Blogging and Resolutions

Well, today I read my friend Christi's blog and it really inspired me. I NEED to blog more. Most of my blogs are about Brian and the kids. Everyday, uneventful stuff. But, I am not a scrapbooker, so I need to do better. So, even though it is December, I decided that this will be my New Year's resolution.

Let me catch you up on the goings on here since before Thanksgiving. Tuesday they had a family feast at Tuesday school, and Aiden's class sang a couple songs. Well, Thanksgiving, mom and I worked, so we had our get together on Friday. I was under the weather that day, so I slept in a bit, but we went down to mom's and had a wonderful meal and hung around and played cards. Angie really likes to play the game Golf and you can add many players, so that is what we did. We had one seath that people kind of rotated out of as they had to do things.

The kids had a big GT project due at the beginning of December. They had to pick an endangered animal, research it and write a report. There was a list of things that had to be mentioned, like, habitat, diet, etc, and they had to include photos. Then they had to complute an art project that related to the subject. Angie chose Pandas. For the first time, she typed out her report, and that was a little slow going, but she did all the typing herself. I helped her edit it, and showed her how to insert pictures. Brian suggested that we get a keyboarding program for them to start working on. For, her art project, she chose to make a panda out of beans. Brian was going to trace it with our projector, but I felt i could help her free hand one. It turned out pretty well. Tony wanted to do a poster, so we dod a trifold poster on alligator gar. He was going to do a painting on canvas, but he decided to do his painting on the outside of the trifold which I though was a pretty good idea. He wrote his report on paper, but I did help him type and print it some, then we glued it to the poster. It seems each year they are able to be a little more independent.

It was really hard for both Brian and I not to take over, and it would have been so easy for us to take over, but I really want these kids to grow up to be self motivated. I've also been helping the kids with UIL. At dinner the other night, Tony said "mom I am so glad that you tricked me into doing UIL. Ahhh, words every mom wants to hear, lol. But I told him that he WILL do one event a year, and that if he doesn't pick it I will. He thought he was being sly by telling me that his grade hadn't had any sign ups, and then come do find out they did and he "forgot" to sign up. So, I emailed the teacher and told him that he forgot and she gave him the study materials. Sir Tony got 1st place in Music memory. He will also get a team medal for 2nd place team. While I may have to make Tony participate, I have to reel Angie in a little. I told her three events MAX. So she picked her three, but then she had to resign from oral reading because the changed the event schedule and it conflicted with art. So, she got third in music memory, along with a team 1st, and first in art, along with a team 1st.

Aiden had a program at Tuesday school yesterday. It was interesting to see him with the other kids. He is alot smaller than everyone else in his class, and he may be the youngest. They separated him and Audrey and there was already another Aiden in her class. His teachers are very complimentary of him every week. I've heard that he's very smart and sweet, but his size isn't the only thing that reminds me of Tony. Aiden doesn't really like the other kids that much.

One of Aiden's Tuesday school teachers has been volunteering at the school and reading with Zachary. Man he has really turned a corner the last couple of weeks. I have been pulling teeth with him for over a year getting him to learn sounds and sight words. But, all of a sudden, he's READING!!! Not only that, he is starting to like it. He's also writing more and he will ask me how to spell words. And, without even realizing it, he's teaching Aiden.

Angies voice lessons are going well. She is learning to read music and seems to be really enjoying it. We went to our first Opera as a family. It was titled "the Emperor's New Clothes". It was kid friendly, and her voice teacher had the lead. Angie really liked it, but I was really surprised at how much Emi liked it. I also felt alot better about her choice to stop taking dance when her dance teacher didn't even recognize her, but the dean of the pre college music department came up and hugged her and told her that she was glad she came. Then last weekend, Angie sang at the mall in a Christmas concert. She sang mele kalikimaka. Lol. But she did very well and was very brave to stand up there alone and sing. We were really proud.

Contemplations

Yesterday was an interesting day. Wednesdays are busy days for us with school, my volunteering, gymnastics and church. But that isn't really the interesting part. Yesterday after gymnastics we went to the hospital to see a little girl who was in Zachary's class. She had her appendix removed and his class made her a card. I stopped and got her a super cute balloon. Well, we get there and Zachy tells her he hopes she feels better soon, and Tony starts nudging me that he wants to sing her a song. Well, there were several people in the room so I tell him no. We stayed a few minutes and when we got into the hall he proceeds to tell me how disappointed he is that he didn't get to sing. We talked about it and I agreed to let him go back in there. I knock and tell them that he says he's not going to be happy unless he gets to sing. So, off he goes totally making the song up. It was great. He does this all the time, so I forget what a gift and a blessing it is. I thought the girls dad was going to cry. Her mom posted on FB that Tony made there day. I've been kind of stressed lately and it was good to be reminded that children are a blessing.

We were at a low point with our FPU. Yesterday I was wondering if it was even worth it. I was also wondering if I should just go back to working full time. So, at gymnastics, I read in my devotional that I'm doing right now titled "Raising Godly Kids, and I got my answers. Yesterdays lesson was about the most important thing you can give your kids is your time. Then we went to our FPU class and the lesson was on mutual funds, but it was also very inspirational about making the climb. Sometimes when you are climbing a hill, you have to go down in order to get some speed to get up.

Angie has to be a school at 0730 to practice for UIL Art. Zachary hates it, but I think it is going to be a great thing for me. I dropped them off, went for a walk and did my devotional on the front porch. I had a whole hour to myself before Aiden and Emi got up. Aiden is a momma's boy. Such a double edged sword. I love it, but sometimes I feel like I'm being smothered and can't breathe. Today I feel more prepared to meet his emotional needs. And not surprisingly, he is not nearly as clingy!

Happy Halloween

Well, I haven't put any pictures on here in a while so here are a few. Hope everyone had a great holiday.

Fall

This fall has been a busy one. We have been to the beach, took the kids apple picking, and are still trying to settle into a routine. Brian finished his treatments up and I am so glad to have that stress behind us for a little while. We are taking the financial peace university class at the church. We have been working the baby steps for a while, but are hoping to get a break from medical expenses long enough to get somewhere on baby step two. I've worked some extra shifts this month, and signed up to work Thanksgiving and Christmas. Not popular decisions, but "live like no one else and later you can LIVE like noone else". Right? We've been talking to our kids about money alot and have even busted out the financial peace jr. Before Brian got sick, we were working the commission system pretty well, so now we just need to get back on it. I also have turned control of the checkbook over to Brian. He is very accountable to me about his spending, but I need to be more accountable to him. Plus, he has no idea what's in there. He's also done some grocery shopping lately with our food envelope. He really had no idea about the cost of things.

I'm re-reading "A Well Trained Child." No, I am not a homeschool mom, but this book has such wonderful information in it. Truthfully, every parent who is involved in their childs education is a homeschool parent to some extent. I really need to sit down and reprioritize what I want the kids to be learning. We start alot of things and don't finish them. Now, sometimes we come back to them sometimes not. Its been a rough year for Tony in particular. I won't dredge through the details, but school was not going well, and we were seriously considering pulling him out. We were just working through the details and trying to make him understand that it wasn't his fault. Well, his teacher is no longer there, and as of Thursday he has a new one. I've heard several versions of why his teacher left, but I don't know which one is the truth. But, I do know, that for the first time this year, he came home from school excited about it. He couldn't stop talking about his teacher and all the things he learned that day. He said that he was amazed that she even made math fun! Brian met her on the class field trip on Friday, I will probably meet her this week, but she has already scored major points with me. My kids love to learn, and I don't want that to ever be taken away from them.

I started volunteering at the school again. I really debated and prayed about this, because I felt like I let them down last year. Yes, they were understanding, and yes I had a good excuse with Brian's stem cell transplant, but I still don't like committing to things and then not following through. Plus, it takes time away from my own children still at home, Aiden and Emi. Well, I ended up signing up anyway. There seems to be ALOT more volunteers this year. Last year there were 4 of us, and I think there are at least triple that. So, instead of volunteering a whole morning, I'm volunteering an hour and a half in the afternoon. Most moms are volunteering in their kids class. Makes sense right? Well, I'm in the second grade class. Its a small class, 14 kids, and I listen to them read. I really feel that I'm supposed to be there. I listen to kids read and then I help them log onto their new AR system to test on the books. The books that they read to me, they passed. The books they read to themselves or at home, not so much. You can tell the kids that don't have someone at home helping them with reading.

Speaking of reading, and a well trained child, I have their homeschool reading curriculum as well. I loved their history books, the story of the world, and thought I'd give it a try. Well, I don't like it at all. I thought that I would because its phonics based, but I do not. So its back to the drawing board. I've really been trying to devote more time to teaching Zachy how to read. He's sounding things out, and learning site words. He reads simple books to me and then I read a library book to him.

Angie had her first voice recital this Saturday. It was really nice. The kids each performed a song, and then they had refreshments and then they had a class. Angie seemed to really enjoy her class. They studied the orchestra and even got to get their hands on some instruments. She did pretty well for her first performance, but she was so nervous, that I had butterflies in my stomach. Afterward, Zachary tells me "mom do you know how old that boy was playing the piano?" I say no, he says well I heard his mom say that he's 5. That means I'm old enough to take lessons and I think I should start next week. Haha. He wants to take voice. Tony says he wants to learn how to play the violin. Sometime I really need to write about his interest in Celtic music, but, if I have three kids in music lessons, as Dave would say, I need to stay gazelle intense.

Nerd alert....My next post will probably be about UIL :)

Ok, I don't know where this blog will take us, my mind is kind of a jumble at the moment. I read some of my back blogs and decided that I need to quit promising pictures that I never produce. Sorry about that. This cool weather has me drinking coffee again, and it probably isn't helping matters that I am on my third cup. Thanks again to my father in law, Sal, for your wonderful gift. My coffee still isnt as good as yours though. :)

First, I know you are concerned about Brian. His first treatment went pretty well. I think one of the worst part for him is the hung over feeling for the pre-meds. They make him so tired, but then he can't sleep, partially from all the weird jerky movements I think. Then the next day, he's just kind of moving through a fog. He had to take a day of PTO Saturday so that he could be near the bathroom. He hasn't exactly built up much since he's been back to work, but I am taking a class in October so I will have 16 extra hours of pay that month, so he won't have to feel guilty about being off work.

I am enjoying being part time. I'm not going to lie, its a HUGE cut in pay and we really have to stick to our budget, but it is so worth it. I had hoped to pick up some extra days here and there to start building our savings up, but that hasn't panned out and in fact I was even cancelled one day. First time in the 4 years I've been there. Census has been really crazy at work. One day we are busting at the seams and the next day our floor is half empty. This is probably the first time I can say that I am seeing the economy affect my job.

Each week when I go to work, the kids and I have this song and dance we do where they pretend that they are going to miss me. I always come up with something. You like having electricity? Groceries etc, well then I have to go to work. Last week, I said, "you like having gymnastics and voice lessons, Angie?" well then, I have to go to work. My sweet sweet daughter tells me, "mom, I'd gladly give those things up to have you here with me". Awww. She must have gotten her sweetness from Brian, because she sure didn't get it from me.

I went with my parents this weekend to Matagorda. It was really kind of comical and I could really make the national lampoons version of this trip. Dad had to clean mud dobber nests off the trailers ac blades. We spent the night before alternating between roasting and being cool, but having the thing sound like a jack hammer. We got attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes, my parents lost their truck keys, they had a blowout on the way home. The baby kittens almost drown in the bathtub after we've been dropper feeding them for weeks. I really could go on and on. But, really and truly in spite of all that, we managed to have fun. I guess its about finding the good in the bad. The park had a nice playground, a little nature center, and a neat pier. The kids loved the beach and said that they hit the shell jackpot, and I think mom was in heaven too. We got away from technology for a while. We read books and played cards. My phone didn't work there too well, and amazingly I didn't go into withdrawal. I am dreading that make up work from Monday, so next time we may have to venture a little closer to home.

Angie and I started listening to The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate on playaway. We are 4 chapters in and it is such a good story. I know some of you won't want your children reading it because it mentions Mr Darwins book. But, it is a fabulous story set in 1899 Texas, rich with historical Texas and civil war references, as well as references to science. It also focuses on the relationship of a 12 yr old girl and her cantankerous grandfather. So sad that I have to leave for work tonight and have to wait to hear chapter 5.

Pam is taking Brian to his treatment tomorrow and Katie will drive him home. If this week goes like last, I should be able to work Thursday as well. I think my dad will be there Thursday as well since they eliminated his overtime.

Hiccup

Hiccups are a real nuisance, the literal kind and the figurative kind. Well, we've had more than our fair share in this cancer journey. Brian's scan on Friday didn't go as well as expected. He had a small pea sized area show up on the PET scan. His Dr at Baylor was unable to palpate it in the office. He says that it could just be an inflamed lymph node due to a recent virus or because of ant bites etc, but given Brian's history, we have to assume the worst and treat it, unless Brian wants to have a surgeon go in, take it out and have it biopsied which could cause a whole slew of potential problems. So, Brian will be seeing his oncologist in Abilene and this week and setting up maintenance treatments to start soon. Some doctors do maintenance Rituxan once a month. Because of this spot, Brian has to do a more treatment-like maintenance treatment, so he will do Rituxan once a week for 4 weeks and have another scan in December.

Rituxan is a newer medicine known as a monoclonal antibody. The science is fasinating, but it basically only targets the cancer cells. So, it doesnt affect blood counts, you keep your hair, etc. Side affects are similar to a case of the flu....GI stuff, and nasal/sinus stuff. He told Brian that he can still work while he's getting treatments. Funny after seeing everything he's been through to discuss the flu as being no big deal.

December will be 3 years. So much for our kids to go through. Angie was 6 when this started, Tony 5, Zachary 3, Aiden 1 and I was pregnant with Emi. As we unloaded groceries from the car yesterday, Angie says to me, "I know dads cancer is back. You don't have to tell me. If that scan was good, you would have said so already." She shed lots of tears. How hard to be nine, and understand, but not understand.

So, we are trucking along, living everyday to the fullest, and remembering each day to be sure that the people we love know it. I think it finally sank in that we are going to have to deal with this for the rest of our lives. Keep your positive thoughts and wonderful prayers coming our way. We love all of you.

Happy 6th Birthday Zachary!!

Zachary turned 6 last week. He has been talking about his birthday for months. His present wish list was longer than any Christmas list I've seen. While he didnt get anything that was on that list, he recieved a few very nice presents and had shrimp for dinner and chocolate cake per his request. I cannot believe how much he's grown. He loved his legos, his air hog, and his mp3 player. Now if his dad would only get la la lasagna put on there he'd be in heaven. Love you Zachary!!