Friday, April 30, 2010

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!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

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!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

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!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

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!!

Monday, April 26, 2010

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!

Sunday, April 25, 2010

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!











Saturday, April 24, 2010

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!

Friday, April 23, 2010

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!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

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.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

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!)

Monday, April 19, 2010

Day 109, Monday, April 19, 2010

My little charmer, Merica! 
Playing trains, trucks,
and cars with
Sammy.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

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.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

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.

Friday, April 16, 2010

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.!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

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!!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

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!!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

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

Saturday, April 10, 2010

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!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Day 99, Friday, April 9, 2010

Adonis and Glitter
foster kittens
4 weeks and 3 days old
baby anythings are cute!!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

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!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

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!

Monday, April 5, 2010

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.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

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!

Saturday, April 3, 2010

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!