Ears and Rochester

I really should have posted about this sooner...
Zach had his tubes put in on March 16.  I felt awful the entire time leading up to the procedure.  He couldn't eat anything after midnight the night before, so we kept him up trying to stuff him with food and drink.  I think we all crashed by 10.  The next morning we had to be at the hospital by 830 and his procedure wasn't supposed to start until 1030.  How was I going to tell my hungry 2 year old that he couldn't have any "nilk" when he woke up?!  Soooo hard!!  We went back around 930/945 to prep.  There really isn't any prep; however, it was a nightmare.  He was so incredibly freaked out by everything that he never stopped crying.  He eventually fell asleep on my chest while we waited for the doctor to get to the hospital (10:30 procedure...he rolled in at about 10:45).  They came and took him off my chest and as soon as they walked out of the room he started crying and calling for "mommy".  Heart-breaker.  I started crying.  I couldn't help it.  After I calmed down I went to get something to drink.  I was dying.  Since he couldn't eat or drink, we didn't either.  We all waited in his room for him to get finished (me, Doug, Charlene and Jan).  It only took them about 20 minutes or so to finish.  When they walked him back to his room, he was really out of it.  He was EXTREMELY emotional.  Doug's sister gets like that...maybe he gets it from her :)
All in all the surgery went well and he doesn't seem to be having any more ear aches.  He goes back in about 3 weeks to have a follow up.  I'm supposed to be using ear plugs or cotton with Vaseline on it during bath time.  Yeah right...he wants no part of that.
We went to Rochester this past weekend to visit the University.  Such a looooong trip.  We left right after my uncle's memorial and it took us about 10 or so hours to get there.  The university put us up in a nice hotel for 3 nights and paid for our rental car...thanks U of R!  We had a very busy 3 days.  We looked at a few houses and I interviewed a few day care centers (they are waaaay more expensive there).  I also had a job interview while we were there!  That was an extreme chance of luck!!  I feel really good about it, especially since the main doctor wants to have a phone interview after meeting with me.  Fingers crossed!!

The view of the university from our hotel

chatting and giggling with some ducks

 We did have some fun while we were there.  Zach and I went to the National Museum of Play while we were there and we had a fantastic time.  The museum is pretty big and it had a lot of neat features.  It even has a carousel and diner car inside for lunch!  All in all we had a good time and we are excited about moving and getting settled!

Dancing with his Love

 For those that don't know, my sweet uncle Don passed away last week.  He has been struggling with diabetes and cancer for some time and he lost his battle on Tuesday.

I really thought I was prepared for when his "time" came.  It wasn't until that morning when I received the call that I realized I wasn't.  For years, due to his health conditions, a lot of thought he would pass before my aunt but he proved himself a fighter!  After the love of his life passed away he declared that he had "a lot more living to do".  And he did.  For 2 years.  Ironically, he passed 2 years to the month that she did.

My uncle was a very stoic and quiet man(mostly because I think she let him do most of the talking).  He served time as a paratrooper in the United States Army.  He worked almost his entire life whether it was for American Standard or working with his son, Steve at his businesses.  He was an active member of his church (attended every Sunday) and Civitan.  He also "served time" as one of my parents.

I don't know if he ever really knew how much he meant to me.  I talked more to my aunt (remember, he's kinda quiet...well, until you get him reeeaaally angry :)   ) mostly because she was my mother figure and girls tend to be closer to their mothers.  The man deserved a medal for taking me in and treating me as one of his own.

I have a lot of good memories of him and for that I'm grateful.  I do have some favorites though.  He was the one that took me to get my driver's permit (my 2nd go'round).  He had to take a driving test the same day and he almost didn't pass.  Then when we got up on the interstate I noticed that the speedometer wasn't working and I told him and all he could say was "Hmm.  I didn't notice on the way over.  Just don't speed".  

Every night before he would head upstairs to his office or bed he would come down to tell my aunt goodnight with a kiss.  I don't ever recall a time when he didn't kiss her goodnight.  

He danced with me at my wedding.  He started a square dance at my wedding.  

He was one of the first people to hold my child after he was born.  He let me refer to him as "granddad" for Zach.  He called himself "granddad" when talking to Zach.

I don't know what the "after life" holds for us, but I do know that if there is one...he is finally home with his love...probably catching up on some dancing.

The Big Day

So, this year for Valentines day we spent it like most others...apart.  It happens.  When you work on a rotating schedule and your gone for 24 hours at a time, you tend to miss some holidays, birthdays, etc.  We did have the opportunity the day before to go out to dinner and Doug got me a dozen beautiful red roses.  He can be thoughtful.  I was able to spend time with Zach at his Valentines party.  He was certainly the cutest boy at the party!  Despite being apart on Valentines day, Doug did receive some amazing news.  Remember how I've mentioned that he's applied to graduate schools?  HE GOT INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER!!!  His first choice!!  It's an amazing school and is raked 3rd for his program!  He was beside himself when he called to tell me (he got an email from the school while he was at work).  I could barely understand him and I thought he was hurt!!  As if this wasn't amazing enough, he was offered a FULL scholarship (totally paid for for the next 5 years, HOLLA!!), plus he was awarded a fellowship, stipend, health insurance and the opportunity to work as a research assistant.  We just can't believe it!  I STILL can't wrap my head around all of this.  We have a lot to do before we can move.  We have to sell our house, find a new house and I have been scouring the internet looking for jobs in my free time.  We also have to find day care...not looking forward to interviewing for that.  The good news is, if we move up there before the school year begins, Doug can stay with Zach during the day and we would have time to look for day care options.
I am so incredibly excited, nervous and anxious all at the same time.  We won't know a soul when we move and we lose our support system here.  I think what I'm having the hardest time with is leaving Doug's parents. Zach loves his Moo Moo...he loves Clay, too, but he is IN LOVE with Charlene.  He asks for her on a daily basis.  She is the only grandmother he knows and I cringe and get emotional at the thought of them being that far apart from each other.  Hopefully they will come to visit... A LOT!!  (hint hint)
We are looking at homes with a lot of space, 2-3 bedrooms and a yard for the dogs.  The dog part is the hardest.  A lot of places don't want to rent to someone with animals and if they will, you have to pay a huge fee or they'll accept one animal.  We've had our dogs for about 6 years and I know finding them a new home would tear everyone up.
We EXPECT everyone to visit!!  We'll be so close to so many amazing things, cities, etc.  Niagara Falls comes to mind...
That's all for now, but we'll keep everyone updated once we know more details.  We're going up at the end of the month to tour the school and get a better idea of where we stand with everything.

xoxo,
Sarah