Feeling hopeful...

We have lots to feel hopeful about, and it's not just that the temperature outside seems to have nudged itself up from the 7 degree mark, where it was stuck for weeks on end. It certainly helps one to feel hopeful and optimistic when you don't have to bundle yourself and your kids under quite so many layers. It also helps one remember that spring will come, eventually, and the green leaves and the flowers and the garden will return. Someday.

No, what we're really feeling hopeful about is the health of our little family. On Friday, Stefan had surgery on the herniated disk that has been plaguing him---and us---for months. The doctor proclaimed it to be quite successful. From my perspective, it seems as if the pain from the herniated disk is now replaced by the pain from the surgery, but still... our hope is that day by day, he'll improve and feel more like himself. More like that Stefan who leads hikes and entertains kids and cooks wonderful meals.

Side note: I could tell he was feeling like himself soon after his surgery, when he debated the merits of having his first meal consist of lobster or steak. Upon my pointing out that neither was readily available, he settled for the sushi rolls from the hospital cafeteria.

Later, once he was discharged and we arrived home, we were met by a little creature that certainly looked like our son, but whose personality was completely different. Instead of happy, cheerful Jameson, it was screaming, crying, kicking Jameson. We assumed it had to do with confusion---why were Mama and Daddy gone all day and what does "surgery" mean?---but when the behavior continued the next day I just had to get that boy to a doctor.

Jameson had other ideas.

NOOOOOOO! NOOO DOCTOR, MAMA, NOOOOOOO DOCTOR!!

I could give all the gory details, about the wax that was stuck in his ear, and having to keep him still for ten minutes while a peroxide solution soaked in his ear. And the details about having the nurse dig the hardened wax out, and the subsequent screaming and bleeding (man, ears can bleed a LOT)... but at the end of it, they confirmed what I already knew... an ear infection.

Now Jameson has several doses of antibiotic in him, and he is slowly returning to the cheerful little guy we know and love.

So despite all the chores that are being ignored, including that laundry pile that keeps getting bigger, we are feeling very optimistic and hopeful that things will only get better...