Busy, Busy, Busy ...

We continue to run around ragged. Some days are better than others. Some weeks a little less crazy than others.

We have 1 year scans coming up the 22nd and 23rd of this month. It is hard to believe that it is almost a year after treatment, already. Annual scans include more than the quarterly scans have. We'll be doing an MRI of the Head and Neck, Cat Scan of the Chest, Panorex, as well as a Heart Echo and EKG, and a Hearing Test. As always, it makes us a bit anxious as we get close to the tests. Please pray for peace of mind for us while we wait and safety and cooperation for the tests and for clean scans.

Potty training is not going too well at the moment. Rebekah has been having more accidents lately. She had been doing so well and now a day doesn't go by without at least one accident. It is frustrating. At this point, she can be in underwear at home, but when we are out and about we have to be pretty careful. When we're at home, we can clean up easy enough (well at least we can clean up and get new clothes on and take care of any messes without much delay - not that it is always easy). Clean up isn't as easy when we are out and about. I don't know how to get her back on track. Lately, I've been allowing her to pick out her underwear and clothes in the morning and if she needs a change then Mommy gets to pick (and I don't usually pick what she would).

Sarah, too, isn't doing real well at potty training. She seems a bit more hit or miss than her sister. She gets to pick her first pullup in the morning and after that Mommy gets to pick - much to her dismay. She wants one pattern on the pullup and only that pattern - "blue princess", not the ones with 3 of the princesses including the "blue princess". She will seldom say she needs to go potty, unless it gets her out of something she doesn't want to do, or maybe if her sister is going to the bathroom.

The girls are funny at bedtime. Since I won't allow them to have a sippy cup of water any more, they ask for a little bit of water. Sarah says "me need little bit water mama". So, I get them each a syringe of water (1 tsp or less) and that usually satisfies them. They've just had some water while brushing their teeth, but they need more. How many kids would know what to do with a syringe, much less accept it and think it is normal? After Rebekah drinks hers, she usually gives her baby dolls a drink, too.

Rebekah is having some very long meal times. Mommy is being more insistent that she sit and eat what is on her plate. It is not uncommon for a meal or snack to last an hour or more. But, the good news is that she continues to slowly be adding some weight. She still likes to tell me that she is full after only a few bites. She also likes to give her food to her sister. I think she has figured out that when she gives food away to others, she has less to eat. She definitely has some brains. She may not always be able to express what she's thinking, but she does a lot of thinking.

She continues to be fine with having her g-tube gone. She giggles about it when we ask about it and says "all done". I'm glad for the good attitude about it. It is amazing how much better that can make life for Mom and Dad.

"Love you too Daddy" is what both girls will tell Daddy, whether he has told them "I love you" or not. It really is kind of cute. We've been trying to tell them that if they walk up to Daddy, they should say "I love you Daddy" and if Daddy says "I love you" then they say "I love you too Daddy". So far, it hasn't gotten through to them. One day, I'm sure it will.

Gage and his family continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. They have moved up to Seattle to move forward with transplant. He has finished his second round of chemo and his counts are increasing. Next week, he will have some additional testing to check if he is still in remission. Please pray that he is in remission. Also, his parents need to make some decisions about his treatment plan. Please pray for guidance in the decision and peace about the decision they make.