Kidney Update

Eric had a follow-up today after his procedure a week and a half ago. It was decided to do another CT scan. Then he'll have his kidney removed. Now we are looking at late August, early September for surgery.

A good piece of news is that the tiny tumor they found in his bladder came back negative for cancer. That has lowered his odds of having kidney cancer down to 70 percent from 90 percent. He may indeed just have a cyst. The kidney still has to go, however.

We are blessed to have found this early. We are blessed to have good insurance. We are blessed to have time to handle it properly.

Family Bath Time

Bath time around here is no private matter. In fact, it's the opposite. The kids think nothing of tearing their clothes off the minute they hear the shower or bathtub running, even if the bath is NOT for them!

Maybe this is my fault because I often would take a bath with them when they were babies. It was easier to clean a slippery, wiggly little body when I was physically in the tub as well. Maybe they just instinctively remember those days and want to continue the memories?

I gave Hudson his bath this evening (I was not in the tub with him), and then it was Evan's turn for a shower. They used to bathe together, but then Evan turned four and decided that he was grown up enough to take a shower. Eric usually sits in the bathroom supervising, but not helping...because Evan can do it by HIMSELF!!! (Evan's words, not mine.) However, this didn't stop the rest of the family from joining in the fun in the smallest bathroom around.


I know Eric is sitting on the toilet, but I swear he is fully clothed and just watching Evan in the shower! Hudson's bath was over, but he still had to be a part of the bathroom action. Apparently Mac T needed some attention as well. It's a grand old party in there!


Hudson was also playing with a light saber. Perfect toy to play with in a tiny bathroom. There's absolutely no chance of poking someone's eye out!


Hmmm. Maybe he does mind having his private bath time invaded!


This is Hudson's excited face. It's also the expression he makes when he knows he did something wrong, but he thinks he's getting away with it. Whatever the reason, it always makes me smile.

Circus

We went to the circus this afternoon. It was a good show, but it was bittersweet for me. My dad always liked the circus, and we went many times as kids. I found myself crying in the middle of Selland Arena.

I know my dad hasn't been gone that long, but I wonder when these "kick in the gut" moments will stop. I guess every holiday, event, and show that we see without my dad will get easier. It's just painful going through the process.


Eric and the boys before the circus began. It was hard to get good pictures because there were so many people wandering around down on the floor of the arena. Hudson had enormous eyes taking it all in.


I happened to catch a clown nose while we were walking around on the floor. I think Eric would make a great clown!

Happy Fourth of July

Hudson says, "Happy Fourth of July!"


We spent a nice Fourth of July together as a family here in town. My mom and sister joined us around noon, and we enjoyed time eating, playing a game, watching the kids swim, and oohing and aahing at fireworks.


Hudson and Evan really enjoyed running and jumping into their little baby pool.


Hudson tried to escape.


Back inside, Evan serenaded us with a song or two.


Hudson loves his Aunt Tiffy.

It wasn't until my mom and sister left for the evening that I felt sad that my dad wasn't here. It's just strange not having him sit in his spot on the couch or enjoy the fireworks outside. He especially liked patriotic music, and he always loved eating Eric's tri-tip.

I made the comment to Eric as we watched the Boston Pops on tv that I wished the pride that we see and feel on the Fourth of July would last all year. Imagine if people felt this proud on a random day in October or March. I just know that I am proud to be a citizen of the greatest country there is.

Bowling

Evan and I went bowling today with the summer school class. Evan had a rough start, but soon was throwing several spares and even a strike! He is such a competitive little bugger.


Since the bowling balls weigh about one-fourth of his weight, it was a little hard for the child to get a proper hold on the ball. He had this weird way of swinging his whole body into it. Several times he'd fall over from the momentum, but he didn't seem to mind.



His method was working for him. He scored in the high 80's on both his games. Man was he ever proud when he bowled that strike!

I had fun as well and even scored a 124 on my second game. I definitely want to get my own bowling shoes. What do you think of these little beauties? If I ever do buy a bowling shoe, it has to be pink!

Fashion?

I know I'm old and just not "with it" anymore, but even I know that this is not going to be the next fashion trend.



It just wasn't the battle I wanted to fight this morning. Keeping the kid in his own bed at night is a battle I am willing to fight. Wearing knee high baseball socks and cowboy boots didn't even make a blip on my radar screen other than to snort and snicker at him. We headed off to Story Time at the library.

"Oh no Mom," Evan cried from the backseat on the drive across town. "My boots are on the wrong feet."

"Wow, you better fix that," I replied. "You wouldn't want to embarrass yourself!"

We got plenty of looks from sympathetic mothers. No explanation needed. They all understood.

By the way, Evan looked even funnier right before we left the house because the knee highs were pulled all the way up his thighs. You couldn't see any skin. Fashion forward? I think not.

Half Done

We are half done with 2009. We might not be technically done...I mean I haven't counted the days or anything to see if we are smack in the middle of the year, but six months are under our belt. I am determined that the second half of 2009 is going to be much less traumatic than the first half.

I spent the first day of the second half of 2009 doing many interesting things.

1. My sister and I went with my mom to handle business at the bank. My sister and I laughed and snickered when the bank lady suggested that my mom might be interested in online banking.

2. The three of us drove to Merced. We saw a movie. The Proposal. It was cute.

3. We ate a lot of popcorn, so we weren't hungry for lunch.

4. We picked up my dad's ashes and death certificates from the funeral home. Tiffany buckled my dad into a seat belt in the back seat on the drive home.

5. Tiffany bought us milkshakes and chili cheese fries to share. We were hungry by that point.

6. We looked at pictures of my dad when he was in his early 20's. He looked so young. He was so young.

7. I checked out Facebook with my sister.

8. I drove home, bought milk at the grocery store, picked up the kids, and reveled in the fact that dinner was ready and waiting in the crock pot.

9. I gave both kids a bath. They were surprisingly nice to each other in the tub.

10. I absolutely love eating Wild Cherry candies from Powell's Candy Store. That place is my version of heaven!



That was my nifty day. Now, off to watch Wipeout.