Painful Job #7

Hey! Just discovered another career I never want to have -- piano mover.

Another buddy and I just helped my brother get a "free" piano from a lovely couple who are retiring to someplace warmer.

Lifting a piano up stairs and into a pickup truck without benefit of a ramp was ... horrible to say the least. A quick trip to Home Depot to get some forearm forklifts and the wrong kind of ramps  brought it down from outrageously dangerous to merely painful.

Happy piano plinkering, Outpost 2! Never again -- the piano conveys.

Seriously, look at this picture. There is NO good way to do this, only worse ones.

Surgery Update

Mrs. Nod's father has been in the hospital since before Thanksgiving with congestive heart failure. They scheduled surgery yesterday, but pulled him off the table at the last minute (literally) to make way for an emergency surgery.

The surgery was successfully performed today with only minor complications. He had a band placed around his mitral valve and chordae repair. This valve had moderate to severe leakage. The doctors also replaced his aortic valve with an organic valve from a pig. If he'd opted for the mechanical valve, he'd be required to be on blood thinners permanently.

Apparently, the calcium build up in his aortic valve indicated several years of problems. The doctor claimed his aortic valve was worst he has ever seen. Unbeknownst to everyone he had a congenital defect of only having 2 flaps instead of 3. As a result his heart muscle has swelled inordinately and his pulmonary (lung) blood pressure is sky high.

Somehow the echocardiogram from six months ago missed this very obvious defect. But it's all corrected now. Mrs. Nod's dad is going to have one heck of a sore chest when he wakes up, but he'll regain his strength and energy by being able to breathe and get some oxygen into his blood. It may take six months before he makes a full recovery.

Thanks to all who offered prayers.

One Up, One Down

Mrs. Nod took Nub in for his follow-up appointment to the neurologist following his reported seizure. After examining him and viewing the footage taken by his teacher, the neurologist concluded that Nub was not, in fact, having seizures.

We got corroborating testimony from the eye doctor who dilated his eyes and looked at his optic nerve, and said it looked fine. Apparently, you can see damage there if there have been serious seizures. So that is a big relief. I don't blame his teacher for reacting the way that she did, even though it was incredibly stressful at the time. We had told her that Nub had taken a tumble down the stairs and to look out for anything unusual. Well, rolling your eyes up and shaking is definitely unusual. However, the way he was doing it was -- well, entertainment to him. Weird, yes; dangerous, no.

That's the good news. The bad news is that Mrs. Nod's father is in the hospital with congestive heart failure -- a little something we know about. The echocardiogram shows his aortic valve has become defective and will have to be repaired with open heart surgery.

The prognosis is good; after this he will regain the energy he's lost over the last two years and no longer suffer the severe shortness of breath he's been struggling with. Of course, he has lots of complications as you might expect (he's 70, diabetic, gouty, bad back, severe allergies, tons of medications). As with any surgery, there is risk; Mrs. Nod and her mother are understandably worried.

But God is good, and we submit all things to His divine providence. The doctors want to do the surgery soon -- within the next few days perhaps -- so any prayers would be appreciated.

Total Beer Tasting

For my father's birthday I thought it would be cool to take him to a beer tasting class that was being offered by our local Total Beverage store, a place where they have a little bit of every kind of beer, wine, and more.

I never know what to call this place because the name has changed 9 times in the last 10 years. I think it's now called Total Wine & More, but it's been Total Beverage, Total Wine and Beer, Total Beer, Wine, and More, and so on. The only thing that has remained the same has been the word Total.

So while they are primarily focused on wine, they also have the single best craft beer aisle anywhere I've ever seen. I have quite a wide range of taste in beers (Ales rule!) and this allows me to experiment and buy single bottles of things I'd like to try. I know it seems like I drink a lot of beer, but in reality, I just like to sample and talk about them. It's a hobby.

Anywho, I saw this advertisement for an actual beer class where they were comparing Old World style beers (European) with New World Style beers (American). My sibs and I are into it, so we thought Dad would like a night out with his kids doing something different with dinner to follow.

It was a lot of fun, actually. They have a classroom built right into the store and at least 50 people showed up. We learned a lot of history of beer making, styles, ingredients and the like. We sampled 12 different styles (samples, not full glasses!) and made notes on things like color, aroma, flavor, carbonation, clarity, and so on.

They had a great spread of hors d'oeurves and palate cleansers like chocolate, cheese and crackers, shrimp, etc. I thought I would completely go for exclusively Old World beers, but I was pleasantly surprised that it was about 50-50 Old vs New.

At the end they had a "bonus round" pairing. The first was Banana Nut Bread Ale which smelled exactly, and I mean exactly like banana nut bread. However, the taste was not, and it was a disappointment. The other half of the pairing was the Dogfish Head World Wide Stout. There was a startled chain of exclamations as each person tasted this one: Wow!  Dark, sweet, and delicious. It's billed as "A very dark beer, brewed with a ridiculous amount of barley." It costs an arm and a leg ($10/bottle), but it's very worth it; it has 18% ABV and 70 IBU. "Dark, rich, roasty and complex, World Wide Stout has more in common with a fine port than a can of cheap, mass-marketed beer."

We followed up our exciting class with dinner at the Dogfish Head restaurant and a few more choice malted selections (try Sah'tea -- tastes like spiced chai beer), and watched the hockey game on the pub TV. Fine food, fine drink, good company.

All in all we had a fine! time. And slept well.

Better Man Than Me

Wynken and I just went to a wake to comfort a man -Paul- and his four young kids on the death of his wife. Instead, Paul comforted my son who became emotional in the receiving line.

I am greatly humbled by this man.
I need to slink off and tell my wife and kids I love them about now.

Vertigo: Real Life Noir - Part 2

It had just begun to rain, figuratively speaking. I was contemplating easy street with my brother when Mom called from out of town to say that Dad had been taken to the hospital.

Saturday, 11:40 PM. My brother and I were driving just the other side of legal towards the Emergency Room. I punched up information on my cell phone and got connected to the HealthPlex. Someone had waived enough of the HIIPA privacy rules by this time because they were willing to talk to me. Yes, my father had been brought in, did I want to speak to the doctor or the nurse? I don't care which. "Hello? Doctor? What happened?!"

"Your father was brought in complaining of severe dizziness - vertigo, we call it - and uncontrolled vomiting." Thank you God, it's not a heart attack, I thought. "His blood pressure is elevated, but he's stable and we're running some checks." Oh, oh. Dad has amazingly low blood pressure normally. I called mom in St. Louis to tell her what I had found out. A couple of minutes later we were there.

Saturday, 11:52 PM. The chatty nurse at the reception desk waved us through to the examination room breezily. We rounded the corner and came face to face with ... the neighbors. They are an older couple who live next door. Nice folk, and well meaning, but they can be a little too up close and personal from time to time. Excitable and talkative, and as likely to give misinformation as good - not what we want right now. Mom had said to keep them away from Dad because he didn't need the stimulus. Still, they had done us a service, and I was grateful.

We ducked behind the flimsy curtain that masquerades as privacy screens in every Emergency Room in the country. We let Dad know we were there, and he acknowledged us weakly. Seeing no imminent danger I ducked back out and shuffled the neighbors off with profuse thanks. They told me what they knew which wasn't much, but they took their time doing it.

Sunday 12:03 AM. Dad didn't look so hot. He was pale and had his eyes screwed shut to keep the dizziness at bay. They had given him an anti-nausea medicine and it was starting to take effect which was good. Then there was the smell. When someone empties their stomach onto their shoes it's not exactly a bed of roses. I tried not to think about that.

Dad was conscious and lucid, but he looked like someone who just had a very Bad Day. My brother and I helped to answer the doctor's questions about past history and what medicines Dad took.

Between waves of nausea we pieced together the story. Dad had been at the house all day. In the afternoon, despite the heat he had taken a walk and then a shower. He said he felt fine. He ate dinner at the house and then went out for ice cream. Milwaukee's Frozen Custard to be exact. He returned to the house and was watching the television when he began to grow dizzy and have trouble focusing. It grew progressively worse and Dad knew he was about to lose his lunch, dinner, and that great Milwaukee's Frozen Custard to boot. Realizing it would be bad if he passed out alone, he managed to call 911. The neighbors saw the flashing lights of the emergency vehicles and called my mother.

That's where we came in to the story.

Sunday 1:15 AM. The doctors did their doctor thing and we tried to stay out of the way and stay in the loop. Blood work, EKG, CAT scans. Fluid in the ear. Elevated heart rate. Obvious vertigo and nausea. We talked to Dad and tried to be a comforting presence and his advocate with the doctors. The ER doc stepped out to consult with the family doctor. I stood there and eavesdropped, not caring if he noticed me or not. "... like to transfer him to the full hospital ... need to run some neurological scans, MRI ... possible constriction of vessels to the brain ... vaso-vagal nerves ...". I wasn't liking the sound of that.

The doctor came back in and told us the same story. He said it was going to take another hour or two before they could get him transferred. He left to make the arrangements with the hospital and I updated Mom on the phone in my most reassuring voice.

My brother and I did rock, scissors, paper to see who would go back to the house to clean up the mess and get Dad a fresh change and some supplies. Actually, I cheated and gave him the job while I waited with Dad. I owe you one.

3:10 AM. I waited around and kept Dad company. It was good to see that although he felt like the business end of a can of Alpo, he hadn't lost his sense of humor. By that time the meds and the hour were taking their toll and he fell in and out of a fitful sleep.

There was a patient on the other side of the privacy curtain in the next bay. His salad days were clearly behind him, but he looked as if he were clinging pretty hard to the memory. He kept trying to chat me up but I wasn't interested. He also had a certain lack of inhibition because he discussed his intimate medical condition at a volume that half the ER could hear, our flimsy curtain notwithstanding. At another time, I would have been amused.

The paramedics finally came and there was more paperwork to fill out. They juiced Dad again with the anti-vert for the ride to the hospital and it was good night sunshine. Apparently, nobody puts shock absorbers on ambulances or else they drive with square wheels, because it's not what anybody would call a comfortable ride - certainly not like a car.

3:30 AM. I followed the ambulance to the main hospital 20 minutes down the road. They brought him in through the emergency doors, while I checked in at the desk. I had called my brother and he met us back at the hospital. We got Dad settled in a room of his own and answered more questions, filled out more paperwork, did the insurance. There was some question whether radiology was open for business on Sunday, but it was going to have to wait for morning in any case. I didn't know entire departments could take the day off in a hospital.

4:30 AM. There was nothing more to be done at that hour so I returned to the house while my brother sacked out on the hospital floor. Mom got her flight rearranged for Sunday afternoon and planned to make a beeline for the hospital from the airport.

Sunday 8:30 AM. My brother called our other brother who had just returned from his own weekend trip with the youth group and gave him the low down. They exchanged places for the day shift.

10:00 AM. I wanted the monkey with the hammer to stop pounding on my brain. Daylight filtered in the window. I was not amused. A Nodling came calling up the stairs. I handed her to her mother and mumbled something incoherent.

1:00 PM. I called the hospital to find out what I had missed. Our doctor had been to see Dad, and gave him a complete work up. Thankfully, our worst fears had not been realized. Turns out the culprit was a particularly nasty viral ear infection. It had been making the rounds and was known to be particularly debilitating including the vertigo and vomiting. They gave him the work up with the MRI just to be sure, and it came back clean.

3:00 PM. I headed over to my parents house and collected some necessary items. All the family members had gotten the updates and were breathing easier.

5:30 PM. Mom was wheels-down from the airport and at Dad's side at the hospital. Meanwhile, we couldn't get any response from the hospital Chaplain service, (would we like the Baptists?) so my brother called in a favor from his priest buddy.

7:30 PM. Father drives 40 minutes from whatever he was doing and gives Communion to Mom and Dad in the hospital and the Anointing of the Sick to Dad. Father calls St. V's and reads them the riot act for missing the sick calls. St. V's was very apologetic, the phone got turned off by mistake. Their ears are a little blistered now. I love a good Catholic priest.

Monday 12:30 PM. Mom calls to say that they've released Dad from the hospital after getting the all clear from radiology. It's going to take a few days for the virus to clear Dad's system, so in the meantime he's got some wonderful drugs to take his mind off the problem. They're tired and going to get some much needed sleep.

The good news is Dad's going to be okay. Thanks to all who prayed and supported us. We're all a little tired, and a lot more appreciative of the good things that God has given us.

End.

Vertigo: Real Life Noir

It was a dark and stormy night. The only catch was, it wasn't raining - at least not yet.

My brother and I had just sat down to chew the fat. Guy stuff. Bull sessions they call 'em. A chance to sit around and just be a man, no questions asked, no pardon required. The end of the week and a chance to put your feet up and blow off some steam that accumulates in our work-a-day lives.

Saturday, 10:17 P.M. The wife and kids were all abed and everything was right with the world for the next 8 hours until the sun came up.

10:30 P.M. My brother and I had just finished admiring the legs on that Irish Red, when the first call came in. My brother took the call. It was a domestic disturbance. Personal. "I'll take it out there", he mouthed moving towards the door. He stopped halfway through the motion, and thinking better of it, took the Irish Red with him.

I was in no hurry, so I prayed the appropriate Hour of the Divine Office, checked emails, and pecked out an entry on my blog using that new gadget I picked up two weeks ago. I poured a second glass and admired the color.

11:00 P.M. The phone rang again. I looked at the Caller ID and saw that it was Mom. My senses went on high alert: Mom never calls this late. I occasionally forget and call late, but I'm her son; Moms have more sense. Mom was out of town this weekend, so this was two strikes on the Spider Sense.

I played it cool. "Hi, Mom. What's up?". She sounded a little agitated. "The neighbor called to say there's an ambulance at the house, and I can't find your Dad. The emergency crew isn't giving out any information. I may need you to stand by. I'll call you right back."

"Sure, Mom." She hung up. I looked appreciatively at the Irish Red, but decided I'd better hold off. I waited.

11:09 P.M. My brother returned and helped himself to another slab of stinky cheese that smelled like used wool socks on a hot summer day. I was just about to tell him about Mom when the phone interrupted for a third time. It was she. I turned the speaker on so my brother could hear. "... took your father to the Emergency HealthPlex. I can't get anyone to say what happened or confirm it's him." It figures. HIIPA health rules forbid releasing any patient information without specific consent. "They did say they have an ambulance inbound in twenty minutes, but won't say who's onboard."

"Don't worry, we're on it, Mom. We can be there in 3o minutes and we'll call you as soon as we know something." I grab our gear and we rush off in the car. If Dad's not answering the phone and the neighbors are reporting flashing lights and ambulances outside the house, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to put 2 and 2 together.

I began to pray.

Hitched

Congratulations to my Sister and her husband on their recent wedding! You guys make a great couple, and you looked beautiful, Sis.

Dona Nobis Pacem: Give Us A Break

I must really love my sister.

Not only are we going out of town for her "destination" wedding (she lives locally), incurring the expense of transporting 7 people, blah, blah, blah, but also now I'm singing at the wedding?! I haven't sung in front of people for more than ten years now, except in church.

Fortunately, I'm not alone. My father and one of my brothers are also roped into this shin-dig. All I have to do is sing this simple little round of Dona Nobis Pacem. It's - what - two minutes of my life? How can something so simple take up such a large part of my time and energy? It's nervous energy to be sure.


We're practicing, going to a vocal coach for a few crash course lessons, and working on "blending". Right now, I'll settle for hitting all the notes right. We're doing it a capella, so it's just us and a sheet of music. We're making progress - we went from awful to halfway decent. There's still a week or so to improve a bit more.

I warned her that it might not sound all that good. She says she just wants us to sing as a gift of thoughtfulness rather than ability. OK, Sis, hope you really, really appreciate this, 'cause that's what you're getting. I must be awesome in the thoughtfulness department.

Sigh. Family.

Family Tech Time

You know the old adage: the family that iPads together stays together - or something like that.
The Nodlings are just as excited about my new purchase as I am. Of course, part of that is simple novelty. However, it has borne some interesting fruit. Because it is so portable, yet large enough for more than one person to look at, the kids are clustering about like fruit flies.

We have done morning prayer via Universalis a couple of times with the Nodlings each taking turns reading one of the psalms aloud.

We tested out our chosen GPS application, MotionX GPS Drive HD, v4.1, by navigating to Grandma's house for brunch today and then "detouring" for gas in order to simulate our upcoming trip to my sister's out of state wedding. It gives directions just fine, but the voice directions only seems to know about major road names. Figuring out how to detour in the middle of a navigation was also tricky. Should work out fine.

Of course the Nodlings want to play the games on the iPad, so I downloaded some free apps: checkers, touch hockey, BrainPOP, tic-tac-toe, Let's Do Math, and Animal Fun. My littlest, Nib, loves the animal one. It just shows real pictures of animals and plays the sound that animal makes, says its name, and spells it. Nib squeals with delight for each and every animal and pushes the button to go to the next one. The interface is so simple a two year old can use it (most of the time). She ran around the house yelling "Ice pack! Ice Pack!". I had to laugh, "No baby, it's called iPad."

Tonight the Nodlings and I curled up on the couch and watched an educational clip on BrainPOP about Hellen Keller, took the quiz at the end, and finished up with a couple of levels of the Isaac Newton's Gravity game, where we had to figure out various puzzles based on gravity.
Even Grandma, who is not into tech toys, saw it and got excited. She can read books, look up recipes, flip through pictures of the kids, and get her email on one little simple device.

Anything that draws us together has to be a good thing, right?

Simple Pleasures

Did I mention I have the best wife ever?

Mrs. Nod gave me the best Father's Day this year. Mostly this involved letting me do whatever I wanted all weekend -- and giving me the space to do it in. The Nodlings were around when I wanted but kept out of the way when I just wanted to get work done.

Was it relaxing? No. I worked hard in the yard repairing my ramp, shed doors, and lawn tractor. But I felt good about it when it was all done. I made a plan, executed the plan, and got it done. I showed the Nodlings how to measure and cut wood, use a drill and jigsaw.

Oh, yes, there was a really nice dinner outing that my wife surprised me with and she got a babysitter and everything. We talked, we ate, I sampled the beer at Dogfish Head Ale House, we browsed a bookstore (there's no such thing as browsing with 5 kids in tow), and watched a Poirot movie.

Simple pleasures, happy memories.

Productivity Or Not

I snuck into my brother's cube when he was away and took this photo. I mean, how many computers does a guy need? Since he's away, we might as well comment:

• This isn't very green, now is it?
  
• This is about the same size as the network I've got to document this week.
• That rolling brownout we had last week? I think we've got our answer ...
• Polar bears everywhere hate you.
• Al Gore would like to talk to you about some carbon offsets.
  
• Despite what you've read, these aren't portable cup holders.
• Having more computers doesn't make you more productive.
• 50 pounds of portability. Not.
• Solitaire isn't any better on six screens.
• It only takes one computer to multitask.
• I'm going to need you to come in on Saturday.

Just having a little fun ... feel free to pile on.

Summer Of Love

There must be something in the water, and my family is drinking it by the bucket load.

This summer is chock full of weddings and the planning and coordination is getting quite complex, including a series of local and out of town events. My sister is getting married this summer, followed a month later by my cousin.

Now, somehow, my brother has managed to squeeze an engagement in between various wedding events. Congratulations, Shoe! Your Girl Friday, is a great catch!

Everybody is getting hitched, and it's just as well. The Nodlings and their younger cousins have started to become confused as to who is married and who is not yet. In my family, when you become serious about someone you bring them over for Sunday brunch at Mom's house. We hold it every Sunday as one, big, giant family.

If we like you and you survive the circus for a month or two, you're pretty much adopted. After a year of brunches, the Nodlings begin to wonder why you're not married to my relative and they start asking you probing and embarrassing questions about it.

So come one, come all to the feast; but watch out! the Nodlings have got their eyes on you and they're not afraid to grill you about it.

Life Without You

Wynken was on the Boy Scouts 100th Anniversary Camporee this weekend at Goshen. The last such Camporee was sometime back in 1970-something; the next one is likely not until the Boy Scouts' 150th anniversary. So, in that sense it was fairly historic.

The rest of the Nodlings were very occupied with our many coming and goings; birthday parties, pool openings, people going to and from the airport, and the like. A very busy weekend spent mostly without #1. That fact and aka the Mom's complaints of a girl-less fortnight got me to thinking.

In a big family, somebody's absence is actually quite noticeable. [I'm sure it's a lot noticeable in a small family, but I wouldn't know. ;-) ] The house just feels different depending on who is there and not there; the family dynamic changes dramatically, especially with the kids.

Wynken is both a bookworm and a night-owl. He's a smart kid with amazing long term recall. I am always the last man standing before bed, and I make periodic patrols of the house as I putter about. Many's the night when I have to "retire" a book from Wynken's hands to get him to go to sleep. When he's not here, everyone is asleep early.

Blynken is the ringleader for the other girls and a bit of an instigator. She is either sweet as sugar and the perfect playmate or the unseen hand for all the girl dust-ups. When she's not around, Nod-girl tends to wander about aimlessly claiming she's bored.

Nod-girl is the original drama queen. A typical middle child, neither big nor little. Emotionally sensitive, attention craving, both smart and creative, given to random acts of kindness. When she's not here, it feels like there is a vacuum between the Bigs and the Littles that needs filling.

Nub is our toddler on steroids. He is celebrating his third anniversary of his second birthday. A lovably cute boy with DS, he's got the strength and reach of a five year old with the understanding of a two year old. He is also our resident musician and people-watcher. Almost every toy he has makes music, which is what he loves. When he is not around there is a preternatural quiet which makes us 'start' suddenly, wondering where he is.

Nib is our impish little girl. She is the size of a pixie and as clever as a fox. She runs and skips around the house taking delight in every little thing. Most of what she does is unbearably cute, and she'll tell you so. "I cute!" How someone so small can make such a loud ruckus is beyond me. When she is not around, we start counting heads and wait for someone to come along to delight us with the joy of living.

Mrs. Nod is the one that everyone wants and needs, including me. Once she said it didn't seem like I needed her that much since I'm the extrovert, but I told her she is like a touchstone to which you have to keep returning in order to stay grounded. Nobody can bear to have her gone for long. It's tiring being everyone's number one, but fame and popularity has its price!

I can't imagine life without them, really. Every once in a while we get a glimpse of what that would actually be like, and it's just Wrong somehow.

Roller Ditching Grandpa

Grandpa Nod hit a rock in the road and ditched on his roller blades.

Two years ago he hit a pothole and softened his landing with his face - out cold. This time it's a triple fractured humerus where he jammed the ball of his arm into the shoulder socket.

Doctor says that unless the rotator cuff is damaged, they won't do surgery. He'll have to keep it in a sling for a couple of weeks, and then do some - light - exercises in order to regain his mobility.

Grandpa Nod grew up playing hockey on frozen ponds, skating, and all that, and yes, he wears all the required safety gear. In general the exercise is good for him, but he's had a couple of unlucky accidents. Knowing him, this won't stop his skating once his arm heals.

We're thinking body armor for his birthday ...

Double Date

Today I had a double date with a brunette and a blonde, aka Blynken and Nod-girl.

Mostly it was regular stuff like haircuts, oil changes, and buying soccer gear. But it was nice to hang with the girls and have a little individual time with them.



The lady at the dry cleaner thought it was charming that I tried to get them to say "thank you" in Vietnamese - hey, I know at least six or seven words from working in restaurants. That earned them a free bubble gum from the dispenser.

After that we came home to a clogged washing machine that the repairman had to come out and fix -- you do NOT want a down washing machine in a family our size. While the girls tried out their new soccer balls I limbed the tree in back.

Yeah, Spring is here.

Enabling Greatness

Alexandre Bilodeau. Susan Boyle. Maddy Curtis. These are a few names from over the last year or so of people who have inspired us.

Alexandre Bilodeau with his brother, Frederic who has Cerebral Palsy, during the men's moguls final in the FIS World Cup event at Mont Gabriel in 2006. Bilodeau won the gold medal. (Francois Roy/Canadian Press)

Athlete. Singer. Aspirant. Is it these qualities which move us to admiration or stir our emotions so strongly? Lots of people compete, sing, and aspire. Is it because they have overcome adversity, because they are the underdogs? We do like those things, but lots of people do that, too.

Or is it because these people radiate a love that is bigger than themselves, one that is perhaps purer, nobler, or more selfless? I think that is closer to the mark.







These inspirational people love and strive, and they inspire us to rise to that next level of selflessness, make us want to be like them. That is their greatness -- because that is the greatness of Christ. There was an old, homely looking woman from Calcutta, dirt poor and spending her life's energy on tending to society's rejects who inspired the world: Mother Teresa.

And it is the undervalued, disabled, and unwanted people whom they serve who make these people great. Because their love is focused outward and not inward - that is what makes them so attractive to us. When we read about people who inordinately love themselves we call them selfish, self-absorbed, and arrogant.

No, it is the "lesser" people who have made these people into heroes -- and quite possibly, they never would have been great without them. That is the gift that disabled persons, especially mentally disabled persons, bring to us. Yes, they are disabled: their meanness is disabled; their cynicism is disabled; greed, ambition, lust -- all disabled.

I bristle when people try to argue that their "quality of life" will be poor or "not worth living". This is a specious argument which is hiding their own selfish motive: they don't wish to be inconvenienced. Disabled people have something that we lack: they will most likely reach more of their complete potential than we will; they will most likely be happier than we will because they are simpler. Sophistication, by contrast, is traditionally counted among the sins of pride.

So instead of despising the lowly, or trying rid our society of the sick or disabled by force, we should view their presence as a gift -- an opportunity to be great.

So our family has its Muse: a little boy with Down Syndrome called Nub. God decided that we should have a shot at greatness.

Hospital Magnet

We just can't get away from those guys in white lab coats.

Sibling #3 got hit by a car while riding his bicycle on the snow covered streets. His brakes failed and he slid into the intersection and got nailed. One helicopter ride and three broken ribs later, he ended up in the hospital. Fortunately, there don't seem to be any worse injuries. He should be released tomorrow. Prayers appreciated.

The main thing to look out for with broken ribs is complications. Broken ribs usually mean shallow breathing due to pain. If the lungs don't expand all the way it can lead to a collapsed lung, pneumonia, or other upper respiratory infection.

Strangely enough, you should sleep on the side with the broken rib, so the other side can expand all the way.

In Spite Of Valentine, A Feast

Mrs. Nod and I just aren't that into Valentine's Day. We're not against it, we just don't pay much attention to it. Hallmark will just have to do without us today.

However that didn't keep us from having a fabulous dinner -- we just included all the rest of our family in it. We haven't seen much of each other due to the Blizzard of 2010, so we had a mini-party. For brunch we had awesome Swedish pancakes, eggs, Danish, coffee, juice, fruit, muffins, bacon, and sausage.

For dinner we indulged in T-bone steak, green beans and almond slivers in garlic butter, julienne parsnips and mushrooms, and red potatoes and onions sauteed in olive oil and paired with a nice Shiraz and crescent rolls. All this topped off with chocolate and pistachio gelato.

Yeah, now that's the stuff.

Family, Become What You Are

A timely reminder for a culture that is easily confused.

Family, Become What You Are

17. The family finds in the plan of God the Creator and Redeemer not only its identity, what it is, but also its mission, what it can and should do. The role that God calls the family to perform in history derives from what the family is; its role represents the dynamic and existential development of what it is. Each family finds within itself a summons that cannot be ignored, and that specifies both its dignity and its responsibility: family, become what you are.

Accordingly, the family must go back to the "beginning" of God's creative act, if it is to attain self-knowledge and self-realization in accordance with the inner truth not only of what it is but also of what it does in history. And since in God's plan it has been established as an "intimate community of life and love,"(44) the family has the mission to become more and more what it is, that is to say, a community of life and love, in an effort that will find fulfillment, as will everything created and redeemed, in the Kingdom of God. Looking at it in such a way as to reach its very roots, we must say that the essence and role of the family are in the final analysis specified by love. Hence the family has the mission to guard, reveal and communicate love, and this is a living reflection of and a real sharing in God's love for humanity and the love of Christ the Lord for the Church His bride.

Every particular task of the family is an expressive and concrete actuation of that fundamental mission. We must therefore go deeper into the unique riches of the family's mission and probe its contents, which are both manifold and unified.

Thus, with love as its point of departure and making constant reference to it, the recent Synod emphasized four general tasks for the family:

1) forming a community of persons;

2) serving life;

3) participating in the development of society;

4) sharing in the life and mission of the Church.