Mai-Evy, some new pics

Smart....?

On my morning run I pick up litter from the street. Today I retrieved a discarded water bottle that was labeled "Smart Water". It made me think of the aphorism "The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right name." I think the origin of that saying may be Chinese.
"Smart Water"...that costs more than gasoline, packaged in plastic, with no fluoridation...and on and go its liabilities. Lars suggested a more apropos title would be "Sucker Water"!

What are you doing tomorrow?

Joanne's transition home has gone well. She's glad to get uninterrupted sleep. There are no IV's, no early morning blood draws, etc. She sleeps peacefully until she needs something and then she puts on her call light, "Al, I need...." The curmudgeon sleepily arises and gets/does what is needed and then turns off the light. Doctor's rules are that she cannot be out of bed without her brace and she can't put the brace on alone, so.....
I guess that makes me nurse, physical therapist, cook, nursing assistant, pharmacist, etc. The only bit of confusion she shows is asking me what I plan to do tomorrow. :)
We both eagerly await Lars', Melissa's and Mai-Evy's arrival today. Yipee.
details at www.caringbridge.org/visit/jnegstad

Baggy pants

The current fashion among some young men of wearing baggy pants, you know the ones that look like they may fall at any moment, has amused me. On short guys it looks as if they have no legs. I've always wondered if they ever fall down. Well....

I was eating lunch at the McDonald's in Abbott Hospital (I know, nothing but the finest nutrition for the hospital and me) yesterday. A young man, perhaps 18 years old, was standing in line. He was wearing baggy jeans. As I watched his jeans dropped to the floor. Glancing around with a very embarrassed look he quickly snatched them up. Given the laws of gravity I had assumed it must happen from time to time

Interesting definition!

I was standing outside of Joanne's room at Abbott Northwestern Hospital while some nurses were tending to her. A bulletin board caught my eye. There was a huge banner over the billboard that said "MEASURES OF CARING". Under the heading were the goals of the hospital under a number of categories. Several were written in such technical gobbledygook that I had no idea what was meant. But the 2009 Service Goal leaped out at me. That goal is 7.1% net patient revenue growth. Isn't it interesting that service is measured in economic terms?
It is a good illustration of how health care has become a financial commodity. How much better would it be if health care was considered a fundamental human right rather than product by which profit is made.
Yes! I think we should have some form of universal health care, and, if I were to choose ,I'd choose the Japanese model. For example an MRI cost $87. in Japan!

For an update on Joanne's post surgery progress go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/jnegstad

A very long day!

Joanne reported for surgery at 6am, entered surgery at 8am, finished at 6pm, went to recovery and got to her intensive care room at 10pm. Why so long? She has osteoporosis and the surgeon was very careful about the insertion of the screws. Why intensive care? After 10 hours of surgery he wanted her to have one on one nursing care for the first night. I just talked to the nurse (9am Tue) and she said Joanne had a good night. She'll be moved to a regular room sometime today.
I'll keep her Caring Bridge site updated so you may follow that for details. www.caringbridge.org/visit/jnegstad

Organ Recital

Joanne has been in intense pain for months both in her leg and lower back. So, after much debate, she's scheduled to have her back fusion extended. The debate was not so much about if it should be done, but, about the extent of the fusion, i.e., should it be extended both up and down. She talked to a family friend, an orthopaedic surgeon, attending a spine symposium in Chicago. He asked leading experts and the advice was unanimous. They said to extend the fusion both higher and lower if there was pain both in the back and the leg.
Therefore, she will have surgery at 7:30am tomorrow (Monday) at Abbot Hospital in Minneapolis. The fusion will be extended both ways. She will likely be in the hospital for five to seven days. She will have to wear a back brace any time she is out of bed for the next twelve weeks.
Obviously this is a very difficult time for her but she is taking it like a trooper buoyed by the love, concern and prayers of so many. She has established a CaringBridge link which I will use to give regular up dates on her progress. That link is www.caringbridge.org/visit/jnegstad
Many thanks for all the out pouring of love, concern and support. God bless you all!

More Baptismal Info

Mai-Evy was wearing grandma curmudegeonette's baptismal dress Sunday for the baptism. The dress shows quite well in the accompanying picture of Mai-Evy with her parents. Lisa took the picture.

Baptism

It was fun! It was engaging! It was celebratory! It was worshipful! It was....many more things as well. Mai-Evy Christine Townsend Negstad was baptized at the later service at All Saints Episcopal Church, Chicago. Two years and two weeks prior Lars and Melissa were married in the same place with similar popping of champagne corks at the Eucharist.

All Saints accumulates baptismal candidates until All Saints so there were seven, five at the early service and two at the late. Music for the service was provided by a New Orleans style brass band. The worship space was festooned with pennants inscribed with the names of deceased loved ones being remembered. The names and ages of all the children murdered in Chicago in the past two years were written on chalk boards surrounding the worship center.

Bonnie, the parish rector, was one of five finalists for the position of Minnesota Bishop. She was not elected but had spent much of the week in Minneapolis. She also presided at Lars' & Melissa's wedding.

Aunt Lisa was Godmother and cousin Logan was Godfather.

Some years ago it dawned on some of us that, while, we said baptism was a really big deal, we weren't acting like it. So, we started a whole 'child in our hands' baptismal ministry at St. James where I was serving. So, now, it was gratifying to participate in a service that recognized baptism's significance and took it seriously. I like to think of Baptism as the Sacrament of Belonging.

And Mai-Evy? She was alert and observant throughout it all. She acted like it was a fun event that happened every day. I (we) am (are) blessed!

Baptism Day