Happy 62nd Birthday Dad!!!

My Dad's 62nd Birthday was last Thursday (the day before Halloween) it was such an emotional day for me...more so than I thought it would be.

For those of you that don't know me so well -my Dad has some health issues...including bad circulation form years and years of smoking. Starting in November of 2006, he's had numeous procedures to restore and maintain the circulation to his right foot, and the end result was a wound on his calf that wouldn't heal. In February of this year, it got infected. So badly, that it sent his body into septic shock, and he was on a ventilator and almost died.

While sedated on the vent, it was decided that his leg would have to be amputated above the knee, if he were to have any chance of living. On one hand an easy decision for Mom to make, but on the other - how do you tell someone that you had to make that decision?? The day he was taken to the OR, I though I'd never see him again...the doctors weren't very optimistic, nor was I...

But - Dad is AMAZING. He pulled through the surgery. He was off the vent about a week later, and day by day his stats improved. a few weeks in the hospital, and another month and a half in rehab, continuous physical therapy - and he's doing AWESOME! He's in good health, and he's walking with a prosthetic, using 2 canes right now, but who knows? Some day, he could be walking like 'normal' again. God is good.

So - back to Dad's birthday - one I honestly thought he'd never see...so that was exciting. My friend Sarah got me the cool Retro 50's set from Pink Cat Studio back for a friendship appreciation swap on SCS a couple of months ago, and Dad was the PERFECT person to use it for! When I still lived at home, he'd make me CRAZY listening to 50's music ALL the time...of course, now I love it too, and look forward to when I can make my kids crazy ;)

Here's his card:

Cool, huh? The jukebox is on a 'piggy tail' and sproinging (I think I just made that word up ;) ) about. Kind of like dancing to music...

The main image is colored with my copics, and my silver paint pen for the 'chrome'...let's take a closer look at the jukebox, shall we?

I used Crystal Effects for the rainbow 'bubble light' on the jukebox, and you can see a little better the dimension from the piggy tail.

Also - did you SEE the newest set from Pink Cat?? Billy and Lily Winter Stamps...OMW - I love them! Go check them out!

Still looking for my mojo in case you find it, but I'm glad to have a little something to post in the meantime.

Oh! And for those of you wondering, Dad had his last cigarette on November 10, 2006 (the day of his first surgery) and is still smoke free!! TRUST me, if he can quit - ANYONE can!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Retro 50's - Pink Cat Studio, Birthday Basics - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, Whit Craft (SU!)
Paper: Basic Black (SU!), Ocean Tides, Select White (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Copics, piggy tail, crystal effects, silver paint pen