A week later my Dad was still coughing even though he had finished the Z-pak antibiotic, so he called the doctor. She sent him to get an xray that same day for his lungs, she suspected that maybe he had pneumonia. Once again, not more then an hour or so later after they got home, his doctor called with some bad news. She told my Dad that the xray showed 7 or 8 tumors on his lungs. She was very concerned and kept telling him how sorry she was and that the pattern did not look good.
We were scared to say the least, we assumed at this point it was lung cancer. My Dad had smoked in his earlier years but he had quit 20 years ago. Sadly, my Dad's mom actually passed away from lung cancer in 1996 so we knew some about lung cancer. We were still holding out hope that they were benign tumors but the doctor wasn't very optimistic about the pattern. She told him to go ahead with the colonoscopy on Wednesday and she scheduled a Cat scan on Thursday of that same week.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
My Dad's first appointment....
I know it's many months later by the time that I am writing this, but I need to do it for my sake. I want to be able to remember all the ups and downs, how my Dad persevered, his devotion to God, and all our feelings.
So it all began with a trip to the doctor. My Dad went to the doctor for cough that just would not go away and he also had been pretty tired lately. My Dad had always been so healthy and hardly ever had to go to the doctor. She prescribed him some antibiotics and sent him to get some blood work done. Just an hour or so after he got home, she called to tell him that his iron came back really low. The crazy thing is that usually you don't get your results back right away like that and it's usually not the doctor that calls. She was definitely concerned right away. She said he was severely anemic. My Dad's level was 8.3 and men need to be 14 or higher. She asked a few more questions and decided to schedule a colonoscopy for the next Wednesday to check for bleeding.
Men don't usually have trouble with anemia, usually it's women so it was all a little disconcerting for us too, especially since she seemed concerned. I was still going to the doctor for my blood loss and anemia issues as well. I actually got my blood work done that same week and my results were 8.5, but women only need to be 12. It was a little funny to be sharing a similar health problem with my Dad, since we both were anemic. I kept joking with him that we were two peas in pod with our anemia issues!! :)
So it all began with a trip to the doctor. My Dad went to the doctor for cough that just would not go away and he also had been pretty tired lately. My Dad had always been so healthy and hardly ever had to go to the doctor. She prescribed him some antibiotics and sent him to get some blood work done. Just an hour or so after he got home, she called to tell him that his iron came back really low. The crazy thing is that usually you don't get your results back right away like that and it's usually not the doctor that calls. She was definitely concerned right away. She said he was severely anemic. My Dad's level was 8.3 and men need to be 14 or higher. She asked a few more questions and decided to schedule a colonoscopy for the next Wednesday to check for bleeding.
Men don't usually have trouble with anemia, usually it's women so it was all a little disconcerting for us too, especially since she seemed concerned. I was still going to the doctor for my blood loss and anemia issues as well. I actually got my blood work done that same week and my results were 8.5, but women only need to be 12. It was a little funny to be sharing a similar health problem with my Dad, since we both were anemic. I kept joking with him that we were two peas in pod with our anemia issues!! :)
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Zoo and September 11th Memorial....
Our first field trip of the season was to the zoo!! I always like to start the school year off with a field trip and it always seems to be the Zoo!!
We've always had Tigers at our zoo, but they had renovated the enclosure and it's pretty cool!!
Talk about being up close and personal with the tigers!! The tiger really seemed to like Hayden and just keep following him around the glass!!
These bats were also new to us and pretty cool!! They were hugest bats that I have ever seen! I didn't even know that they could get that huge!
Grace and bear!
Hayden posing on the rock!
Dax wanted a picture taken there as well!!
The new baby elephant born that summer!!
Dax in front of the Cheetah exhibit which was also new to us!!
A closer picture of the cheetahs!!
The momma and her baby!
My babies watching the baby!!
Gene giving Asher a ride!!
As we came through downtown on our way home, we stopped at the canal. They had a September 11th Memorial that was set up, so we decided to see it! It was definitely sobering and something that is very hard to explain to kids.
It's important for them to know our history though, so I'm glad we saw it!!
These are actual beams that were from the Trade towers.
I can't believe that it's been 11 years since this happened!
We took a little walk along the canal as well. Gene and I got engaged on this canal so it has some wonderful memories!!
We got engaged in this spot!!
My awesome hubby and I!!
I love him!!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Starting School.....
With our crazy last month and miscarriage, we got started on school a little later (just 3 weeks) then I had originally anticipated. On our first day of school, I put together a scavenger hunt for them. I hid something that was new and special for each of them!
Grace was the official reader of all the clues but they all took turns trying to figure out the clues!! The clues took them to the freezer....
.....to the dog crate.....
.....outside near the hose....
....upstairs in their bedroom...
...outside in a tree...
...in the bathroom....
...outside in the sunflowers and a few other places till......
...they found their surprise!!
They all got brand new lunch bags!! Most days, we will have lunch at home but for the occasional picnic fun and co-op days, we thought it would be nice for them to have their own!!
Grace got Hello Kitty, Hayden got spider man, Dax and Asher got Cars 2!
Grace 3rd grade Curriculum
Handwriting: A Reason for Handwriting Level T Book (It's the transition book to Cursive)
Grammar: Easy Grammar Grade 3 book
Spelling: All about Spelling Level 1 and 2 (We just started this spelling program and they suggest to start at level 1 for all students)
Vocabulary: Wordly Wise 3000 Level 3
Math: Math U See Beta Level
Reading: At least 30-60 mins a day (It depends on our day and what we have time for, sometimes she does more and sometimes she has less. We usually do this during "Rest time")
History, Art, Art History, Music History/theory, Science and much more will be taught at our co-op through Classical Conversations. I will talk about this more later!
Dax 1st grade Curriculum
Handwriting: A reason for Handwriting Level A
Spelling: All about Spelling Level 1 (We won't start this till half way through the year)
Vocabulary: Wordly Wise 3000 1st grade
Math: Math U See Alpha Level
Reading: At least 30 mins a day
History, Art, Art History, Music History/theory, Science and much more will be taught at our co-op through Classical Conversations.
Hayden (age 4) Preschool
Hayden joins in whenever it is possible with the big kids when I am teaching Science, History or Art.
Curriculum: Letter of the week Preschool curriculum
Activities: Puzzles, games, and play time with Asher
History, Art, Art History, Music History/theory, Science and much more will be taught at our co-op through Classical Conversations. They have a 4 year old class so Hayden will be participating in CC this year.
Asher (age 3) Preschool
He will join Hayden and the big kids whenever it is possible. Other wise, he is doing structured play time and random play time with Hayden.
At CC, Asher will be in the Toddler room and playing with other little kiddos!!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The things I love about Asher.....
There are many reasons why I love this sweet baby boy!!
First of all, he's the baby of the family which makes him super special!! He doesn't like to be called a baby, he prefers Big Boy! We are constantly telling him that he is so cute, but he doesn't like either. He's always says, "I'm not cute, I'm Asher". He only likes to be called Asher or Iceman!! :) So then we say, "You're so Asher!"
He loves fruit and constantly is asking for it!! He still loves to cuddle with me at times which is sweet!!
He loves to do anything that the big kids are doing and never wants to be left out!! He's so smart and pay attention well!!
Asher and Hayden are two peas in pod and pretty much stick together most of the time!! He loves superheros and cars just like his big brothers!!
He loves to make us laugh by talking funny or being silly, but he doesn't like it if we laugh too much. He thinks we are making fun of him!! :)
He's one special little boy and we love him so much!!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Asher's Birthday Party.....
We had Asher's Birthday party on Labor day at our house. We wanted something pretty simple considering our last month!
We went with a Toy Story Theme!
Our cupcakes, because they are easy!!
I decided last minute to do a little cake for Asher too!
Blowing out the candles!!
Asher's 3 now!!!
Opening presents.....
A new game!!
A new football!!
We had a good time celebrating our awesome little boy with family!!
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