Vids!

Here is my sweet gal having a blast driving Farmer Bob's Ranger. If anyone knows how to get Adobe Premiere to adjust brightness I sure would like the help. It is brighter on the camera and you can see her lovely beaming smile .

And here is our happy and free spirit, Ben, dancing atop the butte!

Just Feeling Grateful

A layout I did in an attempt to describe my gratitude for the love Mark's family has given me over these many years. It's been such a pleasure and privilege to witness marriages and births, growth and change, laughter and sorrow with these fabulous people. And they are a ton of fun!

Journaling reads: I'm not sure when it happened exactly, but happen it did and I am now a full-fledged member of this crazy and wonderful Jones clan. I had an "aha" moment at this year's family campout and realized that these people have become "my people". They have accepted and embraced me and have always made me feel welcome and loved and comfortable in their company. I am so very grateful for their inclusion. Thanks Jones Family!

Something's Missing

Remember that loose tooth? With the help of a tiny finger and a little wiggling and coaxing, it popped out during an exciting episode of Power Rangers yesterday afternoon. I was working in my studio when Ben came in, tooth in hand, mouth covered in blood, grinning from ear to ear. He spent what seemed like hours in front of the mirror, checking out all the blood and the new gap in his teeth. And I am happy to report the tooth fairy was not too busy to visit last night and she left $5 under his pillow (she's not always so generous, but this WAS a first tooth), which Ben says he's saving for college. He's excited to get his name on the September tooth in his classroom.

Gymnastics and soccer begin today. Good thing I bought that station wagon!

Happy Monday

We had such a lovely weekend. Early fall weather is incredible. I was feeling like nesting, so I did a bunch of organization and some scrapbooking and Mark built us a new entertainment system so our components aren't sitting on the floor anymore. We also got to take out the "Ranger", a little 4-wheel-drive thingie made by John Deer and owned by farmer Bob. I got to drive and it was such a hoot to go flying over the harvested fields. Mark got a little movie while we were out and I think he might be contemplating posting it.

A layout I completed that tries to depict the immenseness of a single moment shared between Mark and Ben.

Looking on the bright side today. Got my teeth cleaned this morning and my smile is dazzling! I made our next appointments for January, right before we leave for Germany. Woo Hoo!!

One Test I Really Didn't Want to Fail

So be it. My doctor called a while ago with my scan results. She said "Don't freak out, but we need to go farther with this." I've been referred to an endocrinologist at the Rockwood Clinic in Spokane for a biopsy. The scan showed an inconsistency or dysfunction between the left and right lobes of the thyroid in iodine uptake. There are numerous nodules in many different sizes on both lobes, but the one nodule that concerns my doctor the most is on the right lobe and was shown to be "hyperfunctioning" during the iodine uptake test. This leads them to believe it may be cancerous. And, let me see if I can relate this in a correct manner. The fact that my bloodwork came back negative for hyper or hypo hormone production is consistent when considering a cancerous tumor.

So, after I got off the phone with my doctor and Mark, I googled the Mayo Clinic and scared the shit out of myself.; four types of thyroid cancer ranging from "high five, no big deal" to "you will be dead within a year of diagnosis". I think I'm going to get blitzed tonight and go to bed early. Tomorrow may very well be the first day of the rest of my life!!

Another Meaning for "Hot"

Yesterday morning I went to the hospital and swallowed a beautiful, although rather large orange and blue pill that contained radioactive iodine. I returned later in the day and again this morning to be scanned to determine if and at what rate the iodine was collecting in my thyroid. Of course the technician couldn't breathe a word of the results to me, but he did say he didn't notice anything spectacular.

After my scan this morning, Mark invited me up to his lab so that he could measure the radioactivity emitting from my neck area with the gieger counter. Needless to say, the reading was hot, hot, hot and the reader was clicking along like I was its favorite tune. Then Mark led me down the hall to visit a colleague, just so he could show him how "hot" his wife was!! It was all pretty funny in a "laugh at the things that scare the shit out of you" sort of way.

I should have results tomorrow afternoon.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear mom, Happy Birthday to you.

She's the best mom ever, loves me wholly despite my many faults, thinks my kids are the best grandkids on earth, and is also one of my very best friends. Lately I've been dreaming of sitting on her back porch with a cup of coffee and pouring my heart out for hours.

I hope you have a great day mom, I love you so much!