Thanks for the birthday wishes --and Freddy Update

On my birthday (and now), I love seeing the crocus's starting to bloom through the snow, I love all the birthday wishes I got (cards, phone, e-mail and even on Face Book). Erin Morgan's singing rendition took the cake (pun intened) this year! I loved having Kelly drive all the way up--just for my birthday (and to help out with Freddy), and I loved snowboarding/skiing with Chris.

Last year, Chris and I hit the slopes. We were going up the Milly lift and watched the dynamite launched into the fresh powder. As we got off the lift, the area opened up. Chris yelled over her shoulder, "You can do this, let's go!"

Without any question or doubt, I followed.

(Warning to all of Erin Morgan's friends: Erin is a chip off the ol' block. She can do anything, just like her mom. If you are hanging out with her, you really don't have to do everything she does and confidently tells you that you can and should do it. However, there are numerous things you should do, just be brave, and do it! You'll have adventures and stories for a lifetime! Like "die hard,"waterskiing with two people on two and three skiis," cliff jumping (diving) at Lake Powell (let her go first, just in case), skydiving (go tandem NOT SOLO your first time), kite boarding, etc.

As I was vertically on my fanny sliding off a cliff, I flashed to my high school days and jumping off of Chris's roof in the name of learning how to skydive--especially learning how to land after skydiving. At the time, Chris said, "If you land right you won't get hurt." (There was absolutely no consideration that I might land wrong). Most of you know the rest of the story and how I pulled the ligaments in both ankles. Who knew I'd land wrong? I mean, she told me how to do it.

And Chris laughed so hard she wet her pants. Seriously folks, she did. I'd popped both my ankles and I was more scared about Russ (my swim coach) was going to do to me, than hurt--and Chris was rolling around on the grass laughing so hard that she wet her pants!

Anyway, on my birthday this year, I vowed to remember, not to follow everything Chris says. Well, probably because it was my birthday, Chris didn't even try to lure me to the cliffs or to even hit one run with double black diamonds. I could see her longingly look at those runs, and I kept saying, "You can go, just meet me at the lift." But, she patiently said, "I'll ski with you."

And, she did. We did go down one black diamond a few times. Everytime she patiently waited for me at the bottom, and didn't laugh too hard every time I fell. She said they were good falls cuz I was learning.

Here is a pic of the ever so patient Chris Morgan and me at the top of Great Western (note the sign in the background):


Then, when I got home, I quickly showered. Kelly came up for my birthday (and she didn't get any speeding tickets on the drive up), we picked up my mom and went out to visit Freddy. Freddy wasn't doing very well at all that night. Everytime I touched him, he'd cry. He just nestled his head on my shoulder and panted for breath. He couldn't stay out of his oxygen tank for very long and a tech came to get him. I couldn't help but cry. Poor little guy was so sick.

Then, Kelly took us to dinner. I pulled it together (just don't think about it and concentrate on something else was my motto). Then, we went back to see Freddy again. He wasn't much better, but I didn't cry the whole time. I told him that if he felt better, we'd bring him home the next day. The next day, he had the cardiac ultra sound. The vet wanted to keep him one more day, so we picked him up on Saturday. I have to make it up to him, cuz I really thought we'd get him home Friday.

Yesterday, we finally brought him home. His legs are shaved from the IV spots. He's lost weight. Then, because he was in the little oxygen cage for so long, his balance is off. He is a bit wobbly. We got all his perscriptions, and have the schedule set on when and how to sneak those in him (pills wrapped in roast beef seems to be the best option).

As soon as he got home, he wanted to go outside. He moved gingerly through the snow patches. Did his business (I'm sure he was so relieved he could go outside like the big boy he is), and then gave a little bark to Mr. Squirrel heckling him from the top of the trees.

I think, I hope, with all this TLC, he'll be around for a while longer. Some of his pills are temporary, but a couple are going to have to be given to him for the rest of his life. He wolfed down one pill that I put in part of my chicken sandwich, so I'm thinking I might have to get a packet of those chicken things that Kelly used to bake for the boys when they were little.

As for me, it wasn't the best week, but now my cold is getting better. I'm reading a great book, "The Book Thief," I can always count on a few great recommendations from Kelly and Chris, and I'm writing.

Yes, I'm writing again. The goal is to have it published in 2011 or 2012.

Again, thanks everyone for all the gracious and kind wishes (birthday and for Freddy). Remember to notice the crocuses pushing up through the snow. It's so beautifully hopeful.