Sharing my passion...

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Another school year begins...

I can't believe that school is starting again. It seems like summer just started and already it is time to go back to school. We had a bit of a rough start to the summer and didn't get to do even half the things we had originally planned (before the surgery and recovery). Speaking of which, Erik is doing very well. He is back to his adolescent self....teasing siblings and being moody with his parents. He goes in for another scan in September and will meet with the doctor again.

L and D are starting first grade this year. They are very excited to be in full day school. I am excited, too, and a little sad. Hopefully I will be able to get everything organized in my basement with all the free time. The first grades at their school were so large that they created a new class which we put L and D in. Their teacher is Mr. Beck and most recently comes from a deaf/blind school. Sounds like he. Will bea very interesting teacher for them. Maybe they'll learn to sign a little.

Erik and Maren are going to be in 9 th grade this year. They're getting old!! This means seminary, as well, which I think they will enjoy. Kaden will be the big fish in the pond as a 6th grader. He has a teacher that Maren had for 3rd grade, named Mr. Wiggil. He does a fun Harry Potter day for the kids, which Kaden couldn't be more excited for.

Anyway, that's what is going on with us lately. Hope everyone has a great back-to-school!!!

4th of July weekend

We had a great time over the 4th. My sister was in town from Arizona with her 3 kids and we had a blast! We hiked to Timp Cave, went to the balloon festival, watched fireworks, had a birthday party, went swimming, and bowling. Already the little ones are asking to go back to Grandma and Grandpa's. Partially because he left this gross toy spider there and he is anxious to get it back.

New Diagnosis

The surgeon called today and said that the pathologist changed his mind about what type of tumor this was in Erik's head. Originally he thought it was a ganglioglioma. Now he thinks it is a pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma. Basically, though, the treatment and prognosis is the same. Surgery is likely all that is needed, however the surgeon is consulting with an oncologist to be sure. And he's sending it to another pathologist for a second opinion. The doctor said it is even more rare than the ganglioglioma--both have a very rare chance of coming back

Erik is back to his old self, harassing all his siblings to no end. His scar is healing nicely and he isn't in any pain that Tylenol or Motrin doesn't touch. I find that odd, but I guess that's the case with brain surgery in the area he had it in.

Again, I can't thank everyone enough for the prayers and concern on our behalf.

Success

Erik is out of surgery. Everything went well. We haven't seen him yet. He's still waking up from anesthesia. Dr said it went very well and the labs taken during surgery look like a "low grade glioma". Which means cancer but very early form. No further treatment is usually necessary. Probably just a lot of follow up MRIs. More to come. Typing on this iPod is tedious! Thank you all for your prayers on his behalf!

MRI

We had the MRI done of Erik's spine this afternoon. He needed another IV for that, and then they had to draw blood for the labs. He was kind of upset about that, since they had drawn blood on Sunday. I told him he'd be a pin cushion by the time this was all done. He asked if there would just be one more poke tomorrow. I said, yes...apart from the hole that they need to make in your head. "Oh, yeah...", he says.

Anyway, on the way home from the hospital, the neurologist called and said everything looked good on his spine, so they are going to go ahead with the surgery tomorrow. We arrive at the hospital at 11:45 am. He'll be in the ICU for one night, then on a regular ward for 2 more.

I can't tell everyone how grateful I am for all the prayers and positive thoughts and kind words of support. Love to you all!!!