It's been quite a while since we have posted on this blog.
Since the last post, we decided (after much discussion with Walkir about what would be best) not to live on the road, so that Walkir could stay at the school to which he's been going for the past three years. Instead, we will live in Springfield and travel weekends.
There will be times when Walkir will not be able to travel with us and will have to stay with friends while we're on the road for the weekends. Other times, Tony will have to go out herself (when she's doing a whole run, and we can't leave Walkir with friends for weeks at a time). Therefore, we are making some sacrifices, but it will all be worth it.
In separate posts, we will update our travels and experiences.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Happy Father's Day
On Father's Day, Mark received the best Father's Day present possible -- A RV.
We were able to trade the Explorer for the RV. It is a much later model than others for the price, and it runs beautifully.
We are elated with the purchase, and now we can put things directly into the RV that we will be taking with us.
We were able to trade the Explorer for the RV. It is a much later model than others for the price, and it runs beautifully.
We are elated with the purchase, and now we can put things directly into the RV that we will be taking with us.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Packing, Loading, Packing, Sorting, Packing, Looking, Packing...
Did I mention we have been doing a lot of packing lately?
Tony is slowly returning to normal (whatever that means for Tony). We have been searching for the RV we may spend the next several months getting to know very well. The search has been slow, but we have some very nice possibilities. First, however, we must sell our SUV in order to have the money for the RV. We had a young couple look at the Explorer yesterday. They were very interested, but they have to sell their car to have the money to buy our car so that we have the money to buy the RV. They thought they had a buyer yesterday, but called me last night and said he had backed out, so they are back to the drawing board. Therefore, so are we.
Meanwhile, we have been packing and loading a PODS (Portable On Demand Storage) which was delivered yesterday. Tony has overexerted herself the last two days, even though she has had a lot of help and a lot of mothers telling her to take it easy (those of you who know Tony, know that is no easy task -- keeping her from overdoing it). Consequently, a big part of the packing has been finished and tomorrow we will tackle loading the PODS. Tony intends to have me run a fan out to the PODS where she can supervise the loading process.
We're a little anxious to get the RV so we will have a better idea of what we're going to be able to take with us.
As this blog was conceived to document our adventures on the road while performing in Renaissance Festivals, I want to share where our next performance will be. We will be performing at the White Hart Renaissance Faire in Hartsville, MO. The festival runs the final weekend of June through the first two weekends of July. Tony and Mark will be there the first weekend: Tony as Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury (Besse of Hardwick) and Mark as Lord John Hamilton. We will not be present the second weekend due to family considerations, then will return with Wallace playing young William Shakespeare and Tony Playing Mary, Queen of Scots (Mark gets the easy part of playing the same character). Among the highlights of the final weekend should be the scene on the final day of faire when we will enact what would have happened if Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth had actually met.
Tony is slowly returning to normal (whatever that means for Tony). We have been searching for the RV we may spend the next several months getting to know very well. The search has been slow, but we have some very nice possibilities. First, however, we must sell our SUV in order to have the money for the RV. We had a young couple look at the Explorer yesterday. They were very interested, but they have to sell their car to have the money to buy our car so that we have the money to buy the RV. They thought they had a buyer yesterday, but called me last night and said he had backed out, so they are back to the drawing board. Therefore, so are we.
Meanwhile, we have been packing and loading a PODS (Portable On Demand Storage) which was delivered yesterday. Tony has overexerted herself the last two days, even though she has had a lot of help and a lot of mothers telling her to take it easy (those of you who know Tony, know that is no easy task -- keeping her from overdoing it). Consequently, a big part of the packing has been finished and tomorrow we will tackle loading the PODS. Tony intends to have me run a fan out to the PODS where she can supervise the loading process.
We're a little anxious to get the RV so we will have a better idea of what we're going to be able to take with us.
As this blog was conceived to document our adventures on the road while performing in Renaissance Festivals, I want to share where our next performance will be. We will be performing at the White Hart Renaissance Faire in Hartsville, MO. The festival runs the final weekend of June through the first two weekends of July. Tony and Mark will be there the first weekend: Tony as Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury (Besse of Hardwick) and Mark as Lord John Hamilton. We will not be present the second weekend due to family considerations, then will return with Wallace playing young William Shakespeare and Tony Playing Mary, Queen of Scots (Mark gets the easy part of playing the same character). Among the highlights of the final weekend should be the scene on the final day of faire when we will enact what would have happened if Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth had actually met.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Getting Back to Normal...Sorta
Tony has been home for three days now, and life is beginning to get back to some sort of normalcy. I was able to go to carving club tonight thanks to our friend, Sarina, who was happy to "babysit" (as Tony put it) Tony for a couple of hours while I went to carve. We also had a wonderful time visiting Sarina and her husband, David for a while when I went to their house to pick Tony up.
We have had a wonderful few days, with so many friends coming through for us -- from all the people who have donated through the site our friend Tony Mast set up, to Zia coming the day Tony got home from the hospital to sit with Tony while I went to do some errands, to Alysa baking a birthday cake for Tony and she, Sarina, Catherine and Pi visiting and bringing it to our house and visiting with us for a good while. We have had many offers for help from many friends. We had a friend offer to hop on a plane and stay with us (which would have meant she would have missed the vacation with her family to celebrate her mother and father's milestone anniversary), to those who have offered to let us stay in their home a couple of months, to those who have offered to help us finish the sewing we need to do in final preparations for our home faire, to people offering to bring me food while I was in the ER with Tony, to those who have dropped off food and sent money so we could purchase fresh fruits and vegetables (Tony's sister, Jude). I am almost afraid to list these things for fear I missed sharing something someone has done for us -- if I did, I plead mercy on the grounds that I've been a little preoccupied.
It is times like this that you understand what kind of an impact you have made on the world around you. I'm so proud of my wife for the impact she has made on so many people throughout her life.
We have had a wonderful few days, with so many friends coming through for us -- from all the people who have donated through the site our friend Tony Mast set up, to Zia coming the day Tony got home from the hospital to sit with Tony while I went to do some errands, to Alysa baking a birthday cake for Tony and she, Sarina, Catherine and Pi visiting and bringing it to our house and visiting with us for a good while. We have had many offers for help from many friends. We had a friend offer to hop on a plane and stay with us (which would have meant she would have missed the vacation with her family to celebrate her mother and father's milestone anniversary), to those who have offered to let us stay in their home a couple of months, to those who have offered to help us finish the sewing we need to do in final preparations for our home faire, to people offering to bring me food while I was in the ER with Tony, to those who have dropped off food and sent money so we could purchase fresh fruits and vegetables (Tony's sister, Jude). I am almost afraid to list these things for fear I missed sharing something someone has done for us -- if I did, I plead mercy on the grounds that I've been a little preoccupied.
It is times like this that you understand what kind of an impact you have made on the world around you. I'm so proud of my wife for the impact she has made on so many people throughout her life.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Home
Tony came home yesterday afternoon.
She is weak and tired. Her blood pressure isn't consistent, but she's happy to be home, and we will see a doctor tomorrow.
Tony was given some exercises by the occupational therapist to strengthen her hand, by the speech therapist to strengthen the muscles in her face. The physical therapist told me to just keep her walking. For now, it's all she can do to get from the bed to the bathroom and back.
I purchased a blood pressure monitor yesterday, and I'm regularly checking her blood pressure (and mine) so we can stay on top of the doctors who are supposed to be caring for her.
She is weak and tired. Her blood pressure isn't consistent, but she's happy to be home, and we will see a doctor tomorrow.
Tony was given some exercises by the occupational therapist to strengthen her hand, by the speech therapist to strengthen the muscles in her face. The physical therapist told me to just keep her walking. For now, it's all she can do to get from the bed to the bathroom and back.
I purchased a blood pressure monitor yesterday, and I'm regularly checking her blood pressure (and mine) so we can stay on top of the doctors who are supposed to be caring for her.
Monday, June 8, 2009
She's Going Home
The doctor is releasing Tony today. We are concerned that her blood pressure isn't consistent, but the doctor said that is a long-term issue. He said he could keep her in the hospital to monitor her blood pressure and try to get it regulated, but that would cost us a lot of money. Therefore, when we get her home, I'm going to go immediately to the store and purchase a blood-pressure monitor, and check her every few hours and note her blood pressure until we can see a primary care doctor with that data.
The nutritionist was in and has given me some good information on a heart-healthy diet and a low sodium diet.
We are now waiting to see the social worker to try to get some assistance on the medical bills, then the wait for her discharge.
The nutritionist was in and has given me some good information on a heart-healthy diet and a low sodium diet.
We are now waiting to see the social worker to try to get some assistance on the medical bills, then the wait for her discharge.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Great News
I got in right before the doctor this morning. He said Tony's CT Angiogram was negative for any more clots. Therefore, he doesn't think she should have another stroke anytime soon. She will be on a regimen of low-dose aspirin when she goes home.
I asked the doctor what was the likely cause. He said this is what they call a cryptic attack -- meaning they don't know for sure what could cause this. He does think a probable cause is the high blood pressure which hasn't been under control since she had a grade 3 concussion in 2007 (ironically, she had never had high blood pressure prior to that injury). They are trying a new blood pressure medication. What we are going to do on our part is exercise and eat right. This was a huge wake up call for both of us. The doctor told her to start with walking until she builds up strength. Once she does that, we will look into getting her into water aerobics and tennis -- two forms of exercise she loves.
Speaking of walking, Tony was able to walk around the whole unit today (yesterday she only walked to just outside her room). She was also able to take a shower and wash her own hair. She is very excited about this, because she is becoming more and more self-sufficient.
I asked the doctor what was the likely cause. He said this is what they call a cryptic attack -- meaning they don't know for sure what could cause this. He does think a probable cause is the high blood pressure which hasn't been under control since she had a grade 3 concussion in 2007 (ironically, she had never had high blood pressure prior to that injury). They are trying a new blood pressure medication. What we are going to do on our part is exercise and eat right. This was a huge wake up call for both of us. The doctor told her to start with walking until she builds up strength. Once she does that, we will look into getting her into water aerobics and tennis -- two forms of exercise she loves.
Speaking of walking, Tony was able to walk around the whole unit today (yesterday she only walked to just outside her room). She was also able to take a shower and wash her own hair. She is very excited about this, because she is becoming more and more self-sufficient.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
More Good News
The doctor was in this afternoon. Since we were able to get Tony into the ER fast enough that her "stroke" was downgraded to a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) -- at least that's what the doctor told us (according to American Heart Association's web site, the TIA is a mini-stroke or a warning stroke -- yet he told us the only difference between a stroke and a TIA is the fact that there is no permanent brain damage with the TIA. It's a little confusing, but that's not what's important, because the most important words in the consultation were "no permanent brain damage."
He has ordered a carotid CT Angiogram to check out the vessels of brain to confirm there are no clots left. We probably won't have the results of that until sometime tomorrow.
He has ordered a carotid CT Angiogram to check out the vessels of brain to confirm there are no clots left. We probably won't have the results of that until sometime tomorrow.
She Walked!
When I got to the hospital this morning (I got here a little late today because I had to meet someone to take Walkir to church camp this morning), the physical therapist was in the room. She got Tony up and Tony was able to stand. I was excited to see that she could put her weight on her right leg. Then Pam, the pt, got a walker and walked with Tony outside the room and back. Tony was in a lot of pain when she was finished, but what a sight!
Tony also smiled at me, and the corners of her mouth were even. I have never seen such a beautiful smile.
The nurse told me the neurologist is on the floor. Hopefully, we'll be able to get the results of the TEE and MRI.
Tony also smiled at me, and the corners of her mouth were even. I have never seen such a beautiful smile.
The nurse told me the neurologist is on the floor. Hopefully, we'll be able to get the results of the TEE and MRI.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Overwhelmed
The love, prayers, energy and even money has been poured out on Tony's behalf. We are receiving messages from people we've never met.
A dear friend of ours, Tony Mast, even set up an accout to take donations to help offset some of the financial issues we have had come up -- even before the stroke: http://tonymast.chipin.com/mark-and-tonykimberly
Thank you, Tony. Thank you all who have shared yourselves with us. Money is helpful, but not everyone has money to share. Prayers and good energy are invaluable at this time.
A dear friend of ours, Tony Mast, even set up an accout to take donations to help offset some of the financial issues we have had come up -- even before the stroke: http://tonymast.chipin.com/mark-and-tonykimberly
Thank you, Tony. Thank you all who have shared yourselves with us. Money is helpful, but not everyone has money to share. Prayers and good energy are invaluable at this time.
The Adventure Begins before it Starts
Tony is in the Cox South Hospital in Springfield, MO, in the Neural Trauma ICU. She had a stroke on June 4th. They were able to get her to the hospital early enough to get TPA for her. TPA is a drug they call the "clot buster". She is responding to the TPA well. TPA has a 6-8% mortality rate - is one out of twelve, so it was a very hard decision to make, but, they believe, the right choice for her. She seems to be responding well, and the hospital staff watched her very carefully overnight. Tony's right side is affected, which means that the stroke hit the left side of her brain.
Today she was scheduled for an MRI, and a TEE. The MRI is to make sure there aren't any clots lurking anywhere in her body. The TEE involves running a scope down her esophagus to check out the top lobe of her heart. Apparently, strokes are often caused by a weak muscle or valve at the top of the heart that doesn't pump correctly and the blood coagulates. Then, when the heart does pump the blood, it sends the clots through the body. They are testing to make sure that doesn't happen. We don't know what the course of action is if that is the case. However, it will be good to know the cause of the stroke, if possible, so they can better assure another will not happen.
Today she was scheduled for an MRI, and a TEE. The MRI is to make sure there aren't any clots lurking anywhere in her body. The TEE involves running a scope down her esophagus to check out the top lobe of her heart. Apparently, strokes are often caused by a weak muscle or valve at the top of the heart that doesn't pump correctly and the blood coagulates. Then, when the heart does pump the blood, it sends the clots through the body. They are testing to make sure that doesn't happen. We don't know what the course of action is if that is the case. However, it will be good to know the cause of the stroke, if possible, so they can better assure another will not happen.
The Great Korol-Evans Adventure
Welcome to The Great Korol-Evans Adventure. In this blog we will document our family's adventure beginning the Summer of 2009.
Due to the economic situation of our times, Tony and Mark have not been able to find lucrative full-time jobs. Tony has a PhD in Theatre from Northwestern University and Mark has a B.S. of Organizational Leadership from Greenville College. Since we were unable to find jobs, we have decided to sell our SUV, purchase a RV and go on the road performing, working, and otherwise making ourselves available to Rennaissance Festivals.
Tony has performed and worked at Rennaissance Festivals since 1998 where she started in the Maryland Rennaissance Festival (MDRF). Tony is also the foremost scholar of Rennaissance Festivals as she has written the first scholarly book on Rennaissance festivals titled Rennaissance Festivals: Merrying the Past and Present -- due out late summer or early autumn, 2009. Mark has performed in numerous operas, concerts and recitals and has been professionally trained in vocal performance for over twenty years.
Since we are both professionally trained entertainers, we decided to put together a troupe along with our son, Wallace, called A Klasse Acte AKA Rogues to Royals. We specialize in interactive improvisation, and will soon be putting together stage shows as well.
This blog is for our friends and family to follow along on our adventure.
Let the adventure begin...
Due to the economic situation of our times, Tony and Mark have not been able to find lucrative full-time jobs. Tony has a PhD in Theatre from Northwestern University and Mark has a B.S. of Organizational Leadership from Greenville College. Since we were unable to find jobs, we have decided to sell our SUV, purchase a RV and go on the road performing, working, and otherwise making ourselves available to Rennaissance Festivals.
Tony has performed and worked at Rennaissance Festivals since 1998 where she started in the Maryland Rennaissance Festival (MDRF). Tony is also the foremost scholar of Rennaissance Festivals as she has written the first scholarly book on Rennaissance festivals titled Rennaissance Festivals: Merrying the Past and Present -- due out late summer or early autumn, 2009. Mark has performed in numerous operas, concerts and recitals and has been professionally trained in vocal performance for over twenty years.
Since we are both professionally trained entertainers, we decided to put together a troupe along with our son, Wallace, called A Klasse Acte AKA Rogues to Royals. We specialize in interactive improvisation, and will soon be putting together stage shows as well.
This blog is for our friends and family to follow along on our adventure.
Let the adventure begin...
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