Hey, Good Lookin'

As a part of Camille's Birthday Festivities (more on that tomorrow) we took the kids up to Sacramento to visit Grandpa in the hospital. If this were me, I wouldn't want my hospital picture posted for everyone in blogland to see, but since they don't have internet access in the ICU, he'll never know!!! (So don't tell!) The kids were a little shy about seeing him, but once he started talking everyone was okay. He's in good spirits and is so happy that they've finally let him go pee. (Simple pleasures...) He's hoping they'll let him come home tomorrow, but I say "not a chance!" Maybe on Monday though.

We love you Dad! Can't wait until you're all better!

An Update...

Medical science is amazing! My dad came out of the surgery just fine, and the doctor said he was a "real trooper!" He was really agitated, steaming mad at my mom, and a bit psycho when he first woke up (some would argue that this is normal behavior for him, but don't you believe them!), but I guess you've got to have a few side effects when someone goes poking around in your brain for 6 hours. I spent the day with him today and he's feeling better and looking great - very cute for a bald man! In two weeks they will turn on his bionic parts, and then we'll know how successful the surgery really was.
Unfortunately there is the little matter of the heart attack he had about 8 hours after surgery. Keep those prayers coming...

Hero

hero n., a man of great courage.

I'm sure that all of you feel that your dad is one of your heroes, but tonight I feel it very acutely. As most of you know, my dad has Parkinson's Disease. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to deal with all of the symptoms he faces, but he handles it with amazing grace. In a move I'm not sure if I could have made myself, he has elected to be proactive in managing his symptoms and improving the quality of his life (and, in turn, the quality of many lives - mine included) by doing something about it. He's in the hospital tonight, and in the morning he will undergo 6-12 hours of brain surgery. I'm so proud of him - and, to be truthful, I'm a little bit frightened.

Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery is (to my meager understanding) a surgery in which two holes (each the size of a quarter) are drilled into the skull so that doctors can insert probes deep into the brain. These probes are connected to insulated wires that run betweeen the skull and the skin going down the side of the head, behind the ear, and down to the chest area where they will implant a pulse generator (also known as a brain pacemaker). This device will send electrical impulses to the probes in the brain to interfere with the neural activity that is currently going on there. Because feedback from the patient is essential for optimal placement of the probes in the brain, he will undergo most of this surgery while he is completely and totally awake.

Wow.

If that isn't courageous, I honestly don't know what is.

I love my dad, and I have great hope that this surgery will be a tremendous blessing in his life. Please include him in your prayers. . . I know it will make a difference.

Love to all. . . especially you, Daddy!

Spring Break

Just finished our Spring break.

Some highlights...

rode a whale

{at UC Berkley - such a fun place!},

explored the human form

{ooh la la!},

held a tarantula

{not her mother's child!},

did some of this

{with our adorable cousin},

while sporting these beauties,

rode the rides,

and played LOTS and LOTS of this!

{Go, Adam...another RBI}.

Hope you enjoyed your break too!

Easter Preparations

My mom and my sister's family came over on Friday

for the sometimes annual day of all things Easter.

It's been a few years since we've done this,

and again I am reminded

about the difference between girls and boys.

Matt and Jared dyed their

obligatory egg or two

before they headed off for a day of

cards/basketball/video games

with Matt's buddies.

{And trust me-

getting them to do a few eggs

was no easy task!}

Nathan and Adam were a little more willing,

but they only got in a few eggs before

they got distracted by this.

These boys were even willing to decorate a cookie,

but didn't last very long before

they were distracted by this...

BOYS!!

The girls, on the other hand,

were a different story.

Their enjoyment of the day started

from the word "GO!"

They got the dyes ready

{don't you love the way they fizz!}

and got everything arranged on the table

ready for us to begin.

They meticulously worked on each egg,

completing at least a dozen or two each,

and loved tutoring little Rachel.

I love this shot -

the dye drippings are almost as beautiful

as the eggs themselves!

After the eggs were successfully beautified,

they got to work on the cookies ---

Cutting out the dough...

and decorating cookies.

{Or eating the decorations, as the case may be!}

Did we end up with beautiful

works of art??

No.

We ended up with these --

cookies with as much frosting, sprinkles and candy

as humanly {or "kidly"} possible!

Now, don't those look apetizing?

I guess we're all ready for the big day!

{see post below...}

Happy Easter

After a week of mostly rain,

I was so grateful that Easter morning was bright and sunshiny!

The Easter bunny brought delightful baskets of goodies

for the kiddos...

and we made an attempt at getting a few pictures taken

before heading off to celebrate the season at church...

{sure wish I could get a handle on this camera -

everyone is washed out today!!}

and later at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

One of the things I love about Easter
is that we have such a lovely holiday
{and holy day!} to celebrate,
with all its traditions and love,
but without all the stress
of some of those other holidays.
I love watching the kids hunt for eggs
at my childhood home...

in the same plants and places that were there when I was a child.

My favorite part of the whole day was

catching Camille muttering

as she walked the perimeter of the yard.

She couldn't find the elusive last egg

(a feeling I have vivid memories of myself),

and she was sternly speaking under her breath . . .

"Grandma is SO mean.

Oh, she's mean.

Oooooooh, she's so mean!"

It was hilarious and I quickly relayed the story,

knowing full well what the result would be.

Dinner preparations were IMMEDIATELY suspended

as two best buddies

searched together for the missing egg -

With success and happiness being the ultimate outcome.

Happy Easter all!