Greek Dancing

Practice is back! Which means it's time to measure KK's head against the flowers. She (and he!) just keeps growing!!

 

Our Happy Place

Our happy place - it can be in many locations, but usually there is water...friends...and/or copious amounts of fun. When we arrive in Ivy Log, GA, we find all three.

We leave before the sun comes up. I'll drive for a few hours before being greeted with a glorious sunrise over the corn or bean fields of Ohio.

.We will arrive - and there will always be shouts and glee - and usually cake. Because we're always celebrating something!

And then we just camp out - on the couch, on the boat, doesn't matter. We simply hang out with friends, absorbing their presence and kindness like a sponge. Snuggles on their dog, Bug, don't hurt either!

We'll tube and knee board and float....

We will go out for dinner at least once....

And act goofy along the way. 

We'll hang out some more....

Maaaaayyyybe do an adventure...this time, a water park ON the water.

We will play games and tease each other to no end...

And by the time it comes to a close, we plan for the next time....

I love it here.

 

More Birthdays and Babies

We took time to celebrate more birthdays on Hubs' side - and had a few new people to meet - including my newest great-niece in from Idaho. She's just a peach and my kids just adored her. So fun to snuggle a little one.

We also got time with Grammy - at 102.25, she's still kicking it and is a rock star. I know her body hurts and she's tired of this life - but I'm so glad we can still get time with her. And selfies!

 

There Was A Birthday In There

For my 48th birthday this year - my kids went to camp. Talk about a present! Hee Hee!

KK joined her BFF, Lucy, at Camp Manatou Lin for Harry Potter Week - she had a ball meeting new girls, trying new things...and hanging out at the same camp Bumpa did when he was her age....70 years earlier. SO COOL!

Bubs took one for the team at went to Ada Bible Serve Camp where he worked around town doing projects of service for those in need...charities or groups of individuals. It expanded his heart and his maturity. It was harder on me than him - but that's a story for another day.

 And somewhere in there, I had a birthday. Forty Eight trips around the sun and no signs of slowing down. WOO HOO!

My Buddy & More

My buddy - Uncle Jungle Matt - because my kids treat him like a jungle gym - sensed crazy had been in the air. And upon picking up the phone to chat - he informed me he was inbound to pilot a plane out of GRR the next morning.

So he came to spend the afternoon with Hubs and me - and cheer me up. Which, he most certain did.

Fourth of July weekend rolled around - and the kids had a ball at Grandma and Grandpa's lake house. They get more confident and adventurous each year - and I love that about them. They also still goof off well in the car together!
 

And, with sincere thanks to a colleague of Hubs from the ISD - we got our air conditioner replaced - and saved 30% off the other quote. Hallelujah for that!

Polly Positive checked in - and we are finding many things right with the world once again!

The Next Step That Wasn't

 So if I arrive home at 1:00am on a Wednesday...and I'm to check in to the hospital at 8:30am on a Thursday, am I crazy?

Don't answer that.

Hey - they tried to make it 8:30am on that same Wednesday. And if it wasn't that Thursday it was going to be well into July. So Thursday it is.

I'm writing this a few days after all this went down - and still back posting it to keep it in the timeline correct - so I'm in a better frame of mind than when this all happened.

Regardless - it's not a happy story.

Sometime on Wednesday after laundry and unpacking and feeling like it was the middle of the night in Athens, I finally reached out to Urology to say "hey - I don't have a check in time for tomorrow so what should I do?"

The honest response was to call the hospital and rattle a cage.

I did gently - they called back twice to ask a series of questions and I was clocked for 8:30am arrival, 10am procedure.

We got there on time on Thursday - and the room is full. Like can't really find a place to sit. Which ended up as no worries, I was called back within a minute. 

Upon walking back, I asked the nurse for a urine dip, I thought I had a UTI. She wasn't really a nurse, just the aide, I had to ask the nurse.

The new nurse said "well do you have any symptoms?"

Um, no, I don't. I just want an unnecessary test for you to charge my insurance AGAIN for the umpteenth time this year.

OF COURSE I DO!!

She was concerned because the doctor hadn't ordered one yet.

The other nurse - you get two - said behind the curtain "Just do it. Let her get the catch and if he says no, so what. But if he says yes, at least we have it."

Hallelujah, logic prevailed.

I did the quick cup thing - got in my gown, got comfy in my bed and had some fun, witty banter with the nurse. The logical one.

She has me sign off on a few "oscopy" tests and stent replacement. I stopped, joked and said this is an exit only procedure.

"Oh, it's just covering all our bases."

You know where this is going.

My urologist comes in, we chat about Europe, I explain that the leakage I've had for the entire month is still there and that I've probably given myself a UTI. He is pleased to hear there is a sample to test. He also mentions while he's down there, why doesn't he look to see if the cuff that was created by my hysterectomy has completely healed - because that peritoneal fluid that's leaking out really does need to stop.

Um, duh.

He's confident all will be well - but mentions if the stent hasn't protected the ureter long enough, I'll need another. And, if after that it still hasn't worked, we'll need to talk. Seriously.

The trip back to happy land was the last happy memory I have.

Adjust the mask - wake up later.

This time, I shot right out of anesthesia and asked how it went.

The stent went back in.

And my eyes leaked.

I wanted my husband - and with this ask and this level of conversation post sleepyhead moments - they can transition me from Post Op 1 to Post Op 2. Hubs walks in and we both cry. 

Not only has the ureter not healed - it still leaks under the flouroscopy. Which means its not a scab that healing slowly - it's still a hole. And...he can still see a small hole in the cuff area, too.

BLOODYMOTHERPUSSBUCKET.

A little med for nausea, a bucket, some cranberry juice and tissues. I want to go home.

I mope for a few hours.

May I also mention that it is 90* and our air conditioner is fully dead. Like not coming back, $6000+ for a new one?

We have a small portable one in our bedroom and I crawl into bed and cry in the only cool spot in the house.

A few hours later, my phone dings that I have a new test result on MyChart....and I have a raging UTI. I've never seen so many red exclamation points on a test result. I'm a mess.

But no call from the doctor.

So I call them...um, yea, I was right, I need meds. Just send them to Walgreens.

She calls back an hour later "oh, goodness, yes you do."

Oh for the love of all the tea in China.

Hubs gets the meds. I sulk.

I take the meds. I sulk more.

And then I go to bed. 

Friday - well, it's a new day and it is what it is. The meds are highly effective and I'm already doing better. The OBGYN appointment is July 14 and the stent is in until August 12. I just wait. And pray that I heal in time to prevent further appointments, procedures and/or surgeries. My body has had enough. I am one tough cookie and I am in good shape (physically otherwise healthy and more healthy than many). But I'm tired of all this crap that was never supposed to happen. 

So now we wait.

And you know how patient I am.

Athens -> Toronto -> GRR

 Arrival in the port city of Athens feels comfortable.

By sheer luck and chance, we run into our friends we met on the way in as we find an elevator to leave the ship (more on that in a minute) - and we can tell them "no, the airport is not close" and moreover "yes, the taxi drivers are cray-cray!"

It feels familiar.

And H.O.T.

Alas - it's one last breakfast in the Windjammer and one last splurge for momma: Frosted Flakes. I never buy these for myself, so I have had more than a few bowls this week.

We tell the kids our car is coming to get us at 9am, so we need to settle in, get out a book and clear our stateroom by 8:30. 

We're out - we're in our chairs - and Hubs' phone chimes. The text, perfect for how Greeks operate "your prearranged ride won't make it. We don't have enough drivers."

Argh! Ok - that means the taxi line. Which we have been told all week long is not a convenient way to ride - it's not well-populated by a never ending line of cabs.

But, we're in no hurry - so the line it is.

We wait forever for an elevator - even opting to try the interior glass ones that float up and down the atrium. Alas, it arrives!

AND! As mentioned, our new friends are in it. This is a thousand to one chance - and we both shriek!

We're back to the cab line just like we were when we arrived. Seems a perfect book end.

Cabs come - it just takes 20 minutes - and we begin to load bags. I say good morning in Greek and the driver's face lights up. He loves that we tried and can do a few words - and as he swerves and weaves like a boxer warming up, we dodge the scooters and the semis and find our way out of the port in no time. Hubs' grandpa and his family are both from the same spot in the Peloponnese section of Greece and that secures it, we're friends for life.

We arrive at our hotel - at 9:30am - and she is waiting for us. "I'm sure we'll have your room ready by 10:30 - grab a coffee, play some backgammon  - check back in."

Which we do - and it's perfect - and HAS FOUR BEDS! And, mind you, it's bigger than our stateroom, so we all take a little sigh of relief. The patio balcony is perfect and the Acropolis is in view.

We decide to brave the heat, the sun, the crowds and go at high noon to the top of the hill. We pay a little extra to skip a long line - we find the same spot we were when I was pregnant with Bubs and take another picture. 

We comment that it's been 14 years and it doesn't look like they have done much restoration in that time. Den perazzi - no worries - it'll get restored one day.

The view from the top is glorious.

Bubs isn't having it. He's hot and tired and well - he's done with the pile of rocks on a hill. I thank him for his honesty and tell him this is it. The last pile. He'll be ok as soon as we can find him a Sprite and some shade. 

The kids pull it together - we end up in a convenience store where "yes!" is the answer to "may I please have..." and we find their smiles again.

Resting in the heat of the afternoon is a perfect idea - we end up walking into the Plaka for dinner. We find a great restaurant on the corner - with noodles for the kids - and gyro, tzatziki and horiatiki salata for me. Winning!

We walk a few shops, purchase a few small souvenirs - remember, we're packed in suitcases the size of a large shoebox - ain't no space for nuthin' - and we end up back for showers, little technology and a final nights rest. 

I drag the kids to the balcony at 11pm to see the Acropolis lit up at night. They claim it was worth it, even if it was a pile of rocks.

The morning comes - this driver shows up - in a fun tourist style Mercedes bus where in the interior seats face each other. We're on the 45 minute ride out to the airport and arrive in style.

I lead the way - it's what I do - but Bubs finds the board and finds the flight on time - and the service counter to check in. I'm so proud!

Off waaaaayyyy to the end again. They don't open until 3 hours before the flight -we might have over prepared a bit. But it's a 10 minute wait - with only 5 families in front of us and when the gate agent asks how many bags we're checking and I say "none" - that would be the only time anyone raised an eyebrow.

It's how we roll.

Three security checkpoints for passports - and a very long walk under at least two runways to baggage security. A short line - a quick trip upstairs through another passport swipe into the departures lounge for 4 flights. It's small and not really all that glamorous. But we find beer, Sprite and cheese pie (tiropita) and we call it good.

The inbound flight is a little delayed. I'm looking down my glasses  - how are they going to fill up 330 people and get us back on time? Because it's 11 hours over the pond and if we decide to run for the boarder, it's another 5 hours - plus what ever it takes in Toronto for customs. Argh.

Alas - they board our flight. We're group 6 and fully intend to wait with a sea of people all crushing the gate agent.

Groups 1-5 have a sum total of 20 people go through. Um, what? So - they call group 6 and we push our way through - everyone else is beyond that. Say what?

We find our seats - Hubs has someone next to him again and I've got the kids. 

Except there aren't a lot of people getting on the plane.

And before you know it, the stewardess is announcing that yes, it's not full and yes, we can move, but we can't do so until the pilot has us in the air for balancing of weight, etc.

But she allows Hubs and I to move one row - that won't hurt anything. 

And then the 10,000 foot ding comes on - and we all snag a complete row TO OURSELVES!

The next 10:45 go by pretty fast. There's a meal, there's a movie. Everyone lays down and naps.

Somewhere over the Atlantic, I fell asleep. 

We wake up in Canada. Boom, just like that. 

The long walk to customs is familiar - we snag a kiosk to do our declarations and hop in a line to get cleared. It's moving right along - and we've got our fingers crossed we don't get asked to go to the deeper inspection "triage" lane. 

The agent takes our paper "you're just passing through?"

Yup.

"Great, thanks."

And that was customs.

Okayyyy.

Hubs calls the company for the long term parking of our car. It'll be 10 minutes. We snake through arrivals outside, find the post - and there's the van. He heard the call and turned back around in the airport to get us as he knew he was close and we were tired.

Okaaayyyyyyy.

And there's our van and we all have energy and the sun in still up for at least 2 hours - so let's drive.

Hubs gets us to London, ON and I take over to the boarder.

It's about 11pm now - the kids have fallen asleep - because to us all, our bodies tell us it's 6am the next day...that nap on the plane sure did help reset a little.

I pay the bridge fee and come over the Blue Water into the States. There is ONE CAR in front of us.

I smack Hubs "the line is too long!" and we both laugh. This has been so seamless!

The guy looks at our passports, asks where we've been. I say "Italy, Turkey and Greece." Hubs pipes in "it was a cruise." The guy asks me to roll down the windows - he looks at the kids and says "Welcome home!"

And that was it. It took 2 minutes.

I may have choked up a little as I pulled out. All that worry for Covid and crap and junk and stuff - and we're back. And healthy.

I make it 20 more miles to our usual spot - and by usual - the three times we've crossed into Canada in the last 10 years.

We switch, I nap for an hour - and do the final hour awake to keep Hubs occupied. The exit arrives, the kids wake up - and we pull in the drive way 23 hours and 59 minutes from the time the alarm went off in Athens.

The same thing happened last time from Rome. 23:59 from alarm to garage door. How funny!

Maggie see us - Hubs pets her for about 10 minutes - the kids are already in bed - and by 1:30am EST, we're asleep. 

That's it. 

That's Europe in 10 days in four tiny suitcases at a bargain price.

And so many memories that will take years to unpack.

Life  - and God - is good.