I’ve been pretending this isn’t going to affect our businesses, because I can’t really handle any more bad news, but I’m fairly certain it will.  This article explains how CPSIA rules will affect small businesses or your favorite small businesses, including your retailers like us.  Please read and educate yourself.  I’m all for ensuring lead-free products for our children, but this legislation is way beyond the pale.

http://www.boutiquecafe.com/home/2008/12/17/1943/

Although I haven’t blogged much about it (partly because of my hand, partly because it stressed me out), my dad has had an aortic aneurysm since before my wedding in 2000.  It stayed fairly small until recently, when a CT scan showed it bulging to a 5.5 cm size.  Not good - and frankly dangerous. 

Sometimes it helps to live where I do, because I am surrounded by doctors.  My neighbor is a surgeon, and I’ve gotten to be pretty good friends with his wife.  I got him a copy of my dad’s report and he recommended a local surgeon who specializes in abdominal aortic aneurysms.  Not only that, he personally called the doctor and asked him to see my dad as soon as possible - which turned out to be today. 

I went to the appointment today with my mom and dad.  I was pretty keyed up because my dad had been making a lot of noise about not getting it fixed, and just letting it blow for a fast and painful death. The bad news at the appointment was that he could not have the less invasive stent procedure (they go up through an artery in the groin and repair the bulge that way). In my dad’s mind, he equated the words “open” surgery with “open heart surgery”, something he’s seen my brother go through a number of times and something he wanted absolutely no part of.  Turns out that “open” surgery just means they have to make an incision and go about the repair the old fashioned way.  Recovery time is about 6 weeks, with 1 week spent in ICU/hospital.  At that point, 50% go to a rehab center - the other 50% go straight home for recovery.

The mortality rate for the surgery is between 5-8%.  Meaning, 5-8 people out of every 100 die during or immediately after the surgery.  The morbidity rate is a lot scarier - around 20%, which means something else could go wrong after the surgery and kill him, like failing kidneys, infection or pneumonia. 

My dad decided to go for the surgery, so over the next few weeks he’ll be getting heart and kidney tests to make sure he’s strong enough.  The two things he’s got going for him is he’s thin and healthy, and he’s never been a smoker (hello to Amanda and my other friends who still smoke - please stop now!).  I’m relieved he’s having the surgery and will be more relieved when it’s over. I know it’s partially selfish to want him to live as long as possible, but in my opinion he still has a lot of spunk and life left in him, and I want my dad around.  My daughters also adore him.

I will keep you posted as I learn more about the surgery, but for those who knew and have been helping support my concern and worries, thanks so much.  It means a lot!

I ventured off to West End Ortho this morning in a cold rain, only to find out that although my appointment card said I should be there at 9.50, their computer said 8.50. I argued and bitched until they agreed to squeeze me in.  All I could focus on was getting my cast off, and I didn’t care how long I had to wait.  Finally I got in, they cut the cast off, and took x rays.  Lo and behold, no healing had taken place, but the doc said that it would take about 6 weeks for that to happen.  They put me in a slightly more comfortable splint that can be removed for showering (yay for clean hands) but needs to stay on the rest of the time. 

Apparently my selective hearing ignored the part about the splint and only heard “cast off”, which I equated with being healed.  Now I am trying to learn how to type with this new thing on my hand, and it’s like starting over again.  I was so hoping to finally get my fingers back! Guess I should stop procrastinating and wrap gifts - I was waiting until the cast came off. 

theoretically, my cast is coming off tomorrow. i hope so, because i miss typing and blogging and email communications in general.  it takes me so long to write that i just avoid it.  i’m a little nervous, though.  i can’t bend my fingers much because of the cast, but when i try to move them, they are very, very stiff.  i need my fingers back please! and in good condition!

briefly, i went to arden’s parent-teacher conference today with the famous and loveable ms. rey.  arden’s doing great.  it is funny to me to hear how professionals couch their “challenges” in cool terminology.  areas that need improvement are learning to use tone, instead of just words, to convey nicely what she wants, and some fine motor like more practice cutting. i heard what a joy she is, and how affectionate and loving she is.  i’m so proud that she has grown into a loving girl.  she’s also really funny, and if we can help her learn to temper her independent and very strong-willed nature, she’ll be just fine.  ms. rey said her “diva” moments happen less frequently now -  which is a good sign.  i also learned that she’s really excelling in spanish and has good recall on the vocabulary and the songs.  i’ll have to get my mom to speak more spanish around her. 

working from home has been going well.  it took some getting used to, but i kind of like it.  i have to stay very organized or my office gets out of control quickly, and that drives me nuts.  i also heard from the county of henrico that it is forbidden to keep any kind of inventory at home.  interesting.  i guess all those people with ebay stores rent storage lockers.  the guy at henrico county couldn’t tell me why - he had no idea why it was a rule - but eventually just changed my answer on the form.  other than that blip, things have been pretty smooth. 

i also went to my first real neighborhood party (non-swinger).  i heard the whole “swinging” neighborhood rumor again - apparently both wyndham AND twin hickory have reputations for swinger parties.  so far, i haven’t been invited to any.  i don’t know whether to be offended or just greatly relieved.  the neighborhood party was nice, and a lot of fun.  though there is a large portion of very blonde, very wealthy, and very botoxed women in my neighborhood, there are a ton of normal women too.  i had never met them, but after i did, i was relieved.  i’m not the only imperfect and non-trophy-wife person on the block.  yay me!

more to come - when i have ten working fingers again.

Some pictures from Sally and Hansel’s wedding, done by a member of the family. . . they are beautiful!  Congratulations, Sally and Hansel.