Getting Back to Blogging and Tom's Health

Here it is, a couple years later, and once again Tom had dental work after our 3-wk trip to Cabo. He hit his head getting into the back seat of a taxi/van down there, knocked him back a foot and he saw stars, then we continued vacationing with Pat and Allison. When we arrived at the Cabo airport to head home to SeaTac, Tom bit into a Snickers Drumstick (5 for only $22.50!!) and his front tooth veneer disintegrated! Jim Courrier thinks he cracked his front tooth when he hit his head and it shattered on contact with cold, hard peanuts. Tom's lower teeth are also chipped. I think he hit his head harder than we thought at the time!! Luckily he didn't bite his tongue!

So, now it's March and we are still waiting to see the surgeon regarding Tom's aneurysm of the aorta. We have known it existed since January and are just now getting in to see the surgeon for a cure since the doctors are so heavily booked. Tom will see Dr. Cook on 3/17, the same doctor that operated on his carotid in 2003 (I think it was 2003). Hopefully, all will be a nightmare behind us real soon! Dr. Sipe, the cardiologist, says Tom is not a walking time bomb since his aorta is only half as enlarged as those who are walking time bombs!! The enlargement is just above where the aorta Y's to go to the legs, and below the T to the kidneys. There is one hitch, there appears to be another "slight" enlargement just above the T to the kidneys. We'll see what the surgeon says. Dr. Sipe says the operation can be done either thru the groin, thru the stomach, or thru the back to reach the aneurysm. Aneurysms of the aorta are evidently more common than we ever knew!! Cross your fingers!

Granddaughter Chloe is 14 today! How can that be? Happy birthday, sweetness!

The Canonica girls all stayed the weekend with us while their folks made the trek to Coulee to check on their property, visit with the Punteney's, and have a moment to themselves. Those of us here at the beach did a lot of junkfood eating, TV watching, shopping, beach walking and bathing Angelo (thanks, Madison!). Oh, and Megan played a volleyball game, 6th grade girls from Immaculate played St. Catherine's in CYO league. Immaculate Conception/Our Lady of Perpetual Help (IC/OLPH) won! Megan, who is pretty tall and has a great serve, scored 10 points!! And, further, her practice Monday after school was outstanding! She played on a team of coaches and Mom's with lots of volleyball experience and held her own! Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Chelsea was taking WASL tests on reading and writing for 3 hours Monday and was "pretty much" bored.

The remodel on Chris and Denise's kitchen is finally complete after about 3 months! No sink or stove was "pretty much" roughing it!

Uncle Scott hit the road yesterday afternoon in his Minnie Winnie, having finally sold his house in Bremerton and collected his check, and he is now enjoying his long-dreamed-of adventure! He is heading for Phoenix (Goodrich?), and meeting up with friends, plus plans to enjoy some Mariner baseball in Peoria! Love the weather and the atmosphere there; it's pretty laid back. Have fun, Scott!

Angelo, our "Italian English Springer", will be 5 in April. He has seizures unless he gets his meds 3 times a day; fortunately, he hasn't had a seizure since November. He's pretty heavily medicated but seems very happy, especially when he's visiting Joe, the Brittany Spaniel next door!

Frank and Veronica are as busy as ever. Chloe's friend Qacei stayed last week and celebrated with Chloe at her party Friday night. (Chloe, MJ and Qacei forgot to invite me to Tampico for strawberry margaritas and flan but I'll get even!) The Maier's will be traveling again this fall, first to one of the Carolina's then Italy and Ireland, and they get to see Chiara and family in Trento. I'm so jealous! Maybe I can talk Tom into going with me next year when his health is better. And, we all miss Chiara so much. Maybe she'll come back to the States again soon.

I have been on edge and stressed with worry about Tom's health. He very seldom is out of my sight and takes the cell phone with him when he is. But, we made it thru the open heart/carotid surgery before and we'll make it thru this obstacle, too! I know all of his family and friends are also worried, so I'll keep everyone posted as to what the surgeon says next Monday.

Until my next posting, Ciao Bella!!!!