Disappearing Act!

Hopefully I haven't lost all my readers this week by being MIA. Sometimes life gets in the way of stamping! What is up with that? :)

The last week hasn't exactly been what I expected. I fully expected to post my blog candy in a picture, and also post the winner on Tuesday. But unforeseen events have kept me hopping this week and trying to catch up!

Last Saturday we had a big party here. It's an annual event, and one that is so easy to do, as we have been doing it for 16 years. My husband teaches Philosophy at the University here, and each spring, we have a cookout picnic for the students in the department. All the wives of the professors make something (we do the same thing every year so we don't even call to see who brings what anymore!), one professor provides the meat, another all the drinks, another the paper goods, and another the lawn chairs! It is a great system and we have it down pat. We always pray for good weather as 40-60 people gets a little crowded inside! But we have done it a couple of years when it has rained. We had perfect picnic weather this past Saturday, despite a Friday of cold, high winds and rain! Saturday brought sunshine and calm, and my crabapple trees cooperated and kept their beautiful blossoms for the day (they are now in the leaf stage - no more pink!).

The party started at 6 p.m. and was winding up around 10:30, with the last couple walking to their car around 10:40. Before they had even pulled out, I had my DH in our van and on the way to the ER. Just as the last couple was leaving he began having classic heart attack symptoms: pain in his chest, tingling and pain in his left arm, shortness of breath and a gray face! He had felt great all evening. My husband is one of the healthiest people I know -- he is almost the same weight as in high school, exercises every day, has low cholesterol, and the stamina and strength of an ox! But I didn't even hesitate for 2 seconds. We live less than 2 minutes from the hospital and I knew that if he could walk to the van, I could get him there quicker than calling an ambulance.

To make a REALLY long story shorter (or longer??) -- we got into the ER right away, they shot nitro under his tongue and he began to feel better right away. He thought he would be going home then (typical male patient.....lol) but I knew that would not be the case, as it was midnight and they would want to know what was causing the pain. Next day brought a heart cath, an EKG, a CAT scan and numerous blood tests. His cardiologist (whom I loved) came to see me in the waiting room after the heart cath and said he wished he had arteries that looked as good as DH's! So we knew there was no blockage, and I really didn't expect any, although you never know. So with all of the tests coming back clean as a whistle, they determined that he had pericarditis, which simulates heart attack symptoms, as it is the inflammation of the lining around the heart. It is caused by a virus - the same one that produces pleurisy in the lungs (which I have had twice and it hurts!) -- no known reason for getting the virus -- lots of possibilities. It can be very serious, and even life threatening if not caught quickly. After one day of antibiotics, he was back to normal - tired, but raring to go! He was discharged Monday night and Tuesday was back at work. I was trying to do catch up (and still am) for those days, but I am so thankful that it was something easily fixable and not cardiac intervention.

So -- I didn't get around to posting anything much during that time, and today is the first chance I have had to explain my disappearing act. I was able to post the last clue as I knew many were waiting for it, but it was a quick one!

This morning I find out that a tornado swept through my son's college town (kind of odd for NC, I think!) last night, so am waiting to hear from him. I am sure he is okay - he called last night to tell me he was outside watching..... BOYS AND MEN!!! SHEESH!

So thank you again to all who played in the Hunt. I will post a picture and the winner later today. And I hope to be able to stamp something, as it has been over a week! Thank you especially to those that sent emails, and were checking up on me! I so appreciated that, even though I haven't yet responded.

I hope you have an UNEVENTFUL day!! :)