By-Pass Day +1

Yesterday was my dear sweet father's by-pass. It was truly a long day. He came out of it fine. I can certainly tell you he looks better now then he did during/after all that chemotherapy he had 15 years ago.

I am quite proud of my dad. He seemed pretty calm about the whole thing until the hours just before they wheeled him away.

10:30 they put the pretty blue hair net on him and took him for prep.
12:15 they took him into surgery
4:30 the doctor came out and told us the surgery was a success. Praise God!
5:30 we went into his room (8 of us) and they gave us the run down on how he did and the recovery process
5:45 while we were in the room he opened his eyes. Mom leaned over and kissed him and talked to him. In all honesty, that was the first time I cried through the whole ordeal.
I leaned over to talk to him and he turned his eyes toward me (of course he could say anything our really move because he was hooked to a ventilator).
9:30 after dinner we returned to tell him goodnight. I said "We will be back to see you in the morning." He gave me a thumbs up. That was the second time that day I cried. Praise God!
Day 2
6:15 am: we went back up to see dad. He was awake, but a bit nauseous. He remembered the night before. The nurse says he may not remember any of this later. We will see.
9:05 am: we took a flight back home. It was hard to leave, but we knew he was glad we were there and we knew there was not much more we could have done if we had stayed.
5:45 pm: Called Mom. Sounds like dad is doing good. We will keep praying for his quick recovery.

I am writing a journal of the events as well as memories from childhood. I plan to enter more this week and send it to my dad, so he had it when he gets home end of the week. Maybe once it is there my brother and sisters can do the same when they are home.

Praise God for my dad. Praise Him for the surgeons that know what they are doing. Praise Him for life!

The Men in my life

Poor poor Drew. He had to have a scope stuck down his throat this morning. Ouch! They knocked him out and he is now sitting on our back porch recovering from the drugs. He'll be fine when they wear off.

Other news in Bird world. My dad is having heart surgery on Friday. Seems they found blockage in 3 of his arteries. It looks like I am the only one of my dad's 5 children who can go home for the blessed event. Drew and I will probably go tomorrow night and miss another day of work on Friday. We both have great bosses that will allow us the time off.

You know, it is quite strange. I spent some time just yesterday recounting events from 14 years ago dealing with my dad and his health. When I was still in high school my dad had lymphoma. He spent 8 months in treatment. I thought I should record my thought from those 8 months. Shortly after I finished my 3 page memoirs I got a call from my mom telling me dad was going to have to have heart surgery. I am glad to say it is a different time and I am in a much different place, but it certainly hit home.

Six Flags, 2 Witches, the in-laws and a Chocolate Factory

So often I wonder what life would be like if we didn't have unexpected adventures pop up on occasion. This week has been quite unexpected thus far.
Day 1- Saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory(quite good, but love most anything Tim Burton does) and saw Stevie Nicks in concert (hadn't had much Stevie Nicks exposure other than the Fleetwood Mac songs on the radio, must say she is kinda spooky)
Day 2 - Spent the day riding roller coasters at Six Flags (wouldn't have been unusual, except it was totaly unplanned and got to skip work to go). Fun!
Day 3 - My husband had to have dinner with Elvira (really!) and I picked his mom up at the airport and took her home. (Interesting trade off, wouldn't you say?)

Hoping today is more run-of-the-mill. Too much excitement in one week could keep one from enjoying life.

Too Early

I stayed up late hoping I would wake up late. No such luck. Still have 12 hrs before my sweet Drew gets home. I'm picturing the sheep now . . . 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 and your getting sleepier and sleepier. I'm going back to bed.

Later

Well, I got my hair cut last night. I decided to be a bit adventurous. It is the shortest I have had my hair. Let's just hope Drew likes it.

That adventure has seemed to pay off, so I thought I would set up a blog. Seems fun so far!

Drew will be home in 28 hours and counting! When I pick him up at the airport he will have been away 11 days and 9 hours. Time to come home! Ya been away long enough.

Things that happened during the time he was gone: 1. Bombings in London, 2. Drew turned ?? years old, 3. I shrimp jumped, but no fish died, phew, 4. Saw Debbie W. for the first time in 1.5 years (best friend growing up), 5. My sister Rebecca found out she's havin' baby #2, 6. Oh, yes . . . got my hair cut.

Stay tuned . . .