Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Dad's Back Surgery

October through Mid January were BRUTAL for dad's back... he was getting worse by the minute.
He had an epidural right after thanksgiving and not only did things not get better, they seemed to get worse, especially with the steroids creating anger and aggression in ADDITION to the pain, poor sleep, no exercise, stress etc. Then for money and insurance reasons, we decided to push off a surgery until after the first of the year. So Dad had to ride out the pain and we had to ride out Dad!

We finally found a Doctor up at UCLA in Santa Monica.
He ended up having laminectomies and diskectomies on 3 levels. He had the surgery on a Tuesday morning (Jan. 18. 2011).
He was very hopeful for a good outcome.

My dear friend Suzanne came up to be with me!
He took a while to come out of anesthesia and to recover and be moved to his room. (Notice my little area on the widow bench.)
Doing his breathing exercises so he won't get pneumonia (and keeping his sense of humor).
Drew popped by for a visit and took me to lunch... YUM!!!
Getting up is hard to do...
Ready to go home on Thursday.
Home at last. Snuggling with Jouey.
The healing incision.

January 2011 - Miscellaneous

Taking down the tree tradition...
Friends in hats...
New Year's Resolution - EAT MEAT. Vegetarian no more.
Miss M's science project, phases of the moon.

Miss M Motorcycling

Daddy took Miss M on a motorcycle riding "date" day... she loved it!




Friday, January 21, 2011

Christmas 2010

Traditional Christmas morning stairs shot with a new addition
Bijou opening her gift - which she destroyed in less than 10 minutes



Enjoying Dad's new gift (apple tv and netflix)

Potty Golf for Grampie
Poor dad with his hurt spasm-ing pre-surgery back...
Singing Christmas Carols with Sandra (our electrocutionist)
Christmas guests Chris & Noriko and the usual Grammie.
Christmas Scrabble
Playing with the Gideon girls.

Christmas Eve '10

Tree 2010
Sisters reading the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible.
Husband & Wife's first Christmas together.
Lando & Jo & Grampie - and sample paint colors in the background
Jo taking her turn reading
"Happy birthday to Jesus" with Jo's from scratch red velvet cake.
Gingerbread decorating extravaganza
Elle makes a "GingerDrew cookie"
Drew made a "GingerTyrone"
Deevs' "InjureBread Man"
Maslyn & Sons tech
Lando's winner of "most creative"
Gerald with Jo and her "Michael Jackson (and blanket)" cookie
Saying "goodnight"... the winners of "most classic" and "least frosting used" (I think???) - haha

Miscellaneous FUN (Fall 2010)

At church Deevs' & crew did their own version of OK Go's treadmill dance.
Miss M participated in Mustache Monday at school.
Dad & Lando broke out the motorcycles for the first time in a long time.
Deevs really enjoyed 15 minutes of fame in the NCL Fashion Show.