After Hip Operation

This next picture is of me right after the operation...I still look a little drugged up but my thumb is up indicating all is okay. I was operated on Tuesday about 2pm and released from the hospital about 2pm on Saturday. My left side where the new hip was replaced is excellent--no pain. Next on the block is the other side which I am hoping to do about June 15.

The Big Day 5/5/09

Sunday evening (May 3) one of my daughters got the Atlanta family together and gave me this poster. I had told the school bus kids that I was going to put in my hospital window a yellow poster with a smiley face indicating to the kids what room I was in. One of the little girls said, "Mr. Jim, does that mean if it is a frowney face you died?" Fortunately, it was a smiley face. I talked with my relief driver and he said the kids saw the poster each time they went in front of the hospital in route to their home.

Monday, May 4, 2009 -- AM routes

Nancy was going to keep my blog up to date while I was in the hospital, but she ended up staying in the hospital with me which was quite nice. The first series of pictures were taken on my last day of all 3 of my routes; Berkley Lakes -- 17; Chesney -- 2 and Duluth Middle --11.

My children

Several weeks ago I had a little girl ask me if I had any brothers and sisters. I am sure she meant children but, yes I do have a sister who lives in Mesa, Arizona and the picture to the left is our 8 children--5 girls and 3 boys. All are married except the last 2 boys and Tony (second from right) is getting married on May 30. Five of the kids live here in Georgia (Lilburn, Lawrenceville, Duluth, Suwanee and Atlanta. There are 15 years difference between the oldest and the youngest. All together we have 23 grand children. Their mother (Nancy) and I have been married for 43 years.

Jim's School Bus

Mister Jim and his bus #8964. It is an International drive train with a Carpenter Passenger School Bus configuration built in 1989. It has 266k miles on it and runs like a top! There is NO A/C except for windows and the heater works a little on cold days. The stairs are very tall and a little hard to climb up in...especially with my bad hips.

My dog Baxter

Some of you wanted to know if I have a dog...this is Baxter. He is a French Bull Dog and is very friendly. He is 4 years old and weighs about 25 pounds and has a strong pedigree of show dogs.

While I am gone driving my school bus he sleeps in my chair and awaits my return.

Baxter in my bus...

This stuffed dog was given to me from Anna on her first day of school. Anna is from China.