Nearly Spring

The weather this week has been delightful.  It is amazing how 90 days worth of snow can disappear in two days of >50 degrees temps.  I loved wearing just a light sweater to lunch on Thursday to celebrate friend, Shelby's birthday.  We enjoyed Hu Hot.  Sam wore shorts to school.  With the great meltdown also came  the mud in the backyard and the exposure of Ted's "hole".  Sadly, that meant muddy paws, fur and overall wet dog every time he was out to do his business.  I have to take the good with the bad.  


Monday found us camped out in the outpatient surgery waiting room waiting for Scott's dad to have a stent placed in his aorta.  Dr. Scott (aka Doogie Houser) was really amazing.  I so appreciated his bedside manner not only with Bob, but with us.  The day started out with a call from Bob at 0700 saying a nurse called to see if he could be to the hospital STAT, because there had been a cancelation or something.  The plan had been that Scott would pick him up and take him to the hospital as he took Jake to school.  Bob sort of freaked out and decided to drive himself to the hospital.  As luck would have it, the canceled procedure was back on and Bob ended up with his 10:45 slot, which ended up being the 12:30 slot because of a longer than expected surgery.  Waiting is not a strong suit for my father-in-law.  He became crabbier by the second.  His stent placement went well, a little longer than we thought it would, but Dr. Scott said it was successful.  During the immediate post-op period Bob had pain in his shoulder.  An EKG and labs were ordered to verify that he was not having a heart attack.  Thankfully, he was not and after some pain meds, he was feeling better.  


A two day stay in the hospital was all he needed, and he seemed better than new.  Bob's color was better than it had been in years.  He seemed to have much more energy.  The stent that was more like a reinforced liner for 10cm of his aorta seemed to make worlds of difference.  I don't know how it would, but it was like his circulation was improved 100%.  We are so relieved.  Seems like the thoughts of Bob going to Heaven in December have been replaced with thoughts that he may live to be 100.  God is good all the time.  


The Beatties are looking forward to Spring Break.  We have made plans to take our boys to the "Happiest Place on Earth" for the first time.  We have reservations at the Polynesian, park tickets and dinner reservations for most days.  I am sure it will be a trip of a lifetime.  The boys are giddy with excitement.  We told them about the trip at Christmas by giving them personalized mouse ears.  I did tell them the catch was they had to wear them during the entire trip or they couldn't go.  Sam actually considered staying home.  :)  It will the first trip to Disney World for all of us.  I went to Disneyland when I was in 7th grade with my family, but I have never been to Orlando.  It is another funny coincidence, Scott and I were probably at Disneyland the same summer, maybe even the same time.  We were destined to be together, even as young as 13 years old.  

Ted has his character flaws, but really is loved by all.  We would be lost without him.  He truly loves his Alpha, too.  As evidenced by being allowed to snuggle with him on the couch after spending the morning at the office with Scott.  

Nick has a fever and a cough today.  I am hoping he is feeling better very soon and that no one else gets whatever he has.  Sore throat, cough, fever, pale.  I know there have been lots of flu and strep infections out there.....  sort of hope there is an antibiotic involved if the symptoms hang around.  


Spring is probably my favorite season.  I love the warmer, but not super hot weather.  The grass greens, the bulbs sprout, sun shines.  I don't have the allergies that plague others in my family, so I am sure they would disagree with my favorite season, but the taste of warm this week has made me really desire Spring. 


I thought Sam was going to succumb to the pressure and run track, but he has opted out.  Scott gave him a choice....  Track or run Dam 2 Dam with him.  Sam chose the 12 mile run over a season of meets and workouts.  I think he may be smoking crack to make that choice, because I loved track season.  I may have to go to meets just for fun.  


A cliff's notes version of updates from the past few months.  I should really try to write more often.  If I was to do that, I might have to resort to making stuff up to make it more interesting though.