5C's Que Pasa

For about 10 minutes yesterday she was having surgery this morning but after three heart specialists had a consult, it was changed to this Wednesday morning, we think!! She is currently being treated to remove fluids from her heart and lungs and they want to remove as much as possible before the surgery.

I found all this out about 10 minutes before a party I was hosting yesterday.  Details of the great party coming soon.

Meanwhile this is going to be a much bigger surgery than I anticipated, at least 6 hours.  It is going to be the traditional open – heart surgery complete with opening the chest wall and the use of a heart – lung bypass machine.

I am unable to get a flight out of Mazatlan till Wed. the 21st, the day of surgery.  I am torn, is it better to say here and be on the phone with family at the hospital or to be in the air flying and get there when it is all over?

UPDATE AT 5:30PM  MST

After 4 hours on the computer I have booked a flight to Edmonton arriving at 9PM local time tomorrow.  I have obtained permission from the hospital to see her before surgery.  Leaving on a jet plane at 11AM Mazatlan time…….

7:15PM UPDATE

crying & crying…surgery has been advanced to 11AM TOMORROW…..will not see my Mom before surgery…so now do I go or NOT….just had a 30 minute goodbye chat with Mom…..have to decide what to do next…..

9:00PM UPDATE

…70% packed & ready to go….have spoken to Mom, Dad, sister & brother as well as the hospital……seems I am the only one who knows that surgery may be as early as 10AM!!!!!!!!!

Going to bed now, up early, will call hospital in AM & hope for surgery confirmation, if not we will drive 2 hours to the airport and check again…..then decide what to do…..

I have said my goodbyes tonight…..the main purpose in going is to see my mom before surgery….I am still so torn as to what to do…but it is not logical to travel back to Canada if she is already in surgery……

…..PRAYERS PLEASE………..

…also please no snow….I don’t have any closed toe shoes, just sandals!

Tags: emergency, Family, medical

..for Christmas!  I wonder if Santa will find us here?

I had no idea what I was going to do with these when I purchased them in Arizona.

Too tired to go to bed!

Looks like we are ready....anytime Santa.

No news yet today on my Mom.  I will update when I hear something.

Tags: Christmas, Tres Amigos RV Park

A few days ago an RV pulled into our park.  They are new RVers as well as new travellers to Mexico.  Turns out that  the fellow worked with my dad’s only brother in Drumheller, Alberta.

Bruce & Julie knew both my Uncle & Aunt, they also think they have met my dad.

The are driving a small Class C and no tow car so we took them for a wee tour of the Isla, followed by happy hour at sunset. They are likely here only 3 nights but you just never know.

Earlier in the day yesterday I was working in my garden when I received a big hello.

Margaret & her husband Tony ( who never got into a shot ) are here in Mazatlan for three weeks, staying in a condo. They are taking a vacation from their 5th wheel in Palm Springs!! What makes their visit so unique is that they had no idea we were here and only found us because they recognized our unique paint job on the RV.

Even more unique is that they live in our RV park, Holiday Park Resort in Kelowna, B.C. They happened to have booked a day trip to Stone Island and just found us! That is the two of them trying out a kayak. We have offered them the use of our two kayaks on Duck Lake when we all return in the spring!

It was a very busy morning with Tony & Margaret and then the late afternoon with Bruce & Julie.

I called my parents in Edmonton to let them know about Bruce & Uncle Andy.  It was just too much for Dad to take in.  He knew who Bruce was, but Dad was somewhat distraught.  Mom had been taken to Emergency just a few hours earlier.  Despite taking 9 diuretics per day, her legs were overly swollen.  She was finally admitted to have the fluid drained.

We have had  sporadic internet connection today hence the delay in my post plus I have been awaiting news from Edmonton.  As of 2 hours ago she was still in hospital.  We are all hoping that they will keep her there and do the heart surgery on Monday.  The only reason she has not yet had the surgery was because of beds in CCU but in my mind she is already in the hospital so please keep her there and fix her!!!

I will keep you updated, later today.

UPDATE…..Mom is still in hospital & has seen another heart specialist who thinks she is actaully in worse shape than previously thought.  More tests have been ordered & then decisions will be made.  She is in the University Hospital in the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, the best place for her to be right now.

Tags: emergency, Family, friends, Holiday Park, Kelowna, medical, Stone Island, Tres Amigos RV Park

Almost too many activities to chose from, last Tuesday we had a choice of two parties, we stayed home.  We had already made plans for last evening so had to miss the big open house party here at Tres Amigos.  But we have been here almost six weeks and had not yet had a night out on the town.

We got on the panga about 5PM, there was a bit of a breeze. Our driver made sure he was protected. He teased us about being Canadians, Colin was in shorts and no jacket.

The pulmonias ( open air taxis ) move fast so we did put on a layer of clothing.

We were stopped for traffic just before the mercado, always a busy place. The view to the right.

...and the view directly across where we sat to the left. A mix of upscale and basic merchandizing.

A quick, no not really, trip to a fabric shop. First you have to chose from hundreds upon hundreds of fabrics, then wait in line for a salesperson to cut the fabric and give you a receipt. Then you go to another line to pay the amount on your receipt where you are given a stamped receipt that you take over to yet another line. Finally it is your turn, you are now able to exchange your receipt for your piece of fabric. Quite the process, time consuming but efficient in a certain way. Can you see me waiting patiently in line?

When we finally exit the store it is dark and we have 15 minutes to get to Paul & Nancy’s home.  Thirty five minutes later I call and admit I have taken a wrong turn!!  Colin kept saying just take a pulmonia and I said no, they are just around the corner.  I neglected to find the right corner.  Paul said go right for 4 blocks, almost 7 blocks later we got there.  They have a beautiful home that they have worked on for 4 years, it truly is spectacular, in fact we were so impressed that we took no photos.  Next time we will.  After a much needed glass of vino and some appies we walked back to the Plazuela Machado for dinner.

A new restaurant, called La Bohemia opened about a year ago. The inside is part of a ruin.

The tree goes right through the ceiling. In fact part of the ceiling is open to the night skies. Must be lovely during a full moon!

We chose to sit outside where we could watch people passing and listen to some interesting music. I have to say that I was floored when the first few pieces where French songs!!

As you can see I still talk with my hands. Don't you just love the lights. You can't watch the video, this is just a screen shot.

The time passed so quickly.  Nancy is a very well known blogger on all things Mexico.  Checkout out her blog sometime.  She also runs a very interesting forum, Mazatlan Exchange Forum, where you should be able to find out anything you ever need to know.  We had a wonderful time and can hardly wait for the next night out!

Tags: friends, Mazatlan, Tres Amigos RV Park, vino

…my Mom was born.

Laurette Evelina D'Aoust. Photo taken 18 months ago by Colin @ my Dad's 80th.

She has taught me so much but most importantly my love of music.  I grew up listening to all types of music from jazz to opera.  We always went to the symphony as a family and the rest of us would watch Mom act & sing in the Edmonton Opera performances.  My love for the theatre grew from that.

I am certain my love of gardening came from her also.   I remember following her around the garden learning the names of various flowers and trees.  For certain my love of being on a beach stems back to our summers at Seba Beach.

My favorite time of year is Christmas and most especially for my love of French Christmas carols.  Christmas means all things French to me.  Je t’aime Maman!  Merci pour tout.

Right now my Mom is awaiting a phone call.  The one that will let her know she will live at least another 15 years.  She is at the top of the list in Edmonton for open heart surgery.  She needs a new heart valve, serious surgery yes but life saving!!

Happy 80TH Mom, hope that today is the day you get the call!

Tags: Family, health