Thanksgivings past

We've had some good and some not so good Thanksgivings over the years

 

1995 (we think) - at my Aunt Eleanor and Uncle Bill's house a few months after we met.

2001 - 7 months pregnant with Julia

2003 - in New York - Nathan was released earlier in the day from the hospital after his tumor resection

 

2006 - Stuck in the hospital for 42 days.  Dinner in the playroom .

2008 should be a good one tomorrow.  My parents and both of my brothers will be here.

Lauren's Appointment

I know some of you are wondering about Lauren's doctor appointment, due to my paranoid post a few weeks ago.

She had been doing better about the tiredness and the breathing thing did not recur, so I was feeling better. It is usually the case that I get in a panic for a week or two and then calm down, which I had.

Lauren weighed in at 25.5 pounds and is 36.25 inches high. The growth chart calculator says this:

your child is 25.5 pounds, and that is
at the 4th percentile for weight.

your child is 36.25 inches, and that is
at the 22th percentile for height.

The doctor says she is still growing on her curve, just not on the average curve. She thinks I need to make sure she is eating more fat. She suggested I slip her some milkshakes, and in fact, I got her Frosty on the way home.

We talked about her fatigue and agreed it is just her lack of sleep. She looked her over and we discussed checking her hemoglobin but decided her color looked fine and that she has always been fairly pale. I asked the doctor how I could judge whether I needed to be concerned medically about Lauren and she gave me some specifics. She also said she was willing to run blood tests anytime and at some point might want to check her blood anyway due to her small size. I said I didn't ever want to put her through anything medical because of my neuroses but she said that sometimes it could be better for everyone to do that. She suggested I bring Lauren back in in six months to check her growth and that I should just let her know and she will run more test on Lauren if I need her to.

.

Indian Summer?

I can't believe I just sent my child off to school on November 18 in Colorado dressed like this

Birthday Sunset

A beautiful Sunset just for Lauren...perhaps a little birthday present from her big brother.

 

(taken out of our bedroom window)

Happy Third Birthday Lauren!

My Baby is three!

Choir

Last night at choir rehearsal we had a huge turnout - something like 120 members.  We had to keep adding chairs.  With Christmas coming and preparing for our big concert (link to that coming soon) attendance is up.

It was wonderful treat to rehearse with so many voices, all praising God together, in a relatively small room that was completely filled with sound.  It made me stop to remember how lucky I am to belong to such a wonderful choir.

On Wednesday, over 100 of us showed up to sing for our beloved choir member, Terry's, funeral and for her husband Joe.  It was a very meaningful service that really focused on the gift of eternal life and the gift of Terry's life.

To close the funeral, Joe chose a very uplifting gospel number, "He Reigns Forever!".  Part way through the song he motioned for the congregation to stand.  It was a wonderful tribute and I was so blessed to be a part of it.

Prayer Requests

I could fill this blog up with stories of other families going through loss and hard times.  Every day I am hearing about children dying and families suffering.  It is like there is a whole world most people don't even know exists, where these things are happening and I am tapped into it.

Today I feel compelled to share a few stories and ask for prayers and good thoughts for these families.

First, from our time at the Ronald in NYC, we met a little boy, Carter, who fought NB for a long time just like Nathan.  He passed away a few months after Nathan did.  His Dad died last week, after a long road of self-destructiveness.  His sister has now lost her dad and her brother.

Second, from my time on the Neuroblastoma listserv, Sarah and her daugher Hannah. Sarah has been so supportive of me over the years. Her daughter succombed to cancer this past week after a six year battle.  Beautiful Hannah left behind her parents and two little brothers.

Thirdly, another supportive online friend Missy, whose son Ryan has been battling NB for a number of years.  Ryan relapsed last year and has been travelling to NYC for treatment like Nathan did.  Unfortunately Missy was diagnosed with cancer last year as well.  She had been doing well but has been discovered to have relapsed and is in the hospital.  She and Ryan and especially her husband and other children are having to undergo far more than a family ever should.

Long Journey

My choir lost a beloved member this week.  I loved singing next to her and chatting with her.  This is for her and her husband.



"Your Long Journey"

God's given us years of happiness here
Now we must part
And as the angels come and call for you
The pains of grief tug at my heart

Oh my darling
My darling
My heart breaks as you take your long journey

Oh the days will be empty
The nights so long without you my love
And when god calls for you I'm left alone
But we will meet in heaven above

Oh my darling
My darling
My heart breaks as you take your long journey

Fond memories I'll keep of happy ways
That on earth we trod
And when I come we will walk hand in hand
As one in heaven in the family of god

Oh my darling
My darling
My heart breaks as you take your long journey