Mickey Mouse - School - Brooke

Does anyone have any idea how many times each day we get asked about Mickey Mouse? Or how many times Brooke points to our luggage? Or brings us pictures of our last trip? WOW! We are getting closer...I booked the rental house and got the ADR's Friday. Now I have to "hope" that the flight prices come down and then book the van. I can't say I blame Brooke for her excitement...I'm looking forward to going back too. I'm about to undertake the biggest challenge of my college career and the trip will give me something to look forward to while I'm wanting to pull out my eyeballs. Ha.

Since I decided to "wrap up this degree-thing" once and for all, the next 5 months will be brutal on me. But then...it will be done. Finished. And I should graduate in August. I have no words for what this will mean to me! But for now, I will carry 4 classes for 4 weeks, 2 for 1 week and then pick up a 3rd for the remainder of the time. It's going to be difficult. One of the classes I'm taking should be easy for me, but the teacher is a booger. Class #2, which is an online class, will be the hardest I have had to take. It's not a class I feel comfortable taking online nor should I be taking it with two others, but I have no choice if I want to wrap up my degree plan. I'm nervous about this class and have been pre-preparing for it both literally and mentally. I also pray about this every day. Class 3 is a science class and though it's not a class I wanted to take - it's what is being offered. It's time to be done! The reward awaits me in mid-May when I can say that I'M FINISHED. Then comes our Disney trip in June and graduation in August. Won't that be sweet!

Brooke is doing good. She's had a bit of a rough few days with low neutrophil levels, a shot, an infusion, and now that "not fun time of the month." We're really having to watch her for anemia. The Neulasta shots are odd in that they affect her totally different than they do most people. I guess that's not odd considering it's Brooke. Ha. On night 3 (last night), she doesn't sleep and her appetite increases by 1000%. It's just like being on steroids. Very unusual. And very tiring for us! Overall, things are going well. We bleach her on Sundays, hibicleanse her on Wednesdays, get Neulasta shots every 3 weeks now and fly as low under the people-radar as possible. I think the combination of these 4 things have really helped keeping the infections away. Praise God!!

Once again, I'd like to say I'm sorry for not blogging more often. And it will most likely get worse between now and May, but if you can bear with me...life should ease up once I get these five classes out of the way. I may have so much free time that I won't know what to do with myself. Ha. YEA RIGHT!

Please continue to pray for Brooke and her ability to stay healthy. Pray for guidance for us as we continue to care for her and for wisdom when we're unsure what to do. Pray for me to have strength and knowledge in my classes and patience from everyone around me as I finish up this 9-year endeavor.

Love you all!!

I know - I know - I know

YES! I'VE BEEN BAD AGAIN. I'm sorry for taking so long to post. School is wearing me out, and it's only going to get worse between now and May. So please bear with me. Once I graduate I should have more free time. I BETTER HAVE MORE FREE TIME! I'm busy right now trying to get all of my homework for the semester finished in my two classes before the other two classes start. I will be carrying 4 classes for 4 weeks...OUCH!

Brooke is doing well. She got a Neulasta shot today...anyone want her to spend 3-4 days with them? Ha. Maybe THIS shot will be different and she will want to sleep. That would be nice!

I got my new van about 10 days ago...Eula Mae...and believe it or not...I really like it. It's good driving, spacious, comfy, and sporty (for a van). I can't wait to get her on the road for a trip. Brooke LOVES her. She begs to ride around every night. Whoever thought of seat heaters for leather...I LOVE YOU! Totally awesome! A warm butt makes for a happy lady on cold days.

Christmas at our house is always viewed through the eyes of a child, which in my mind is just precious. Brooke is sooooo excited and is about to drive us over the edge by asking "how many days?" She asks about every 40 seconds. We have our 8 trees lit, lights on the outside of the house and about every kind of sweet thing to eat that you can imagine. We will definitely be starting our family diet next week!

Merry Christmas to everyone! Be safe, be happy and BEHAVE.
Gena

Edgewood - This Darn Shot

As soon as the Cowboys lose, we'll be on the road. (Sorry honey!) Supper at the Comet in Santa Rosa (the highlight of any of MY trips to Albq. I love-love-love the red sauce!) and then on to the world-famous Hankins Hotel in Edgewood. (Maybe not world-famous, but free lodging with the family.)Brooke's appointment is at 9:00 in the morning. Pray for safe travel there and back tomorrow and strength and patience and calm nerves for all of us.

Well...we've come to the conclusion (after last night) that these Neulasta shots react in Brooke like steroids used to. GOD, GIVE US STRENGTH!! Brooke is wired, at all hours of the day and night, and is the ultimate eating machine. Mike and I are zombies today and Brooke is going strong. It's events like these that really make us feel our age. Ugh.......

Happy Monday tomorow to all.

Happy Ho-Ho-Holidays!

Life is not a race, but indeed a journey. Be honest. Work hard. Be choosy. Say "thank you," "I love you," "great job" to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you've been given-it is not accidental. ~ Author Unknown

Christmas is in full swing at our house. All of the trees are up and decorated. We have 8 trees that sort of came about by accident. Only 2 big ones that require work, so no big deal really. Brooke LOVES the holidays! The plan for today is to finish wrapping gifts and our finalize our Holiday letter we mail out each year. Oh...and a few homemade gifts need to be finished as well.

Thursday, Brooke got her second Neulasta shot (stimulates neutrophils in the white blood via bone marrow). Neulasta is a longer-acting form of Neupogen, which is what she had been getting. She gets a shot bi-weekly at the cancer center and we had good results with the first shot. After two weeks, her neutrophil levels were normal, which we haven't seen in two years. So we skipped a week because insurance won't pay for the expensive shot unless it can be justified. Blood work on week 3 showed her back down to almost nothing. So we know the shot boosts her white blood cells for a little over 2 weeks. That's better than not at all! We love Dr. Curry and his nurses! Clovis is blessed to have such a nice facility!

Tomorrow we leave for Albq. for another dental appt. Monday. A cavity requing a filling. Please pray for a safe, uneventful trip and for a successful dental visit.

I still have no van (it's due to be here next week if all goes to plan) and I am appealing the wheelchair denial with insurance. The insurance folks have a deadline of next Wednesday...if I don't have a denial or approval letter in my hand or haven't received a call from them...my nice tone will be replaced with my not so nice tone. Enough is enough and my patience is quickly running out. To date, I haven't received the initial denial letter yet I have already appealed the denial over the phone. The cart is in front of the horse! It's been two months.

I'm busy with school...trying to get all of my homework done now because I'll be taking two classes in January at CCC and my 4 will overlap for a month. YIKES! The plan is to GET ER DONE! After I finish this semester (Feb.) I only have 3 classes left, which is why I am going to take two at CCC and my final class with WBU in March. So, I'll be carrying 9 hours next semester which I've done once before but it's hard. 3 classes...5 months of stress...and I'M DONE! I hope to graduate next August. I'm so ready!!! Please pray for me as I wrap up my degree. I know it's not going to be easy on me, nor Mike or Brooke.

I hope everyone has a blessed Saturday! Hugs to each of you.

Where have I been?

Two months today...that's how long it's been since my last post. I am truly sorry. My intention is to blog on a fairly regular basis so I can continue to keep my blog followers coming back to check for more updates. I don't have a good enough excuse for why I haven't posted in two months, just that I haven't. So...let's start fresh. Here's what's been going on:

October
Brooke was made an honorary firefighter with the Clovis Fire Department on 10-3. She made the local paper and the news in Amarillo, Roswell and Albq. It was a great day full of lots of friends and more good memories. We love our firefighter family just as they have come to love Brooke. And now she is one of them. We are so proud!! You should see her helmet!!

Made several trips to the dentist in Albq. and we ordered new (bigger/heavier) wheelchair for Brooke, which made us realize that what we currently drive isn't going to work with a bigger chair. Not with luggage too. So...the "mini van" discussions started. Mike is freaking out at this point. Never wanted a van. Feeling a little less masculine or something? Ha.

September
Dental and Immunology appointments. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Brooke informs us on 9-22 that she needs to see Mickey Mouse. She "worked" on her dad for 3 days and finally wore him down. Looks like we're going to Disneyworld next summer.

November
Another trip to the dentist.

Can't seem to get Brooke well. She's struggled with allergies/sinus congestion since September. Multiple docs/meds.

I sold my Highlander (White Lightening). This was a sad day for me. I loved that SUV! But I sold her to a good friend who was taking it to her sister in Ohio. Her new name is Snow Baby and from what I hear...everyone is happy. Eula Mae Hankins is on order (my mini van). She is due to arrive the first or second week of December, so in the meantime...I am sporting a fancy yellow car.

We got denied Brooke's wheelchair, but I am appealing it. Goofy process!

Mike finished cross country and had a really good season. Yea Clovis CC!

I am taking two classes at Wayland...3 more to go once I finish these two. Homework is a little more than I planned on having, so bear with me.

Preparing for Christmas...have done a little online shopping but really need to take a trip to Amarillo soon! We'll start the decorating process next week...Brooke will be THRILLED! She's wanted us to put the tree up since July!

I guess that's about everything in a nutshell. I promise to do better.
Thanks to everyone for sticking with me and continuing to come back to the blog for updates. I love you all!

Thanks Friona!

Four years ago this month marked a bittersweet time in my life. It was my 20th class reunion. Two days pre-reunion my dad died and two days post-reunion he was buried. And while that 5 day period was hard and painful, I thank God for the events of that weekend and for my classmates. They helped make an unbearable time in my life a little better. You see, I was blessed by growing up in a small town. Most of my us went to school together for 13 years, and when you have a class size of 74...you get really close. Don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing big schools, I'm just saying I feel really blessed to have a close, personal friendship with a lot of my classmates. They're family.

Two weeks ago, I attended Friona's all-school reunion. It was the 100th anniversary of the schools and I had so much fun! It was neat seeing all of the history, not to mention the people. Our family alone represented classes from the 40's, 50's, 60's and 80's. (And yes, my Granny was there with her date.) I was thankful that UH didn't remember T and I. There's a lot of unsolved mysteries from the 80's. Ha. And it was nice to learn that Mr. P. didn't retire because of me and D. And how in the world does Mrs. R. remember seating charts from 25 years ago? And sweet Mrs. O still looks the same. She was one of my favorite teachers and represented her Friona class from 1936, I believe. So many memories!

Class of 83...it was great seeing our Seniors! J...you're as crazy as ever; always fun to be around. I know coming home can't be easy. J, you inspire me...where do you get the strength and courage to do all that you do? Sign me up! And J...when God closes a door, he opens a window. It was so nice seeing you again. Hang in there my friend!

Class of 85...thanks for letting us hang with you guys. What fun! It was nice seeing each of you. B, you amaze me; what a success story! S, thanks for asking about my daughter - it meant a lot to me. T...what can I say...your wit keeps me laughing. B...you haven't changed bit. And M...as sweet as ever...I enjoyed our talk. And R and J...I love you guys; you made band so much fun!

Class of 86...sorry you had to be the lone male J, but you can honestly say that you were a chick magnet! T and D...I enjoyed rehashing horror stories from the past. M, thanks for being my date...so happy you have J in your life! M, it was great seeing you, my Land of Enchantment comrade.

Good friends and great memories!

My Dad

Today marks 4 years since my dad died. It was a sad, hard day. I'm so grateful that dad is no longer in pain, but I still miss him. My dad was the king of dry wit. He was funny, but in a really off-beat way. I miss that. I miss talking to him; he was my biggest supporter. I miss his voice, hearing him call me sweetheart. I miss his smell...he always smelled so fresh and soap-clean. I mostly miss the relationship he had with Brooke. He played such an intrigal role in my child's life and at times, she doesn't know what to do without him. While I hate that so much of his life was spent disabled, I am thankful for the time it allowed him to be with his family. Sometimes the hardships in life change us in ways we can never imagine. Dad was Brooke and Briana's best friend.

The last 5 days with Brooke have been hard. She is sick and and has been a real booger-bear at times. Something occurred to me today...she knows it is the time of year when her granddad died. How does she know? She can't read a calendar. I haven't talked about it in front of her. And...oddly enough, she hasn't seen me cry. So how does she know September 14th? Isn't that amazing! It certainly explains her outbursts lately! I can't imagine feeling pain or confusion or grief and not being able to express your feelings. Friday, she grabbed her pillow that has a pillow case with a picture of granddad and her and cried. She kept pointing up to heaven. This morning I had to come home from work for a while...the sitter called because Brooke was screaming and crying. She wanted her mommie at home, she doesn't feel good, and she pointed to heaven and asked for granddad again. Broke my heart. My dad left a huge void in Brooke's life. Her was her bestie!

Life is so uncertain...please enjoy time with family and friends and thank God every day for those you love. Rest in peace dad!