Halloween 2009

Halloween 2009 has come and gone. We went Trick or Treating at few friend's houses and then we hit the local Trunk or Treat. We came home with PLENTY of candy and very tired, cold children. Glad we are falling back tonight!

Jacob the Jedi, Lizzie the Princess, and Zach the chick magnet!

I may be biased, but I think this chick magnet is pretty darn cute! He did not feel comfortable wearing this, so not long after the p icture, he took it all off!

Our princess

The serious Jedi pose.

Hangin' Around

Friday night we actually just hung out as a family. It was great. It had been a long time since we had all been home together on a Friday night.

Lizzie makes a silly face while Brian concentrates on Mary Poppins.

Jacob and Sadie cuddling.

While the basement is not a "finished" basement yet. It is great for the kids. We finally moved a tv down there and hope to get a futon for them soon. They are enjoying the space and so are we. Still can't believe it was just a crawl space just 6 months ago!

Zach is chilling out and watching TV in our VERY unfinished basement!

Air hockey madness.

Our Ongoing Medical Sagas

Some good news, both boys had the H1N1 virus and survived. I must admit that it hit Zach harder and it was a full week of misery for him. There were some days when he could barely lift his head. Jacob was achy and had the fever, but at least he still moved around.

As I said in an earlier post, the neurologist at NW noted that a recent ct scan had indicated a nodule in my left breast. Well I had my mammogram and ultrasound and it ended up being nothing more than a lymph node.

My neuro here called and said they had the report from Dr. Cohen at NW. So, I am now scheduled for some bloodwork, another cervical spine MRI and another ct scan of the chest! He is trying to find out if this is all a reaction to an infection.

In all, I feel pretty good. I am not getting tired nearly as easily and I just feel better in general. I am praising God for that!!

The Virtue of Patience

Ok, here is the Brian taking Jacob to the doctor story. Going to visit the pediatric rheumatologist is always a long drawn out affair. I have been there for 3 to 3 and 1/2 hours before. Anyway, I reminded Brian of this before he took Jacob on Thursday. But, I do believe he thought I was exaggerating.

So, on Thursday, Brian took Jake to the doctor. First he saw the nurse, then the doctor, then the social worker, then PT/OT evals, and then he was told the doctor would be back in to discuss follow-up and the next appointment. Brian waited about 1o - 15 minutes when he heard the doctor enter the next room and say "Sorry you had to wait so long." He immediately thought it would be FOREVER before the doc made it back to their room. So, what did Brian do?

Did he tell a nurse he needed to leave? Did he wait? Did he ask to be called with the follow-up and results? Nope, he just left! Yep, he just got up, walked out of the room, and left. Didn't say anything to anybody! Figured he had been 2 and 1/2 hours and that was enough. The worst part - he missed GOOD news (see the last post).

I have to admit that I was ready to kill him at first. I was sooo frustrated. But as time passed, we have had a good laugh about it. As a matter of fact, when I took Lizzie to the doctor later in the week, she told her daddy, "Daddy WE didn't just leave!" Couldn't help but to laugh out loud!

Some Good News For Jacob!

On Wednesday morning, Jacob had been fever free for over 24 hours and was so excited to go to school. But, then he tried to move. He couldn't even get down the ladder of the bunk bed. He was crying and saying he couldn't walk. So, immediately we thought his arthritis had flared up.

He was bummed that he didn't get to go to school. We got into the pediatric rheumatologist on Thursday morning - that in and of itself was amazing. Brian took him to the appointment (that is a story I will share later).

The news from the day was: it was a virus causing the pain, he needs to do some stretches daily for short cords in his ankles, BUT, he shows NO signs of arthritis! No degeneration, no range of motion issues due to arthritis, no debilitation!!!

He is off his naproxin and we do not have to go see the rheumatologist again unless something happens and Jake has a flare up.

So, are happy for our little firecracker. He has been through a lot with this arthritis - from not being able to walk, terrible pain, behavior issues related to that pain, steroids, naproxin, water therapy, blood tests, x-rays, ER visits, etc. And the fact that, for right now, he doesn't have to worry about those things, brings tears of happiness to my eyes.

I am praising God for a good doctor's report for him because as the song says "every blessing He pours out, I'll turn back to praise."

Northwestern Trip

Yesterday I saw the neurologist at Northwestern. He was very kind and thorough. He agreed with Dr. Risken that we don't have enough info to rule in MS nor do we have enough info to rule out MS. He would like me to have another MRI of my cervical spine and some bloodwork drawn as comparisons to earlier bloodwork.

While there, I learned that my last ct scan indicated that I had a small nodule in my left breast. So, next week I get to go for a mammogram and ultrasound. I am a little worried about this, but trying very hard not to be. The doctor said that the fact the radiologist noted it was a nodule versus a mass was a good sign.

Also, Jacob had the flu. He was sick from Saturday morning until today. We will see if his fever goes back up this afternoon. Zach was miserable last night and woke up this morning with the symptoms of H1N1. I am hoping it is simply the same flu that Jacob had. He is absolutely miserable.

After the doctor's appointment, Brian and I strolled around some and spent some alone time together. It was great.

We stayed at the Westin Riverfront.

From our hotel window.

The House of Blues was right across the road too. We thought about heading there Sunday night, but the line was at least a block or two long. We are too old for that.

So, we ended up here.

So, the trip was fruitful and relaxing. I really like Chicago but I don't think I could live there. Too fast of a pace for me!

A Few of My Favorite Things

This tree is right across the road on the golf course. I love it. To me, it is the perfect tree. Isn't the color amazing? Everyday when I look at this, I smile. Does that make me a tree hugger?

Lizzie loved wearing her new dress to church on Sunday. What a little diva. She always makes me smile with her "girly-ness!"

Off to Chicago

Well, we are preparing to head to Chicago for my appointment with the big wig Neurologist at Northwestern. My biggest fear, that they will not have a diagnosis for what is going on and basically say "live with it." I really want to feel better, or at least have a plan of treatment. But, I am trying to not to worry. He will tell me what he wants to and I can't do anything about it.

Besides, Jacob woke up yesterday with a fever and is still running it so I don't have time to worry! Plans changed and now we are taking the kids to Crawfordsville, Indiana to meet my mom and then head to Chicago from there.

We are blessed to have family that will help out in a pinch - even if they are 3 and 1/2 hours away! So long for now! Hopefully I will have some news when I post next.

A Little Lift and Support Gift

A wonderful group of friends know that I am a little nervous about going to Northwestern to the doctor this week. So, I was given the gift of a "Little Lift and Support" from my friends. Check it out! I am supposed to pass it on to someone else who needs a little lift and support in the future. It made me smile and blush, and I was gratefully appreciative of their concern and support. You know who you all are - THANKS!!!

Nashville!

Brian and I took a much needed vacation to Nashville early in October. It was a great weekend. The kids stayed at Mamaw and Papaw's and were spoiled to death.

Zach's pumpkin he painted at Mamaw and Papaw's house.

All the grandkid's pumpkins.

Brian and I went and saw Steve Martin and an incredible band at the Ryman. I was surprised at how good Steve Martin was on the banjo. And that fiddle player was incredible!! The surprise of the show? When he brought out Earl Scruggs, one of the founders of bluegrass to play with them. Brian was excited about that. So was everyone else if the length of the standing ovation was any indication.

Earl Scruggs, Steve Martin, and the awesome band!

Earl Scruggs

Martin also had Rhonda Vincent and Dan Tyminski come out and sing a duet. That was incredible! Again, another standing ovation.

This is Bud Isaacs - some dude from Bedford, Indiana. He was in the Country Music Hall of Fame museum. Apparently he was influential on the steel metal guitar. I apparently didn't do a good job of reading that section, huh?

Brian at the Wildhorse after a great lunch.

We had a great time and can't wait to go back next year!

Project Pictures

As promised, here are pictures of the completed project.

But first, a cute shot of Lizzie and Sadie taking a nap.

And a picture of the "antique" that Brian bought! This is now my vacuum cleaner.

The back of the house with new siding and new windows but no grass.

The front with the new siding and windows.

The office with the new hardwood. The couch is on its way out and there will be bookcases there.

Looking through the french doors into the office.

Looking up the stairs of our new "finished unfinished" basement.

Another shot. As you can see, the kids have already set up camp.

Brian and Jacob putting up games.

Shew . . . the finished unfinished basement is done. The windows are done. The siding is done. The flooring is done! Time for vacation!!