You Go Doc!!

Ok, so the cardiologist appointment went very well. I really like Dr. Sekar. Based on what I could understand as I navigated his Indian dialect, I am in pretty good shape. Bottom line is...I'm fat! I knew that! Second thing is...if I wasn't fat...my Type 2 Diabetes would probably disappear. If my Type 2 Diabetes disappears I probably wouldn't have the slight swelling in my ankles when I'm on my feet all day and.....I probably wouldn't be running to the bathroom every 1 1/2 hours 24/7. My blood pressure was good. Even though Dr. Slavico had told me my "bad" cholesterol was too high, Dr. Sekar told me it was actually pretty good so he recommended I not increase my meds for it as Dr. Slavico had ordered. So, I will have to take that up with Dr. Slavico when I see him Wednesday. He did a EKG and a Echocardiogram. What he sees in the EKG shows the previous heart attack and he says the echo was really good....no leakage, valves all good, no enlargement, and no damage. Heart is functioning at about 88% which is good. He said if I can run as a basketball official without any chest discomfort....I am ok and that is stress test enough for him. I get to see him again in 2 months. His recommendation is to lose weight and handle the diabetes, so...if Trey can do it...Pops can do it. He said no meats (hard on the kidneys), no sugars (including the fruits that have natural sugar)basically.....no carbs. Eat your vegetables son!!
You go Doc!

Doctor, Doctor...have you heard?

I went to have my prescriptions refilled last week and found out the doctor wouldn't fill one of them less I see him. So, last Monday I went and saw my good friend, Dr. Slavico. Now, you know and I know, you can't go to the doctor without dropping off some blood, so that I did. So, let's start with any good news....

My AC1 was better than the last time, but he still wants me to take a med to help with my Type 2 Diabetes. My blood pressure was excellent...must be the two meds I take for it are doing the trick. He didn't mention total cholesterol or tryglicerides, so I assume they are OK. He did mention my "bad" cholesterol was too high so he upped my meds for that. My liver enzymes are stll high and they have been for years. Some of it's due to being overweight and having a "fatty" liver and some of it's due to the meds I take on a regular basis. My one good kidney is still dumping allot of protein into my bloodstream so he wants me to check it out with my nephrologist, so I need to make that appointment. Since moving back to Georgia, I have never established a relationship with a cardiologist, so he gave me a referral to a cardio guy that goes to church with us and I see him for the first time tomorrow. He currently treats our Pastor's dad and another good friend of mine and comes with high recommendations. I go back to Dr. Slavico on Wednesday to see about the Meds for the diabetes. Finally, I have had a fit with my left hip for years and it has finally gotten to the point I am looking for some relief, so I'm off to a Ortho guy on December 10th.

With all of that said....I don't need any further advice or opinions from family or friends. I know what I know. I'm a big boy and know what I need to do. I'm just keeping everyone informed. Past all of that....I feel pretty good....good enough to run some basketball officiating last week.

"no more monkeys jumping on the bed."

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Ever so often, I will wake up way too early and this morning was one of those mornings. I awoke around 4:30AM and after 30 minutes of tossing and turning I just said, what the heck and got up. So now, I've checked my email and written a few notes and am on my second cup of coffee. It will be a LONNNNNNGGGG day!
Much happening today at our store with a employee Thanksgiving dinner, a holiday readiness check by our district staff and obviously allot of business with the holiday on 7 days away. We are ready and all should go quite smoothly.
I'm excited that Trey has decided to referee some basketball this year with the same group that I work with. I wish I had started as young as he has and could have seen how far I could have gone. I love the game and I love the kids, but I just can't hardly keep up with the young legs anymore. He's working some scrimmages this evening and I am looking forward to going to watch him work.
Appears Debbie and Jennifer have most of the Christmas deco up. I got up this morning to find the tree decorated. Appears the girls did a much better job with it than Trey and I did last year. Anyway, time for a shower and a shave!

It's Beginning To Look....

Yep....it's beginning to look allot like the holidays around here. Last night, I took my butt up the attic stairway and dropped all our Christmas deco paraphernalia down to Trey. Now, it's just kind of hanging out in the family room. We did get it all unpacked and I did get the Christmas tree put together while I've been off today.
I look forward to this time of year more than anything else. Sure, it's our busiest time at the store and we work awfully hard....but, it's actually fun in a weird sort of way. I can attest to coming home dead tired everyday, but I'm always anxious to tackle it again the next day.
Hard to believe the year is almost gone. So much has happened in 2008 and we have been blessed in multiple ways. We will celebrate Christmas differently this year as Debbie and I will focus more on Tripp and Makinley. We will still enjoy our children, but it is time that they started developing their own traditions.
Debbie and I have a new "daughter" as we have "adopted" a little girl from Zambia. Her name is Ostridah and she turned 4 years old in September. We look forward to watching her grow up and being a vehicle that God uses to share Christ with her. Please covenant with us to pary for Ostridah.

Happy Birthday Derrick!

Tomorrow my brother-in-law, Derrick, turns 53! When I stop and think about it...we have known each other since we were 14-15 years old...almost 40 years. He went to school at our cross town rival and we played basketball against each other in different color uniforms.
He is the brother I never had and a 2nd son to my dad. Having lived away from Wilmington for most of my adult life, Derrick has always been there for my dad whenever he needed anything. He has always done it, even when my dad wasn't very lovable. I admire my brother-in-law for many different reasons and I'm thankful God has blessed him, my sister, and my nephews in so many different ways. Happy Birthday D-Rock!
WOW...it is getting busier and busier at the store. If there is a recession, you wouldn't know it by the amount of groceries flying off the shelves. I'm already tired and we still have 2 weeks until Thanksgiving and 6 weeks until Christmas. I will say this though!! WE ARE READY! Our folks are awesome and I am blessed beyond measure to work with the group that surround me. Even on my off days, they are always there to pick me up!

Here's to Hope!

All I can say is that I did my part! The problem as I see it is not one of Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative...it is a problem of ignorance and complacency. I am to blame as much as anyone. I am part of the problem and have not been a active part of the solution. It is up to each of us to be educated and to really make a fast determination on what our values are...what we will stand for and what we will not stand for. I don't need to put validity in what all the pundits and analysts say without having first done my own personal studies and evaluations. We can't put all our apples in one basket. The truth is if the vote of everyone under 30 years old were taken out of the election...Obama would have still been elected, so we can't blame it on the uninformed young voter. The truth is that if every African American vote was taken out of the equation....Obama would still have been elected, so we can't say that it was strictly the race vote that elected him. Again, and this is only my opinion....America does want change. America voted for change and they got change...or did they? Will there be higher taxes? Sure there will be. Will he eliminate spending by going line for line through the budget and eliminate wasteful spending?? I don't think so, but that's just me. Will he bring the troops home? I don't believe he will waste any time and this one thing will be what he hangs his hat on to reduce spending. The problem is....terrorists will view him as weak and we will have to start looking over our shoulders again. Will he appoint liberal judges.......take it to the bank.
Have you stopped and wondered where all Obama's campaign money came from?? Do you not think for one moment that any of it didn't come "washed" through Muslim countries?? Is that too absurd to believe?
Make sure you kiss your loved ones goodbye each time you part and make sure that you tell them you love them each chance you get. There were over 3,000 Americans that lost their lives in the World Trade Center. On that fateful morning...did they?

Nervous Wreck

Ok, I admit it. I don't want Barack Obama elected President. To be honest, I was a big Mike Huckabee fan and still am. I love Sarah Palin and believe she would be a breath of fresh air and would actually get some things done the average Washington politician can't. I believe John McCain has some admirable qualities...primarily that he would protect our country and the lives of my children and grandchildren at all costs. Barack Obama...I don't get it! Where there is smoke...there is FIRE!! His associations with people like Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, Resko, Khadali....c'mon y'all!!!! Surely there is some smoke there!! Regardless of the fact that he is a ultra liberal...he doesn't place his hand over his heart during the national anthem...in fact...he wants to change the national anthem to "I want to teach the world to sing." Are you freaking kidding me!!! Do you realize how many people have died for our national anthem? He might as well go to Arlington or the Vietnam Veteran's memorial and spit on the gravestones or names engraved on the wall. If for no other reason...HE HAS A MUSLIM NAME!! Does anybody not remember 9-11?
Whatever! I'm praying the trumpet sounds and the eastern sky opens and I'm at home in heaven! God destroyed Sodom and Gomorah for a whole lot less than what we allow in America today.
By the way, there is some significance in the watermelon picture!
GOD, PLEASE GIVE US ONE MORE CHANCE!