Remember this picture from the post about Beau's birthday? Bubbles and Minnie had stopped by for a visit when they arrived late on Friday night (3-13) before Beau's birthday party. We got a call at 9:30 on Saturday morning that Minnie and Bubbles were in the Emergency Room waiting on Bubbles to have an emergency appendectomy! (Minnie knew Bubbles was in pain that night and made a note of a hospital on their way from our house to their hotel. Smart Minnie!) They had already talked with Nana and Pops, and Bubbles was insisting that Beau's birthday party go on without any mention of this problem. He had offered to bring a tarp in the morning so the kids wouldn't get their feet wet ( in the damp grass after taking off their shoes for the bounce house), and he made sure someone got a tarp to the party ASAP! Thanks to Aunt Carolyn for that save! Really, Bubbles shouldn't have worried about such a silly thing while in so much pain, but I guess it was distracting to think of something other than he was sitting in the ER waiting on surgery! So we had the party, and we made Minnie send us endless text messages about their condition, their surgery time, their transport to a larger and new hospital, and everything else. Crazy day!!
Mommy left as soon as the party was over to go to the hospital and arrived at Pre-Op just in time. We got to meet the surgeon and get the details, and we also had to call several VIPs to keep them updated with information. Ally was just sick that she hadn't been able to come, but we were calling her a ton to assure her that all would be ok. The hospital they transported him to was super state of the art and only about a year old. It was great! (Stole this picture from Minnie!)
Not gonna lie . . . Saturday was hard! Hard for Bubbles, hard for Minnie to watch her husband be in so much pain, hard for me to watch them both suffer, hard for Ally, Auntie, and so many friends and family away from us wanting to know more. I had brought Minnie some Chick-fil-A and Campisi's pizza from Beau's party for her "lunch" (at 2:30), which she ate behind a napkin because Bubbles couldn't eat. I made her throw it away around 6:00 because it had been sitting out unrefrigerated since 11:00. When I was leaving around 8:00, the cafeteria had closed and the vending machine just had cookies and candy. I ran to get her a sandwich and fruit from a nearby convenience store and didn't even realize it was EXPIRED!!! So sorry Minnie! After church on Sunday, the kids got to go visit and thought Bubbles had a cool room and really that the whole thing was kind of cool. Super glad they weren't freaked out about him being in a hospital bed. Minnie had dropped her iPhone on Saturday night, so went to get it fixed - why we ended up at Firewheel Mall riding trains, eating cookies, and wasting time. We bought Minnie a cup of cinnamon sugar mini pretzels for a surprise. I'm pretty sure Beau licked the cinnamon and sugar off a few pretzels, but Minnie didn't care!!!! Mommy picked the boys up early from school on Monday to go visit again before soccer practice, and we were happy to see them again. We went back on Tuesday to visit and pick up some laundry to take home to wash, and Daddy joined us. Wednesday was a little different. Nana had picked up the boys from school, and the doctor though Bubbles needed a little help getting some fluids out so I went to sit with him and Minnie for the afternoon/evening. I brought Minnie's laundry back and baked penne for Minnie and I to share in the waiting area . . . poor Bubbles still couldn't have food until all of the fluids were gone. (He hadn't eaten since Friday night!!!! But Minnie needed a home cooked meal instead of hospital sandwiches or protein bars.) I picked the boys up from dinner at Nana and Pops to come home and get ready for bed, and we saw a strange possum walking along Ms. Sally's fence. (That's important for later!) We couldn't go visit on Thursday night because we had Open House at Kindergarten. Lincoln was so proud to show us his Space Journal, Art Book, Rotating Solar System, and Astronaut. He loves school!!! We also went to the art room and collected his heart tile and stopped by the book fair to get a new Captain Underpants book (gross!) Nana and Pops went to visit Minnie and Bubbles on Thursday and reported that he was getting better faster - YAY!
We got a wonderful call on Friday morning that Bubbles was getting his fluid tube out and he was looking great! So excited!!! Minnie and Bubbles were so happy they took their first selfie ever! I stole this from Ally (who stole it from Minnie). Poor Ally was stuck in Arkansas working, but we kept her super updated each day. Those are two happy people smiling because Bubbles had "turned the corner"!!!
Bubbles was in such a picture happy mood, the boys got a picture with him after school on Friday. They totally think they own that hospital after visiting so much! The nurses have been so kind and stop to introduce themselves to us and tell us how much they love Bubbles.
We got a rainy Saturday and a cancelled soccer game, so we just loafed around all day. A little March Madness, a few video games, a stop at a friend's shop to buy Minnie a birthday gift, and a visit with Bubbles at the hospital. Hopefully, our last visit at the hospital. The boys were completely over the novelty of visiting a hospital and had lost their nice behavior, and we were all praying for a Sunday release! Bubbles got the "all clear" to eat real food FINALLY after 7 days, so I honored his request for a burger with a special delivery from Shady's. They were so happy!!! I was only a little sad that I just dropped it off because I kind of wanted to watch them eat it with joy! We went to dinner and came home to watch the late Razorbacks game, but that ended with a loss. Daddy went out into the garage around 10:30 and found this guy hanging out . . . OMG!!! We called Bubbles, Pop Pop, and Eric, and no one really knew how to safely get the possum out of our garage. Everyone suggested leaving some food out to lure him down, but this Mommy only buys enough fresh food to last until Friday. On Saturday nights, the fridge is empty. Daddy took matters into his own hands and hit the garage door button a few times to wake the possum up, and he fell down out into the driveway. We haven't seen him since, thankfully!!!
Sunday was a joyous day! Nana and Pops went to check on Bubbles early in the morning, and he was being discharged!!! For some crazy reason, the doctor agreed that they could drive home to Arkansas! Everyone was so happy!!! Minnie drove them by the house so the boys could say good bye and we could all hug. It was so good to see Bubbles outside of the hospital! The boys promised that the next time he comes to visit he gets to eat two cupcakes . . . one for Beau's party and one for Lincoln's party. After they left for home, we had brunch at the club, did some grocery shopping, then went for some tennis on a wonderfully warm spring day.
Daddy and Pop Pop had played golf in the early afternoon, but Daddy wanted the boys to have a little golf after our tennis fun. Daddy took Lincoln to the driving range and instructed Mommy to give Beau a putting lesson. Not sure Mommy is a putting expert, but we had fun! Beau putted for a while, but he actually only cared about going into the locker room to get goldfish!
We traded after half an hour so Daddy and Beau could have some time at the driving range. Lincoln sank a putt-in-one!!!! After that great feat, he insisted that he get a popcorn snack from the clubhouse. Apparently, it's all about the snacks!!
The best news of the day is that Minnie and Bubbles made it home to Arkansas safely, and they are so glad to be home. We loved getting to see them every day, but it was a crazy week. We are so thankful for the doctors and nurses that took such great care of Bubbles, and I have so much admiration for Minnie for not wanting to leave his side the whole time. So lucky that we both have parents that still love each other so much. This wild ride is winding down, and we just hope Bubbles will come back one day . . . at least he won't have to worry about appendicitis ever again!
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