What a difference a few weeks can make! I am my old self again, a self I had almost forgotten about, a self I ignored and allowed to fall by the wayside. 

We are in our own home now, our own space, and can do things our own way again. And people are noticing. My coworkers notice how I’m acting and the attitude change. Cowboy is noticing the difference and says his wife is back. Mini Cowboy has even noticed. 

What a difference a few weeks can make! 

Last post I spoke about SSS, Supportive Spouse Syndrome. The more I’m around my friends, the wife is my age, the husband is 15 years older, the more I’m positive that my beliefs are a dying ideal amongst my peers. The snide little comments, I feel, are very disrespectful. 

The comments about Cowboy not cooking or scrubbing floors bother me. I don’t comment on their relationship so why do they both feel the need to comment on mine? My personal opinion? And this is my blog so my opinion, in this space, is the one that matters. They are insecure in their relationship because they are obsessed with the household work being equal. She has forced him to be more of a woman than she is. 

She pointed out that Cowboy and I don’t argue so there must be something wrong with us. “He must be controlling and you are just mentally abused to the point that you don’t speak up.” That’s what was said to me. Because I don’t argue with my husband, especially in public. We don’t raise our voices to each other, we don’t swear at each other, we don’t call each other names or insult each other. Because I show him respect, I am apparently abused. 

That attitude sickens me. When a husband and wife respect each other enough to be kind to each other, the wife is mentally abused? How does that make sense? 

So I explained to this friend why we don’t fight and argue. We talk openly and honestly about everything. And I mean everything. We both have very strong opinions about things. But, we don’t feel the need to raise our voices or call one another names to get our point across. 

Sorry, I’m not abused, I just respect my husband. 

Wanted to express my congratulations to Cowboy’s cousin Randy. You deserve the Country Music Hall of Fame!

Little known fact, but Cowboy’s grandmother’s sister married Randy’s father’s brother (I think that’s the marriage), making them 3rd cousins. 

Congrats! 

Yes, I said Supportive Spouse Syndrome. It seems to be that way in today’s society. So many people my age seem to be in it for themselves only. Marriage is not “all about me” but, at least in my opinion, it is “all about us.” 

We have all heard the old adage that marriage is 50/50. But a very wise NCO once told me while I was enlisted that if each partner only gives 50%, then the marriage is doomed to fail. That makes sense. If I only had half of Cowboy, we would fail. If he only had half of me, we would fail. I couldn’t imagine holding half of myself back. 

This brings me back to my statement about SSS. I proudly have SSS. Unlike most people our age, Cowboy and I used traditional themes in our wedding vows. I vowed to love, honor, obey, support, and cherish. He vowed to love, honor, respect, support and cherish. I also vowed to follow his lead, trusting him to have the final say in domestic matters. He also vowed to listen to my views and make informed decisions that will not betray my trust in him. 

We both know the gravity of those vows, and how uncommon it is within our social circle to speak and, more importantly, live those words. While we may not be “religious” in the traditional sense, and we don’t hold to the Catholic faith I was raised in, we do have a very Biblical marriage. 

We recently had some tough times, and I was actually called stupid for not walking out on Cowboy and walking away from my marriage. How is that being supportive of my husband? I didn’t make my vows for only the good times, but also for the bad. Support and love don’t go away when times are tough. 

I take my vow to stand beside my husband at all times very seriously. For my part, I bolster his ego, not emasculate him or “kick him when he’s down,” my job, no my privilege, is to be there for him, his shoulder to cry on, the one person he can rely on when the world is beating him down. 

I’m proud to say my support of him has never wavered. I’m more in love with this man today than I was when we exchanged those vows almost 15 years ago. Following his lead has never led our relationship in the wrong direction and our marriage is happier than those of our friends, many of whom are on their second or third marriage. Holding the sanctity of our vows and the words said so near and dear has deepened our bond with each other and, in many ways, has strengthened our faith as well. 

Well, it is the end of the school year and time to catch up on all the happenings and summer plans. 

Mini had his 5th grade graduation this week where he got his promotion certificate and his ALPHA paperwork. We also have his ALPHA portfolio with everything he has done the entire time he was in the ALPHA program. Just looking through that, it is amazing to see how much he has grown over the last few years, academically. 

About 2 months ago, Mini and a friend found an abandoned box turtle outside in the street. So, we now have a box turtle. Mini has researched all he could about the turtle and has taken care of him, misting his habitat every morning, fluffing the stuff at the bottom of the bin he is in, helping to change the water, and keeping track of what he likes to eat and what he does not eat. We named him Tank after the turtle on MLP. 

Our summer plans are still being worked out. It is shaping up to be an exciting and fun summer! But, for now, Mini and I are working on some late spring cleaning and decluttering. I also have a few projects I’m working on, 3 different afghans and 2 quilts plus some small items. 

What does everyone have planned for summer? 

Well, earlier this week I had the follow-up test with the cardiologist. This was the trans esophageal echocardiogram. Basically, I was sedated and they put an echo wand down my throat to see my heart clearer, since the aorta rests on the esophagos. 

So, they do the test, looking at my heart. The next half hour will determine my medical future, if I need surgery or not. At this point, as they sedate me, I’m wondering why my blood pressure is not elevated because I’m worried. But those thoughts fly away as I start to see three of my cardiologist. 

The test goes well and the doctor gives me the results, but I have no idea what he is saying. Thankfully, Cowboy is in the other room and the doctor speaks to him. 

Later, Cowboy explains it to me. It turns out that the regergatation I thought I had was not the problem at all. It turns out I have a congential heart defect, meaning a defect present since birth. The defect is a Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV). This also causes Aortic Valve Stenosis. The stenosis means not enough blood cal flow through my aortic valve. This is, in my case, because it is a bicuspid valve. 



The normal valve is three leaflets. Mine is two. 



Because of the leaflet difference, my valve does not open all the way, so blood flow is compromised. In some patients the stenosis can be life threatening and require surgery. 



This is another graphic showing a bicuspid aortic valve. 

So much relief that I won’t need surgery for now, that I just have to watch symptoms and have an EKG and echo every year or two to keep an eye on the condition. 

When it is not severe, most people can go undiagnosed until they are in their 30’s. 

It has been almost a week since I have been home from the hospital. The health scare has prompted some changes here, and so far so good.
I was already planning to eat healthier, so I just started that now. I have replaced occasional breakfasts with a bowl of cereal or oatmeal a day, along with milk and fruit. Mid morning snack is fruit or granola bars. Lunch is usually a single serving salad or soup (single serving not the whole can lol). Mid afternoon snack is some kind of veggie or snack pack.
The most difficult thing has been dinner. Trying to find something balanced but with flavor that is filling. But I have been able to so far.
I’m going to start working in a light walk 3 days a week and maybe some light weight training 3 days a week with one day off.
Well, guess it’s time to get going.

Well, I have realized it is impossible to find a straight out 6 pointed star crochet pattern. I found a 6 into 24 point pattern and just removed the addition of the other points, since my BFF wants just the 6 pointed Star of David in the colors of the Israeli flag.
I initially wanted to work a Jacob’s Ladder into the points, just to add that little extra religious symbolism, but couldn’t find one that looked good.
I don’t usually make afghans “to order” like this, I will usually choose someone who I think would appreciate a hand made afghan and spend a year creating it, but J is a very special kid.
This is going to be a present for his bar mitzvah. I could not be more proud of this young man and the way he has developed into a sensitive, caring individual.

So, here it is so far. Every so often I will add an update on the progress as it gets bigger. Almost time to add a little blue!