Friday, April 27, 2012

Update and Backyard Friends

Greetings from Baton Rouge! We have been quite busy getting settled in, then we had a health scare with Double D. :( Right before the move he started experiencing some pretty significant chest pain. We chalked it up to all the stress we've been dealing with this year. After getting unpacked, the pains persisted along with a new symptom: extreme fatigue. A cardiologist determined that DD was probably 90% blocked in at least one artery. A few days later a heart catheterization discovered one artery with more than 90% blockage and another with almost 80%. Two stents were placed successfully and I'm happy to report that my little patient is doing much better and will be with me for years to come.

I want to ask if 2012 can get any worse, yet I dare not float that question out there. :/ God is certainly exercising my prayer and faith muscles, which should be pretty toned by now, but there is still work to do in that area.

Anyway, we're thoroughly enjoying the new house; especially the back yard! Here are some of our new avian friends:

Hummingbird - unsure of type

Hairy or Downy Woodpecker - cannot tell the difference!

Woody is completely addicted to seed cake. When the starlings take over he swoops around, letting them know it's his turn! He loves to eat upside down which I love because
it makes for a better photo. :)

Carolina Chickadee

Bluejay

Northern Cardinal

Conehead

Mrs. Conehead

My dad and his wife gave us this beautiful wind chime for a housewarming present. I love it!


17 comments:

Nancy said...

Gail -- I had been checking your blog off and on and didn't know if you were still at it... great to see you.

Glad your hubby is okay now -- and that you are enjoying your new home.

the wild magnolia said...

well little lady, you have had a time of it. happy news that the mister will be around for a long while.

i enjoyed the photos so much.

thank you, for sharing.

Laura Delegal - Leroy Photography said...

Your birds are wonderful and I'm so glad to hear Double D is well.

My hubby went through the same thing at the beginning of this month and almost died AFTER the cath. He was tired for about a month, but we just thought it was due to allergies and time change. He usually runs 25-30 miles a week, but started having shortness of breath and went to the doctor. No heart attack, but he was set up for a heart cath. He had a stint from 17 years ago that was about 60% blocked at the end, so they put another one inside of it. Then he had a 95% blockage at the bottom of his heart and had to put two different sized stints in. Apparently, when that was done, he threw a clot and had a heart attack when he got back to the room. They rushed him back down to the Cath Lab and broke up the clot and put in 2 more stints to block the tear ... It was pretty scary. The reality didn't hit until the next morning when the doctor said he was dying when they took him back for the second procedure and the nurse told him they were worried he would not make it through the night. God protected me from that reality until the next day.

Anyway ... he's fine. Almost back up to where he was in his jogging and weights and is even cutting grass. Hope Double D is doing as well.

TexWisGirl said...

oh, gail. you really are being tested and stretched this year. so glad all will be okay w/ hubby!

and your avian angels as well as your wind chime are watching over you. :)

Anonymous said...

HI GAIL! Good to hear it wasn't a more serious problem w/ DD, thank God! =)

LOVE Conehead, so funny & what a great shot, too! WoW!

Be careful, have fun & God bless!!! =)

Evelyn S. said...

Oh Gail! "Conhead" belongs on a poster! Or cards...or something! Wonderful bird images! So scary about your hubby, but glad that things have been taken care of. I'm so glad you're back in blog land.

Barbara said...

I'm so glad DD got the pain checked out and the blockages were found and treated. My hubby will celebrate 10 years with his this weekend! Love your bird shots. I had missed them! And that wind chime is beautiful!

Lisa Gordon said...

Gail, I am so glad that your husband is okay now, and doing well. I sure hope that things settle down for you real soon. You have definitely had your "share" for this year.

Sending good wishes your way.
xo.

Anonymous said...

whew...that was a scare but so glad he got things checked out before it got more serious! and glad to hear you are snuggling into your new digs already. the birds are looking more like what we have here in GA! good indicator that we're definitely closer to each other now! :-) i can not believe I had my first hummingbird sighting of the season this week. normally it's in july!!

Anonymous said...

Gail, I'm glad your husband's doing well.
It looks like you've made a lot of new feathered friends and the wind chime is beautiful.

Unknown said...

I am so glad to hear your hubby is doing OK. My heart goes out to you! So many pretty photos here. I do love seeing your photos.. I do hope the rest of 2012 will be smooth sailing for you!

Hugs~

Kathy said...

I'm glad to hear your life is beginning to take on a little more normalcy.

Reena said...

so glad your hubby is okay! Amazing what they can do these days with stents! And your photos of your avian friends.... just awesome! Glad to hear you are settling in and looking forward to more!

Starla said...

SHE'S BAAAACK!!! OH! I'm so glad you got the camera out again! (and I think I want to try and sketch a couple of these photos...my fingers have been itching to pick up my art again!!)

Anonymous said...

So glad to hear from you. What a terrible scare but better to deal with it now, than later when it can be worse without treatment.

Love love your cardinal shots!

Hilary said...

Ugh, Gail. Life is certainly throwing you huge curves. I'm glad your hubby is okay now. I just finished reading Barbara's post about her own hubby's heart woes.

Your photos are just stunning.. colour me unsurprised. Love the wee chimes.

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Lovely photos. So pleased Double D DID go to the Dr and has had treatment. Quite frightening, don't focus on the What-Ifs.