Rohin,
I’m so sorry it’s been so incredibly long since I wrote last. All I can say is that life just has kept us
very busy, with our building projects and getting ready for India, etc… Let’s start with a very important story about
you recently. Recently, mommy and daddy
started noticing increasingly that you had a hard time hearing us (you would
say huh or what pretty often) and we also noticed you had a hard time sleeping
at night and would sleep in in the morning.
We took you the doctor, who told us that you should have ear tubes put
in and that you should have your adenoids taken out. We ended up scheduling the procedure very
quickly. I have to say that you were
just amazing. We talked about the
surgery and what would happen -- and you were so calm and had no issues. Finally, the day of the procedure, we took
you to the Reston outpatient biulding.
We walked in and the staff all commented on how nice you are. You were so calm again, while mommy and daddy
explained what would happen that morning.
We then walked in the back for the pre-op meeting and you changed into
your surgery gown (daddy made a seymour butts joke) and put on your little
slippers that they gave you. They also
gave you a little tiger that you would carry into surgery with you. You weren't too crazy about taking your pants
off and putting on the gown -- but you did it perfectly. You sat in daddy's lap and mommy and daddy
kissed and hugged on you while we waited for the consultations to end. Finally, they came to take you to
surgery. Daddy and mommy walked with you
and held your hand until we got to the operating door. At that point, we were told that you had to
go alone. At first you said no, but like
everything in life -- you were so brave and courageous -- you took the nurses
hand and started walking down the hall.
I yelled "Rohin" -- and you turned around one last time as I
flashed you the thumbs up. You nodded
and walked on. Your mom and I hugged
each other as we watched you disappear down the hall. Many years from now, when you read this, you'll
realize just how hard that was for your mom and I one day when you have
children. It was all that I could do to
not break down and cry that morning. I
saw that in your mom's eyes too. We
walked outside, nervous, scared and sad about having to send you on your own
way. Your mom and I went to get a cup of coffee in the waiting room and just
hugged each other for 5 minutes. You see
Rohin -- no matter how old you are, as a parent, it's a struggle to say
goodbye. I think I lamented about this
in a prior entry in your blog years ago.
But as parents, it's something we have to do, as our parents did with
us. To make a long story short, you came
out and recovered from being under.
Within 20 minutes, you ate a popsicle and were preparing to go
home. We stopped at McDonalds and you
had a big breakfast platter, milkshake and ice cream. Immediately, your hearing was better and you
slept soundly (and started waking up really early in the morning). What's amazing is that from the time we
walked into the building, to the time we got home -- was 2.5 hours. I suspect that this decision, as hard as it
was for us, will benefit you over the many years ahead. As your daddy, I cannot tell you how
amazingly proud I am of you, your courage and steadfastness. I believe many times, you find courage where
I have little. It's a great lesson in
life, that sometimes even big daddy continues to learn things in life. In that day, I learned what true courage
meant. You embody that spirit
Rohin. It will serve you well in this
life.
One interesting side story the day before this all began -- I met a
government official in-peron for the first time and when she asked if I was to
come back to meeting the next day, I told her no because I had your ear
surgery. She turned around, walked back
to me almost in tears and told me her story.
How she had ear infections and never had the surgery. Her parents never knew and she faked hearing
things until she was in her 30s and had two hearing aids. She told me I was doing the right thing. I thanked her for her story and told her that
sometimes people are placed in your life for a reason -- and that was one
example. It just reminds me Rohin that
in life, you are going to meet people that seems perfectly normal, but through
meeting them, you'll sometimes see the hand of God at work -- guiding you. Pay attention to that when the chance
permits.
----
In other news -- the other day mommy got some fishing rods for the three of
you. Immediately, Rohin and Talin went
to the bath tub and sink and spent an hour or so fishing for mgnetic fish. You both really enjoyed it tremendously and
we are going to do some fishing this summer at grandma's house in order to see
how the three of you make out with the real thing! For birthday season, mommy and daddy bought
you all fishing rods to use for real at grandma’s house.
----
The other big news is the construction projects. This year, we had a new barn built, our patio
done and outdoor fireplace and the driveway re-done. At the same time, we also did a lot of
landscaping. This meant tons of fun for
the jopp children. You loved to play in
the pile of dirt, you’d put things in the big sand pile that was used for
cement and loved to walk down the unfinished steps of the walkway. You and Talin also helped daddy plant grass
seat and would pretend to be pirates and would dig holes looking for gold.
One last piece of news –as of May 11, 2013 – you got your first case of
strep throat. So we have you on antibiotics – of course, this all happens as
mommy and daddy had to drop all of you off at grandma’s house since we had to
travel for daddy’s conference.
I’m very proud of how helpful you are Rohin. You’re turning into such an wonderful little
boy. Also, in other news, you are now
doing basic addition and subtraction.
It’s so awesome to watch you grow and learn.
