Once Again, it Has Been A While

Hello Friends!

My last post was October 28th, 2012.  That is too long to be away!  I have really found the desire to blog again as I have missed it.

My Last Post Was...

October 28th, 2012's post was a "Blue Monday post".  My friend "Smiling Sally" hosted that blog post every Monday and I have loved participating in "Blue Monday".  When I became ill with cardio vascular issues in 2011, Sally was so good to check on me.  A few months ago, I wanted to "reconnect" with Bloggerville and of course, Sally was the first person I checked on.  I sadly discovered that in my absence, Sally had been diagnosed with cancer and has since left us for her heavenly home.  I never met her while living here on this earth, I do look forward to meeting her in my  heavenly home.  We will walk on the streets of gold, she will show me around, talk about books and the color blue and all it's beautiful shades.  I guess I will ramble on about everything else. :-)  To read more about Sally, you can go to her blog by clicking here.  Precious lady who is missed.

What Has Been Going On...

In December of 2011 I was diagnosed with a dissection in my aorta.  Though it had been there for a while, was still small, just getting bigger, causing all the pain I was in.  When I look back to all the months preceding, I see how God was in complete control.  A few months earlier I had what was considered a very very mild heart attack (AD's often mimic mild heart attacks, not sure if it was related or not.) The aortic dissection was there at that time, but not detected.  The only sure way to diagnose an aortic dissection is with a Cat Scan (CT) or an MRI, either one also needs to be done with contrast dye.  My only real symptom was high blood pressure.  The meds to manage that slowed the progression of the dissection keeping it from turning into a full blown aneurysm.

When I think of the "what ifs" I cannot help but think how good our God is.  You see, I had a photography business.  And it was labor intensive, plus the stress that comes with owning a business. I also taught anywhere from 2-5 fitness classes a week.  High impact step aerobics,  body sculpting with weights, pilates, senior aerobics, etc.  (I also battled migraines, which it seemed I had little control over, but I will talk more about them in a later post.)  You see, ad's have little or no symptoms. Yes, you might have some chest discomfort.  Pain that radiates to your back.  Actually feels like a the tearing of or a torn peck (pectoral muscle).  Depending on the location of the dissection. All easily explained away.  In fact, I later learned that the pain I was feeling when the heart attack was diagnosed was my aorta convulsing.  (Aorta's convulse when you have a heart attack.) The EKG indicated that I was having an heart attack and the cath lab found a t-niny little blockage.  I expect that John Ritter was experiencing similar pain when he was taken to the ER the night before he died. I think his discomfort was chalked off to being an angina or indigestion.  He died the next day on the set while filming an episode of  "8 Simple Rules".  John's wife, Amy Yasbeck has made inroads in her efforts to educate the medical profession and the general public in the diagnosis of Aortic Dissections in the emergency room.  As a result, many people, including me, are alive.  And I do thank God for her and her efforts.

More...

To learn more about Aortic Health go to The John Ritter Foundation and be sure to read Ritter's Rules while you are there.

Now and Moving Forward...

We realized quickly that teaching fitness classes was going to be in my past. ;-)  And it did not take long to also realize that I could no longer load, unload, haul photo & studio gear and that I could no longer wrangle children in photography sessions.  Almost 3 years ago, I permanently closed my photography business.  God has given me the grace that I have needed to accept my "new normal" and be pleased/happy with it to glorify Him.  Also, in His timing, other opportunities for me to take advantage of has opened for me.  I have exciting plans for this blog.  Projects, health, crafts, cooking..... (I still love to cook and experiment in the kitchen!) and of course, there will be some photography! It is only a hobby now. :-)  But some of the photos may be... from my cell phone. LOL!  I am embracing the KISS method more and more.  I also plan to add a vLog to this blog.  

Toodles For Now!

Missy