Yosemite Trip 2/15-2/18/2008

2/14/2008 - Well, to start out for our trip to Yosemite , I cant wait to get there so Patrick and I set out on our journey finally get packed and out the door at Midnight. Weather was cold and clear. We make a gas stop in Bakersfield / White Ave.a new Chevron for us and Patrick gets a turn to drive . We continue on and make a driving switch outside of Fresno,Patrick was getting tired. Continuing on, we get to Oakhurst and get gas and up the road find a Station open and have a bathroom break (I needed one) Well we reach the Yosemite gate at 5:00a.m. We then drive on and hang around Tunnel View and take pictures and snacked a bit..Onward we go to camp/Yurt, around 7;00 a.m. Patrick has to register for school so we set up down by the lodge where there is Internet access. we meet the manager and he gets us the OK to check in early. Patrick has a 9:00 apt. for school registration and we the got to our Yurt and unloaded stuff. I stayed at camp and he went back to register. Later on we went and had lunch at the Ahwahnee (our favorite place).

After lunch we went hiking around the Ahwahnee meadow to take some pictures. Its starting to get late so we took off down the road to find the place to see Horsetail falls. This fall is special during a few weeks only in February the sun shines only on the water on El Capitan and it looks like fire/lava it is so cool. We headed back to camp tired and cold but having a great time.

2/16/2008 We woke up late ,tired from the trip. We were having trouble with the TV so the matance came buy to fix it. We didn't get down to the valley for a while because they stopped traffic to do road work. Boy that was a mess....Made if finally to Pizza at Curry Village. It seemed extra cold there because the sun was blocked by the mountains. After lunch we went to Yosemite Falls,and called Grandma. They were all fine . Toby was missing us. We went to the Visitor Center and Ansel Adams Gallery also.



We then headed down to the river to take more pictures of Horsetail falls. It was getting late so we headed back to camp for dinner and relaxation. So far we have seen a few new wild animals, a Bobcat and a Coyote, of course some deer and 2 racoon's.

2/17/2008 Up and ready to go back down for some exploring (shopping) Back down to the Valley we hit the dreaded traffic mess. We decide to park at Yosemite Lodge and grab some lunch. I had some pretty good chicken strips (Surprise). Rode the valley tram around and stopped at times to look for Patricks calender (never found one). We decided to check out the Ice Skating place at Curry Village . Looks nice. So we hopped the tram back to the car to get out better coats and stuff. Next session started at 3:30 we make it back OK, get our skates on. (For some insane reason I thought I could do this......SPLAT) So Patrick continued for the rest of the session while I froze and drank hot cocoa. We got back on the tram and headed back to Yosemite Lodge for dinner and warmth. We ate at Mountain Room we split a steak dinner, and I had a glass of wine. This was a really nice place. Enjoyed a lot.
Back at camp we watched a movie and got ready for the journey back home.

2/18/2008 Got packed up and headed back to reality..... The End.... Great Trip.

My DBS Surgery

5/15/2008 It all began at 6:00 am We got there for my surgery. Went to admitting and the lady checked us in. She gave me my papers and we went up to the 2nd floor pre-op and they put me in a gown and got me ready, Susan started an IV, Very easy one I was surprised. Then they let my Mom & Dad & Patrick in. We waited for awhile. Then every one came in and I do mean everyone. First Jennifer, and then the rest,all standing around me and me on the bed in the middle of the room. There was Dr. Fineman, my surgeon, Dr. Taylor PHD(the one that maps my brain.) The anesthesiologist, Dr.Bushnell,who was concerned about my blood pressure it was to high for his liking. He ran out of the room to get something for it. Then someone from ANS the company that makes the device. Dr. Lisk, my Neurologist,also assorted people that were outside the room that I don't no about,only so many people can fit in my room.


Then they had everyone leave (I think this is when they put the Halo on and put me to sleep because it was brought into my room and left at the end of the bed.) The next time I remember waking up in the OR and its on. Every one is talking and seeing to me. I hear Beatles music playing and they ask me to do some nose to finger tests to see how much stimulation to use. This takes a little while. I am then put back to sleep to put the IPG in my chest. The wake me up and take me to recovery. Laid there awhile the did a Accucheck to see how my blood sugars were. I kind of felt like my stomach had a bunch of gas,but then they took me to my room and I started to throw up. Not a good thing, down my gown. (Gross)My nurse got me cleaned up and the my Mom,Dad and Patrick got to come in. Later on I got to have Ice Chips made my mouth feel better. Somehow my tong got cut, that kinda was bothering me. That night my parents and Patrick stayed the night at the Oasis Hotel in the hospital it was nice to know they we all close by. Next day I finally got to eat,except it was a special diet...couldn't get bacon with my pancakes, I had also yogurt,peaches, hot tea, and a diet Sierra Mist, Jennifer came in with my programmer machine that turns me on and off if I need to,also Dr. Lisk and later Dr. Fineman. Some physical therapist came by and did some range of motion checks on my neck and took me for a walk in the hall. I finally got to sit in the recliner for awhile while they got my discharge papers ready. The nurse came in and undid the IV and I got dressed and gathered my family and headed out of there. Feeling ok, glad to be home. Patrick went and got my RX at Ben's and they had gotten me flowers (gorgeous, pink and peach roses, pink tulips some snapdragons and some white orchid ones) ....Very very nice....Made assorted calls, so the evening went. Feeling not tooooo bad the next day. Wednesday 21st I got the staples out of my head and neck...still steri strips on my chest incision. I will get to shower Friday. Jennifer gave me 2 more extra weeks before I need to go back to work...