Durango Stolen

On 15 August 2008 at sometime between 7:05pm and 10:30pm at 3135 Trawood, El Paso, TX our 2007 Dodge Durango was stolen.

My wife's purse also happend to be in the vehicle at the time. Therefore, we are currently experiencing a whirlwind of shit in our life. Between dealing with Progressive Auto Insurance, Hartford Home Owner's Insurance, Wells Fargo Bank, and our lien holder Patelco CU, we are becoming pretty frayed at the ends.

If you happen to be visiting Mexico any time soon, let us know if you see our Durango. And tell the bastards that stole it that there is a special place in Hell with a front row seat just waiting for them.

Christmas is over

Finally.....I finished putting away the last of the Christmas lights over the weekend. I had to completely re-organize my storage shed to accomodate the many "new" things that I used this year. I made a decision to start setting up my display on October 01, 2007. I believe that this will give me adequate time to put up all my decorations. I started way too late this past year and by the time I knew it, Christmas was already here. So I think the earlier start will help.

Santa brought Jacob a RoboSapien V2 for Christmas. On the surface this appeard to be a really cool toy. However, the robot never worked right. It would stand up and then fall flat on its face. I contacted the manufacturer, but the only way to reach them was via email. So after about a week they emailed me back. They told me to make sure the batteries were installed correctly. Wow! I never would have thought of that! Needless to say, I wasn't too impressed with their customer service (or lack thereof). So we decided to return the robot (with Santa's permission) and get Jacob the Nintendo Wii. The only problem now is that you cannot find a Wii anywhere (except Ebay where they want up to $800 for one). So I have been calling around, but no luck. No one has them. No one knows when they will be in. .....

Can't Wii all just get along?

Life Update

I didn't realize it had been so long since I have posted. This holiday season has been particularly busy for me and the family. So busy that I ran out of time to finish my holiday display. I put up a bunch of stuff, but I still have boxes of lights that I wasn't able to put up. I started a little later than usualy this year. I think I need to start in October. It was also pretty hard to put up the stuff this year. I just didn't seem to have the energy to do it. I had to pace myself the whole time. I don't have any pictures of my display yet, but I will take some this weekend.

I have started Cardiac Rehab and things are going well.

Merry Christmas to all!!!!

39% Gone! Dead! Hasta La Vista!

I just got back from another trip to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ and got some more Good news/Bad news.

The Good news:
1. The new blood clot that had formed in my Left Ventrical is now gone.

That is it for the Good news....

The Bad news:
1. I still have heart failure. My heart pumping function is still at 40%. No change there. However, they did prescribe a couple of meds that they think can help increase the efficiency a little bit more. The bad part is that the meds they put me on really make me feel ill so far. I feel dizzy all the time and I get really tired in the evenings. Hopefully, as time rolls on, I will be able to tolerate the meds a little better.
2. One of the test they had me perform was a Nuclear Dye Stress Test so they could map out my heart and get a clear picture everything. After it was all over, I was told that 39% of my heart is dead....gone.....not coming back.....

They said that the damage from my heart attack back in October of 1998 was so severe that 39% of my heart is gone.

I think I need to go and buy a lottery ticket......39, 40, etc....

Heart Failure

I just got back from the Mayo Clinic and I got some good/news. The good news is that my brain and neurological functions are all in check. My blood is also normal so there are no problems there. The bad news has to with my heart.

My heart is operating(pumping) at 40% efficiency. The normal range for the human heart is 55% and up. At 40% percent, I am quantified as a having Heart Failure. What that means is that that damage from my heart attack back in 1998 has caused the lower left section of my heart to not pump very well. Since this section is not contracting very well, blood is pooling in that area. When blood pools in the body it forms clots. One these clots broke free and caused my stroke.

So now what? I will going to the UNM Heart Failure Clinic in Albuquerque to get checked out and put on a plan.

Heart Failure

I just got back from the Mayo Clinic and I got some good/news. The good news is that my brain and neurological functions are all in check. My blood is also normal so there are no problems there. The bad news has to with my heart.

My heart is operating(pumping) at 40% efficiency. The normal range for the human heart is 55% and up. At 40% percent, I am quantified as a having Hear Failure. What that means is that that damage from my heart attack back in 1998 has caused the lower left section of my heart to not pump very well. Since this section is not contracting very well, blood is pooling in that area. When blood pools in the body it forms clots. One these clots broke free and caused my stroke.

So now what? I will going to the UNM Heart Failure Clinic in Albuquerque to get checked out and put on a plan.

"There's Nothing We Can Do For You..."

Said the Doctor at my last Doctor's Appointment. They are all basically stumped. They do not have a clue why I had a stroke nor do they know why none of the medications that I am taking are working.

So I am off to the Mayo Clinic on October 2nd to see if they have some answers. The Question is do I really want to know the answer. Ignorance is Bliss? Isn't it?

I finally spoke with my brother the other day. It had been awhile. We don't speak very often and sometimes not at all. I don't know the reason. One day everything was good and then nothing. He did ask me why I was trying to find the answer to my health problems. He said that if it is in your blood, then what do you think that they can do for you. I replied that I don't know, but that I wanted to find out. I now know the reason why I want to find the answer....It is not for me, but for my children - especially Jacob. If there is something that is hurting the males in my family (me and my brother) then I want to find out so that my son does not suffer the same fate. For Jacob...Jakester....Jacob the Mighty....

Rainbow....

I was sitting inside yesterday exhausted from the workday and Cayla was playing outside in the back yard. She came running to the door, yelling, "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Look Look! You have got to come outside and look!" I lumbered to the back door and made my way outside. I looked in the direction that she was pointing to. I saw the brightest most colorful rainbow that I have ever seen in my life. I laid down on my hammock and just stared at the rainbow. I have had a rough week with all the medications that I am on and I have been feeling pretty down. As soon as I saw the rainbow, I started to feel better. It was beautiful. Just like Cayla....

Cheers,

-daniel