Welcome to the year Two Thousand Two. The beginning of a new year, a time for new resolutions, a time to put the troublesome events of the past behind us.
January 1
While most of the world was busy recovering from the New Year's Eve festivities, Susan and I decided to get out and get some fresh air and exercise. We packed up the CR-V with some hiking necessities and headed for the great outdoors. We didn't know where we were going, but we were anxious to get there.
After driving for about an hour, we found ourselves heading East on I-90 towards Snoqualmie Pass. I was looking for a road that would take us to the old railroad trestle, but I didn't know where to find it. After passing an exit, I decided that I needed to get off that exit, so we got off the next exit and ventured back to the previous exit.
On a narrow gravel road, we found the entrance to Olallie State Park. The park had a trail that lead to Twin Falls. This piqued my interest, so we decided to give it a look. The trail was well maintained and rather easy, with a vertical rise of only a few hundred feet. Within an hour, we had reached both the lower and upper falls. What a pleasant and enjoyable way to start the new year.
After the hike, we decided it was too early to go home. We drove up to the pass and stopped at one of our favorite pancake restaurants. After lunch, we spent the rest of the afternoon driving around the three ski areas and enjoying the fresh snow. The cottages are very charming and inviting. Perhaps when I'm older and rolling in cash, I will buy one. Until then, I will be content driving through the neighborhoods, trying not to look like a trouble maker.
January 5
For Christmas this year, one of my presents was a set of hooks to hang bicycles; I guess my parents thought my garage was too cluttered. Feeling quite the handyman, I went to the shed and pulled out my drill and tape measure. A couple measurements, four quick holes, and plenty of arm twisting action later, I had the hooks in place. Within minutes I was able to free up 12 square feet of garage space. Now that's impressive.
January 12
We finally made to Tom & Lanna's house to celebrate Christmas.
January 20
Winter in Seattle means ski season to me. I met my friend Todd at the Bellevue Park & Ride and we headed up to Crystal Mountain Ski Resort. The weather was typical; gray and drizzly. When we arrived, the weather had turned worse. Visibility was very limited, so we spent the day skiing the lower slopes. Word from the top was gusting winds and blinding snow.
January 26
Susan and I have some friends who moved to Eastern Washington a few years ago. The Weeda's are nice folks, so we make an effort to go see them whenever we can, but its not often enough. This year, we scheduled the weekend of the 26'th to make the drive.
Normally, the drive across the pass in the winter is a slow process with lots of slow vehicles and poor visibility. This time was much the same, with one major exception; the sun was shining. After what seems like months of gray skies, when the sun illuminates the snow-laden trees, it is an amazing sight. It had snowed the night before our trip, so the mountains were freshly covered. Susan was able to snap a few photos while I was driving along.
Once we crossed the pass, we decided to make a pit stop in Ellensburg. When I got out of the CR-V to pump some gas, I was shocked and amazed at how much dirt and grime was on my car! The headlights were on, but you couldn't tell by looking at them. The front license plate was completely illegible. Susan and I spent at least five minutes washing the windows, lights, and mirrors.
After arriving in Ephrata, we decided to go to the store and pick up something for the house. On the way back, we drove passed a drive-through car wash. I should say we almost passed a car wash.
Sunday morning, the gals went to church and Eric and I stayed home. We had a project to complete. Eric had recently purchased a new computer system for his family, and I was more than willing to help him get it all set up. Being an electrician, Eric already had wires pulled to his room for hooking up a phone. He finished wiring it up while I started unpacking boxes. By the time the girls got home, the system was up and running, the Internet was connected, and they had test e-mail messages in their inbox.
The visit was short and sweet, but it was hard on Susan. The Weeda's have a cat. Susan is allergic to cat dander. Being proactive, we stopped at Sears the night before the trip and bought a Kenmore air filtration system and took it with us. Unfortunately, it was not enough. Susan left Ephrata with difficulty breathing.
January 31
Susan called me from work early in the afternoon to tell me that she wasn't feeling good and that she was going home. A few hours later, she called again from home. Her breathing was incredibly shallow and she could only say a few words at a time. She said that she was trembling violently and could not get warm. I asked her to take her temperature; it was 102ยบ F. I told her to call 911 and I told my carpool partner that I needed to head home right now.
On the way home, the Bothell Rescue Squad called me to report that Susan's heart rate was high and she had a fever, but otherwise she was in fine shape. They made arrangements with the hospital for her and mapped the directions for me (I haven't been to a hospital since I moved to Seattle in 1991). They told me that Susan preferred that I take her to the hospital. They told me this was OK, but asked me how long I would take to get home. When I arrived, they were waiting in the driveway. They filled me in on the latest details, then were on their way. Susan had packed all her medications and was ready to go the hospital.
Arriving at the hospital, we checked in, then waited to be processed. Luckily, Susan brought all of her prescription information, else filling out the paperwork would have been a nightmare. Once checked in, Susan was escorted to a room and the real processing began. She had six electrodes attached to various spots on her chest which were routed back to an electrocardiogram to monitor her pulse. She was fitted with a blood pressure cuff to monitor her blood pressure. She wore a finger device to monitor heart rate and blood oxygen level. An IV was inserted to increase her hydration level and to insert medications directly. She was fitted with oxygen tubes in her nostrils. And for good measure, they gave her a fast-acting asthma medication with a nebulizer.
After getting all wired and "comfortable", they came back and disconnected the wires from the sensors and took her to the X-ray room. In a few minutes, she was back and once again connected to the ECG. The doctor came in with the X-rays and gave us the news: Susan had pneumonia. It was plainly visible in her left lung; even I had no trouble making the diagnosis.
It was decided that she need to spend the night to allow her blood oxygen level to increase to normal levels. She was wheeled to a room in the "Green" section of the hospital. The emergency room was in the "Red" section, and I saw signs for every other color you can imagine. Needless to say, I was lost. The nurses got her moved into bed and showed her all the gadgetry available to entertain herself and call for help, if necessary. I finally decided to head home at 11:30pm.
See February 2002 for the rest of the story...
Posts
