Thyme to explain where I've been.....and thyme on Cape Cod

Its been awhile since my last post so thought I would

explain why I've been

MIA
I just returned from a fabulous trip to Italy with my husband, son Andrew and daughter Julie!

                                             I was gone for over 2 1/2 weeks.....it was the perfect trip

BUT

it had a not so perfect ending

          For quite some time now I've had difficulties with a pinched nerve and cyst on my spine....

it was a grueling trip, we visited family in
 Parma and Fano.

We then met up with a tour group in Milan and visited San Marino, Urbino,Riccione, Florence, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, San Gimigimano,Sienna, and Rome

I am truly thankful to have at last arrived safely home from Italy.

We were scheduled to come home on Sunday the 22 . We never made it home......we boarded the plane @ 12:30 PM and ended up sitting on the runway for about 3 1/2 hours due to engine failure. After they FINALLY decided the plane would not be able to leave the ground we were allowed to leave the plane....it then took us another 2+ hours to go to baggage claim collect luggage...several in our group had serious luggage damage even tho the plane never left the ground... we were placed on a bus and headed to a hotel by almost 6:30 PM....only to have to repeat it all again the next day. On Monday we left the hotel in Rome before 9 AM and the group headed to the airport.....we were faced with mass confusion at the ticket counter as we were a group of over 30 people. We boarded the plane as scheduled and flew from Rome to Munich which was a one hour flight. We then changed plane in Munich and boarded the flight to Boston which was about an 8 hour flight. But about 2 hours into the flight I experienced severe leg swelling and pain from a pinched nerve and cyst on my spine......I got up and tried to walk around but no relief........the crew aboard Lufthunsa were wonderful and did everything possible to try to get me comfortable.....unfortunately I became ill and lost consciousness aboard the flight. I will forever be grateful to the skilled crew aboard the plane They quickly were able to move me to the tail of the plane and lie me down. An announcement was made asking for any medical professionals aboard to respond to the medical emergency. Luckily there were 2 doctors, a couple EMT"S and Nurse Practitioner aboard. Because of my symptoms, vital signs and semi conscious state they were concerned that I needed immediate medical attention for a possible blood clot or heart attack...Landing at Logan Airport was still almost 4+ hours away ...the decision was made to divert the plane to St John Newfoundland where and ambulance was waiting for me..Peter came with me but Andrew and Julz remained on the plane.....with my SIL, BIL and the rest of the group..The plane was grounded for over 2 hours as the rescue personnel came aboard and prepared to transport me to hospital..customs and security had to come aboard...I stayed the night in the hospital there undergoing numerous tests...Luckily I did not have a blood clot or heart attack. The many hours I had spent on the plane certainly contributed to what happened. I was d/c early yesterday AM and despite UNBELIEVABLE red tape with customs, security etc. I was cleared to board another plane ..we flew 1 hour 20 minutes to Halifax and changed planes and connected with a flight from Halifax to Boston. We arrived in Boston at about 5:30 PM . A very long exhausting day. Andrew picked us up. While I don't really remember much of what happened I am so very grateful for all the prayers, well wishes and all that everyone did for me. I am most grateful to Peter, Andrew and Julz and my family on the plane for never leaving my side.......I can only imagine the scare I gave them. I
I have been at my Cape home per Dr's orders for some R&R
I am slowly starting to feel like myself again. I've been doing a little gardening and hopefully now I can get back to painting!

Since I have been at the Cape I have finally had the chance to meet a fellow blogger
and
 FB Friend
Lana Testa

from
 Winterberry Primitives
Lana and her husband Dave
invited Pete and I over to
their wonderful
PRIM Cape Cod Home
for dinner
Lana and I had been chatting for months on FB....so seems like I had known her forever.....
Oh...the laughs we had, not to mention the wonderful dinner in the company of what I hope will be good friends.....our hubs got along splendidly.......they even enjoyed some "quiet time" on the couch after dinner! LOL!
Hugs,
Lynn