Ethan’s Journey

Happy St. Patrick’s day! My Aunt made a good point! On St. Patrick’s day EVERYONE is Irish! My favorite Irish contribution is the Irish goodbye. I have perfected this technique over the years! There was snow on the ground and it was snowing sideways. YUCK!  Ok Mother Nature….simmer down! I had my annual review today. It went well. I learned that I had an “infamous” email that I sent out. “Is that good or bad?” I asked. Apparently it was a good email PHEW!  I needed to be reminded of what email that was. Apparently it was a email that I created to educate and share a process. It was deemed quite helpful and was escalated up the chain to the big bosses, big boss and beyond. Nice! I helped people and had not idea! That could have gone either way really! I am not shy about sharing my thoughts or feelings about things at work, or in general. I have learned it is kind of an art form. It has to be done with curiosity and kindness. Glad it paid off in this instance. Meanwhile in Denve...

 Our power went off three times over night. Around 8:00 am it started going off and on like a light switch. I lost count after 15 times. Every few minutes it would go out for a minute and then turn back on. It wasn’t ideal for making internet calls. I felt tired today. I have the pre-travel lists I am going over in my head. It seems like my brain thinks it is life or death if we forget something. As if we can’t purchase whatever it is we need. I know it is unrealistic. But somehow the lists keep happening. Avery arrived in Denver today for a large physics conference. She is presenting with her professor regarding the research she did last summer.  It is the first time she has flown without a parent. My baby is growing up! I have declared war against mice in my basement. Patti 3, mice -0. Since everyone knows that mice can come back to life at any moment (my unrealistic fear) I have Paul discard them. I just don’t like mice. They move too fast and they carry and spread diseases...

 One thing I like to do on the weekends is sit across from Paul on the couch. We chat, but then I start sending him funny or gross videos so I can watch him react. The fun part for me is He then makes me laugh with his reaction and now I want to send him more videos. Sometimes I find stuff that is handy or looks interesting.it it is anything about bridges, for some reason he is fascinated by bridges.  We visited with our friends from a land far, far away (about 3 hours). We see them once every year or two. Friends from college make it seem as though no time has passed. We pick up where we left off. Our kids and pets get older but I just either don’t feel older maturity wise. I do FEEL older when I get out of bed. I do feel geriatric on some days. Those are the “Paul get the shotgun and a shovel.” Type days. We went to breakfast. The waitresses were dressed in their at. Patrick’s day’s finest. It was cute. We had some good conversations. Grant got to meet Jiminy. After the blan...

 Paul did not follow directions last night. I asked him to lock the dogs up before he went to bed. When he wasn’t looking, Moe snuck upstairs and quietly invited himself into the bed. I was sleeping so I didn’t notice. I woke up in the middle of the night and Moe was snoring in my face. Part of me is proud of him for being so sneaky, the other part….i don’t want him in the bed snoring in my face. Early this morning I hear this snorting noise. It was Moe making a gross noise. Paul started giggling as it woke him up too. A man giggle makes me giggle. The two of us giggling in the dark at 4 in the morning. “You failed your task last night.” I lovingly pointed out. “How does it feel to wake up as a failure?” I asked him in a completely monotone voice. Moe made more snorting noises and we continued to giggle.  “He was sneaky.” Paul responded. The dog snoring continued along with occasional snorting. This dog!!!! Ethan and I headed off the the lab at 7:30. He has timed tests so he n...

I did my presentation today. The school took about 25 minutes to get their equipment up and running. I was frustrated with myself afterwards. I kept saying UM! I hate that. I try to avoid that as much as possible and always evaluate how I did. Luckily I made up for it in laughs generated. I like the presentation to be a little entertaining since it is a boring topic. I was glad it is Friday. I was over “it” today and unable to concentrate as well as I would have liked. The “it” was work. I do work more than required. Last night I was working in the waiting room as the tax guy did his thing. My brain said ENOUGH! I laid out my clothes and toiletries that I will be taking to Grand Bahama. That was far more exciting than work. Paul and I will each take 2 carry on’s for the week. We have laundry at the house we are staying at. I have a variety of snacks for us for the week as well. Tomorrow morning is a lab morning with Ethan. Hoping everything looks ship shape on his labs. Ethan, Paul and...

Paul had his cardiac check up today. When Ethan was born and his initial heart defect was discovered, he had some genetic testing done. Paul and myself as well as our siblings were encouraged to get checked as well. No one had any precursors to Shone’s Syndrome, Ethan’s diagnosed heart condition. But the cardiologist did find an enlarged spot on Paul’s aorta. He has been going to routine visits ever since. Long ago I told Paul that he can’t have any heart conditions because Ethan already claimed that. Paul goes for an echo in a few weeks. They will measure the enlarged area and see if it is growing larger. Paul’s back was hurting. Didn’t he get the memo that I have the bad back? He needs to find another ailment! I have already claimed that one. Geez Paul, always a copy cat! I had him do some of my back stretches and they did help him feel better. Yay!   I had a situation at work where someone who should know better approved something that is completely against the rules. To th...