Two in one!

Sorry guys!  Forgot to bring the carepages blog over here. I'll 

post both of them--  

Home Day Two-

Posted 13 minutes ago

Hi Everyone!
Yesterday was a very busy day for us. it was Barry's first full day at home and even though he tried his very best, he overdid it a bit. It was his birthday after all! The day began with a visit to the job site to meet the man we've hired to finish the project and check in with the homeowner. That all went very well and we're grateful for good help and a gracious homeowner! We ran a couple of other quick errands and he was still doing really well. About midday I had to go to work for a few hours. He rested a bit and had several phone calls, messages, and visitors. By the time I got home, more visitors and plans to go out to dinner for his birthday. Grand plans but it turned out to be a little too much so we made the wise choice to stay in for dinner and I made him a heart-healthy meal of almond chicken, rice, green beans, and a salad. The kids ordered Chinese from our favorite Chinese food place. Anna taped a candle to a glass of martinellis sparkling cider and we sang happy birthday, watched Super-8, a movie he'd already seen (less stressful!).

The night started out well but about 2am we both woke up and he never really went back to sleep very well. That plus yesterday's big day might explain today's weakness. He started off pretty well today but he's finding he tires out really easily and his color is a little more pale today. So I'm encouraging him to pace things a little slower today. Last night was his first night in a week without a fever! So hopefully the post myocardial infarction or pneumonia fever is behind us!

Thanks again for the prayers. Strength and stamina, wisdom in pacing getting back into life, and continued peace as we all work to help Barry heal. We also are having some issues with our sweet, nervous Rosie, that is still causing some stress. 

There is still so much journeying and discovery ahead. There are many blessings and we daily meet friends who have been through similar heart adventures. This is good news to us.

I'm beginning to collect heart healthy recipes! Send them on!

Thanks again for the many prayers for us and love sent to us!

________________________________________________________

We're home and so happy to be here!

Posted 2 days ago

Hi Everyone!
Barry's home and feeling pretty well. He's a little worn out tonight so he's laying on the couch now watching "That 70s Show" reruns. Thanks Dean Batale!

In the past week he's had a pretty massive heart attack, a stint put in, passed a kidney stone, and might have a touch of pneumonia! We have eight meds to regulate and a whole new diet. A weird thing we haven't quite figured out yet is what to do for his acid reflux. They don't recommend the only med that was working and the one they're trying is not really working.

I'm sure he'll be happy when we acclimate a bit. I'm still in the "you ok babe?" mode every few minutes. There are so many adjustments. There is the realization that he is now in a different category of health. He has had an early onset of heart disease. He had no elevated cholesterol, only a little blood pressure elevation that was back to normal with a small dose of medication and a loss of 40 pounds.

Emotionally he's doing ok. He feels like his body has betrayed him. He's had to do a little work today. The good news is his current client has been very understanding and has even been praying for Barry. Unfortunately our sweet but neurotic dog Rosie is causing him some stress. I'm tempted to send her on a vacation!

Right now our requests for prayer are:
* continued healing of his heart muscle
* adjustment to and efficiency of his medications for heart and gastric reflux
* strength to return
* appetite return and new tastes for this low sodium/low fat diet
* that the antibiotics would knock out the infection whether it is post-myocardial infarction related or lung

We also will have some pretty significant financial considerations coming up. It's possible that Barry is looking at a career change. Prayers about that would be awesome! Barry is so great with people and is so incredibly intuitive and bright. We'd like to see God turn this event into a whole new career that won't beat him up quite so much. We'd like his strength and exercise to come by healthy choices to recreate and work out not just work too hard.

Thanks so much again to all who have sent love and prayers and encouragement! It is keeping us afloat!
love to all!