Happy Thanksgiving

It was a very happy Thanksgiving.

Business or Pleasure?

Got our dinosaur of a digital camera working again in time to capture the kids in their latest endeavor. I told them they could finish playing after they brought in some firewood.

Nathan said, "We're not playing, we're building a FORT!" They worked with so much zest and ambition that it got me thinking, "What if adults did their work the way children do in their play?"

thankful

It's the night before Thanksgiving and we have much to thank God for. Like you, we're thankful for life and love, family and friends, a home and a job. Mostly, for a God who is a "very present help in time of trouble", a living Savior who is compassionate and merciful. A few people have told us recently that they pray for Nathan and us every day. Thank you!

We're also thankful that Nathan is alive and well, and that his tumor had made a cyst so that we would know it was there. Otherwise it could have kept growing until it did critical damage. Children's Hospital and the staff are something else we thank God for. You would, too, if you were there.

I'm also glad for dirty dishes, Nathan's shoes in the middle of the floor, and the laundry I need to put away (yes, I should be doing that now :) and that Aaron gets a few days off.

Nathan had a full chemo treatment today. He is just not having one of his better days, but hopefully he'll perk up tomorrow.

This trial has made us more thankful people, and for that we're thankful.

A Little Relief

Nathan did fine last week, and this week was a short appointment with just an injection of one of the chemo drugs, and no i.v. drip. And next week will be the same. Then after that the schedule will be 4 weeks of the regular treatment, then, 2 weeks off for the remainder of the time. His first two weeks off will be during Christmas and New Years. What great timing! Nathan's energy is good and so is his appetite without that other drug that causes all the nausea. I'll be making lots of pumpkin pies for him (his fav.). His head must be feeling pretty good because he did a headstand this week.

Yesterday after the treatment Nathan and I went shopping for Aaron's 40th birthday, which is this Saturday. I'm so thankful for these special times with him. Tonight Melissa said, "Daddy, we bought you chocolate for your birthday!" Now we know we have to be more careful what we say around her. What a stinker!

He's Looking On The Bright Side

It's now becoming part of life to drive to Children's Hospital in the morning together. The new thing we did today was go to the very nice library they have there. We sat on the floor and read a great book called Barkis about a boy and his puppy.(One of the top 10 best books for a 5 year old boy.) Later as we were sitting in the oncology clinic painting a picture Nathan said it's actually good that "this happened" (his tumor). His reasons? We get to spend time together reading and painting; we get to go out to eat together; and he doesn't have to take a nap. We have a lot to learn from children, don't we?

Kids and Politics

Just because I think it's cute......

Nathan thinks Obama rhymes with Alabama and says it like he's slugging someone. "o- BAM- a." Melissa calls him "OhMama".

We were out walking the other day and 2 year old Melissa saw a yard sign and pointed and said, "John McCain!" (it was a John McCain sign, too) She's been hearing the girls point out McCain signs lately.

Natalie: "Don't you wish we lived back then when we could curtsy, and when there was no Obama?"

Dania: "So why DO we want a woman to be the vice president anyway?"

2nd Chemo Day

Our big, brave boy Nathan faced today without tears or complaints. They lowered the dose because of the side effects he had last week, so hopefully he will have a better week.

We took the I.V. pole he named "Rattles" down to the cafeteria. Then back in the oncology clinic Nathan had fun painting a picture. We sat around an art table with two other moms and girls and a "play therapist." The patients and their parents have sweet attitudes even though what they're going through is difficult.

So far, the speech therapist, occupational therapist, and the neuro-psychologist who have evaluated Nathan have all found the same areas of weakness in his brain functioning, most likely related to the tumor. Hopefully these areas will get stronger once the tumor shrinks.