One year older

Here's to the birthday boy!

I don't see that he's changed much, except for the haircut.

It's great to have OLDER siblings who age so gracefully.

Soup, milkshakes, smoothies....

We couldn't get by without that blender.

So far, Tom has managed to puree to smithereens lots of calories, and I'm taking them in. This has been the perfect excuse to revert to my favorite soup (split pea) and to enjoy lots of milkshakes (fortified with protein powder).

The first photo taken by me after the surgery.

I can imagine what they are thinking: She's standing???? She's able to aim the camera??? What next!

What did I learn from the hospital stay?

A teaching hospital is an advantage, although it's a little harder to be positive about that when a young woman who doesn't look old enough to vote is in charge of the morphine.

I never saw my roomate in the ICU, but for 3 days I got to know his history. Was there a drug he had not tried? I don't think so.

Nurses rule. With one exception, they were kind and helpful. The exception's advice when I asked her to fix the machine that was drumming in my ears? "Get used to it."

When the Russian surgeon says "You are old voman. There are people here who are sick. Vee need to get you home," then you go home.

What have I learned since coming home?

Naps, naps, naps--the way to go.

Cats are either fickle or extremely sensitive to the healing process. For days, Henry and Eli would take a look at me, with their eyes as big as saucers, and then disappear.

Mail is wonderful. Many thanks to you all.