the Next Big Surgery

The Three Amigos at my bedside

So finally went in for surgery, 2.5 years after the Big One. Turned out to be bigger than expected; doc found things in my gut that complicated my surgery. Then another complication during recovery made that  pretty miserable but I had lots of visitors to cheer me up.  

So.Much.Protein needing to be consumed...

Rcceived several bunches of lovely flowers in my Good Sam room

Got mermaid-toes again this time around, for luck

 

Brown's Point redux

Leah in Discovery Bay

We combined a family reunion with a family visit -- this one to Leah and Michael in Tacoma. The weather was fine (except reunion day of course) and we enjoyed our time there. A little kayaking, some lovely walks, and game time. B's Aunt Diane attended, with Uncle Rick. 

Luna loves to visit Aunt Leah

Small Duff family reunion at Brown's Point park

As usual, Marshall boys dominate shuffleboard

 

NOT born on the Fourth 9 of July

 Baby Girl turned 41 this July and we celebrated with a potluck and games gathering in our backyard. Jess came from Eugene and a good time was had by all (as far as I could tell). 

City of Roses

Another first this year: attending the Rose Festival Parade. It was much like I remembered from childhood: a big folksy, lovely flower-colored floats and many, many marching bands. Definitely worth the two hours we gave it. The parade is on the east side of town now, a change from decades of downtown prominence. 

 

Being Green

 This year marks our 10th (we think) CF fundraising walk. Small turnout for the Green Team but we were dedicated. Vancouver this year, we were gone for the PDX event. 

Another degree bites the dust

 June was good news kid-wise for us. Jess received her (second) master's degree and she is now a licensed clinical social worker and has accepted a good job at a local clinic. She is very happy. We attended her graduation in Eugene and were the only family there, with the exception of cousin Melodie and Grandma Nana. 

And TJ came to visit, in Oregon for a friend's wedding. 

Jess at friend's PDX gathering

A virgin in Paradise

 Back to Hawaii this year, this time with a different goal: introduce Mom-Nancy to the islands. She'd never been so we took her to the Big Island since we know it well and felt we could tour guide well. The weather was oddly cool and the volcano, active only weeks before, was quiet (yet erupted again days after we left). We did all the things: swim and snorkel, shop, luau, tour heritage sites, volcano watch and eat lots of fish and Mac salad. 

Nancy, with help, cuts fruit for breakfast outside our back door. 

Botanical garden, Hilo side.

Place of refuge

Plantation worker cemetery, Hawi.

Phone photography dominated the trip. Nancy filled up her Cloud account and struggled a bit with her phone apps -- but kept trying. 

Road trip snacks in Kohala.

Her first lei

As expected, Nancy LOVED snorkeling!

Springtime Blossoms

 Spring was a busy time. B went to the Methow to help out for a week, we opened Hill Street and celebrated Easter a bit late. We also made it downtown to enjoy the river and cherry trees in bloom. It went by in a flash. 

Southwest by Southwest

 Well, for our birthday trip we opted for somewhere close that we'd never been before. New Mexico it was and we choose the southwest corner to get an experience very different from our previous trip to Arizona. We stayed in Silver City, near the Gila Mountains. It wasn't the best time health-wise, following only one week after the heart procedure, but we made it work. We flew into Tucson and stayed overnight with Aunt B. We hiked a lot, did a little shopping/museuming and soaked in the sights. Four quick days. 

 

Copper open pit mine in Barstow

Catwalk canyon outside Silver City

Cliff dwellings in Gila mountains

Cliff dwellings in Gila mountains

City of Rocks

Heritage site for Native tribe 

Hiking in very small increments, still healing from pericarditis

Dry riverbed trail, Silver City

A Matter of the Heart

a plethora of hospital cups is a measurement of too many stays.

 Nearly two years after being officially diagnosed with patent formamen ovale, a congenital heart defect, I went into the hospital to have the proverbial "hole in the heart" closed up. Nowadays they do it without open heart surgery, instead using a fiber camera to go through an artery to make a repair. Believe it or not, it's an outpatient procedure. 

I felt fine to go home that night but woke up in pain, with shortness of breath and a sky-high blood pressure and respiration. They told me to go to the ER, where I was diagnosed with a pericardial effusion and pericarditis (inflammation in the lining around the heart). A tough week in the hospital followed, with every step causing chest pain. Day by day I got better, damning my luck at yet again having the 2% chance of a negative outcome from the procedure. 

The Christmas Giveaway

 Looking at the boxes upon boxes of Christmas decorations waiting to be unveiled this year -- and thinking about hauling it all up to the Methow -- we came up with a new plan. We set aside our favorites that we wanted to keep and gave all the rest to the kids. Only the Oregon-based kids wanted any, but we gave everyone the opportunity. 

The holiday family gathering was also limited to Oregon kids, with the exception of sister Leah and brother Michael, who joined us Christmas Day for the annual Darcelle Scavenger Hunt. Jess was on the winning team yet again. Unbeatable so far.

Steven, Jess and Michael bask in the glory of Darcelle.

Year One of stepping away from Eggs Benedict brunches on Christmas morning. Too much work.