Yesterday we drove down to Dallas to visit Dealey Plaza, the site where President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. It was an interesting place to visit, even though I don’t have the emotional memories that most of our parents have. The thing that struck me, is the plaza hasn’t really changed in the last 34 years. As you stand on the side of the street, it’s easy to picture the grainy video of Kennedy’s processional driving past.
Lots of people come to visit year round.

The Texas School Book Depository, where Lee Harvey Oswald was positioned in the second window from the top.

Two women look over the fence onto the grassy knoll. This is the where the second shooter(s) might have been.

A view through one of the missing fence boards.

Tonight two college-age girls knocked at the door. They explained that they were decorators working in the area and were selling large pieces of art. I was about to tell them we weren’t interested when they asked if “my mom might be interested.”

Umm yeah. I’m old. And my mom doesn’t live here. But my wife does. Of course she’d probably love to look at your paintings, but then she’d probably end up getting attached to one of them and then we’d have to buy it.

I smirked and told the girls we weren’t interested.

It’s been 7 days since my surgery, and I’m slowly starting to feel better. The first day I was still a little bit out of it from the anesthesia. Days 2 – 5 were painful, especially since I was taking regular tylenol in lieu of the makes-me-super-dizzy-narcotics that were prescribed. On day 6 the pain dropped off considerably which is great except now I really notice how swollen my throat is. In particular I’m finding that when your punchy bag thingy (aka: uvula) is really swollen and rests on your tongue it feels very awkward. Hopefully over the next few days the swelling goes down. Perhaps then I’ll even feel like going back to work 😉
While I’ve been healing up Avery has had an exciting week. He’s been spending some time slithering around on our hardwood floors. We put a toy about 2 – 3 feet in front of him and he uses his hands to drag himself towards it. Sometimes instead of heading towards his toy he goes after Commodus. Then a day or so ago we started feeding him a little bit of rice cereal which was exciting (and messy)!
Feel better soon Daddy!

Getting ready to slither.

I see a puppy dog.

Let’s play!

Yesterday morning Lindsey, Avery, and I (the patient) headed over to the outpatient surgery clinic in Covington to get my tonsils taken out. I’ve never had surgery before, so heading into this I was a little bit nervous. As it turned out I had nothing to worry about. The staff were all very friendly, and they took great care of me.
When I first arrived they took me + my entourage back into the pre-op area. I got a comfy chair to sit in, a gown that connected up to a hair-dryer-like apparatus (to keep me warm), some fancy leggings (to prevent clots), and some warm socks. After a battery of health history questions another nurse came along to give me an IV. I don’t think I’ve ever had an IV before, but it went fine.
Next I got to relax for a while, as the surgeon was slightly behind schedule. Lindsey and I talked a bit, she fed Avery once or twice, and we looked at a magazine. Eventually the anesthesiologist came along to chat. She explained how the general anesthesia worked — something in my IV to drift me off to sleep, then something to breath during surgery. The breathing tube would go in after I was asleep, and 99% of the time they have the tube out before the patient wakes up. Sounded good to me.
Finally it was time to give Lindsey a kiss and an ‘I love you’, before walking to the operating room with the nurse. The O.R. had all sorts of equipment in it, and lots of people in blue outfits. Once I got settled on the table the anesthesiologist said she’d “drift me off to sleep.” My vision went blurry, and that was the last I remember.
45 minutes later.
I heard a nurses voice, but I don’t remember what she was saying. Then a few moments later I could see her, and she was asking how my pain was. Weird, I don’t remember anything. One moment I was falling asleep, the next my throat hurts like hell. I told her it’s a 5 on a scale of 1 – 10. Then Lindsey arrived. I told the nurse and Lindsey I felt “fabulous,” and I enjoyed the power-nap. They giggled at me. About 45 minutes in recovery and they sent me home.
The first night at home went pretty well. I didn’t get sick, though between the anesthesia and pain meds I felt really woozy. I ate some sorbet, clam chowder, cream-of-wheat, and ice cream. I felt bad for Lindsey, between Avery and I her hands were full.
This morning I feel a lot better. My throat still hurts, but the dizziness is gone. I’ve decided to take regular Tylenol instead of the narcotic pain meds they gave me. The Tylenol works fine and has less side effects.