Our Vacation 2010 - Short but lots of fun while it lasted!

We left on Sunday, June 13th on a 3 1/2 to 4 week vacation trip with lots of excitement and places to see. We spent the 14th and 15th in Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma City was lots of fun. We enjoyed a great steak at the Cattlemen's Steak house in the Stock Yards area. The Stock Yards made me sad. Glad we ate before we went there. We then rode down to the Brick Town Area, Mickey Mantle's Restaurant and the ball park. During our stay, we went to the Oklahoma Bombing area and took the tour in the museum. It was sad but glad we went . What a blessing that so many lives were saved during this tragedy. Ken and Asa went to the Cowboy Museum while Brenda and I enjoyed the day in Brick Town. We took the tour boat on the canal. Our tour hostess was so cute and informative. For lunch we ate at Toby Keith's Restaurant which was very good. Also we had a Star Bucks later that day. Brick Town is a great fun day. The next morning, we headed toward Denver. We stopped for the night in Dumas, Texas. It was a very laid back town. The next day we stopped in Trinidad for lunch. The resturant was suggested when we stopped in Trinidad's welcome center. Then we drove on into Denver. We checked into our motel, decided to go take a ride around downtown Denver. We went to the Mall which is 18th Street that is closed to traffic except for a bus which is free . If you get tired of walking, just hop on and get off on down the mall. It is so fun with lots of shopping and restaurants. It was a fun place., Early the next morning we went to the U. S. Mint to get our tickets for the tour. The tour is free but they only have so many tickets available for each tour. This was very interesting. Of course, no cameras allowed inside. After the tour, we went to the Gift Shop and bought some unusual coins. Asa and Ken collect coins so they enjoyed this Gift Shop. We visited the downtown area, Capital building and Arts Centers.. We visited Mile High Stadium where the Bronco's play. This tour was well worth our time. Also we enjoyed the Denver Skate Board Park. Those skate boarders were very good. Some of them were very young. Everyone in the afternoon hits the Park. We went to Coors Field but did not take the tour as a baseball game was going on. We also went to Red Rocks Amphitheater. It was awesome. I had seen John Tesch and Bill Gaither TV shows from there. The acoustics are unbelievable. It was hot while we were there. We enjoyed riding around these small towns. We had dinner at a unque local Sports Grill. Time for us to go to motel and plan another day. Our plans for next couple of days included Boulder, Aspen and Vail. We were all exhausted and took no time for us to fall asleep. THE NEXT MORNING OUR PLANS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY: Ken told us when we woke up that he had not slept all night. He was having shortness of breath. We took him to a Walk In Medical Facility near the motel. Immediately, they treated the shortness of breath and pressure in chest as cardiac problem. They called an ambulance and took him to the nearest hospital after giving him nitroglycerin. Asa and Brenda followed the ambulance. I rode shot gun and one of the EMT's rode in back with Ken. Thank the Lord, we were only a few blocks from the hospital (Littleton Adventist Hospital). The next 6 hours we spent at the ER. They ran all kind of blood work and tests including Cat Scan on Ken. This is one of the nations top Trauma Hospitals. The ER was so hectic but gave all patients immediate care. Most of the waiting was for results from the blood work. Ken was given more nitroglycerin Patches The pressure in his chest did not increase or subside. He was admitted late afternoon to the Cardiac Observation Unit. Well after all the tests and cat scan, his heart was ok but he was told his COPD had not adjusted to the altitude change. After another day in the hospital and more tests with all his tests showing no heart damage, he was given breathing treatments. This gave Brenda, Asa and I time to go down to the Columbine Memorial. It was beautiful in honor of the victims. Ken was dismissed the next afternoon. Doctors recommened he needed to leave the high altitude and see his cardiologist. He was told the smoking had to be stopped immediately. We were scheduled to leave for Jackson Hole, Wyoming the next day which was Father's Day. Asa and Brenda would not go on to Jackson Hole and let us fly home. They were as concerned over Ken as I was. He gave us a scare, I tell you. We knew Ken would not be able to handle the higher altitude in YellowStone. We all agreed things happen for a reason. We took our time driving back stopping often. As soon as we got out of Kansas, Ken began to feel better. Thank Goodness. Ken's cardiologist saw him as soon as we got home. We had Ken's hospital file with us. He recommended a pulmonologist which Ken is being treated with breathing meds. When he goes back to the doctor in August he will find out if his breathing is responding to the meds.. He has not had a cigarette since the morning he got so sick. Praise the Lord, it has been 34 days now. We are so proud of him. A big thanks to the Walk In Clinic, Ambulance Service/EMT's and the Hospital Staff for the great medical attention for Ken . They were wonderful and so caring. The Littleton Adventist Hospital is a wonderful, caring institution. Brenda and Asa, thank you for helping us during this tense time. I can always count on your support and love. Thank you God for watching over us during this time, keeping us save on our trip and watching over Ken, me, Brenda and Asa. Things happen for a reason I believe. It just wasn't the time for us to go further on our trip. When we got home, I did get to enjoy Preston's playing in the 2010 Dizzy Dean 8 year old State Tournament. Trussville was the host this year.. Congratulations to Clay Chalkville for winning out for the State. I would have missed this. Brenda and Asa got to spend some time with Jill and her family here and in Tampa, as well as her other grands. The doctor assures us that after Ken's medication helps his COPD, he will be able to go to Yellowstone and Jackson Hole. We still are planning our trip as soon as Ken gets the go ahead for the high altitude. Brenda and I have over 500 pictures of our trip. As soon as we can edit and organize them, I will post some of them to the BLOG. I promise I will not bore you with to many of them.