Wayne Update

Wayne just met with his Oncologist to go over the results of the 2 days worth of scans he has just undergone down in Houston.

1. Tumors are stable. Some have shrunk.
2. The cancer has not spread to any other part of his body.
3. He is officially on break for 3 months.
4. His CVC is coming out (will be able to swim, shower, and hold Claire without her trying to rip it from his chest).
5. He will be home tonight.
6. I am so happy that I am having a hard time articulating myself. My heart is squeezed so tight right now that I can hardly talk.


 I told Caeden that Daddy's cancer bugs are not growing and he is going to be feeling good for a long time, and he said, "Ooooh. That is wonderful. Do you think he will be able to play with me now...?"
I couldn't answer him, but I did cry.

Now She Can See.

My grandmother passed away last night at the age of 93. Ninety three years of living, of raising her family, and worshiping our Lord.

Last night I slept with her Bible on my bedside. It's soft, black leather cover a comfort of the promises within. I fell asleep thinking of her and all she has been through ... of how her body slowly wore out - her eye sight the first to go... and I knew this is how it is supposed to be. In Heaven, she is where she belongs.

She is home... and she can see us all once again.


*Edited to add: We are heading to Rapid City tomorrow morning and will there through sometime next week. The service will be Saturday afternoon with visitation Friday evening.

My Grandma Parks

My cousin Lori is an amazing writer. Her blog, Fingerprints, is on my sidebar. Today her entry is about our Grandma Parks (paternal side). Read it here.

She wrote something that brings me to tears each time I think of it:
"...93 years of living, and Grandma is growing weary."

We've been on the phone numerous times over the past couple of days, talking about the details of Grandma's life. I cannot learn enough about her and wish so much that I knew more. Or that I could be the one to provide details that have slipped through others' memories. But I am not that person. I am the one who spent summer days running through their fields, swimming in the ditches, eating warm bread. The one who never sat down and asked Grandma to tell me her stories ... until it was too late.

There are many stories and questions I had for her over the years of visiting her in assisted living. I'd ask her about when she was a girl. What made her fall in love with Grandpa (she raised her hand to her neck and gave a nervous laugh and said, "Honestly, Valerie.") - She was always private and I have always found that endearing and sweet because I am not (obviously).

I remember when Grandpa passed away, and we sat around her kitchen table at the farm and she told me so many things that I didn't know. That she had lost a son, that she loved Chinese culture, that she loved when we'd eat out without Grandpa so that she could try new things.

Today she sleeps in a nursing home in Rapid, with her blood sugar and oxygen levels swingly widely. We will be heading up there when Wayne returns from Houston and I pray that I am able to hold her hand and tell her how much I love her and how much she means to me before it is too late.

To tell her,  like Lori, I bake Schwann's bread because the smell takes me back to her kitchen. That each and every time I make chocolate chip cookies with Caeden, I think of how Grandma and I spent many afternoons doing the same thing. Tell her that I wish I had had her teach me to sew. That I wish I would have had the ear for the piano. That I wish I would have taken her out to eat more often. Tell her that a picture she took - of Grandpa and I (as a baby) - is framed in Claire's room. That I think of her each time I look at it.

Mostly, I just want to tell her I love her. My Grandma is growing weary.

35

This morning I woke up to breakfast in bed. Caeden carried in the tray - full of orange rolls and gingerbread pancakes - all by himself. And soon Wayne appeared with a hot cup of coffee and a huge smile. It was a fantastic way to start the day.

We were together all day today - hanging out in the house, running around town, and making plans for our family after Wayne returns from Houston (he left tonight). This afternoon my sister Lindsay and her boyfriend Jordan came over to hang out ... we laughed so hard that I cried. You know the kind of laughter that makes so you so grateful for such good company? They are that for me.

All day I had calls and electronic well wishes from friends and family. I felt loved and remembered. Some were even kind enough to "remember" I was only 29. Such dang good friends!

Then we headed down to the barn for pictures. It was cold. Caeden was not very happy. Wayne was thinking about getting to the airport. Claire was thrilled with her new vintage Christmas ornament. And I. I was just relieved we were all able to be the picture together!

I loved my day today. I love my family. I love my friends. If this is what 35 is like, I realize how silly I was to dread it. I'm the happiest woman out there tonight.


XO


Val

Fairy Doors & Bookcases

I was getting my daily fill of Ohdeedoh this morning, and came across the article about Fairy Doors. They are popping up all over Ann Arbor, MI, and people seek them out like a scavenger hunt. The idea of the Fairy Door is that you install one in your house to let your special Fairy in. Some fairies are travel fairies, leaving plane tickets, maps, special excursion details, etc. for your children. Another is a cleaning fairy that checks to see if the playroom/bedroom/whatever room is cleaned up (and leaves treats if it is)... the list goes on and on ... and I adore the premise.

So, I found a vendor on Etsy that makes them. I contacted her to see if she makes different styles and colors, and will let you know what I find out.

How sweet and magical...

Another find was this great idea for a bookcase (Ohdeedoh, too):  

Take an existing bookcase, and insert long pieces of wood in the front to create a forward-facing bookcase. The advantages are your children can see what book they are looking for and find it easily (especially if they don't read yet) without yanking each and every book off the shelf. LOVE this.

Meet Buck

Meet Buck. He's our old school basement contractor. Buck is: an iced tea drinker, an early riser, adverse to smiling, trustworthy, and a hard worker.

Buck gives me a hard time, but likes that I push back. Today I told him I was taking his picture to show all you out there who he was. He blushed ten shades of red when I called him a handsome fellow.

Buck was over today working on shelves and a built in desk and bookcase. I'll post the rest of the tour when he gets his horrible looking tools off my carpet and finishes all the little things ...

Anyway, that's Buck. Now on with regular programming:


First, my girlfriend Julianna and I were talking about something to wear under shirts that is long enough to tuck into jeans so that the low-rise ones aren't so dang revealing when you walk, bend over, sit, stand ... whatever. You know my pain. I know you do. Anyway, she recommends the camis' from Undertease.  She swears by them and so I wanted to pass the tip along (she has impeccable taste).

Second, some unique Christmas gift ideas worth mentioning:

Tickle Monster Book. We give this to kids Caeden's age. Hugely popular and so cute. Love this book and highly recommend it to the little ones in your life.

Whisky Stones. Practical and useful. I have someone in mind for these.

Memory Quilt. I love this idea. I really, really wish I could sew. I am thinking of making a quilt (or having one made ... Mom Koop? Oh Mom? I have something to talk to you about... :) for the kids out of their favorite clothing items/blankets. A keepsake for sure.

Silicon Ice Cube Tray. Saw this idea in Cookie Magazine. Use it to make baby food, freeze pesto, freeze leftover chicken stock (am I the only one who has leftover stock sitting in the fridge?), making new crayons out of old, broken pieces (melt old crayon bits for 5 to 10 minutes at 400 degrees). These are the perfect gift for just about everyone. Oh yeah, they make great ice cubes, too.

One of a Kind Cake Stands.   Found these in Country Living Magazine. I adore the yellow one.

Have a good weekend!!

Basement Tour Part 2

Disclaimers:

1. I have to apologize for picture quality. Still using my iPhone (still lazy).
2. Sunlight is not the best this morning, so it's dim.
3. I did not have time to pretend I live spotless and pick everything up. What you see is what you get.

Here's where I work. Coffee cup, Nordstrom catalog, pictures ... are always staples on my desk. Picked up the office chair from a model home clearance sale for $35 (this chair is usually $550). Desk from Pottery Barn ... about 10 years old. Lamp is Anthropologie. Computer is Mac Pro with gigantic monitor (love, love, love!).

TV viewing area. Squishy sofa that barely made it down the stairwell (had to remove rails). Over-sized ottoman both from Curious Sofa (the best place on earth for furniture), old side table is too tall, too old and too white, but I am using what I have, so there you go. Leather chair is from the same model home sale. Picked it up for a song.

The great thing about a basement is rules pertaining to TV size don't really matter anymore. Big, bigger, biggest are all welcome. I watched the entire 1st season of True Blood the other night on it and loved the gaudy size. I imagine movie nights all winter long down here. Super cozy.

Here's my work in progress wall. I have a tough time replacing pictures in frames, I tend to just get more frames for more pictures ... so, I imagine in another month or so, this wall will be filled to the gills with more. And then I will need to find another wall ...

The clocks do not work, but each are set to a special time. The time my children were born, the time I got married, and the last one is my "just in case" clock for a special occasion yet to come.

Here's the playroom. Train table, normal table, storage galore all from Pottery Barn Kids. Love their style, but not sure they are built with quality in mind. The wood is soft and scratches, dents, and chips easily.

My OCD tendencies want me to delete this picture and go rearrange all the baskets and toys so they look perfect. Good thing my lazy side is dominant.

Here's the kitchen where we make smoothies, cakes, and everything else under the sun.

More tour tomorrow ...

In other news, Wayne is hanging in there. His white blood count is zero. However, he is shooting wheat grass every day and his red count is at a record high! We are hopeful he will not be needing a blood transfusion Friday if they hold steady.

Basement Tour Part 1

(Back story: We just had our basement finished for much needed space for company to stay, kids to play, and my office.)

Let me first say, there was a time when I rebelled against a phone that could also take a picture. I mean, come on. How lazy does a person have to be to use their phone to take mediocre pictures? Ahem. Thank you, dear inventor of camera phones, for lazy people like me who don't want to have to mess with a heavy camera, switch out the lens, and obsess over the perfect shot.

Enjoy my new bathroom (iPhone pictures and all).

Vintage was the theme. It's my favorite. I see now that I should have moved the trash can before taking the picture, but hey, I was in a hurry.

The bathroom is a much needed addition to the house. Mom and Dad don't have to go all the way upstairs anymore to use one when they stay with us (and the kids love to take baths in it now that we spend 90% of our time in the basement these days). We made sure it had a separate area for the stool (sorry for the TMI). I have a thing with seeing the toliet when I am bathing. I feel like I can't really ever get clean. Weird, I know.

Here's the huge ol' shelf we had built inside the tub area to collect toys, body scrubs, toys, shampoo, and toys.

I love the curved shower curtain for it's look and functionality. It gives so much more room to shower. And check out the shower head. Best shower in the house, including our walk-in upstairs.

We had beadboard - installed floor to ceiling - and I love the way it looks. The mirror tilts, too. And look, it's me! Hello KU t-shirt. Wearing it proud!

We had dimmer switches installed and love it. Perfect for movie nights! (That cute little tushie is Caeden 4 days old.)

Here's the arch as you get to the bathroom/bedroom area. Little details like that make it not feel like a basement - which was the goal, after all...

More tomorrow!

Sources Part 1: Entertaining

I love a good list. And, I have begun compiling them for the holidays. Lists for decorating, arriving company, gift giving, food prep ...

Enjoy my OCD tendencies this time of year. There will be more. And, if you have something to add, please share!


Entertaining:


Best One-Stop Sites:
Dean and Deluca (for my KC/NYC friends - you can shop in person, you lucky people, you)
deananddeluca.com
Best for chocolate cakes, foie graw, cheese and cracker/fruit trays.


Murray's Cheese (again, you're so lucky if you live in NYC)
murrayscheese.com
250+ different cheeses, plus you can shop by wine pairing


Zingermans (Michigan)
zingermans.com
I love their catalogs! They have amazing bread, cookies, gift baskets galore.


Best Drink Sites
ackerwines.com
Been in business 185 years - no kidding. They have everything. Ev-er-y-thing.


chefswarehouse.com
Mineral Water - amazing prices.


lepicerie.com
Nuts and Fruit gourmet site and YUMMY drink mixes


Florists
lolivier.com
Modern arrangements


organicbouquet.com
Organic. Does roses really well.


Speciality Foods


fauchon.com
I heard their sweets are amazing.


froghollow.com
Northern California farm for organic produce (dried peaches and plums are famous this time of year)


heritagefoodusa.com
Organic meat, seafood, poultry

Welcome Baskets for Guests
Target.com (Loofahs, Burts Bees Sugar Scrub, slippers, and maybe chocolate under the pillow)
Spoonsisters.com (fun gifts)





*sources: Martha Stewart (picture), Cookie Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, and my own experience.

Happy Halloween!

Caeden and I carved his pumpkin last night. My first attempt since ... I was a girl, I suppose. I probably should have read up on how to do it, as I just armed myself with a sharp knife and basic understanding of facial anatomy. No matter, Caeden loved it. ;)

Have a happy, safe, and spooky Halloween! We're planning on hitting as many houses as Caeden can muster the energy for. And, if you happen to visit our house, please do not be offended that the lights are out. Wayne will be sleeping ...

Image: My friend Kellie's talented daughter, Darian, carved 2009 Pumpkin.

Her message holds true for so many!

This is It

TODAY is Wayne's last day of chemo. Last day of this protocol. Last day. From here on out, for 2 or 3 month chunks at a time, Wayne is on break. Break. Which he really, really deserves.

It has been a long road for him. For us, too. But our family unit has never been stronger as we are all standing beside Wayne, wishing we could fight this for him, but only being able to offer strength, love, and tenacity. However, in all truth, it is Wayne that has shown us steadfast strength. Courage.

I think about his initial diagnosis, when they found the mets in his lungs, and as badly as we wanted to believe it was some sort of crazy repository problem, we knew better. When they had him in the MRI machine for 45 minutes - laying on his hip - we knew they had found something. When he called me from the hospital, with a carefully masked "Hi Honey! Could you come to the hospital as soon as you can?" question, I knew. I had never broken so many traffic laws in one stretch as I did on my way to him. I could not get there fast enough, and swore I would never leave him again.

I will forever hold onto the conversations that ensued over the next weeks. Crying, praying, stunned conversations, trying to figure out what was next. Where do we go? What do we do?

Cancer.

The open heart surgery to remove a tumor that had found it's way into his heart. Open heart surgery. Right before he went down to the surgery floor, he had the kids crawling all over his lap, talking to them and telling them everything was going to to OK. And it was. He recovered (he was unbelievable. He took the pain and never complained - instead he was grateful. Grateful they found that tumor that could have (and would have) broken off and caused a stroke. One hurdle down.

I think about his first round of chemo and how sick he was. We couldn't get his nausea under control, he was hallucinating, and so so sick. I called his Dad, telling him I didn't think I could do this alone. We were told chemo was bad, and having no idea what "bad" was - we thought hallucinations, loss of gross motor movement, and extreme sickness was part of the package. It wasn't.

From then on out, there were hospitalizations for neurotoxicity, countless blood draws, doctors visits ... our worlds have been turned upside down since March 8th. I will never view the world the same. I know he won't, either.

EIGHT rounds of chemo. Lasting 7 hours a time. (He is the first one there and the last to leave and the only one there all 5 days a week. Think about that.)

Flushing his CVC line every night.

Worrying about blood counts, infections,  fevers ...

DONE for at least a few months.

When I think of someone brave. When I think of someone steadfast - I think of Wayne. He has explained that he doesn't feel brave, he just feels like he had no choice but to endure, so he does. But for all of you out there who do not see him daily, there is no other word to describe him. He takes each thing in stride and with such grace.

Grateful. Grateful is a word I use today to describe our entire family. We are so grateful to all of you out there who have helped us through. Your calls, cards, emails, words of encouragement ... they are what got us through. Thank you for taking care of us when we couldn't. Thank you for being so good to Dave and Donna. To Nikki & John. To all of us. We love you all.

He needs to get through the next week (counts go down to zero, so we need to keep him healthy as possible). And then his break starts. His well-earned and much deserved break.

So if you could, please comment or send him an email (he isn't much for talking on the phone right now) and tell him congrats. I know he would love to hear from you.

XO

Val

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

(Dave with the snowblower ... taken with my iPhone, wearing no shoes. What I do for the blog ...)

We live in Colorado. We expect snow. We aren't complaining. Just wanting to show you what we're got so far ... we are guessing 2 feet so far, with more to come today. Read more here.

The snow blower was one of the first purchases Wayne made when we moved here 3 years ago. The first year it was never used. And I might have complained about the waste of space and money it was. And then we got a HUGE storm that stopped the city for 3 days. I started to warm up to the blower.

And today, I am so glad we have it! Dave plowed through the snow like it was nothing, and off to chemo they went. Everything is closed today ... except for the hospital. Bless them and their staff. 

The kids and I have not gotten out of our jammies in 2 days (except to bathe, of course) and we've been cooking up a storm in the kitchen - soups, a roast, carnitas, muffins ... Yes, I went to the store to stock up (but forgot to go to the liquor store, which, lets be honest, being locked in the house with 2 kids ... I should have stopped there first).

In all honesty, we're warm, cozy, and feeling blessed that Wayne's chemo treatment is able to continue through this crazy, crazy storm.

Half Way There

Wayne is on Day 3 of chemo - and still feeling good. His skin has a bit of a pink tint to it due to the Doxirubicin. He is eating well and is still up and around.

We are getting hit by a big storm today and the hospital is trying to close the clinic at 3:30. Wayne usually has chemo until 4:30, so my guess is they are going to push the chemo faster?? I worry about tomorrow. We're supposed to be getting up to 18" of snow in some areas and I wonder if getting to the hospital tomorrow is possible...

Both the kids are asleep (colds) and the house is quiet. Off to do some photo session editing and drink some (more) coffee.

I'll leave you with information for the top image ... it's an Etsy find ... a handmade address stamp ... I love her writing! Found here.

And this clever idea ... using silicone ice cube trays to make crayons ... or personalized ice (duh) ... or brownie bites ...

Found on the this blog: The Haystack Needle

Worry.

I worry about Caeden. I worry he pays too much attention to getting more than giving/sharing. I worry he doesn't eat enough vegetables. I worry he isn't paying enough attention to learning at home (writing, sounds of letters ... totally boring to him). I worry about normal Mom stuff. Like you Moms out there know. We worry, right?

This morning I worried as we pulled up to the hospital and Wayne got out of the truck to say his good bye's to us. Caeden started to cry and said, "Daddy I worry about you!"

And my heart broke. And Wayne's did, too - it was written all over his face.

The way to the hospital we talked about normal things, like what he needed to do for work, who he was going to call (old friends/colleges/relatives) to catch up and say hello to. We talked about his Dad flying in this afternoon, about just normal stuff.

We didn't talk about the things that keep us up at night. The things we worry about.

But Caeden. Little Caeden Koop has worries all his own that we can't explain away. And his worries must be so scary to him. I know he was thinking about dropping his Dad off at the hospital and what usually comes along with that - a high strung Mom, nights of being tucked in by just me and not his Dad, a Dad that doesn't feel so hot ...

Sometimes I can really make myself sick with the things I worry about. But, I am always able to figure it out, calm down, and move on. It's so hard to think that I can't do that for Caeden. For as many times as we explain what Wayne's "generator" (Caeden's word for Wayne's chemo pump that he wears 24/7) does, or how the chemo is killing the cancer bugs, Caeden still holds onto worry all his own.

And that is the way it is, isn't it? We all live in our own bubble of worry.

I hate it. I hate it. I hate it.

Chemo and Recipes (usually don't go together ...)

Wayne is officially hooked up and having his last round of chemo. Friday will be it for this protocol and then his break begins. His Oncologist said on Friday that she'd like to follow up with him in 2 to 3 months; his Oncologist in Houston said 2. So, he is free of hospitals, medication, and Doctor's appointments until at least January (besides a trip to Houston in November ... sigh.).

Anyway. He's alone today, but my Mom and sister are dropping by this afternoon to bring him lunch and keep him company for a bit. Then tomorrow his Dad flies in for the rest of the week (just in time for a big snow storm tomorrow night).

Speaking of snow, I went to the grocery store and stocked up for the week. Thought I would share a few recipes that I am making - just in case something looks good to you.

White Chicken Chili ( my friend Melissa's recipe) *a family favorite*

1 Pound skinless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces
1 medium onion chopped
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1T vegetable oil
3 cans 15 1/2 oz each of great northern beans, rinsed
1 can 14 1/2 oz chicken broth
2 cans 4 oz each of chopped green chilies
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whipping cream

In a large saucepan, saute chicken, onion, garlic in oil until chicken
is no longer pink. Add beans, broth, chilies, and seasoning. Bring
to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove
from heat. Add cream and sour cream.

***I usually cook the chicken, onion, and garlic then throw everything
but the cream and sour cream in the crock pot. I also add 2 or 3
potatoes cut up.

Spicy Pork for Tacos (Amy's Recipe) *do yourself a favor and make this*

This pork is awesome...but it really has a kick to it! We put it on small tortillas, squeeze lime on it, and topped it with guac, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, cheese, etc.


All Purpose Spicy Shredded Pork

In a 3 ½ or 4 quart slow cooker, combine 1 ½ pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 2 inch chunks;one 8 oz can tomato sauce; ½ c water; 2 small chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (they are in cans); 1 tsp cumin seeds; 4 cloves garlic, minced; and ½ tsp salt.

Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8-10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours. Remove meat; cool until easy to handle.

Strain and reserve cooking liquid. Shred meat; stir in enough strained liquid to moisten.

Asian Flank Steak (serve with Rice and Green Beans)

Baked Oatmeal

(I think I posted this last winter? It is delicious, healthy and so yummy! Serve with yogurt and fruit) ...

½ C Vegetable Oil (I use 1/4 c. applesauce/ 1/4 c. oil)
¾ C Sugar (I use 1/2 cup)
2 Large Eggs
3 C quick cooking oats (not instant)
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. cinnamon
1 C Milk
1 Apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
1 C Raisins (optional)
1 C Shredded Coconut
1 C dried Cranberries (I leave this out and add blueberries or pears)

Mix oil, sugar, and eggs and beat until yellow and glossy. Add remaining ingredients except for fruit. Beat until well mixed. Stir in fruit. Pour into greased 8x8 pan” baking dish. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Serve warm in a bowl.

Reheats well ....

Weekend Update

Our basement is just about finished. We spent the weekend moving furniture downstairs and decorating. If I do not emerge from the basement for a week, that is OK with me. It is SO CUTE and looks nothing like a basement. As soon as the sun starts shining (it is snowing right now) I will take and post pictures. So for now, we are all still in our p.j.'s hanging out down here and LOVING our new space.

Wayne starts chemo tomorrow. His Dad is coming down Tuesday ... and it's the final round.

If you are interested in my latest photo session, my sister and Jordan, take a peek here...

More soon!

I wish I had a Picture

Met my dear, beautiful friend for coffee this morning. She comes wearing a chic white scarf and smells of goodness. And then there are her children. Bold brown eyes, both of them. Impossible eye lashes and manners that would make any Mama proud. They swoop in, welcoming Caeden in their world with talk of barbies, cars, coloring Books, and playful bantering.

T. Lynn & I talk about life. About love. Kids (like how hers can read thanks to her and her alone). Then we chase kids, resettle them, and we talk some more.

It's snowing outside but we're warm in the coffee shop.

Two hours (or close to it) whiz by in a flash. On our way home, Caeden tries to nail down a play date. When will Malik and Omari (except he calls her Mar - familiar with her enough to give her a nickname) come over? Can they come tomorrow? The next day? When??

We arrive home and Caeden shows his Dad the cars that Malik gave him (which I still cannot get over...what 8 year old does that? He is something special, I will tell you that much). Now his favorites.

Although I had a tough time juggling everything today (why do things have a way of piling up all at once?), my soul was lifted - the gift of friendship does wonders for a girl. Do you ever have that feeling, like "Man, I really need this today..."

T. Thank you for everything. I wish I had a picture of you in all your fierceness to post.
Come over and teach Claire to dance, ok?

XO

Val

Itty Bitty Sneak Peek | Parker, CO Photographer

Three super sweet kids. Beautiful, beautiful souls and personalities. One is the nurturer. One is totally bored the entire time, and one is larger than life. All three were so fun to hang out with it.
Mom - you outdid yourself with outfits. Your attention to details made the session spectacular. And yes, we are going out for a margarita SOON!

Enjoy this not-so-serious sneak peek. I will be posting a more thorough peek in the coming days ... I cannot wait to show you how amazingly well you all photograph. Made my job so easy!

XO

Val

Weekend Update

We went to Breckenridge Sunday ...mountain excursions are something we don't do enough of. The drive is 2.5 hours flat - definitely a pleasant Sunday drive.


We walked up and down main street. It's full of ski shops (duh), boutiques, and restaurants. I came across this photography studio and had to take a picture for laughs. The name Altitude Photography cracks me up at how lame it is ... and then makes me laugh because { In the Moment } isn't any better.


Stopped into a particularity cute store and got the kids some souviners. A Bla Bla doll for Claire, and a guitar t-shirt for Caeden (who, ironically, hates music). *(And it's not the one shown here.)


However, I love music, and so I will dress him in Rock n Roll fashion until he either: learns to read and figures out who AC/DC is and what guitars stand for, or starts buying his own clothes.


Here's the man of the hour. We've got some chemo news. His bone marrow is still not generating the way it should and his blood counts are still too low for chemo. So, he was sent home again this morning. We're both feeling ambivient about it. On the one hand, it is nice to have him feeling good and functioning well. On the other, an 8th round would be nice - for piece of mind that we exhausted this type of chemo, for the insurance it provides, and for closure for Wayne. He sees his Oncologist on Friday and he'll have a game plan then...

Special Delivery

Yesterday was an exciting day around here. The kids got a package from Aunt Nikki & Uncle John in the mail. The outside was decorated with stickers, and inside ... well inside was like a birthday and Christmas all wrapped into one. Cards, toys, candy (Caeden's favorite), bubble bath (so cute!), funky glasses (so my favorite thing ever!), and a dancing scarecrow atop a pumpkin (Claire's favorite) ... and great tissue paper. Nik is awesome with details.

The picture of Caeden makes me laugh each time I look at it. How could you NOT laugh?

Have a great weekend!