This update is mostly family-related, may be boring to you.
So, lots of family stuff going on this week– on Wednesday, we were preparing to drive north for Stephan's mom's knee-replacement surgery (ouch!) when we learned that a new cousin-in-law had been welcomed into the family. In case you know Cory and Caroline, they had a baby boy named Will on Wednesday, and from the photos, he is every bit as cute as Henry. I'm sure my family members don't want me telling my blog readers too much about them, so let's just leave it at that and if you know them, feel free to email them!
Yesterday Jan went in for the knee-replacement, and no kidding, THIS MORNING SHE GOT UP AND WALKED ON THE NEW KNEE. Damn! Double damn! In case you're wondering, that means my mother-in-law is GANGSTER when it comes to her pain tolerance. Again, for those who know her, the surgery went well, her pain management (from other medical issues) is under control, and we are all seeing her frequently to make sure she's entertained and not wanting for anything. This knee replacement is the first step in a couple of surgeries she needs, so we're all excited to get that process underway and get her back to health.
On another note, is there anything more depressing than a hospital cafeteria? I've had the dubious fortune of visiting a number of hospitals in my day, and I have to say, by and large they all contain the same things: salad bar where you're like "um, I'm a hospital, why would I want to eat food that's out in the open like that?", "hot food" area where the food is pre-cooked and sitting under a heat lamp (shudder)– this one included mashed potatoes, some baked chicken, and (for some reason) Swedish meatballs. Nothing like some heavy, carbohydrate-rich food to make you logey so you can be at your most efficient providing life-saving medical services, right? This cafeteria was also special in that it resides in the basement with absolutely no natural light, and has a big sign on the way in that says "DO YOU KNOW THE SIGNS OF MRSA?" with a large photo of someone's hand who has a MRSA infected-sore on it. Because that's JUST the kind of thing you want to see on your way in to get some salad bar and Swedish meatballs, right?
Did I mention that I have "food in germ" phobia? Yes, this means I do make my own vegetable sandwiches and bring them with me. I do have to give it up for the Starbucks in the lobby, though. Spending twelve hours in a place with no coffee would probably have been as bad as eating those meatballs.
Email or comment with messages for Cory, Caroline, or Jan if you like. For the rest of you, I will try to remember to get a photo of that totally special MRSA sign for you this afternoon. And….have a nice weekend!