Update: New York trip

New York, New York

Again, it has been too long since my last post...seems like the trend these days! So many of you know that my brother Jamon was diagnosed with lymphoma in August, shortly before my last post.  It has been a difficult Fall for us all, but encouraging.  Jamon was declared cancer-free, total remission about a week ago, so needless to say we are relieved to know that his cancer is gone, but he still needs to finish his chemo treatments.  I know many of you have been following his blog, Jamon y Lymphoma, and I know he appreciates all your comments and thoughts and prayers.  

Jamon took me on a walk to the HighLine one morning.  It was once an old elevated train track, now it is a renovated walkway with views of the city, benches to relax, and little eateries to enjoy lunch.  These are some of the photos I took while on our walk.

It was wonderful to spend some time with Jamon and India and their cats, Rooster and Cricket.  We had lots of quality time together, we talked, cooked, watched football, you know the usual stuff.    

New York Port Authority and home of Google HQ

Some building

Another building with old water storage tanks on it.

Super awesome mural

The HighLine

Another cool building facade

Jamon walking the HighLine

More HighLine photos

A cool "fountain" running water down the walkway

The Meat Packing District of Manhattan.  An actual meat packing company.

I was told this was a great place to get a burger

Hannah's First Surgery

We have been preparing Hannah for about a month for her surgery.  We have been talking about it a lot, but two days ago we dressed up like doctors and nurses.  Thanks to our friend Carin, who supplied us with the medial kits, even though there is a medical professional in the house, we were able to walk Hannah through the first part of her hospital visit at home.  Like a practice swing.  Like a dry run.  Like a parent's quest to give their child a sneak peek into what might be happening the next day.  

We woke up early this morning to get to the hospital by 6:15 am.  Hannah woke up on the RIGHT side of the bed, both literally and figuratively.  She was unapologetically chipper and smiling ear to ear.  She knew she was going in for surgery today, but that didn't put a damper on her day.  Nothing seems to stop this girl.  When we finally arrived at the hospital she got dressed in her gown and literally walked the same steps that we had practiced at home two days prior.  

We both were able to walk with Hannah to the operating room and be right by her side when she drifted off to sleep.  It was an emotional moment for me, and Jen too.  I felt like this was the moment that we had been waiting for since we left China.  We had been on a mission to bring Hannah home with us to get medical treatments that she was not going to be offered in China.  I held it together, but the feelings ran deep--straight to my soul.  

We were paged about an hour into the procedure to find out she was "doing great."  We then spoke with Dr. Van Heest about 45 minutes later to find out that in fact the surgery went well.  We were relieved to know that she was going to the recovery room without any complications and with hope for better function of her left hand.  Dr. Van Heest also told us that Hannah was now going to have a nice ring finger.  This struck us in a way that we not expecting.  Hannah now was going to be able to wear a ring on that finger, her left ring finger.

Hannah picked a green colored cast without any hesitation prior to her surgery.  Her pain level after surgery was very minimal.  She had one dose of morphine in the recovery room and one dose of tylenol before bed tonight.  I would like think the cast played a role in her comfort level, but I think she is tough as nails.  Hannah was excited to come home to Caedon and Norah and show them her new cast. Brady and Carin were at the house this afternoon watching C and N, so they were the first to sign her cast!

Chicago Trip

Here are the photos from our recent trip to Chicago.  I had a review course for recertification in Schaumburg, while the kids and Jen spent the week in Orland with Aunt Omi, Aunt Martha and the cousins.  It was a great week!