I took yesterday off from blogging. There were a number of contributing factors, the biggest one being a Saturday that went well into Sunday.

Krl, myself and all four hounds loaded up Saturday afternoon to run a few errands. Nothing important. Three stops. The new hound detests riding in vehicles so we are trying to expose her to pleasant outings. The three old hands hopped in and declared their territory while Maple Syrple spazzed. By the time she calmed enough to look for a spot, all the prime real estate was gone! Spaz again! While we were out we decided to pick up supper from Rosa's. We hadn't tried this establishment since they opened. We were pleasantly surprised. It would appear there is a middle ground between the "Bell" and "Bueno" and the "top end" sit down Mexican restaurants. They even had some guacamole that required very little fine tuning! Over all, we enjoyed a successful outing!

As our day was winding down Krl and I were trying to decide on a TV fare for the evening when the telephone rang. It was my sister Pat. She was working a Highland High School fund raiser for their one act play's trip to Austin for the "state" competition. She quickly relayed to me that Memama and Pepa had not shown up for the performance of the play and other activities so she called and they didn't seem "right". They finally told her Memama had had an "episode" and Pepa was trying to talk her into going to the ER. Memama was resisting, Pat thought if I would call them and agree to meet them at the ER it would make their decision easier. I called and sure enough plans were quickly made to meet at the Abilene northside hospital's ER.

About an hour later we were sitting in the ER waiting room. They had gotten there just far enough ahead of me for Pepa to get cross ways with one of the staff at the sign in desk. Finally they called Memama's name to report to triage. They took Memama on back and Pepa got to handle the sign in stuff. I had moved to a new vantage point in the waiting area so I monitor what was going on inside the glass doors of the ER. Finally Pepa came back out and sat down. When they finally had Memama settled in they paged Pepa to report to the triage area once again and they took him on back, shortly after this they paged me and I was taken back to the treatment room as well. Once I arrived they told me they were monitoring her situation and doing an EKG and other relevant tests. It was very evident that Memama's pulse was extremely elevated. 183. The ER doctor administered some drugs to slow things down and began to confer with colleagues about using the "paddles" to rein her in. Part of Memama's problem stems from a really bad arythmia problem. About the only time I know of her not having it is following her mitral valve repair two years ago, but slowly and quite surely it returned. The remarkable thing is that when her two chambers of her heart get "out of sync" they lose the effectiveness. Her blood pressure should have been out the roof but it actually was on the low side. I suppose the bottom chamber isn't getting the blood to the top chamber where it can put a boost and a little "english" on it. After about an hour, Memama's heart slowed considerably. Usually in the 115 to 130 range. As luck would have it Dr. Blackwood was off but Dr. Nancy Dagibati was on call and in the hospital. Dr. Nancy quickly made the decision to admit Memama. After what seemed like an eternity, they finally had a room prepared and we began the move "onward and upward". We finally got settled in and began giving some history to the nurse while we waited for Dr. Nancy to come talk with us. Shortly before midnight Dr. Nancy made her much anticipated visit and began explaining what she felt needed to be done. I was very impressed with Dr. Nancy. It was very evident that she had done some fast cramming on medical history for Memama and it was also very evident that she had been in contact with someone from Dr. Blackwood's office. Long story short, they are going to put Memama back on medication to keep her pulse rate down but they are going to install a pacemaker (or a space maker as Grandpa Freeman used to call his, he was a cabinet builder) to keep the pulse rate from getting too low. This procedure should take place either later Monday or sometime Tuesday. Once I was satisfied that everything was O.K. and that Memama was settled in, I began to make my exit. By the time I arrived back home it was after midnight.

This was probably a good exercise for me to participate in. Pat spends a lot of time taking and going with Memama and Pepa to their doctor's appointments. It's convenient that Pat and Tj (our younger sister) both are nurses. Pat is a RN and TJ is a LVN. It is also very convenient that Pat lives only a mile from Memama and Pepa. Due to Pat and Tj's training they can talk the talk and walk the walk whether they are at the hospital or at the doctor's office. None of that double talk will work. After spending an evening at the ER it sure makes you appreciate having a family medical officer (or officers, as is this case).

Pat called about ten Saturday night and was fixing to begin the hour drive to Abilene. She had finished her fundraiser and was looking for anything to get her out of the lecture series on dis-functional families by Dr. Steven Dale. She was to do some weekend work at an area nursing home Sunday and was scheduled in at six in the morning. We told her to get to bed and she could come by after work Sunday. As I left the hospital room she was calling wanting an update. After midnight, on my way home, she and I talked and she had opted out of work for Sunday. This was probably a good exercise for her too.

By the time I got home and filled Krl in on all the details it was very late. By the time we got to bed it was probably approaching two in the morning. Krl set an alarm for early service just in case. I didn't need the safety net. Krl had been up during the night and had spent most of it baking. If I were smart I would go down to Dunkin' Donuts and sell them pastries! She came back to bed shortly before I got up for church.

This was the last weekend for two services until the end of summer. I really think they need to go one more Sunday. Mothers Day and graduations usually mean a pretty good crowd. I do suppose Saturday graduation instead of Sunday commencement will push potential attendance down. Next week we go to nine o'clock church and ten-thirty Sunday school. I wanted eight o'clock Sunday school and was willing to concede nine o'clock church.

Today marks a day lots of people are celebrating lately. Today is one year since my first blog. It is interesting to look back at where I was a year ago. Am I better or worse, should I get professional help? I think one of the most frustrating things about looking back are the spelling errors. (I think Rian did the spell check program for blogger). Just kidding Rian.

I'm not in the mood for a Monday. I keep adjusting my hat trying to get it on straight only to discover that it is my head that is on crooked. Who says GOD doesn't have a sense of humor? He made you didn't he? (Surely you didn't think I was going to take a dig at myself.)

FATHER, please work on my attitude! Please lift me, energize me, lift me. I need a do over for my weekend! FATHER I ask YOUR care and healing for Krl, for Memama, for Ollie, for Hag, for B., for Lillie, for Carol, for Michelle, for Aimee, for Ashlyn Kate, for Jennifer, for Tori, for Tj, for Anna, for Jess, for those recovering from their injuries, for Yaenga, for Dr, Mackie and for Jeanine. Bless the efforts made on their behalf and make the treatments effective. I pray for those sad from loss. Please fill their voids. I pray for those of us confronted with obstacles in our journey with YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and for our leaders. I ask YOUR blessings on the efforts of Highland to spread YOUR kingdom. Heal our hearts and spirit. When I'm lost and alone you give me strength.