Sunday, February 27, 2005

Sunday, February 27, 2005 5:27 PM CST

Wow - this week had flown by - I can't believe so much time has gone by since I updated.

Let's see - when we last left off Luke and I were going off on a date night. We had a very nice time and the kids were very excited for Brenna to come babysit them! It is so nice that they think it is fun and don't mind us going. They will be having lots of babysitting in the next few weeks for my choir practices while Luke is out of town. He has a knack of travelling during the busiest times of choir. Not that he has any control over it. Speaking of choir - I just cannot express how much I love it. It brings me such joy - and those who know me know that I am not a "joyful" person - so it is a wonderful thing!

This past week the kids started their new round of swimming lessons. Julia likes the teacher better and has told me that she is going to go underwater with the new teacher. I might try to take some pictures tomorrow. February had gone so fast that I don't think I have any pictures to put on the February page.

Hmm - I am trying to remember what else we were up to..... We had another playgroup at the place that has big inflatable jumping toys. They loved that again. Friday they had some friends over for most of the day and it was nice enough to play outside some.

Yesterday we took the kids to the movie theater for the first time. Yes - can you believe we had not ever done that? We went to the dollar theater and saw "The Polar Express". It was really fun and Julia lasted through the whole thing. I have to admit I did tear up a little as we sat there as a family. It was just so precious to me to be having this normal family exprerience and watch the kids enjoying this "first".

I have been procrastinating making Nathan a clinic appointment. I am just enjoying the medical-free life so much. I WILL call this week and make one for this week or next. They will probably take a urine sample and do the test on the urine that detects Neuroblastoma. They may take some blood, but mostly just a check up. I actually need to find out how tall Nathan is so I can figure out which rides he can go on at Disney World.

I have heard some sad news lately in teh childhood cancer world. I heard of a boy 4 years NED who just relapsed with Neuroblastoma and a mom on a childhood cancer online board lost her son suddenly, after 6 years in remission - do to a very late complication of his surgery. It is a reminder that anything can happen. I just wasn't aware of these thing happening in this world and now that I am - I see they happen far too often. It is such a helpless feeling.

I recently had a conversation with the teachers of the deaf in Nathan's school district. They met with him and said he is doing great. I have since become concerned as we try to teach him phonics in an everyday way. We try to tell him what letter or sound a word starts with and it is so very difficult for him to hear the subtle differences. Even when he is wearing his hearing aides we will repeat and finalyl tell him to look at us and then - whe he reads our lips he finally gets it. He doesn't currently have an IEP, but I think he needs one so he gets one on one help next year on his phonics and reading. I will be contacting the teachers of the deaf again to discuss it with them.

Well - that is about all I can think of that has been running through my head lately. Since we are just doing normal things lately - there doesn't seem to be too much to tell you all. I always find it interesting to check in on our caringbridge friends - even when it is hearing about their everyday stuff so I hope the same holds true for all of you.

Friday, February 18, 200

Friday, February 18, 2005 8:09 AM CST

Hello,

Well - this week has flown by.

Monday was Valentine's Day and Julia and I went to Nathan's party at preschool. It mostly consisted of eating, but we all had a good time. The kids were having "circle time" when we arrived and Julia sat right down in the cirlce and joined in. She can't wait until she gets to go. She is signed up for 2 days a week next year and will likely have the same teacher as Nathan.

I had a choir rehearsal late Monday afternoon/evening and they had childcare so Nate and Jules came with me and ate their dinner and played with their friends Pete and Katie.

Oh yeah - also on Monday Nathan had his ear rechecked and all was fine. They also had a swimming lesson and they both passed to the next level. In fact, in this last lesson they both made great strides. Nathan starting voluntarily dunking his head under water and both he and Julia floated on their backs unassisted. They start the next level on Monday.

The rest of the week was not so busy. In fact, yesterday we didn't have anything going on and I tried to get the out of the house, but they wanted to laze around in their pajamas. They play so much together now that sometimes they prefer to stay home. Not that I am complaining. They are the perfect age to play pretend all day long. Yesterday afternoon they stayed outside for over an hour playing some invovled game.

Today we are going to a friend's house and then going to the library for a preschool-sponsored event. I am actually not sure what we will be doing, but it sounded like a good activity to attend.

Luke and I got a babysitter for Saturday night and will be going out. This is actually the first time we have done this. This is not to say we haven't been out to dinner alone in 5 years, but it has always been when we had family visiting to watch the kids. Luke finally went to the doctor and is on multiple medications and is hoping to feel better soon. Of course, he went on a business trip and has been working ever since.

Lately, Nathan has been delighting in doing physical things. Last night he was doing flips off the side of a chair. I can't help myself but to delight in it rather than tell him to stop. I just love watching him be physical. The other day, when leaving preschool he and Julia ran ahead and he actually told me to hurry up. This has never happened before. It is always me telling him to hurry up. He has never walked ahead of me before. It was wonderful. That is definately one gift that Nathan's cancer has given..the ability to relish in the small things that happen every day.

Have a great weekend!

Monday, February 14, 2005

Monday, February 14, 2005 7:38 AM CST

Happy Valentines Day!

We are all slowly recovering from the sickies. Luke is still the sickest though he is up and around. In fact, he is off on a business trip today after having worked all day yesterday on the presentation he has to give.

Nathan will go the the doctor today to get his ear rechecked to make sure the infection is gone. Before that, I think they have a swimming lesson to make up for a snow day. We will go over and find out for sure and sign up for the next round.

Nathan has a Valentine's day party at preschool and Julia and I join him for it later this afternoon. My friend Tonya and I traded favors....I took the bunches of lefterover valentine cookies she had from her son's preschool party and I will bring them to Nathan's - she says I did her a favor by taking them out of her house! Nathan and Julia have both picked out valentines to give. I am not sure who Julia will give them to, but I knew I had better get her some since I had to get Nathan some.

Everything looks fine for our friend, Joshua - they are doing an additional test to make sure - but his family is feeling much more reassured now.

My choir busy season is starting up again. We have a concert on Palm Sunday. We are starting extra rehearsals on Monday's starting today. This time, there is child care for it so that will be much easier. We will be singing John Rutter's "Mass of the Children". It is really beautiful and I am enjoying learning it. We will also be getting ready for Easter services and two other extra preformances in te Lenten season.

I am sitting between Nathan and Julia as I write this. They get up in the morning and sit on the couch and wathc a little TV. When I come down they are often sitting right next to each other - sharing a blanket. It is so sweet. As I was writing this - Nathan snuggled up to me and said' "Mommy - I love you very much". He is just so sweet and loving. Julia is too - but just not quite as much! I am so lucky to have them.

Nathan with "Brandy Bear" from preschool that he took care of all weekend.

Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Wednesday, February 9, 2005 8:14 PM CST

Well - we have a house of sickies. The kids and I just have bad colds. Poor Luke has been in bed for two days with the flu. The kids and I have been going about our regular activities - just while sniffling.

Nate and Jules had swimming lessons today. They both are progressing nicely and we plan to sign them up for the next session.

Preschool is continuing to go well for Nathan. He just has so much fun every day. On Monday, however, he was sad because it was his turn to bring snack and one of the girls didn't like the applesauce. He really took pride in bringing snack and was disappointed that he couldn't please everyone. One of the other moms told me her daughter told her she had a crush on someone and could her mom guess who? Her mom said no and she said she would give her a hint - he had things in his ears! She said that Nathan is so fun to play with and so nice. Isn't that sweet!

Nathan told me that his legs hurt him last night because he had been walking too much. Well - there is nothing a Neuroblastoma parent wants to hear less than that! I hope he had just done something active yesterday.

I have finally updated our family web page. There is a link at the bottom of the page.

One of our NB friends, Joshua, could use some prayers as he has had a scan that is a bit questionable. He was diagnosed at the same time and Nathan and they did antibodies together. So please send some extra prayers his way that all is fine.

Thanks for checking in with us!

Sunday, February 6, 2005

Sunday, February 6, 2005 11:33 AM CST

Hello everyone -

We are in the middle of a nice relaxing weekend. In fact, today is perfect football weather since it is cold and snowy. We lit a fire and are settling in. I should also mention it is perfect basketball weather too - since the Illini are on this afternoon as well.

We had a pretty good week this past week. Tuesday, the kids didn't go to daycare as usual because she and her family were sick. Wednesday there were swimming lessons and I am pleased to announce that Nathan got up the nerve to jump to his teacher without holding his hands. He was very proud of himself.

Thursday we went to Chuck E Cheese and they always have a lot of fun there. At the end of the morning, Nathan complained about his ear hurting and then on teh way to preschhol he was in tears about it and so we went home and he took a nap. Luke took him to the doctor in the late afternoon and she said he does have an ear infection. He is on antibiotics and has not complained of any pain since Thursday afternoon and so it has been a non-issue.

The kids went to daycare on Friday and I got to file the taxes and do some errands.

We were in contact with the Make a Wish people and it looks like we will be going to Disney World in April. We haven't told the kids yet, but I am sure they will be so excited. Nathan just loves amusement parks and I think this is a great wish for him.

I got to go out last night with 11 other women for a "girl's night out". We went to a restaurant and had a great time.

This week has nothing of note going on. Well - actually I forgot - Julia has her 3 year old checkup. Nathan will go to daycare and Julia and I will spend the morning together. I am looking forward to that. I so rarely spend any time alone with her and I have spent so much time alone with Nathan. She has gotten so grown-up lately. I can't belive my baby is 3 now!

So - we have all been living very normal happy lives lately and I am so thankful for that!