Continued...

So, Emily was away with Grandma Glenda and Papa David last night. Leslie and I stayed in the hospital. I remember the seven years working at the hospital walking into patient rooms while they were sleeping thinking, "how in the world can they sleep through all this noise?" Noises like pumps, tubes, etc.. And after sleeping in a room with Leslie on a pump... Well, I still ask the same question, as I don't think I got more than about fifteen minutes of sleep.

It's that noise that happens just as you drift off, about every ten seconds or so, as the IV pump pushes some more fluid through the hose.. It's an odd little noise, but enough to jerk you awake EVERY, SINGLE, TIME. I wasn't about to complain, Leslie was the one right next to it, having to get up every three minutes to go to the bathroom, and in tons of pain at the same time.

I certainly enjoyed the 4:30AM blood draw wake up call.. Seriously, 4:30AM? Seriously? Oh, what about Leslie caring you ask, since this really isn't about me? Yeah, I'm sure she didn't like it either :)

So, after no sleep, I got out of there around 5:45 this morning to come back home and run (big mistake... very tired, very not wanting to run = bad time running), then drove to get Emily. We stopped by to say hi to mommy on our way back home, then got ready for the parade with Chebon (which was a huge success! Congrats to Chebon and team!)

Emily didn't like the idea AT ALL of getting in the back of the truck to sit through the parade, so she began by walking with me. Before the parade started she got to pet a llama, as well as see some horses and play chase with some other kids. When we got started, she even started handing out candy to kids. Then, she passed Papa Vinny, didn't notice it was him, so I pointed him out to her. I guess the shock of seeing him out of his "element" was enough for her, because she was done with giving out candy after that. A few more minutes later, she even wanted in the back of the truck, so that's where she went. Papa Vinny spent the rest of the time running down a ways, taking pictures/movies, while Emily waved. At one point Kate came up to me and said, "OH MY GOSH, did you see that cute little man waving at Emily, and she was waving back??? It was sooooo cute!!!" I replied, "Yes, that's my father..." It was a very funny moment :)

All this going on while Leslie was being released from the hospital. Her parents came back to get her and take her home, so by the time we were done with the parade, she was home. We went to Ted's to eat, then we had to rush home because Leslie had to make it to her shower (what, coming home from the hospital and resting you say??? You think??? Not my wife...). She left while Emily slept for about an hour, before I woke her up to go to a birthday party (what, my daughter after spending the night with grandparents and getting little sleep [she had to kick Papa David out of the room because he was snoring. Apparently, it went something like, "Papa, quit snoring! You have to leave!" Then, every time Grandma Glenda started breathing even slightly heavy, "Ma, don't snore!" Almost as fun as falling asleep to that pump noise in the hospital. Apparently fun sleeping times by lots of people last night...], coming home to walking a long parade, going to eat, and then sleeping a good nap? You think??? Not my daughter...). We got to the birthday party (pump it up), played a little, went in for the party part (she didn't eat cake... strange things were afoot I guess...) Then came home. Now rest, right? Nope.

Back in the car to go to Walgreens to get Leslie's prescriptions filled (had to stop for an icee first for Emily), then to get the red car, then home to have dinner.

THEN, FINALLY, we all snuggled in bed to watch Barbie Island Princess. Rest, right? Nada.

It was only about every three minutes that the phone rang (not unlike the pump in the night/snoring/Emily commenting on snoring) with everybody making sure we were still alive.

Finally, 8:00PM. Emily with a book, and to bed. Leslie in bed. Me, writing here.

I honestly believe I overdo the "I'm the luckiest person in the world" feeling on a regular basis, but times like these remind me how much I take for granted every single day of my life. It's amazing to me how when one thing happens to somebody I love, how much my life can so quickly spin out of whack. I know it's unavoidable to slip back into the lull of normality, but every time something like this happens, I'm reminded of a few words my grandfather told me a year or so back when we were up in Minnesota. He was explaining to me the feeling he had during the war about how much he missed home, and how hard it got being away for so long. And then, however many decades later that he was sitting there in his dining room, looking around the room that he had sat in probably thousands of times since he returned from the war is if it were the first time ever looking at the walls, chairs, and table, saying to me, "I have a roof over my head. I have a chair, to sit in. I have clean clothes to wear. I have a family that loves me." These words were not spoken as I speak them when I talk about my "lucky life." These were words that only a person with experiences as his could say and be understood as I understood them.

As long as I'm in sappy mode here, I'll also share that times like these remind me of the last few words spoken in Saving Private Ryan. Have I truly earned this life I live? Have I earned such a loving wife, daughter, family, friends, career? I guess if I take a moment and really think about that question, the answer isn't an easy one.

Anyway, I guess this will be my mid-year Thanksgiving blog :) As thankful as I am for the chair I'm sitting in writing this, and the computer to do it with, as well as all the other toys in my life which I love so much (and only you, reading this, who know me, can truly appreciate that statement), none of it matters without my family, my friends. Thank you to all, who without a second hesitation offered help through this ordeal, willing to drop everything for us. It means more to me than you know, so thank you.

It's good to be home.

...Oh, and if anybody knows why Emily's poop was so bright green tonight, let me know. Wow, was that stuff potent tonight, I think I can still smell it... Maybe Ted's... hmmmm...