Phil hiking Mt. Alice in late fall

Mt. Alice is on the other side of the bay from Seward. Mt. Alice is about 4800 ft tall--it is a tough hike, but has spectacular views.

our little girl

Late summer turns into fall

Getting ready for the pumpkin prowl

Ladybug Girl

Quin doing the happy dance!

p.s. Heather took this amazing picture & video and wanted you all to know that it was her.

Mt. Marathon

Phil & Sam (our nephew visiting from Ohio) climbed Mt. Marathon today. Over 3200 feet almost straight up. Way to go guys!

Hitched...July 9, 2010

1 week!

It is just one week until our wedding in Homer. In case anyone was wondering, we are registered at target under Naomi Fischer & Phil Wade.

https://www.target.com/registry/wedding/VGJ72CS4R78L/guestview

I wish you could all be here. We'll take plenty of pictures and email them. I am getting quite excited. Phil is now off work until after our mini honeymoon (after working 84 hours last week); which is a very good thing

My Aunt is here visiting and soon my sister & her kids will be up. It is going to be a very small wedding (about ~16 people), which should me very intimate.

We plan on having a Seward reception at the end of July for all our friends/coworkers here.

Quin and I are back home with Phil. Tuesday Quin and Phil went on a long walk to the face of Exit Glacier (~1.5 miles) and Quin did very well--I took a nap as I had walked earlier that morning. I have been taking each day at a time, resting and puttering around the house.

This afternoon I decided to go for a walk and at about the halfway point it decided, out of the blue, to rain. As soon as I got home the rain stopped and by early evening it was sunny and beautiful. Quin and I decided to go on another walk and would you believe it, as we walked out of the house it started to rain again!. We were troopers, though, got our umbrellas and walked anyhow.

Phil is becoming wonderfully domestic. He vacuums, cleans the litter box and does the dishes. When he isn't working he cooks dinner. He also takes Quin to and from daycare on those days when she needs to run around and I need to rest. I hope all this domesticity sticks around even after I am healed.

Less than a month now till the wedding!

Hello everyone,

I don't have a lot of energy these days, which is why I haven't written. Still, I wanted to let you all know that I am doing well on the road to recovery. It is 6-8 weeks from surgery (May 17) before I should see a significant gain in energy, decrease in pain, etc. But every day is a little better. During the surgery they crack open your sternum to get to the heart, so you have to be very careful afterward to let that bone reset & heal. It hurts when I sneeze, cough, laugh & hiccup. And what is worse, no big hugs, because the squeezing hurts--I miss that. I can't drive or lift anything over 10 pounds for those first 8 weeks and after 8 week I am still restricted to just 20 pounds for about half a year.

Quin and my mom came over to Seward after I got home from the hospital. We spent a week there and then we came over to Homer. We'll be here about a week and then Phil will come and get us. If it wasn't for my parents helping with Quin, I don't know what I would do. I can't pick her up and I need a lot of sleep, including long afternoon naps. It has been great having them to help with her. Everyday I walk, either outside, if it is nice, or just around the store. I am increasing my length of time and have a little more stamina everyday. It is getting a little easier getting in and out of bed and I am even now able to sleep on my side for a little bit.

Even after all this time I am still in shock that I actually had this surgery. I can hear the mechanical valve tick-tick-ticking away though, so I know that all is well and in the end it was good that the surgery happened when it did.

What a crazy year this has been. I am ready for the wedding and then all then no more life changing events (new child, new house, new heart) for many years to come.

~Cheers, Naomi

I'm free!

What a week I have had!

Last Friday (May 14) I was admitted to the hospital. I thought my cardiologist would think it was something significant, but that I would be out on pills for a while to relax the breathing. It astounded all of us just how drastically my aortic valve stenosis (thickening) went from mild to very severe (3 years for me, often 20-30 gradual years for everyone else.

Saturday night mom and dad flew up from Homer and picked up Quin. They then all drove in my car to Seward to pick up stuff for her and then they drove on to Homer. They have all been having a good time--she is still there & mom send me pictures every other day of what they have been doing.

After they left (last Saturday) around noon they took me for an angiogram to see if my heart was strong enough.

Technique

Access to the valve was gained through the right femoral artery, to look at the left side of the heart and the arterial system as well as pushed into the lungs. Using a system of guide wires and catheters (pushed up through that artery all the way though the cambers of the heart, a type of contrast agent (which shows up by absorbing the x-rays), is added to the blood to make it visible on the x-ray images. ~adapted for wikipedia

They found that everything looked good--strong heart muscles, clean veins & arteries. My aortic root above the valve was found to be enlarged (at least doubled in size) and they thought they might have to repair or replace that part as well.

Sunday I just had some x-rays and blood work done. The surgeon cam in several time to talk with me and show me the different types of valves. Because of my young age, we opted for the mechanical vale. It is wrapped w/carbon filament and is the most long lasting.

It has taken me 25 minutes just two write all of this so far--I am not on my own computer & am on pain killers.

Monday Phil showed up at 6:30 a.m. They took me at about 7:30 a.m. I remember entering the room and some gentle preparation--nothing more.

I woke up in the ICU. I had a breathing tube down my throat which was very uncomfortable and meant I couldn't talk. Phil was right there, looking down at me, squeezing my hand and being very reassuring,

I am finding it increasingly hard to type, so I will expand on this tomorrow. Just quickly, I was in the ICU 2 days, then the normal care unit for 4 days and was discharged yesterday. I am in lot of pain, as they cut though your sternum & it take a long time to fix that. Thank goodness for pain killers. I was discharged late afternoon Sunday. We are staying t the Hickel House (click on the link to see) until at least Tuesday to follow up with the surgeon. It is nice here. Finally today, after a week, I can take a shower and have no needles in me.

I am very grateful for the hospital staff, for my parents and to Phil who has been a friend and a help to his "patient".

I now have a big, new, red scar 9 inches down my chest and some smaller scars below from the drainage tubes and from where they pulled out the pacer wires (for a temporary external pacemaker). I gained about 18 pounds from surgery from all the fluids pumped in, so I am on medicine to get me to pee a lot to reduce the water swelling,

The wedding is still planned for July 9 in Homer.

Unexpected Heart Surgery

Well, I am in the hospital in Anchorage. I have had a hard time breathing lately and it turns out that my aortic valve which used to have mild stenosis(hardening) now has severe stenosis. The valve (which is bicuspid rather than tricuspid) is barely opening and blood is not pumping through well.

Today I am having an angiogram where they use a catheter to look at my heart and make sure I am good for surgery. After that I talk to the surgeon and should have open heart surgery on Monday or Tuesday. I still don't know if I will have a mechanical or tissue valve--probably mechanical will be recommended for me.

I should be in the hospital for 4-5 days. I am at Providence Hospital in Anchorage. My parents flew up today and got Quin, who will be staying with them in Homer for the next week or so. After I get out mom & Quin will come over and take care of me at home.

Phil is here with me now and will come back up for the surgery. He has to work a few days next week, but will come back up when he can and will be here when I get discharged.

You can call our house/Phil if you want more info/updates or email my parents at: dan@kachecab.com

I am a little scared, but know that this is a quality facility and I am being well cared for.

I hope to get to write more soon.

~Naomi

Finally moved

We are finally all done moving. Granted, our garage is now full of boxes that will probably take all summer to go through, but at least we are out of there and all the packing and carting is over.

It is a beautiful day today, which is great after we have had weeks of rain. Our yard is almost clear of snow. We have a great back yard, complete with a campground-like park setting with a picnic table and fire pit.

Tomorrow is Family Day! It was one year ago that we met Quin and became a family. The 8th grade is going on a field trip to Anchorage tomorrow and Quin is coming with us. We are going to the newly opened planetarium and to the zoo. It should be lots of fun. In the evening, if Phil doesn't get called in to work, we are going to go out to dinner for Chinese food and have a special celebration for just the three of us.

Even busier

Wow, I thought after adjusting back from break things would calm down--not the case. We are still moving--tomorrow we do a big push to get all the stuff out of the main part of the house. Phil is working tonight and I am working tomorrow day, so we are going to head over in the late afternoon and then work all night if need be--we are going to bed Quin down over there as we'll probably be there until late.

Phil's been sick since our trip. Quin came down with a fever on Friday, topping 103.5 on Saturday and I came down with a massive head cold on Sunday. I think we (at least Phil & I) would do with a long break and lots of sleep. Alas, I don't see that in my future for a long while.

I am way behind on updating pictures from the trip. Here are two pictures from the end of the trip. One is of Phil's sister Heather & Quin. The other is a picture of the elementary school Phil went to in Media, PA.

So amazingly busy!

Things are crazy here. We got the house! Two weekends ago my parents came over to help with a few handy-man issues. Last weekend some friends helped me move for a couple of hours. Thanks to them the furniture is almost all in.

Phil was/is sick & working, so hasn't moved anything yet. Quin and I have been living here for a week and loving it. It has been sunny, rainy, snowy.

This weekend my parents and brother are coming back over to help with a construction project. I spend every day bringing car loads to the house and finding all the new places for it.

Quin has a fever, so I just went up to the school to leave lesson plans so I can stay home and take care of her tomorrow.

I am so busy and could use a break! Luckily there are only 5 weeks of school left.

Guess what we are doing tonight--Phil's taxes! He is the biggest procrastinator ever!

I hope to post pictures soon--I just need to bring the camera to the new house.

~Naomi

We're home

We made it home--the flights were okay, albeit long.

It is snowing here--a light, wet snow that shouldn't amount to much. yet, we still have a LOT of snow on the ground.

We should get the keys to the new house tomorrow. Now I need to pack for the move as I am unpacking from the trip.

It was lovely to get to spend time with our family--I will write more later. For now, i am tired and am still adapting back to Alaska time.

St Louis, Day 1

We went to the St. Louis Science Museum today.

Phil saved and saved as a kid to get this exact model building kit now on display at the museum.
Quin likes dinosaurs, but was not quite sure how she felt about the life size exhibits. Here a large T-Rex is roaring and moving while a wounded tri-ceratops lays dying...(pic above, not below ;)
Quin and Uncle Bob check watch cars passing underneath the bridge overpass that connects the science center to the planetarium.
Quin catches her first sight (outside) of the dinosaurs we are there to see.

"Get up Baba!" Phil always wants 10 more minutes.

The family unit
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We are in St. Louis. We arrived around four yesterday. Phil's uncle Bob, who we came here to see, was at the airport to meet us. Last night was mainly spent getting settled--hotel check in, shopping for a coffee maker & car seat, dinner...

Quin was still feeling quite rough yesterday; lots of congestion and a horrible cough. Today she is doing considerably better. Phil and I are hoping to keep the cold at bay, although we both feeling it niggling a little bit.

We met Bob for breakfast this morning and then drove into town to the science center. It was VERY full of school kids, lots of class groups. We liked looking at the space exhibit and especially the animatronic dinosaurs. Afterwards we came back to the hotel and "caught up;" looking at pictures and videos, eating pizza take out and generally relaxing.

Tomorrow if it is nice we are going to go to the zoo. Quin really wants to see the elephants and giraffes. We also plan on going up the arch while we are here.

Today it was overcast in the morning, and then it cleared off and was clear and sunny, around 60 degrees. Tomorrow it is supposed to be around 70, while snow is expected for Sunday.

Arkansas, day 3

Everyone, but mama, gets to wear her new hat!

Quin isn't feeling well. She has a cough and is congested. Still, Quin is being smiley and has a good attitude.Today we met Tom and Judy for breakfast and then we all went to the Janet Huckabee (yes, that Huckabee) Arkansas River Valley Nature Center. There were a lot of interactive exhibits, including some live snakes, fish and turtles. There were also outside walking trails and we ambled around, enjoying the nice weather.

Arkansas, day 2

For her birthday Quin got a new nightgown from Grandma Judy and Grandpa Tom. She decided she wanted to wear it tonight--she is, as always, very cute.

Today we had breakfast out with Phil's dad and step mom, then we went to their house. In the afternoon we went to the Fort Smith/Trail of Tears National Park Historic site. It was a warm, sunny day and we enjoyed walking around the area, overlooking the river where the fort used to be. In the evening we all went to dinner, joined by Jennifer, Krysten and Bethany. Afterward we all went back to the house and Quin and Bethany colored together. I even got Phil to do a little yard work while we were there.

Phil and his dad look a lot alike, minus the age difference. They both love dark chocolate and coffee, have the same speech cadence, have a lot of similar behaviors, and both have a sweet, wonderful, giving woman in their life ;)

What a lovely day

Phil in the tunnels at Chucky Cheese
Quin's in a horse race

The pinball wizard!

Bethany and Quin dive right into Birthday cupcakes

Bethany and Quin enjoying the nice weather

What a lovely day we had yesterday.

Phil's dad & step mom met us at 10:30 to go to Chucky Cheese for Quin and Bethany's birthday party. Phil's dad, Tom, is married to Judy. Judy has a daughter named Jennifer. Jennifer and I have the EXACT same birthday, March 12, 1971. Jennifer has two daughters and a son. Her youngest daughter (about a 14 year age difference between the next youngest) is Bethany. Bethany and Quin share the SAME birthday, March 13! Bethany just turned three, while we all know Quin turned four.

So the whole family, along with Judy's son's family and a neighbor/family friend all went to Chucky Cheese. I haven't been to one since I was really little and all I remember are the somewhat creepy moving characters that played music, so I didn't know what to expect. Because we were there when it opened, there weren't a lot of people, which was nice. There was a little kids area and the girls had a fun time riding the moving horse, going down the slide, climbing through the tunnels and otherwise running around. I didn't know Phil is so good at pinball! I think he enjoyed playing that way more than he enjoyed crawling up and around in the kids tunnels--we both took our turn. Quin did not like the big characters--I tried to get her to stand by one, but she was not having it. I thought it was kind of funny that they freaked her out, only because they are a bit freaky and yet they are supposed to appeal to little kids.

Quin, Grandpa Tom (Phil's dad), Bethany and Phil's step-brother

After CC, we all went to Jennifer's for presents and cupcakes

Jennifer, Bethany, Quin and Brett (Phil's step-nephew)

and catching up. It was really neat to be with Phil's extended family. I was touched to watch Quin bond with everyone, especially Grandpa Tom and Grandma Judy. She is such a loving kid and it makes me happy how we all just felt like family so easily. Quin and I just met everyone, but it feels like we have been a part of the family for much longer. I love that Quin is able to see how many people love her and to get this sense of relatives and extended family.

We took a lot of photos, but Phil is sleeping and I can't find where he put the memory card with all the pictures on it, so I will have to wait to upload those later.

In the evening Phil, Quin and I went to Red Lobster for dinner. Phil and I would eat there every night. We both had lobster, which we agreed was not as good as Alaskan crab, but was none the less good. Quin had, by her choice, shrimp and steamed broccoli. There aren't any RL in Alaska, but I know they have lots for me to eat, since I don't like/eat farmed, chemically induced meat, so it was a treat for us.

Somehow I forgot to pack a jacket. I thought I was packing one for me and one for Quin, but instead I packed two for her and none for me. After dinner we went in search of one at Target (it took us a little driving around to find a store for clothes that was open at 8 on a Sunday night) and they didn't have any jackets. I don't really need one right now--it will be in the 60s today, but when we get to Ohio and especially Pennsylvania it will be cooler. I know I can find one at my sisters, I just thought I would look here. Phil has been cold in our room at night, mostly because he is always cold, but also because we had to turn off the fan that blows the heat into the bedroom because it has an awful high pitched whine that is hard to ignore when trying to sleep. We looked for an electric blanket at Target, but they didn't have those either--funny, in Alaska you can get both year round--I never thought there would be none at all here.

p.s. It looks like it is going to be a lovely day here. The sun is coming up, the sky is pretty clear and the breeze has died down. I talked to my mom in AK last night and it she said it snowed all day yesterday. I am definitely glad for a break.