John’s home! They kicked him out today. It was a crazy morning- phone calls to the doctor from me cause I didn’t think he was ready to be released. Why? Because he had a fever yesterday (which is now gone) and because they never tried him out on the steps. You can’t get into our house from outside without going up some steps. Well, after a loooong morning, they finally did and he did fine. So now he’s home. He seems so, so much better and he even said that he feels in even less pain than before the surgery. So that’s pretty huge. He’s starting to get feeling back in his leg/foot that had been gone because of the nerve impingement by the disc. He took a fat nap all afternoon. The boys have all been great about being careful around Daddy as not to bump or bug him.

A big, huge, giant thanks to Mr. Incredible himself, our friend George who went into the city to pick John up. Timmy had an orthopedist appt that I couldn’t reschedule and I was nervous about who could physically help John should the need arise. George, you are truly Mr. Incredible. And other important thank you’s for today…to Kevin (John’s "work wife") for making sure that John was advocating for himself and that he was really actually okay to come home. To my friend Sue and her husband John for the delicious dinners for the upcoming days- any time I don’t have to cook is a good thing. Really good. To my mother in law for the venting ear, offers of and actual help, and the dinner that we will have tommorrow night. And to all my friends who called to make sure I’m okay. I’m okay. Pretty much. This is all just exhausting.

Ok, and now stay tuned for some scenes from our trip out east over Columbus Day weekend. There are SO MANY awesome pictures so I put them all in an album on the left if you want to see them. The lighting was so beautiful all weekend and I got some amazing shots. Some of my favorites below.

First we went to the park across the street from the ‘easthouse’. Working on my panning skills while the boys were whirling around on the merry-go-round. Delish light shining thru the tree (and the boys actually made it up into the tree!!). And just some goofiness at the park.

Next day was the trip to Greenport- on the agenda: the duck store, the Coronet for lunch and the best chocolate milk shakes. Ever., the carousel, and the Horton lighthouse on the way back including the zillion stairs down to the beach. We even climbed all the way to the top of the lighthouse. John was not particularly happy about that.

Then later that day, a new ‘event’ that I think will be on the schedule every year as it was John and mine favorite part! We went to Duck Walk Vineyard and just sat around the ‘yard’, drinking wine, eating cheese and crakers, and watching the boys play. Of course, the lighting was fantabulous and I took a zillion pictures there. Timmy does "cheers" with Daddy even. We didn’t want to leave but it was getting cold once the sun went down.

Last day, the pumpkin patch (tried a new one this year. it was good.) and the pie farm to pick up some yummy fruit and pies. Tried the corn maze-John got tired of walking around so he stopped in one place and sent one boy one way and the other boy the other way to find the exit. Jack made it out and went back to collect Daddy and his brother. Timmy loved the bouncy pumpkin. And this was the first year that I couldn’t take my customary boys in the wheelbarrow sitting on pumpkins picture. The big boys are too big. 🙁 So we did the best we could to fake it. And couldn’t leave out mr. happy with his wheelbarrow o pumpkins (for $80).

It was a great weekend. A nice way to spend our last pre-surgery time together.