I did visit the oncologist in April and once again was given a clean bill of health.  I like him so much and it is nice to visit with him.  Gary and I both enjoy our time with him.  I think probably when he knows that I am healthy that we talk about things that he would never talk about if I were still having issues with cancer.  The new Simmons Cancer Center is wonderful.  What a nice building.

I still get the infusion of Zometa every six months to help prevent osteoporosis.  I was a little disappointed that I had not grown any new bone in my last bone density test, but the oncologist said as long as I was on the 5 year drug, Femara, (less than 2 years to go) that I wouldn’t grow new bone.  He was just pleased that I was maintaining.  Femara has just gone to a generic, so I will be saving money on drugs.  I am so fortunate that I haven’t had to have many that I can’t ever complain.  Just glad that I am healthy and can do what I can do.

I am back running about 4 miles as often as the weather allows.  When I last saw my GP, he informed me that my cholesterol was too high.  He suggested medicine, but I said give me 6 months and let me see what I can do.  I have tried to eat less red meat and meat overall, exercise more, increase fruits and vegetables as well as oatmeal and flaxseed meal.  Nothing really crazy, just trying to watch things a little more carefully.  The increasing cholesterol is a side effect of the Femara, but due to my mom’s high cholesterol and the fact she had open heart surgery, he watches me a little more closely.  I go this week to have the cholesterol tested again, so I am anxious to see what it is now.  Hopefully there will be some improvement.

Summer has been exceedingly busy.  Spring started with a trip to Springfield for 2 nights with my college friends.  What fun we had.  We didn’t stop talking the whole time we were together.  We visited the Lincoln Museum, but were too busy visiting to do much else.  From there it was on to Decatur for two days (Gary went with me for that) to a nutrition conference.  After a quick trip home, I went to St. Louis to meet my mom and sister to fly to Ft. Myers to drive to Sanibel Island for our annual Mother’s Day trip.  My sister flew home after 5 days and my mom and I stayed for a total of 11.  Gary decided he didn’t want to join us (I think he regretted that decision) and a friend that planned to fly in couldn’t due to the flooding in the area so Mom and I were there the last 6 days without anyone and just enjoyed each others company.  The flooding didn’t reach my friend’s house, but was very stressful whenever she couldn’t leave her house except by boat.  She is using her ticket in November and we are going to fly into Charleston, SC for a week.

After returning from Sanibel, a week later we flew to Disney with Greg and his family for a week.  Friends from Tampa area joined us and we stayed in a 5 bedroom condo in Kissimmee.  We had great fun and loved spending time with the grandchildren.  This was their first trip to Disney and we got to all 4 of the Disney parks and had a good experience.

The rest of the summer has been spent on the run.  We were gone every weekend until mid-July with weddings, reunions, and ball tournaments.  Then there were the ball games during the week as each of the kids were on teams that were playing mid-week.  Now it is time for Jr. High softball for Mackenzie.  Since the season is so short, she plays 4 games most weeks.  She is looking forward to it.  Hope they have a good team this year.  They placed 3rd at State last fall.  Gabe won’t play fall ball this year.  He’s just waiting for basketball, his favorite to start.

What can I say, but life is good!

Stacey, Gabe, Mackenzie and Greg in front of the castle

I went to the regular doctor last week and he informed me that my cholesterol was higher than he wanted. I am blessed with exceedingly high HDL, so he didn’t fuss as much as he would have. We made a bargain that I would use the next six months to see how far I can it down and if it doesn’t drop, I will then go on meds. Sure don’t want to do that.

So….I am being diligent on the 30 minutes of exercise every day (plus weights a couple of days or an exercise ball workout). The diet is being watched very carefully and we are back to eating meat as part of dish and not the main dish. I had kind of gotten away from that as it is just so simple to throw a roast in or whatever and fix the vegetables to go with it.

The doctor suggested that I train for the River to River race. I told him I didn’t have a team and he told me I should try to find one and suggested a message board called “Lonely Girl”. I told him I wasn’t sure I wanted to put my name out on a board by that name. He runs it and knows that it would get me going easier. So far, so good as I have been doing my 30 minutes every day no matter what. Hopefully as the weather gets a little nicer (although I can’t complain about the past 3 days of 60-70 degree weather), I can increase my distance. In the wind yesterday, it was tough to get my 3 miles in.

The bottomline with the cholesterol is that it is probably due to the medication that I take for the breast cancer. Elevated cholesterol is a common side effect. It has been gradually raising ever since I went on it, but probably some changes I have made didn’t help the situation. The GP says he doesn’t believe it is the meds. I told him that was his opinion, but I thought I would be blaming the medication. Of course, his concern is my mom’s history of heart and stroke issues. But if I ever have those troubles, may I still be as spunky as she is at 89 should I live that long.

I talked to Mom earlier today and she is getting ready to leave for Texas with my oldest nephew and his family. They are going to see his older daughter that should arrive home from Korea today. She was at home at Thanksgiving for a funeral of an aunt (on the other side), but really wanted my mom to come down with her parents. She and my mom are very close. Glad that Mom is up to going. Then there is the Florida Mother’s Day trip. She is practically counting the days until we leave. I have tickets down, but not back yet and she could care less when I get those. It is only those down that are important.

This morning out of desperation, I have decided to exercise indoors. That is certainly never my number one choice. I drove out to the cemetery, where I generally run, and found that the roads looked too slick and slushy for me. I hadn’t taken a helmet along and figured I’d fall and hit my head and it just didn’t appeal to me! I drove through the park and it was similar, so I came home to run the stairs. This was an adventure that I had never tried. I must describe our stairs to the basement as you might not understand what that means. We have 13 stairs….8 up from the basement, a landing and then 5 into the kitchen. I set the timer for 30 minutes and off I went. At some point I decided to add 5 pound weights in each hand on every other trip. It wasn’t my usual relaxed run, but at least I did accomplish 30 minutes of aerobic exercise and didn’t hit my head as I made each trip to the basement. Gary and I believe that a dwarf built this house as we have several low doorways in the basement. Even I have to duck my head or suffer the consequences. I can’t type here what adjectives Gary puts with dwarf whenever he hits his head.

Life is good for me. I don’t return to the doctor until the end of April and feel that I will hear good reports. I go for the annual mammogram on Jan. 31 and then there will be a bone density before I return to the doctor in Springfield.  Next week I will also have the usual blood workup of cholesterol, etc. for my GP.  Everyone I see says that retirement must be agreeing with me as I look so good (now I know that is a polite response, but nice to hear!) and that I seem more relaxed.  How could I not be, when I am not on a schedule most days?

My heart does go out to so many of my friends and acquaintances that are facing cancer.  I hear of so many and I am so sorry that they have to experience this. I know that not everyone is as fortunate as I was to not have chemo and many do not have the huge support system that I had.   I am so blessed in many ways and it is always good to remember that, but I am sorry that the reminder comes many times in hearing about misfortune of someone else.

We spend many nights at ballgames these days. Mackenzie just finished basketball and is moving onto volleyball. Gabe’s basketball season runs until March. We love watching them progress and try to be there to cheer them on as often as possible. Of course, the good part is that as grandparents, we can miss a game and not feel too bad.  Another perk of retirement….we can make those 5 and 5:30 games without taking time off.

We left the mall after visiting Sears and Bonworth.  Mom did find an outfit at Bonworth that she liked and she purchased it….Yes, it is her birthday, but she does the buying as we have generally already gotten her gifts.   Went to Kohl’s and she got the 2 youngest grandchildren (both boys one year apart) hoodies for Christmas, so those gifts are taken care of and she will get gift cards for everyone else.  Now I just have to figure out where we need the gift cards from for each person as that is generally my task to help her get those.  Don’t mind at all, but will do some checking earlier this year as I didn’t realize until we got to Kroger’s that we were going to have to figure out where to get them.  That was interesting.

We went back to Penny and Larry’s for Mom to open her gifts and eat cake.  I had made the cake this year.  We try to make her favorite which is cherry nut angel food.  It turned out pretty well and tasted good.  I had made Mom a little jar of sand and shells from Sanibel Island.  We had seen one and like it, so decided I could make her one very similar.  I had picked up shells specifically to do this.  I love miniatures anyway, but this was a great way to have an excuse to collect a few extra.  Made Penny and I one to match too.

Gary had spent the day at his uncle and aunts and a friend’s house.  When we started home I called him and told him as I knew it would take him about the same amount of time to drive from Shelbyville.  He got back in time for cake and ice cream and Mom loves spending a little time with him.

When we left Owaneco, we went to Springfield and stayed until my appointment on Friday.  We decided it would be easier than returning home and then going back to Springfield.  Much less wear and tear on us and our car (which now has 186,000 miles).  We visited the Lincoln Museum and really enjoyed it.  Gary had seen it with the kids while I was in the hospital as I had said I wanted them to remember something other than me lying in bed.   They have opened a new section recently, so that was interesting and he enjoyed it all again.

We spent the rest of our time visiting antique stores, resale shops, book stores and shopping.   That took up most of the time and we managed to stay busy.  Could have visited more of the Lincoln sites, but we will save those for another time.  Knowing we get to Springfield fairly often means we can catch some others at another time.  I would like to take the grandchildren to more of the Lincoln sites.  Had hoped to do that this summer, but it didn’t work out.

Penny, Mom and Lana

Mom with her Sanibel Shells

I had an 11 o’clock appointment for the Zometa infusion.  They weren’t busy at all, so that went fairly quickly.  We were out of there by 12:15.  The actual infusion only takes about 20 minutes, but they have to do blood work to start with and that takes awhile to get the results from the lab.  When I got there, they decided that I needed to have my arm warmed up as my hands were cold.  They got me a warm blanket and wrapped my arm in it.  I laughed and told them that that had been the best part of the hospital stay….warm blankets.  They finally got ready to put the IV in and I warned them that the vein that they love just above my wrist is a roller among other things.  Well, the nurse said it looked so good that she was going to try it.  She got it on the first stick, but then couldn’t get blood to fill the tube.  She worked quite some time, but never could get it, so finally gave up and stuck me in the bend of the arm.  They always have success there.  What I didn’t know is that they remove the needle once they have a tiny tube in place (much like they would do with a port) and then I was free to bend my arm while I was waiting for the results.  Once they started the IV they told me if I bent my elbow I would crimp the tube and that it would cause the machine to beep.  There is no pain with this in any way at least after they get the IV in place, so it isn’t a terrible experience.  Since the last bone density test showed that I had increased bone, I am willing to deal with it and I haven’t experienced side effects that I know of.  I will have another bone density in April, just before I go to see the doctor again.  This will be a big appointment as I will have had my mammogram and the bone density, so he will be reviewing all kinds of things.

Once we finished with that, we decided to go eat as we had about 45 minutes before I had to return to see the doctor….at that point I didn’t know I wasn’t seeing the doctor.  Since we had been in Springfield since Tuesday night, I hadn’t gotten the phone message that said I would be seeing Kathy.  Just as well as I probably would have called and told them that I didn’t think that was who I was to see.  Went to the hospital cafeteria as it is the closest place to eat.  The Cancer Institute opened in July and it is right next door to Memorial Hospital.  Beautiful facility….attractive outside and in.  The nurses were all thrilled as they have a huge chemo room now (used to have 2 different rooms) and they all have a computer to use instead of sharing with every other nurse in the room.  It had been so crowded that when family was along they generally couldn’t stay with the patient as there was no room for an extra chair and every chemo chair was generally taken.  They have a nice manmade stream outside the front door and a very nice sitting area.  Not a fun place to have to visit, but they have worked hard to make it as pleasant as possible.  Much nicer than the previous facility.

When I go in for the appointment with the doctor, it is pretty routine.  The nurse does weight (they can’t believe how consistent I am), temperature (again, as they take it when I do the Zometa….whether it is before or after the appointment), blood pressure (again!), lots of questions about appetite, sleep, napping (that was a new question and I told them only when I sat down at night sometimes, but not a regular napper), reaction to medication, any new medications that I might be taking and a review of current medications.   Similar as a visit to the regular family doctor.  The interesting part was that the nurse needed to leave for a minute and the nurse that came to get her asked if she could do something while she was gone.  She told me that she knew me and that we were from the same area.  Turns out that she (Margie Funk….no idea what her married name is) and I were in 4-H together and she had seen my chart, so she made it a point to come in and talk.  Was fun to catch up with her as I hadn’t seen her since I graduated from high school.  That has been one of the interesting parts of being in Springfield, I have run across people who I have known or know their family, etc.

Basically when I saw Kathy and her student, it was just more questions and a physical similar to the family doctor and examination of the surgical area and remaining breast.  The whole process takes about 20 minutes probably.  I was surprised whenever I was told that the doctor would see me again in six months.  Actually glad as I like to see him personally.  It is “normal” to start going once a year after the 2 year mark.  I think the only reason that he is still seeing me is that I still have to have the Zometa every six months, so he might as well see me too.  He may change that the next time I see him, but we will see.

The student comment on the bra that I had on.  She said it was the nicest one she had ever seen and that she couldn’t even tell which side was not “real”.  We then got into a discussion of where I had gotten it.  I did have to put in a plug for Confidentially Yours in Champaign.  They are the best that I have seen.  I have been to a couple of places and I know that they are much better than most and have an excellent selection.  The first one that I went to I couldn’t recommend to anyone and the small places have to order.

That was the basic information on the visit.  Always a good visit when I walk away and every thing is good.  Greg would really like for them to do a PET scan so that he would feel better.  He isn’t satisfied with them just assessing the situation.  He wants them to give me a “clean” bill of health.  I know that PET scans are not all that they are cracked up to be as they so often show false positives, but I know he is just concerned that if something else goes wrong that they find it very early.  Nice that he wants to have his mom around a long time.  I try to assure him that everything is fine and I think he believes it, but would like them to hand me guarantee….and of course, even with a PET scan there isn’t a guarantee, but such is life.  I know that different doctors treat things differently as I have a friend that has had breast cancer that has a PET scan once a year.

Thanks to everyone for their concern.  I will try to post a little more often on here to let everyone know what is happening in our life.

As usual the doctor was late by at least 45 minutes. I always take a book as I know it will be a long wait and he always tells me he is so glad that I come armed with a book. Our visit was good and involved a blood draw as well as the Zometa infusion. The blood draw went well and the doctor says that my blood is “perfect as usual”. After the physical and general conversation, he told me that I wouldn’t need to see him for six months. I am glad that I don’t have to go back until April as it means all is well, but then there is the other side that I like hearing him say “All is well” every three months. Anyone that has been through this knows what I am talking about….

The Zometa infusion was a little tougher. The nurse told me that when I come back the next time to tell the nurse that does the blood draw to put in an IV so that I only get stuck once. Sounds good to me! They drew the blood from the crook of my arm as they generally do and then put the infusion in the vein on the top of my arm. This vein is a roller and manages to get away from them every time. After extended digging, she finally got the infusion started. Then it is just a matter of sitting quietly for 20 minutes, more reading time. Of course, as I look around the chemo room where the infusion is given, I am just thankful that I haven’t had to ever sit in the chair on a regular basis to have “poison” dripped into my body! I do count my blessings when I leave there.

I am doing well and really have very little to complain about in anyway. I did laugh and tell the doctor that I am amazed that my non-breast area continues to change. I now have a large “hole” in that area. It really is just a deep indentation that he says is where the fat was stripped away between ribs and chest bone. Since there is fat left above it (which is nice as I can wear lower cut things and it not be apparent that I am missing something), it is quite noticeable when I lie down. Of course, no one but Gary and I are aware of this (until I wrote this) and neither one of us cares. Just another interesting development. The doctor laughs and says that there will be changes forever, so I might as well get used to it.

Before the next visit I will have to have a mammogram (that is a standing January appointment in my mind) and then a bone density test. I now have to have one of those every year to determine if the Zometa treatment is working. That is really just lying still, so no problem there either.  At least I have fewer appointments these days.

I think it was 1:30 when I finally left his office after my 11:00 appointment.  I made a couple of quick stops in Springfield and went on to Fairview Heights to check into my hotel and make some quick stops there for workshop items.  When I work with nutrition I have a rule that if I am more than an hour from home and I finish up after 8:30 that I stay over. It is much easier to get up early the next morning and drive than it is late at night. I have always been a morning person and that hasn’t changed.  I am fortunate that the Director at NET is comfortable with that.

I got a call from Greg at 3:45 am this morning to ask if I would stay with Gabe and Mackenzie while he took Stacey to the ER. They are pretty sure that the kidney stone that she knows she has in one of her kidneys had decided to move.  Of course, the ER doctor couldn’t find that and determined that her colon is inflamed, etc. She and Greg aren’t convinced, but I stayed with the kids until 9 am. They were both out of school with the flu. The two of them and Stacey had been to the doctor yesterday to be checked for the flu. They actually tested negative, but they are being treated for the it.   The kids are out of school until they are 24 hours without a temperature.  Gabe wasn’t running a temperature this morning and Mackenzie had just gotten up, so I don’t know if she was or not. Glad this was Greg’s day off (his Sunday), so he is there to take care of them. This rainy day means that he didn’t have many other plans anyway.

Everything seems to be fine as far he is concerned. I did discuss my finger issues with him and he tells me that my finger locking is trigger finger and that I will need to have surgery to correct it. He says it is not serious, but needs to be taken care of at some point. I told him it was the most aggravating whenever we make the bed in the morning as it generally decides to lock at that point. He said he had a great solution…”Don’t make the bed!” I told him that wasn’t acceptable, especially when I am married to “Norton Neat”!

I have been pretty busy with NET (nutrition) workshops recently. I go to Greenup tomorrow (2 hours northeast of here). It means that I am taking lots of days off at work. That is not all bad, I have to say. I am averaging 3 workshops a month. Hope those numbers continue once I am retired. Nice to have a little extra income. I know I can’t count on it, but it will help build up the “project account”.

We are off to Gabe’s ballgame shortly. He started playing with a fall baseball team. Today is his first game and of course, Greg is working and Stacey needs to take Mackenzie to the first practice of the new team that she is on for softball. This means that Gabe misses his basketball practice, which he loves. This all keeps them busy.

Both of the kids were here yesterday for a work day. I had made a deal with them when we went school shopping that if they got the shoes they wanted, which were more expensive than I thought was necessary, that they would spend a day working in the yard with me. I did get more done with their help, but I must say that they wouldn’t make a list of top 10 workers. We dug out weeds (still lots more to be done) and planted bulbs. I figure it will be nice for them to see the fruits of their labors in the spring.

August 1 was the anniversary of completing radiation. I must say that it passed with little more than a comment from me that it was 1 year completion anniversary. My tan is still visible, but has faded to a similar color as my fading Sanibel tan. I had one lady tell me that hers was still there after many, many years. I do know that things are different now and I think that eventually mine will fade completely, but it really doesn’t matter one way or the other….As we say in our office on a regular basis…”It is what it is!”

It is hard for me to find time to type, but things should slow down now for awhile. Wrapping up summer camps is always good. The 3 weeks of the big camp is always draining. I took a week off, but was very busy doing work here at the house, etc. I went to Sycamore for the annual nutrition training, which means six hours in the car each way. Always enjoy the time with the other consultants. Most have worked for NET for several years, so we enjoy being together and catching up on everyone’s life. Then when I returned, I dove into the bathroom re-do. I had pulled down the wallpaper before I left and since this room refuses to be painted (I have tried everything and just have given up) I continue to wallpaper it. I wallpapered one day, plumber pulled the stool and lavatory the next (Gary had taken everything out for me to wallpaper behind the medicine chest, etc.)  and our favorite contractor came in,  laid laminate on the floor, put up beadboard and trim, the plumber returned the next day and replaced everything.  I have to say it was a good change. I like it and it means I will never have to fight wallpapering behind the stool again. Yeah!

My last day off was spent taking the kids school shopping. This is an annual event and they love it. Gary says that they must not have included this shopping trip when they say that school shopping dollars were down! We have a good time and they get many new things so that they are well dressed for school. Mackenzie is in the 6th grade and Gabe in the 3rd. They both like clothes and Gabe is actually a bit better shopper than Mackenzie. She is now old enough she knows the rules, so it is a easier to get her to try on things. She loves to buy, just doesn’t want to try on before she buys. My rule is, we don’t buy if you don’t try! It works very well.

As far as my health, all really is going well I do believe. I do tire more easily than I used to, it could be called aging, but I don’t want to discuss that. When I hear friends voice the same comments I am thinking and they haven’t had breast cancer or any other illness, I have to think it is “normal”. I certainly am more conscious of my body and how I feel than ever before, so that may be why I realize I tire more easily. It might also have to do with my later bedtime these days. I rarely get more than 8 hours sleep (I know some of you are envious that I get that much!) and my body really does like 9 hours, but I can generally stay up until almost 10 pm.

We have been very fortunate to have time with lots of friends recently. One of my friends from the age of 11, Pennie Crinion, stopped by when she was in the area for a wedding. Fun to see her daughter that I haven’t seen since she was quite young. Now a civil engineer. Where does the time go!

Then this weekend we got to see my college crew, Newman Club. It is very hard to explain to some people, but these people truly are family at this point. We have been friends for over 40 years and have ridden the waves of life together. We have been there for the good times and held each other in the not so good times. The best part is when we come together at least once a year and talk and laugh (…..and we do laugh lots!) , it is just like we haven’t been apart. What special people. So nice that our spouses get along well too. Of course, several of those have been around forever in our friendships.

We also have connected with several friends as we follow Mackenzie’s softball team. When we are in the Mattoon area we get in touch with friends from that area and Sullivan. We love having the opportunity to visit and catch up.  At the last two tournaments I saw quite a number of the students I had when I taught I Sullivan.  We get to visit with Scot England of WAND TV and his family occasionally.  As they travel down Interstate 57 we make connections when we can.  I love to connect with those young people that were such a huge part of my life.  I see one every year at the Christ in Youth camp too, which has been nice.  We look forward to our yearly visit.

Mackenzie and Gabe both played lots of ball this summer. We spent many days at various parks, etc. cheering them on. Gabe’s team won the Pinto World Championship tournament in Mt. Vernon. They are turning this team into a travel team (send your donations to our ball fund!) too. This presented quite a challenge on the weekend of Mackenzie’s last tournament in Paducah and with his team in Indiana. We went to Paducah and Stacey went to Indiana as I had to work on Sunday, so couldn’t have all weekend at either tournament. Greg drove to Paducah when he got off work each day. I think this was probably only the first of many challenges we have, if they are both traveling. We are just blessed to live so close and be able to travel with the teams and be a part of all of this. Especially important when Greg works weekends. Mackenzie’s team finished their 10 and under career with a 40-1 record and move up to 12 and under where the real ball starts. She made the team when they had tryouts a couple of weeks ago. They won’t play until mid October as most of the girls are playing on their junior high teams, but Mackenzie is still considered intermediate school so couldn’t play on the school team. Probably isn’t all bad that she has a 3 week break from practice and the team. They are good girls and from several different schools, so they aren’t together on a daily basis.

Overall I can say life is good and I am blessed with a wonderful family and great friends. I really can’t ask for much more than that in life. Gary and I enjoy just having time to walk in the backyard every evening and enjoy the pond. We would love it if the flower beds were weedless and we could figure out how to change things from the situation the May 8 storm created. The shade garden isn’t totally shaded now, so we must transplant things this fall. Some things are still under a tree. The glads in the front are thrilled that they have more sunshine and have bloomed all summer. Interesting things that we have learned about the areas that now have sun that hadn’t seen much sun in 100 years or so, but as I said, life is good.

I went back to the oncologist on July 7.  Another great visit.  I do really like this guy.  He is so easy to talk to and doesn’t seem to ever think my concerns are crazy.  All is well.  He had the results of my bone scan taken in April and was very pleased with it.  I have gained 12% bone in the back area.  I asked about my finger that seems to catch on a regular basis.  He said it might be a side effect of the medicine that I am on or it could be osteoarthritis.  He said to take an Aleve every morning.  He is a great fan of Aleve.  I will try that…..probably.  I am not great at taking something like that daily.  Time will tell.  So far I can live with it.  As he said, it improves with use throughout the day, which is a plus.  I have another appointment in October.  I keep thinking he will tell me to come back every 6 months, not 3, but he had promised me he would treat me just like I was in the study I was “kicked” out of.  I will always have to go back every 6 months to get the infusion to prevent the osteoporosis and I really want to prevent that.  As I look at my mom, I wish the opportunity for her to have received treatment would have been available.  I think she shrinks every time I see her.  I hate to say how short she is these days.

I spent the night with my mom on Tuesday night after the doctor’s visit.  I have a meeting today, Thursday, in Springfield and didn’t want to make the trip back to southern Illinois and return again today.  It also was a time to visit with her.  I want to spend as much time as I can with her and I know that her heart condition is not improving.

As I said in the title for this, I have spent a good deal of the summer counting my blessings.  As I told Gary, it is nice that if we had to have this storm that it was this summer as I am able to be a assistance.  Last summer I would not have been able to help him at all other than to cheer him on.  He still thinks that I shouldn’t work so hard, but why not, if I can do it.  I do still seem to run down a little quicker than I used to, but it could possibly be that culprit called age…….Let’s not go there!

I am also in the middle of summer at DCE, which means crazy time and lots of hours.  I am finished with camps except the 3 weeks of the large church camp that will be in the last 2 weeks of July and the first week of August.  Even the youngest ones of the crew are tired at the end of summer after all of these camps.

We have been doing lots of ballgames this summer.  Mackenzie has had a fabulous softball summer.  She plays only travel league.  She was named MVP for a game and to the All Tournament team at the State Championship tournament a few weeks ago.  Their team won it which was also very special.  Four girls on their team were named to the All Tournament team.  Gabe is still going strong with baseball as he is on the All Star team and is playing in tournaments.  He had to be pulled out for a couple of weeks after a trip back to St. Louis to review the Chiara Malformation.  At first they thought he had scoliosis which is a side effect of the Chiara Malformation, but they decided that wasn’t something that he had.  The Chiara Malformation was also rated as a 1, which is the least serious.  They will continue to monitor him, but at least he is back in sports (no contact sports, which is fine by me….golf is the only fall sport as far as I am concerned!).

We spent the 4th with Gary’s family.  His uncle had planned a celebration south of Shelbyville and we went there.  Gary’s youngest sister, Maribeth, and her husband were there as well as several cousins, etc.  Good to visit with them.

The bottomline here is…….Life is GOOD!

The Forsythia in Bloom, April 2009

Similar picture after the storm, May, 2009

As I look at these pictures, it really doesn’t due justice to the damage that the Inland Hurricane left us with.  Realize that the reason you can’t see the garage in the second picture is that a tree is down and the limbs are big enough that they block the view.   One of the trees in this picture will have to come out as it has only two branches left and one only didn’t come down due to the fact it is cabled to the trunk and it took the pressure off it enough that it didn’t break further down.  We are currently waiting on our insurance to let us know what they will pay before we decide what will happen at the moment.  We must get the huge tree that was across the drive and the gum tree in the back taken away.  We are working on the gum tree, but we know it will reach the point that a professional will have to take care of the remains.  We fortunately are in a “burning permitted” area, so we burn daily.  The pile didn’t go out for about 5 days and then it rained enough that it put it out.  We restart it between rains.

I know that I told some of you that I would get this posted at least a week ago, but life has taken on more of a crazy tilt than it had before.  Gary’s mother died on May 21 and due to family difficulties, Gary and Greg (and Gary’s youngest sister, Maribeth) chose not to go to the funeral.  We planted a red dogwood tree in the front yard (replaces a small tree that a tree landed across and we had to cut it down) and did a small dedication service with our immediate family during the time the funeral would have occurred.  Too sad when families reach this point.  To say the least it has added lots of stress to our lives, but we are glad that she no longer has to suffer with dialysis and she had been diagnosed recently with acute leukemia.

We continue to work most days on clean up.  We call it reclaiming areas of the yard.  We have the back in fairly good shape, except for the gum tree.  It will be interesting to see if the shade garden that was under it (and a little is literally under it now) will survive without that big tree.  There are other trees that offer some shade, but about half of the garden will be receiving more sun than ever before.  The bad part is that the yard is ready to be mowed where we have it clean so Gary will have to take time out to do that, if it dries up enough.  I imagine that we will reach a point soon that we would be glad to see some of the rain that we are receiving daily now.

We went to my mom’s on Monday and celebrated my birthday with her.  Gary was very impressed that she was able to “pop” up from the chair instead of try, try again and webble wobble out of it.  I do believe those long beach walks are why she is so much stronger right now.  She said that she thought she should have just stayed down there as the weather has been so unpleasant since we returned.  Of course, I know it hasn’t been great down there either, but they have needed the rain much more than we have.

What a year this has been.  So very many things to be thankful for and many challenges to overcome.  My friends have been steady and true and that has been one of the biggest blessings outside of the loving care of my family.

Well, I’m off to have lunch at Mackenzie’s classroom and see their play.  Then tomorrow it is Gabe’s play.  What fun to have grandchildren to keep our lives bright!