A Quick Post

I had planned to get on here tonight and write a long post about my sister's surgery. But  life happens and now it's now pretty late. But I still want to at least give you a quick update.

I flew down to San Diego on June 7, Deb's surgery was scheduled for the 9th. They called her the evening before to say it had been canceled. Needless to say she was upset. She had even shaved her hair to make it easier after surgery! The doctor told her the trays of surgical instruments had been compromised and they couldn't guarantee that they were completely sterilized. So the team made the decision to cancel surgeries, dozens of surgeries. I'm not sure we'll ever understand what happened. And there were so many people effected. 

I was able to stay a few more days, but ended up coming back home before it was rescheduled. And she actually had the surgery today. She is home and has very little pain, but is still on heavy medication. 

She told me to check with her again tomorrow. 😄

While I was there we spent one afternoon driving around San Diego to see places we hung out while we were growing up. We saw our childhood home and our grade school. 

And my first job - 

We reminisced and laughed, and learned a few things about each other that we didn't know! She's six years older than me and growing up she hung out with our older sister more than she did with me. They were only two years apart. 

Even though she didn't have the surgery while I was there, we ended up having a great week together. 

Thank you for your comments and prayers for my sister. Everything went well and she's home. Now she begins her recovery.

A little More Recap and Father's Day

While the kids were here Chuck had some doctor appointments, and like Beth's these were also in downtown Seattle. He got the scans done on Monday and we went back for the results on Tuesday.

We've spent a lot of time in this waiting room the last few years. This time the doctor told us that all the scans came back clear, and he is no longer 'in remission' but he is now cancer free! It's been five years so no more yearly scans and monitoring are needed! The doctor shook his hand and said it's been a pleasure treating him, but he hopes he never has to see him again! 😊 We told the kids when we got back to the house and we all celebrated! God is so good! 

The day the kids left for home we all went out for an early breakfast, I hugged them good-bye at the restaurant then headed to work. It was a 12 hour day, overseeing a local private school's graduation ceremony at our church.

Rehearsal began at 9am, then class speakers and the choir rehearsed throughout the day, and the ceremony was in the evening. I took this picture from their social media page - 

We estimated about a thousand people were there and once everyone was gone and the busses left with all the seniors for their all-night grad party, I headed home.

Saturday I did laundry and packed my suitcase. Sunday morning I flew to San Diego to be with my sister when she had surgery. 

For now I want to wish all the dads a Happy Father's Day. 

Me and my dad - 2011

My dad and his girls

Debbie, Kathy, dad, Merrilee, me

Chuck and our girls

Well, I just spent w-a-a-ay too long looking for more current pictures of Chuck and the girls. 😕 I know I have more around here somewhere. 

Oh well. I'll write about my time in San Diego soon. I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your weekend!

I'm Home, and The Kids' Visit

Hi,

I flew in late last night and ended up not going to church this morning. I'm grateful we're able to stream the service because that's what I did instead. It's been a busy couple of weeks. The Lord answered my prayers about perseverance, and not getting sick. You know how there are some seasons where you go and go and go, and eventually you end up not feeling well and before you know it you're exhausted and sick? I prayed against that before it all began and I can say today, I'm rested and I feel good.

The day before our family arrived from Pennsylvania, Beth had an appointment down in Seattle. It was a gloomy day, and I'm glad Chuck took the day off to drive us. The last time I was so stressed about having to navigate downtown streets, and about the appointment itself. But because Chuck drove, it was much less stressful. Beth got changed, and then she and I waited for the technician to call us back.

Beth was able to do a seated mammo and did much better this time. The images were much clearer. I took this pic from the internet to show you a little of what it was like for her.

Unfortunately they are concerned about an area and really want to do a biopsy, but they know Beth wouldn't be able to handle it due to her body shape and her cognitive ability. So for now they will continue to monitor her with more frequent screenings. If the area of concern changes at all, we'll have to revisit the idea of a biopsy.

Then Diana, Peter and the kids arrived! They explored everything! Adelaide is at that age where everything is met with one word, "Why?" 😊 And Oliver is crawling and learning to pull himself up on things. 

One day we all went down to the waterfront, and stopped for some ice cream.

We tried to keep the kids busy, that's for sure!

It was so good to have them here! We love you guys and are already looking forward to the next time we get to see you!

How It's Going - A Quick Post

Diana and Peter arrived Saturday afternoon and we've had so much fun! They've been going almost non-stop, on their way to the Children's Museum and the park as I type this.

There's a lot to share but for today I'll leave you with these:

Tragedy and Joy

Hey everyone,

May is about over and we're headed into June already. Does anyone else feel like this year is flying by? 

We live on a busy street and a couple weeks ago I had gone to bed around 10:00 when I heard a car fly by our house. The speed limit is 35 but sometimes people go so fast. I laid in bed calculating their speed 'They have to be going at least 60' when I heard 'Bam!!" I thought, 'Oh no! Please don't let that be from the car!' There's a very sharp turn a block or two from us and the street heads up a big hill. Then I heard, "Ka-boom!"

I flew out of bed, grabbed a sweatshirt and headed outside. Chuck had been watching TV but heard the sound too and was right behind me. By that time we could hear the sirens. From the sidewalk in front of our house we could see tons of flashing lights up the street. The article said the driver 'was traveling at an excessive speed.'

We learned the driver didn't survive and now there is a memorial at the corner where the car left the road. I don't think I will ever forget the sounds of that car that night. I keep thinking about that persons last thoughts as they lost control of the car, and about their family members receiving the news. It just breaks my heart. 

On to something a little lighter -

I was out watering the other night and happened to notice this on one of our evergreen trees -

I've been watering these trees for 25 years and this heart has just appeared in about the last 6 months. I just smiled thinking about how God's creation sings it's praises to Him. Isaiah 55:12 "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace, the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." The Lord speaks to us through His word, through others, and through His creation. His love is like no other.

Beth had some lab work done recently. It showed she's slightly anemic so she's now taking iron a few times a week.

Before I got on here, I was going around closing the blinds and noticed a pink hue outside. Our house faces east so I headed to the backyard and sure enough, a gorgeous pink sky! The sunset was beautiful tonight.

And tomorrow... Diana and Peter fly in and we get to see these two!!

Not sure I'll get much sleep tonight! We saw them back in December but when they're this age it seems like forever. They'll be staying with us for a week so Sharaya and Ally will be over a lot, we bought a kids slide, kids patio chairs, lots of new toys, took some extra furniture to storage, our house looks very different than it did a couple weeks ago!  

There's going to be a lot going on at the end of next week too so I'm not sure when I'll be back on here. I'll try to log on and read posts when I can. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Art, Crowns, and Beth at Work

Beth went back to the dentist today to get the permanent crown put on her back tooth. I could tell she was a little nervous but I told her it would be much faster than the last appointment.

When we got into the room she immediately decided to go use the bathroom. I'm sure she was thinking of the last time when they stopped the procedure so she could go. 

She got settled in and they began.

They took the temporary crown off and cleaned the tooth up a little. She was still nervous though because she was holding on to that arm rest.

But, it only took a few minutes and we were out the door and on our way home! Everything went well.

Last Thursday I was able to get a few pictures of her at work. She empties the trash in our preschool classrooms, then takes it out to the dumpster. I caught her coming out of the elevator but she doesn't look too happy to see me.

I followed her outside and noticed the lids were down on the dumpster. I watched to see what she would do and she got right up there and tried a few times to throw it in! I was already half way there when she got frustrated. I was holding the lid open (just barely - those bins are big!) and we ended up laughing as she would throw the bag and only get a corner over the edge, then I'd use one hand to try and help get the rest of it up and over... we were quite the team! 

Another thing she just started doing is delivering printer paper to the third floor work room. She gets the paper from the second floor work room, takes it up the elevator and into the office wing. We're always running out of paper up there so the third floor staff is going to love her for doing this!

Beth has another appointment the end of next week, and then Diana and Peter are coming for a visit! We are so excited to see them!!

Oh, I know what I wanted to show you. Our middle daughter Sharaya loves to paint and draw, and she posted this the other day, titled 'Michael.' I just keep staring at it.

Well, I should go start dinner so I'm going to close this. I hope you all have a blessed day! 

How Was Yours?

 May 13, 2005. It was 26 years ago today that my mom died. She was born in Massachusetts and her family moved to San Diego when she was 13. She met my dad a few years later. He was a sailor in the Navy and she was smitten! 

My mom in snow-covered Springfield, Massachusetts 

Me and my mom

I was in 10th grade here

Sharaya, me, my mom

In the front: Diana and Beth

Me and my girls

You know, while looking for photos for this post I searched a long time but couldn't find a current photo of me and my girls! You can bet that when Diana and Peter are here next month, that's one thing I want to do!

The girls all got me great gifts for Mother's Day, and we went out for lunch. (Missing Diana and Peter's family of course.) But I had a very good day. 

How was your Mother's Day? Did you do anything special?