All is Well

We're back home from our extended trip to Bellingham. Eric's Dad did amazingly well with his surgery - when we left this afternoon he was chatting away, had good color and was cracking jokes. He got a pig valve yesterday during his four hour surgery, then went into the ICU. They had him sitting up and even standing by the end of the day. Today he was able to sit in a wheelchair for the move to the regular ward. I'm pretty sure he's going to be feeling better than ever once he heals from the surgery.

On the running side of things, I achieved a new milestone this week. I ran two laps of Lake Padden - about 5.2 miles - on New Year's Day, the day after the marathon! That is the first time I have ever gone on a run the next day - I usually take two days of rest. That should tell you two things - one, I felt good, but more important, number two, I managed my blisters well. I had two hot spots after the marathon that turned into small blisters after the five mile run and that was it. I would have liked to follow up with a few more days of running, but wasn't able to fit it in with our time at the hospital. The run around Padden was part of a New Years Day Fun Run and Polar Bear Plunge. I was pretty sure I wasn't plunging, and the ice rimming the lake helped me make that final decision. Eric decided against it as well. We read later that the lake water was about 36 degrees.

I had a quiet birthday, but really enjoyed it. Despite the fact that we were sitting in a hospital waiting to hear from the surgeon, then followed that with hours outside the ICU, it was very relaxing. I think it had to do with letting go. We had no control over the timing or the outcome of the surgery, so we let all our worries go. At the same time, neither of us could think about work, so we let that go too. Instead, we enjoyed the time we spent with Eric's brother, with Bette, and when we could, with his Dad. We left for an hour to wander some shops in town, then we slipped out late in the evening for my birthday dinner at a favorite restaurant from our college days. We went back to the hospital for a final check-in after dinner and then back to the house.

This morning we got there bright and early to find his Dad awake and talking. I don't really know what words to use to describe the feeling - joy? Wonder? Amazing? It was all of those. It was just good to know he was doing so well and obviously feeling better despite the surgery pain. He has an amazing attitude - he said "Every time I look at the clock, and an hour has gone by, I know I am one hour closer to healing." He's cheerful with the nurses - they think he is a model patient.

I'll try to get some marathon pictures up in the next few days. In the meantime, thank you for all the birthday wishes, and for all the prayers and well wishes that you gave for our family in the last few days. And yes, for those who wondered, this birthday was one of those big ones. I am in a new age group and I am officially 50 years old!