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Friday, June 4, 2010

I KNOW IT'S BEEN FOREVER SINCE I...

Hey Folks
Just wanted to give an update on what has been going on with me:
Had my Echo on Tuesday and my EF is now between 35-40%. Things are looking good. Thank you for all of your prayers and well wishes. I appreciate all the love.
Well I snuck out of Seattle for a few weeks.
My first stop was Dallas, TX (thumbs up to Mom for escorting me via Alaska Airlines) to see my Hubby's sister receive her PhD from University of Texas. We are so very proud of her.
My Mom met Hubby's Mother for the first time and they hit it off. This was a relief. Now I feel like my family is coming together (now all we have to do is, get Papa Bear to meet Hubby's Mom).
It was good to see my Brother(s)-in-Law, Lance and Darvey and my Sister(s)-in-Law, Delawina and Karen. They sure do know how to throw a cookout. Special shout out to my new Sis Karen for hooking my up with low-sodium dishes.
While in Dallas, I got to see one of my childhood friends, Terri and to also meet her children. What a handsome family they are. Her children are so smart and well behaved.
I also got to visit my 80 something year old Aunt Mary Louise. We call her Mady. What's interesting enough, I thought her name was just Mady but, it turns out that she doesn't like Mary Louise and her brother named her Mady when she was just a toddler and it stuck. How cute. I also found out that my Grandmother, Lillian, was a sassy so-and-so. Her stage name was Lorraine. Who knew. She was also a beautiful woman, standing at 5 foot 8, who sang in night clubs on the south side of Chicago.
I found out so many things about my Mother's side of the family. There are stories to be written.
From Dallas, my Hubby and I flew into Washington DC. Wow. I finally made it back home before a year was up. But home is not home any longer. Since July 2009, we have moved from DC to Mt. Vernon, VA. It was not really real until I walked in the house and saw all of my furniture and my things still in boxes. Yup! We had moved.
Mt. Vernon is not a bad place to live. It's just a little far from everything I grew to love, in DC. You see, when I moved to DC, I was dead set on living in DC. Not in Maryland or Virginia but in DC. How things change and do not remain the same.
My first few days in Mt. Vernon were, well, I don't really remember lol. I was sleep most of the time.
Friday, Hubby and I headed into the city to spend the weekend at the DuPont Hotel (I highly recommend). We had a blast. Friday night we went to a concert at the Kennedy Center and returned to the hotel for a fabulous dinner. Saturday we woke up and went on a little walk to George Town but not before we stopped and enjoyed the All Women Brazilian Drum Band performing in the park. After our nice walk through the neighborhood, we headed over to Eatonville to have a late breakfast with Brian (the best Manager in the world).
Hubby went to purchase a guitar in Tyson's and I chilled out in the hotel room and got dressed for church. That's right, I went to church. I love Alfred Street. Saturday night service was on point. My Hubby and I, both, received messages that night. We truly received our blessings.
After church, we headed over to my cousin's house to meet her new son. Stephanie is a wonderful Mommy! And of course Jeff is a great Dad too (don't want to leave him out). And Baby "Hank" is such a sweet baby boy. I am so happy they decided to have children.
But what was the surprise of the night, a few of Stephanie's friends had new babies as well. I missed so much being away.
After spending some time with the family, Hubby and I headed over to Mo' and Ashton's (friend-family) to say hello. Hello turned into an hour or so. Then we headed over to Lina's Roof Top Birthday Bash. That woman knows how to throw a PARTY!.
I was so exhausted when we got back to the hotel, I didn't know what to do. So the next morning we slept in. Thank goodness we didn't plan anything for the morning. Now Olivia did make a guest appearance at the hotel to see me and that made my morning.
After that we had breakfast at Circa...yummy yummy and headed back to VA.
My Sis Lori and my Niece Logan, Carol and her new family stopped by to say hello. It was wonderful to see them. Especially Miss Logan because it was her birthday!!! Hello 13. It was the first time I met Carol's new family. Dee and Veronica are pretty special folk.
You would think that the night was over but nope! We headed over to Andrea's house to see how big Brynn (she was one when I left) had gotten and oh my she has teeth, walks, talks and everything. Ron and Andrea got married (in Maui) while I was gone and now they are looking to expand their little family again.
I slept for a few days after that. Cardiomyopathy will do that to you.
Wednesday, we had a meeting with our lawyer, Johnnie Bond. To me, he is more of a friend but he is handling business. We talked about what got me in this mess (heart failure) in the first place (I still think that 50% of my condition is stress related and it relates to having bad contractors and a bad loan from Well's Fargo). Anywoooo, discussing the case really didn't bother me as much as I had anticipated. I guess I am handling my stress well.
After getting his bill (remember I said he was handling business) $70K+, we went for some drinks and grub at Lauriol Plaza. We met and ate with my baby sis, Camille and my sexy friend Troy. Good food, good drink and great weather! I love DC in the summer.
Friday, I had lunch with an amazing woman, Mimi. She has Cardiomyopathy as well and she is my SHERO. She has had this annoying condition for 9 years. Two children later, a job she loves and a body of a 25 year old, she still is managing her condition seemingly with ease. I am sure she has her ups and downs like we all do but she is amazing.
Saturday, we made it to a couple of house parties and ended the weekend at Shayla and Jarvis's house in Alexandria,VA. They moved from the neighborhood in DC back in May. At least when I go back to VA permanently, I will have some friends in the area.
Monday morning we arrived to the airport without incident. Alaska Airlines flight 1. Brand New Plane. Who knew there was a new plane smell. It is actually almost like a new car smell. Everything was clean and new. The stewardess actually gave us an entire row by ourselves so I could stretch out and sleep. I rate Alaska Airlines number 1. Please fly them often so I my airfare can go down. lol.
We arrived in Seattle 5 hours and 10 minutes later. What a long ride. I will have to tell you, I do not look forward to flying in another plane at all. But, Alaska Airlines and my Hubby made it at least bearable.
That concludes my trip. I think I have left out a couple of things like the fact that I had way too much sugar and salt while I was there and I didn't exercise as much as I should have and I did not get enough sleep and I didn't wear my life vest the entire time but hey...I was on vacation.
And my EF is higher, marginally, but never the less, HIGHER.
BTW
I am going to need some help. I am starting a foundation or association for Cardiomyopathy for Women. If anyone has any info or ideas please do not hesitate to contact me via email: lillianhill@gmail.com