The Holiday

Well, in spite of everything, I'd say we had a great holiday. We had a freak storm here Christmas eve. Mom and Pam left work at 6pm (an hour early) to try to get home. At 10pm they finally made it to Weatherford from Fort worth(30 miles) and Brian and I called and got them a hotel. They finally made it home around 3ish Christmas day. Brian was supposed to go get labs and a neupogen shot Christmas eve, but we didnt get out on the icy roads. I had been giving the shots at home, but we were out. Christmas eve was a simple stew made with whatever I had on hand. I threw lots of veggies in it, including zucchini and cauliflower and I made mashed potatoes instead and homemade bread. It was a nice simple meal.

As tradition, the kids go to mom and dads Christmas eve. Zachy was vomiting but he went anyway and dad said Tony started during the night. Angie and Emi got sick Christmas day. Brian, Aiden and I have been so far spared. So, we didn't have the usual big meal but we still got together and had a nice meal with mom, dad, my sisters, brother in law and my sweet niece.

My kids had a strange mix of presents, but then again they are all different. Highlights were the puppet theatre, Aiden fave was a powerwheels 4 wheeler, Zachy loved his remote control monster truck and a DS, Tony loved his Barack Obama biography and legos, which was hilarious. Brian couldnt believe I bought that book, but to see how excited Tony was about it was priceless. I love that little democrat. Angie got a Barbie nail printer which we can't wait to try out and Emi just loved the candy in the stocking. I think Angie loved her robe from Pam the best. Lots and lots of books this year. And lots of pajamas. We didnt make it to Christmas eve candle light service because of the weather which was a bit disappointing, but couldnt really be helped.

Saturday we played games with the oldest two. Good ole yahtzee, a game called totally gross, and an almanac game. Brian felt pretty good, which I was thankful for. Some pain still, but not like earlier in the week.

January 4th is chemo again. I'm hoping to do something fun with the kids beofre then,I just havent decided what yet. We'll see how the weather is on my days off and how Brian feels.

Before and After

Last time Zachy was really upset by Brian loosing his hair, so this time Brian included him. This kid was super excited to shave his dads head. I just had to get pics. Tuesday Brian had to go in for a blood transfusion. I went in with him with all five kids. Every other patient there was elderly and seemed entertained rather than bothered by the kids like the nurses were. But, Zachy really wanted to see the process. I read the kids the biography of Charles Drew, the African American physican credited with starting the first blood bank for the American Red Cross and explained how it would happen. Tony, my puking child, stayed far away on the steps, but Zach pulled himself up a stool and I had to explain each step. HE was super excited and kept saying awesome. Brian has had various issues related to the treatment and this week he was in severe pain.
After the transfusion on Tuesday I picked up chinese food from the grocery store along with bowls and silverware. Its tradition that we go out for Chinese and then go look at the lights in San Angelo. Well, we weren't up for going out to eat and I don't think Brian could have handled the long drive and since we were in Abilene, we drove through the State School and viewed the lights there. It was a pretty impressive exhibit, and they had a theatre set up along with Santa and a concession stand, but we just did the drive through. Brian was in so much pain he was not exactly nice to me, and he was in near tears. Later when we got home, he told me he was very thankful that I kept our tradition.
We're trying very hard to keep things as normal as possible for the kids. We're having a great holiday. Since the weather is bad today, we are staying in. I was supposed to go out to the store to pick up stuff to make Aunt Estella's chicken. Well, we are having stew instead since I have all the ingredients for that. There's a fire going and we are listening to "A Cricket in Times Square". Tonight the kids will go to mom and dads and then we will be up most of the night wrapping and assembling.

Snow for Christmas

Those of you who aren't in Texas don't laugh. It was 75 degrees yesterday and today, SNOW! The kids were so excited.

Here we go again

Well, I am sitting down for a minute before I begin tackling the laundry. I came home yesterday to find the dog asleep on the laundry. The dirty muddy stinky dog. I didn't even ask which kid let her in I just threw her out and threw the clothes back in the dirty clothes. I didn't have the strength or desire to be upset about it.

Brian found out Monday that his cancer is back. There was one mass they were really concerned about so he started chemo tonight. His new port was placed about 7pm. He called me about 8:30 high as a kite and still in recovery, then he called me again when they started the chemo and he had to go after he started slurring his words. He has to do three days of chemo in the hospital. I'm trying really hard to have a good attitude and to keep praying. It comes naturally for Brian but its hard work for me.

I got home about 8:45, then I had to get the kids home, Angie and Emi needed a shower, Zach was super emotional, and we buried Finneas, the fish. Tony finally quit crying over that about 10 minutes ago. We'll see if we go to school tomorrow. I usually have them in bed by 8:30 on school nights.

Tony was supposed to have his eye exam today and I completely forgot. I felt terrible about it when I remembered on the way home from the hospital. Hopefully, I remember to call tomorrow and reschedule. Won't be making my volunteer day tomorrow, doubt I will take Tony to boyscouts, but I should take Angie to dance since she has missed two weeks already and her recital money is due. 127$ for two costumes--ridiculous. Lets just pray that they either fit or are too big. Last time I had to get both costumes alerted.

Katie is coming tomorrow to help watch the kids. Something that I am completely grateful for. She's such a sweety. I didn't have to ask, and she didn't make me feel guilty, so I guess I'm doubly grateful. We're taking it one day at a time, trying to continue to make the kids our first priority, and downplaying this as much a possible. Brian and I refuse to let it this consume or define us.

I'll blog when I can, but it probably wont be as frequent for a while. I guess that laundry isn't getting done tonight. I still need to get Aiden to go to sleep.

Finishing my update.

Where to start? Well, I picked Angie up from school after her UIL meet. I know that she made it to the finals in oral reading, so that means she was somewhere between first and sixth place. They make us wait until 6 week assembly time to find out about ribbons or medals etc. Remember the ole school meets and the 5$ for lunch. Well, my daughter "forgot" about it and used the couple of dollars extra I gave her. They told me they weren't sure yet if she would be on the early or the late bus, but they'd call me and let me know, so I sent some cash for an afternoon snack. Well my child informed me that she ate a pickle and a candy bar for lunch and bought a water. She came home with half the water still in the bottle. Upon further interrogation, I learned that she was actually too nervous to eat. So, we had a chat about the brain working better when you "feed" it and I learned that it might be nice to send a blanket with a girl who's in a dress because buses are cold. I also learned that it might be nice to slip some peanut butter crackers or a granola bar in her pocket now and again.

While I was waiting for Ang, Tony and I hung out in the car(it was less than thirty minutes and our roads are really muddy right now). Yesterday, we read the Lewis Carroll biography. I was asking him what other biographies the school had, and he came home today with the Martin Luther King, jr bio and the Mark Twain bio. As he's telling me this, he looks in his backpack and golly gee, he had left one in his desk. So, in we go. We stop at the tree for him to show me his ornament he proceeds to entertain several teachers. He's quite funny and naturally I hear, it must be a riot at your house. I don't say much because no one believes me when I tell them that he is my quietest kid. He mostly entertains others and at home he goes with the flow and is pretty content not to be in the spotlight.

Oh, I forgot to mention that he got an expander on his teeth yesterday, so he drools alot and talks with a lisp, which only makes him that much funnier. He says his official language is gibberish, and that I am his personal translator. It comes off in 14 weeks and I am counting the days. Next week he gets to go for his eye exam. Brian asked me when I was going to be done "nerding our son up."

Tonight we read the Gift of the Magi by the fire. Tomorrow I will read something more their level, just to keep them guessing. Did they get it? well, not really. The language is a bit difficult, but Brian and I explained it as best we could.

They had a seminar at the school on kids and the internet and cell phones etc. I thought it was pretty good info. We also had our Health advisory council meeting. I'm pretty excited about this even though I have no idea what to do with it. They gave us some info and suggested we search and see what the "big" schools are doing. Its a pretty neat concept. It is required that every school have one, and that it be parent run and a majority of members be parents. We are supposed to evaluate the health programs at the school--from employee health, to health ed, phys ed, nutrition etc and suggest programs to offer parents, suggest curriculum changes etc. Our council is made up of the counselor, the nurse and surprise surprise, the three moms that also signed up to be volunteers in the elementary school. We wrangled one of the jr high moms into it that was at the seminar. But the three of us arent dealing with certain issues yet. Of the three of us, I have the oldest kid and she's 8. So, any suggestions please email them to me.

Thursday update

Well, I stayed home from my volunteer gig today since several of the teachers/kids are gone for UIL today. I said my silent prayer for Angie that she stays calm. I am so proud of her. She had 600 spelling words to learn (she took that test Monday) and I know that she could spell all but 36 of them without any problem. I bought her a pocket dictionary so that she also knows the definitions of all 600 and the part of speech. Brian and Pam will both admit that they are terrible spellers so Angie and I had lots of mommy/daughter time working on this. We tried lots of learning styles, but the method that worked the best was letting her quiz me first and then I'd quiz her 10 words at a time. She would closely study the words trying to catch me getting one wrong. SO, now and then I'd misspell one on purpose, especially if it was a tricky one. But, I will admit that I did misspell emperor wrong the first time. Today is music memory and oral reading. She says she's struggling with the oral reading because she has to remember to read and not recite, AKA she has the thing memorized. I'm pretty proud of the music memory as well. She can now site 16 classical pieces my name and composer.

It got my wheels turning on what to memorize next. The month of December is going to be christmas story classics. We already listened to and audioversion of the Dickens classic, and I bought a book bundle which I plan to start after we read through the original Christmas story from the bible. In January the kids have asked that we study instruments so we are going to work through a study of the orchestra which will hopefully be followed by a trip to the symphony, and in GT the oldest two are to pick and artist to study. Tony has picked da Vinci and he told me he plans to paint the Angie Lisa. Angie is still thinking about it. She has to think and analyze. Everything is a major decision. So, we'll see. If the weather permits, maybe we can squeeze in an art museum trip. That's something I've never done either.

Pam is getting in to the swing of things with her girl scout troop. She will admit she has no organizational skills, but she is really creative. We talked yesterday about not focusing on what she or I might like or even what the girls might like, but rather what they need. So, we are planning for January, a first aid class (Mom, Pam and I are all basic life support instructors) and then we are going to do a safety day, which will include an intro to self defense. We decided that when we look at workshops etc that are offered, we shouldn't look at wow Austin sure does alot, but rather we should try to figure out how to give our girls here the same opportunities. Next year is going to rock. This year is the testing the waters year.

I signed up to be a member of the schools health advisory council. So, tonight as part of our first meeting, I will be attending a seminar offered at the school to parents. This one is on kids and technology and includes keeping kids safe in areas such as the internet. Should be interesting. I think this committee could do great things, so I am curious to see how this goes.

I'll post more about the kids later. I need to go get Zach from school and then we are off to buy some bookshelves. I'm getting all the books out of the closet and putting the toys in!

Christmas Pics