What have I done?

Confession...my plate is full. Completely overloaded. How can I tell? I couldn't remember the VP's name earlier this week (Biden). And Wednesday I couldn't think of our house number. I locked my keys in the van Thursday and remembered my lunch and supper in my lunch bag sitting in the hot van 5 hours later. Yep...brain overload! But I am pushing forward with my insanity. I apologize in advance for any blonde moments or moronic blurbs that might come out of my mouth. It's just temporary (I hope). By mid-May, either I'll be completely relieved to be finished with my education and back to "me" or else I'll be locked up in a padded white cell. One of the two.

For the next two weeks I am a full-time student. This is the only time in 9 years that I have been considered such. Four classes is not advisable but was necessary in order to meet my graduation goal for August. I have all of my homework done for my two Wayland classes and am down to a quiz and a final. The two new (CCC) classes are the boogers. Tests, homework, speeches, more tests, and then more tests. One class is online, which seems to equate to "let's kill them with triple the homework since they aren't sitting in a classroom for 2.5 hours." Finance is tough...I knew it would be. I've taken two tests (online of course and timed for 15 minutes) and have C's for both. I'm ok with that except that I have to take my final exam at CCC and it's proctored. In order for me to bomb that one, I need my weekly test scores a little higher. (DID THAT SOUND NEGATIVE?) I just want to pass the class and be done with it. I really don't care about the GPA at this point...a C at CCC won't bring down my 3.8 at Wayland. (THANK GOODNESS!) My personal goal has always been to graduate with honors. (Sure wish I'd had some of this drive in high school!) So...two more tests to take before 11 PM tomorrow night and then start chipping away at the February load.

God...please give me strength, wisdom, patience and common sense!

Poor Brooke - School - Eula Mae

Brooke still isn't feeling well. She has bags under her eyes, a runney nose, upset stomach at times and looks rough. You can tell she just doesn't feel good. She also has a spot on her belly we're keeping a close eye on. I'm praying for a quick recovery soon! So many people have ailments right now...we really need a good freeze! Brooke went home with Nanny this afternoon for the weekend but we'll have to see how long that lasts. She really seemed torn between wanting to go versus wanting to stay and be pouty. Her emotions are really messed up right now and she crys if you look at her wrong. Not sure what's up there? Mike and I just tread lightly!!

Hooray for Gena...I've been sitting in the dining room working on finance problems for a few hours and it is starting to make a little more sense. I'm beginning to think that I can do this! It's time for a positive outlook instead of dreading something I can't change. Either I figure out a way to do it or else I don't graduate...the choice is mine. I choose graduation!! And EVERYONE is invited!

Have you heard the latest rumor...VANS ARE COOL AGAIN! I should know...I started the rumor. Ha. Seriously, I'm really enjoying my van. It drives great, is comfortable and I love the space! Brookie really likes the DVD player and I like the fact that I can control everything via the radio. No more climbing over the seat to see if her screen is on checking to see if I need to push play. This process is simple! I'm still trying to figure out the radio, the heating and the hands-free phone. I've never had such a plush ride before so this fancy stuff will take me time to get used to. Ha. A friend and I started a new club (for fun)...the VOA. "Van Owners of America." We even have a call sign. (Ask me and I'll gladly demonstrate it.) Gotta keep it light...especially when you drive a mini-bus. :)

Why am I blogging at midnight? BECAUSE I CAN. My shadow is in Texas (hopefully sleeping peacefully). Have a great weekend friends and thanks for the prayers for Brooke and the well wishes for my class. I appreciate all of you!!

Rough Time Lately

Brooke has been having a rough go of it lately and could use prayers. She just can't seem to get ahead. I stayed home with her yesterday and Mike will be with her today. She's having some tummy pains and allergies. She looks really rough today...her face is swollen, she has bags under her eyes, her lips are swollen and have been bleeding and she's got some spots that we're watching. I bathed her in one of her special remedies yesterday and will do her infusion tonight. Both humidifiers are also running. Hoping these things will help her body "kick into gear" to fight this stuff.

Her mental frame of mind isn't where it needs to be either. She is fed-up with having to be secluded and she desperately misses contact with friends. We don't really know what to do about this? We can't afford to get her around a lot of people right now with everything that's going around. It just isn't safe for her, yet our hearts break with having to keep her away from something she loves --- people. This is a hard one!!

Please pray for added fight and protection right now for Brooke and for peace of mind and comfort. And also for guidance for Mike and I. It's hard having to be the villains especially to a little girl who doesn't always understand why. We are so blessed to have God on our side!!

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.