If any of you have kids, you know that escaping to the bathroom to take care of business can be tricky at best.  I saw this on Facebook over the weekend and it totally cracked me up, because it’s so true:

I finally got around to starting my batch of Mead over the weekend.  I had to plan it so that being gone on vacation wouldn’t interfere with the fermentation process. 

Isn’t it amazing how a few simple ingredients transitions into delicious wine?  Since the initial fermentation in the bucket will take a month, that works.  Basically when we get home from vacation it’ll be time to transfer it into a carboy for the secondary fermentation – that will last another 4 months or so.  The one thing I’ve found about winemaking, is it takes lots of patience.

I also have a batch of Sangria working – I know what you’re thinking, Sangria wine?  Yes indeed.  This should hopefully be done just in time for BlogHer, where I’ll be bringing some along for the ride.  If any of you are planning on going to BlogHer, let me know – I’ll be sure to bring a bottle for you to enjoy, too.

Hopefully all the partying that will take place won’t make our eyeballs do funny things like this picture does:

On a slightly more serious note, one of the reasons for our crazy decision to drive across the country in 2 cars with 2 kids and 2 dogs is that my dad is having some medical issues.  Some of you know that a few years ago he had a stroke (2 months after he retired – proving once again that Murphy and his Law are always up to no good) but now he has water on the brain as evidenced by his recent MRI:

The middle bright “X” in the center of the photo is the portion of the brain that is enlarged due to spinal fluid that is not being absorbed by the body as it should.  It’s sort of like a dense sponge that gets saturated, then fluid starts leaching out to the surrounding areas. 

The lighter gray areas at the tips of the “X” is actually the fluid that is being pushed out into the adjacent cortical brain tissue (which is bad), which put increased pressure in these areas of the brain and results in classic symptoms of gait disturbance (“shuffling”), urinary incontinence, and mental decline (memory loss, irrational sentences, irritability).   Dad has all three of these symptoms, unfortunately.  

Luckily my brother pushed my dad to get a second opinion, since his regular doctor didn’t refer him to a very good neurosurgeon, as the two referred lost all mobility after their surgery.   The surgeon my brother took him to for another opinion does hundreds of these surgeries every year – in fact he performed four (successfully) just last week.   Success rate is 80%, which means in 80% of the time, at least one (but usually all three) symptoms are resolved. 

The 20% “risk” represents typical risks you find in any surgery – infection at the point of surgery, bleeding, or things like a blocked tube, or other issue.  Most of these risks are easily treated with additional hospital care.   The thing this doctor gave dad that the other doctor didn’t was HOPE.   The doctor even showed dad an actual shunt similar to the one that would be put in him, and explained the surgery in detail.

Thanks to the encouragement of my brother and the doctor cutting to the chase, my dad has agreed to have the surgery in the next 10 days or so.  Our vacation being postponed 2 weeks is perfect, since that means we’ll be there either before or during the surgery, but definitely right after to help my mom out during his recovery time.  Any of you that are the praying type, please do keep my dad in your prayers.  I’ll keep you posted.

Let’s wrap up this post with another funny, shall we?  Here’s a to-do list that my niece posted on Facebook (which my buddy Jan did as well, so it’s obviously funny).  I’d love to do any or all of these just to see people’s reactions – especially numbers 1, 3, 4, 6, 9 and 10:

That’s a wrap for this week – feel free to link up and hop around to all the other awesome randomizers – they’re always so entertaining. Talk To Me Tuesday friends, you’re welcome to link up, too – that way I’ll be sure not to forget to stop by and scope you out. You know what I mean.

Mister Linky’s Magical Widgets — Easy-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.

Keeping the random alive in Keely’s stead – feel free to snag a badge and play along – one for my wino friends:

Stacy

And one for my non-wino friends:

Stacy

 

Once again I’m hopping aboard this fun friendly train – if you’re traveling on the train, be sure to leave your link so I can follow you back!

TuesdayTrain

 

I’m also linking up with two stellar ladies, Shawn and Impulsive, the lovely hosts of Talk To Us Tuesday. There are no rules so link away.

Seriously Shawn
 

More Tuesday hops – if you’re stopping by here from there, please do me a favor and follow via LinkyFollowers – since I was robbed of my GFC followers when the cads at Goggle decided to boycott non-Blogger blogs.


friendandfollow Flock Together

29 Comments

  1. I should learn to make wine with as much as I drink. Oh boy, good luck with your dad. I really dig the bathroom sign too, I am pretty lucky, my kids weren’t that crazy when I am in the bathroom. I’ve never seen toys or notes under the door. Thank god@
    self sagacity would like you to read ..I Love HikingMy Profile

  10. I’m so sorry to hear about your Dad – I hope he weathers the surgery well. Thank goodness your brother took him for a second opinion!

    Yeah, the list made me laugh – especially #5 and #6. 🙂

  12. If I want bathroom privacy I have to go use the master bathroom. It’s in the basement–so they have to go looking for me and I’m almost always done by the time they find me.
    Will keep your dad in our thoughts.
    And that list–#1 is probably the one I’d be most likely to do.

  13. Love love that bathroom one as yes all of it is so true! Though my kids don’t answer the phone too often yet so that is the only one that hasn’t occurred in my house.
    Will definitely pray for your dad. Glad your brother helped him find a better doctor.
    Emmy would like you to read ..A Big Bear WeekendMy Profile

  14. Praying for your dad and family! I hope everything goes well, including your trip there.

    Oh, the bathroom. The other day I went to take a shower, while my 7 yr old was playing on my very old macbook. She came running into the bathroom to tell me that something had popped up on the computer, and she didn’t know what she should do. She couldn’t remember what the message said. So she went back to the computer with a notebook. She wrote down the entire message about the adobe flash player script word for word, and then brought it to me in the shower. *sigh*
    Sarah at 32Flavors would like you to read ..RTT: HappinessMy Profile

  15. Definitely the praying type and will asking the Big Guy to keep His hand upon your dad. God bless!

    Now that picture did the craziest things to my eyes. How am I going to walk into the living room to ride my exercise bike? Oh well, I’ll crawl in there.

    The To-Do is too funny. I like the one where you run into a store and ask what year is it. This would be hilarious! Of course, everyone will be conviced that you’re crazy, if you do it. Hey, I’m already there so I don’t have anything loose by making a public spectacle out of myself. =D

    Thanks for hosting!

  17. That bathroom door sign is so perfect! I’m printing it, and sticking it on every bathroom door in the house. (Now that it’s summer vacation, I sometimes need to make a quick getaway to the nearest one, just to have some peace and quiet.)

    Sure hope your father’s surgery goes well. Kudos to your brother for insisting on a second opinion!
    Katie B. of HousewifeHowTos.com would like you to read ..Chores That Kids Can DoMy Profile

  20. Who knew wine took so long to make? No wonder I don’t make it myself. I don’t have the patience! I’ll just buy it from you. =)

    Oh gosh. I’m sorry about your dad but yay for the 2nd opinion and the success rate! I’m the praying type so I’ll say a prayer now.

    DONE.

    I love that we posted the same to do list. Isn’t that so funny? I laughed out loud when I first saw it on fb. I also love the note from mom. Bathroom privacy is a thing of the past when you have children.
    Impulsive Addict would like you to read ..Types of People To DoMy Profile

  23. Oh, the bathroom lists. I wish everyone would listen and stay away over here. All we want is just those few minutes!

    I keep putting off the making of the mead. Maybe I’ll give in and let him start it this weekend.

    Second opinions are always good – I should have done the same for myself. I hope everything goes well with your daddy’s surgery!
    Storm, the Psychotic Housewife would like you to read ..Random Tuesday Thoughts – Schedule ChangesMy Profile

  25. Mead, yum! I’ve only had it once, from our local winery, and it was so delish!

    Lately in my house it’s the cat that become a bathroom pest!

    I will be thinking good thoughts for your dad!
    Martha would like you to read ..Random WritingsMy Profile

Comments are closed.