Everything Happened For A Reason.

Work update:
As of Friday December 30th, I will be unemployed again.
As I mentioned earlier my company was sold to one of our largest competitors located out of Jonesboro Arkansas. For a while it looked as if there would be a chance that they could ask me to move to Arkansas, but in the end the we mutually came to the decision that it was probably not in anyone's best interest to make that move.
So come Friday of this week I will be out of a job.
Now before you start to worry about me please read on.

You see they say that everything happens for a reason. Now when I look back at everything that has happened this past year I honestly believe that.

For instance. When 2016 started I hurt. I had strictures forming weekly and was dropping weight daily. So the year started with multiple trips to the Mayo Clinic for dilations. Then came the stent experience which included a ambulance ride from Mayo to St. Mary's hospital. Then there was three tough weeks where I had problems eating anything and my weight bottomed out at 169 pounds.
I looked like a zombie from the walking dead (or close to it).

After that horrible stent experience though things started to change. My weight stabilized and I actually started gaining weight. Since my surgery eating always has been, and still is, an adventure but you learn to live with it. I now hover right around 189 pounds and fit into jeans I haven't fit into since college.
My overall health is better. Heck I even ran my first 5K this year at the annual Grey Ghost 5K in Anoka Minnesota as part of their Halloween festivities. I finished middle of the pack, but I did finish the course. Gutless and all I made it.
More importantly, since I had the stint taken out, I have not had to return to Mayo Clinic even once. So as horrible as that experience was I will take it. It was a turning point in this "adventure".

Yet life still happened and it had nothing to do with my crappy CDH1 gene. We watched as your oldest daughter and her husband moved away to North Carolina. Yes there was sadness there when it happened, but in the end we sat in amazement and pride as these two flourished and grew into a family. And took me from being just a dad to being a dad and a grandpa.

So that brings us through the year and back to that fact that at the end of this week I will be unemployed. Now I said everything happens for a reason and you may be wondering if there a reason for this. Is there an offsetting positive is to offset this?

Well... Let me introduce you to Mr. Remi!

For the week of January 8th, this little man and my daughter will be home!
So instead of having to run off to work.
Instead of commuting 41 miles one way to work.
Instead of having to manage this or to manage that.
Instead of having to worry about getting work stuff done,
Instead of having to worry why this category or that category is under budget.
I will be focused on being "Papa Roger"otherwise known as this little man's grandpa.

Yes, I may decide to take a interview here or there, but other than that my entire week will be focused on my daughter and this little amazing little man they have brought into our life. Absorbing as much of them as I can until I get to see them again!
See sometimes there is a reason.
I can't wait!

Happy New Year everyone.

We can go when we want to
The night is young and so am I
And we can dress real neat from our hats to our feet
And surprise 'em with the victory cry
(Safety Dance   Men Without Hats)

  

An Apology.

I feel like I need to start this blog out with the simple words, I am sorry.

I recently had a conversation with a person that I respect and love as brother and after telling him where I was at in my recovery, he responded with "now you have nothing to complain about".
Have I used this form for nothing but to complain? If I have then I missed what my goal was in sharing this journey. And I am sorry,.

My goal was to leave a path that my children, my grandchild, my brothers and sisters, my nieces and nephews could follow if they ever found themselves in the same situation. A path that my sister Melanie and I found ourselves walking down. Yea the situation sucks, but we have both survived it and are living our lives without the risk of stomach cancer.

During this holiday season I have so much that I am thankful for. I am thankful for my life, a life filled with friends and family. A life with my new grandson Mr. Remi.
My hope is that this blog has not been one of a life missed, but rather of a life that lives fully without fear.

Please know that the message that I wanted to leave was one of hope and one of strength. A message that no matter what the challenge is you can over come it. You can persevere, you can survive, you can win.

I hope I didn't get too far off track.

Roger

I'm sorry, brother I'm sorry I let cha down
Well, these days your're fine
No these days you tend to lie
You'll take the west train, just by the side of Amstedam
Just by your left brain, just by the side of the Tin man
(Amsterdam  Imagine Dragons)

16 Months Post Surgery And Change Is In The Air.....

A year ago I wrote about change and how events small and large change who you are.
Well this week we are waiting on two large changes that will forever change our family.

Big change number one....

The company I work for was sold.

What does that mean for me? I don't know yet.
The sale gets completed on December 30th so by the end of the year I could be unemployed. I could also be working for a new company, I am looking, but have not found anything as of yet.
Still I may stay with my current company and in that case I would most likely have to relocate to Jonesboro Arkansas. That brings up all sorts of changes. The biggest of which would be the impact to our family unit.
On one hand we would be closer to our daughter, her husband, and our future grand-baby.
On the other hand we would also be a lot further away from our son and daughter who will be remaining here in Minnesota. UUGGHH.
I will know more over the coming few weeks, but I can tell you that at 54 years old, I am not a fan of this change.

However....
Speaking of the Grand-Baby. The countdown has begun!
Big change number two....

By the end of the week I will be a Grandpa.

Since we have not been told if the baby is a boy or girl, we all refer to the baby as Baby B. Now Baby B is not actually due until January 1st, but due to some complications they will be inducing my daughter later this week. So Baby B will have a name and be part of our family before weeks end.
My daughter and her husband have had a number of challenges during the pregnancy. As a parent you want to be there and help them. You just ache as you see them go through this alone when they are so far away. Yet they did it. They handled these complications with strength and faith.
I can't tell you how proud I am of both of them.
AND..
I can't tell you how much I am waiting to hear the words, "You are a Grandpa!"

See..  Change can be good also....

There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
(A Change Is Gonna Come    Sam Cooke)