Sunday, April 29, 2007

April 29



I've often seen shots of the red California poppies against the blue sky and thought it was a neat shot. So, I did the same with Buttercups. :0 Put the camera on autofocus, sit it on the ground facing up at the flowers, hit the shutter (which was on timer) and viola. :)

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

April 17

April 16

April 11 - 15

So, on April 11, my hubby went into the hospital for open heart surgery. He had a congenital heart defect that had never been corrected, and was about the size of an
American half-dollar (for any non-USAers, that is about 30 mm or more in diameter, I think -- it was BIG).
The actual surgery took less than two hours, but I was not able to see him until about 6:00 that night. He looked like he had been rode hard and put up wet. Still, the nurses were surprised at how well he was doing. He had a lot less "tubes" coming out of him than most open heart patients and was able to move to a "regular" room the next morning.

Recovery hasn't been easy, and we still have moments where he feels like complete and total horse doo-doo, BUT, he is making progress and I can tell he is moving forward. How I'm going to keep him at home for three weeks is beyond me. :)

When I sit and think of the danger he has been in, I am awed at God' protective hand. HIS timing is perfect, and I praise HIM for how well Bernard has done.

These are shots I took while he was in the hospital.












And a little closer, now.

April 10



Kristi, who has since chipped her left front tooth, and we have no idea how. :/

Monday, April 09, 2007

April 8 and 9

Happy Easter Every One!
This is the annual Valentine Easter egg hunt. My kids and my niece and 5 nephews.



Things that make you go "ouch."

Sunday, April 08, 2007

April 6 and 7



My kids were dying Easter eggs with their grandparents, and it started snowing. So, I went outside and took some shots. These are the same tulips from the other day. (They didn't survive the night, unfortunately). I had to use a flash because it was dark, and it is bounced off the house. It was also cold, so I wasn't really creative in my composition. :)


And the next day, my son got to ride his snowboard. Yes, on the day before Easter, the holiday that screams "SPRING" my son is playing in the snow, and I am freezing my beauhunkus off watching him. :)

Thursday, April 05, 2007

April 4 and 5




Bernard's MRI on Monday was completely normal, and he does indeed have a brain. :) No tumors, no strokes, no MS. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We met today with Dr. Alan Johnson of Asheville Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. As far as heart surgeries go, this is the easiest, most simple kind. That is good. His surgery will start around 11 and he should be finished around 2 and in an ICU room around 3. The actual surgery on the heart only takes about 15 minutes. The rest of it is getting Bernard to sleep and prepped for the surgery (I'll spare you the details, yuck. I'm so glad God didn't call me into medicine). He will be in ICU over night, then a regular room for 2 or 3 days, then home to recuperate for a couple of weeks. The most difficult part (according to Dr. Johnson and all other open heart patients I've talked to) is waiting for the sternum and ribs to heal. Apparently, that is a pretty painful little mess in there. Bernard is ready to do this and amazingly calm. I am to, on the outside.

So, Monday we go to Mission Hospital for pre-OP, Tuesday is a lovely day spent at Asheville Cardiology doing a catheterization, and Wednesday, bright and early, we will go to the hospital for the big day.

Thanks for remembering us, and I'll keep you updated as we go.

Oh yea, some have asked for specific ways to pray. Obviously, as God leads is cool, too.

1. Travis and Kristi to not be too completely whigged out by the whole thing. We are explaining bits and pieces to Trav, and Kristi is happily oblivious to the whole thing, for now.
2. The doctors. I know some of Bernard's docs are Christians, but I do not know about all of them. My prayer is that something we do or say or are plants a seed or waters a seed that has been planted.
3. That Bernard wake up from the surgery. :)
4. A quick and speedy recovery.

In Him,
Karma

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

April 3




Waiting for the Easter Bunny to Hatch

Processed on the laptop, so it probably looks oversharpened and over contrasted. I may need to upload another version after re-editing.

April 2