Sunday, July 19, 2009

Sunday morning...what's happening with Brian

Hi,

Top of the morning to you!  I just returned from walking out new puppy Tilly. She is a Golden Doodle and such a sweet dog. It's amazing how a dog can add to a family!  We went to the Mill Creek festible yesterday and they had dog jumping like you see on TV, it was very fun to watch. I have just been watching some tennis videos and really need to figure out what happend to my second service last Friday night against Dave Baska. I was serving for the first set a 6-5 and should have won it. It was definitely the hottest temperature of a match I have ever played in. I would guess over 100 degrees and indoors! I learned a valueable lesson-come prepared to sweat and pace yourself. For a brief momement I was thinking of giving up!  The thing I like about tennis is it's a game of "going back to the drawing board" type of fun. It's a reflection on what you did right and what you need to work on. I would say my second service is something that has hurt me against tougher opponents. I was playing Phil Ansdel in the Seattle City 45's and started out great, up in the first serving well, then my service left me and my second serve was chewed up and attacked heavily. I have been studying where my first and second serves are breaking down and I am ready for an improvement (committed effort) to dig deep and bring out a better weapon. You basically live and die by your service motion and return of service. I think I actually have a pretty decent return game.  I am excited about playing in the Washington State Open this year in the Men's 45 age division. I know I do well and it's time for me to put it all together.

My doctor called and I need to call and schedule my MRI. I am coming up on my 6th year anniversary. Instead of having a CT/Angio, due to the radiation content, we are switching me to a MRI. I asked the doctor if it was the "tube" one and he said yes... but, they also have the open one as well. Part of me wants to go back and get in that tube and not be scared like I was the night of my open heart surgery.

Kids are having a fun summer and taking guitar lessons and attended a soccer camp. We are going to Lake Chelan with my parents and brother's family in early August. That should be fun and a relaxing time with the family.

Have a great day!

Brian

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Back to Blogging

Well, it's been a while since I have been blogging. I guess I was thining my wordpress site would end up being my main blogging site, however, it's too much work to post comments there for me and I find this site to be easier to use. In fact, I had a nice blog before and it got deleted by me.. I tried to get it back and didn't have any luck. So... on to another one!

BTW... I am have my latest Echo Cardiogram and it appears to have remained stable and the valve leaking is also stayed the same. I have a deformed tricuspic/aortic valve. I am also coming up on my 6 year anniversary and on 8/22/2009, it will be here. I am now going to switch to a MRI instead of a CT Angio due to the amount of radiation from the CT scans... I hope my MRI goes well. My BP is also doing better now that I am taking my medications daily.

Thanks,
Brian

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Wimbledon Final, Roger and Andy battle it out.

Well, it's Sunday morning, July 5th, 2009 and I am watching the Roger vs Andy final. So far, it's one set a piece and looks like it's going to be a good one. Andy's playing well! We celebrated the 4th yesterday by going to the Everett Aquasox baseball game. My son and I were picked to do the "fishing for tuition" and we caught the most fish (I was the catcher and Owen the tosser). We won a $100.00 saving bond!

I have been taking my blood pressure meds everyday now as when I went in for my last Echo Cardio gram, my BP was 160/78. I get the "white coat" syndrome every time I go there. So, I am tracking my BP on a daily basis now to let the doctor know that I am controlling it. I am also trying (could be doing better) of trying to get my weight under 200lbs. I get stuck at 207-212 range, which is too high!

I am looking for another tennis racket stringer, I should have never sold my last one and now am back to trying to buy another one. I like the Laserfibre or Stringway brand and will try to see if I can land one.  The AorticDissection.com site and Forum are continuing to grow daily. I am so glad that I am able to help others. I am also very thankful for my supporting doctors, Dr. David Laing from Stanford and Dr. Allen Stewart from Columbia. They are experts in the AD field and great support for the site. They are truly amazing men!

My daughter will be 14 years old this month! Wow! Time has flown by and I am so blessed to have such a beautiful and smart girl. My son turned 10 in late May and actually today we're finally getting around to shareing his b-day celebration with his cousin.

I have noticed that taken my BP meds in the morning and the one pill at night, I have been extremely tired and just have zero energy. I am hoping that I get used to this soon!  I watched the video symposium from the 2008 Aortic Dissection convention and it's so true how the BP controls the pressure on the aorta and how you need to keep that down.

Work is going good and I am so glad to be working for X5, it's a great group of people! And.. most of all, it's fun! My boss is just returning from Africa and it will be interesting to catch up with him.

Oh... I almost forgot... We got a new puppy...Tilly!  She's a Golden Doodle! She's actually trying to bite the keyboard or my pants right now.. She had some very sharp teeth! OK. gotta run.. Tilly's attacking me!

 

Brian :)