Belated Happy Mother’s Day!

Nothing like a gift from your children to make your Mother’s Day worth it.

It was a low key day, given the news I heard about my dad recently. I did sleep in a little later (bless you Husband). The night before, we went out for dinner to one of my favorite restaurants and some sweetFrog, which I had never had before but was quite yummy.

But now to show off my kids’ art skills!

It’s amazing how well she can write, don’t you say?

The text on the right side is “I love you”. I hope it does at least. Also, I was told this is for display purposes only.

Jackpot’s Home.

Figuratively speaking, of course.

We received word that his ashes have come back to our internist. Husband and I both thought that the staff would like a little thank you gift from us for all their support. We decided on a large frame with an insert for a picture and a note.

We chose the best picture of Jackpot – one that embodies his spirit.

Seriously how could you not resist this smile?

Husband wrote up a little thank you note and added it to the frame.

When we got there and told the receptionist that we were there, we were escorted back to an exam room. After a few minutes the whole crew came out to greet us, which I thought was quite touching. For a minute, I forgot WHY I was there. We’ve been here so many times that I was conditioned to start by giving Jackpot’s update to the tech. Yikes.

It was a bittersweet homecoming, as we were given a velvet bag holding a gorgeous sealed box. The staff also did their own gift to us, which brought Husband and I to tears.

You couldn’t ask for a better gift.

As we were leaving, Dr. J told us that *if* we get another dog, that we should bring him/her by to meet the “other family”. He said that because the majority of the time they see some very ill pets (including Jackpot) – it would be nice to see a healthy pooch about.

We thanked them profusely for everything they have done throughout the years. They added so much time to Jackpot’s life that we can never measure in dollars. And, while it is still hard to come to terms of the gaping absence in our family, it’s comforting to know he touched so many lives.

Right now Jack is in one of his favorite rooms, our bedroom, and it’s almost like he never left.

They Found Something.

My parents were supposed to come down this past weekend. They were going to visit my aunt (dad’s sister) and us (to belatedly celebrate Mayita’s birthday).

On Thursday night I talked to my dad. If you remember, he had a procedure done regarding his abdominal aortic aneurysm. He went for a follow-up CT Scan that day and was told he needed an endoscopy for his bile duct. They scheduled it for Friday (the next day), indicating there was some urgency in the matter.

True to my dad, he apparently had been having some issues (including jaundice) the past couple of weeks but never mentioned a word of it.

On Friday morning my mother calls from the hospital to tell me they have taken him back for the endoscopy. Then she lays the next bomb – that they are also taking a biopsy of his pancreas.

They found something.

There is a growth on his pancreas. They don’t know (and still don’t know) if it’s malignant or benign. Apparently it’s not a small one either. While nothing is for certain yet, I think it may be quite serious.

Tomorrow my parents will meet with a specialist at the hospital to find out the results of the biopsy.

As for the endoscopy itself, well, they put a stent in his bile duct and that has resolved the issue. He was able to go home that day and is trying to rest. When I say “trying”, I mean he mowed the lawn yesterday because my younger sister apparently didn’t do it right.

Wordless Wednesday: Goslings!

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