Long Time No Blog

Wow......where to begin...........

Let me recap Branson first. I can sum it up with one word: Awesome. We had such a good time. There were 31 of us this year, which is low. Several didn't get to come this year and our Oklahoma relatives got the date mixed up, so they didn't come either. We had so much fun though. We shopped, we raced go-carts, we ate breakfast and dinner together and a group of us got old time photos taken. The kids and some of the adults swam both nights while those of us who didn't swim, hung out by the pool and watched all the action. My aunt made the comment Saturday night that we are really lucky to have such a big, close family. She's so right. You know, some of these cousins we only see once a year, but watching everyone together this past weekend, you'd never know it. It's pretty darn awesome to think about. Not many people are blessed with a fabulous family like mine.

Grandma and Grandpa did well while we were gone over the weekend. One of my Dad's sister and her family didn't go so they were able to keep an eye on the grandparents and make sure they were ok. That being said.....it sucked without them there. My uncle makes us all dinner on Saturday night (we had Italian this year-yum!) and while eating, another uncle said "there are only two things that would make this even better. Mom and Dad." He was so right. It was sad not having them there but at the same time, I know they were glad that we went without them and that we had fun.

Grandpa has gotten good news from the blood doctor three times in a row now. His blood count is going up! That means that the chemo shots are working and his bone marrow is doing what it should. PRAISE GOD! He's still very weak and somewhat down about all of this but I know that he's also glad to hear that the shots worked. He goes back to the blood doctor on Friday and she will tell him then whether he gets another round of chemo or not. He wants to go another round and feels like he can handle it, so I'm pretty sure that's what they'll do.

Grandma is holding her own as well. She's done a fabulous job of taking care of Grandpa the last few weeks. Even though she's on oxygen 24/7 she still finds the strength to get up and fix dinner or clean up the dishes after dinner. Those things are good for her because that means she's not just sitting around. By getting up and moving, that makes her heart work and that's what we want. There were a couple of people that wanted to have a family meeting this weekend about nursing homes and assisted living, but it was decided that Branson wasn't the place to do that-we were there to have fun and that's what Gma and Gpa would want us to do. So that's what we did.

Tanner had her first softball games of the season last night. She did so good. They lost the first game 11-10 but won the second game 11-3. She struck out once, walked three times and got hit once with the ball so she got to take a base for that. It was fun watching her. We were tired and worn out by time we got home, but it was worth it.

I had to take Tanner back to the pediatrician yesterday because she's still not cleared up after being sick last week. Her sinus cavities are still impacted, her ears are still infected and her chest is still hurting, although her lungs sound clear, which is good. The Dr put her on a stronger antibiotic along with a different regimen of allergy medicine. She takes a Clairiton in the morning, a Singular and a Benedryl at night, along with her cough medicine. I also have to get a sinus rinse for her and we are going to try and irrigate her sinus'. We'll see if this will work. I hope so-poor kid. She's so congested still and yet just goes on with her everyday life like it's normal.

Let's see, what else? Oh, Steve goes to the Dr. today about his back. It's been bothering him for a couple of weeks (more than usual). He got a cortisone shot two weeks ago and usually that helps. Not this time. It's his sciatic (don't know if I spelled that right) nerve. He actually called the Dr. himself and made the appt which means he's really in a lot of pain. He missed work and T's games last night because of it. Frustrating.

So there's what's been going on in our house the last three days. I pray to God that things slow down for us after we get through this week. I can't keep going like we have the last few days. My body needs a break. Hopefully it'll come soon.

Have a great day!