Friday, February 9, 2018

Thank you Lord



Thank You Lord Blog
2/9/18
     While working out downstairs this morning on our elliptical machine, I found myself crying.  That is not unusual having just attending two funerals this past week 1/31 and 2/2/18.  I was listening to a recording of the funeral on 2/2.  As I waiting for the service to start, with tears flowing I found myself praying and thanking the Lord for His many blessings in my life lately.  I am writing about these blessings, since we tend to forget.  I also write these blogs for my own family/ grandchildren, so when I am gone I will have left them a memory of their Grandma Rene McQuinn.
     I am going to start with blessings from Dec.15, 2017.  We left for Grand Island, NE to spend our early Christmas with the grandkids, Julie and Sean, and Angie.  My family plus Pat is a major blessing in my life that I thank the Lord for throughout my life.  We had a great time, eating, opening presents, hugging and snuggling.  We left that next day for our fourth winter in Rockport, TX at Wilderness Oaks RV Resort. While reading this blog, just assume these are all blessings, as I ramble on.  We had good weather and a safe trip traveling south. The campground was all cleaned up, and our site was ready for us.  On 8/25/17 hurricane Harvey hit Rockport and destroyed the town and the Wilderness Oaks RV.  The workers at the Wilderness worked very hard in getting the camp ready for what we call Winter Texans. It was great to be back for the winter and seeing many great friends.  It was also a little sad to see the destruction, but joy in the stories of the volunteers who came to help rebuild. 
     We were able to attend a few events at the campground like concerts, dinners, Christmas dinner and gift exchange, card games, but not my favorite line dancing.  I love walking the park and its surroundings.  Friends help walk me as they walk their dogs, since Pat does not let me walk outside of the park.  It is probably a good thing since I get lost and step in front of cars that I can’t hear or see.  The second week of Jan., I walked 38 miles.  I had been reaching a daily goal of 10,000 steps a day.  On Monday, Jan 15 I woke up with a nosebleed that would not stop.  Pat later that evening took me in to the local ER room.  They tried to stop the bleeding, but ended up sending me to a Corpus Christi hospital by ambulance. I had passed out and threw up due to loss of blood etc.  I was more worried about the dogs, so Pat had a friend take care of them and let them out.  At the hospital they were worried about my blood pressure and heart rate.  I was taken in on a crash cart to do something that the nurse called, feeling like you have been kicked in the chest by a horse. Pat wasn’t even allowed in the room.  Prayers were answered by my many praying friends and family.  Thank you all for the many prayers.  I threw up a lot of blood, and then my heart rate went down.  I was ok to be sent home.  They had no room in the hospital, since it was full of people with the flu.  I got back to the campground early in the morning, and while sleeping and still bleeding my heart rate went up and passed out again.  Pat called an ambulance and was taken back to the same hospital in Corpus to a floor where they monitor your heart.  I had a young doctor that was very good.  He made sure I saw an ear, nose, and throat doctor who then sent me to surgery to stop the bleeding after 3 days.  Many blessings and prayers again since, I made it through and the bleeding stopped. I had every heart test available and everything was ok.  No heart attack or stroke.  The next step was to see a heart specialist on Mon. that I saw while in the hospital, after being released Sun Jan. 21.  A friend next door took care of the dogs the week I was in the hospital. Pat called the Doctor’s office that Mon. and they had not ordered the heart monitor that I would have had to wear for the next three weeks and possibly get a pacemaker after the three weeks.  I did not want to be trapped for three weeks in TX while my mother in law Louise was on her death bed with COPD according to my sister in law.  My dear friend of 30 years Karen Malone was also near death for a very fast growing cancer.  I wanted to see them both and say goodbye. 
     We told our campground friends goodbye and see you next winter and on Facebook that Mon. afternoon.  I was able to get a doctor appointment with my Omaha doctor on Fri. before he left on vacation.  Pat drove a few hours that Mon evening, and then drove 17 hours to reach Omaha Tues evening.  Arrived at home to snow, that the next door neighbor had shoveled, but driveway was ice covered.  The RV kept sliding down the driveway, so that was solved but extra lumber stored in garage.  We unloaded RV on Wed, so we could get it back to storage and winterize it.  Pat informed me that we need a smaller RV because I take too many clothes, and too many spices.  I do like to cook and not eat out while camping. 
     Thursday was our goodbye day.  We got to spend time with Karen and Louise. Louise was alert on Thurs. as we talked but not very alert on Fri. and died Sat. morning 1/27/18 while family was on their way to nursing home.  Her daughter Marcia was able to be there with her.  Sat afternoon I got a message that Karen wanted to say goodbye.  I sat by her bedside as she said goodbye to the majority of her 40+ grandchildren and four children, and church friends.  She died early Sunday morning 1/28/18.  Louise’s funeral was Wed. morning.  Many church friends came to Louise’s funeral to support our grief as they were going through their own grief.  We were able to see old friends, family, and relatives we rarely see.  After the service we all went to Pizza Ranch.  Angie spent the week in Omaha and it was great spending time with her.  On Fri. 2/2/18 was Karen’s service.  It was a beautiful service full of pictures, eulogy by a long time friend and gospel message by her husband. Because of the big crowd Karen’s service was at a larger church Westside in Omaha.   After the grave site, we all went to our little church Millard Community (our church home since 1975) for dinner, crying, and sharing. Our church looked really nice.  Karen loved snow and winter.  The tables were decorated with Karen’s huge snowman collection and fake snowflakes. 
     I am slowly getting my strength back starting this week Monday.  I try to work out an hour a day.  I am getting two adjustments a week by a friend and doctor.  I see my doctor the end of Feb. to recheck my blood levels.  He said I was low on iron. Things were caused by blood lost, dehydration, blood pressure meds that were being overdosed, which caused low blood pressure and passing out, my white coat syndrome, weak blood vessels, and the super big one stress.  My heart rate only went up once this week due to stress.  Blood pressure has been fine.
     Sorry to go on about these medical things.  I remember that old saying that when you get old you talk about your illnesses.  My point is blessings from the Lord.  I never did get the flu when the ER rooms were full of sick people.  Thank you Lord for that.  Too many people have the flu.  I never got any infections that you hear about while in hospital.  Thank you Lord. The one baby incision that they did to stop the sinus bleed healed up well according to my Omaha doctor.
     Pat wants to see the Yankees during Spring training, so he is planning on making a trip to Florida in March.  I will go along for the trip but not the ball games.  Life is short, and we need to travel when we can.  Then Easter weekend we will spend time in Branson, and hopefully go to Silver Dollar City with the grandkids.  Praying friends and family will be needed on this trip also, to make this a safe healthy trip.  The last time I made the trip home from FL I ended up in the ER on that trip.  I will end this with a prayer that is on my heart.  Lord bless those in our family as they deal with the loss of Louise.  Bless Karen’s many loved ones as they struggle with their loss.  We all have our memories, and we all struggle with losses of loved ones.  The only way we can make it is to believe that Christ died for our sins, and rose again.  We will see those loved ones who believe when Christ meets us in eternal life the dead first then the living.  John 3 :16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 
    

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