Pictures

Today is Picture Day for the Elementary school kids.  I begged Shelby to let me curl her hair...she wanted it straight and down.  Man, I wish I could have girls that allowed me to do fun hair styles.  I may not have an original thought when it comes to hair, but I am one good copier!  I got her off to Kids of Steel and came back to get the boys' hair done.

Tyson: "Mom, don't make us look too handsome, kay.  If you do, the girls will chase us at school."

Brennon: "They don't chase me.  I want girls to chase me."

Tyson: "They chase me, and I'm tired of it.  Mom, make Brennon handsome, but not me, kay."

He didn't get his wish- he looked handsome.  I think it's safe to say: My boys will most likely be chased on the playground today.  And, if Tyson doesn't need gelled hair for the girls to chase him, I don't think there is much else he can do.  He's that much of a stud on his own- no special clothes or hairstyle required.

Texting

I got a text from Caden that simply said, "Bark bark woof woof ruff"

When I asked him what was going on, he said, "Whoops, sorry, Mira got on my phone."

I love getting cheesy texts from him.  Any texts, really.  Like me, he just wants to make people laugh.  Even if it makes you look like a geek.

Drowsy

Tyson has been asking for a few days if we could watch Once I Was a Beehive again as a family.  Since Caden and Keilie had been invited to a party, we decided to take the youngest to DQ for mini Blizzards, and then come home to watch Tyson's request. 

Since the movie didn't start until about 8:00, which is pretty close to their normal bedtime, I noticed Tyson looking a little drowsy in the beginning.  Here is the timeline of these adorable photos.

 8:47pm

 8:56pm

 9:01pm

9:25pm

This little boy did not want us to pause the show for them to go to bed.  With red, bleary eyes, he said he wasn't really that tired.  'Uh-huh, sure, I believe you, Tyson.'  This boy plays so hard, it's not hard for me to imagine why he was so tired.  He wakes usually right around 6:00am no matter what time he goes to bed the night before, so staying up until 9:30pm is quite the stretch.  We don't do it often, but if I knew it would end in these kind of snuggles, I might be inclined to change their bedtime to late every night.

The Band

Fairly close to the first of school Shelby came to me, asking me to sing a paper so she could be part of the Steel Band. Since her last school had one and she had never really said she had an interested, it surprised me when she begged for me to sign the permission slip to try out.  To Shelby, it wasn't a permission slip to try out- it meant she was already in.  I tried to tell her that each time she begged, but she always had the airs that she was going to make it.

The schedule for the try outs had 4th graders on Monday and Tuesday morning, 5th graders on Wednesday and Thursday morning, with Friday open for any that needed to make up missed days.  I just assumed that that meant we would find out on Monday if she had made it.  So when she came home on today, all screams and claps and skips and jumps, I was unprepared for her exclamations,

"MOM!!  They told us that the names of the kids that made it into Kids of Steel was on the music window today.  AND.MY.NAME.WAS.ON.IT!!!!!"

I was so shocked that she had found out already, I wasn't prepared with anything "special" to give her.  So I made up with it by screaming at the top of my lungs, clapping and skipping and jumping right along.  I never realized how nervous I was about it all, until she told me she was in.  She may not have doubted, but I did.  I saw how much she wanted it, so I wanted it just as much for her.

So, here's to Shelby, a member of the Kids of Steel Band!!!

Outdated

As with many of our other homes, the reason we bought it was for the challenge.  Sure we needed one more room, but there were many out there that would meet our criteria.  The reason we chose this one was because our friends said we could do it For Sale By Owner, and because it needed a little TLC.  It has been fun doing little things, but seeing big results.  There will be many things like this in our future.

This home was built in 1994.  Our friends had purchased it from the bank, so they got it for a good price, thinking they would just fix it up.  They did a lot of things to it; we are just continuing the upgrades.  Since it was built in the 90's, a lot of it is done with brass.  Like the previous paint, it's not as if it was necessarily a horrible thing, something that I absolutely couldn't live with, just not something that I want it my updated home.  So, little by little, we are phasing the brass/gold out completely.  First thing on the list was our entry chandelier.

 This thing was a beast to get down.  It was super high, but also super heavy.  Since my back was still quite "broken", Randy did all of the heavy lifting by himself. 

 I got it all cleaned up and taped.  It took a bit, but I just watched a show on the Mac, so it went a lot faster.

 Randy set up a little area for paint and went to town.  He is such a better spray painter than I.  He's better at most things, actually.  I tend to find the ideas, he does all the heavy lifting.  And electrical.  And cake decorating (remember Caden's 3rd birthday Elmo cake).  The list could go on and on.  

 I realized at this point that I hadn't gotten a good After close up.  Being the patient husband that he is, Randy came back down off the ladder to let me get a close up.  Doesn't she clean up nicely?! 

 It was at this point that I was tearing up.  I love when things turn out the way I envision them.  I'm not in love with the actual chandelier itself, but I do love that this only cost us the amount for the "candle" covers and the new lightbulbs- we already had the paint.  When we originally took it down, only one of the lightbulbs worked.  So when the lights were turned on...

I swear I heard a heavenly chorus.  I love it so much.  There are places that you can tell it wasn't always black, the gold peeks through on the inside ever so slightly, but only because I know where it is.  I am very critical of my own ideas.  All-in-all, it looks amazing.

While Randy had the spray area set up, he decided to tackle another project.  We couldn't find a top mount tub faucet that would work for our soaker tub, so we decided to try to just spray it.

The knobs are slightly different color than the faucet, but not enough for me to really care.  It was a vast improvement over the tarnished brass that had spot of discoloration that made it look like a giraffe's neck.  Oh, and see the beautiful swans?  We've found a way to fix that.  There are five of them strategically placed around the tub.  While we fix it, I may have to sing the Five Little Ducks Swans song.  When the last one is gone, I will maniacally sing, "No Little Swans Came Waddling Back," while wringing my hands wickedly. 

Next shower upgrade will be in the kids' bathroom. 

It's gonna need a lot of tender lovin'.  Also, this is what I was talking about on our tub.  Tarnished brass- Ew!  Hot mess.

This last one is something that Randy just finished last night.  Again, it is a light in our front entry.  The one thing I love about this house is all of the natural light, but also all of the electrical light.  They did this house right!  Since I didn't know he was going to do it (he snuck in to do it while I napped) I didn't get a good Before and After, so we just placed old next to new.

The old one shone above and below, so we looked for the same effect, because we loved the look so much.  I am in love with the new upgrade.  We have plans to upgrade almost all of the lighting fixtures, even if it is just the recessed lighting covers. 

Each new little update that comes because of my own ideas, or just because it is old, makes me fall in love even more with this home.  It makes me feel, in some part, like some of those celebrities that take old homes and make them shine.

Beast Mode Cleaning

My Yukon has been acting up a bit the last few days.  Of course Randy was out-of-town.  We had a friend come look at it, diagnosing it as probably a bad connection from the batter to the alternator.  He cleaned the connection, drove it around our neighborhood a few minutes, and then said that he thought it would be fine for me to drive.  Worked like a charm!

Anyway, since he couldn't come look at it until around 7:30pm, I didn't have any distractions excuses, so I tackled more unpacking/cleaning/organizing of my house.  It was wonderful to work all day for two days, now that my back is doing so much better.  If I thought that it was wonderful to be able to walk, it was even more so to be able to clean.  With each thing that was accomplished, this house became my own.

The first day was downstairs.  I restocked the pantry, getting things filled and organized again.  I usually do this about once a week, or so.  I love having it looking good, thankful to be able to see the blessing of excess food to feed my family.  Isn't a cupboard or pantry full of food such a glorious feeling?!  I also tackled my kitchen cabinets, purging all of the excess things that made the move, despite not being used at all in our old home- let alone made the move from Wyoming.  Then I moved into my front room and had the kids help me move some furniture around.  There was no way that I was going to tackle something like that on my own, jeopardizing my good-feeling back.  {Pictures coming soon- pinkie promise!}

Yesterday was the kids' rooms.  Caden and Shelby had theirs looking nice already, they are the kids that keep a clean room.  Brennon and Tyson's was kind of a catch-all for toys, extra clothes and blankets, sewing stuff, and books, since their has the most space, so I can't blame them for the dive that was their room.  Really, it's a bit embarrassing how big their room is.  But, hey, we only needed one more room and got a bonus room, what can I say?  It was Keilie's that took the most time.  Despite telling me each night that she had cleaned her room and put away her laundry nicely, I found her closet jam-packed with stuff.  Clean and brand-new clothes next to dirty ones (oh, that's where all of the dirty socks were!), cut-off tags from new school clothes, leftover lunch food that didn't get thrown away, broken crayons, scraps of fabric from her recent sewing class, scraps from her never-ending craft projects, lost sandal from my favorite pair, missing Math book (fourth week of school!), the list could go on-and-on.  So, when I got this note from her after school...

The irony was not lost on me.

Today leaves our room/office.  I am determined to have it looking as great as the rest of the house.  We've cleaned up the yard, got our side yard prepped for an additional driveway (possibly a third car addition), organized the sheds and garage, and now 90% of the interior...this house is coming along nicely!  It would be wonderful to say that Randy's home office was organized today...since it never has been 100% the last 10 years that he's had a home office.

As I walked out of our bedroom, my eye was drawn down the hall.  Not because of the newly cleaned Keilie room (she can actually leave her door open now!) but because of this...

Apparently it is just too hard for Tyson to put his dirty clothes inside the laundry basket.  Man, kids have the best ideas to show their appreciation for your hard work, don't they?!  I guess I should just be grateful that when I finish with my room today, the house will be 100% cleaned/organized/unpacked for a whole hour.

Fantastic!

Squirrel

It seems only yesterday that we brought Mira home, and yet it feels as if she's been a part of our lives all along.  She is still so loved, still the best dog ever, still a perfect balm for all of our wounded hearts.  We love her so much.

 There is a squirrel that lives in the trees behind our house.  It goes between the acorn tree that is growing on the right side of our backyard (in the neighbors' yard) to this tree on the left side in our own yard.  It runs along the fence line multiple times each day, always with something in its mouth.  When Mira is inside, she usually sits by the back door like this...

 or this...

never barking, just watching.  {Ignore the tarp covered compound miter saw in the above picture.  Randy's been hard at work doing some projects--Giddy!} But when you let her out, that squirrel has to run for its life.  We're not sure what she would do should she ever catch said squirrel, but it's fun watching her chase, and jump, and get so excited.  I'm sure she is just looking for another animal to play with-- she misses Deacon when he goes home with Ashlee. 

When there aren't other animals to play with, she is content to sit with our family, enjoying the Newsies.  Don't get me wrong, the kids are always outside playing with her, especially since we have the bigger yard with the fun, new swingset, but she also snuggles up to us whenever we are stationary.

We still just sit back and marvel at the beautiful gift we have been given in Mira.  She truly is our 'Mira'cle.  I can't imagine life without her, nor a more perfect addition to our lives. 

Vroom-Vroom

Last night something happened that felt like a dream come true.  Truly, it was monumental for me.  When Caden was first diagnosed, many thoughts started circling through my mind: Would he die before attending a dance, or learning how to drive, or going on a date, or kissing a girl for the first time, or graduating high school, or going on a mission, or getting married.... You get the idea.  I was consumed with things that he may not ever experience.  In fact, one day, when I knew the parking garage would be near-empty, I let him drive up and down the entrance ramp.  It was an amazing feeling to see his face light up after weeks of immeasurable hardships- he never imagined I would let him (seeing as he was 12 years old at the time).  And the fact that he didn't even ask to do it made it so much better.  Surprises are the best!

So, last night as I was signing him up for Driver's Ed, I got a bit nostalgic.  It was an amazing thing to feel some of those same difficult feelings, yet marvel that we were at a place where just one of the worries I had could finally be put to rest.  Caden is going to learn how to drive!!  My gorgeous child is growing into such an amazing man.  We've been working since the day he turned 15 on a few key points, making sure to tell him things as we drive around, but I can't wait for the "real" instructions to begin for him.  And, if you can keep a secret, I'll tell you: I have already taken him out driving.  It was around our Loop about a dozen times, but he was able to practice so many of those first, new skills that feel so exhilarating the first few times.  I am giddy for him to learn.  I remember the freedom and the power it brought me, almost like it was my first real steps into adulthood.  It made me feel so grown up.  Oh, my sweet innocence.

I feel so fortunate to be able to see not just Caden, but all of my children grow.  While I do wish that each day didn't fly by so quickly, I am so grateful that I get to spend each day with them.  I count each day as such a blessing, see each milestone as such a miracle.  With each inch grown, each clothing size packed away, each crack of his voice, I marvel that I get to see Caden become a grown man.  He's proven himself to be one many times over, however now we get to see the physical transformation with our eyes.

So, beginning October 17th, we get to have an addition on our car insurance!!!

Gosh, that feels amazing!

Teacher Lovin'

Each year, at the beginning of the school year, I try to make the kids' teacher a little gift.  It ends at Middle School, when they move to having more than one homeroom teacher.  I tried it once with Caden, but that was just too stressful.  Then my mind wandered to when I would have three kids with six teachers each and I almost cried just thinking about it.  So, the Elementary teachers are the ones that get to feel my love.  The Middle and High school teachers just get my words.

This year, Jamie found the idea for these, so I copied her copied idea.

I tried one of them with random Crayons, and then the next in color order.  I loved the random most, so the third was like the first.  It's funny, though, because all of the kids loved the color coded one.  Either way, they all three turned out amazing!

The apple has "From:___"

Not gonna lie, I stare at these and feel such love and joy!  I cannot wait to take them to their teachers on Open House night next week.  I hope they love them as much as I do!

Donations

Keilie has been hard at work on her fundraising enterprise.  In fact, after seeing her success the night before, Caden decided that he was going to help her win the big prizes, so he walked around the neighborhood with her the next afternoon. 

The last house they went to before dinner said they didn't want to buy anything, but they did want to donate, so they said to just take the cash and buy what they'd like.  How much did they donate for my kids to pick their favorite, you ask?!  $100.00!  I was in shock!! 

Anyway, Keilie was in even more of an agitated/anxious/excited state with this money than she was telling us all about the fundraiser itself.  The other kids were excited to be able to choose something for themselves from the catalogues, but Keilie refused to even listen to their chatter for even a second.

"NO!  We can't get the Oreo Churros- those are $17.00!  We have to get the least expensive things in the catalogues, so that we can get more items and get me closer to my goal!!"  {Cough} Wish she was this excited about her Math homework every night!

So we chose 18 overpriced Jelly Belly items with the donated money.  As it stands, she is just 15 items away from getting a free 24" TV.  She is on fire! 

November 9th, when they arrive for delivery, is going to be a jam-packed night.  Since most of the items are frozen, it's not as if I can just deliver them as I can within the next two days.  Oh no, they will all have to be delivered that night.  Except for those 18 items-- those we're going to keep in our candy reserves. 

Too bad they couldn't arrive on October 30-- we have never had more than 15 Trick-or-Treaters.

Oh, Wait!  We have moved!!  We may get more this year!!  The last time we had more than 15 Trick-or-Treaters was in 2008!  Oh, I hope we get a ton this year!!  I LOVE Halloween!!!

Oh, Snap!

I found this video saved on my SnapChat.  Oh my gosh, his whisper-- I die!  He is just too cute.
~~
Yesterday he had a dentist appointment for what they thought may be a small cavity.  It turned out to be something they just needed to smooth out a bit and seal, but they still had to numb it as if it was a filling.  It is the first time he has been numbed up.  As we were leaving, he kept telling me that his cheek just felt so weird.  He was crying, saying he wanted to be able to eat again- as if he would never be whole again.  Then, with a completely serious, confused face, he said,

"Mom, can you hear my numb?  I can't hear it, but can you?"  Oh, how I love him.
~~
Later that day, he asked me if they went to school for 8 hours each day.  I told him that it was really 6.5 hours.  Not even a second later, he said, "Caden was wrong by one hour and a half."  He astounds me with his cognitive thinking all.the.time.  He is only six and already grasps both time and adding/subtracting simple halves.  Maybe it isn't even all that impressive, but to me it is.

I sure love my little Ty!

I love my Brennon too.  I found this video saved as well.  His giggle... Yes, please!

Fundraiser

Keilie came in the door today in a fit of euphoria.  The Music department, of which she is apart now that she is in choir, is hosting an Otis Spunkmeyer/Jelly Belly fundraiser to earn money for an upcoming trip to Seattle.

During her first period today, she was given samples of many of the different desserts, told all about the fabulous prizes (apart from the trip to Seattle, of course) that she would win with each item purchased from their two catalogues.  When Keilie is working towards a prize, that girl is unstoppable.  When she puts her mind to something, she gets it.  When she sees the machines that you put in coins to win something, she's not looking to see what there is to win- oh no- she's looking on the floor for dropped coins to play the game for free.  Most times, she is the one that finds what has been lost. She's a natural born salesman with an eye for detail.

So, when they started telling her stories of grandeur for those that sold more than 100 items, they just hooked their number one listener.  And boy does this girl believe every word that came from their lips.

~ You'll get whatever you want.
~ One girls that sold more than 100 got an X-Box and five games.
~ One boy got a puppy.
~ When you sell more than 100, there are no set prizes, you just name your prize.

I'm not sure how much was actual words that were spoken as opposed to Keilie's beautiful mind hearing what she wanted to hear.  No matter...it didn't stop her from going on and on about selling more than 100 and naming her prize.  She was incessant in her desire to go selling, frantic even.  She wanted to walk door-to-door all night from the second she was done telling us all about it till the moon was the brightest light in the sky.  Even then, she probably would have asked me to drive her around.  She cannot let it go.

While driving her around to friends that do not have children that attend the same Middle School, she was passing ideas for her prize around.  They continued to get larger and larger, some being the same as those that she had supposedly heard from the people that were telling her "all about it."  Here are a few that she said aloud-- totally believing that she could truly have her heart's desire granted.

~ Puppy
~ Ferrett
~ Bird  "Mira would love to have someone to play with!"  As if Mira was whom she was thinking of.
~ Fish
~ X-box with five games
~ $500
~ Shopping spree
~ Game On truck for party with friends
~ A boat

There were more, but this one broke my heart the most...

"I wonder if I just asked them for a baby tiger, if they would give it to me."

Thanks a lot, fundraiser people.  When you tell a child like Keilie that they could potentially get what they ask for, they're going to set their sights a little high.  Don't get me wrong, I remember thinking I wanted all the prizes on the sheet, I wanted to be the kid that needed to ask their friends to help them carry their prizes home, because they were too large for my own arms, but come on... you actually told her one kid got a puppy?!

In 4 hours, she has now sold 32 itmes.

"Mom, just three more days like this, and I'll hit my goal!  What would you ask for?!"

My answer: That the schools be ordered to ask the parents if their child can participate before you give your whole shpeil!

Pop

Each day has gotten better and better for my back.  When I woke this morning (after a heinous dream where I had to drop Ashlee off at jail -not sure what she actually did to earn this conviction- for 14 years, with the promise to visit her every week) I was certain that if the chiropractor could just pop my back in this one spot, it would go from radiating, constant pain, to better,  just.like.that.  I'm happy to say that I walked into that office with my head held semi-high, only partially bent at the hips like Quasimodo.

I had already mentally prepared myself to suffer any infliction he could dish out so that my back could feel better, thus getting off of the stupid couch.  After the first push on my lower back, I knew it was going to be quite painful.  During one such push, I felt the most glorious sensation in the world.  {Pop, Pop, Pop}  It was so loud in my head, I was certain that Randy could hear it from his seat.  He couldn't, but it was that loud in my head.

As he raised the table from horizontal to vertical, I actually cried because it did NOT hurt.  He's seen me cry every single visit- the first visit being racking, pitiful sobs.  I have never walked out of that office without hanging my head to hide the tears and embarrassment due to the sounds I had made.  It has not been pretty.

Since the visit, now 7 hours passed, I have had only minimal pain.  I can still feel twinges and radiation every once in a while, but I have been able to be upright for more than ten minutes for the first time since last Tuesday night.  I became quite animated and excited that I could finally walk.  It's such a wonderful blessing.  I'm not 100% yet.  I have not been cleared for any type of work yet, in fact, he told me that I cannot do any sort of dishes, laundry, or vacuuming for a while, but that sadness is now overshadowed by my glee at being able to sit and stand and lay without pain. 

It's such a good day!

Couch

I am seriously pouty today. I am just sick to death of my hurt back, wishing we could jump into our "next three months" by doing something fun as a family. Instead, I am confined to a prostate position. 

I raked one week ago, not feeling a thing. I sure felt it that night, and for the next few days! I thought I was getting better on Tuesday morning, but throughout the day got progressively worse. By 7:00pm that night, I was desperate for any relief, certain that if it would just pop I would feel better. With some effort, I laid myself down on the front room floor and asked Tyson to walk on my back. He was lightly stepping on the spot that hurt the most when bam, my body went into convulsions, my back seized up, and I truly could not move without extreme pain. Each time I tried, I saw stars exploding behind my eyes. I had Caden roll me onto my back (almost passing out twice), and then had him call Jamie for help. "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!"  I can smile ruefully about it now, but it is burned in my brain as the worst pain I have ever endured. Even worse than having Brennon without an epidural. 

While here, Jamie had Cameron call a friend that is a chiropractor, asking if he would come help me. He called to ask me what happened, surmising that it would be best to leave me until my back calmed down a little bit. I was relieved, because I almost passed out again as Jamie lifted me to the couch. I did not want to move off of that couch! Three days later, I hate laying on this couch. 

Another friend, Tricia, had already called another chiropractor and made me an appointment for the next day. I told her that I had been given instructions to take it easy for a few days. When she related to her friend/chiropractor that I wouldn't be able to make it the next day, he called me at 10:30pm to hear what happened. When I told him a brief history of my back, and how it all started with our car accident, he was convinced that I needed to really make an effort to come in the next day. He asked a few questions- if I had felt this pain, or that pain, throughout the day, and when I said I had (not realizing at all that they could be related) he said we had a problem that couldn't wait. 

I have now been to him four times. I have seen a difference each day, felt more and more relief each time. But, being me, I want to be done and just move on. I want to overcome this pain, proving myself a strong person by healing faster than most. I want him to be amazed at how fast I "jump" back. I just want to live now that we have the relieving news that gives us permission to do what we want with our time. But I can't. I hurt too much. I can't stop seeing stars sometimes when I move even just a little bit, or try to stand up. No amount of will power can help this, I'm afraid. 

So now I cry when Randy tells me that I can't run a quick errand to get white ribbon to have Caden finish his recent sewing project. To me: it is a quick change of scenery, one that I know how to get in and out fast in the small amount of time that my back wouldn't hurt. I am able to stand for about 10 minutes without it killing me. To Randy: ribbon is not a good enough excuse to get off the couch. 

Mr. Bossy!

I guess this just means that once I am cleared, we're going to have to play extra hard. 

Because we got a clean scan. We won the Golden Ticket!

My goodness, I am still in shock. I was so certain that we would see a small tumor. I love being pleasantly surprised! 

Clean!!!

The scans are clean!!! 

Now I can sleep. And breath. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Randy and Caden just returned home. First thing Caden did was engage in an argument with Keilie. My heart is overflowing. We get to have another three months of "normal" family life. 

It's a beautiful life!

I'm the luckiest girl in the world. 

Evidence

As we were getting ready for school, Caden said he wanted a haircut, but that he wanted to wait until after school pictures. He wanted his hair to be chemo white in the yearbook. Today was picture day. He came home, showed me his new card 

and asked if he could get it cut. Randy had made it home just 20 minutes before, so he took him while I continue to lay on the couch with my HURT back. 

It took just a few swipes of the clippers before

The evidence of Pozaponib is no more. 

"I'm sad that it's not white any more, but so glad it is short again"

I'm just glad he has choice about how to style his HAIR!!!

Consolation

I love it when you have a preconceived notion, one that you thought would never apply to yourself, but does after someone tells you all about it. And then you think, hm...I've had that all along. Who knew?

I've heard a few times from various friends that they had thrown out their back. In my tiny little brain, I was convinced that that meant they had slipped a disc, or something. It was something that hurt super, duper bad; and had never happened to me. I've had back problems since a major accident Randy and I were in in April 2000, but it didn't require any medical attention then, or since. I have had periods of back aches and problems, but I have never had "serious" ones that required doctor's notes and referrals to specialists. Those were for people who had thrown out their backs!

This weekend, Randy and I tackled some yard work. And I mean tackled. I was raking my yard, ferociously ridding our ground of long-dead grass that was choking the live grass mercilessly. I was on a mission to make our grass green. 

Later, we went to dinner with friends, enjoying the delicious food and fun friendships. Two hours passed as the men talked about their missions to Brazil, finding out that they had served in same cities, while the women talked about cancer (not the depressing kind of talk). Her husband was diagnosed with leukemia after her twins were born 13 years ago, now being cautiously told he is cured.  She asked how I was able to be happy with the scan looming so close- September 9.  It was a fun night!

And then we stood to leave. I had felt perfectly fine, not a single twinge of any discomfort, and now, halfway to erect, I wanted to cry. I couldn't stand straight. I couldn't hurry after them. I could only hobble, wishing for a walker with each painful step. The Hunchback could have learned a few pointers from me. And it just kept getting worse. 

While talking with a friend at church the next day, she told me it sounded like I'd thrown my back out. "Nah, I must have just pulled a muscle. But, wow, it hurts so bad!" She was having none of my excuses, she was adamant. So I googled, "What does it mean to throw your back out?" certain I was the one that was right. 

She was right. 

I was wrong. I have thrown my back out. And it still hurts like nothing I have ever felt. Holy cow, I can still barely walk. Or sit without focusing. Or stand without assistance. I am a granny. Now my gray hairs don't look so strange on a 35 year old head, at least. 

But, not to worry, I was compensated for my savage efforts with the garden tools--we found this...

buried in the yard, waiting for me to find it, like a beautiful consolation prize. 

"Sorry you wrecked your back and can no longer walk with the graceful gait of a ballerina (the pain may be making me a bit loopy, so what!). Enjoy this glorious rock that can now act as a bookend for your blog books. You're welcome."

Awesome!

Breath

I didn't get a great before of the work we've been doing in the yard, so I have to kind of make one. 

In the upper left hand corner of this picture (if you can pry your eyes away from the cute kids doing the 'spider') is a bush that I wanted gone from the first time we walked into the backyard. I told Randy I wanted it gone, but he said he wanted to trim it back and give it a chance. I'm glad he talked me into it. More importantly, I'm grateful I didn't have the gumption to cut it down myself. 

Looking down on the bush from my bathroom, you can see the progress Randy was making before the battery on his saws-all died. It was a massive bush. 

It took Randy and I an hour and a half to finish the project. 

It feels like so many things in our new house. Every time we clean/organize/fix/trim back, it feels as if we can take a bigger breath in the added space of our new beginning. 

Before

After

Vitamins

It has been 4 months since I cut my hair for Locks of Love (and to check off an item on my bucket list).  From day number one, I have never regretted my choice.  However, from day number one I started taking Hair, Skin, and Nails vitamins to give my growth a boost-- I never got used to it being so short.  I'm grateful I did it, but can't wait for it to be just a bit longer and then keep growing.

For four months, the kids and I have taken our vitamins at the exact same time.  For four months, our vitamins have sat side by side on the counter.  The kids have even asked if they could take mine... because they are delicious gummy ones that keep their shape and taste divine.  {Yes, I know I am a large child.}  So it struck me SO funny when Tyson gasped this morning, and in horror asked, "Mom!  Those have Hair, Skin, and Nails in them?!?!  EW!!!"

So, I told the kids the truth-- "If it is fruity and gummy, yes, I'd eat it."

Spit Matters

Caden had his first dentist appointment in a year.  Remember, the other kids had theirs in February, but Caden was too sick to go.  When we made their 6-month follow-up appointments, I begged them to make Caden's along with theirs.  I had to have hope that he would be able to make that appointment.  Today was that day!!

I'm happy to report that he has ZERO cavaties.  I was a bit worried for more than one reason.  First, chemo has the ability to kill so much.  I was worried it would do something to his enamel, or worse.  Second, due to the severity of Caden's vomitting, I was worried that that would erode the enamel as well.  Third, he is a normal teenage boy that doesn't brush his teeth like he should-- cancer care or not. 

When I told the Dr. that I was surprised that his teeth were doing so well, regardless of the chemo, he said it was because Caden's saliva glands made so much saliva.  I told the Dr. that it had become such a problem, that there were times that Caden had to spit into a cup, because he was producing so much.  The Dr. said it must have acted as a really great buffer for his teeth.

So there you have it.  If you don't want cavaties...don't swallow your spit!