Our Year - 2009

Without question, the highlight of 2009 was our cruise from Seattle through the inside passage of Alaska, accompanied by our children! What a GREAT trip, and to share it with our kids, just made it “Special”. As you can see from the picture, we were all in good form.
The year started out with us in Las Vegas. Jerry worked a part-time job for the County, we enjoyed playing in the casinos, following “The Fab”, a Beatles Tribute Band, and just enjoying the Las Vegas weather.

Early May, we headed for the State of Washington with our friends, Rick & Pam, ending up in Fall City (near Seattle) for Memorial Day. Unfortunately, that night, Jerry’s heart decided to go into A-Fib (irregular heart beat). 2 days in the hospital, heart into A-Flutter, cardiologist said “go on your cruise, have fun, we’ll take care of you when you come back”. I like that Dr.!

On May 30th, we left Seattle for a Great week’s cruise. On June 16th, cardioversion put my heart back into rhythm, and it was onto Winthrop, WA, and Silverline Resort. Winthrop is at the eastern end of the Cascade Scenic Highway, about 50 miles south of the Canadian border. We spent 2 ½ months working at Silverline (Laura in the office/store, Jerry being the “water” guy, and other maintenance. We had a good time, and some of our experiences, and trips are documented in earlier posts on this blog. Winthrop is in a beautiful part of our country!

After Labor Day, we headed south, going to Bayfield, CO (east of Durango, SW CO) to visit with friends Kay & Doug. There we visited Arches National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, and of course, the Four Corners. What a beautiful area. End of September it was back to Las Vegas, Jerry went back to work for the County, we did the Drs bit, and settled back into the Sin City routine. In Dec., we took a 2 week trip to Pilot Knob RV Resort (just west of Yuma, AZ) to visit friends Rick & Pam, Jerry & Karen, visit our Dentist in Mexico, and party! Now we are back in Vegas, looking forward to another GREAT year.

Oh yes, the family! Our 8th Great grandchild, Levi, was born in August to granddaughter Priscilla & Craig in Aurora, CO. Daughter Cindy, Joe, granddaughter Melissa & Kajsa moved into a new house in Marion, IN in Dec. Daughter Deb, John, granddaughter Sara & Cami moved into a new house in TX, after 25 years of marriage, all in the same house! Granddaughter Paula & family moved from MI to Florida in September – gee, we just have to go east sometime. So “our” family has now left Michigan.

That’s a brief recap of our year, it sure went FAST! In 8 days, we will celebrate our 51st anniversary, still together (they said it wouldn’t last), still in LOVE. We look forward to 2010 with anticipation, wondering just what great marvels we will experience. We will keep you posted.

Room With A View!

So much Fun! Tuesday night, around midnight, I felt a little funny, slight chest pain. Checking my pulse confirmed I was in A-Fib. A ride in an ambulance to the ER, where they confirmed my diagnosis. Tests showed NO heart attack, and pain disappeared shortly.

For 6 hours, I was in a cubicle, then, since I was being admitted to the hospital, moved to a hallway area, waiting for a bed to open up. The hospital was at 132% of occupancy! Pictures below.

Ok, a waiting game. Around 3:30pm, I checked my pulse, told the nurse I was back in rhythm. A call to the monitoring station confirmed it. Thank you for my meds. Can I go home? Only after the dr releases me. Around 5:30, "Jerry, we have a room, well, a better hallway bed for you - it even has a TV". I declined. About 6:00, dr arrives, agrees I can go home, but, of course it DOES take a while for paper work, finally left at 7:00.

Two more good things, they brought me supper, and even one for Laura! It was good. While Laura was sitting with me, she finished crocheting one pot holder, and completed 3 more. Nurses saw her working on them, and bought 2 of them!

In the pictures below, in the one view is the outside door where all patients brought by ambulance come in, the brown double door in the other picture is the entrance to the hospital from the ER. All patients and employees go through these doors - Bang!, Bang!, Bang! NO sleeping!, but you sure see a lot of people.

All is fine, we leave in the morning for the Yuma area for 2 weeks!