Day Nine

Day nine of radiation is done. 

Thought we could beat the rain...

But we were wrong!!! Two of them LOVED getting caught in the rain.  One did not!! One guess which one wasn't digging it!! 

Just like Jeremiah

 

Knowing his hair will fall out with chemo - kelly requested that after his second head surgery (shunt) that his head be shaved. The child services we able to do that for her while he was sedated. So to match - Ben came over and had me shave his head. Proud members of the bald club. 

Before .... 

And after his buzz! 

#keepfightingbuddy 

 

Gtube and Central Line

Miah's G-Tube and central line went in today. Kelly just text me this pictures! It's Saturday which means NO RADIATION today. It's going to be a good day!! 

Cancer

On June 27th we learned that Jeremiah had a tumor in the 4th ventricle of the brain. He was rushed in for emergency brain surgery. From following MRIs we learned that he does in fact have cancer which has spread down his spine. Medulloblastoma - http://reference.medscape.com/article/987886-overview.html

As of today, he has had seven radiation treatments. Cancer is perhaps the scariest thing I have ever encountered. I long for a day when the people I love most aren't crying on a daily basis. I have stood by kelly and witnessed things that make me thankful for God's provisions for us. And being being totally real.... Also cry out in anger to be over this horrible disease and the things this poor babies body is having to go through. Please continue to join us in praying for healing! God is bigger than cancer - and so is our faith!! 

 

Getting Caught Up!

I can not believe it has been so long since I was on my blog. Looking back through the pictures and stories I now remember why I love to blog! I can not believe how big my babies have gotten!! I know I will miss things but do want to do a small catch up. We are doing *wonderful*. I will graduate with my masters in December.... I am pretty sure this will fall on my top 10 list of best days ever. I am still teaching Life Skills at Colwich and adore my students! I will be honest that managing adults has never been my dream because quite simply I am no good at it! =) However, each year I feel as though I get my feet under me a little better in that area.

Curt is in 2nd grade at St. Marks and will be tested this school year for the Gifted Program. He wants to be a paleontologist and a "bucking bull rider" when he gets older.

Cadie is in girl scouts and loves everything barbie. She is also in piano! She is in Kindergarten at St. Marks.

Callie is a doll. She has an opinion and a temperament like no ones business BUT can also be the most loving little lady I have ever met. I get a lot of "mommy I love you so much" after getting home from work. Gluten-Free life has become simple and simply part of what we do!!

Brett and I will celebrate our 11th Wedding Anniversary next week. I love him to the moon and back and could not imagine life without him!!

We had a huge heartbreak the first of March. On March 1st my father-in-law passed away very unexpectedly. Watching my husband deal with this as a son and a father has been the saddest thing I have ever had to do. I keep hoping that our new normal will set in soon.... but we aren't there yet.

Homework and Gluten 😔

Two more semesters is all I have of my masters..... but days like today I question if I can actually do it. On top of two masters classes I am competing my intervener training through Utah State University. I did not realize the work load which accompanied this or I would have waited until my masters was complete. I hate feeling overwhelmed and simply need a break. I will have a para out most of the week coming up - to add to the work/stress load. 

I was afraid yesterday that Callie got gluten at the football game... And today I am sure. Most of the evening and today she has simply cried (some screaming) and wanted her tummy rubbed. Some days living gfree is easier than others. 

Brett could tell this evening I was spent (after hours doing action research) and bathed the girls and is now gone grocery shopping for the week. I sure do love that man - I will rest my soul and pray for time management guidance and try again tomorrow! 

2014 See You At The Pole

Since I am still without my cell phone I wasn't able to get any pictured. However, Curt, Cadie and I (as well as about 10 other Colwich kiddos) did not let the slight mist stop us this morning. Another great perk to being at the same school as my kids!!

Our Second Win!

Ok, all mothers say this BUT Curtis is a fantastic football player. During the game today Kristin (who sits on the field sidelines to manage diabetes) text me, "Wow, Curt really is great at football." Brett was so proud of him and just kept telling him how awesome he did at center today and that "never did that nose-guard get through him." Today we won by a landslide so the coaches put the second string in to give them a chance to play (Curtis is first and second string center so he always is on the field when it's office). However, to try kids on different places the last quarter they also had him play defense. I was not aware of this until over the loud speakers I hear, "Taken down by the Cougars with the tackle number 78 Curtis Dyke" -- I was so excited and so bummed because I missed it!!! 

This was the best picture I could get this morning of my circus!! Upon putting this picture up at first glance I can't believe how much my "laughing" picture looks like my Aunt Ruby (still miss her so much). 

*So Blessed*

I don't know which I love  more..... 

watching Curt play football OR watching Brett watch Curt play football!!

We have our moments - we are human - but overall my little family *rocks*!  

Strep Throat

Strep Throat, high fevers, and vomiting have been spreading around Colwich like wild fire. 

We had lucked out (both my kids and my classroom) until last Wednesday. 

I was doing literature group when my phone rang. My interpreter answered it and asked the person on the other line if she could have me call them back. I didn't think much when she told me to call the nurses office. As this had happened last week when there was a positive in strep in the other Life Skills classroom - informing me that I would need to send home notification letters with my kiddos. 

About 15 minutes later I called down to the nurse to find out that Cadie was in there with 101.4 fever. I felt terrible that I hadn't called sooner (my staff now know that if the nurses office calls get me). 

I went down and got a super sad kindergartner from the nurses office and brought her down to my room. With only 45 minutes left of school I put her on a beanbag behind my desk and told her that the day was almost over.... I should add that she had her PE shoes on and had just come from gym, therefore I thought the fever could some what be from that.... I know poor mommy and teacher decision. Within 5 minutes of being in my room she started throwing up... needless to say she and I left and my staff finished the school day without me. The nurse that works in my room highly suggested that I take her and get her tested for strep. I reluctantly called because she did  not have a sore throat. I now know.... that a fever and throwing up are in fact signs of strep throat. She tested positive and was given an antibiotic - the crazy thing is her throat never did hurt! 

Since Brett had taken three days off the two weeks my mom was down with her hip it was my turn. I went up to work Wednesday evening to do sub plans and stayed home with my little ladies Thursday. We spent the morning practicing our sign language and watching "Signing Time". Cadence is so much like her dad and I often get frustrated with her lack of sensor and saying whatever it is that pops in her head..... However, I couldn't be more proud of the little person that she is becoming and the LOVE that she has for the children in our Life Skills program. She is constantly bringing me things at home and telling me that one of my students would love it or that she is sure I could make a task box out of it! She says that she wants to be an interpreter or an intervener when she grows up. 

She will make a fantastic one too!! 

Happy Birthday Curtis!

Curt turned EIGHT this year. He chose to have a friend party - So three of his buddies came down to my room with him on Friday...

 

First stop.. GAMBINOS!

Pizza and a few presents!

 

Lucas, Levi, and Lexi were able to meet up with us.

 

Laser Tag

Bumper Boats

Race Cars

 

 

A few coins and games - then our last stop was Wendy's for ice cream and the park to use up some of that sugar energy.

 

Sunday, September 7 was Curt's actual Birthday. Grandma Cindy made his favorite gluten free brownie-chocolate-cookie-candy-cake (it is pretty awesome).

Next, Papa Hank took him shopping to use his birthday money!

 

 

This young man is so much more special to me than I could have ever imagined. I have so much pride in him - he excels in everything he does from academics to sports.

He is a gentle heart, loves Skillet and sports, Loves to read anything about reptiles and nonfiction, enjoys legos, and playing outside. My heart swells from simply looking at him. He seriously is hardly ever in trouble and is a wonderful helper whenever asked... and often before I need to.

(this is the first year that he  has asked that I don't hug him at school :( ok I can respect that)

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!!

Football Mom

 

Curtis begged to play Andale Cougar Football this year.

I tried to discourage it - they practice FOUR times a week for TWO hours.

However, Brett was almost as pumped as Curt was... so I lost!

 

And I am so glad that I did!

 

They were able to get a little "feel for the real thing" at Andale's Black and Gold.

 

There first game was in Hutchinson... they lost and I was surprised at how HARD these little guys actually do play football.

 

However, today our boys played AWESOME and won.

 

Curtis plays center!!

 

I love watching him play football... I love that Brett is helping coach.... I love that my men are having so much fun doing this together!

 

Plus... I just really love football!

 

Catch Up AGAIN: First Day of School

Curtis and Cadie once again go to Colwich with me this year.

I love having them in my building!

 

Curtis is in Mrs. Ast's second grade class.

 

Cadence is in Miss. Hahn's Kindergarten class.

 

Three weeks in and so far so good! Everyone is happy with school. Including Mommy, I have an awesome classroom this year!

 

Daddy's Girl!!

Blogging from my phone....

Obviously does not work! =) As I have given up facebook - check once a week or so to make sure that I don't have any info from para, parent's, or providers (before school begins again) I have started blogging from my phone. I did not realize that it was cutting half of my pictures off.

Overall, life is really good at our house - I am thankful! I have one year left on my masters Praise the Lord  and have one semester left through Utah State University for my Intervener class!! Curtis is starting Cougar football soon, Cadie is starting kindergarten, and Callie is an overall blessing (she is however two going on 16 but wouldn't change one thing)!

New Glasses

We found out last week that Cadie needed glasses. She was not excited and even cried. I assures her she would look even more beautiful with glasses. Today they came in - and I was right - even more beautiful!

As if we didn't look alike before!! :) I delight in this child and am so very thankful to be her Mama!

Vacation 2014

Our first time in Brandon.... We

Went swimming ... Went to the Titanic Museum... 

Rode The Duck....

Went to the wax museum.....

Played mini golf... Rode through Fantastic Caverns.... 

Did the drive through Safari... 

After leaving we went through Pittsburg to visit Daddy's alma-mater and then to Kansas City. Where we went through the Lego museum and if course The T-Rex Cafe!