Twin Lakes Colorado~Family Camping Weekend

We had planned a family camping weekend with several friends and their children before my surgery was scheduled. I was hopeful all along that I would be able to participate in this outing. My healing was going well and the doctor said it was fine to go so long as I took it easy and didn't climb any of the nearby 14ers.

Instead we fished...

viewed the flora....

walked near the lake...

laughed...

rode bikes...fished some more...
and caught one!
did some reading...

napped...

swam in the crisp, clear, mountain run off...

drank good beer...

ate fire roasted corn...

...and enjoyed each other's company by the fire as the moon rose above us.

Coal Creek Trail

Thistle
I took a leisurely ride with my friend Dawn down the Coal Creek trail today. I'm moving slower after my ablation last week, but happy to be out none the less.

Flax

White Thistle

This little guy, still with the remains of his umbilical cord, was busy discovering his body and new surroundings, herd members, the drinking ditch, bugs and Sadie, Dawn's dog. Can you believe those eye lashes!?

The New Cow

The new cow came though the gate, and her calf came after, a little late.

No longer willing to be led, the calf went on ahead,

while she stood to look around over the hills and lower ground

stood shyly, defiantly there, smelling flower-fragrant air,

and gazed toward the old cows grouped on the way before.

Knowing not how she might stay among them, stranger still,

she hesitated yet, now they had turned at the foot of the hill

and seemed to wait for her at the gate, to wait for her who was strange and thin,

till she came on, and they opened their ranks to take her in.

-August Derleth

This appeared to be Junior's Mom. But perhaps he simply felt safe with her by his side. Check out her horns. Yikes!

Walk Around the Yard Today

Moto's

I've happily been having a lot of people stop by and check on me while I'm home recovering. My friend's Alex and Barb stopped by to visit me yesterday. They were stoked! They brought their new motorcycles.

Here's what happened

I am most grateful for the amazing and dedicated staff who cared for me during my procedure! They are all awesome!

Electrophysiology Lab

Boulder Community Hospital (BCH) has the only dedicated EP program in Boulder County. It is one of Colorado’s most sophisticated EP labs with an all-digital biplane cardiac imaging system and a three-dimensional cardiac mapping system. An experienced team of specially trained doctors, nurses and technicians perform all studies and procedures.

The EP study looks at the heart's electrical signals and pinpoints the cause and location of the heart rhythm problem. Performed by certified cardiac specialists, the study diagnoses the arrhythmia and helps identify the best treatment by:

• Predicting the risk of sudden cardiac death and other serious cardiac problems
• Evaluating the effectiveness of using medication to control the heart rhythm disorder
• Determining if an implantable device (for example, a pacemaker), surgery or an EP treatment is required

The procedure involves inserting flexible catheters with platinum electrodes on the tips into a patient’s veins through a small puncture. These catheters are guided through the veins into the chambers of the heart. The electrodes record the heart’s electrical impulses and identify the nature and location of the heart-rhythm problem.

After diagnosis, treatment options are evaluated. Depending on the nature and location of the arrhythmia, treatment may include medication, implanting a defibrillator, surgery or a highly specialized EP procedure.

Electrophysiology Treatment Procedures

Our state-of-the-art lab enables us to provide the following specialized EP treatments:

Pulmonary vein isolation ablation – also called pulmonary vein ablation. A doctor delivers energy through catheters to the area of the atria that connects to the pulmonary vein (ostia). This energy (ablation) produces a circular scar that blocks any impulses firing from within the pulmonary vein, thereby "disconnecting" the pathway of the abnormal rhythm and preventing atrial fibrillation. In some cases, pulmonary vein ablation also may be performed in other parts of the heart such as the superior vena cava.

• Radiofrequency ablation – electrical energy is sent to the heart to destroy abnormal tissue that is causing an arrhythmia.

Watch a video to learn more about these procedures from electrophysiologist Sameer Oza, MD. Dr. Oza is one of a few electrophysiologists in the Denver area to offer ablation therapies for hard-to-treat heart rhythm disturbances such as atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.

Recovering

Things went well and I was home from the hospital exactly 24 hours after I left my house on Tuesday. The Electrophysiologist Cardiologist found two areas of my heart that needed to be ablated. My heart sinus rhythm has been pretty normal and consistent since. Something I'm not used to yet, but boy does it feel good! My recovery is relatively short and I'll be back at the things I love in no time at all. For now I'm healing and finding myself catching up on much needed sleep and eating all the wonderful food my friends and family have brought. This edible fruit bouquet arrived yesterday from my family. It included two of my favorites: fruit and chocolate! It won't last too long around me.

Cardiac Ablation

My ventures take me to many unexpected places. Today I'll be having some heart issues fixed through a procedure called a cardiac ablation. I'll be back to my regular ventures in no time at all!	In cardiac ablation, a form of energy renders a small section of damaged tissue inactive. This puts an end to arrhythmias that originated at the problematic site.

Steam Donkey: Monarch Lake, CO History

Steam Donkey or donkey engine is the common nickname for a steam powered winch, or logging engine widely used in past logging operations, though not limited to logging. They were also found in the mining and maritime, and nearly any other industry that needed a powered winch. These are photo's from the old steam donkey at Monarch Lake.

Hiking Monarch Lake, Colorado

Once again I found myself in all the spectacular beauty these Rocky Mountains have to offer. Another blissful weekend of camping, fishing, walking, listening, noticing flowers, birds and wildlife makes me realize just how much being out makes me feel at ease, full and complete in so many ways. For obvious reason's it's where I find myself longing to be more and more.

Fishing Arapahoe Creek, Colorado

13 Years Later

I remember the day I took this photo of Trax in 1996 as if it were yesterday. It was part of our regular routine to visit the Cornell University Plantation's in Ithaca, NY. We would spend hours enjoying the flowers together.


Today we spend our time together differently. We shralp mountains on sleds and bikes, fish, fantasize about what motorcycles we want, download music, discuss and play sports, eat ice cream as often as possible, he's teaching me how to play poker, talk about cars, discuss what it's like to live in this world, hike, and still enjoy looking at flowers together. Lately I have found myself astounded that Trax is a fourteen year old. I'm not sure where that time has disappeared to. Wasn't it just yesterday we were at the Plantation's while he was toddling about trying out his new legs? But I am certain he is 14. He has grown to nearly my height, wears his hair as long as mine at times, is obsessed with sports, occasionally harasses me about what I can and can't wear outside the house, constantly has some means of communication in his hands, and sleeps until noon as often as his busy life allows. So, all of this tells me he is 14. I'm just uncertain how we got here, already. This is all a good reminder for me to fasten my seat belt and enjoy the next four~year~ ride with him to it's fullest!