Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Best Present

My friend Lani (who lives around the corner) went to visit her grand baby in Idaho and had dinner with Jacob and sent me this picture!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Wishes DO Come True

Delivered Today!
I love Gene.
(Next time I'll wish for a car!)


Monday, June 20, 2011

This Week

Should be nice and easy - with excitement at the end.

Susan leaves Wednesday for a quick trip to Catalina where she will meet George's family - not sure what to read into that!

Saturday is cousin Bryson's grad party. He is such a GREAT kid - can't wait to celebrate with him.

Gabe comes home Saturday night - he said he bought himself a sword in Rome - hmmm.

And Saturday is my birthday!

Countdown Continues

30 days
8 hours
40 minutes

til

JACOB COMES HOME!

Let the excitement begin.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Michelle and the Cup of Water

I asked Michelle to bring me a cup of ice water.

She got the cup, went to the fridge, got the ice from the ice maker then filled the cup with water and started bringing it to me.

As she walked toward me with the cup she said "Oh by the way Mom there is a bug in this water."

Me - "Well throw it out and make a new one".

Michelle - "Oh no I'll just get the bug out - the water will be fine".

Of course I made her get a new one - although she couldn't understand why that was really necessary.

Long Day

We went to a baptism this morning then came home and Gene did some handyman work around the house while I worked on my Relief Society Lesson for tomorrow. The girls just played around the house.

This evening we went to an activity at the church - potluck dinner - then came home.

While it doesn't seem like we did much today it sure feels like it was a long day...

Tomorrow is Father's Day so I'll be up early. And I still have to put the finishing touches on my Relief Society lesson.

Friday, June 17, 2011

For My Birthday I Want

This!
Is this not the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?

Thursday, June 16, 2011

No - Not Again!

Today I got a call from Michelle's teacher. Apparently Michelle had 2 "episodes" today that look a lot like seizures.

No good news.

Hannah's seizures are still 30+ per day and are more intense. She takes a cocktail of medications that keep being tweaked but still are not working.

Don't know how we'll handle TWO with seizures.

Anyway, I'm trying to get Michelle in to see the neurologist as soon as possible...that in itself is quite a trick - we usually have to book appointments 2 months out!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Gabe's Saga

So Gene dropped Gabe off at airport Monday at 5:00 p.m. for his trip to Europe.His flight was supposed top leave at 7:50 p.m. for Newark then after a 6 hour layover he was supposed to go on to Rome.

His first flight cancelled due to mechanical issues. The next flight they had available that could take all of the group was at 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

Today he calls me from Newark - he's still there - they missed the connection to Rome! So they have had to stay in Newark. They now split the group - he and 6 others are supposed to leave on an Alitalia flight later today.

Oh and his bags are somewhere...

His attitude is good! Glad he's having these experiences.

As a seasoned traveler I've learned its all part of the journey and makes for GREAT stories later. It's all good.

And, like I told him, "Rome will still be there when you arrive!"

But these kinds of hassles is the main reason I never travel during the summer unless I absolutely have to.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Getting Gabe Ready

Gabe leaves on Monday for 2 weeks in Europe. I left today for 3 days in Milwaukee so before I left I had to get Gabe ready to go.

Had to make sure he packed what he was supposed to pack. Gave him his euros. Made sure he has enough $ on his debit cards. And warned him that his room better be clean by the time he leaves!

He will come home on my birthday! What a great gift!

38 Days

We got the official letter from President Cannon, President of the Idaho Boise Mission. Jacob will be coming home on Wednesday July 20, 2011. He will arrive at 2:41 p.m.

We are so looking forward to seeing him.

President Cannon reminded us that this is a special time for Jacob - these last few weeks will be filled with wonderful experiences and unforgettable times.

I had asked Jacob how he felt at this time - he wrote:

"as far as my feelings about the mission and it ending......
right now i feel like....that feeling you get when you are trying to finish up that essay or research paper 10 minutes before the bell is about to ring because you thought you did everything but forgot a few details that you want to add in.
as for leaving....its kinda like when you go on a trip and have a ton of fun but cant wait to get home at the end of it. the trip was great, but getting home is awesome."

Wonderfully put.



Thursday, June 9, 2011

Prayers

Our nephew (Gene's side) Greg's 3 year old son Bryson (better known as Buffalo) was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma. He has a malignant tumor in his abdomen as well as cancer in his bone marrow and bones.

He will get five rounds of chemo and then surgery to remove what's left of the tumor followed by another round of chemo. After this he will get a bone marrow transplant and then radiation. He has also been accepted into a study that will allow him to receive Antibody Therapy which has upped his prognosis by 20-30%

The little guy starts his road to recovery today with his first round of chemotherapy.

All prayers are appreciated.

Bryson and his family - he's the guy in the middle.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Good Medicine

I have a super bad cold.

This morning I decided I'd hurry and clean the house, do the wash and then go back to bed.

I did and was sleeping soundly when I was awakened by the phone. Ugh!

But it was my cousin Leilani in Florida and she was just calling to say hi and howzit going and we talked for about 15 minutes and it was just what I needed to make me feel better.

Why? Because Leilani is such a positive person - nothing gets her down - not her cancer which she has been battling for years, not her back problems which leave her incapacitated sometimes, not the fact that her husband is out of work.

Amazing lady.

But then I got to thinking maybe these things do get her down at times and she chooses to deal with them by lifting others with her positive inspirational spirit.
Either way - it's good medicine.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

This Week

Gabe comes home tomorrow night.

Girls in school all week.

A bit of work to do each day - not too much though ;)

Get ready for departure next Saturday - Milwaukee til Tuesday morning. Just me this time.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Baltic Sights

Stuff we ate.

Islands between Helsinki & Stockholm

Our cabin is top right window next to the ladder


Sky at 11:30 p.m.

Sky at 1:30 a.m.

I would definitely go back to the Baltics - maybe rent a house on one of those islands for about a week and just relax...spend a couple of days in Stockholm (which I think is now my 2nd favorite European city - after Budapest)

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Helsinki

We had a wonderful weekend in Helsinki and Stockholm (and most especially on the cruise between these 2 cities). My bag dropped on the floor and my camera inside broke :(

I only have stale photos from my phone - which I will post later.

Everyone survived back home. Gabe is in Utah til next Monday and Jacob comes home in 48 days!!!