Just thought I would pop in quickly to say “Hi” and let you know I probably won’t have much time to post for a few more days. My mom and step-Dad’s annual visit started on Thursday morning. They will be with us for a week.
Arrow and I went to pick them up from the airport at 9 AM. After they picked up their rental car and checked into their hotel they came to our home and we fixed lunch. It has been such beautiful weather that we decided to eat outside on the patio.
I made a wonderful Watermelon Lemonade! Just cube up a seedless watermelon and fill your Vitamix blender to the top with the watermelon cubes. Remove the seeds if you can only find the seeded variety. Add 2 – 4 splashes of organic lemon juice (or the juice of two lemons) and agave nectar to taste. I used about 1/8th of a cup of nectar. Start blender, turn variable to high & speed to 10. Mix for just 30 seconds to 1 minute. Blend a little longer if needed. Adjust sweetness if necessary. Pour over ice. Made 4 – 16 ounce glasses. Enjoy!! Everyone really liked this. Not overly sweet and very refreshing.
I was unaware of how nutritious watermelon is! It is packed with antioxidants. Also a good source of vitamins C and A. It is rich in vitamins B6, B1 and magnesium. It is 90% water. I did not know that watermelon is considered more nutritious than other fruits! It is also a better source of lycopene than tomatoes!! Watermelon is also full of electrolytes, potassium and sodium. I had NO idea that one of my favorite summer melons was so good for me. What a double bonus!!
Mom & Arrow went inside to clear up the dishes after lunch and my step-Dad and I stayed outside to talk about my soap business. He has been helping me get my soap business launched, running, profitable and have me think through various ‘soap process’ decisions. As we sat there talking he suddenly started slurring his words. He would chuckle and say “isn’t this interesting” or “isn’t the strange”. He was completely unconcerned about the slurring and he continued to talk about my soap business.
As the slurring continued he then realized that he was unable to use his right arm, hand or leg. It was then I started asking him lots of questions about any pain, dizziness, indigestion, if this had happened before, and many more I don’t remember. Between my questions about his condition he still talked about my soap business.
After some minutes I asked him if he would like to try going inside to lay down on the couch, to which he said yes. I called Arrow and together we got him up (barely) and then attempted to maneuver him into the house. With only one usable leg and we had to get him across the patio, UP one step, across the room and it was then I realized we then had to turn him around to get him onto the couch! Once we had started I didn’t think it would be safe to return him to the wood-slat patio bench. We would have had to ‘drop’ him onto the bench and they are not the sturdiest things on the planet!
With the help of the Lord (angels perhaps?) we did get him to the couch safely. That was when I decided that a call to 9-1-1 would be prudent. They arrived within a few minutes and whisked he & mom off to the nearest hospital. Arrow and I left a few minutes later.
What in the world was I thinking when I decided that it would be “wise” to bring him indoors and lay him down on the couch!!??!!?? I mean really, the man had no use of his right side in the least, and Arrow and I were going to help him into the house? What if he fell and hit is head on the cement, patio door frame, shelves, cabinet, piano etc??!!! What if we dropped him? He could have had mush worse injuries from my bad decision.
Of course hindsight is perfect.
When we arrived at the hospital they had already done scans and found a blood clot near his brain. They were preparing him to get the t-PA blood clot busting medicine then have him transferred to a Tacoma hospital that specialized in strokes, known as a “drip & ship”. That was administered and I stood talking to him while it went to work busting up the clot. After 15 – 25 minutes his speech was UN-slurred as suddenly as it had started! His right arm and leg were also no longer immobile! What a miracle and blessing from the Lord!!
The second ambulance crew arrived to take him to the other hospital. Then there was the new hospital staff and surroundings to settle into. We had a special visit from Mrs. GB a sweet, precious friend from church with her 4 sweet children. I also had a call from a sweet friend from New Mexico! We got him all settled into the second hospital and then we all went home and had dinner.
Friday evening he had an MRI to determine the extent of the damage the stroke left on his brain. From all indications there is not one speck of any permanent damage to any area of his brain. I know as we have talked and I have witnessed his “shift change cognitive assessments” (I don’t think that is the correct name but it’s what I can think of right now) there is NO lack of mobility or strength, NO memory impairment, NO cognitive impairment. None. Zip. Nada. Every single tech, CNA, or other medical personnel (that I have been there to witness) has said, “Wow you look great!”. And truly he does. If I had not witnessed the stroke I would NEVER have been able to tell that he had one in the first place. So now his and mom’s job will be to do what they can to prevent any further clots from forming in the future.
It was very interesting to talk with him about the actual event. The nurse on Friday evening had asked him if he had been aware that he was slurring his words during the stroke. He said that he was. I asked him is he had been aware that he was having a stroke and he said he did not realize that at all. He remained unconcerned as this “interesting” phenomena was occurring and I kept thinking he was having a stroke. His calm, unconcerned, this will pass attitude, kept me from taking action in calling 911 a few minutes earlier, though that call was placed about 15 – 20 minutes after the stroke onset.
It has been a very “eventful” and “interesting” start to our annual visit with my mom and step-dad to say the least! 🙂
God has graciously granted us a miracle beyond all hopes and expectations. I am still in shock and awe at the mercies of the Lord granted to my step-Dad.
SIGNS OF A STROKE (from the booklet at the hospital)
* sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
*sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
* sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
*sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
*sudden, severe headache with no known cause
If signs are present CALL 9-1-1!!
Blessings, ~Mrs. R
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Honey From Flinty Rocks 