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.