Two More then FINISHED!

Tommy has only two more treatments and then he's DONE! I honestly do not know how he has done this...not to mention as well as he has. Daryl and I were looking at his pictures from the last 12 months and feel like Tommy was robbed from part of his childhood. He's aged so much, not only in the physical form, but also in wisdom.

Tommy lit the Christmas tree at the hospital in a formal tree lighting ceremony, which was followed by him getting serenaded by the Army band at his room when we arrived back to the floor. It was all VERY special and if there is one event Tommy can remember from all this treatment is this ceremony.

Daryl's parents came to help with Maggie while Tommy was getting treatment. It was comforting to have them here and when Tommy came home we had an early Christmas celebration before they had to go home later that day.

This week has been hard on Tommy. Tuesday night he spiked a fever of 102 which landed us back in the hospital. The nurse had a heck of a time accessing his port. So after seeing four needles and each one was attempted three to four times of accessing him (so do the math, that means she poked and tried 12 to 16 times!) I finally told the Dr to get me gloves because I was going to do it! It was intense and I was exhausted watching her try, and besides, I had been fully trained how to do it (thank you Susie!) so on my first attempt FINALLY he was fully accessed. We spent a couple of days in the hospital getting him antibiotics and a blood transfusion. So we came home late Wednesday and spent ALL day Friday again at the hospital for yet another transfusion, this time of platelets. He's scheduled for chemo tomorrow, but I'm 99% certain his platelets are still too low so he won't get it. If that's the case, we'll try again later this week because of the holidays and wanting to get these last two treatments over ASAP.

More to follow later this week and maybe those photos I keep teasing you with. Take care and God bless. <><

We're Home...But For How Long?

It was about 6 PM when we pulled out of the Dr's House tonight an headed home. Now the million dollar question is how long will we stay home for. My guess...not long! Tommy started running a low grade fever while getting his blood, which is pretty normal to happen, but I feel it's due to a stomach virus he has.

He still has been running just under 100, so I gave him another dose of Tylenol and if he spikes above 100.4 we're back to the Dr's House for at least 48 hours or longer. Ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I told the girls all day that I suspect we'll be back this week - just a gut feeling and it's usually right.

Maggie's in bed, Daryl is too and Tommy and I are in his bunk. At least it's a queen over queen so room to wiggle in. He cannot sleep without me - we'll deal with the issue after chemo. I want to get the house in order, pre-make the dinner stuff and get a ton of work done for clients...but I know I won't be able to do it all. I am SO bugged when my house isn't spotless. One of the nurses (Becky) was telling me today that she noticed I had gotten worse on my OCC of being a germ freak (which co-insides with a neat freak). Tommy has inherited that gene from me and he's just as bad about not wanting to touch germs or have people touch him. A new Dr came in to check him out and he told her she couldn't touch him because her hands had germs on them. Things were spun off from there for a while between Tommy and the Dr (Tommy's a super good debater...gee, wonder where that gene came from) finally I had to step in and tell him to let her do her job.

My head is nodding and I'm fighting to stay awak...more to follow up again tomorrow (or soon there after). Happy T-Day to you.

<>< K

UPDATE!

I know! I bet you were wondering where the heck I was, when the next Tommy update would come and whatever else - well, here we are again at the Dr House for another treatment. After this one, there is only THREE more! I cannot believe we are down to final three!!!

Tommy has been such a strong boy! He's been a wonderful teacher and my rock! The mountain he has climbed amazes me. Tommy started this being my baby boy and looking like a baby boy...now he's only 7 months older, but so much wiser. I've always joked since he was born that he is an old soul, that's not joke...he is an old soul.

His hair, eyelashes and eyebrows are gone, his butt cheeks sag like an anorexic, can count the bones in his back like a dinosaur and see every vain in his bald little head. I still think he's a very handsome boy - I tell him all that time that he's "SEXY" and he laughs and says "no mom, YOU are!"

When we go out in public we have him put on a hat but he usually gets to a point where he wants to take it off. That's when the stares and turning heads start. Tommy takes it for a while and then he get annoyed and says something to the effect of "why are all these people looking at me!" I have ALWAYS told him it's because he's so good looking, or cute or sexy and they want to get to know him. He might giggle and then let's it go.

Tommy will be getting a blood transfusion before we go home tomorrow. Daryl's parents and nephew will be here for Turkey Day. Daryl's making prime rib - YUMMY! Yes, it does read DARYL will be making!!! That's right! Can thank our new friends Tim and Andrea for the chef bug. It's gotten him so well that for our 12th Anniversary (on the 24th of this month) I got him a Thermapen thermometer and I got him a subscription to Cooks Illustration for on line and the magazine.

Tommy and Maggie both like to join whatever happens in the kitchen so we'll be sure to have mini projects for them too. Tommy and I were talking about when Tom, Barb and Jordan are here we'll put up Christmas lights and he and I will stay inside cuz he cannot be outside right now with no immune system - but we'll make them cookies. He was SO excited about that! He cannot wait to see them and make them cookies. You should have seen his face light up about the thought of it all - it was one of those that I'll keep burned in my memory for life! And Tommy's talking about sleeping with Jordan on the top bunk and staying up late.

I have the BEST co-workers!!! THANK YOU, Windermere for ALL the support, love, dinners, and the fabulous "Pampering" night you hosted while showering me with gifts of love and luxury! And the dinner Tim and Andrea hosted for us - OMG, was out of this world! I'm fighting for words to express my sincere love and apprecaition for all of it and how we feel for each of you. If you are a realtor in WA and aren't in my office - we need to talk! The ONLY office I will ever work with is the Windermere R.E. South Inc AND Debra Snoey's!!! I'm rich with friends and support, thank you!

December will be a little challenging with the final treatments and Daryl's training schedule, especially for the five day treatment (that's when Daryl will switch to a night time schedule). We need someone here for that week (12/2 - 12/9) and we'll provide the airfare for anyone who can come up and help. Basically it will be taking care of Maggie the entire week - getting her ready, to and from daycare, dinner, bath and bed time.

There are still a TON of pics that need to be posted, promise they'll be coming soon. So much to do, so little time and the last seven months has been like an onion - layers upon layres of the emotions and it's a greiving process for all of us still with every corner. We see the light and we are clawing our way out of the tunnel and appreciate ALL the prayers - please keep them going.

xo
<>< K

Daily OM was Right On Target!

This was my daily om for the day and thought it was perfect - not only for today, but to apply everyday! I was just talking about this yesterday with my dear frined Debra, how true it is! Hope you enjoy. <><


You may notice that you are more demanding of yourself today. It may seem as if everything in your life needs to be perfect, and you could feel critical of yourself as a result. Perhaps your need for perfection is the result of a desire to receive affirmation from others. If this is the case, it may be necessary to examine your life and think about what is truly essential. When you start finding fault with yourself, you might ask yourself the question, "How important is this?" Then you can think about the future and whether or not the issue will matter in a month or a year from now. You will probably notice that the small things you find fault with today usually will not have any great relevance to your life as a whole.Examining the future impact of the issues in our lives helps us step back from our critical eye. When we are in the present, it is easy to become caught up in the details of our lives and notice when the small things are not going as planned. By thinking about our decisions in relation to the future, however, we begin to notice that not everything we do is of great consequence. There are of course times when we should be conscientious, but if we are too demanding of ourselves, we will create undue stress and frustration. Look at yourself through a humanistic lens today, and you will realize that while you will never reach the ideal of perfection, you are perfect as you are.

Pics Pics and MORE Pics

I LOVE this picture!
Cousin Caleb comes to visit - Tommy and Caleb in the hot tub
Kim's older sisiter Michelle (Caleb's mom)
Scrub a dub dub
Ha - computer generated swim suites!
Tommy & Caleb were Jr Captins on the "Ride the Duck's" in Seattle
Double the trouble!
At our neighborhood park - petting a kitty
Aunt Shell & Tommy
That's one way to cool off your seat Caleb!

Look at those lips! Tommy & Dad - the men I'm in love with!
Guess the Duck Ride wasn't so thrilling for Caleb
View of Seattle from the Duck Ride
Mom and Her boy
Space Needle

Tommy riding a pony - smells are EXTRA strong right now from the chemo - he HATED the way the pony smelt - P U!
Cowboy Caleb was a natural!
Cowboy Joe Jr
Yee Haw
Aunt Shel and her baby duck

Tommy & Dad - he didn't like the smell of the cockpit - LOVE my man in his uniform - he's HOT!
Aunt Shel & Caleb see a c17 for the first
Daddy's Little Princess and Future Pilot!
The All American Family!
All Aboard!

Tommy was given this quilt while at the Dr's House - this young lady made over 200 quilts and brought them for children who need them.
Tommy, Caleb & Ms. Maggie outside of Anthony's (The Fish House) Puget Sound behind them - a favorite for us and all those who visit.
Caleb holding his youngest cosin Ms. Maggie Mae
Tommy showing Caleb the cockpit of a C17

ONLY Five More Treatments!

Wow! Hard to believe it's been over six months since we found out Tommy had cancer. I remember thinking I'd never be able to raise and parent both kids, let alone be a wife and a working woman. NEVER under mind your power or abilities! You just never know what you are capable of and this has been one of those times.

Don't get me wrong....we've had my parents, my dear friend Kim and my sisters all here to help during treatments. Daryl's parents came to visit for a few days and his sister for a day. And Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Dan (daycare) have kept Maggie over night several times and Auntie Grace and Uncle Craig (neighbors) have been here for us to lean on, bring us Craig's awesome cook'n, visits at the Dr's house and the list just goes on and on with them. Windermere has been so generous with supplying us with dinners and doing all my "honey do's" I email to Debra, Andrea, Jenny and Queen Bee. The 313th Squadron at McChord AFB has been wonderful and supporting us with any and every request with Daryl's schedule - thank you to you all in the 313th.

Then there are all the emails, the replies to the blog, the prayers, the hats, the phone calls, the cards from everyone that let's us know how much we are loved and supported.

I will never be able to let any of you know just how much this has meant to us. I do not ever want to walk in my shoes again down this road once we reach the end, but I have learned countless lessons. To be as strong as we are to get through this means we are thankful for all good, bad, happy, challenging times we lived through before now. We just hope things start to get easier for us, at least for a while. Keep prayers going -- <><

Dr House - AGAIN!

Well, we barely met the requirements to start 9th treatment today. After one has so many chemo treatments, they get to a point where rebounding isn't as easy as it was. Tommy has reached that point. Going in to the treatment at a weaker stage is concerning as this is the treatment that always knocked him down when he was doing good. Don't want to wish this upon us, but I'd bet we'll be back next week for at least a week while he's fighting with all of his might to get better again.

Daryl is gone on a trip to Iraq. I always joke that he's on vacation when he travels. Hey, he's flying and has no kids to worry about, stays in some pretty nice places once in a while, drinks really good beer in Germany and once in a while might even play golf. Come on, they need to use Daryl as their poster child to get new recruits to join the military.

My dad came up from AZ to hold down the fort and take care of Ms. Maggie. Maggie is a smitten Papa's girl - BIG time! She LOVES her Papa and was an angel tonight for him. He's mostly worried about doing her hair. You know how baby fine hair little girls have when they are almost two - I told him to take a couple of clips over to daycare and Aunt Suzanne will take care of her.

Windermere Real Estate South Inc., has been AWESOME! It's no wonder why I chose to work for them years ago. Thank you Windermere for ALL your support, and I thank you for the dinners. The timing was perfect...and we'll eat them. Windermere had several meals made for us so we can stock our freezer and then just pop them in the oven and we have home cooked meals! Gosh, this is one of the best gifts ever! We all get to eat great meals, I'm not stressed about grocery shopping or finding the time to make the meals. If Tommy and I are at the Dr's House, Daryl and Maggie can still have lots of choices and home cooked meals ready in a jiffy.

Well, I'm beat and Tommy's WIDE awake on Adivan (sp) LORD HELP ME!

Yes MOM! I'm still trying to find the memory stick to post the pics from Michelle's visit. When it's found and I find the time, I'll post on the site. Too much to do, too little time. May God bless you all! <><

THANK YOU Gril Scouts AZ Troop 1131

I'd like to thank each member of the Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus Pine Council of Troop 1131 for the wonderful donation you made on behalf of Tommy to Footprints in the amount of $192.00. And we must thank the families of the Troop as well! I also thank Katie Little and her mom, Kim Little for suggesting the donations be made to Footprints on behalf of your Troop and Tommy.

Footprints is a non-profit organization which supports patients and their families who have life threatening diseases at Madigan Army Medical Center, Ft. Lewis - Tacoma, Washington.

There are nearly 75 patients under the age of 18 being treated at MAMC with life threatening diseases, and Tommy is one of them. Your hard work provides our organization with a substantial gift and will help so many in desire need.

Girl Scout Mission

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Each member of Troop 1131 deserves to be reconized for carring out the Girl Scout Mission. On behalf of Tommy and Footprints, we Thank You!

TWO Weeks @ Dr's House & Counting!

Ugh! We started off with a six day admission for a routine visit of chemo, Monday September 17. Nothing we haven't done before - not a fun rodeo but one we've done it many times. Finally on Saturday 9/22 we were released only to return Monday 9/24 because Tommy became Neutropenia (low blood count, fever, chills, no immune system) and within 24 hours we ended up in a platelet transfusion. Since then, he has had zero ANC (no immunity) and a high fever. We've treated him with the best of antibiotics and still stumped. We have about 24 - 48 hours to go and then they will start treating him with fungal meds which isn't a fun routine what they tell us. They also tell us they highly doubt we'll make it through all of his chemo treatments without reaching a time of it (fungal) meds happening. I'm guessing he'll need one or more transfusions before we go home from all of this.

Needless to say, we are restless of being in the hospital. Only home for one day in the last two weeks. It's hard on all of us. Maggie is happy to see me and crys her eyes out when she has to leave. "My Mommy!" Oh those words melt me. Daryl is exhausted of being a single parent, I'm tired of living at the hospital with little sleep and just want a home cooked meal -- even if I have to make it. Tommy though of all of us has it the hardest! He's so tired of being here and reminds me and the staff he wants out of here. He's finally got some spirit in him, which should mean we are on the up and up. We suspect if that keeps up, maybe in 24 - 48 hours we can be going home. All depends on his system and getting to a 3 ANC count.

Meanwhile, Daryl leaves tomorrow for Iraq again (AKA the sandbox) and Maggie will go to Aunt Suzanne's (AKA daycare - no relative relation) and I'll be here with Tommy till we can go home. He was scheduled for chemo on Monday (tomorrow) but that's not happening. We will wait till next week for that. Seeing how Daryl still won't be home, my dad will be coming up to take care of Maggie and the house.

Good thing Daryl is flying for Alaska, we'll need a lot of help for the remaining treatments and hospitalizations and with no family here in WA to help, it's nearly impossible to do what we have done. We've been living this life for six months as hard as it is to believe and we have 3 to 5 more months to go.

Maggie and Daryl came to see us both days this weekend and we did have great visits both days. Daryl snuck me out and swept me off to lunch with him and Maggie. Tommy would sit and visit with the nurses and doctors till we returned. Then Maggie and I would paint in Tommy's room, watch a movie and just relax. It was also the time Daryl and I could see one another before he leaves. I've always been there for him and helped him pack for a trip - this is the first one in 12 years of marriage that I have not been able to. Sorry Babe, it's not the same I know.

Well, I'm exhausted so I think I am going to hit the sack early. Will need it this week while being a single working parent and running between daycare, hospital and the office. Peace be with you all <><.

PICTURES - Enlarge to VIEW by Clicking on Pic

Here's Mag's just about to kill her fish! See!! She DOES look like the little girl in Nemo.
Tommy took much better care of his fish - well until we got home. Then later that night he wanted a "snack" and seeing how he loves fish, he thought he could eat his - we had to have a little teaching here on this one.
Checking to see if that last squeeze killed any of them.

Aunt Stef and Maggie
Here's the gang waiting in line at another game or ride.
Little Ms.Maggie Mae is happy as all get up with her candy necklace! Not at all surprising either.
Leaning against his dad for a little rest while waiting to play a game.
Hard to believe that the day before he was in the hospital getting a blood transfusion and this day he was climbing this huge wall at the church festival.

Tommy
Aunt Stef & Tommy
Aunt Stef & Tommy (Kim's younger sister)
Ya, he's love'n it!
Aunt Stef & Maggie Mae

Not in any special order, but here are some pictures from when Aunt Stef came to visit. We went our church fair / carnival and had a great time.

Tommy won gold fish for him and Maggie. If you ever saw the movie Nemo, Maggie is like the dentists niece - it's amazing her fish didn't die before we got home from all the squeezing and swishing she did to them. Although one has died out of the four and we're pretty certain it was one of hers.

One of the many meds Tommy takes has him spin out of control behavioral wise. Let's just say yesterday was NOT a fun day. He pulled his line in to two, later he had his line open and drip chemo, he pulled the emergency cord in his room and ALL staff came running in, AND he knocked over his entire IV pole which had a HUGE bang so ALL the staff came running in again. He was up till nearly midnight - it was exhausting!! But it's better than seeing him in pain and being sick.

Okay, so keep checking back again for more pics - there's a ton more to post, just need to find the memory stick they are on.

<><>

Guilty As Charged!

No, nobody has been arrested. The site has been ignored for a short while is all. It's tiresome to do the routine we've endured day in and day out. We've also been bumped up to a two week treatment plan, which means we are at the hospital every week now. One week is for chemo, the next is for blood checks and transfusions -- sometimes as an out patient and sometimes as an in patient.

The help we had from my parents, my friend Kim and sisters was GREATLY appreciated and VERY much needed! Words do not express our total and sincere appreciation. We love each of you for helping us during a time of real need. Not an ideal "vacation", but we aren't really in the vacation hospitality mode this year and appreciate that you had no "vacation" expectations.

Tommy is currently undergoing his five day chemo treatment (it's really a six day) and at the end of it he will need a transfusion before we can go home. He's SO strong! He's the best teacher we've ever had in our lifetime. After this, only seven more treatments to go. We finally feel like we can see the light at the end of the tunnel -- still a LONG one in many ways.

Daryl and I have really been given a roller coaster of challenges. Not all challenges have been fun - but one doesn't grow without pain. I am proud of the growth Daryl and I have made as individuals, partners and parents not only in the 14 years we've been together, but especially those we've been dealt this year.

It gives me MUCH pleasure to share that not only have we been fighting Tommy's cancer this year, but also facing major career and life decisions. With that said, I'm the proudest wife in America to share that Daryl has been hired to fly for Alaska Air Lines and I am branching my own real estate short sale business under the Windermere umbrella here in WA with growth plans to cover a national territory. God knows what our plans are, and although we always thought it was to return to Arizona, it's clear the Pacific Northwest is our HOME!

Keep your prayers going and know we thank you for them. Don't give up on the blog - there are a lot of pictures that need to be posted - so keep checking it out.

Homeward Bound

After a week of being at the Dr's house, we are all four now home and trying to get caught up on rest. Tommy's foot looks great! He's had sponge baths for nearly two weeks, so finally we got him in the shower. He threw up Saturday on our way home from taking my friend Kim to the airport. Not sure why that was, he was all caught up on his meds and was no where near a break threw hour.

We are getting involved with Footprints Foundation. It's a non-profit organization for the children at Madigan Army Medical Center with life threatening diseases. There are about 75 children in the program - not all with cancer (about 20 have cancer). We support the children and families with a back to school program where we rally up as much school supplies as possible. Holiday parties, toys, gift certificates, blankets etc... and each cancer child gets an "Off Chemo" party celebration. If you or anyone you know who would like to donate to this cause, please email me directly at kdjrealtor@msn.com and I will get you the correct information.

May God continue to bless our Tommy and know we ask Him to bless each of you and thank you so much for all your on going support. <><

Pics from Surgery & Back to Chemo Update

This is where they did the bone core sample from.
This is the site of where the cancer was found. NO new cancer was found at all.

We are on chemo treatment 6 of 15, so after Saturday, we have 9 more to go. After having a little time off from chemo, we were a little rusty at the routine. Good news, Tommy's not sick! Now I am positive of the medicine being the blame of Tommy's behavioral changes. It's NOT a fun thing to watch and deal with. Looking forward to going home on Saturday and start the detox before we end up here in a transfusion next week.

Kim and Maggie have come up to see us two days in a row. With Tommy's altered behavior, I asked Kim to take a break today from coming and just doing some fun Maggie things. It's too stressful for all of us to have all of us here. Maggie has taken to Kim just fine, she's calling her "Mommy" - little vixen! That REALLY makes me feel good and I know Kim is more than able to care for Maggie -- she's a mother of FOUR! Thanks Kim, Dave, to your children, Pete and Shannon for allowing Kim to help and support us in our time of need. I don't know what I would have done without her this week!!!! Keep prayers going and know we thank you for it! <><

Round 6 of 15 Chemo Treatments

Monday we came back to the Dr's House to start yet another round of chemo - a six day treatment. Dad's across over the pond, Maggie's hanging out with her step-mommy Kim and Tommy's doing fantastic with his treatment.



Tommy takes several different meds to stop the throwing up and one of them really effects his behavior. One on one, it's challenging to deal with, but add guests to the mix of things and it's nerve biting to all. Kim and Maggie came to visit us the first two days, but today they are taking a break and doing fun things together. Tommy wants to go home to be with them or have them come visit, so he's not very happy that they are off on their own having fun.



Meanwhile, Dave (Kim's husband), Shannon and Pete (Kim's parents) are holding down her fort of 4 in the clan. Katie and Connor are VERY active 9 and 10 year olds with school and competitive league sports - and then there is Patrick and Dillon - 2.5 year old TWINS! Kim says she's board with just Maggie after dealing with her four and thinks this is really a vacation. Sounds like we'll need to arrange for a trip for Shannon next to get away :). Kim and I have been friends for over 22 years. She's a lot like a sister to me and her parents hold a special place in my heart.



Right now Tommy is watching a movie. I'm sure he'll be asking to go for a walk or to the play room when we are done here. He's up nearly 5 pounds since we started the steroids and looks GREAT! His foot is healing better than we thought it would and he's been walking on it for nearly a week. We took off the big bandage and have a smaller one on.

G R E A T N E W S ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Thank you Jesus! Keep your prayers going -- we're being heard and the surgery results prove it. It has been a L O N G week waiting to hear from Children's about the results. G R E A T news - no cancer tissues were found in the tissue they removed the tumor from and the area that was in question where they took three bone core samples from showed that at one point it was actually infected. It's a little mysterious as to why that bone area was infected at one point, but it's not infected now and it's not cancer!

This was the news we wanted to hear! Daryl left two days ago for the "Sand box" aka Iraq, but was able to deliver the GREAT news to him over the phone.

Monday Tommy will enter a six day chemo treatment and this is made possible because of my best friend Kim and her family. Kim is a mother of FOUR children in Scottsdale, AZ. Kim will leave her Chiclets in the hands of her wonderful and loving husband Dave and her mom and dad's (Shannon and Pete) hands! Kim will be taking care of Maggie while Tommy and I are at the Dr's house. It's getting to the point where we are needing help and having my parents here for Tommy's surgery was exactly what we needed. My sister Michelle will be here on a planned visit for when Tommy should fall for a blood transfusion to help with Maggie so Daryl can fly. Daryl and I are so thankful to all of your support and being here for us when we need you the most.

Keep the prayers and feel our love!
<><

Keep Faith and Keep Prayers

If you have ever seen a loved one go through chemo, than you know how hard it is on them physically and mentally. It seems a million times worse on a frail four year old young boy and it's hell as a mother to watch him endure it! I keep telling myself, we have to see him get sick in order to get better and not have the cancer spread, and so far it's working and thank you Jesus for letting him be "cancer free" in his recent test and surgery results. It just seems so wrong though that the chemo is the way it is on him! It's hard on all of us. Tommy is a prisoner in a hospital bed half the month, hooked up to IV's and getting pumped full of meds -- some to kill the cancer and some to help him from puking out his guts out and doubling up in pain. Or he's getting someones donated blood because he is not able to recover on his own because he's so down and out, or he's getting platelets because he's too week to reproduce them himself. Maggie is without her mommy and brother half the month, Daryl's without his wife and son for half the month, I'm like a ball in a pin ball machine living a robotic life while going from one thing to the next without any breaks.

A Prayer to St. Peregrine for Tommy

O great St. Peregrine, you have been called "The Mighty", "The Wonder Worker" because of the numerous miracles which you obtained from God for those who have turned to you in their need. For so many years, you bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being.
You turned to God when the power of human beings could do no more, and you were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His cross to heal your affliction. I now ask God to heal Tommy whom I entrust to you.
Aided by your powerful intercession, I shall sing with Mary a hymn of gratitude to God for His great goodness and mercy.

Amen

<><

PICTURES - Enlarge to VIEW by Clicking on Pic

Tommy really wanted an Army cake - his wish was Cocoa Craig's demand. Uncle Craig got off of work and went to the bakery to find Tommy's Army cake. We have been blessed with a VERY loving extended family in Washington.
Uncle Craig and Auntie Grace bring in the band with "Happy Birthday to Tommy" and start his first of many birthday parties off right!
Uncle Craig also hand picked Tommy's birthday present - a remote control jeep - he LOVED it! Tommy's gotten pretty good with his jeep - can do spin outs and make it slide.
Here's my Fishing Tommy! First time out fishing - went to the Puget Sound - Ruston Way Pier just below where we live.
Dinner at Anthony's! Tommy's favorite - he LOVES fish!

Maggie helps out at bath time.
Tommy had a birthday party every day before his surgery it seemed like. It wasn't till I started looking at the pictures from this last week that I realized how much of a toll this is taking on me and Daryl - we both look and feel pretty exhausted. Having help this last week was VERY much needed and apprecitated - thanks Mom and Dad!!
Despite all the changes and stress in our household, we try to keep a normal routine as well so Baby Maggie Mae can still flash us her pretty smile! She's a great grounder for the stress and depression and VERY attached to Mommy!
Papa and his Pal at the pancake store (it's what Tommy calls it).
We spend a lot of time on the "boat" (aka our bed) and they each have their own spots and like to be with each other. I hope it's forever like this for them.

To help take Tommy's mind off the fact that he's having surgery, we did all the things he wanted to do. It's no surprise that he wanted to play golf with all the "golfing genes" in his blood. He's pretty good too - hope to get him in lessons next year.
He knows to line it up, keep your head down, eye on the ball and follow through. He's going to be a pro after his golf lessons from Papa.

Tommy's surgery update is blogged below - we are waiting for results this week! Here he is waiting before his scans. Claude (the beanie baby on his head) has become a new favorite.
With daddy and Papa being golfers and sometimes granddaddy - it's no surprise Tommy's following their footsteps. Believe it or not, Tommy picked out this cake on his own. His birthday was only days before surgery, and he wanted to celebrate with Gee and Papa - it was a good time for all and a good distraction from his pending surgery thoughts.
Gee and Papa with the Birthday Boy.

ALL summer long Tommy has begged to go fishing with Papa - so it was a must on our list of things to do. Tommy went to the store, picked out his fishing pole and tackle box and was the only one on the pier to catch a fish from the Puget Sound - FIRST time fishing too! All the fishermen came around to see it, it was one of those amazing times in his life and impressing as the mom to be there and watch it all happen.