My Dad Died

Sorry for the blunt title - but I guess I do not have the tact to tell people the news gently.
He died on February 16Th at 10:50 AM in the ICU at a hospital in Upper Michigan. He went to the hospital on February 7Th to have a catheridzation (forgive the spelling) of the arteries near his heart with the intention of putting in a stent or two. It turned out that he required more aggressive treatment. He went in for a quadruple by-pass on Monday the 11Th. Right after the operation, before they closed his chest up, his blood pressure dropped like a stone. He remained, for the most part, unconscious the rest of the week. The blood pressure medications they had him on took a toll on his kidneys and by Saturday his liver had started to fail and his heart beat became erratic, even with the help of an external pace-maker like device. Within two hours of the doctor telling my mother and me that we should start to expect the worse, his heart stopped. He had a living will, but I truly believe that he did not want his wife of 54 years (my Mom) to make that decision.
My brother and I flew up to be with her for the operation, and I remained with her until the day after he died. I would have like to remain with her longer, but I had been away from my son for a whole week, and I also needed to be with him. I left her in the care of two sister-in-laws and a sister-in -law-in-law. She is doing well. Well, as well as can be expected. The memorial service will not be until spring. My Dad was a great lover of gardening and it was both his and my Mom's hope that he would see spring this year. So, when the snow decides to melt, and the flowers bloom my four brothers and I will go up to and say goodbye "officially".
I am doing OK - I have seen my Dad in at least three dreams so far - and talking with Mom every day is helping us both. I have been contemplating starting a journal of letters to my Dad, but I am not sure it will ever happen. I'll see.

In the mean time - this past week at work was the pitts also. More fellow employees got their notice that their jobs are being eliminated - so dealing with their grief over a lost job at the same time as dealing with the grief of Dad dying. It has made for not a whole lot of sleep - so yea - as usual - I am tired. Also, Gunga, Peach, and I have seemed to have caught the same cold - ugh.

Tomorrow is March - FINALLY!!!! It is amazing how much longer an added day can make a month like February - eh? Next week I am going to a business conference for 2.5 days. In a couple of weeks, I am going to go get Mom to have her stay with me until spring breaks, and it a little over three weeks my own personal little miracle will turn three (!!!!!). So, March is going to be a better month - I think.

Well, it is quiet time - before sleepy time - so goodnight.