sj, they're going to see a healthy, happy, well-adjusted little girl and have great confidence in your parenting.

Suzi, I'm hesitant to bring this up, but what you're describing about your dad raises a flag for me. Could he be losing some cognitive function, due to age or illness? Concentrating so hard to get the address right he forgets to put your name, because he's sure of that, and losing confidence about traveling away from home sound like they could be organic and not emotional.

Not trying to excuse his behavior, but from here, and having dealt with aging parents, it just rang a little alarm bell for me.

Meanwhile, you are an awesome person for all you've accomplished, and deserve 'ALL the celebration!"

I missed your post, msbelle. All best to your dad and his surgery.

Could he be losing some cognitive function, due to age or illness?

I don't know. Last time I saw him...last August???...he didn't exhibit any cognitive issues. I can usually pick up on that, but being a family member maybe I'm in denial. His handwriting of the address looked the same as usual.

He does turn 80 in November. But as far as I know he is still active, still serving as a worldwide expert in water reuse.

msbelle - easy surgery and recovery to your dad. Rotator cuff repairs can be simpler than it seems. If it is done arthroscopically, he should get range of motion back quickly. Enough of that. All the ~ma to you and your family.

I heard the same bells, Beverly.

It could also be some kind of emerging anxiety issue. When you're not there right at the moment to observe it's kind of hard to figure out what is going on.

In all the sadness of my aunt's passing, it kind of went unremarked that my uncle's cognitive functions are slowly ebbing. For the first time (at least that he's admitted to) he went out driving and got completely lost. So my poor cousin is going to be dealing with a stubborn old guy who is going to need more and more support.

Oh dear, Theodosia.

Good luck to your dad, msbelle!

surgery~ma for your dad, msbelle.

Had calcium score CT this morning. First, I was amused when the tech apologized for lifting my shirt to attach leads. I assured him that there was no such thing as modesty after you have given birth to children. Second, they made a big deal several times about telling me it was $99 and I would have to cover it, not covered by insurance. I paid and when I get home I see that the $99 is just the test and the professional fees are extra. Just give me the damn pictures then! I can see if I have white gunk in my arteries myself. But nooooo, I will get a radiologist bill. Oh well, off to get the echo in a few minutes. All this time and expense should get the MDs off my back for at least 5 years, right?

My company has been in tense conference calls with the company that provides our Internet. Not our internal Internet, the connectivity to our hundreds of thousands of customers that use our online services. And who is having to gather the data we're using to beat our ISP over the head with "It's not us, it's you!" insistance? Yep, tech support. And who just rolled out a new version of our primary program that relies very heavily on continuous integration with our servers? Yep, mine.

Thank god for vacation next week.

We live in hope, Laura.

Run, Connie. Frolic in the carefree fields of vacationland!

Oh Theo, it's so, so hard.

MiL was hospitalized with a major stroke last week. She wasn't doing well, and then rallied on Saturday and was chatty and responsive to the nurses. Of course her responses were nonsensical: talking about going out to help the workers in the field, and then we'd come back and have Easter dinner, and wondering what the chart on the wall said because she couldn't read it and she wouldn't know the answers when the teacher quizzed her on it. Mostly in Ukraninan, of course, so it sounded like gibberish to them. Not that it made much more sense in translation.

H had to tell them when she hesitates after you ask a question, don't yell. She heard you. She's just sifting through Russian, Ukranian, Polish, and English trying to find the right words to reply. Of course by the time she does she's forgotten the question, but the point remains, yelling helps nothing.

They admitted her to hospice on Monday, and her doctor says they won't release her to rehab or a nursing home. She's there for the rest of her time. It's a nice place, with good care.

Sometimes I think H's dad had it right--massive stroke, bam, gone. None of this linger and gradual loss stuff.

I'm sorry, Beverly. It is good she has H there to advocate for her. Agree completely that the lingering stuff serves no one well.

Yay vacation! Sounds like excellent timing, Connie.

Timelies all!

I am trapped under a toddler watching Disney Jr. Help.

Sheryl, what are the current Disney Jr favorites in your house? ltc loves Doc McStuffins, Vampirina, and Little Einsteins.