I appreciate all the good wishes!
I didn't get to pick the date, but we are having an extraordinarily pleasant winter, even for AZ--clear, sunny, 70's. And unlike last time, both the hospital (except for CICU) and our house are single-story, so I should be able to get outside. Last time we booked a vacation 6 months after surgery just so surgery wouldn't be the last thing on the calendar. I also had a photo of me on Lembert Dome in Yosemite as an indication to me and the staff that the patient role was a temporary one (got that idea here, I think).
Dr Rosado will decide whether ATS and ST Jude mechanical is the best fit at time of surgery. He says the hemodynamics will be better. We're going to Yosemite with a friend who just had a hip replacement. We feel we both are going through a lot of trouble to make the trip a success...