A couple of months have passed now since we learned of Trey's diagnosis. Has it really been that long? Has it only been 2 months? Some times it seems like December was years ago...and some times it feels like it's still Christmas Eve. I can't decide which feels more comfortable...moving slowly through this process or hurrying to get to the other side??? Either way...Trey is doing great, as are the rest of us. We continually find more things to be thankful for....
*Trey's scans have come back with positive results! His treatments are doing their job!
*The overwhelming pouring out of love and support from our family and community! Trey's Facebook group has over 700 "friends"...I don't have over 700 friends! Heck, I don't have more than 500 FB friends! If you haven't joined in over on FB, look up "Pray (and more) for Trey"! (Shameless plug!!!)
*Christina, who you know from this blog, faithfully sends out prayer reminders to hundreds of people every Tuesday. Our sister, Cathy, from this blog, sends out weekly emails and keeps Trey's Caringbridge page updated. Carley started the Team Mitlo-One bracelet trend. Todd and Kelly order, distribute and collect funds from the bracelets. Tracey is organizing a "Team Mitlo" for the Pittsburgh marathon. Nicole organizes the meal delivery plan and scrapbooking events. Mike and Jenn from Crossfit are designing and ordering "Team Mitlo" t-shirts. Barret organizes a mail system so that Joe and Bella regularly receive fun mail. Our church collects cleaning supplies for us. The PTA of our kids' school sponsors events in Trey's name. Jen collected donations at her work. Bethany and Natalie created and update a map of the world so that we can see who's praying and where. Deb has ironed every one of Jay's shirts! Our family has been instrumental in babysitting. Countless gifts, letters, and donations...It's humbling to be the recipient of so much generosity.
*Joe and Bella are doing so well throughout the whole situation.
*Joe and Bella have been healthy even though kids around them have been dropping like flies at school and church from strep throat and stomach viruses. They have not missed one day of school due to illness!!!
* Trey is handling his treatments like a champ! Aside from his sweet, bald head and bruising (from low platelets), you'd never know he's sick. He plays, runs, jumps around, giggles and fights like a "normal" 2 year old!
*The nurses and staff at the hospital have been great!
*The Lord has continually kept fear and worry and doubt at bay...we're reminded of Matthew 6:25-34. We may not know what life will look like 6 months from now or next week or tomorrow. But, we know that TODAY, Trey is doing great and we can hold him and love him!
*Jay and I make an excellent team!
We continue to "fight the good fight"! Carry on...
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Equal Opportunity Hater...
Maybe it was last year...last summer...I can't remember. Time has become blurred in my mind. Either way, there was a very popular song on the radio. I will not mention a song title or a group name to remain fair to said group...who knows? One of them may read this one day and I don't want to hurt their feelings. This song was so popular, it was played incessantly! Every time I got in the van and had a turn to listen to something other than Veggie Tales and Laurie Berkner, I heard this particular song...multiple times! Finally, I reached my breaking point and told Jay that I wanted to punch the group in the neck. When I threaten a neck punch, you better believe I'm irritated.
Not only was the song over played by about 4 million times...I just couldn't stand the style of music. Not actual singing, but more like whispered talking, with romantic lyrics that independently make no sense, but put a little synthesizer in the background and teens and tweens all over the world are swooning! I can just picture in my head, all the girls wishing that the DJ would just play this one song at the dance so that she could slow dance awkwardly with her current crush all the while wishing and hoping that the boy would really say these things to her. Whoa! I just threw up in my mouth!
The lead singer makes me think of guys that wear girl pants...and are always brooding. And this is a problem with me....Go ahead, call me an old curmudgeon, but I simply cannot tolerate the fashion trend. I have never looked at any man wearing the "skinny jean" and thought "Oooooh baby!" Oh no! I threw up a little again! *For this section of ranting, I'm aiming specifically at young people who will follow trends simply to be accepted. Adults are welcome to look foolish for fashion at their own expense at any given time during their adult life.* For one thing, if a young boy is skinny enough to wear jeans that will fit a girl...he now looks (at best) androgynous. That kid is gonna get picked on. Is it right? Absolutely not! Is it fair? No way! Is it true? You betcha! Shouldn't kids be able to express themselves any way they see fit? Sure! In that case, why are anti-bullying courses mandated throughout elementary school? Because kids are cruel and adopting a fashion trend that will make you look different simply because someone famous is sporting it is setting yourself up as a target. Many will try, but few will actually look like Justin Bieber or one of the Jo Bros. This trend is equally as bad for the boy who is a little too heavy to pull it off. He has now developed the dreaded muffin top or "dunlap". This, too, is a target and esteem crusher for when the ladies don't swoon because of the ill fitting pants. Speaking of the ladies, I wonder how it makes them feel when boys around them are fitting into jeans 2 sizes smaller than they are because their hormones and hips are all outta whack?
My point for the rant was simply, I do not like the band.
Recently, Jay told me that the lead singer is a devout Christian and still lives humbly in his parents basement despite the fame and fortune. Huh. That's interesting. Hmmmm....does this change my opinion? Should it? Now that I know this dude is a brother in Christ, should I give him more leeway? More artistic wiggle room? Show support for the family? Take back my threat of bodily harm? Maybe I should go out and buy their CD or use the world wide interweb to magically purchase a song or two. After hearing the groups version of a popular worship song? Nope! Still want to punch them in the neck. Sorry, but I'm an equal opportunity hater...
Not only was the song over played by about 4 million times...I just couldn't stand the style of music. Not actual singing, but more like whispered talking, with romantic lyrics that independently make no sense, but put a little synthesizer in the background and teens and tweens all over the world are swooning! I can just picture in my head, all the girls wishing that the DJ would just play this one song at the dance so that she could slow dance awkwardly with her current crush all the while wishing and hoping that the boy would really say these things to her. Whoa! I just threw up in my mouth!
The lead singer makes me think of guys that wear girl pants...and are always brooding. And this is a problem with me....Go ahead, call me an old curmudgeon, but I simply cannot tolerate the fashion trend. I have never looked at any man wearing the "skinny jean" and thought "Oooooh baby!" Oh no! I threw up a little again! *For this section of ranting, I'm aiming specifically at young people who will follow trends simply to be accepted. Adults are welcome to look foolish for fashion at their own expense at any given time during their adult life.* For one thing, if a young boy is skinny enough to wear jeans that will fit a girl...he now looks (at best) androgynous. That kid is gonna get picked on. Is it right? Absolutely not! Is it fair? No way! Is it true? You betcha! Shouldn't kids be able to express themselves any way they see fit? Sure! In that case, why are anti-bullying courses mandated throughout elementary school? Because kids are cruel and adopting a fashion trend that will make you look different simply because someone famous is sporting it is setting yourself up as a target. Many will try, but few will actually look like Justin Bieber or one of the Jo Bros. This trend is equally as bad for the boy who is a little too heavy to pull it off. He has now developed the dreaded muffin top or "dunlap". This, too, is a target and esteem crusher for when the ladies don't swoon because of the ill fitting pants. Speaking of the ladies, I wonder how it makes them feel when boys around them are fitting into jeans 2 sizes smaller than they are because their hormones and hips are all outta whack?
My point for the rant was simply, I do not like the band.
Recently, Jay told me that the lead singer is a devout Christian and still lives humbly in his parents basement despite the fame and fortune. Huh. That's interesting. Hmmmm....does this change my opinion? Should it? Now that I know this dude is a brother in Christ, should I give him more leeway? More artistic wiggle room? Show support for the family? Take back my threat of bodily harm? Maybe I should go out and buy their CD or use the world wide interweb to magically purchase a song or two. After hearing the groups version of a popular worship song? Nope! Still want to punch them in the neck. Sorry, but I'm an equal opportunity hater...
Friday, February 11, 2011
This May Take Longer Than I Thought....
I said I was going to knit...and knit, I have! My approach to this project was the same as when I've had other "good" ideas...like, removing tile from the bathroom walls, or reupholstering the dining room chairs, or redesigning a room...unbridled enthusiasm and a teeny tiny bit of "know how". My enthusiasm regularly outweighs my ability in almost every arena. For this knitting project, I dusted off my handy dandy "teach yourself to knit" book, consulted a few knitting pals...heck, I even looked up a website (ravelry.com). So, as I read the pattern, I smiled and nodded along as if I understood...I asked a few questions and smiled and nodded, murmured an "mmm-hmmm" here and there. Yes, yes! Of course I understand "gauge" and "worsted" and "cast off"! I mean, who doesn't??? Ha!
As I started this soon-to-be blanket, it became clear to me that I was knee deep in bulky yarn and circular needles and I was going to sink! The pattern was to knit 10, pearl 10, knit 10, so on and so on with a certain gauge...but every time I got started, a nurse or a doctor or a janitor or a food service person would knock on the door and I'd immediately lose count. My yarn of choice is too thick for my untrained eye to see where I left off or count backward...I think I lost a stitch here and there...just ignore that hole right there! Oh well! I gave up on the pattern, but since I had the yarn already and the time (Trey can sometimes take up to 2 hours to fall asleep while at the hospital!)...I forged ahead, simply using a knit stitch for the whole thing. It keeps my hands busy and I can easily keep one eye on Trey as he tries to bust out of his cell...er...crib. I have no idea how long it will take to finish...or what size it will be, but at least I'll be able to say that I made it!
As I started this soon-to-be blanket, it became clear to me that I was knee deep in bulky yarn and circular needles and I was going to sink! The pattern was to knit 10, pearl 10, knit 10, so on and so on with a certain gauge...but every time I got started, a nurse or a doctor or a janitor or a food service person would knock on the door and I'd immediately lose count. My yarn of choice is too thick for my untrained eye to see where I left off or count backward...I think I lost a stitch here and there...just ignore that hole right there! Oh well! I gave up on the pattern, but since I had the yarn already and the time (Trey can sometimes take up to 2 hours to fall asleep while at the hospital!)...I forged ahead, simply using a knit stitch for the whole thing. It keeps my hands busy and I can easily keep one eye on Trey as he tries to bust out of his cell...er...crib. I have no idea how long it will take to finish...or what size it will be, but at least I'll be able to say that I made it!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Whadya Know Joe?
Every time we see Grandma, she says to Joe, "Whadya know, Joe?" and he responds, "I just got back from Buffalo!". That's just cute! To continue my fairness routine, let me tell ya about a kid named Joe. He's probably the most gentle hearted almost 8 year old I know. I realize that I don't know THAT many almost 8 year olds, but still, Joe is right up there. He's zipping right through the second grade and learning so much both academically and socially. The social part can be worrisome at times. We've had to have chats about the difference between what's actually appropriate and what other kids at school will do...and say...and write on a bathroom wall for Joe to repeat in front of the whole class because he didn't know that "d*ck" is a bad word. Don't worry, he knows now. Joe is very interested in learning some martial arts this year...our YMCA requires kids to be 8 before they can sign up for class. Somebody better tell Bella to watch out...being gentle hearted can only go so far...
p.s Bella may have lost her first tooth...but Joe has, clearly, lost more than that...
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Bella
If I don't blog equally about each child, will one...two...all three end up in counseling about the unfairness of it all??? To even the blogging score...and to lighten my mood a bit, I mean really, the oncology unit is NOT a barrel of monkeys, I wanted to share a Bella update. She is cruising right through Kindergarten...do you know it's February already?! Bella has lost her first tooth!!! And just like big bro Joe, her grown up tooth grew in before the baby tooth fell out. Bella can READ!!! She read our whole night time book the other evening! She has declared her love for a boy named Nicholas in her class. She's sure she will marry Nicholas, which is fine with me because I like his mother...plus this means she's finally grasping the concept that she cannot marry her cousins. (Will this push her further towards counseling when she reads this some day?) And, by some recent test scores, our feisty diva may, in fact, be a bit brighter (sans the marrying family members thing) than her gifted older brother. (That will definitely push Joe towards counseling in the future)....We love her with all of our hearts, even if she pushes us to our limit E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y. She's my baby girl!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Patience for Patients
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" ~Romans 12:12
"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." ~Psalm 27: 13-14
"You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." ~Hebrews10:36
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~Isaiah 40:31
"The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride." ~Ecclesiastes 7:8
"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." ~Romans 8:25
Here's to being patient.....
"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." ~Psalm 27: 13-14
"You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." ~Hebrews10:36
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~Isaiah 40:31
"The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride." ~Ecclesiastes 7:8
"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." ~Romans 8:25
Here's to being patient.....
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