Mark received some of the results from his 24 hour heart monitor..........
He experienced over 500 PVC's within the 24 hour period!!! He will have a follow up appointment with our doctor within the next couple of weeks. At that time they will discuss the results further, ie: whether or not certain activities or foods triggered him to experience the "extra beat" and what Mark can do to help regulate it. Mark and I have both read up on the disease and what we can do, but sadly there isn't much. Of course as with most health concerns a healthy diet along with exercise is a must, but otherwise beyond medication his heart will just continue on as is. The good news is that this doesn't necessarily mean he will be more likely to encounter heart disease, or that he will have to cut back on any physical activities. Mark swears that his heart is just skipping an extra beat for me :), but I'll take my chances and have the Doctor give us the final diagnosis!
Alicia
About Us
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Update on Mark
Just an update on Mark. Our Family Dr. wanted Mark to do the 24 hour heart monitor. So he scheduled the appointment and on Tuesday he headed to the hospital and got all hooked up. He was to go about is daily routine, and document what he did when, and if he was feeling any "extra beats". The results will be forwarded to our Dr., Mark has to make an appointment within the next couple of weeks to talk about the results. Obviously Mark was nervous about what was going on with his heart prior to going to the hospital, but when he arrived at the Cardiology wing to find all of the patient (beyond himself) to be MUCH older then him it scared him. He has been exercising, and eating healthier, and taking his vitamins. He is feeling a bit better, but we will know more once he gets his results back.
In other news with Mark, he won the match play (Golf) yesterday. This is his 2nd time winning it (out of 3) this year!!!!
He won some money, and of course the bragging rights that come along with winning!!!
Congrats Mark!
Alicia
In other news with Mark, he won the match play (Golf) yesterday. This is his 2nd time winning it (out of 3) this year!!!!
He won some money, and of course the bragging rights that come along with winning!!!
Congrats Mark!
Alicia
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Family Reunion
This past weekend was the 49th Anniversary Anderson Family Reunion (Mark's mothers side of the family). the party was hosted by Scott and Beth Anderson, and they did a wonderful job!
Saturday Morning we headed up to Kingsley, Michigan to the party. Not only was this an opportunity for me to meet some of Mark's family, I was surprised how many of them Mark was meeting for the first time. All three of us had a ton of fun! There was a pig roast, tons of delicious side dishes, and of course some Finnish favorites. The kids (and some of the adults) played Sack Toss, Ladder Ball, basketball and swam. the adults mostly sat around and talked. My favorite part of the reunion was listening to the older generation tell stories of their childhoods, laughing and reminiscing. We can learn so much from them, and it's fun to hear them talk about their memories! I especially enjoyed watching Mark's Grandpa sit and talk with his siblings, So many years of memories, whether good or bad, they are the memories that helped mold them into the people they are today. Family helps keep us grounded, and I think it is important to get together to remind us where we came from. I'm happy we decided to take the trip, it was well worth it!
Alicia
Saturday Morning we headed up to Kingsley, Michigan to the party. Not only was this an opportunity for me to meet some of Mark's family, I was surprised how many of them Mark was meeting for the first time. All three of us had a ton of fun! There was a pig roast, tons of delicious side dishes, and of course some Finnish favorites. The kids (and some of the adults) played Sack Toss, Ladder Ball, basketball and swam. the adults mostly sat around and talked. My favorite part of the reunion was listening to the older generation tell stories of their childhoods, laughing and reminiscing. We can learn so much from them, and it's fun to hear them talk about their memories! I especially enjoyed watching Mark's Grandpa sit and talk with his siblings, So many years of memories, whether good or bad, they are the memories that helped mold them into the people they are today. Family helps keep us grounded, and I think it is important to get together to remind us where we came from. I'm happy we decided to take the trip, it was well worth it!
In every conceivable manner, the family is the link to our past, and the bridge to our future.
Alicia
Thursday, August 13, 2009
The Extra Beat
Most of the day Monday Mark was feeling as if his heart would stop then jump start back up very rapidly. This feeling was happening most of the day. When we laid down to go to bed the feelings worsened. We decided to take him to the Emergency Room. After EKG's, Heart monitors, IV's, X-Rays and a few other tests the doctor concluded that Mark was suffering from PVC (Premature Ventricular Complexes) A cell in the bottom of his heart was making an extra beat, not painful, but very uncomfortable and of course worrisome. This is not something that Mark has recently developed, he's probably been living with it for quite some time, although something has triggered it to "act up". The symptoms can be triggered by lack of sleep, dehydration, stress, etc.
He had an appointment today with our Family doctor to further examine the causes, and diagnoses. He will have to go to the hospital for a 24 hour heart monitoring.
Although PVC isn't something that will kill you, the thought of him having something wrong with his heart is extremely frightening to us all! I guess all we can do is to keep monitoring it and live healthy lifestyles.
He had an appointment today with our Family doctor to further examine the causes, and diagnoses. He will have to go to the hospital for a 24 hour heart monitoring.
Although PVC isn't something that will kill you, the thought of him having something wrong with his heart is extremely frightening to us all! I guess all we can do is to keep monitoring it and live healthy lifestyles.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Moonlight Canoe Trip
So last week, I was looking online trying to find an new place to canoe. I had driven past this park / river in Ann Arbor a few months ago and made a note to myself to remember it. To my delight they had posted that they would have a moonlit canoe event going on that Saturday. It rained all day long, poured! We had decided that if it were to stop raining we were going to go out there. It did and so did we (Bryce ended up ditching us so that he could have a sleep over at his cousins). I had never been to Gallup Park before, and was really impressed. It was clean, and beautiful! Lots of areas to fish, obviously Canoe, just sit and watch the water, a beautiful garden area. Mark and I walked the trails for about an hour, and to our disappointment the moonlit canoe trip had been cancelled due to the weather. Although we were bummed about the cancellation, we had decided that we were just happy that we had taken the time to check it out. there are so many beautiful places that God has created for all to enjoy. While walking the trail along the water I felt peaceful, relaxed, happy. The night ended up being a romantic walk with my hubby amongst the trees, plants and water! Just what I needed.
There will be another evening canoe trip on September 19th, the "Fall Equinox Bonfire & Canoe"
We will definitely be attending that event, and I am looking forward to the many memories we will create at this beautiful park!
Alicia
There will be another evening canoe trip on September 19th, the "Fall Equinox Bonfire & Canoe"
We will definitely be attending that event, and I am looking forward to the many memories we will create at this beautiful park!
Keep your sense of proportion by regularly, preferably daily,
visiting the natural world.
- Catlin Matthews
Alicia
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The Joy of Sharing a Book
Bryce read the book Coraline this year, and has requested that I also read it so we can discuss it! (so cute!!!) Beyond me reading book upon book to Bryce when he was younger, we have never shared in reading the same book. It was fun, and I will definitely be looking for other books that will entertaining us both! Anyway, I have about 15 more pages to read, I'll finish it after dinner this evening and then Bryce and I will rent the movie. I have to say, when the movie came out it seemed quite strange to me, not something I planned on seeing. But the book is pretty good, don't get me wrong, it is a strange story, but I'm excited to watch the movie tonight.
Alicia
“The greatest gift is a passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.”
-Elizabeth Hardwick
Alicia
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Eyes Have It
It's been awhile since I have written.
Bryce had his yearly eye exam with his pediatric ophthalmologist last week. He had to have surgery on his eyes when he was 4. I can't remember the exact name for what he had, but it was similar to a lazy eye, except what he had deteriorated his vision. His eye muscles were weak, and his left eye had always been the worst. A few years after the surgery, his vision was 20/20 and he no longer had to wear his glasses! (he had been wearing then since he was 15 months). About a year ago during an eye exam through the school, they discovered that his muscles were again weak, and that the vision in his left eye was once again getting bad. I made an appointment for him, and we were told that the vision in his right eye was better than 20/20, but the vision in his left eye was quite bad. Bryce never knew his eye wasn't working correctly, because his brain had totally shut off usage of that eye to compensate for the lack of sight, and he was relying solely on his right eye..... which explained the lack of depth perception that Mark and I suspected Bryce had. Anyway, the appointment went great! With the use of glasses or a contact (that's right.... just one) the muscles have strengthened. He can now see a regular optometrist.
Bryce's health is our number one concern, he has always been a healthy child. I feel that we have some sort of control over his health by the foods that he eats, or does not eat for that matter, the exercise he gets and definitely by the amount of sleep he gets each night. But the health of his eyes scares me, I feel as if I have less control, and vision is such a vital sense! His doctor has been amazing and he really helps put us at ease with the situation. I'm a little sad that in the future we will have to rely on someone else for advice, guidance, and diagnosis. When we walked out of the office, I almost felt as if a chapter was closing in our life.
Alicia
Bryce had his yearly eye exam with his pediatric ophthalmologist last week. He had to have surgery on his eyes when he was 4. I can't remember the exact name for what he had, but it was similar to a lazy eye, except what he had deteriorated his vision. His eye muscles were weak, and his left eye had always been the worst. A few years after the surgery, his vision was 20/20 and he no longer had to wear his glasses! (he had been wearing then since he was 15 months). About a year ago during an eye exam through the school, they discovered that his muscles were again weak, and that the vision in his left eye was once again getting bad. I made an appointment for him, and we were told that the vision in his right eye was better than 20/20, but the vision in his left eye was quite bad. Bryce never knew his eye wasn't working correctly, because his brain had totally shut off usage of that eye to compensate for the lack of sight, and he was relying solely on his right eye..... which explained the lack of depth perception that Mark and I suspected Bryce had. Anyway, the appointment went great! With the use of glasses or a contact (that's right.... just one) the muscles have strengthened. He can now see a regular optometrist.
Bryce's health is our number one concern, he has always been a healthy child. I feel that we have some sort of control over his health by the foods that he eats, or does not eat for that matter, the exercise he gets and definitely by the amount of sleep he gets each night. But the health of his eyes scares me, I feel as if I have less control, and vision is such a vital sense! His doctor has been amazing and he really helps put us at ease with the situation. I'm a little sad that in the future we will have to rely on someone else for advice, guidance, and diagnosis. When we walked out of the office, I almost felt as if a chapter was closing in our life.
Alicia
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