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

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!

In every conceivable manner, the family is the link to our past, and the bridge to our future.

Alicia

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.

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!

Keep your sense of proportion by regularly, preferably daily,

visiting the natural world.

- Catlin Matthews

Alicia