Soul Sonata

10-25-88 to 6-23-09

2009-10-25T10:29:00.002-06:00

The places are set, the balloons all around
Warm cake fills the air - fragrant & nice
The excitement is energizing - almost electric
Then the song fills the air
Happy Birthday to You...
Happy Birthday to You...
Such a familiar song sung like never before
From the angels it rings
Then you feel the squeeze of the Master's Hand
Because you know how much He loves you
And how glad He is to finally have you
Home
To celebrate YOU - There
A marvelous day, indeed
Today is your first birthday in Heaven
We'd never wish you back
But we can hardly wait to be There
With you

Happy Mother's Day 2009

2009-05-16T19:01:00.002-06:00

This is a picture of our belated Easter celebration and a great representation of the lovliness of the relationship between my mother, me and my daughters! Blessed beyond understanding, I am!

The Cancer Story...

2009-05-16T18:18:00.006-06:00

So I'm going to share with you the actual correspondences I
had with some folks during our Cancer Ordeal.

Wed, May 6, 2009
Hello friends & family!
This is a late night update on the happenings of this glorious day!

Mom went into surgery a few minuts late - about 7:40am
she was scheduled at 7:30. They told us surgery began at about

8:15 and was expected to last 2-1/2 to 3 hours. By 9:15 we were
talking to the surgeon. An hour after it began it was over!**

The procedure we all understood she was having was a laproscopic procedure. They would do a bowel rescetion and remove the tumor, any lymph nodes affected and whatever blood supply necessary. Dr P also told us he was going to put in the chemo port.**

"Whoa on the port! You MAY not have to do that," Mom told him.
He visibly humored her and 'agreed' that maybe he wouldn't have to

do that but he was expecting it and so should she. **

When he told us (post op) he had to remove 4 feet of small bowel, he
ended up having to forgo the laproscopy and make an incision but
they believed they got it ALL (nodes, everything) so they DIDN'T
put the port in - we nearly jumped out of our skin! We were

praising the Lord - RIGHT THERE! We knew without a doubt we
just witnessed a miracle! We had been told that Dr P's hand were personally blessed by him just the day before. The evidence was had!

Then yet another miracle happened right before our eyes! She had requested to be put back on the oncology floor. She was told that while they would do everything they could to accomodate that request, the hospital was officially 'full'. When it came time to assign her a room, they just didn't have anything available there, so they gave her another room on a different floor. We agreed that wasn't the worst taht could happen and went to wait for her in the room they told us.**

In the midst of waiting for her to arrive, Papa got a call from the patient liaison
saying she'd just heard a room opened up on the oncology floor. Praise the Lord -
AGAIN!!! So we ran to that floor to wait for it to be cleaned and then for our reunion with Mama!**

When we laid our eyes on her for the first time...glorious moment! Her color was good and

she looked so good! SHe handled pain very well all afternoon into tonight.

She got up and walked 3 laps (champ) and then had a bit more pain, but the next step is to wake her sleeping bowels. She cna't do anything post-op until they're gurgling and showing they're alive again. **
We've said it all along and can prove it now...God is good- ALL THE TIME!

Thurs, May 7, 2009

Friends & Family:
First of all, thank you for your thoughts & prayers for Mom and the family. We feel them and appreciate them.**
Today Mom had a much more difficult day. The nurses forewarned us, but we weren't truly prepared. She had more sensations therefore more pain and
much more discomfort. She wasn't getting rest and so the afternoon was a fight
to regain control of the pain and create a restful atmosphere for her.**
It was a long haul, but prais the Lord, it worked! She got thru it and felt like a new
woman this afternoon/evening. She was doubly blessed when the surgeon came
in and released her from continuing with an uncomfortable tube that was fished

down her nose and into her stomach. It visibly made her feel better.**
We are loking forward to her "guts to start grooving" so she can get moving!
They are beginning to hear hypernoises - which aren't the real thing but a good sign, none-the-less.**
Her incision looks great, we are so thankful!**
We covet your continued prayers and thank you for what you've already offered for us! We feel it and know God is good - all the time!

Friday, May 8, 2009
Faithful Friends & Family:
There is much and little to report today on my Mama.**

While I am so thrilled that she had a much more pain-tolerable day, there didn't appear to be any improvement in her quest to wake the bowels.**
In addition to the loss of the 'nose-hose' last night, today she was freed from the constraints of having oxygen and a catheter. She was like a bird with the cage door opened! She flew all over that hospital floor! The lack of progression in her gut was a bit discouraging giving the ambulation she was doing.**
The good news is this: she got the results of the pathology report.**
Dr P said they found 8 MORE TUMORS than the one they went in after. They were were much smaller, but WERE there and now are NOT!!! WHile that is lovely in and of itself, this is even more glorious: of the 17 lymph nodes they removed, only TWO were affected with the cancer. ONLY 2 of 17! This means they got it all and there should not be a CHANCE of CHEMO right now! Praise JESUS!!!**
Because there were so many more tumors than they expected there will be a close watch kept on Mom in at least the near future...perhaps all of her future. She will have to repeat the 5-HIAA test in about a month. We don't know the intervals they will continue to test it or when they will stop.**
So...not a lot to report on the groove-less gut, but so much to be thankful for in regard to the path reports!**
Many have asked when she will return home. We are discouraged every day her organs stay dormant. We don't know how long she'll be kept after they wake up - we understand it all happens relatively quickly, but the key word there is relatively. WHat is quick to a doctor may be days to an inpatient patient.**
A good sign today was the return of her hunger pains. WE are praying that means things actually ARE waking up and are just beeing quiet, not silent, in there.

Saturday, May 9, 2009
Good Saturday afternoon!
I am so thankful to get to write this to you all right now, today. I have great news! My mom is HOME! She was released from the hospital this afternoon and is home resting comfortably.**
She had a 'productive' night but the nurses couldn't hear any of her progress so it was incredibly discouraging to her. SHe didn't get much rest and was hungry, cranky and frustrated.**
When she saw the surgeon she told him of her progression and he didn't care whether or not the nurses could 'hear' it or not. He advanced her diet order from ice chips to clear liquids. She got to have broth, jello and Italian Ice for breakfast. That stayed down well so for lunch she moved on to thicker liquids: strained cream of chicken soup and a milk shake. By 1:00pm we were told she would start the discharge process. We figured by 3 she'd be released. By 2:08pm we were on our way home! Rapid discharge is unhear of ! Praise the Lord!**
The first thing she did when she got home was to shower and get the hospital 'smell' off of her! She's settled in and I am praying for a very quiet afternoon for her so she can rest and try to recoup.**
Tomorrow is Mother's Day and I am more blessed than I deserve or can believe: to have my Mama healthy, home and with a good prognosis! She will visit her surgeon early next week to get her staples out and then will continue her check-ups as suggested.**
We appreciate you all taking this difficult and joyful journey with us!**
God is good - all the time - and I am blessed beyond understanding!!**
Happy Mother's Day to the mothers and Blessed Day in the Lord to the rest!
Warmly,
Gretta

Orange ammunition!

2009-04-27T19:24:00.003-06:00

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition (that is - in the little orange bottle)! **********************************************************************************

Mama started to feel an 'episode' coming on yesterday afternoon and although she is my mama and was reluctant to do so, she finally decided popping those little pills were better than the stabbing pain she has grown un-accustomed to.

We had a concert to go to and she really wanted to go, so she took her nausea medicine about 30 minutes before I came to get her and then took a pain pill as I was picking her up. While it didn't probably work as nicely as the injection of morphine, for a pill it at least took the painful edge off.

She never did need to vomit and after a second dose was able to sleep well thru the night. It's just another lesson in this chapter we have now learned. The medicine works to prevent the pain! Yeah!

Mama News...

2009-04-23T21:41:00.002-06:00

Mama, Papa & I went to meet with her surgeon today. I was thrilled at the prospect of finally LEARNING something, but she quickly reminded me that we may NOT learn a thing. Ugh. I hadn't thought of that. She could be right. It could be a meeting where he says, "I don't have enough information to tell you anything...let's meet again in 'x' amount of time."

I decided that would be worse than ANYTHING he could deliver otherwise.

Fortunately for us, he was full of information. He began by just talking thru one of the test's results...the HIAA-5...positive: Carcinoid. Then when prompted he left and came back with his laptop which delightfully connected us to the scans Mama had been having. The 3 CTs from Easter weekend along with the newest Octreotide scan. Mama said it best: that tumor lit up like a full moon on a pitch-black night. Now we know...it glows!

While that's not the BEST news, it is a result either way. We now know pretty definitively that her tumor has the name 'Carcinoid'. We also now know that surgery will be May 6th. We are fairly certain that the Carcinoid is in a lymph node/gland and if that comes to be true then we know Chemotherapy will be next on the treatment path.

Mama didn't want to have Chemo, but when Dr Surgeon says that without chemo it's a more devastating result...Chemo doesn't sound so bad. Icky...but better that than letting the Carcinoid 'win'.

We remain in good spirits. So much to process. Emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially, and other ways we have yet to discover. It will certainly be a path of education. One I wouldn't have taken voluntarily...but this is the path that lies before us and we will boldly walk it until we're past it, arm-in-arm, heads held as high as possible and spirits soaring on the faith we bear. The Lord is my Refuge...in Him will I trust!

Believe it!

2009-04-22T21:47:00.002-06:00

Oh, my precious, darling, sweet, innocent 5 year old decided to take matters into her own hands and (mind you the scissors were in hand) cut her own hair! I know! I couldn't believe it and yet when I stopped and thought about it...yes, I could.

She told her Granma Bear, "...and I'm not even sorry." Well! When I came to pick her up (already knowing the story) I just looked at her all wrapped in Granma's arms. She said before I could speak..."I know, you're mad."

The child had no remourse and part of me is so proud of her unwavering stance (right or wrong) regardless of the pressure she got to 'feel' a certain way. She announced that the kids at school "won't even know me! They'll think there's a new kid at school!" She was so proud of this thought!

It's not as bad as it could be and it certainly was to be expected from this darling child...but none-the-less was a shock to my system to have it a reality. Ugh.

Will she glow or will we know?

2009-04-21T19:28:00.002-06:00

Finally an update to report! I'm so excited! Today Mama got injected with some radio-active stuff and tomorrow we'll find out if she (or rather, the tumor) will glow or not. She's in the process of a test called Octriotide. The substance in her veins will only attach to Carcinoid tumors...so if she (or rather, the tumor) glows under the scan then it's a Carcinoid. If not, it's not a Carcinoid. Simple as that.

Mama did find out that the test she did last week that was supposed to measure ?? something in her urine had to go to the Mayo Clinic to be tested, so those results won't be back for a while.

The appointment with the surgeon will be Thursday, hopefully it will all come together then and we will know the path she will take to rid herself of this tumor. As with other troubles in life, "This, too, shall pass." (Personally, I can't wait to be on the other side of this experience. I'm sure she feels the same and I wonder what all we'll learn thru it.)

Time Lost...

2009-04-19T15:19:00.004-06:00

An awful lot has happened since the last time I posted to this blog. My Sissy turned 5 (sorry, I'll have to add pix later) and most recently my mother was found to have a tumor. I know! A tumor is a big, UGLY word. I'm not scared, tho.

This chapter of the story began when Mama was so sick she couldn't watch the girls Wed, Apr 8th. My mama doesn't get sick and yet it came to mind that in the last several months she'd been sick (incapacitated) more often than I remember her EVER being sick. Odd. And as always, she got well nearly as fast as she got sick. Sure enough by Thursday it was like nothing ever happened.

Well, when the episode hit again Friday night at 9pm and lasted thru the night into early Saturday morning we all knew the inevitable. She had to seek medical attention. She spent an agonizing day scooting from one office to another, giving her whole life story to every new face she saw and by 7pm that night she was finally admitted to the hospital. 3 CT scans and an unknown number of doctors consulting together over them finally brought the conclusion that there was, indeed, a tumor at the source of all this.

Unfortunately this all happened on Easter weekend. So, the girls went to see their Granma in the hospital on Easter morning and that's where we praised the Lord for his Risen Son.

Over a week later and we still don't know what kind of tumor, what treatment options or when the surgery will be to remove the ugly tumor. But we do know that God is good - all the time and that His Will will be done and we'll all get thru it by his grace and with his mercy.

For those who read this Sonata of my Soul my need of you is: PRAYER.

Our strength will probably wane over then next few weeks but our faith never will.

Year end to present

2009-01-03T18:41:00.008-07:00

My darling Missy turned 9 today! I can't believe it's even possible that she can be this age. She announced the other day that she's half-way to 18. Ugh. Not what a mother wants to think about.

We tried to make it a very special day for her. This morning she got up and opened her bday card. In the card was a note inviting her to make her pick (of 3) restaurants to eat breakfast at. She picked the local Country Club. Then while she was opening her gift (an outfit: white long sleeved shirt with sequenced ice skate, red 'silk' skirt and plaid tights) at the bottom of the box was a note announcing that we were going ice skating today. She was soooo excited!

At breakfast she was given another note asking if she wanted to get her ears pierced today. Oh...that took her back. She said she was going to have to think about that one! And she did. She thought and thought about it then suddenly announced that she wanted to go for it. (We had even told her she could wait until next weekend so she could think about it all week before she did something she didn't want to do.) She was so cute. She got pink gemstone flowers.

After the piercings she got to go with the family ice skating. A new experience for all of us. So much fun! Mommy went too fast and Missy fell (once) and wouldn't you know it, Mommy got in more trouble for getting that pretty red skirt wet with ice than the fact that she fell. :)

Upon getting home for her cake/ice cream party she got to enjoy the company of lots of loving family members and be the receipent of lots of wonderful gifts and love. She was so excited. We ended the gift time with her last surprise...a brand new bike! She was soooo surprised! She announced to one Papa Beard that this bike was wayyyy better than the bike he got for her out of the dump. (ha!)

I think this was a very full day of lots of excitement and fun for us all. Sissy can hardly wait to have a day alllll about HER! (One month and counting!)

*************************************************************************************

Christmas was a wonderful time this year. We had lots of fun with lots of family and we didn't even have too much of a loss of income. (Less presents to buy was a huge blessing for us!) The girls delighted in seeing their Grandma B from Missouri and their Uncle, Aunt & Cousin from NV as well as the 'regular' blessings...the grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles.

Halloween, haunts and hooligans...

2008-11-11T09:37:00.010-07:00

******************************************The girls had a great time dressing for Halloween. Not having the money to spend on the fancy $35 Walmart quality costumes, nor the desire to dress my precious darlings as hustlers - we opted to be creative this year (perhaps the beginning of a tradition). Missy chose to be 'cat-girl' having her face decorated by a class-mate while Sissy decided she'd be Super Piggy! (Her mind goes places even mine doesn't!) They both had a great time. We enjoyed them and they enjoyed the holiday. **** As a matter-of-fact, they're still enjoying the holiday. Last night I found Sissy sitting at the kitchen table with the bowl of Halloween candy in front of her and wrappers of candy surrounded her bowl. She confessed this morning that she was trying to make 'toot-sweets' like she'd just seen on Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang (the movie). What she was successful in making was a super sugar high child! Fortunately she doesn't have school on Tuesdays, so she was able to sleep off her indulge!

Mommy, is this appropriate?

2008-09-27T20:31:00.004-06:00

Sissy joined me at a local community affair. I worried that she'd been too young and disinterested and might get anxious to leave. Much to my surprise there was a hispanic girl close to her age also at the event. The two were so excited to spot each other - just to have someone alike.
The little nina didn't speak English and the little girl didn't speak Spanish. Thinking this new relationship could never work with this language barrier - I learned a lesson.
Those two girlies talked to each other (in their own words), played with one another and danced allll over the affair. At the end of the night I asked Sissy if she learned the other little girl's name. She answered me indignantly: "Mom, she doesn't know our language. She doesn't speak Colorado!"

*******************************************************************************
The other day Missy paraded Sissy out and around so proud of her (Missy's) fashion design. She says she wants to be a designer some day. Sissy is compliant and enjoys being Missy's model. Watch out, world! Here they come! The drama queen and her understudy.
(At least they look good. Inappropriate, but good.)

Anniversary brings Happy Times

2008-09-07T19:22:00.002-06:00

Well, here we are, Mister D and I...eleven years of marriage and two beautiful daughters later, we have made an investment in our future and their child-hood memories with this new purchase of ours. We began tent-camping this summer and have loved the times at the lake so much that after much coercing and prayer (and finding a steal of a deal) we invested in this beautiful bumper-pull camper trailer.
This weekend was our first weekend out and happened to be our anniversary. Missy said it best when she announced that this was our best weekend ever camping and 'our' best anniversary ever! ha!

Palin for President!

2008-09-04T20:43:00.002-06:00

I know Sarah Palin is the Republican Vice Presidential nominee, but I am all for Palin for President! An amazing speaker; her true, down-to-earth, no-nonsense approach hit a chord within my soul. She fired me up from the moment she took the podium and even inspired me to believe in the depths of myself about what I could do for my family, community, government and even my country in the name of God.
She is level-headed and strong-willed. She is brave, strong and confident. She is amazing. A floundering campaign has been revived in the choice of Governor Sarah Palin for Vice President. A country will benefit from her service and we will all be stronger after this leadership takes hold of an uncertain economy. Palin for Vice President (for now) and Palin for President in the (near) future.

Saved by the Bell

2008-08-23T21:42:00.004-06:00

While summer is a wonderful break from the mundane schedule of life, it was so good to get the girls back into the routine of things! **************************

Missy began 3rd grade Aug 19th and while she was anxious about being in a new building, she was pleasantly surprised when she knew almost all of the kids in her class. It was good to be reunited with friends from years past. The overwhelming amount of homework hasn't started yet - so it is still an enjoyable time for all of us.
*************************
Sissy began her first day of Pre-K on Friday. She was so excited to go back to school to see her friends, too! I will surely be a bawling mess next year when she starts Kindergarten! I can't believe she is nearing 5 yrs old so rapidly! Daddy caught this precious bunny moment on film and I couldn't pass publishing it!

************************

Even Granma didn't realize how wonderful it was to have the girls back in school until one afternoon when the killing began - again. Sissy spit on Missy and Missy was about to have her head for it. The screaming and thrashing began all over. THEN Granma realized HOW glad she was she'd been saved by the proverbial 'bell' of fall.

News Bulletin

2008-08-16T17:32:00.013-06:00

Local girl dontaes 10 1/2 inches of hair to charitable organiztion Locks of Love and impresses mother with thoughtful, unselfish giving but proves to depress mother by continuing to grow up. She will begin her first day of 3rd grade in just 3 days. Her summer has been a fast one.

Missy age 8 1/2

Knock your sox off - I'm back!!!

2008-06-29T17:24:00.006-06:00

Hello long lost blog audience! Please forgive my absence...many things have been occupying my time in the last 2 months.

Our summer has begun in the midst of the busyness and this one is for the record books. We have begun to camp. Yup! Old fashioned tent-camping. This picture here is the morning after our first adventure. Boy, was it! We had a beautiful evening setting it up (thankfully as we really didn't know what we were doing) but as soon as we said our bedtime prayers thanking the Lord for his calm provisions, the wind took off. It would have like to blow us to Kansas like little Toto in the Wizard of Oz! It was a time of character and growth. Missy cried real tears and simply wanted to go home. Sissy, on the other hand, began to pray. 5 minute prayers at a time. Needless to say, we survived unscathed and have even gone again! What fun!

Another delightful thing this summer is the visit from our darling cousins. Seen here with Missy & Sissy are Ash & Pay from Texas. Their mother just celebrated her '29th' birthday and we have so enjoyed having them in our midst! We all would enjoy it if they lived closer but are truly thankful for the time we have when they get to come and visit.

Ash and Pay got to spend the night and would you believe (yes, I know you would) that those 2 older girls were up until after 2am! I'm sure they have solved all the worlds problems by now!

The little ones had a great time entertaining one another, too. Even tho Pay didn't plan on staying, it was the best thing in the world! Sissy says Pay is her 'summer brother'. Augh!!!

Let's go a huntin'...for Easter eggs!

2008-03-30T18:19:00.003-06:00

Looking for Easter eggs was some afternoon fun for the girls. They both got new clothes from the 'Easter Bunny'. The night before Easter both girls acted excited about the Easter Bunny coming to our house. They quizzed whether or not he'd be coming. I told them he'd never come to our house before - he'd always ended up at Granma & Papa Bear's house so one couldn't be sure. Well, Sissy had quite a time trying to sleep that night. She finally confessed that she didn't want That Bunny coming in her house! ha!

Author among us...

2008-03-22T19:45:00.002-06:00

The other day Missy brought home a chapter book she had been skipping recess to write. It was called, "My Life in Egypt". Her name in the story was Zipporah, her father was Pharaoh and her mother was an Egyptsie. (You know, Mom...like a belly dancer.) (!) Her story began with her beloved cat whom accidentally bat her tail against the wall which caused the wall to open up to reveal a hidden staircase! Zipporah and the cat went down to investigate when they discovered a figure standing in the distance. It was an Egyptian boy named Zatnatpanaya. The story continued (I can't tell you all...you'll have to read it yourself...) and is now being further explained as Missy writes her second book in the series. Hmmm. An author among us. I could live with that!

Reader Bee

2008-03-04T20:41:00.002-07:00

We are sooo proud of our little Missy. She a bonafide reader bee. We had parent/teacher conferences and found that all of her scores had jumped significantly since the first of the year. Thank you miss Junie B. Jones! (A character book series she loves.)

Fun in the Sun...

2008-03-04T20:33:00.003-07:00

What a fun time we had the other day in the 70 degree weather when we went to the local park and Sissy's little friend from preschool ended up there, too. The girls found lots of lady bugs but Sissy's friend wasn't as sure about picking it up as she was. In the end the friend found the courage to hold it and what a photo op it made!

Too much TV!

2008-02-25T20:09:00.004-07:00

I am fully aware that children are subject to too much TV in today's world. It became my reality, however, when I overheard my oldest ask, "Dad, is it 8/7 Central?"

BUSTED!

2008-02-13T18:59:00.003-07:00

Once upon a time (last night - to be exact) there were two little girls (Missy & Sissy) who were put to bed at a very reasonable time (8:00). This was a bit earlier than ususal and since Mommy was deeply entranced by a particular show (American Idol) the girls were a bit distracted by the noise and couldn't go to sleep (or so I'm told). After an hour had past and the clock had struck midnight (well...9:00) Mommy went to check on her pumpkins. Missy was playing with the cat - (Uh-oh!) and Sissy was no where to be found (bigger uh-oh!).

When Mommy went to check with Daddy and HE didn't know where Sissy was, they both decided to check the bedroom again. No Sissy in the wet bed.
What?! WET BED?!

A bottle of water had been dumped all over the bed leaving a sopping wet mess! Then when Mommy turned around, THERE was Sissy - standing in the closet - with a pretty dress and baby high-heel shoes.

Needless to say Mommy wasn't happy and let her know it. She immediately began sobbing with remorse. She just "...didn't mean to!" Ha! How does one not 'mean' to get dressed up? I don't know but I couldn't help forgiving her when she asked because she was so sincerely sorry for what she'd done.

************ Tonight I was informed that she had gotten all dressed up so she could sneak downstairs and **dance** with her Daddy. ************* aughhhhhhhhh! Way to break a mother's heart!

Marriage?...

2008-02-13T18:50:00.002-07:00

A few days ago I had an interesting conversation with Sissy. It went sort of like this:
Sissy: "Mommy, when will I get married?"
Mommy: "Well, you have a LONNNNNG time to worry about that."
S: "Who will I marry? I think I might marry Aaron."
M: "You don't need to even think about it until you're an adult."
S: "Will I look like you when I'm growed up?"
M: "Definately not."
S: "Will I be as big as you when I'm big?"
M: "Probably not."
S: "Well, I love Aaron and he loves me, so I think I will marry HIM. Will you miss me when I'm married?"
M: "Terribly!"
S: "Well, don't worry - me and Aaron will come visit you, Daddy & Missy EVERY DAY!"
M: "OH, NO you won't! Missy won't be living here then!"
S: "Yes she will."
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Not a Baby Anymore...

2008-02-02T18:29:00.000-07:00

I just can't believe it but my baby isn't a baby anymore! While today isn't the "day" we celebrated Sissy's 4th birthday today with her very own Hello Kitty cake & ice cream. She was surrounded by grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles and one cousin. And of course Mom, Dad and Missy. What a fun time it was. Lots of great gifts (thanks!) and hugs, hugs, hugs! We love you, Sissy! Happy 4th birthday!

Walking Advertisment for...

2008-01-24T19:23:00.001-07:00

While saying our goodnight prayers together the other night, Sissy informed me, "Mom! We need to get First Alert!"

"What?" I asked.

She answered, "First Alert! We need to get it! That way when we fall down or there is a fire, all we have to do is press the white button and the firemen or police will come and save us!"

Then it all sunk in...oh, First Alert! I realized that I have a child that watches T.V. and is able to regurgitate what she hears.

A good reminder for me! Children are sponges and absorb EVERYTHING!

"Oh, be careful little eyes what you see - oh, be careful little ears what you hear...for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little one what you do."

Influenza!!

2008-01-20T17:10:00.000-07:00

Our house has become the haven for the dreaded INFLUENZA!!!

Missy came home from school Wednesday night not feeling so hot. Thursday she was certain she shouldn't go to school. We were certain she should. She was definitely in slow speed that morning and when Mister D took her temperature it was around 99.5. (She warned us she had never had THIS allergy before!) We fully anticipated a call from the school, but never got one. By Thursday night BOTH girls were feeling terrible and had come down with terrible coughs. Neither had a good night and Friday they spent the day with Granma Bear.

Sissy had fevers, too, which we combated with our trusty friend, Tylenol, but when Missy's fever topped out at 104.2 we were terrified. We rushed her to the doctor, got an uncomfortable nasal swab and a positive Influenza result. Ugh.

The doctor was kind enough to prescribe Tamiflu for the entire family - Granma Bear included. So, we've been hibernating and trying to get over this delightful stuff. Fortunately Mommy and the girls have a 3 day weekend, so a full recovery is surely in the stars for us! Make certain if YOU start to feel achy, feverish and develop a cough - GET TO THE DOCTOR!!! There is only a 48 hour window for the Tamiflu to work. It won't stop the flu, but it is touted to shorten the duration and lessen the symptoms. Best wishes and Stay Healthy- from our home to yours!

American Idol Fanatic...

2008-01-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is...my next post and it's all about the next American Idol season! As a fan since season 2, I'm so excited! Missy occasional thinks she'll be the next American Idol, however that stage fright thing might be an issue for her. This is Mister D's favorite part of the season - the try outs. I guess we all get some satisfaction seeing that 'anyone' can try out. :) Missy used to try to convince me I should try out and is terribly disappointed that now her mommy is "too old" for A.I. Sing on, sing on!

Happy New Year!!

2008-01-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

Happy 2008 to you all!

Our year always begins with special times of celebration as our two darlings turn a year older. Missy is always first with her January birthday. Today she turned 8 years old. It's hard to believe but she won't let us forget. We surprised her with a party for she and her 3 closest friends at a local dress-up/tea party place. She isn't usually one to love surprises, but this one actually hit the spot. She was thrilled.

Even Sissy got in on the fun when she joined her big sister for a bit of dress-up and some cake! So much fun! Happy Birthday, big girl! We love you!

And Now the Unveiling of...

2007-12-22T20:22:00.001-07:00

My littlest artist's rendition of Frosty the Snowman. I love it!

American Girls Can Be Anything They Want To Be

2007-12-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

There once were these two American girls and the older sister thought surely she was born in the wrong country to the wrong family. She was confident she was supposed to be born in an Asian country - probably China. She 'kinda' had China eyes, but not quite all the way. Then there was this blonde sister that was born. She was definately NOT Chinese, so the older sister knew for sure that being an American girl was her mistaken identity. One day to please the oldest girl, her great grandmother (commonly known as Grandma Sugar) made the two girls some beautiful Christmas China dresses. The oldest girl squealed and the youngest girl squealed and they both were so anxious to put them on and 'feel' what being Chinese felt like. Well, Chinese or not,they were beautiful. The dresses and the girls! And they both lived happily ever after in their nice American home. The end...(well not really)

Singing and the tree...

2007-12-22T07:55:00.000-07:00

Wow! I've been hearing about it and you're all RIGHT! It HAS been a long time since I posted anything! Sorry! Life, as I'm sure you know is so crazy at this time of year!

Missy's performance went off almost without a hitch. Right as we were "delivering" her to the staff she whipped off her coat to reveal her long-sleeved white shirt was just a spaghetti-straped t-shirt. I was NOT happy about that but as they say, 'the show must go on' and so it did. She did a wonderful job, but has officially announced that she's quit the second grade choir, so if you didn't get to see her, your chance has escaped you.

My 30 minute perfomance was a wonderful treat for me. It was snowing so hard the day of the 'event' that you could often barely see across the street. It was on average 14 degrees that day. Burrrrr! There were some scheduling blunders, but in the end it worked out supurb for me as I got to sing in a shop while the sound was piped over the street and festivities out there. I was warm and yet still got to share. It was wonderful!

Then there was decorating the Christmas tree. As you see our lovely cat thought we'd brought that 'toy' out for her! She was so pleased with us. We, however, weren't so pleased with her when after it was completed she was still trying to get into it or chew on it. We've all come to an understanding and now she pretty well leaves it alone. Good kitty.

Big school girl...

2007-12-04T17:26:00.000-07:00

Who is this pretty preschool girl? I can't believe my little Sissy is so big and has "school" pictures already! What fun to watch her develop and make new friends. She is the humor-factor of our family and definately greatly entertaining! It seems like only yesterday we were learning of her arrival - now look at her!
Children are a gift of the Lord, indeed!

Giving Thanks...

2007-11-27T20:05:00.000-07:00

As I sit in my chair reading a book on forensic science, Sissy plays in the bathtub rapidly approaching her 4th birthday (is that EVEN possible?) while Missy is downstairs singing and playing on the computer. Mister D works diligently in the back room on some of his moonlighting computers.

This is a blessed time. There are no crisis' in front of us or currently being dealt with. Our biggest "issue" at the moment is what - if anything - we will be buying for Christmas this year.

Next on our 'to do' list is Missy's 2nd grade choir production at the Civic Center's Hall of Trees Festival. Then our town's Christmas celebration where I will have a 30 minute performance window.

What a blessed life we live! I am acutely aware of my state of being - my state of blessing - and hope to always discover myself in a perpetual state of thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-24T16:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

We had a wonderful holiday and

enjoyed family and good food (and believe it or not - I cooked, too)!

We are trying to get ourselves in the gear of Christmas but it seems impossible that it could be this late in the year already! This morning while I was plunking out our annual Christmas letter Sissy did what she loves to do - play on the computer. The girls are fortunate to have a Daddy who can set up computers with ease so they have their own "lab" with two computers side by side. He was wonderful enough to add headphones so we all can do our own things without disturbing others or being disturbed. We're so fortunate!

Who IS this big girl?

2007-11-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my "baby" is in 2nd grade and looking so big! Missy's school pictures came today and "Wow!" what a cutie (if I don't say so, myself)!

A HUGE step for her this week was her first visit to the local AWANAS program. She informed us that visitors don't have to memorize scripture, but we're praying (and would solicit your prayers) that she becomes more than a visitor! To hide the Word in her heart is a dream of ours.

(The picture to the right was 2005...the Spring before Kindergarten.)

Rest and Relaxation...

2007-11-13T19:45:00.000-07:00

On my day off (Veteran's Day-observed) I couldn't resist this picture of Sissy being a movie-star even during her nap-time. I should have taken a nap, too as - once again- we had a sick child in the night. This time it was Missy. Hopefully we are coming the the end of this series of events.
You can't help but be touched when the 3 year old of the family is thanking God for "keeping Mommy healthy", tho!
To live in a constant state of thankfulness is to really live.

Thank You U.S. Armed Forces Past and Present!

2007-11-10T18:53:00.001-07:00

***Thank you, United States of America Armed Forces! Thank you for putting your lives on the line so I might have the freedom to enjoy my selfish, every-day life without interruption!
***Today at a local Veteran's Day Service an Army Colonel shared with the group that deciding to join the armed forces is like writing a check payable to the United States of America. The cost is left blank but can be written for any amount up to and (all too often) including LIFE. This is a truth many don't recognize any more.
***I had the blessed opportunity to share my love of music with this group today when I sang the National Anthem and later in the service, sang and signed "God Bless the USA". It was an honor to have been asked and I was so blessed by those present!
***The service honored World War II veterans and how humbling it was to see them all lined up around the face of the memorial. A special thank you to all the Veterans of wars past and present.

**************************************************************************************

Our week, personally, was a trying one. We had our share of trials but so many more blessings. Last Friday after the celebration of Granma Bear's birthday Sissy came home sick and spent the rest of the night (into the wee hours of Saturday morning) throwing up. Then on Tuesday night Mister D came home and crashed on the couch. He slept his night away until Missy declared how she, too, was feeling ill. She spent the rest of that night throwing up. Ugh. The next morning Granma Bear called to see how our night went only to announce that she, too, was suffering from the same flu.

I was positive I was going to be the next "victim". In fact, when the Army Colonel (spoken of above) called to confirm Saturday's events I warned him that I was the only one left. I just KNEW I wasn't going to be singing. Well, after getting through Thursday without even an ounce of nausea I thought maybe I was out of the woods - maybe not. Thursday night Sissy woke me up crying that she had (once again) thrown up. I heard the voice of God loud and clear in the midst of cleaning her up. He said, "This is so you KNOW that when you DON'T get sick I have performed a MIRACLE." And so it was.

I am well and His miracle has been noted. God is so good!

Only in my house!

2007-11-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

Well, we had an accident in our house this morning. This is the kind of thing that only happens in our house, I'm positive.

Missy has been croupy so Mister D put a vaporizor in her room to moisten the air. He placed it in the only possible position - on the floor. Well, this morning Sissy made an unusual stop in her sister's room to greet her good morning. When she decided to rest for a moment in the abyss of junk and misplaced items, she came to rest her posterior on the top of the vaporizor - while it was still steaming. Meanwhile I was in the shower and 'thought' I heard crying but it wasn't until I got out that I discovered that my youngest daughter was blistered on her bum. Oh! What a terrible ordeal! Fortunately we took a kind visit to the family physician who prescribed a miracle drug (silver sulfadiamide-or something like that) and it provided instant relief for my little one. Like I said, I'm sure this only happens in my house!

I'm a mountain girl!

2007-11-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

While visiting a local bookstore Sissy discovered a "hole" in the top of the wall. It wasn't a puncture hole it was a window sized hole. She inquired as to what the purpose was. I told her she'd just have to ask the owner.

At the first opportunity she did just that.

She was informed that it was an office and behind the door were stairs that led to the office with the window. Sissy announced that she wouldn't need the stairs. She could probably just climb up the bookshelf and into that hole because her Papa Bear told her when we were visiting the mountains that she is indeed a mountain girl! The bookstore owner could do nothing but smile and nod her head in agreement.

Not again!

2007-11-06T19:07:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what sparked the comment, but Missy informed me the other day that I have been wearing skirts too often and it's really beginning to "e-noy" her. Well! I'm not sure what's offending her about them, but her opinion was shared and noted.

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T21:04:00.001-06:00

Happy Halloween to one and all!
The Pink Ninja and Dora the Explorer say "trick or treat"! The girls had such a great night visiting all of the relatives in the area. Too bad Halloween falls on a school night, we still had to scurry home to bathe and rest. Thank goodness teachers were kind enough to suspend the daily homework routine for the night. That's a blessing for all.
Missy loves everything Asian so she got decked out as much as she could including the chopsticks in the bun.
Sissy (who is often called "Blondie" by one particular Grandma PH) was loving "tricking" her into thinking she was "Brownie" not "Blondie"!
What fun! Hope you had a safe and fun Halloween, too!

Raw Chicken in Water!

2007-10-29T21:50:00.000-06:00

Did you know...you can BOIL raw chicken?! I did not know that and if you're like everyone else I've shared my new-found knowledge with, you'll get quite the kick out of that one!

We went to supper at Grandma Sugar's and Granddad's over the weekend and she made some home-made chicken noodle soup to die for! I had to know how she did it. When she told me she started by boiling the chicken I interrupted her and asked, "You mean, you put the chicken in the water - RAW?!" She giggled under her breath (unlike my dearest friends who about split a side when I revealed my news) and confirmed, "Yes, Honey...raw chicken in the water." Who knew?

Sissy had to add her two cents to that one..."My Dad can boil! He boiled us some eggs the other day!"

Everyone loves me!

2007-10-21T16:14:00.000-06:00

I asked Sissy today at nap time, "Who loves you?"

She answered, "You do!"

I continued, "Who else?"

She answered, "Dad does!"

I finished, "Is there anyone else that love you beside Mom & Dad?"

She concluded, "Missy does, and Granma & Papa do..."

Then in a matter-of-fact tone said,

"Everyone who knows me loves me!"

Mommy's Little Artist...

2007-10-21T16:05:00.000-06:00

Missy has quite an artistic ability. I love her attention to detail. Believe it or not, this has always been present. From the time she was a baby she would

organize things symetrically.
Notice the little fairy in the picture to the right removing her tooth as she sleeps. There is a little wand and everything!

Magic?

2007-10-15T18:58:00.000-06:00

Sissy was holding a dime in her hand and proclaimed, "Abra-cadabra, ala-kazam! Make this money go away!" Then she looked in her hand at the dime disappointedly. She made a vallient second effort. "Abra-cadabra, ala-kazam! Make this money go away!" A second look in her hand at the dime left her bewildered. She declared matter-of-factly, "I guess I'm not magic-ful!"

Boogers or Snot...

2007-10-14T17:40:00.000-06:00

Today while Sissy and I were playing she had some "remnance" of her cold come out of her nose. With one swipe of her tongue it was gone. I "ooooh'ed" her and told her I was going to call her 'Missy' (since the story goes that "Missy eats her boogers - she thinks they taste like cake, but IIIIII don't eat MY boogers!"). Sissy informed me that she didn't eat her BOOGERS...she just licked her SNOT and that is yummy! Mmmmm! I think we have a convert!

True Story...

2007-10-03T17:43:00.000-06:00

I can't believe I'm admitting this...

Today a friend brought a bunch of ripe tomatoes to a group of us. Included in the bunch were a few green tomatoes. They were beautiful! I went to examine the crop and couldn't believe what came out of my mouth next. "I didn't know you could grow GREEN tomatoes!"

I thought those girls were going to wet their pants laughing at me! The gal who brought them explained (kindly) that they weren't grown that way, they just weren't RIPE yet! (Oh, boy...will I ever live this one down?!)

Everyday Miracles...

2007-09-30T19:55:00.001-06:00

This morning we witnessed the hands of Jesus surrounding our family - more particularly, our little Sissy. After her morning bath while getting ready for church she was told to get some clothes from her chest of drawers. She went to obey and the next thing we heard was a terrible CRASHing sound and then the sound of my baby crying. Mister D went to the rescue with Gretta close behind. The chest of drawers had fallen over (why this had never happened before is a miracle in itself) on top of Sissy. When I got to the scene, she was in his arms and all he could say was, "Let me look at you. Let me see." A full examination produced ONE tiny scrape on her collarbone. No blood shed; no injuries. A MIRACLE in the flesh!

It's not too often that you are acutely aware of the miracles that the Lord provides - but all day all I could think of was how amazing it was that we continued on our way to church (to hear another amazing testamony of a family that also recognized the grace of God in their lives while sparing them in an auto accident) we came home and watched football and had a 'normal' Sunday. We didn't spend our time praying over a hospital bed as the circumstance certainly could have produced. WE ARE SO BLESSED and so acutely aware of the miracle we saw. Jesus loves me, this I know!

Frogs, Bugs and Other Girly Things...

2007-09-27T18:22:00.000-06:00

After Dona said that her son won't touch frogs, bugs or anything of the sort, I had to share these pix and this story.

Sissy is a lover of all things boy. She has no fear of any of it and in fact faces things head on. She loves to get out the bug kit Papa & Granma Bear provided and go a-bug-huntin'!

One afternoon while playing outside with Papa she found a worm. She was playing contently with it until the announcement came. "Papa, I need a new worm, I broke this one!"

Even Missy got in on the fun when we found many little frogs in our yard this summer. The girls were almost fighting over who got to hold the frog next! Oh how I love my girly girls!

Tagged?

2007-09-26T19:01:00.000-06:00

So my cousin, Dona, 'tagged' me and told me the rules (which include tagging others, but I don't have other bloggers to tag, so I guess the buck will stop here). Being tagged means I have to reveal 8 random facts/habits about myself to my blog audience. Aren't you excited? ha!

1. I have an interest in mortuary science. I think in another life sometime I would enjoy working with the survivors of death. The fascination came about when a friend same age as I am died tragically in an automobile accident. I fully came to the realization that our souls are merely housed in the shell called our body and upon death we truly are absent from the body. This is a blessed event for the lovers of the Lord. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. But in addition to that I wondered about the logistics of the afterlife. What DO they do to a body after the soul is gone? When, what, how, who and why? I researched then started calling myself "Morticia" and even looked into educating myself formally in the field. None of that has come to fruition yet, but perhaps...

2. I am a singer.

3. In high school I wanted to be on Broadway. Then I met Mister D and his long hair and good looks along with his adament opinion about large cities changed my heart and from that my dream went from Broadway to the alter.

4. I have a fascination with tatoos. I have none.

5. I am in love with the Rocky Mountains. I would live in the midst of them if I could.

6. I have a guitar, Ebony, and would love to learn how to play fluently.

7. I love the music of Lyle Lovett (the former Mr. Julia Roberts).

8. I don't cook. I don't even try. I don't like it and I think a spoon and peanut butter would suffice just about every meal. (No, really.)

Vacation in beautiful Colorado

2007-09-25T18:57:00.000-06:00

Mister D, Sissy, Gretta & Missy:

The Melk (as Missy used to call them).

Sissy, Granma Bear, Missy & Papa Bear

Papa Bear and his cubs climb the mountain.

(Who is King of the Hill here?)

Beautiful weather, beautiful state, beautiful rest & relaxation! Who could ask for anything more? A wonderful trip to Rocky Mountain National Park was well worth it. Sissy could hardly wait to get out of the vehicle to climb the mountains. She certainly didn't need any hand-holding. Missy just wanted to look good when she got there, although getting there was often filled with whining and complaining. (Her dad would say that is a spiritual gift.) She has become quite the pozer. Maybe model material? Rarely is she caught off-guard. Usually she is scouting for the cameras or requesting, "Mom, take a picture of me here - take a picture of me doing this." Occasionally Papa would ask the same thing. ??? Maybe they're related.
Granma Bear was just trying to nurse an injury but also had a good time away from her mounds of work. (Were they still there when she got back? Yes- but somehow they GREW!) Anyone who hasn't been to Colorado should go! You won't regret it!

First Funny...

2007-09-25T18:05:00.000-06:00

For those who may not know, Sissy is very interested in bugs, climbing mountains - anything you might think a boy would like. Yesterday while cleaning her room we found a dead moth on the floor. I picked it up in a tissue that happened to be near and asked her to throw it away. She fooled with it a bit and dropped it on her dress. She began a conversation with the moth. "Come here, little fellow," she said. The conversation rapidly came to an end when the dead moth began climbing on her! With a squeal she jumped on her bed. The moth was lost. We began looking for it then after discovering it was still walking on her - she squealed again and ran out of the room. I laughed so hard! After telling her story to Mister D she gained enough courage to retrace her steps and take care of that little fellow with a mighty determination. Meanwhile...that little fellow found a way out and has never been seen again. Lucky little fellow!

Introducing...

2007-09-24T19:48:00.000-06:00

In order of appearance:

Gretta, the creator of this experiment;

Sissy, the fearless and incredibly entertaining offspring;

Missy, the highly emotional, highly insightful offspring;

Mister D, the spouse of a decade, the daddy of the century.

Initial spot

2007-09-24T17:45:00.000-06:00

Sept 24, 2007 and I am trying my hand at this blogging experience. It is a curious experiment and there's no telling how long it may last. An interesting prospect - internet posting. Exciting and invasive all at the same time.
Please be patient with me. This will, I'm sure become quite the outlet.
Ta-ta, for now...