We just got back home from another trip to Rexburg.  This one caught us by surprise.  Chris’s dad had a kind of pre-heart attack this week and had to have bypass surgery.  Quadruple bypass turned into five bypasses.  The whole family gathered together.  We fasted and prayed.  There was a game of Phase 10,  swapping of favorite YouTube videos and watching Greta roll all over the surgical waiting room, all to pass the time.  After many, many hours–the surgery was complete and successful.  I think everyone let out a sigh of relief and thankfulness.  It was so touching to see all of Chris’s brothers and his sister there.  In a day’s notice, they were all there.  That’s what a family is all about.  “Dad” was moved from the ICU today, but will be in the hospital a few more days.   It will be a long recovery, but I have a feeling he will be making an amazing comeback very soon.  Ralph Lauren models can’t be stopped (I always tell him he could work for them, hehe).

Now that heart disease officially runs in Chris’s family (Chris’s grandparents had to have the surgery, too), I asked his dad today in the hospital what can I do to protect Chris.  He told Chris to lay off the fried foods, especially potato chips, to exercise, and watch his cholesterol.  What a wake-up call.  I was so proud of Chris for not pulling into a fast-food place on the way home.  I can tell he is really taking his dad serious and that eases some of my worries.