Cooper Mountain Nature Park

Cooper Mountain Nature Park

On the second warmest day of this year so far, I asked Pokie to drive me here, just to check if the trail is good enough for the wheelchairs? Upon inspection, I concluded that it will be rough to go on this trail, except when you have a power scooter.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2016/cooper

Powerhouse Park & Rose Garden

The lake at the Powerhouse Park

I know so many trails and parks due to my association with Viva Village, an independent retirement living arrangement which will be available by the end of this year. I am just helping in taking photographs for their monthly walk. This must be the shortest one so far.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2016/powerhouse

Greenway - Fanno Creek Trail

Greenway - Fanno Creek Trail

When the threat of rain was in the afternoon, I dragged Pokie that morning to take me to this trail, I walked for two miles while taking pictures, I feel very good that day, but I have to come back to the hospital the next day. My hematoma came back.

Dear God Almighty, I pray and hope that no more hematoma. Thank you Lord.

Yongkie

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2016/greenway

Jenkins Estate

Jenkins Estate

The sun is out, so am I. This is literally in our "backyard", we came here for chocolate festival years ago, but at night time, so I did not see anything. The only thing I remember was the chocolate and it was cold and wet. Enjoy my short walk, I should come back in a month when the flowers are in full bloom.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2016/jenkins

Happy Spring 2016

Spring 2016

I had to wait a few days to take these pictures; yesterday it rained continuously for more than twenty-four hours straight, I was restless. I was just afraid if the rain and wind brought down the flowers before I had my chance to click the camera shutter, so this morning I had a little window, no rain and the sun was in and out. I had to go! Here's the result.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2016/spring

Tualatin Hills Nature Park

Tualatin Hills Nature Park

The afternoon was warm and sunny, so we decided to go for a walk and a simple exercise for me. This park is barely four miles from our house; we are indeed very lucky to be surrounded by so many nature parks. This is a second time we have been to this park; in 2011 we took a different trail to go northerly direction, this time the trail is westerly direction – The Vine Maple Trail.

Enjoy our walk. It is indeed a beautiful afternoon.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2016/tualatin

Lowami Hart Woods Natural Area

Lowami Hart Woods Natural Area

After spending one week in hospital minus one day, it was so good to be back among the tall trees and the fresh oxygen. I fell on January 3rd on the first snow of the year, I went to the Urgent Care and my primary care physician the next week, everything checked out just needed some time to recover. Alas, I was getting weaker on my right side and finally I was referred to a Neurologist and an MRI was ordered on February 17th. The bleeding did not start until a month later.

Not even the completion of the MRI, the radiologist stopped the scan, and I had to go to the Emergency Room of the hospital right away or call the ambulance. To make matter short without too much drama, I had the surgery the same day at 4:30 PM. I had the procedure called Left Subdural Hematoma (basically my brain was shifted 11 mm due to the blood in my left-brain and it needed to be drained real quickly.

I was in the ICU for three nights and another three nights in the regular room while the drainage (two of them) were still attached to my skull. I have two holes in my head now and about 18 staples. Things seem to look up now and the staples should be removed next week. What an event.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2016/lowami