Day 120, Friday, April 30, 2010

We saw an ad for Yoplait kids'

yogurt on TV--you put a stick

(they provide one plastic one)

in the lid, freeze it for about

4 hours (or overnight),

and the kids have a frozen

yogurt pop!

So far it's a hit!

It's also a lot less

messy than regular popsicles,

not to mention more nutritious!

The kids have been putting their

pops back in the container,

and back in the freezer when

they've had enough!

 So, less waste!!

                                        Sammy's enjoying his

cheese, apple slices, and

frozen yogurt lunch!

Day 119, Thursday, April 29, 2010

My beautiful sister,

aka Pepper, Pepsissy, and Sissy Jr.!

She came to visit me today!

Kaitie brought the baby kittens,

who are now 7 weeks old, up to

meet her--they love to be

in the recyclable bag from Meijers!

Day 118, Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Mahree and Cheryl set up the target,

so Cheryl could teach her how to

shoot a bow and arrow.

After several tries, she actually

hit the target!

Good job, Mahree!

Day 117, Tuesday, April 27, 2010

We celebrated Meika's birthday today,

as we were in Ann Arbor yesterday.

She actually was able to blow
some of her candles out
without help!

Merica thought it was cool, too~

She really liked her gifts--had asked

for pizza, but only ate a bread stick--

she was pretty excited about

her packages!!

Day 116, Monday, April 26, 2010

Yesterday was blustery, rainy, and cold!
Today is still breezy, but the sun is shining,

the sky is so pretty, and the best

part--we're heading back home

after my appointments at the

U of M Hospital in Ann Arbor!

It was a good appointment, too!

Day 115, Sunday, April 25, 2010

We got Chinese delivered to the hotel--

a first for us!

Cheryl's meal is above;

mine is on the right!!

 I was able to go to church for one

service today, even though I can't drive yet,

because Leslie from Calvary picked up
Rosie, Kaitie, and Cody for a
Seekers/Go-getters outing at Meijer Gardens!


That meant we only had 9 people at home--
and we have 9 seatbelts in
the truck--a bit crowded,
but it works!


After lunch and putting everyone down
for a nap, Cheryl and I left for Ann Arbor.


I have a 9:00 AM appointment
tomorrow with Dr. Z. Kind of
dreading it, but at the same
time am hoping that he
can fit my obterator a bit snugger,
so I can eat something besides
Ensure!! If not, that's OK--


it just would be nice!

Day 114, Saturday, April 24, 2010

Cheryl took Meika to a

bike fitting at Mary Free Bed today.

They tried this gently used bike, and

it worked just right.

The price was just right, too!

It only cost $50.00,

and they took the bike home today!

Meika was quite proud of herself,

and does a pretty good job--

needs to learn a bit more

about steering, though!

Simeon had a turn as well;

he really enjoyed the bike, too!

Day 113, Friday, April 23, 2010

Wonderful people have been providing

meals for us since my cancer

diagnosis.  Today our menu

included "octopus & seaweed"--

needless to say, I had

some very skeptical kids,

until they saw the

 hot dog octopi and

ramen noodle "seaweed!"

I'd say that Julie Witcher

is quite the creative cook!

We've been so privileged to

enjoy some wonderful

meals by some very

good cooks who have

fed us quite well!

Day 112, Thursday, April 22, 2010

The kids were horsing around

with Sammy and Merica,

but each picture I took was so blurry

or just not framed right, 

because of how active they were! 

I was amazed to find these two

(Mahree & Spencer) briefly still!

Day 111, Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Home Education!

Kaitie is doing map work,

before going for her piano lesson,

while Rosie works on

the computer.

Day 110, Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Today our foster kittens are 6 weeks old!

We weighed them today:

Adonis is 2.2#

Glitter is  1.5#

Haley is 1.5#

Henry is 1.5#

(Henry was Hilda!)

Day 109, Monday, April 19, 2010

My little charmer, Merica! 

Playing trains, trucks,

and cars with

Sammy.

Day 108, Sunday, April 18, 2010

My "babysitters" during church today!

Since I haven't been cleared to drive yet,

and the truck only holds 9 people, 2 people

had to stay home with Mommy today.

My manly duo were eager to take

on the huge responsibility!!

My daughter's 34th birthday today.

Praying for her, and hope her

day is great.

Day 107, Saturday, April 17, 2010

The night before my young friend, Iva Place,

had her brain surgery,

Cheryl and I gave her this elephant.

Today she gave it to me, saying

she thought I needed it more right now.

The elephant has her hospital bracelet

on its wrist.  In this self portrait,

I am holding a picture

of dear Iva along with the elephant.

Day 106, Friday, April 16, 2010

What a beautiful day today--

started out so sunny and fairly warm--

got cooler as the day wore on!

Flowering trees are so pretty,

as well as the spring flowers--

the fish in the pond are active,

and I saw a frog sunning himself!

I think it's really spring!

Day 105, Thursday, April 15, 2010

When I got home from my appointments in Ann Arbor,

there was a package waiting for me!

My dear Sissy sent me this cute giraffe in the mail!

She also sent me a Smilebox album showing Giraffe

in various places!

He's kept busy since he arrived home to be with me!!

Thanks, Sissy Jr.!

Day 104, Wednesday, April 14, 2010

It was actually Sammy's birthday on April 12,

but I had to be in Ann Arbor for an appointment.

We decided to celebrate his birthday today,

which marks 4 years since we went to

the hospital and picked him up at

the young age of 2 days!

He's wanted to go to Build A Bear Workshop

for a long time, and so his Auntie

and I surprised him with a quick trip

to the Mall.  He picked out a dragon,

and aptly named him...Dragon!

He also found a pretend cell phone and little

guitar--I guess it's OK to indulge him today!!

Day 103, Tuesday, April 13, 2010

We left our hotel in the rain.

We had some errands to

run before we met
Tom and Jody in the

neurosurgical department

at the University Hospital.

Two pictures today!

This is the waiting room for Dr. Chandler,

the neurosurgeon who operated on

Jody to remove an adrenal gland tumor

back in July, 2009.

Tom appears to be snoozin', and

Jody is patiently waiting--for

quite a while as it turned out!

Since we were already in Ann Arbor,

we stuck around, so we could hear

first hand what the docs had to say about

Jody's recent MRI.  Her type of tumor is

known for its recurrance.

Good News!  No sign of any tumor!
Praise God!

She doesn't have to return until

April 12,2010--Sammy's 5th birthday!

Day 102, Monday, April 12, 2010

Cheryl faithfully keeps the home front

going long distance, and supports

me in so many ways during

my "adventures" to Ann Arbor.

She is definitely a gift from God.

Today is Sammy's 4th birthday, but

he doesn't know it!  We can't celebrate it

until Wed--which is actually

exactly 4 years ago since he

joined our family!!

Day 101, Sunday, April 11, 2010

Everyone is almost ready for church! 

Josh O'Connor is picking up 3 of us,

so that all can go to church except me.

Sammy, Simeon, Rosie with Ozzie

Meika,

Mahree,

& Merica

Day 100, Saturday, April 10, 2010

Ensure and/or Boost

That's my current diet!

I am supposed to have

1,600 calories a day--

Today I got in 1,000, which is

250 better than yesterday!

Tough to get enough inside me!

So thankful for products like this

that can sustain one, and

keep one supplied with all

the right stuff!

Day 99, Friday, April 9, 2010

Adonis and Glitter

foster kittens

4 weeks and 3 days old

baby anythings are cute!!

Day 98, Thursday, April 8, 2010

Laura and Lentee left today

to go back to Illinois. 

I'll miss them, but Laura's

other children need her, too!

Day 97, Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Bonnie volunteered to vacuum the living room,

and it sure looks nice!

Day 96, Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Auntie Merica and her little niece, Lentee,

along with Sadie, take a break from

their imaginary play to

watch a DVD!

Day 95, Monday, April 5, 2010

Simeon has been so "with it" of late!  Today he

played outside for a long time doing various

things!  He played with toys, enjoyed swinging for

quite a while, and yesterday he even played

basketball with the kids.  More smiles,

more talking, just much more "here"--such

an answer to prayer, especially now as

we walk thru my cancer blip.

Day 94, Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010

Easter Dinner buffet

Aunt Cheryl prepared yummy stuffed chicken

breasts, rice, and some wonderful

folks brought dessert in for a special treat!

I am so thankful that,even though I cannot eat any

of this food, I can be here to be a part of the

festivities! 

In the foreground are Sammy, my youngest,

and his niece, my granddaughter, Lentee. 

Tee Tee is 8 months older than Sammy.

From the left in the background are:

Merica, Rosie, Laura,

Bonnie, Kaitie, and Cheryl

I love my family!

Day 93, Saturday, April 3, 2010

I propped my camera on the back of the front

passenger seat, set the timer, and snapped

this picture!  I wanted to show Bonnie that
I was keeping comfy with the collage blanket

 she had made at Walmart for the family.

We were on our way home from the
University Hospital!

Today is the anniversary of the tornado

that hit Standale in 1956.  I remember that

day very well.  I was 11 years old, and

scared that my Mom, who was an RN,

would have to go help at the hospital.

It was my first memory of a tornado

warning, and we had to go to our

very dank and dark Michigan basement.

Mom didn't end up getting called in!

Day 92, Friday, April 2, 2010

Self portrait in the early morning hours on Friday!

I actually slept well, but had several hours of awake

time, so I passed the time by taking pictures of

things in my room--including myself!!

Day 91, Thursday, April 1, 2010

Today is my surgery, and Cheryl, Jody, and I are wearing our

FROG sox--to remind us to Fully Rely on God!

At home most of my older kids are also

wearing FROG sox today!