....continued

....mother when I'm not correcting a child for leaving fingerprints. One of our sweet babysitters took the kids to ChuckECheese so that our house could be viewed around their bedtime and Van and I had a date night. We landed at a place that was sweltering hot and gave everyone in the building the wrong order (late), but after our shaking with low blood sugar and stares into nothingness, we got a bit of food in our bellies and were able to have a conversation about VERY imporatant things like paint colors and toilet selections for the new home. I dig that. We went through a drive-thru for our required date night dessert. Mine was Blue Bell birthday cake ice cream in a waffle cone. Van picked vanilla. Vanilla. The man likes vanilla. We were both happy, though. The kids were asleep when we got home. Bliss.

Today we went to the circus with one of Van's co-workers and her precious family. I thought it was excellent. I especially enjoyed the animal tricks. I wish I could have captured Avi's face when the three elephants came into the ring. The boys liked the motor cycle stunts, and now they want a dirt bike. And...Van wants a dirt bike. Not happening in my lifetime. Cade wants to learn gymnastics so he can do a front flip. We might can work on that one.

Tomorrow Van will give it a go on a sprint triathalon. I am most worried about him figuring out what equipment to take and where to put his number at what time more than the heat or his physical condition. Seems complicated. I might be able to take the kids to see him jump in the water and visit a closer-by church that several of our friends attend. We'll see how it plays out--I may not be able to get the kids out of the door by 6:30.

I'm still very slow. This GVH and the meds are battling each other for who is the meanest. I'm thankful, though, to be quite functional and able to take care of my sweeties. The summer has been so full of fun experiences with them. I struggle with breathing and with being grumpy during those times. I'm thankful for good friends who I can tag-team with, and beyond words for a wonderful husband who loves his kiddos and is able to do extras around the house to get it ready to show. Very blessed, indeed.

Summer Travels

We had a super great time with my extended family in Utopia. My uncles and cousins are very laid back and were happy with nutin' to do. We made a trip to the creek to hunt for fossils. Kudos to Mom to feeding us all major amounts of yummy beef. We also swung by the Alamo on the way back to Waco and made the little cousins sing Davy Crockett. Now, if Cade or Zane wants to push a button on little sister, they sing "Avi Crockett" and really make her scream. The children enjoyed ice cream from the vending machines at the historic site. It was fun, but HOT! My cousins (the adult ones) got to stay with us in Waco for the night and eat their first authentic kolaches. Fun times. (Sidenote: Cade is still mad at Santa Anna and the New Mexicans because of confusion with a basketball game that he watched with his dad. We'll get 'em next time.)

We headed to the YMCA of the Rockies, oxygen tank on hand a couple of days later. The car ride was smooth with Van and I and the children going through the stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance) at various times along the way. We visited the Big Texan for supper on the way through Amarillo, and stopped at the Pueblo Colorado Zoo. A penguin there adored Avi and followed her along the glass for a long time. It was precious. I packed up our bags one night around 2:00 am near Colorado Springs after smelling smoke and hearing sirens, and sure enough, around 3:45 a knock at our motel door announced that we would need to evacuate. Blessings on that town. They have been through it. We decided that we might as well get on the road, so we drove to El Dorado State Park for a short hike. I realized quickly that my breathing wasn't the best, so I had to lay low (very low) for the week. Continuing Medical Education filled Van's mornings, and the kids had two full days of day camp. The other time was spent with friends or just with mama doing crafts, putt-putt and nature classes--but I was moving SL-OW-LY, a few steps at a time. The facilities there were wonderful, but not air conditioned. We had brought the Texas heat with us, and there was not a lot of relief. We left some of the windows cranked open during the day to let a breeze through the cabin. The kids were at day camp, and Van and I had the afternoon to ourselves to cook a bit of lunch and then maybe go sight-seeing in the park. When we drove up to the cabin, Van noticed two round ears behind a boulder. Sure enough, a bear was just a few yards from us. We snuck into the cabin where there were paw prints on our kitchen floor, an overturned trash can and paw prints on our gatoraid tub. The peanut butter jar was missing. That thief had bent the screen on the window, let himself in, found his favorite snack and was eating it in the yard. I was glad that we had arrived AFTER he found his prize. Yikes. We did not follow the YMCA's instructions, and definitely did corrupt a bear.

On the way back, we visited Capulin Volcano. That was neat. We drove WAY up to the top and Van hiked down to the center with the kiddos who were so excited to be in a real volcano. Then, we stopped at McDonald's and had some stretch time at a great playground, a bathroom accident and a humdinger of a meltdown over a missing piece of a toy. Time to go home!!!!

Since then, we have enjoyed the plethora of library showcases in Waco, the YMCA pool and any sort of air-conditioned kid-friendly place that is NOT in our very-clean-ready-to-show-at-the-push-of-a-button home. I pack a lunch bag in the morning, and off we go. I decided I'm a better

Transitions

Our family has been running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Never actually seen that. I'm okay with that. Sounds messy. This week was wonderfully full of VBS, Sports Camp, important house decisions and doctors' appointments. All went well.

I'm back on lots and lots of medications, but they don't seem to bother me except I'm blowing up like a balloon, and it hurts the pocketbook. My Nanny used to call it a pocketbook. The money is not in my pocket, nor in a book. It is at Walgreens. My doctor emphasized to look at the big picture and to realize how sick I was a couple of years ago and how successful the transplant has been. I agree. I have been trying to thank God for the icky meds, too, because they are truly a blessing. But...I really don't want to spend the same amount for a thirty day supply of medication as I could for four toilets for the new place. Big picture...big picture.... We're not hurting for money. The Lord has supplied all our needs in the riches of Christ Jesus. That includes financially, so I should just shut up and be thankful! Shut up, Wehmeyer.

The kiddos have been troopers through the transition from one home to another. Many of their special toys have been packed away, and there have been extra rather dull errands to appliance stores and many long waits in the car while one parent communicates with the supplier. Many pieces of candy have been handed out, especially today. One supplier was across the street from a parade. Happy June-teenth! I love a good parade, and Zane loves candy, so we hopped out of the truck and blended right in! Fun times. The folks around us felt that Zane didn't have enough Skittles, Tootsie Rolls and lollipops, so they kept bringing him some. Everyone knew everyone at that parade, and the adults were as excited about the sweets as the kids. Grumpy girl got out of the truck to see the horses, and then they all got into the action for the spoil. We were still blocked from the supplier, so Van hunted down our friends that intentionally live among and minister to the neighborhood. My friend's fourth baby is due any moment, so it was really neat seeing them and seeing how they restored the 1912 house.

Because all three stay in one room, we moved out Avi's crib, and Zane and Cade slept in the same bed on the top while Avi slept on the bottom. My normally "early to bed, early to rise, the chicken with its head cut off gets the worm" kids have been going to bed later and later. It became very apparant tonight that Zane was better off sleeping on the floor! To top it off with another major disruption to a child's world, I hid Avi's beloved potty chair when we had prospective buyers come through, and she thought that we put it in storage, so I kept it hidden. Poor girl is going through a lot. The house is spotless, and I would like to keep it that way. Zane used furniture polish for me today, and Cade used Windex to get his sunscreen fingerprints off of the window. I'm becoming a little neurotic. Just a little. Avi just decided to deal with it in her very own way and throw tiny Legos across the room, and when that didn't get a big enough reaction, the lid to the box. Very uncharacteristic.

The kids and I are traveling to Utopia this week to see my uncles from Amarillo and my cousins from California. My sister's crew will also be there. Fun! I plan on leaving out after church, and I haven't packed our bags yet. Hmmmmm.... Avi, go to sleep! I think just ditching the whole deal and leaving town is a great idea. Van will do some touch-ups around the house while we're gone. (hint, hint) We'll come back to Waco mid-week in time to re-pack bags for a trip to Colorado for a medical conference/vacation at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park. We have some concern about my breathing in the thin air, but the lung specialist is making sure that I'll have access to an oxygen tank if needed. We're driving this time (two years ago we had a hard time with flying with 3 kids and delays) and giving me some time to acclimate. I need that anyway for Colorado. We had considered going to Pike's Peak in a train, but figured that was over the top. Ha- over the top. It will be the first time I've packed a blender for a trip. Smoothies rock. We're also packing plenty of videos for the kids. No major educational, wholesome activities planned for the car ride. Diego, Leapster and stuffed animals will have to do. I can't trust any of them with a pen or markers anyway. Who forgot to train these children, anyway?

conversations

The second night in Utopia....

Me: Cade, do not wake me up before six o'clock. Do not wake me up before six o'clock. DO NOT wake me up before six o'clock.

Cade: Five fifty-nine?



Three hours into the trip back to Waco from Utopia...

Zane: I can see Waco with my goggle eyes! (He always keeps them handy.)


A typical day....

Cade: Zane and I are going to attach a bungee cord to the door knob and one to the little table, then slam the door. It will knock over the little table.

Me: ...and break my vase that's on the table.

Cade: Yes.

Me: ...and break my vase.

Cade: Maybe I should move the vase.

Me: Yes.

Cinco

Five good days in a row! I'm interested what the Dallas lung doc will say tomorrow.

A lovely Saturday

Van took me to Dallas ysterday, and Zane and Avi stayed with his mama while my mama took care of the homefront and transported Cade to and from school. It takes a village. Everyone had Shipley's kolaches, and that takes the edge off. My doc and PA conferred with many more docs, and they all decided to treat my lung issue as Graft vs. Host disease (instead of just waiting for pneumonia to clear up). GVH can reduce the elasticity of the lungs. A Fightin' Texas Aggie would say, "That's bad bull, Ags." I was put on a high dose of steroids (sigh...I was so close to being weaned off of them entirely), and a combination of three other drugs that have shown really great results in other patients. Also, there is hope on the horizon for mis ojos. There exists, somewhere in the great U.S. of A. new technology that allows a contact lens to cover the entire exposed part of the eye preventing this drying out and decomposition that can follow. It is also possible to produce a "serum" made from my own blood and put into little bottles for me to use as eye drops. They call it "snake oil" and sell it for $50 a pop. A bargain, really. For real, though, one or both of those options may work out. The docs and insurance are working on it. I go back to a special specialist on Thursday in Dallas to especially talk about the GVH in the lungs and have a new CT and breathing tests done. Oooohhhh....I hope I pass! Not sure how to study for this one... The last two days I've seen much improvement. Again, not sure if it is the one dose of the treatment regimine or the grace of God, or Him exhibiting his mercy through treatment...I still haven't teased it all out, but I will give him much thanks for being able to pick up a fallen Cheerio or holler across the house. It's the little things. My friend down the road treated my kids to swimming and me to a delicious poolside lunch today. Her son and Cade are classmates. She took care of us all and refilled my diet coke while timing the oven for the cookies. Luxury. All of a sudden we have an almost framed house, and many windows and doors. Van is in charge of picking out faucets, and he chose well. We selected a stain for the beams, a color for the metal roof, and a trim color today while Mom managed the kids and "Air Buddies". Whew! I'm putting myself in charge of picking out the bathtub--that is all that really matters. :) It is looking so very pretty. At the same time, it is really weird not buying the faucets at the Mercy Mission Evangelical Jump Rope for Diabetes garage sale, and stressful. I was able to walk up the steps to our prayer room, and that was really nice. I've had two healthier days in a row now. We reported to the kids that they have windows in their rooms now, and they were very excited. I described the pantry to Zane, and his eyes got big and round. "A special place just for FOOD?" I might need to hang a bell on that doorknob! I'm thinking that I'll be able to go to church tomorrow. That will be so nice.

The day to day

Mom made Van the Pioneer Woman's meatloaf from the cookbook that he gave me for Mother's Day. It was held together with bacon--the meatloaf, not the book, but that would have been okay, too. The meatloaf was accompanied by one of my favorite salad (of a list of two) that includes yummy avacado. She also made Pioneer Woman's blackberry cobbler and made sure Van got a piece. Last night, she made PW's lemon blueberry pancakes, and Zane just ate and ate with a sweet grin on his face. That kid can stick a smile for longer than anyone I know. He grins with certain foods, swimming or playing in dirt or any combination of these mentioned. Dirt+water= grin. Mixing food with dirt= grin. Swimming in food= grin. Mom, Zane, Avi and I all stayed home today. I got to play a couple of board games with the kids and watched them alternatively get into mischief and play like little angels. Zane and Avi see nothing unusual about crafting things out of toothpaste, hand soap and baby dolls. I don't know how many times Mom got them off of the kitchen counter, out of the refrigerator and helped them change their clothes after some tragic spill. Cade is decidedly addicted to reading. He announced himself at 9:00 last night into the livingroom with, "Oh, I finally finished it!", indicating the Boxcar children book in his hand. I didn't know he had stayed up, and was so thrilled that I ordered a box set of books for our travels on the spot. If I've got to feel puny, this ain't too bad.