You Never Know What a Day May Bring Forth

We thought we had it licked. Yesterday my husband and I had a little celebration dinner in the hospital room. Things were looking better. We were looking forward to going to the rehab unit together, after six days in the intensive care unit. We decided to go ourselves instead of a medi-car. My husband was a little uncomfortable but we got there about 8:30PM. They put him in his room and we put the Sox game on and I gave him his paper. He seemed OK and I put some things away. I left and said I will see you tomorrow. I went home happy and glad we were out of the hospital. I came home and rested. Morning came with chores and getting some clothes for him. I saw the rehab was calling. I called them back. The person on the phone said he wasn't in his bed. I said he really wasn't quite that well to be up and around. His nurse came on the phone and said they had taken him back to the hospital. He had taken a turn for the worse. He was declining quickly. I ran to the car and went to the hospital. I called all three kids as I drove. Entering the emergency room they said he was there, they would get his nurse. This did not sound good to me. His male nurse came and said "I'm sorry, he passed away in the ambulance." I was stunned. I just wanted to find him and be with him. I just wanted to tell him I always loved him. But he was gone. Yes, our father and grandfather was gone and the church's Pastor. The day turned into a myriad of phone calls and e-mails. People crying on the phone. I never realized how much they loved their Pastor. Here I was hurting and yet I was trying to comfort them. This is how our 42 year marriage ended. He is with God, out of pain, no more prosthetics, no more battle with diabetes. He's free. I am at peace. I know this is better for him. Where did the years go? I am glad we chose ministry for our lives. I am glad the path we took. We did the right thing, we made the right decisions and we served five churches. You never know what a day may bring forth. The Meyer's

I Finally Did It. I Made the Papers

Yesterday was another struggle in our on going journey to my husband's recovery. I went to the hospital to take him to the rehab center. We decided to do the transfer ourselves. When I entered the room, the wife of my husbands roommate said " You made the paper." She had a copy to hand me. I had forgotten the day before when a reporter and a photographer saw me watering my plants and came over. "Did you hear Mayor Daley is not going to run again?" No I had not heard, TV is not a priority right now, but was I happy about the news. It was my little day of fame and I had fun with it. When I reached home my neighbors had also seen it. They said we agree 100% with you. It was time for him to go. He now has a mixed legacy. Taxes upon taxes. When will people learn, taxes are all a Democrat really knows to do. Obama is really just another tax and spent democrat, out of control, but none the less that is what he is.
But where Daley really lost his support is selling the parking meters. What happened there you ask? He sold them to a Foreign Country. Yes, we are paying a foreign country with our parking fines. Then he turned around and sold the Chicago Skyway.  After this last payment, Daley really has a serious short fall. Wonder why he's quitting? Leave it to the next guy, and good luck to him.
There were five of us with our quotes, here's mine, "He has taxed this town to death." Another said what I said yesterday they go out of the city to shop. She said I don't even buy a bottle of water. Yes folks, he has a tax on a bottle of water!! Another said " the Dailey's have been corrupt and in charge for so long." Daley is also another one where everyone around him falls, but he is always left standing.  Amazingly he never knows any of it is going on??
Did he do some good things? Yes, he renovated Navy Pier and it does bring in a lot of money and a fun place to go. He renewed McCormick Place and it is a leading convention center. He has also been praised for his efforts with the schools. Although the Chicago Public School System has a long way to go.
Everyone here is shaking in their boots with talk of Rham Emanuel. No one I have talked to wants him, but Chicago is a heavily democratic city. It is a possibility. I'm scared.

My Visitors From The Southown Star

Well, yesterday was an interesting day. I was working in the yard and two men from the Southtown Star came by. It's a small paper but a lot of people read it because it has more local news. I use it for craft shows. Anyway, they came by and said "have you heard the news? Mayor Daily is not running." They asked my response, Happy, Happy I said. Why? Because we have tax upon tax. When I moved here my gas bill was higher. Same gas company, same size house, why higher? An extra tax for city of Chicago. I mention this to those who live here and they don't even know it. The gas for your car is always higher in Chicago. Why? He gets you again. I live on the edge of the city I just drive a few blocks and get it cheaper. People who live further in never think about it. There's a head tax. Why? Because you work in the city of Chicago. Folks the list goes on and on. And we all knew someday it had to end. Will we get a Republican in in? I doubt it, the unions control the city of Chicago. That is why you need to fight this large union bill the President wants to get in.Why? Then he will control all cities across the country. Some states like ours and California are paying a great price for the control of our cities by the unions. We are going broke. We can not afford the union prices to pay workers. I am sorry for Mrs. Daily. She is quite ill and wish her well. But Mayor Daily, I am glad to see you go. They asked me who would you like and believe it or not I said, I would like to see a black come in. My reasoning how in the world does a rich white guy relate to a black family trying to make it on the south side. Mayor Daily is totally out of reach when it come to relating to that. For that reason we need someone who has been there and done that. Hopefully someone more conservative. Blago has no chance in **** the people here hate him. And don't hope for Rham Emmanuel he is done in politics.

Written on 2/8/10 but my opinion still has not changed. In 2010 two men from the Southtown Star came by and published me as saying that I felt a black should be the next mayor of Chicago. My reasoning  is the same. I feel no one can know what it is to live in the city and try to raise a family more than someone who battles it day after day. And it has only gotten worse under Rahm Emmanuls's leadership or lack therewith. He cannot relate. More people have died including children and even a baby was shot in it's own crib. It's cries cannot be heard except for us to speak of it. Tomorrow is another election and hopefully a good man and one who understands the problems of Chicago. My hopes and prayers for the city and a hopeful tomorrow where children can run and play, ride their bicycles and walk to the candy store without fear. This is my hope for Chicago. Only you can make the change. Go out and vote.

God's Timing is Amazing!

Right now our family is going through a difficult time. With running back and forth to the hospital  there isn't much time for anything. The first night I left the Intensive Care Unit there was a new CD in the car playing. A pastor friend of ours just made this CD and gave it to us a few weeks ago at a pastor's meeting. When I got into the car going home late in the evening it started playing a familiar hymn, "It Will Be Worth It All When We See Christ". This is a song my husband has sang many times at christian functions. It really calmed my nerves and I drove home safely. A coincidence? I don't think so. It was just what I needed and I have continued to play the CD as I am driving back and forth to the hospital. I know somehow God is working everything  according to his will, not mine. Today my husband is going to a Rehab center as he is too weak to receive the next round of treatment for his heart. There have been highs and lows throughout the last week. But God's love remains constant and sure. Thank all of you who are praying for us. The Meyer's

On Day Five of the Cardial Vascular Intensive Care Floor

When I awakened yesterday I was near exhaustion and literally crashing from the stress of the last four days. The Dr.s call this a 3 day heart attack. Diabetics don't feel pain like we do so the attack carried on for three days. There is much damage because of this. At first I really did not think we would make it this far, but my husband is a fighter. I went to the hospital later than usual but he was having a very bad day. The problem that his blood pressure is low. I have learned this is common for heart attacks. The thing that scared me is his pressure would go up and then drop suddenly. It would make me shake in my boots when it came up and then drop. So I stopped watching the monitor. He has several other problems going on also. Some long time friends came up and he rallied a little with their visit and prayer. Then he would fall listless again and sleep. I left shortly after our friends pretty down.  Of course most patients go through this much faster, but we are on the slow path. This was our most discouraging day and beginning to think maybe we wouldn't climb out of this.
I went to the hospital even later today. The stress is wearing on me as I have physical problems my self. I have to pace myself, no need for both of us to be in there. My friend said jokingly we could be in the same room together. I said if that were to happen I would want my own room, as I would be climbing out of bed to take care of him. It's just a joke.
Today when I walked in it was like a different day. He was actually sitting up in a chair eating and actually keeping down what he was eating. This was a vast improvement. A real turning point and we needed one. We're still not out of the woods, but looking better. I bought him a news paper and we watched the Sox game {3-1}. We actually had some normal conversation. I went home and actually slept. We have a long way to go, but this was a turning point. Even the nurses were smiling. It was a better day. The Meyer's

Another Twist In Our Ongoing Battle With Diabetes

Wednesday turned into on of our worst days, as my husband was very ill. It started on Monday when he went to the Dr. and came home with pneumonia. I asked him then, why didn't the Dr. admit him? He had no answer. Tuesday didn't get much better and I said tomorrow if you are the same we are going to the hospital. He half way agreed. We all know men hate the hospitals. We have been in a 31 year battle with diabetes. We now have a wing at the hospital fully funded by our family alone. He has two prosthetic legs and myriad other problems I'm not going into and I understand his hatred for the hospital. Wednesday it was worse no better. He also doesn't like paramedics or ambulances either. By noon he finally conceded. It took a neighbor and I to get him into the car. I knew it was serious, but still thought it was pneumonia gone worse.
Entering he mentioned chest pain. This is the first he mentioned this to me, although he had e-mailed it to our church members. I found this out later. The wife is always the last to know.
They took an EKG and immediately we were surrounded with cardiologists and many people. Within 30 minutes he was having an angiogram, and I am in a waiting room. He was having a heart attack. I called my son and tried to tell him, but I could not complete the call. I could not believe what was happening. I called him back and the other two. My daughter nearly drove off the road when I called, she told me later.
Eventually we were all there, It did feel better to have them with me. They came in and said there is a blockage and the Dr. is going to put in a stint. Everything should be OK. They should not have said that. We were relieved, but a few minutes later they came back in and said they could not get the stint in. I knew then we were in pretty deep trouble. I am a pastor's wife. I've been in many hospitals with church members having the same procedure and knew this was not good.  I said to the kids this is not good.
The Dr. came out and it was worse than not good.
I won't go into details but there are a lot of problems. So right now we are in limbo. If he stays the way he is he will eventually die. In essence right now it will take a miracle to keep him
I know God will guide us, he always has. We say Dad has nine lives. He actually thought we would go home and he could preach on Sunday. We have made it clear that isn't going to happen.
By night friends were calling from all over, word goes out fast. It did help to hear other's say it will be OK. I'm still not sure of that but it helps to hear it anyway.
The last two days have been worse with more tests and more Dr.s now added. I really don't know which Dr. I am talking to or what he actually does, but I guess they know more than I do.
In some ways it has been a precious time with our children. Adult children get very busy with their own lives.
We thank God for our beautiful children, and grandchildren. We don't know how much time we will have him, nor yet what the Dr's are planning to do. One thing I know with or without him we have a wonderful family God has given us.
God does give us more grace. Many say I am a strong woman, I don know. It is only the strength God has given me. We are still praying for a miracle and some of the Dr's are more hopeful than a few days ago, which is encouraging. We ask your prayers. The Meyer's

Unusual Victory Speech

The tone was dull, and almost seemed uncaring. After seven years of our military battling out on the front lines you would think there would be a victory march. This is the oddest ending to a war I have ever seen. Almost similar to Vietnam but there was celebration that we were finally out, but no victory marches either.
Of course it has been an unusual war, fighting against people who do not dress in military garb, and go home to eat after their days battles. Almost at times impossible to know where or who the enemy is. Was this a victory speech? Not really. Was there praise for the soldiers, of course. But there could have been a little more enthusiasm for what our military has done. They did what many said was impossible to do. Some said we would fail. Some said we made a mistake going in. I personally did not think it was a mistake, but much necessary. Because I feel as many do that eventually we would have had to go in. President Obama may face this same situation in Iran. Then he will see a different perspective. And find himself on the other side of the fence.
It will take time to see if we came out too soon, of course there are 50,000 or so still there. Attacks in Iraq have greatly increased and almost to levels of two years ago. They are sizing up the new security forces of Iraq. Can Iraq do it? I think they can, but it will still take some time. July had highest death rate in two years
Second problem , no real government to turn the keys over to. Not good. This wasn't really a victory speech and many believe it was done for political gain. God help his soul if he did it for his own gain. Our precious jewels are in the heat of the battle. We can only stay here and support and pray for them. They are the ones who are bearing the burden of the battle for our freedom. God Bless America