Back in Seattle - What the Kids' Think

SoJo

I am happy to be back in Seattle, but I really miss Argentina.  Now that we have moved back into our house, it feels like we never went to Argentina in the first place. Everything is back to normal except for Mom’s scar on her head.

As we unpacked and got settled, our house was like a zoo.  My room was a monkey’s cage.  It was super messy!  I found a broken wine glass in my closet; my curtains were stained; there was a rainbow of paint colors all over my desk; there were forks and spoons in the drawers and under the bed; there was a Native American Halloween costume on the floor, and a cigarette.  There were a few awesome things.  I found pennies and change all over the house.  I went on a scavenger hunt, and when I was done, I had a whole cup full of pennies!


A few days ago, Mom dropped a battery, and it rolled under her bed, so she looked under her bed for the battery.  She found more than the battery, so we took the bed apart to get under it and see what was down there.  We found a fork, a spoon, a lightsaber chopstick, dental floss, a mini tube of toothpaste, food coloring, two dirty socks, a nickel, and a pencil.  The most amazing thing that we found under the bed was a Nintendo DS that was still working!!  I do not want to give it back to the renters, but Mom says I have to.  Right now I am going to ask my mom if I can play on it.  She said no.  

Caleb Antonio 

The best part of coming back to Seattle is my friends.  Now we get to go to the pool a lot with Carey.  I went to a parade and played legos with Finn and Aiden and Nora.  I went to Clive’s mom and dad’s houses, and Clive made me a new deck of Pokemon cards and taught me how to play the game.  We do not need to go to school because it is summer.

The worst part was leaving Argentina.  I really miss my friends Simon, Salva, Tomy Semino and Leo.  They were my best friends.  We had a huge pretend family.  I was the kid.  Salva was my dad.  Simon was my brother.  Tomy was my uncle.  They were the best.

Carmela

Coming home was great of course, but it was also hard.  It was terrible to leave Argentina, and it was hard work to return.  The house was a mess!  It was like a tornado has spun through leaving stains, splotches, dirt, dust, and disorder.  The shower curtain alone told the story.  Don’t even start me going on the walls.  I might add that gum goes in the trash can when you are done with it. Basically the entire house was a mess. 

Once we settled in it was a lot better though.  I even got my own room back.  That was really nice because I was tired of sharing a room with SoJo and Caleb.  They seemed to love it though.  Caleb is still sleeping with SoJo in her bed. 

I am happy to have more music freedom too.  I have Dad’s old iPod Touch, and some speakers from his lab, so I can listen to all the music I want in my room and not have to turn it off.  In fact, I am listening to music right now!  Any music recommendations would be greatly appreciated. 

It was totally awesome to see my friends again.  It was like the weekend after a long week of school.  I have been spending a lot of time with some amazing people including Lila, Mandi, Grace, Sofia, and Nina.  I am telling you, they are awesome people!  I hope I can see all my friends again soon!

I know I am not going to see any of the kids from Argentina soon, but using WhatsApp, I am keeping in touch.  I do video calls, texting, and photos every chance I get.  I miss them, but there is still plenty of time to enjoy life and see them again.  

Here things are almost back to normal.  At least normal to the standards of an abnormal family.  For example, I went to mass on Sunday dressed as Madonna.  

Even in our normal life, there is still a small pain in the back of our heads because we miss the people and life in Argentina.  We love them and always will.  

I 💝 Argentina and Puerto Madryn.

Mom's Surgery

SoJo 

Mom’s surgery was very scary.  Before she went to the surgery, I was scared she was going to die.  That was the bad part.  The good part was her hospital food.  It was all good except for the custard.  The custard was super disgusting.  I think I liked the milkshake, the jello cubes, and the lemon drops the best.  Mom ordered a huge breakfast, but she didn’t want that much because she had been throwing up all night, so Carmela, Caleb, and I got to eat it all. Yeah!!

The Chain-Gang that was
starring at Mom.

One time Mom was walking to the store with me and Caleb, but when we got there we realized that she forgot her bandana because everyone was staring at her!  Once we left the store we saw what my mom and dad call a “Chain Gang.”  It is a bunch of preschool kids in a line attached to a rope. Some of them were crying, but when they saw Mom’s shaved head and scar they all turned and stared at her.  It was really funny.  Mom tried to take a picture of them, but by the time she got her phone out, they already started walking away.  Every once in a while they would turn around and stare.  

Caleb Antonio

At the parade with Finn, Aiden and Nora
while Dad picked up Mom.  

At the day of Mom's surgery when we dropped her off at the surgery, we got to meet one of her nurses.  The nurse was really nice.  

When Dad picked Mom up from the hospital, I was at a playdate with my friends, and after that one of my friends came over, and we got to see Mommy.  Mom’s scar is really awesome. 

I really want to fight Mommy. When we fight, we are wrestling in the living room on the rug.  It has been at least a year since we wrestled.  I bet I can beat Mom first.  My mommy thinks she is going to beat me, but it is not going to happen.

Carmela

Mom’s surgery was a trip to Disneyland.  At least at the end it was.  The beginning was more uptight.  Not as fun.  

When Mom was going into surgery, I wasn’t that scared.  I mean, what was there that I should be scared of, minus the fact that they were cutting open her head.  I figured that if the doctors in Argentina could do it, the doctors here should be able to as well.  I knew it most likely wouldn’t be worse, and if anything it would be better.  I guess I was mentally prepared for anything, even the bad.  I knew that the biggest problem we would have would be Mom herself after surgery.  

I was prepared to see Mom after her surgery, the big scar, the bandages, and the IV.  What surprised me most was how tired she was.  Last time in Buenos Aires, she had said she wanted to get up and out.  This time I guess she was more prepared.  She was super sleepy when we first saw her.  When we visited, we ordered more breakfast food.  When it came, Mom had a little bit, and we ate the rest of her lemon drops, milkshake, custard, Jello, crackers, and a lot more I don’t remember.  

Watching TV after we ate all Mom's breakfast!

While Mom slept, we watched TV. The only kids’show playing was Una Kitty, so we watched that, and left soon after.  The thing that scared me most was when we found out Mom’s temperature was a bit too high.  She was fine though.  When she got home, she was back to giving out homework and all of that.  We hoped she would forget about Mom homework, but she didn’t.  Oh well.  Without homework I never would have written this!  

Carinos a Todos, 

Carmela

Zombies, the Exorcist, and Brain Surgery....

Hoping Mom was pregnant...

Surgery day arrived, and I was ready to go.  No food, no water, no pasa nada.  I rolled into the hospital with the whole family, and we whooped it up as I stripped down and dressed in my wispy gown.  The kids were so excited when I took the mandatory preanesthesia pregnancy test.  They were all hoping for a positive result and twins.  Fortunately we dogged that bullet!  That would have been a hilarious complication.

Eventually the family got kicked out as the IV was started and blood samples were taken.  I was wheeled down to meet the anesthesiologist, Bobby, and we busted up laughing as he introduced me to the nurses, Hannah and Montana. No joke.  We were all cracking up, and ready to go.  Only problem was that no one could find the neurosurgeon, Dr. Lee.  The operating room was ready, the crew was ready, the piece was ready... but where was Dr. Lee?  Stuck in clinic.  By the time he showed up 45 minutes later, Bobby and I had bro-ed down and were comparing life stories.

Dr. Lee
I am pretty sure
he is not a Zombie.

Knowing Dr. Lee worked all morning and rushed over, I was thinking that he was not properly nourished to handle the 4 hours of surgery for which he had booked the room.  I asked if he had eaten, and he laughed, saying food wasn't important.  Dude, you better not be a zombie waiting to get into my skull and eat my brains.  He was more concerned about how to cut my hair.  I told him to go for a mohawk.

He disappeared and scrubbed up as Dr. Bobby wheeled me into the gigantic operating room.  With a smile, he told me to get myself onto the operating table, and within two minutes he and Hannah and Montana had me knocked out.

An hour and a half later, they were done, waking me up and preping for a CatScan.  The potential of four hours of surgery was minimized thanks to the incredible job the Buenos Aires surgeon did in leaving a synthetic film between the skin and the dura which kept the membranes from sticking together.  Lucky for me, it also meant that Dr. Lee never had to see my delicious brain.

43 sweet stitches.  One for every year of my life.  

As planned, I spent the next two nights in the hospital.  The first 12 hours were a vomit fest.  The zombies were out and the exorcist was in.  I am always amazed at how the body finds so much volume to spew without food or water intake.  It is impressive.  At three in the morning, I finally encountered a successful nausea medication, and the puking stopped.  From then on, I was all about enjoying the three hots and a cot.  Room service, breakfast in bed, the World Cup on the tele... it was good times.  I was even granted permission to wear my own clothes instead of the paper thin hospital sheet, when I convinced the nurses I would not try to escape.

On Saturday morning, Dr. Lee entered with a smile and discharge orders.  He gave me directions for getting the stitches removed, not showering, etc... and finally I asked, "Soooooo, when can I run again?"  The look on his face was priceless.

Still puffy and swollen, but hoping
that will pass soon.

He spun around and questioned, "Isn't that how you got in this mess in the first place, and you want to run again?  What about a sport with a helmet? Like biking?"

As a daily rider, I jumped on this, "Yes!  I love bike riding!  I ride to work; I ride to physical therapy; I ride everywhere; my bike is my car!  Yes!  When can I ride?"

His response was quick, "What? Don't ride your bike!  That is more dangerous than running!  Bike riding and horses are the worst.  Just because you have a helmet doesn't mean you are safe.  Stick to running, in the middle of a large group of people."

We'll see how long I can hold back my inner rabbit.  Less than a week out of surgery, and I am already bouncing out of my seat.  The good news is that I am encouraged to walk, and walk I do, up and down this town.

I am indescribably grateful for the prayers, love, food, playdates, and flowers.  Thank you.  And please keep praying.  If the incision gets infected or meningitis returns, the prosthetic piece has to be surgically removed followed by a long hospital stay filled with antibiotic cocktails, and I am back to square one.  Once in a lifetime was enough for that party!

Kid fun...

...and gorgeous treats!

A Humble Request 🙏

I am humbled and grateful for the generous offers and help during my recovery.   Since arriving in Seattle, we have been treated to fresh beds before moving back into our house, delicious meals, and entertaining activities for the kids.

In addition, people have told me over and over that they have been praying for us.  I cherish the prayers.  Please 🙏 Please 🙏 pray for me.  I am a stressor by nature.  When my kids are late coming home from school, my mind worries that they have been in an accident.  When I don't hear from my parents for a few days, I wonder if everything is OK.  Tens years ago, when I had a slightly elevated liver enzyme test, and the doctors prescribed a MRI, CatScan, and biopsy, I stressed that I had a fatal disease until the test results came back negative and normal.

But when I first opened my eyes in the hospital in Buenos Aires, I was at peace and unfazed.  That is not my instinct or personality.  Even though I was tied down to the bed, and I knew I was in a critical unit, I was free from anxiety.  I did try to undo the knots holding down my arms, but when I failed, I serenely went back to sleep.

Four reasons I am having this surgery... 💕

Adam credits this to the morphine.  I thank God.  I am quite sure the morphine helped in the first few days, but the pain killer quickly ended, and the harmony grew stronger and still continues seven months later.  Thank you for praying for me.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your prayers were answered, and I am deeply grateful.  I could not have lived this experience joyfully without the equanimity and love imbuing my heart.  It is a gift from God.  Thank you.

Again, I am humbly asking for your prayers.  On Thursday, July 12th, I am scheduled to have a cranioplasty to replace the missing section of my skull above my left ear.  The surgeon told me that he does not intend complications, but until he opens up my skin, he won't know how the previous doctors left the area and what it will require to secure the prosthetic plate.

Carmela - a day after turning 12.  WOW!

Planning for surgery is a bizarre experience since I feel healthy and strong and normal.  I dripped sweat during my 50 minute cardio workout this morning doing burpees and jumping jack squats, then I went for a 30 minute jog spontaneously meeting a friend on the trail and chatting together as we ran up hills.  A few hours later, I rode 8 miles round trip to meet my new principal and tour my new school.  I am smiling, active, and energetic.  Life is good!

My memory is normal, and I am back to nagging my kids when they put their dirty feet on furniture, forget to flush the toilet, or leave their pajamas laying on the floor.  I prepare the meals, do the grocery shopping, manage the schedules and household, clean clean clean, and am excited about my return to the classroom in August.  Yet, in a week, I will be back in the ICU with a half shaved head, a huge horseshoe shaped scar, and under doctor's orders to avoid cardiovascular activities for a month.

Hair Today, Gone Thursday

Please pray that the surgery is straightforward and successful. 🙏

Please pray that meningitis or infection does not return. 🙏

Please pray that I do not suffer a stroke, blindness, death, seizures, or paralysis. 🙏

Please pray that I am at peace and accept, without resistance, the following month of relaxation.  That is so hard for my rabbit spirit. 🙏

AND Thank you.  

Your prayers are the finest gifts.  

THANK YOU!