Catching Up With Myself ...

OK, so I'm back. Well, I really wasn't even gone. I suppose I was just avoiding what I knew I'd eventually have to blog about. My goodness, it's almost been an entire month!

Well, first things first ...

My cancer is back. In the past month I have been through surgery, a battery of tests, multiple doctors appointments, and have received two new diagnosis to add to my list of medical junk. In a nutshell, I've had significant pain for a few months. My doctors have put me on a plethora of meds, poked and prodded, and finally have come to the conclusion (after a final bone scan and ct scan) that my cancer has returned. In the process they discovered that I was suffering from hydronephrosis (enlarged kidney) as well as a dangerously high blood pressure. Blah blah blah blah blah. So, this upcoming Tuesday I am scheduled to start 18 weeks (6 rounds, each 3 weeks long) of an aggressive cocktail of chemotherapy. I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said I wasn't scared, but at this point I'm more annoyed than anything else! I have plans! My 20th class reunion is this Spring. The kids and I have planned a long family vacation on the shores of Lake Michigan in late June. I have a Bob Harper Family Reunion to attend afterwards. And worst of all, I have laundry to do! I did not plan on doing these things puking and bald. Oh well, life goes on.

Enough of my pity party.

In the last month the kids ended their basketball season. I really enjoyed being a basketball mom. Watching my children grow as players was so much fun! I'm looking forward to their next venture into sports ... or if I'm lucky, maybe I'll find a pianist in my little bunch of rugrats! Nothing would make this momma's heart happier than to have a child who loves music as much as I do!

Brandon has had a pretty exciting few weeks since I last blogged as well! He has begun his serial casting to help stretch the muscles in his right leg. Every two weeks we return to his orthopedic surgeon to get a new cast. This last cast was "Grover Blue." Although he spent the first week crawling around on the floor, he's now up and running around with the rest of the kids. He calls the cast his "Castle" (who knows why?!?!?!) and is excited about getting his new one on Monday morning. He's trying to decide between "Clifford Red" and orange "because Uncle Eric likes orange and Nathan likes orange."

Brandon also had his first day of preschool this week! He came home after his first day so happy! He can't stop talking about the kids in class (he's in Allie's classroom, so he's met them all before.) He's informed me that he likes his teacher, Mrs. Pilch, because "she reads books and gives hugs." He's also told me that "I don't like going to Miss Rehka's room. She makes my legs do too much work!" Rehka is his physical therapist, and one of the warmest and most kind people I've ever met. The same can be said for his speech therapist, Miss Mahla. Brandon thinks that she "talks too much" which I find somewhat amusing seeing that is her job! Anyway, my last little one has left the nest. I suppose I can no longer call them my babies. They are all school kids now!

This weekend we've dedicated to "family time." This will be the last weekend in many months when I'm feeling well and I want to make some fun memories with my angels. This afternoon we played outside in the almost 80 degree weather and had a family picnic. I introduced them to the joy of eating baby back ribs. They couldn't believe that they were allowed to be messy with their food!

Tomorrow is the Upward League Basketball Award Ceremony. Afterwards we're all going to Build-a-Bear (www.buildabear.com) to celebrate Nathan's 11th birthday! Each of the kids received 10 dollars from Grandma Becker and Zedo (my sister's inlaws and two of the best people on earth) for Valentine's Day. They've all decided that they want to buy a special bear to remember the day. If you've never experienced Build-a-Bear, you must! We'll take our bears to Fritz's Frozen Custard for cones, then back home for a family movie night. I'm sure we'll have many pictures and they'll be posted here to share with you.

So that's what's been going on in our lives since last month. My apologies for my absence, but I've been doing all I can ... just catching up with myself.

Until Tomorrow,
Kathy