Hi All!
Is spring EVER going to get here? We all want to get out on the golf course! The snow needs to melt faster! It is spring break, this week, for Aly. Unfortunately, we don't have any fun or exciting plans. Kevin and I are taking a few days off to try to fill some of Aly's time off. It sounds like it will finally reach 50 degrees on Friday, so we'll have to find something to do. Maybe go to a drive to Stillwater for shopping and lunch? Something to get away for a short time. I'm taking tomorrow off and am planning to take Aly and a friend to Mall of America for some ride time! Aly loves the rides, especially roller coasters. She is the dare devil of the family. She is looking forward to it. I've reached the point where I just get dizzy and start feeling sick, so it's not much fun anymore! Stinks, getting older!
Speaking of getting older, Aly's birthday is coming up on April 11th. She will be 12 this year! I'm busy searching for gifts. She's a tough one to buy for. She has received many nice gifts through her cancer experience, all the gadgets a preteen likes, so we usually have to come up with something creative. I'll have to keep working on that!
Aly continues to have her ups and downs. I wish I could wave a magic wand every time she gets down. Last week, it was the friend thing again. This time, she came home from school, one day, and told me she feels like the third wheel in two groups of girls. There are 2 girls, whom she's friends with, and they both have other close girl friends, and Aly was feeling left out, saying how each of the groups are doing fun things and she "never" hears about what they are doing until after it has already happened. I think most of us have experienced that at one time or another. It is hard being a middle schooler. This weekend went better as some neighbor friends came over to play. She had a good time. At one point the girls were sitting in our guest room and I was on the computer, next door. Aly had left the door open, for a change, so I was eavesdropping (a mom's right, right?). Our house, and our next door neighbor's house have bedroom windows across from each other. When Aly was a little younger, Aly had the, mentioned, bedroom. She and her friend, next door, used to write messages, to each other, on a small white board, and communicate by showing the messages through the windows. The girls were talking about that and one of them said, "those were the days!" I got my laugh for the day. They talked like they were old retirees or something. It was cute. Aly was in a great mood after that play day. It made me happy to see she was happy. Today, she was invited over to another friend's house and she has her date to go to MOA tomorrow, so all is currently good, in the friend world.
Aly has made it to the growth hormone dosage goal, without any issues. Yes! I'm knocking on wood again...I don't want to jinx her. It seems I continue to do that. I find it interesting that she's not having the same problems as she did last time, such as the jittery behavior and medication problems. She's had a couple of days where things have been thrown off, but for the most part, it's been good other than the fact she is really sick of getting a shot every night. We will have to have her blood drawn, soon, to check the hormone levels to see if they are where the doctor wants them to be, where Aly should see the most potential growth. The jaw locks continue to be sporadic. Last week, she had 2 days without ANY. Then, of course, I ask about them, because I haven't seen her have any at home. The next day, she has several. Jinx! It still boggles everyone. How weird is it that they happen on the first bite of food or gum, and then don't happen again until the next meal? Why the first bite? Why is it happening at all? Some days, she'll have none. No rhyme or reason.
Finally, our family will be attending the Ride for Kids, put on by the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, on July 21, in Vadnais Heights, MN. Aly was out of town, with her grandparents, last year so she didn't get to ride, but we had a friend of the family ride, in the ride, on Aly's behalf. This year, we will be in town, so Aly will be able to ride as well. They find bikers with sidecars, so the kids can ride along. The Pediatric Brain Tumor foundation does wonderful things to help families and kids. Besides medical research, for a cure, they give scholarships and so much more. I have set up a fundraising site, in honor of Aly, if you are interested in donating to a very worthy cause. Each day, 11 kids are diagnosed with a brain tumor of some kind. Please consider donating in honor of Aly's survivorship and to help other kids and families like ours. If anyone would like to register to ride, you are welcome to do that as well. It is a fun event and awesome experience to see all the bikers take off in support of the kids. If you are a motorcycle enthusiast, it is cool to go and check out the variety of motorcycles. Follow the link if you are interested in joining or donating. Thank you!
http://pbtf.convio.net/site/TR/2013RideforKids/General?px=1186085&pg=personal&fr_id=1220#.UVIfeBwRQY5
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Working!
I've had so much going on, the time has gotten away from me AGAIN!! Sorry for the delay in posting! I can't believe it is March 14th! Goodwill is opening a new store in Maple Grove (a second one) and I am now working there. I have been in the process of training my replacement at the old store and trying to get organized at the new store. I have been working over 40 hours a week (my usual is 25 hours) doing both. So, I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed. I don't know how I ever worked 40 hours before (when Tom was younger and when I was younger! :)). Kudos to you moms who do. It is not easy! The saving grace is that my fabulous mother was in town, visiting, and she kept me caught up at home doing dishes, laundry and keeping Aly busy! Thank you Mom! My pocket book also thanks you because I will get a nice paycheck tomorrow!
This week, things are slowing down. The new store opens tomorrow. They are having a preview sale from 4-7pm if you are interested. You will need to buy a $7 ticket at the door. Otherwise they open for usual business on Saturday. It is off of Elm Creek Blvd by US Bank.
Ok, on to Aly...
Things are at a maintenance level. Which is good. Our busy day, of the week, is Thursday. She has physical therapy and then we travel to Children's in Mpls. for yoga. Aly is really enjoying both. Sister Kenny is a great place for kids! Aly is doing all sorts of things. I don't know how some of the exercises pertain to hand/arm strength, but it sure looks fun. I guess it has to do with coordination and the therapist was explaining something about balance and middle ear function and getting the brain to work with the ears/eyes. I don't know, but is somehow helping. One thing Aly struggled with is spreading butter or peanut butter on bread. They had her test her ability, at the clinic, last week and she did it great! I am so happy that we found them after all the struggles of searching!
The yoga has been enjoyable for both of us. It is not a strenuous yoga. They focus on simple stretches and breathing. It is so very relaxing. I hate having to get in the car and drive home afterwards. Kevin joined us this evening. He was catching a bus, tonight, in Mpls., to go visit Tom, in Nebraska, so we dropped him off after yoga. Tom has spring break this coming week, so Kevin is going down for an extended weekend and they will drive back here, together, on Tuesday. They are hoping it will be warm enough to play some golf down there and Tom has a hockey game on Monday he wants to play in.
KNOCK ON WOOD, the increase in growth hormone dosage is not affecting Aly's sleep or medication to control the urine output. What a relief! Hopefully, this increase will give her the growth spurt we are all looking for. She continues to have the stupid jaw locks. Not any worse, not any better. Just a consistent frustration, along with having to give herself a shot every night for the growth hormones.
Two Saturdays ago, Aly and I had a girl's day out with my sister (Aunt Jill). Jill lives downtown Mpls. Aly and I drove to her place and from there Jill drove us to Uptown. It was a lovely weather day, if you remember, nice and sunny and rather warm. We had a blast shopping and having lunch with Jill. We found some really cute things and really cute stores. We happened upon a shop called Bobiam. They feature, artwork, and clothing with artwork printed on it, all done by kids under 18. It was very cool. They also have art classes, yoga classes and some baking classes for kids. Check them out if you are looking for something fun to do. Aly found a really cute hat (pictured below). You can't quite see it in totality, but it has a pinwheel knitted into the top. I couldn't pass it up. It fits Aly's personality so perfectly. The shop had many knit hats done by a teenage girl. She knits funny things into them. Some had nerf darts sticking out, others had pastel Christmas type ornaments hanging down. Just awesome. We enjoyed a late lunch at the Uptown Diner, after shopping...very yummy food! It was a good time had by all! We are going to join Jill, this weekend for the new Wizard of Oz movie. While the boys are away, the girls will play! :) Sounds like it will be a good weekend for a movie. "Oh, the weather outside is frightful..."
Other than that, time keeps marching forward...very quickly! I wish spring would come faster...it is so nice of the weather people to keep reminding us how warm it was last March.
This week, things are slowing down. The new store opens tomorrow. They are having a preview sale from 4-7pm if you are interested. You will need to buy a $7 ticket at the door. Otherwise they open for usual business on Saturday. It is off of Elm Creek Blvd by US Bank.
Ok, on to Aly...
Things are at a maintenance level. Which is good. Our busy day, of the week, is Thursday. She has physical therapy and then we travel to Children's in Mpls. for yoga. Aly is really enjoying both. Sister Kenny is a great place for kids! Aly is doing all sorts of things. I don't know how some of the exercises pertain to hand/arm strength, but it sure looks fun. I guess it has to do with coordination and the therapist was explaining something about balance and middle ear function and getting the brain to work with the ears/eyes. I don't know, but is somehow helping. One thing Aly struggled with is spreading butter or peanut butter on bread. They had her test her ability, at the clinic, last week and she did it great! I am so happy that we found them after all the struggles of searching!
The yoga has been enjoyable for both of us. It is not a strenuous yoga. They focus on simple stretches and breathing. It is so very relaxing. I hate having to get in the car and drive home afterwards. Kevin joined us this evening. He was catching a bus, tonight, in Mpls., to go visit Tom, in Nebraska, so we dropped him off after yoga. Tom has spring break this coming week, so Kevin is going down for an extended weekend and they will drive back here, together, on Tuesday. They are hoping it will be warm enough to play some golf down there and Tom has a hockey game on Monday he wants to play in.
KNOCK ON WOOD, the increase in growth hormone dosage is not affecting Aly's sleep or medication to control the urine output. What a relief! Hopefully, this increase will give her the growth spurt we are all looking for. She continues to have the stupid jaw locks. Not any worse, not any better. Just a consistent frustration, along with having to give herself a shot every night for the growth hormones.
Two Saturdays ago, Aly and I had a girl's day out with my sister (Aunt Jill). Jill lives downtown Mpls. Aly and I drove to her place and from there Jill drove us to Uptown. It was a lovely weather day, if you remember, nice and sunny and rather warm. We had a blast shopping and having lunch with Jill. We found some really cute things and really cute stores. We happened upon a shop called Bobiam. They feature, artwork, and clothing with artwork printed on it, all done by kids under 18. It was very cool. They also have art classes, yoga classes and some baking classes for kids. Check them out if you are looking for something fun to do. Aly found a really cute hat (pictured below). You can't quite see it in totality, but it has a pinwheel knitted into the top. I couldn't pass it up. It fits Aly's personality so perfectly. The shop had many knit hats done by a teenage girl. She knits funny things into them. Some had nerf darts sticking out, others had pastel Christmas type ornaments hanging down. Just awesome. We enjoyed a late lunch at the Uptown Diner, after shopping...very yummy food! It was a good time had by all! We are going to join Jill, this weekend for the new Wizard of Oz movie. While the boys are away, the girls will play! :) Sounds like it will be a good weekend for a movie. "Oh, the weather outside is frightful..."
Other than that, time keeps marching forward...very quickly! I wish spring would come faster...it is so nice of the weather people to keep reminding us how warm it was last March.
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