Our version of March Madness!

I have a busy week ahead as I prepare to leave for Atlanta early Friday morning. Jimmy's family will make the drive on Saturday to spend their Spring Break in the Peach State with our Peaches - and the rest of her family. Jenny and Eric need to attend a birthing class on Saturday so I am going to travel a day earlier than originally planned. We had always been going to go in two vehicles so that I could stay on and be of some help while the whole extended family waits for Hattie to decide to make her appearance. Papa (Tom) will fly to Georgia after the birth to meet his newest granddaughter! We will drive home together at the end of his week-long vacation.

Can't believe this will be Tom's last vacation before he joins me in retirement, the ultimate vacation! He is surprising me by really looking forward to it; he's counting down the days - and the number of weekends he still has left to carry the clinic cell phone - FOUR!!!! Jimmy says the EHS coaches are all betting that "Doc" will pull a Brett Fauvre when it is actually time to walk out the door of Goodwin Animal Hospital for the last time as a practicing veterinarian. He is going to keep his license current so he can help out should the need arise. A young couple is buying his share of the practice so there will be times when both of them will need to be away from work at the same time. I know Tom; he won't be able to leave Charlie alone to work himself sick. Their practice has grown to the point that one vet cannot handle it solo.

Big decisions are being made about Grandma's care. It looks as if she will be moving to Elm Croft, a beautiful facility in Maumelle, Arkansas, this week. She has done amazingly well since her hip surgery. Everyone who has met her in the hospital, St. Vincent's Rehab, and Sherwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has told Alton and Tommy how impressed they are with her quick wit and her cooperative spirit during various difficult, painful therapies. We are so proud of her!

Hope Atlanta is ready for the Johnsons! We have lots of things planned: aquarium, zoo, cyclorama (a re-enactment of the Civile War Battle of Atlanta); NHL, Margaret Mitchell House, Coca Cola Museum, Six Flags, Stone Mountain. Not sure what else our tour guide, the eight months pregnant Jenny, has arranged for us. I was worried about her having a herd of company at this time but she is excited about having things to do to keep her mind and body busy while she waits for Hattie to give an indication that she has chosen her birthday!

On a side note, Julie successfully registered Maddy at High Goodwin to begin kindergarten in the fall! I surprised myself by crying when Julie texted me as she was leaving central office. Hugh Goodwin is such a big part of my life and I am so excited that Maddy will be able to be in the History Parade, the Nutcracker, Schoolhouse Rock - just so many neat things!!!! She'll even check out books that I bought!!! Jenny and Hannah are both HG alums so the family tradition continues, after a detour where DanMan, appropriately, went to the Math and Science School.