Erik's follow up appointment

This morning Erik had another MRI and a follow-up with the surgeon. There was a little line that showed on the picture but the doctor is confident it is just the healing process and scaring. He wants another MRI in three months, so we have that sheduled for the 19th. We may as well get as many medical procedures in before the end of the year, since we have met our out-of-pocket maximum for insurance. Erik also needs his wisdom teeth taken out, so that will be something else we need to work in. I can't believe he is getting wisdom teeth at 14 years old. He was an early teether, but this is crazy!

Erik played a piano solo in sacrament meeting last Sunday. He did a great job. Maren is still doing soccer and improving all the time. Kaden has decided to play the cello in orchestra. He is very excited about this. And Liam and Dallin are starting to read like crazy. They are good hard workers in school when I visit their class to volunteer. Overall we are doing very well. We have been so blessed. We still feel a deep appreciation for all the prayers that have been offered in our behalf. We truly have been blessed with wonderful family and friends!!

Sharing my passion...

http://www.birthpower.us/WhatisEmoweredBirth.html

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!