Dear Ones,
Off to bed now but a day of recovery. Two walks to the park with Jerry and the puppies, great meals by Clayton, several hours at the computer working and finally a pain pill after the hours working caught up with me with pain.
Nice times with my Moon today, she is feeling much better and gaining health again, right now interviewing lawyers who will help her make her case to immigration presenting her side to the past 5 years.
She is taking time to interview lawyers who speak Chinese and can translate her rendering of the past 5 years from her perfect Chinese into perfect English for immigration to read and understand from her point of view. She is bravely moving from lawyer office to office searching for the right connection. My prayers are with her day and night as she does this thing that must be done, she must get her side of everything on the record in clear English, this is tough stuff to deal with and I admire her courage in doing it.
Tomorrow morning I see Dr. Hand, my precious Cardiologist. This good man is the one that triggered my heart surgery and I owe him my life, that's the way I feel about it. It will be good to be back with him to double check everything that is taking place now.
I'm much better, stronger and just can't wait to drive again, to work freely again though right now I'm not strong enough to do it by myself yet.
I'm thankful to be alive and I value my precious family and friends very much.
Love you all
Tim
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Monday, August 29, 2016
Monday update
Two walks to the park today, the first one I did by myself and the second was with Jerry and his two little doggies. Clayton put a new cat box together so the kiddies can poop in style, the last one lasted about14 years and as a gift from Pam.
Jerry and I worked on the front door attempting to installed the new keyless entry system that Steve gave me for Christmas 2 years ago. We made some progress, Jerry is a pretty amazing worker.
Clayton has continues to impress with great meals and keeping me taking my pills on time.
I've made it today without any pain pills and I do feel stronger tonight that before. The chest pains are tough to cope with and coughing or laughing is bad.
This evening we had Chinese food in Brentwood and that turned out really nice.
Now its almost time for bed, I'm ready, I do get tired quickly right now.
I'm very thankful for my family which includes Moon in Houston, she is better today and cleaning up her house after being ill for 3 days.
Love to all
Tim
Jerry and I worked on the front door attempting to installed the new keyless entry system that Steve gave me for Christmas 2 years ago. We made some progress, Jerry is a pretty amazing worker.
Clayton has continues to impress with great meals and keeping me taking my pills on time.
I've made it today without any pain pills and I do feel stronger tonight that before. The chest pains are tough to cope with and coughing or laughing is bad.
This evening we had Chinese food in Brentwood and that turned out really nice.
Now its almost time for bed, I'm ready, I do get tired quickly right now.
I'm very thankful for my family which includes Moon in Houston, she is better today and cleaning up her house after being ill for 3 days.
Love to all
Tim
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Post Surgery
Good evening,
Its been quite an experience for me to go from a intense day of work last Sunday the 14th in which I wrote and delivered 11 appraisals, oh yes many given excellent help by Jessy who performed so well last week.
Nikki and I drove to Keary SF and arrive at 4:45 on Monday morning, 30 minutes early. I had slept from 9 pm until 2:45 and was in a state of unbelief and terror. I had no clear mandate that I would wake from the surgery, I mean the odds are good and to not do the surgery would relegate my life to a constant flirtation with blood clots and heart failure.
So I did what I've done many times before, when faced with stark reality I just walk forward trusting that a loving and forgiving God knows what is best for the next chapter.
Jason walked up just as Nikki and I were walking to the hospital admitting. We three faced it with humor, terror and a hope that there would be more yet to come for Tim Mustard, that Tim and Moon would become a happy couple in the future, that I would wake from surgery to life.
I did wake to life and to a passage of needles, tubes, kind Philipino support staff and a little room that resembled motel 6, by afternoon I was up sitting in a chair for a couple hours, by evening I was walking down the hall, the entire night was filled with bright lights, shouts, yells and unreality, my phone had disappeared, when found it was dead, Nikki had to leave but Jason was there and I had no idea of what was taking place other than intense pain in my chest, tubes draining blood, offers of food, noise....
Gradually faces emerged, kind and loving faces, shots, blood draws, temperature swipes intense pain from a hospital bed I could not control. BUT I was alive and everyone said the surgery was a huge success.
Whenever someone suggested I could walk I would just say yes and I found that could walk fast with no shortness of breath, no dizziness, no problem other than my bottom totally exposed to others in the hallway, soon you don't care.
There was anger from the staff, I was not to try to sit up, stand up, take a step on my own, I had to ask every time and if I did not then their feelings were hurt badly.
Soon I could manage my phone, could text and talk to Moon for a few minutes so she know we were good for the future and she prayed so hard and was so positive, I won't forget her faithfulness day and night. Friends called, sometimes I could answer the phone or the texts, work people called and I ignored, I had nothing to offer.
BUT I was overwhelmed with just one fact! I was alive and that continues to be the overriding fact that thrills my heart. I am not only a survivor but I am really alive, strong, healthy and every day, every hour is better, yes I hurt like hell part of the time, after all someone took a skill saw to my chest and cut it open then wired it shut with titanium wire coils, I've learned to appreciate dedicated health pros who really do care in spite of a crazy system and paperwork deeper than an elephants eye.
Saturday was full of questions, would I be allowed to get into Jo and Jason's van and be driven home or not, differences of opinion between doctors about a possible infection kept us in limbo but I did leave and we made it home. Jason, Clayton, Mia, Timothy and Jo gave me a very enjoyable trip home through impossible traffic. I walked in to Jerry and a super clean house, I'd had it cleaned during the week and its perfect.
Clayton and Jerry watch over me carefully, keep track of meds, great meals, rest time, my showers and keep it real, we walk every day, we drive to Safeway, we fix things, we enjoy Jerry's puppies and clayton has everything working well on the TV.
But my family and friends, I am so grateful to a loving and powerful God, He has granted me an extension of my life, I am alive.
Tomorrow I'll do my first appraisal with Jerry at my side and we will gradually start the process o starting to work. On Sunday evening renters come to pick up the motorhome for Burning man and that money helps cover the bills, so thankful for everything. Moon and I walk often and are both quietly very excited about a future that waits us now.
Good night my friend, my family, my world. Thank you for your faithfulness, your prayers and you being there.
All a hearts love to each and every one of you.
Tim
Its been quite an experience for me to go from a intense day of work last Sunday the 14th in which I wrote and delivered 11 appraisals, oh yes many given excellent help by Jessy who performed so well last week.
Nikki and I drove to Keary SF and arrive at 4:45 on Monday morning, 30 minutes early. I had slept from 9 pm until 2:45 and was in a state of unbelief and terror. I had no clear mandate that I would wake from the surgery, I mean the odds are good and to not do the surgery would relegate my life to a constant flirtation with blood clots and heart failure.
So I did what I've done many times before, when faced with stark reality I just walk forward trusting that a loving and forgiving God knows what is best for the next chapter.
Jason walked up just as Nikki and I were walking to the hospital admitting. We three faced it with humor, terror and a hope that there would be more yet to come for Tim Mustard, that Tim and Moon would become a happy couple in the future, that I would wake from surgery to life.
I did wake to life and to a passage of needles, tubes, kind Philipino support staff and a little room that resembled motel 6, by afternoon I was up sitting in a chair for a couple hours, by evening I was walking down the hall, the entire night was filled with bright lights, shouts, yells and unreality, my phone had disappeared, when found it was dead, Nikki had to leave but Jason was there and I had no idea of what was taking place other than intense pain in my chest, tubes draining blood, offers of food, noise....
Gradually faces emerged, kind and loving faces, shots, blood draws, temperature swipes intense pain from a hospital bed I could not control. BUT I was alive and everyone said the surgery was a huge success.
Whenever someone suggested I could walk I would just say yes and I found that could walk fast with no shortness of breath, no dizziness, no problem other than my bottom totally exposed to others in the hallway, soon you don't care.
There was anger from the staff, I was not to try to sit up, stand up, take a step on my own, I had to ask every time and if I did not then their feelings were hurt badly.
Soon I could manage my phone, could text and talk to Moon for a few minutes so she know we were good for the future and she prayed so hard and was so positive, I won't forget her faithfulness day and night. Friends called, sometimes I could answer the phone or the texts, work people called and I ignored, I had nothing to offer.
BUT I was overwhelmed with just one fact! I was alive and that continues to be the overriding fact that thrills my heart. I am not only a survivor but I am really alive, strong, healthy and every day, every hour is better, yes I hurt like hell part of the time, after all someone took a skill saw to my chest and cut it open then wired it shut with titanium wire coils, I've learned to appreciate dedicated health pros who really do care in spite of a crazy system and paperwork deeper than an elephants eye.
Saturday was full of questions, would I be allowed to get into Jo and Jason's van and be driven home or not, differences of opinion between doctors about a possible infection kept us in limbo but I did leave and we made it home. Jason, Clayton, Mia, Timothy and Jo gave me a very enjoyable trip home through impossible traffic. I walked in to Jerry and a super clean house, I'd had it cleaned during the week and its perfect.
Clayton and Jerry watch over me carefully, keep track of meds, great meals, rest time, my showers and keep it real, we walk every day, we drive to Safeway, we fix things, we enjoy Jerry's puppies and clayton has everything working well on the TV.
But my family and friends, I am so grateful to a loving and powerful God, He has granted me an extension of my life, I am alive.
Tomorrow I'll do my first appraisal with Jerry at my side and we will gradually start the process o starting to work. On Sunday evening renters come to pick up the motorhome for Burning man and that money helps cover the bills, so thankful for everything. Moon and I walk often and are both quietly very excited about a future that waits us now.
Good night my friend, my family, my world. Thank you for your faithfulness, your prayers and you being there.
All a hearts love to each and every one of you.
Tim
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Pre op in San Francisco
So I'm just home now from an incredible birthday dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory in Concord with the whole family. It was perfect.
Seeing the 4 grandchildren was priceless.
This morning started at 5 am, woke, it was chilly, hot shower, shave and breakfast of cereal, then on the road, traffic was brutal so my 7:30 appointment ended up starting at 8:15. During the morning I had blood work, 7 vials, urine sample, x ray of lungs and chest, EKG, consults with various different experts, hours of instructions.
Finally I was driving around 1 pm, free to head to an appointment in Livermore to see a house.
All day today Moon has been celebrating my birthday with singing, with kind words and she and Crystal both wishing me Happy Birthday through the phone and ipad. It was great.
Now its bed time, the negative about today is that I've had A fib all day with heart rates from 77 to 145 a few minutes ago.
Thankful for life, blessings
Love to all
tim
Seeing the 4 grandchildren was priceless.
This morning started at 5 am, woke, it was chilly, hot shower, shave and breakfast of cereal, then on the road, traffic was brutal so my 7:30 appointment ended up starting at 8:15. During the morning I had blood work, 7 vials, urine sample, x ray of lungs and chest, EKG, consults with various different experts, hours of instructions.
Finally I was driving around 1 pm, free to head to an appointment in Livermore to see a house.
All day today Moon has been celebrating my birthday with singing, with kind words and she and Crystal both wishing me Happy Birthday through the phone and ipad. It was great.
Now its bed time, the negative about today is that I've had A fib all day with heart rates from 77 to 145 a few minutes ago.
Thankful for life, blessings
Love to all
tim
Monday, August 8, 2016
Tired
After a long day I'm tired and glad it is over, like any day it has ups and down, my precious children are trying to figure out how we can all get together on the 10th for dinner, its my birthday. We've not solved that one yet.
I started early today, because I went to bed so early last night I woke before 5 this morning but managed to pray and think until about 6:15 when it was time for a shower, oatmeal with an egg cooked inside and a first appointment at 9 am. It was local and went well, then it was back to the office to attempt to do work and then a rushed trip to Antioch but when I finished the house the owner decided that I was not there for the loan company she really wants to do the loan so I just wasted my precious time, that did not make me happy at all, not when I need to see so many properties before next Monday. Anyway a person just has to bounce back and I went to the next appointment, a trashy house with a snarling dog, not so much fun. Then it was time to go to the last one of the day on Morgan Territory Road, turned out to be beautiful and with a perfect setting next to a creek, over 3,000 sf of perfection. Of course as we walked to the car he let me know what his loan officer said it needs to appraise for and that was bad news, its higher than any sale I have in the entire Clayton area, someone may be disappointed in the very near future!
My health is marginal, if I do anything like walking or carrying anything then my heart feels pressure and tired. I'm not even mowing my lawn right now, last time I didn't feel well for 2 hours.
My daily prayer is, please Lord keep my heart ticking until the surgery when they can fix it with a new valve. I also pray for Moon, for her struggle with immigration, for her father who is not doing well and for her brave mom who cares for him every day for many hours a day. We both pray for Crystal, her daughter who we hope is going to come visit us here in the states but that is also up in the air right now. Yes we have many things to pray about.
Now its bed time and I'm so thankful to have a bed, a roof and good meals. Most of all I'm thankful for the forgiveness of Jesus, for the love of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in everything we do.
Sending love to all
Tim
I started early today, because I went to bed so early last night I woke before 5 this morning but managed to pray and think until about 6:15 when it was time for a shower, oatmeal with an egg cooked inside and a first appointment at 9 am. It was local and went well, then it was back to the office to attempt to do work and then a rushed trip to Antioch but when I finished the house the owner decided that I was not there for the loan company she really wants to do the loan so I just wasted my precious time, that did not make me happy at all, not when I need to see so many properties before next Monday. Anyway a person just has to bounce back and I went to the next appointment, a trashy house with a snarling dog, not so much fun. Then it was time to go to the last one of the day on Morgan Territory Road, turned out to be beautiful and with a perfect setting next to a creek, over 3,000 sf of perfection. Of course as we walked to the car he let me know what his loan officer said it needs to appraise for and that was bad news, its higher than any sale I have in the entire Clayton area, someone may be disappointed in the very near future!
My health is marginal, if I do anything like walking or carrying anything then my heart feels pressure and tired. I'm not even mowing my lawn right now, last time I didn't feel well for 2 hours.
My daily prayer is, please Lord keep my heart ticking until the surgery when they can fix it with a new valve. I also pray for Moon, for her struggle with immigration, for her father who is not doing well and for her brave mom who cares for him every day for many hours a day. We both pray for Crystal, her daughter who we hope is going to come visit us here in the states but that is also up in the air right now. Yes we have many things to pray about.
Now its bed time and I'm so thankful to have a bed, a roof and good meals. Most of all I'm thankful for the forgiveness of Jesus, for the love of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in everything we do.
Sending love to all
Tim
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Checking in
Dear Friends and Family,
I've not been here for several days, my world has been reduced to either seeing 5 or 6 properties in a day or writing up appraisals and emailing them to waiting clients on the other days. In between I try to talk to my brother each evening, and I talk to Moon several times each day by text or phone.
My heart surgery has been moved up to 15th at 5:30 in the morning in San Francisco. Nikki has been kind enough to agree to be my driver. My health has declined every week since the decision to do the surgery, the valve is closing and I'm left with pain from my heart or a feeling of being tired or sore, if I try to do anything physical even like a calm walk to the park I suffer for hours afterwards, another very bad factor is more often now I wake with A Fib, that means a heart rate that bounces all over from 115 to 145 and can last for up to 24 hours before returning to normal, those days are extremely rough to cope with, its all I can do to drag myself to the car and drive the 100 or more miles, inspect the properties and then finally and gratefully return home at night.
I'm living in a world where I just pray that God will hold my heart together for the next week, a week of extreme stress and work.
In the morning I take time to be grateful, Moon has encouraged me to remember all the many blessings I enjoy, family, a home, cars, food, great friends and a wonderful job, a beautiful lake to enjoy. Here she is not knowing if she will have to leave America and go back to Singapore and if she does, not sure how long she will have to be there before she can come back to me and our life together. She is an amazingly brave young woman and I'm so thankful she is in my life.
Please pray that God will bless her with good legal advice for immigration, peace in her heart and that her father who is so ill can make a recovery and return home.
Please pray that I'll keep living until the surgery takes place and that they will be able to replace the value, cure the AFib and do the other things they need to do to my heart while they are in there working.
We have a wonderful Lord who loves us with a love that is so far beyond our love.
Be blessed
tim
I've not been here for several days, my world has been reduced to either seeing 5 or 6 properties in a day or writing up appraisals and emailing them to waiting clients on the other days. In between I try to talk to my brother each evening, and I talk to Moon several times each day by text or phone.
My heart surgery has been moved up to 15th at 5:30 in the morning in San Francisco. Nikki has been kind enough to agree to be my driver. My health has declined every week since the decision to do the surgery, the valve is closing and I'm left with pain from my heart or a feeling of being tired or sore, if I try to do anything physical even like a calm walk to the park I suffer for hours afterwards, another very bad factor is more often now I wake with A Fib, that means a heart rate that bounces all over from 115 to 145 and can last for up to 24 hours before returning to normal, those days are extremely rough to cope with, its all I can do to drag myself to the car and drive the 100 or more miles, inspect the properties and then finally and gratefully return home at night.
I'm living in a world where I just pray that God will hold my heart together for the next week, a week of extreme stress and work.
In the morning I take time to be grateful, Moon has encouraged me to remember all the many blessings I enjoy, family, a home, cars, food, great friends and a wonderful job, a beautiful lake to enjoy. Here she is not knowing if she will have to leave America and go back to Singapore and if she does, not sure how long she will have to be there before she can come back to me and our life together. She is an amazingly brave young woman and I'm so thankful she is in my life.
Please pray that God will bless her with good legal advice for immigration, peace in her heart and that her father who is so ill can make a recovery and return home.
Please pray that I'll keep living until the surgery takes place and that they will be able to replace the value, cure the AFib and do the other things they need to do to my heart while they are in there working.
We have a wonderful Lord who loves us with a love that is so far beyond our love.
Be blessed
tim
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