My Surgery Post and other important life-changing events

Well I'm the kind of person that needs a new outfit for everything. Even surgery. Actually to be truthful, my winter clothes are all in storage at the new house (due to my positive thinking that we would be in the new house by cold weather) so I have just been buying new clothes as it gets colder. So my point is, my super-cute coordinating green jogging suit is in storage, so I needed a new one. Of course. For my surgery. (Cory is currently shaking his head in disbelief and also wearing a t-shirt he wore in high school) Opposites attract right?

Anyway, so I went to Wal-Mart to quickly pick up a jogging suit, and some fabric softener. Annnddd I ended up spending $50 on Halloween decorations too.

I was hanging the orange lights when I got the phone call from my dad that my grandfather had passed away. My first reaction was actually relief, mainly because Cory and I had been to visit him in the hospital a few days before, and my grandfather had looked bad.

I am not sure if all of my readers are aware that back in July or so, he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. So my family had been slowly watching him deteriorate.

So I was not exactly sad to hear of his passing. It was his time to go. He had a very full life, with four grown children, and (I think?) eleven grandchildren, and (I think?) four great-grandchildren, Wesley among them. I knew him as a quiet man, who sat and watched his wife, my Nana, tell stories about their life together. She has a story for everything, and he always sat next to her and quietly listened with us. So I was sad for my Nana.

I was sad for my Mom, because I know how hard it was for my Dad when both of his parents passed away. So I thought it might be hard for her. She had asked me and Wes to come down to the hospital to see everyone, so we drove down right then. Afterward, we went to my parent's house to eat some lunch and talk a bit.

I realized then, how important Wesley was in this situation. Instead of wallowing in sadness, we were all laughing and playing with Wes as he played with his toys, and jumped in his jumperoo.
At this point I knew that I would try to have Wes come to the wake after the funeral, I thought he might lighten the mood quite a bit.

Two days later I had my surgery, and it was, luckily, uneventful. I don't remember a damn thing, which I guess is good! My loving husband has been nothing but attentive. He has waited on me hand, and foot, helping me up the stairs and getting my medicine and such.
I want to thank you all for your calls, emails, cards, and flowers. I really appreciate everything you've done for me, and I love you all.

My mom helped schedule the funeral for my grandfather on Wednesday, hoping I could attend. I really did not want to go, I was not feeling well, and I knew it would take a lot out of me. But I also knew that I should be there for my mom, and my Nana. So helped Cory talk me into going.

So we went. I was pretty ill during the whole inside funeral, except when we went out to the grave site. It was outside, where the air was cool and crisp. My grandfather was a retired Marine major, he was buried with full military honors, so the Marines where there, with a gun solute, and the flag-folding, it was very cool. I am so glad I forced myself to go.

Afterward, at the wake at my Mom and Dad's, we had picked up Wes to bring him with us because I had thought the family would need him to help them to be happy. But when we walked in, everyone was already happy and laughing, and talking about funny stories about my grandfather. So that was a nice surprise. The whole day was more of a celebration of my grandfather's life, not really a sad goodbye. I think that's the way furnerals should be.

We left feeling happy.
Happy that we got to see family we hadn't seen in a while.
Happy that our family is nice and healthy.
Happy that my grandfather lived a full life.
Just, happy.