The Best Staff in the World!!!

I work with a bunch of terrific people! I feel very lucky and blessed about that and do not take it for granted. It's a staff that helps each other, is there for each other, has "each other's backs"....and is fun!
Kathy, below with me, is my husband's second cousin's wife...so we are related...sorta! We claim each other as "sistas of anotha motha"...ha! We have a lot in common...both work in surgery, premie babies, kids the same age, grandkids the same age and parents that lived in Chicago 10 minutes from each other when we both moved to this little town in Ohio! This morning as we started cases, Kathy said she had one more birthday surprise for me... She made this poster....

with lottery tickets all over the back!

The staff organized a lunch carry-in too and they are spectacular chefs!!! One doc said to me"Happy Birthday...I'm most glad it's your birthday so I get to eat lunch!!" Ha! The theme was (I can hardly say it)..sexy at 60. I said that resembles me as much as saying I'm blond...but heck, it was fun! THEN, they named the food....

Here is some of our nice, serious, very competent OR staff....

and here they are a minute later!

These are our fabulous secretaries...

My fantastic boss, Mary!!!...

The pre-op staff...such a really NICE bunch of gals!!!

A couple of the post-op staff

One of my co-workers, Elaine, that I have worked with the longest, just truly a wonderful person...

Shay...a FUN mother of six!!!

and the rest of the bunch...starting a case...

and a minute later....

They just make me smile....thanks, guys, for a really wonderful birthday!!! Can't wait till I'm 90!!!! (PS...Paybacks...)

One more birthday celebration...

These are the ladies I celebrated with on my actual birthday...it's an investment group that has been together for many years. They are an elegant bunch and twice a year we have dinner, once in the summer and once at Christmas. (front) Joyce, Merk, Mary Alice, Liz and Rosemary. (Back left) Janice, Mary, Me and Megan...thanks for celebrating with me!!

Family....

Yesterday the whole family came home for my birthday (today). Each year gets a little more poignant and I am amazed and touched by more reflections of life and the years. I remember leaving my parents home in Chicago many times and as my mother got older, she started to cry as we left each time. While it touched me and I knew I would miss her too, I didn't fully understand...until now. Now I "get it". As the kids leave, I, too, find myself misty eyed and often in between. There are so many precious moments that you know are so special ~and so fleeting. You see your life flash in your mind before your eyes...your children growing up so fast, the funny things they say, a look between you and then, especially when your parents are gone, -the fragility of life. These are the moments you want to hold forever.


Emma and her momma the kids playing...

the cute cakes that Lori brought....

Uncle Tim & Aunt Joni with baby Emma...

-she is too much fun to play with! She "talks" to you now, smiles easily and has a sweet personality!

Cooper in the playhouse...

and he and Bailey in the pool....

and the tents.

They get along well and it's such a pleasure to just watch them...

Doing art projects...

Emma just chillin'!

Chelsea, Brant and Bryden came a little later just in time for the festivities...

Bailey helping me open cards and presents...Chelsea, so thoughtful, planned a very special one.

Emma and mom...

A picnic for her too!!!

Bryden watched Cooper with cousin Bailey so wanted to play with Emma too but found out that little girls are delicate!

Mike and Bailey

so pensive...

Bryden, loves the pool too!

Patient Joni in the tent with the kids...

Brant and Bryden

It still touches my heart seeing my boys with each other....

They have always been best friends and still fall into that mode when they see each other. It's sweet to watch.

The only thing better, is to see them with their children. What a blessing!

I love a summer day and having family here is the best! Here are little snippets of the day...

Bryden's light bulb went on!

This little guy has figured out in the last two weeks how to crawl, pull himself up and stand. I think he is just amazing!! OK, maybe all babies do it, but when he figured out how to be mobile...zoom....things really progressed! So much fun to watch.

Last week, he figured out how to sit up....it was so funny! He would be lying on his stomach and suddenly put one arm under under him like he was going to do a push-up. Then he would flip his body over and sit up....wow!! (-So proud of himself!) Looks at those little feet....I could just eat him up!!

He has found all sorts of new things that he hasn't seen before...or at least wasn't able to reach.

Then, he crawls over and pulls himself up and walks around the furniture. I just shake my head.

See how steady he is on his feet? ....One foot! Look out world!!

Then mama came home and was she glad to see him!

and vice versa.

Fun over.....time to be a baby again!