Life is Wonderful by Jason Mraz

Pollywog in a Bog--Science class anyone?

By Barenaked Ladies...

Enough Project--Angelo's Story

Superwoman

My Favorite Sitcom

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I Saw What I Saw by Sara Groves

A New School Year

In going through some email recently I came across this cartoon and it totally fits us this year. With all the illnesses of the past year, we're really behind. It's one good thing about home-schooling is you have the option to do it whenever you can.

It's that time of year--I swear I get giddy when I pass the school supplies...paper, crayons, glue, and "bouquets of sharpened pencils" (from "You've Got Mail"). I've been trying to come up with something new for the first day of school. When the kids were younger it was easy to surprise them with treats and such. I'm cooking up something, but it's just in the brewing stage, so far.

As I've been preparing for the next school year, I've been going through file cabinets and boxes and purging anything and everything I can't get into this year. After this year I won't be writing/piecing together any more curriculum or going with what I've already used for the older kids. It's amazing how good it feels to toss things. Even though you can't actually see the progress at present, it still feels good.

I got the whole year mostly planned out for all four kids (my oldest graduated this year). Each week is in a file folder and everything I need for that week is all in there (well, not quite done with those lists, but I'm at a stopping point so I can work on other projects for a bit. I have a couple of writing project deadlines to try to stick to). I do so enjoy planning school. Can I just find someone else to actually teach? Huh? :)

Another update

Last week, our 11 year old, Kelsey, got sick and the doctors started treating her for an infection. Later that night I found a tick right where the doctors were looking. In their defense it was very small and skin colored.

On Monday our 16 year old, Andrew, had surgery to place a port a cath in his chest to prepare for starting chemo.

On Tuesday, Kelsey got really sick and by wednesday could barely get off the couch. So I took her to the dr again. Now she's on yet another antibiotic for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Yesterday was Andrew's first chemo. It went well, and so far he's only gotten a little nauseated. He'll have it weekly for 26 weeks, then go biweekly for another 26.

The key now is to keep Kelsey eating and able to take the meds. Tonight her fever shot to 104, which is the highest it's been so far.

As you can see, it's been one exciting week. :) I haven't been able to call everyone, so wanted to update anyone that I might have missed.

Quick Update

Our 16 year old will be starting chemo right after he gets back from scout camp. He's doing well and he's trying to gain some weight needed before starting it. Just wanted to give a quick update to anyone I may have missed in my last mass emailing.

I hope your summer is starting off to be a good one. I am already wishing winter were here. Why am I one of the only people (besides said 16 year old) that hates summer? :)

This is Home

I have never really been a Switchfoot fan, but I love this song. It's from the movie Prince Caspian.

Happy Mother's Day.

Update on Andrew

About 2 weeks ago he ended up at the hospital with an IV for meds and fluids. The medicine was for nausea. THey sent us home with a prescription for more of that medicine and he's been doing great. He lost even more weight, which he didn't really have to lose. He's gained a couple of pounds since then and we had an appointment with a GI doctor this week who put him on a high calorie diet. The problem with that is that he gets full fast and then forgets to eat between meals.

He's still unable to speak above a whisper due to the paralyzed vocal cord, but as long as he takes the meds he can function fairly normally. The medicine is one they give chemotherapy patients for nausea.

Thanks for prayers.

Update on Andrew

They have finally found a small tumor on the nerve that leads to the vocal cord (also runs to the stomach and aids in digestion, which explains the nausea he's having). Finally we have an answer as to why his vocal cord is struggling to work. It is, of course, inoperable and we have to just wait and see if it will go away on it's own and everything return to normal function. He's still having issues eating, so we're having to learn what works and what doesn't.

Does Life Ever Change?

I guess the first question should be--what is "life"? Life is what gets in the way of what we feel we should be doing. I'm definitely no expert, but there have been times when "life" just slaps me up-side the head and makes me rethink what "life" is really supposed to be.

The last 12 months have been one slap right behind the other. About the time I think I'll survive, "whack!" The latest installment of events that have tried to derail me began in February when my 16 year old began having trouble swallowing, a bit of a sore throat, and nausea. We waited a bit to see if it as the flu or a virus that would go away, but then went to a doctor to see if he has strep. The strep test was inconclusive, but he was put on antibiotics anyway. A week later, still not better,so we went back to that doctor. Did the strep test again, still the same results.

Last week, I took him to the ER where they did a CT and found a tumor in his neck. So far my understanding is that it's between his spine and esophagus, pushing into his esophagus and making swallowing difficult. They did a Video Swallow Study on yesterday and could see where the blockage is. Right now plans are vague, at least until we see the ENT on Tuesday, but looks like he might have surgery next week.

Life comes at you fast. It's up to you to dodge it or get run over. :)

The Sons of Lwala Trailer

My almost 13 year old daughter is feeling a bit under the weather, so in an attempt to take nasty medicine, she and my almost 14 year old decide to re-enact my favorite "I Love Lucy" episode.

(my question is...why does it have to taste like anything? Can't it be clear and tasteless??)

The Way I Am

I must admit...I love the Geico gecko.


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David had his MRI on his shoulder on Friday and besides taking 4 hours, it went without a problem. Yesterday I talked with the doctor and it came out clear, so he said he wanted to do more tests, but would talk with our oncologist and get back with me.

He's ordered some blood work, and another MRI of his upper and lower spine. My husband, Joe, joked that he might start glowing soon from all the radiation. LOL This will be his 4th MRI and has also had 2 CTs in less than a year. Thankfully, he's no longer fighting me on getting the needles for the contrast.

We're still trying to figure it out, but I wanted to update everyone on what's going on. He's named a few things it could be...redirected pain from another problem elsewhere.

Note to self...

note to self: when you forget to put the eggs in the chewy peanut butter bars....they turn out like pb sand bars

Don't you hate it when you're using practically the last of an ingredient and you mess up the recipe? UGH......they are still edible, but not as good. Now, instead of a chewy peanut butter brownie like creation, they are a peanut butter shortbread (only with a bit more sand like texture--could be the color throwing me off because it looks like sand too?? LOL)

Oh well, kids will eat them.