Hi there.  Yesterday was Dave's Dad's birthday (Happy Birthday, Glen).  Tuesday was his surgery.  Things went well, and as I understand - today is a better day for him.  There were some issues with managing his pain, but today he is better and was up out of bed.  We hope he continues to heal.                        I continue to heal.  I'm still sleeping in the recliner (just can't get comfortable in bed) and am slowing weaning myself off Tylenol.  All my bandage strips are off my scar.  The kids pulled the last few off; they thought that was really cool.  I'm actually impressed with how things look, I think once it heals a little more - it might even be smaller than my original one.   Yesterday was also my follow-up post op appointment.  I spent the day in Ann Arbor, first to x-ray and then met with the surgeon's office.  I was so glad to learn the fluid in my right lung has gone away (not really sure where it goes....).  All that work using my Inspirometer (thanks for the correct term, Teri) really paid off.  My xray also showed that my heart size has decreased.  Nothing too crazy, but any reduction in size is good, it was really quite enlarged.  Dr. Ensing (the pediatric cardiologist who followed me when I was hospitalized) also saw me today.  He came by - listened to my heart and told me things looked well.  He asked about my abnormal rhythm and I told him I still experienced the extra beats.  It is especially strong when I am resting.  It's really quite strange, sometimes I feel like my heart is experiencing spasms.  He did an EKG and requested I go home with a halter monitor to see what exactly is going on with my heart during the course of 24 hours.  After looking at my resting EKG, he had me elevate my heart rate by racing down and around the hospital floors and then did another EKG.  Surprisingly, when my heart rate is elevated, I do not experience extra beats.  It really felt great walking briskly and I find it interesting that my heart performed better that way.  I'm wearing the monitor and will mail it back to UofM tomorrow.  We'll see what happens then....  Dr. Ensing did mention a solution (although not one they are considering yet...) is a pacemaker.  I don't like that...... I'm just so ready to be done.  I have come to accept my recovery,  I just want so much to be getting back to normal.                                  At home things are good.  We've started a new routine of going out on the deck at night to watch the bats fly between the trees and catch fireflies (or are they lightning bugs?) The kids think it's the greatest thing since ice cream.  We bought a fire pit last weekend and had our own little campout.  It is nice, since this summer hasn't included any vacations.  We roasted marshmallows (which taste so much better over a fire than over the gas burner on the stove....) and made s'mores.  Each night we go out and either make a fire, or just light a few candles under our gazebo.  We read bedtimes stories and just enjoy the summer night.      I am still receiving meals from my friends, and have others who grocery shop or drive the kids places.  I feel such gratitude for all who have reached out to me.  I am overwhelmed with the concern and love of our family and friends.  Thank you so much for being such a special part of our lives.  Well, I'd better be off.  Time to tuck in the kids.  God bless, Michelle