Another 1st....

Today was Layla's 1st day of Kindergarten. She was sooo excited, she was awake for a couple of hours during the night and was up and shiny and ready to go this morning.....until the doors of the big yellow bus opened and she looked upward into that big "child eating" space and lost it! She turned around for a couple of seconds, cried in her mommy's arms for a couple of seconds, wanted to hug her "JoJo" and then walked up the steps of the big yellow bus. Woosh! She was gone, leaving her Mommy and JoJo in tears. It was sooo painful knowing she was scared and apprehensive. We pulled ourselves together feeling awful. We knew she would be ok but that didn't matter....we were in pain. I headed home.

After a short time, Elizabeth called me to tell me that the bus driver had called her to tell her that Layla was fine and had gotten off the bus with two "friends" (who cares who they were!) and was smiling.

That bus driver doesn't know what a blessing she is!!! She will never know what she did to make us feel sooooo much better. One little phone call................what a huge blessing!

New Beginnings...

I'm actually home this week! But last week was a real adventure in that I was able to see Nicholas begin his adventure with the "education system".

Last Monday, the entire family went to an ice cream social, meet the teacher and see the classroom at Forest Hills Elem. School. Tuesday, Nicky and parents went to his orientation in the morning when he made his "name tag" hat and heard a story, etc. In the evening, the parents went alone back to school for their orientation. In between all of this, Kendra was going through phone calls and e-mails with friends debating the possibility of not returning to work at CICOA due to numerous job description changes which were unrealistic. She wrote her resignation on Thursday.

Wednesday was the big day! At 8:00, Kendra, Lexi, Blake, Daddy (who flew home from work to see Nicky off), Aunt Paula and I walked next door to stand in Dyar's drive to catch the bus. Jackson Dyar is now in 1st grade so he and Nicky got on together. Kendra held it together with just a few sniffs and then Paula, Kendra and I went for a walk.

We picked up Nicholas after school at 11:15 and he was a very happy boy!!! All three days were happy and exciting for him. So glad I could be there!!!

This coming Wednesday, I will be in Layla's driveway to see her getting onto the school bus for the 1st time! She just had her adenoids out and tubes put into her ears last Wednesday so she is ready for action!!! She will attend all day Kindergarten at Concord South Side Elem School and will have my dear friend, Carolyn Smith, as her teacher!!!!!!!!! I couldn't be happier. Carolyn is a veteran "child lover". We have known her for many, many years!!!

New beginnings for my two oldest grandchildren! My how the years are flying by!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Alexis had a great check-up this week and hit the "big" 10 pound mark!!!!!!!!

Nicholas and Layla's Big Days!!!

At 7:30 this morning Layla had tubes put into her ears and her adenoids removed. She is still in recovery as I write this but is doing well so far. I am in constant contact with Tom, Brent and Elizabeth via text messaging. What did we do without it??? She had had such difficult hearing and breathing so we certainly hope this helps. I can't wait for details as the day goes on.

At 8:00 this morning, Nicholas was staying in front of Dyar's house with family in tow, waiting for the school bus. First day of Kindergarten! I was there to take pictures (no kidding!). He had gone to school with his parents yesterday to make a hat, hear a story, be in his classroom, etc. and before that (Monday) his whole family was at school to meet Miss Gray and to see his room. Really they went for the ice cream, I'm told. Nicholas was very exited to get on the bus. It was good that he already was familiar with his teacher and classroom. Since he goes to 1/2 day Kindergarten, Kendra will have to pick him up after school at 11:15. Can't wait to hear about his day.

Paula and I picked Mother up Monday and she is at Paula's until I take her home on Friday. That is the reason I am still in Noblesville. She is sleeping right now, so after waving goodbye to Nicky this morning, Paula, Kendra and I walked for an hour. ugggggg!

Can't believe my "babies" are getting sooooo old!

Guilty as charged!!! Mary Borgaard shamed me into updating my blog! If I had a more interesting life, I would probably update more often. My life is a mix of sitting here in my very, very quiet house (all 5 grandchildren just left), occasionally taking care of my two darling little girls (Layla and Marley) here in Elkhart or being in Noblesville with my 3 darling munchkins (Nicholas, Blake and Lexi). Everyone was just here for the weekend. Brent and Elizabeth were in Chicago for the weekend where Brent ran a mini-marathon (2 hours 1 minute!!!). We had the girls part of the time. Since Kendra and the 3 kids were here, it was a house full! I loved it!!!

July highlights: I completed healing from my bladder cancer surgery. All is well and I will keep my fingers crossed that my September 22 doctor's appt. doesn't show new tumors.

Kendra and Alexis drove with me to Battle Creek for my Mother to meet Alexis. It was a wonderful day. Mother is doing well and loving her apartment. In fact...she signed a new lease. Who would have thought!

Tom and I drove to Mackinaw City separately from Kendra and family (who were going for a wedding). It was quite a surprise for the little boys to open the door to the adjoining motel room and find us there! We all took horse and carriage rides around Machinac Island. Tom and I had some "together" time while the kids were at the wedding. Great long weekend!

On Sunday, July 26, Paula (sister), Linda Wagner and I sang a trio at Central Christian here in Elkhart. That was just way too much fun. I certainly miss singing! This makes it so true that July ended on a "high note"!

August: With the kids all here, this month began happily. Tomorrow, Tom and I will meet Tom and Barbara Rowlen in Wabash to catch up.

On Thursday, I will head to Noblesville because Kendra, Elizabeth, Paula and I are going to our third Women of Faith conference in Indy Friday and Saturday. We have waited for this all year! It is a great, inspiring time.

Nicholas begins kindergarten Wednesday, August 12 and Layla begins kindergarten on Wednesday, August 19. How can this be??????

Alexis finally made it to 9 lbs 1 1/2 oz. ! She will be 4 months old on August 7. What a little sweetheart! The doctors are happy with how she looks. Her heart is a little fast but she is doing so well that she will have another appt with the doctor Sept 3 and then they will probably set a surgery date. It is wonderful that she is doing so well.

Well, so much for me...

Cancer Survivor?

Is it too early to say that I'm a "cancer survivor" when I have only known about having bladder cancer for a short time? Never! I had surgery one week ago today (Wednesday, June 24) and Dr. Fretz said that it was cancer but wasn't making any guesses about the grade until the pathology report came back. I waited around all day yesterday for the phone to ring. Nada! Frustrating.

But today.....Dr. Fretz called to give me great news! The cancer was caught early so it was "low grade" and "superficial" (meaning it had not penetrated the wall). I need no treatment but need to be checked every 3 months by Dr. Fretz due to the high probability of reoccurance. I was very blessed!

Shirley Doberenz came by for a visit this morning just as I was talking to the doctor. It was so nice to have a visitor even though I have no restrictions except lifting things. Shirley had no sooner gone when Jeannie Stuckey dropped by. What a wonderful surprise.

After lunch, since Tom had to go teach at Ivy Tech from 6:00 to 8:30, he encouraged me to head "south" so I am writing this from Noblesville. He will ride down here with Brent and the girls on Friday. Elizabeth will head this way after work on Friday. Looking forward to lots of celebrating this Fourth of July!!!

A Gladder Bladder!

"Bladder cancer"! I said these words to myself out loud for the first time today. Since surgery yesterday morning to remove a tumor and two stems which were behind it, I am coming to the realization that I have/had bladder cancer. It is strange to hear the words. Dr. Peter Fretz, my surgeon, will have the complete results, hopefully, by Tuesday. He said that he could guess at many possibilities but it would be silly to make any guesses until he reads the report. He will call.

It is very likely that the tumor(s) will grow back...in which case, we just go back and do this again. We just wait and see.

I haven't had even one pain pill since surgery and haven't had any sleep either. I should sleep tonight. Brent, Elizabeth, Layla and Marley, Kendra and Alexis just left to go home and shopping (Kendra, Elizabeth and Lexi). Tom is outside in the 90 degree heat deciding if he wants to mow anything tonight or not. The kids had pizza here for supper.

I have to be very careful for at least 2 weeks so I don't start bleeding. It could happen easily so I am not to lift more than 15 pounds. I had better empty my purse.

Well, life changes but I am grateful that so far, the cancer was caught at a very early stage (we assume) and I assume that I won't have to deal with anything like chemo etc. So, even with "bladder cancer", I guess that this is the way to go. God is good!

A Beautiful Bladder Which Could Have Been Badder

Well...today was the big "bladder' day. I am typing this from my hospital bed with the computer at a very bad angle. It is 12:15 a.m. and I can't sleep soooooo.....why not blog!

Kendra, Alexis (yes....my baby!), Brent, Elizabeth and Tom were here for the big morning. Sit and wait, sit and wait. Of course, I was worth it (at least that's what they said!)

The tumor was INSIDE the bladder which was the first that I had heard that. I figured that would be bad, but alas!...that is good. If it had been on the outside, that would have meant that it would have pushed through the wall and ....not good. There were also 2 other "stems" behind the tumor that he took. Hope that doesn't mean that I'm fertile for tumor growth. He says they will likely grow back and we'll go through this again. We'll know more Tuesday and Dr. Fretz will know how/if he needs to proceed.