Procrastinating

OK, I've been putting off thinking about my upcoming treatment, and it's time to stop! I had my initial scan Mon/Tues and the results were nothing unexpected, however, I'm going to need a rather large amount of radioactive iodine to 'oblete' any thyroid tissue left. The treatment itself is not bad, but the kicker is I have to stay in isolation at the hospital in Syracuse for 48 hours so I don't 'contaminate' others. So I'm stressing about what to do with my children for 2-3 days while I sit in the hospital. It's not that I don't have options, I do. I've got great friends and neighbors and family and FRG to help me. I just can't seem to make any kind of decisions and I hate being in the position of needing to ask for or accept help. So, I'm going to pray about the situation today and hopefully come to some peace and humbleness about needing help.

Other than that, we've been busy, busy this week getting some stuff done. While we were in Syracuse we went to the State Fair Monday afternoon after my appointment and had fun looking at the animals (favorites were the rabbits and feeding the giraffes) and the midway of course! There must be something about a mom with a bunch of kids that compels people to give us stuff. Somebody gave us some ride coupons at the fair and when we went to the Renaissance Festival with J somebody gave us a bunch of entrance tickets! Maybe I'm just projecting neediness right now... Thank you kind strangers.

In the house niece E has big a huge help with organizing projects. We got the office area done last week, the laundry room done Sunday and we painted the living room and one wall in the kitchen yesterday! As soon as I get my camera working I'll post some pictures, but I love green walls! Preparing for a long cold winter doesn't seem so bad with some brightness in the house...

We met BG's teacher yesterday and she showed her stubborn/shy streak right off the bat. She refused to draw the picture of herself. Later, when I asked her why she said she didn't want to mess it up. Too much pressure already! We also found out BB has Mr. Webb which is what I was hoping for him. I think he needs someone who is 'nice but doesn't put up with any nonsense,' which is how he is described. And a good teacher too...

So, another appointment tomorrow back in Syracuse, then relax for the weekend and E is leaving us on Monday. I'm not really looking forward to that! She's been wonderful with the kids and helping around the house. Between her and babysitter Melissa, my family has been really blessed this summer!

What boys are like

BG's perspective on her brothers:

They be gross
They be wild
They be stinky
They be loud
They be dirty
They be crazy

From mommy's perspective that's pretty much spot on with a couple additions:

They're really sweet
They give great hugs
They're funny
They're easy

Search and Destroy

It struck me as funny that the Radioactive Iodine I'm to recieve on Monday is called a 'search' dose. Basically, it's to find where in my body any remaining thyroid tissue/cancer is located and from that they will determine what I'll refer to as the 'destroy' dose. Which will do as indicated and kill any remaining thyroid tissue. At least that's the plan.

In other news:

I've been meaning to post about the twins turning two but I'm having problems with my camera and the computer not wanting to recognize it anymore. As soon as I fix that problem, we'll have a birthday update.

And speaking of computers, I, yes me, all by myself, installed a wireless PCI adapter into the old computer for the kids to use. Only took me a couple of hours and then when I get to the part of actually connecting to the internet the computer decides it doesn't like it and shuts down... Any advice? It was acting funny and doing that sort of thing prior to installing the new hardware so maybe reloading Windows will help (not that I've ever done that before). And I did get all my pics off it prior to messing with the insides...

E and I also organized and rearranged the 'office' area in preparation for school starting. I wanted a spot the kids will actually use and we were overrun by arts and craft supplies...

A couple of other organizing projects planned (laundry room, aaahhh!) for next week along with doctors appointments and then school will be starting! I think we're all ready for it!

What do you do all day?

A friend emailed this and since my brain is in fog and can't keep a thought for more than 3 seconds, I thought I would post this instead of random thoughts...

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a Cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?' She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the hell I do all day?' 'Yes,' was his incredulous reply. She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.'

Vocally challenged

So the main side effect from my thyroid surgery is that my voice is not healed yet and I can't talk very loud. Try whispering while 'yelling' at your children or ordering from the McDonalds drive through. Doesn't quite get the job done... My children realized that I can't yell at them and are taking full advantage. Luckily, J is here for enforcement for another week and niece E can put 'translator for the vocally challanged' on a future resume or maybe 'family communications specialist.' She's been a great help the last week! Had a lovely night out with her and a friend last night despite my whispering all evening and we were discussing the different types of babysitters. There are ones who are great with the kids but don't 'clean up' and there are those who 'clean up' and park your kids in front of the TV and a very few who do both. With E we are blessed with one who does both! She's been keeping the kids busy and managing to keep my dishes done and, Bless her, she put my groceries away yesterday (which I hate doing) and cleaned out the refridgerator! And just an all around sweetheart to have around! Perhaps her flight home will be indefinetly delayed...

another health update

I meant to post a little before I went to the hospital yesterday, just to let everyone know that J made it home on Wednesday and my niece got in Tuesday night. We went to pick her up in Syracuse and decided to stay down there just in case J came in the next day, and he did! And we got some school shopping done too!

So I had the rest of my thyroid removed yesterday without any problems. I'll see the doc on Monday to get stitches out and discuss the next step in my cancer treatment. In the meantime, he told me to prepare to feel 'lousy' since I will have no thyroid hormones for the next several weeks at least. joy.

But on the brighter side, thanks to everyone for your cards and phonecalls and positive thoughts and prayers and meals and help with kids. I know they are helping! and I do appreciate every one of them even if I haven't called to tell you so!

Lake Ontario

We did get a little bit of time when K and D were here to hit the 'beach.' Wescott State Beach is about 30 minutes away from us just south of Sackett's Harbor on Lake Ontario. It was a little stormy that afternoon so we had to wait for a while to actually go in the water, but there were nice playgrounds and picnic areas to keep the kids busy. When we did get in the lake, the water temp was around 68 degrees which was bearable until the wind started picking up again. LB didn't like the cold water at all and headed back up to the beach. LG liked it as long as K was holding her so she could dunk her head in and out and the other kids loved it! We will definetly get back over there before the lake freezes in a couple of months!