The kids have enjoyed getting out all of our holiday-themed books. Anita says it's because she enjoys learning about the tradition of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Isaac says it's simply because it gets him "into the mood." Nathan just wants to know where the Christmas tree and presents are! I reminded him that we don't put up our tree (another family tradition) until after my birthday and Alyssa's birthday in mid-December. Isn't this such a lovely time of year?
Nathan participated in the Special Olympics this week. I love watching the kiddos have so much fun with their peers at these events. This time it was bowling. I'm including a few pictures for your enjoyment. The first is Nathan, well, bowling. He was a bit put off that he wasn't allowed to bowl the "traditional" way by using the finger holes and "throwing" the ball down the lane. For some reason they had most of the kids using the ball ramps. The second picture is one with Nathan and his best buddy at school, Willie. The last picture is Nathan with his Mommy. I look pretty haggard, but his teacher was sweet enough to take a picture of the two of us together. Nathan bowled a great game and is ready for the next set of Special Olympic events in the Spring!
Fish tank update time!!!! As I have mentioned in a previous blog, Isaac received a coupon for a "pet fish" for his birthday back in June. Because of our crazy schedule, my medical junk and a lack of funding to buy all of the necessary items to keep a silly little goldfish happy, we put off the purchase until a dear friend gifted us with the necessary funding a couple of months ago. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. W! Anyway, we now have the tank set up with fake plants, a pretty blue gravel and our favorite, a few large and somewhat unique rocks that we collected while on our family vacation to the Lake of the Ozarks this summer. Once the filter was on, the tank adequately decorated and the water was treated, the whole gang and I took a field trip to our local aquarium, Beldt's, to purchase our fish. Isaac chose wisely, using the knowledge he gained while studying what kind of fish would be best for our aquarium. He chose a total of six fish, all Platties of two different types. He knew they would have live birth (as opposed to being egg-layers) and that they would find his 10 gallon aquarium to have adequate living space. He also purchased a "maid" for his platties. This maid (a plecostamus, aka pleco, or sucker fish) is now our only surviving fish after one short week! Our six platties quickly developed a case of "ick" ... but only after one of them giving birth to a couple of babies. The babies were swiftly taken by the "ick" as well ... so we now have a lovely sucker fish, some pretty rocks and the gentle swooshing sound of the water moving through the filter. Isaac is very sad, but said he wanted to "try again after the pain wears off." He's my sweetheart! I think this time we'll have a bottle of anti-ick medicine on stand-by.
Talking about being gifted the money for our fish tank, I MUST tell you about another gift we received a couple of weeks ago. Apparently there is a website where you are able to anonymously give another individual a cash gift. I was completely surprised to receive a check in the mail for 100 dollars from this organization representing somebody who knows our family (or knows of our family). I am not a good "receiver" of gifts. I find being the "giver" so much easier. But I humbly accepted the check. Once the check is cashed I was able to leave a "thank you" message for whomever it was that gave us the money. I had the hardest time trying to think of what to say. "Thank you" seems so inadequate. But, if the person/s who was so kind to think of my family and to so generously gift us the money without needing the personalized "thank you" reads this blog, I want to say that your gift meant so much to me. I wish I knew who it was, but please accept my most humble gratitude and know that your gift came on a day that was a hard one. Your generosity is appreciated. THANK YOU! By the way, to learn more about the organization you can go to the website http://www.givinganonymously.org/ . I hope that someday I will be able to "pay it forward" and be able to do the same for another person in need. This world may be tough, but I am constantly being reminded that it is still filled with so much goodness and love.
Braggin time for Momma ... Yesterday I attended Allie's annual IEP at the preschool. Now, most of you know Allie and you know that she can drive any sane person crazy! However, she is also incredibly sweet, curious and very bright! Her teachers and therapists all adore her, even when she's being "naughty." I was so glad to hear that they all see so much potential in her. They agree that she's matured immensely since last year and that although she still isn't speaking, she's got a LOT going on inside that little head of hers! IEP's can often be terribly stressful for parents and teachers alike, but I walked out of our meeting beaming! Allie, in all of her glory, has each one of us wrapped around her little finger!
OK, for the required medical update junk ... I have completed my final round for the clinical study trial. I lost a lot of weight (not in a good way) during the trial, so the doc has me on a special diet to help me put some healthy weight back on. I was a size 18/20 less than a year ago. I now find size 8 pants to be baggy on me. Although I feel great, I am quite weak and I know that I have to really concentrate on gaining at least 10-15 pounds by the new year. I need to be in good shape to begin my new round of chemo in December. For those of you who know of and are interested in my numbers, I don't know what they are right now. I should get my CA-125 numbers on December 7th. I'm praying that they went down during the study, but am pleased that at the least I am "stable". Coming up in a month will be my next surgery to replace my stent that goes from my kidney to my bladder. Although it's a minor procedure, I'm a bit nervous because of my recent stroke/seizure and the problems they had maintaining my blood pressure during the last two stent-replacements. I'll let you know when it's scheduled here on the blog as soon as I know. Your prayers and good thoughts are always appreciated.
Fun time for Mom update ... Next week I am going to the St. Louis Fox Theater with a friend and her sister-in-law to experience something very special! We're going to see the Broadway production of "Little House on the Prairie"!!!! I am terribly excited about seeing the original "Laura" (Melissa Gilbert) take on the role of "Ma" in this musical production! It has had very great reviews, so I expect to be entertained! Before the show we'll hit the same "hole in the wall" steakhouse that we went to before seeing the Mary Poppins performance at the Fox earlier this year.
I am being summoned by the troops. We are getting ready to do some painting out on the back porch. The kids and I had a field trip last week to Michael's, a local art supply store. We bought a plethora of artist paints and a stretched canvas for each one of us. I'm going to let them paint whatever makes them happy, then we'll hang their artwork in our entryway for all to see when they step inside. I can't wait to see what they come up with!
So, I must bid you all adieu until later ...
Have a Happy Gobble Gobble Day!
Until tomorrow,
Kathy
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