Let's Make a Deal.

Cindy bought me this balloon after my second hip surgery. Apparently...if you have a second surgery the gifts/presents are a little laid back from the first time around. I'm not complaining...I'm just saying. Anyway I made a deal with this balloon and Cindy - I would go back to work once this balloon lost all it's helium and was no longer floating. Well the balloon has out-lasted me. I had been off work long enough and got the doctors OK to return to work. The balloon is still soaring strong and I have finally returned to work but in a new position. My company picked up a contract with the City/County of Omaha for a large number machines that we manage under "print management" and I moved into this position.

It is in our home office in Omaha so I am now commuting each day and trying out a desk job instead of the service-side. After a whole week of work it seems like a good fit. I have to say changing jobs after so many years (and dare I say my age) it is a learning curve. I felt like a kid on the first day of school. Who is going to be my teacher...am I going to meet new friends...who am I going to sit with at lunch?

Now the question is...do I keep the same blog title or am I now "Print Man". That doesn't sound very Super Hero-ish.

I will let you know...when my balloon finally gives it up.

 

Oh NoOOo

  I'm thinking since we just sent off our "New Years Letter" it is not to late to blog about our trip to the Hills for Christmas and our trip to Denver which was a little more recent. My medical time off  from work has been "a blessing and a curse"...movie line ( Ok...TV series) anyone? Mostly a blessing which enabled Cindy and I to go to the Hills for an extended period of time over Christmas. Spending time with you, Mom and Dad, was truly a gift that I still treasure and is my "tree house" thought. Cindy and I always feel like we are at the center of one big party at all the family gatherings. Oh wait...we are!

It snowed two feet the evening Cindy and I arrived. Kept us home bound for awhile. Which meant staying put, drinking coffee and visiting! Oh NoOOo.

It didn't stop all the wild life from coming out.

 

Including  Cody who climbed and skied down the hill a couple times. I'm talking wild life here! 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of wild life...this family knows how to put on a party. 

 

The weather finally allowed us to make it down to Dave and Deana's to visit more family. Here is Henry dancing to "frosty" who is singing in the back ground. I think Zara should get this on line for a You Tube hit for sure! 

A happy Grandpa and grandson.

 

 

 

Cindy and I were able to head to Denver this past week to see Ashley and Alex. Another blessing with my time off. Alex sponsored a group of kids to Washington DC for the March for Life so Gods timing allowed us to help Ashley with the boys while Alex was gone. This is another one of our "tree houses" which we hold so dear. Liam is talking up a storm which is mostly understandable and Michael jumps in -now and then- to help interpret. Liam... "Hello gama"..."O-hey"..."I'm Ok!" (when he crashes into a wall or misses a corner as he goes careening after his big brother) and my new favorite is "Oh NoOOo" (used anytime. I mean anytime! Anytime you have too many scrambled eggs to eat...or not enough...or a plane flies over...or Liam hears the garbage truck come...a very versatile expression...I love it.)

 

 

 

Michael celebrated his 4th birthday while we were there. Cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents all made for a festive time. Ashley bought "glow sticks" for all the kids which was a huge hit!

Ashley also made these ice cream cakes all from scratch which I thought was way better than glow sticks!

Michael liked the final touches of "Mike the Knight" toppings.

This is where Cindy lived a large part of the time...including reading "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site" a number of times...everyday. This was Liam's favorite book...oh NoOOo. I think it has become one of Cindy's favorites also (we will anxiously await the book report).

 

Super Hero time...need a little help with the cape though.

 

 Michael is showing his Super Hero speed.

 

The weather was quite nice for January and allowed us to take a trip into the mountains to a little town which reminded us of Keystone with a lot of shops.  Had great pizza!

 

And of coarse not to leave out Mr Happy 99% of the time John Paul! He is trying out his new quilt  Cindy made.

 

 

Next we get to see Dene' in March while Tyler is traveling for work. But will get to see all the kids here over Easter! Oh NoOOo...that's a good thing!

 



 

Thanksgiving

We were blessed to have both families home for Thanksgiving. It was picture perfect.

Waiting for James to smile.

No we did not turn off the heat...Liam is waiting for Michael to get dressed to play outside.

Bundled and ready to play.

Me too.

You may stand with grandpas help.

John Paul with his ever constant happy face.

Even James is getting into story time.

Tyler and Alex raked 36 bags of leaves for me! Michael and Liam enjoyed that almost as much as I did.



Michael and James are easily entertained.
 

 

James holding his own with his cousin.



 

 

Not sure who is having more fun here.

Liam's creation...with a little help from dad. 

Call it a ginger bread house or a graham cracker hut it is still delicious.

Dene' gives Michael the stocking she made.

Four happy boys.



Family is what we are thankful for.

James is the happiest of all.

Here is a picture puzzle Tyler and Dene' gave us.

Grandpa time (and no I'm not changing a diaper).

John Paul and his squeaky toy (when Liam isn't jumping on it to make it squeak). 

Are you ignoring grandpa?

That's better.

 

John Paul is a mommas boy (and grandmas boy too). 

 

John Paul seems to be the only grand-boy enjoying this picture session.



May your Christmas and New Year be filled with
Thanks Giving!

 

 

The Days Are Just Packed

  Rehab at home has been going well...if not quite as fast as I would like. The first 2 weeks after surgery I felt such an improvement each day that I thought by week 3 or 4 I would be back to full strength (no way dude). The healing process, while still heading the right direction, has certainly slowed down. At my doctors appointment last week I had X-Rays taken and all was healing well and on schedule. So at this time I have the Right Hip procedure scheduled for Dec 1. We are hoping the timing will work well with all the kids coming home for Thanksgiving and Cindy and I planning on going to the Hills over Christmas.

So taking walks in the neighborhood, reading, lots of football, and eagerly waiting for Thanksgiving, my days are just packed.

A few pictures of my busy days:




The Fall weather has been very nice...until it snowed yesterday.

Feeling well enough to take a few snaps for Peyton Manning.

Just hanging with the guys.

 

Cindy said I looked worried...you would too if you were at the Black Gate.

Birding has slowed down a bit...at lest outdoors.

 

 

 

 

Cindy teases me about my "busy days"...but I'm enjoying them.



Top 5 Reasons to have a Hip Replacement

These last 10 months have led me on a slow and sometimes painful and frustrating journey. After several tests the diagnosis was degeneration and arthritis in the left hip (with the right hip soon to follow). With the diagnosis it took us very little time to decide and schedule the hip replacement surgery. Now in the early stages of recovery I am able to look back and see the positive reasons for this surgery and wanted to share them:

5-  I will no longer walk around like a cowboy who has been on his horse too long. This of coarse
      will be after I progress from walker to cane to being able to bend my leg more than 90 degrees.

4-  This was the fist time I have ever had an overnight stay in a hospital. Three days and two nights
      in a private room, remote control TV, ordering off a menu from a premier restaurant here in     
      town for lunch and supper, and with the push of a button someone at my beck-and-call 24hrs a
      a day. Ok that last one was not so great...a hip replacement patient is a "class 1" risk for falls
      while in the hospital. Which meant I got to wear yellow sticky socks and a yellow band on my
      wrist so in case I had any thoughts of taking a stroll I could be easily identified by the yellow
      sock police. My bed was also wired to set off an alarm if I got up with out help...meaning this
      was the first time since grade school I had to ask permission to go to the bathroom. A little
      humility is a good thing.

3-  Some very nice plants and snacks from Barb and Jeff, Novarits sent a nice plant arrangement,
      and my place of business sent an edible bouquet.

Thanks Barb and Jeff

2-  More time for watching football. I can't drive for 1 month and am restricted from bending at the   
     waist no more than 90 degrees for 3 months. Time frame for going back to work is a little up in
     the air so watching 6 football games on Saturday is not out of the question.

1-  Dene' and James came out for the week of surgery and that was good medicine indeed. We played
     a few games of backgammon in the hospital and because of the meds for pain relief I was on
     Cindy said "He was having a tough time counting to six with much accuracy". I wonder how long
      I can use that excuse every time I lose a game.

Recover time.

 

 

Play time.

Cindy has been a huge help both in doing double duty around the house (while she works full time and keeps up with classes) and helping me stay positive with a sense of humor thrown in. My hip will heal. Cindy and I both keep in our thoughts and prayers all of our family members and friends who are struggling with some very serious and chronic health issues. What helps us the most is trying to live "One day at a time" knowing that  "God gives us the grace for today"...tomorrow will take care of itself.






Alligators, Babies and Clouds

Cindy and I went to Orlando for James Michael's baptism. We were able to spend time with Dene' and Tyler, Jeff and Barb, and Ashley and John Paul...that was a blessing indeed! Orlando was hot and humid...rained almost everyday but that didn't stop us from enjoying our visit (almost entirely indoors). We didn't see Mickey Mouse but we did pick up 12 new birds for our big year. Florida has a lot of water birds, must have to do with 95 degrees and 95 % humidity.  On one of our birding trips we did see a couple dozen alligators (and heard several of them). Here is the picture blog of our trip.

 

 

James is sleeping again!

 

 

 



Cousins.

 

Although we did have some beer John Paul was only teething.

 

 

Wide awake.

Getting dressed for baptism.

 

 
 

Baptism.

 

 

You can't see it here but James was quite vocal.


 

James having some Grandma Barb cuddle time.


 

 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two great moms.

 

Rained almost everyday. Welcome to Florida.

 

 

Pied-billed Grebe

 

Great Blue Heron



Little Blue Heron



Anhinga





Anhinga

Common Gallinule

Great Egret and Black-bellied Whistling Duck

 

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

 

 

Wet lands park.

Great Blue Heron

One of many gators.

Big and vocal.

Limpkin

Check out the sad face.

 

Grandma Cindy.

So it begins.



The little guy with the two best parents.