. . . & Visits with Friends
Sunday, July 9
For July 8 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.12. Events: 1 CSR, 6 H, 5 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 2 min with (max = 19 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, no events <88% with overall avg., 93.0%. Pulse avg. 53.3, low 49
For breakfast I had a couple cups of coffee and a late brunch.
My left eye has been cloudy most of the day. Guess I’m going to have to schedule my laser “operation.” Wednesdays & Fridays are the only days Dr. Li does these procedures (and in their office, not the hospital), but John has to drive me in for it). I’m busy so only want to have it on a Friday. Don’t want it a Wednesday because of conflict playing at the Food Bank and then an exercise period at the Senior Center, following.
Monday, July 10
For July 9 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.42. Events: 7 H, 9 PP, 10 RERA. Time on 4 hrs 56 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, no events <88% with overall avg., 93.9%. Pulse avg. 52.0, low 50.
Details of the Children of Chernobyl program appear on the web at Children
All aspects of the visit are outlined in this link, including the description of activities, funding, and even the application for the program by students in Belarus.
Information about the number of girls hosted since 2000 by Helga & Charlie Firkins, our local friends, is not published there on the above link, but Cec Calhoun told me it was 27 including this year’s two, who came to our “orchard” tonight to pick cherries: Rainier, Queen Anne, and Bing. She sent me the link above and permission to publish it here, along with the collage photos included without the girl’s names.
Photo collages of our evening follow. I’m sending these collages and more photos to the girls. They plan to exchange their photos they took on their phones, cameras, & I-pad, I-pods. I’m not allowed to put in their names for posting on the Internet. I don’t even know their last names.
The Program’s founding purpose was to bring Belorussian teens to Ellensburg for a health respite, where they enjoy a 5-week stay with local host families. Health needs are provided for by the community medical professionals.
In 2000, a decision was made to host teenagers aged 14-16 and add an educational component to the existing health program; the Association of WA Business had a long-established Washington Business Week program for high school age students at Central Washington University. This program was an educational opportunity given to the Belorussian young people. This year is the first year they are not offering it at CWU, but rather at Gonzaga University, Seattle University, and Pacific Lutheran University. Students will stay on campus at one of these places as they did here at CWU; not with host families.
These photo collages have also been approved by Cec Calhoun, for use in this blog.
Gals picking cherries at Hultquist’s from branches John sawed off the trees.
Gals picking and posing with John and the Firkins with boxes of cherries they picked and took home, and took selfies with. 
Folks picking (left photo) while last year’s fawns watch and wait for a branch (on the right).
John cutting branches from a cherry tree.
Earlier in the morning, I had a painful experience in an echo cardiogram at the Yakima Heart Center. I have successfully and painlessly had them since 2003. Much of the test imaging is taken with my lying on my left shoulder with my elbow up. That is now extremely painful on the range of motion with my shoulder’s severe arthritic features of bone on bone, bone spurs, and bone cysts. Part-way through, the technician showed me the image of the bottom of my heart she was getting. By giving me a few cc’s of a Contrast liquid in my other arm, she was able to view and record a better image of the bottom of my heart. She showed me the difference of the image after the contrast made it to my heart in 30 seconds. I had to sign acceptance for inserting the IV contrast. Normally, about 88 images are taken for the cardiologist’s review. She took 123 images of my heart today.
Tuesday, July 11
These parameters are correct for Monday, July 10. AHI=0.80. Events: 5H, 1 PP, 17 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 16 min with (max = 12 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, no events <88% with overall avg., 93.9%. Pulse avg. 52.1, low 50.
The only thing that really happened today of significance was returning to a new class at the AAC of exercise with a lot of walking and movements stretching. It is quite like Jazzercise, but we cannot officially call it that any longer. Now it is just called fun-exercise, and lasts for 45 minutes.
Wednesday, July 12 Our Wedding Anniversary
For July 11 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.12. Events: 5 H, 5 PP, 10 RERA. Time on 4 hrs 29 min with (max = 14 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 90, no events <88% with overall avg., 94.3%. Pulse avg. 52.6, low 50.
Called Gloria about picking her up today to go with me to music at the Food Bank and SAIL class at the AAC. She has stopped driving because her daughter took her keys and is selling her car. She says too many older folks are having accidents driving and they are being blamed on old age.
Nancy & John at White Heron. [An older photo, because we didn’t go anyplace picturesque for the 48th.] We go to this spot each year to celebrate my birthday at a dinner with a band. And, this is the location John visits every spring to prune wine grapes.
Today, we wonder where all the years went. Kinda amazing we have been good friends since 1965, after we first met and went through grad school at Cincinnati, OH. Cincy will always have a special place in our memories. But today, we remember the day when we were married in Atlanta, GA. We drove off in Fordi, my 1935 Ford, and stayed at the Bridal Suite at Stone Mountain, GA.
We are going to dinner at a fun restaurant, the Palace Cafe, where they give us ONE free dinner in honor of our anniversary within the month of July. We are going with friends from Ellensburg, and celebrating today, and again with friends from Michigan, this Friday’s lunch at Rodeo City BBQ, an Ellensburg favorite.
John fixed shrimp for me to take to my Food Bank lunch today. I cut a hard-boiled egg and had cherries to go with it. That way I do not have to eat the main offerings (two different pastas with garlic bread and dessert). Last week they served a cup of fruit, I can eat.
Thursday, July 13
For July 12 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.16. Events: 1 H, 22 RERA. Oximetry: SpO2 low 92, NO events <88% with overall avg., 94.4%. Pulse avg. 53.2, low 50.
Lunch was leftover salad plus tomatoes, ham, another hard-boiled egg, and fresh cherries.
Afternoon I went to play music at the Meadows Place.
Same for supper, only added another egg, grapes, cauliflower, salmon and mixed nuts.
Friday, July 14
For July 13 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.37. Events: 2 CSR, 2 H , 1 OA, 10 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 18 min with (max = 20 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, NO events <88% with overall avg., 92,2%. Pulse avg. 53.4, low 49.
Fred, Ann, wooden disheveled ranch hand, Nancy in Ellensburg Rodeo hat and rodeo shirt, and John in the Rodeo Room.
We met Ann and Fred Joyal at Rodeo City BBQ for sandwiches.
Fred and Ann each had Pulled Pork, John had Beef Brisket, and I had Tri-Tip Beef slices without any bread. They no longer carry a side of Brunswick stew as they did in 1994 when they opened Rodeo City BBQ, and did not have a side of baked beans as a side, so I ordered a green salad that supposedly was made with Iceberg lettuce, Romaine lettuce, carrots, and red cabbage. I should have requested them ONLY to use Iceberg lettuce because the mixture came with only perhaps 3 small pieces of Iceberg and all green leaves were dark green of Romaine. I cannot have Romaine because of the high Vitamin K conflict with Coumadin. So, when the waitress asked if everything was okay, I asked if she could just bring me the green salad part as Iceberg. I had told her when she was taking our order. Right away, she said, how about I bring you another complete side, suggesting potato salad, (I cannot have), French fries (I cannot have); she ended up offering Cole Slaw, and that’s what I had.
Their Normal Sides include:
Baked Beans (none available today)
Cole Slaw
Potato Salad
Macaroni Salad
Cottage Cheese
Baked Potato
Green Salad
Natural Cut Fries
Sweet Potato Fries (I could eat yams)
Cornbread Muffins
Dinner Rolls
Saturday, July 15
For July 14 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.62. Events: 1 CSR, 3 H , 14 RERA. Time on 4 hrs 50 min with (max = 6 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, NO events <88% with overall avg., 93. 1%. Pulse avg. 53.7, low 50.
I went to play music at Briarwood. I took 2 gallons of cleaned Cherries to contribute to the offerings of a late lunch. I ate all fruit and drank lemonade. Mostly, I had some of our cherries. We had a good crowd of players and in the audience. Some folks carried cherries away and the rest were left for folks that wander into the Commons Area.
John went grocery shopping, and got gasoline, and returned for some of the songs – and a bit of the food.
We enjoyed the participation of the visitors from Belarus, their chaperone, and the sister of one of the students, now living in CA, up for a visit; and their hosts, Helga & Charlie (who plays 12-string guitar in our music group).
Sunday, July 16
For July 15 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.00. Events: no H , 16 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 2 min with (max = 15 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 85 (its lower when off CPAP), 7 events <88% with overall avg., 93.8%. Pulse avg. 53.5, low 53. Only on CPAP first 5 hr but slept with Oximeter on for another 3 more hours after John left at 5:25 a.m.
John left at 5:25 a.m. for the trip to Mt. Rainier (to go with Bill Weir in his truck).
Breakfast: piece of leftover omelet from last night with sausage and cheese in it. I had this with prunes, banana, and cherries.
John got home about 6:30 and made us dinner: brown rice, raw cauliflower, cooked ham, mushrooms, and onions. We also had a side dish of fried yellow squash from the garden. I skipped the pecan pie for dessert, and had mixed nuts, instead.
Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan