the alternative, right? I think thinking of rainbows upon wakening is a wonderful omen: one that assures me God is with me!

Thank you all for your continued support, prayers, and the love I feel surrounding me like a comforting, warm and fluffy blanket! I'm resting assured I will see you or hear from each and everyone of you on the flip side of this! It's true that no matter how routine this surgery is, when you are the candidate for the 'cabbage' or open-heart surgery ... the prospect is definitely scary and intimidating, indeed :) 


Until I can sing, as my cousin's open-heart surgeon sang to him a few years ago: "Welcome back, my friend, to the show that never ends ..." I bid you all an exciting and peaceful day!


Peace, Love, & Blessings to All ~
Kathi  ♥ ♡    ♬♪♫

Day 4 Post-Diagnosis ...

Pictured in this photo are my two lovely children DJ and Katie ... this was taken many years ago when we lived in Las Vegas around Christmas. Now my babies are grown adults ... but they'll always remain in my hearts as my babies :)

I was doing what I needed to do yesterday and began having chest pains again. Thank God for my friend Julie (fondly, 'Jules') and my baby sister Lisa ... (fondly, 'Teensie') for staying on the phone with me and keeping me sane in the moment! Julie sped up from Deerfield to bring me to the hospital because the ambulance would not take me to the hospital of my choice ... where my doctors practice ... can you believe that? And they have the audacity to charge $300.00 for the ride!!!

Anyway, I'm safe and sound for now at the Heart Institute at Bethesda in Boynton Beach ... when I took a walk earlier in the halls I noticed that from this floor I can see the ocean ... magnificent! I'm grateful for my family and friends tonight. I'm even grateful for the nitro-patch that's giving me the headache ... lol. I'm grateful for my son and daughter ... they've brought many bouts of laughter to my Life, as well as joy and unconditional love only a mother can feel for her offspring :) Oh, and some tears, too ... the whole spectrum of feelings are wrapped in a beautiful package called Motherhood ... 


So, my surgeon will be coming to chat with me in the morning ... it's currently around 2 AM and it seems I'm up again for a while :( Not sure if they're going to do the surgery on Wednesday or Thursday ... still anxious, scared ... but I know I have absolutely no control and am feeling positive in the fact that that 'voice' which urged me to come to the ED in the first place last Thursday was one of my Guardian Angels. I would not have been directed to come and find out about these occlusions in the first place if I was meant to leave this Earth plane so soon ... 


No, it's obvious that there is still work to be done here! I am woman, hear me roar ... lol. So, I'm gonna try to get some sleep now. I have a long day ahead tomorrow ... and my Mom is flying down from Maine tomorrow to be here for my surgery. Wow ... you'd never know she's 72 years old, that Mother of mine! What stamina! What a picture of health! She rocks!
Sweet Dreams all ... more to come!
Kathi ♡