Aaaaaaarrrr-Veeeh

On Friday we loaded up the kids, a mountain of homework, the dog, the bunny, and headed up to Lost Lake for the weekend. We had to try out the recently acquired 5th Wheel, which we fondly refer to as the RV; however, you must say it this way: Aaaaarrrr-Veeeh....preferably with the Cousin Eddy twang. For those of you that are die hard RV people, we know it isn't an RV. It's a trailer. Aaaaarrrr-Veeeh is just more fun to say. So there.

Anyhow, we had a wonderful weekend. It was a bit of reality check, though. When Marc and I were dating and newlyweds we were backpack campers. We would take off for a long weekend and walk around Mt. Hood or Sisters. No tent, freeze dried food, and no bathroom facilities save for a trowel and a tree. After we were married we graduated to horses and trail riding -- it's easier on the knees and the view is great. We still roughed it, but we covered a lot more ground in less time. Then came the kids. We remained die hard campers. Tents all the way! Every year we would cram the back of the truck with bikes,stroller, tents, coolers, and a sundry of other supplies. We would spend the weekend tent camping. We were filthy, we would juggle the coolers and food, and we would freeze at night, but we would have a wonderful time. There were some perks to tent camping. Pit toilets and food that didn't have to be reconstituted were big improvements over backpacking or horse packing. We would mock those "campers" that would roll into the campground with their camping rigs. Wimps. That was until last summer when we got rained out. I recall standing there beneath the sagging tarps as the kids shivered next to the dying fire. Hey, kids! Isn't this fun? Over in the next camp spot Mr. and Mrs. RV were revving up their generator. Probably turning on the heat and changing into dry clothes. Sigh.

After that trip we talked briefly about the pros and cons of getting an RV or trailer. It would be great, but we just couldn't justify the cost. No, we were going to have to stick with the ol' tent. So, this year when we were offered a hand me down fifth wheel in great condition we jumped at the opportunity. After this weekend, we realized what a blessing it is! Heat is not overrated. Neither is a toilet at 2 a.m. Need I mention a kitchen? Oh, yes, we are eating crow and it is tasty! There is no going back now.

Needless to say we had a great weekend. Marc felt good, the kids were happy for the change of scenery, the weather was perfect, and our faithful friends, Steve, Mel and their kids, made it a great weekend! It was a wonderful break from work, school, and the clinic. We are refreshed and geared up for treatment tomorrow. Many thanks to Carrol and Karen for giving us such an amazing deal on the Aaaaaarrr-Veeeeh. It's a huge blessing and we love it!

Silly Sophie!

Marc and his girl

One should not try taking a family picture on the last day of camping. Can we all say Grubby!

The whole gang!

Bunny Saga Continues

Many of you have asked how the infamous bunnies are doing. After a week of little Star trying to commit suicide, we decided to let her go. Basically, every time Julia went near the cage to play with her she would freak out and jump so violently that she would smash herself on the roof of the hutch. I spent some time reiterating to Julia that she was a wild animal and would likely never be tame enough to play with. She was sad, but in the end she made the right choice. Star is now off free to do what wild bunnies do. I'm sure we will enjoy seeing Star's offspring roaming the property for many years to come!

While we still have to two rabbits that came with the hutch, Julia was so sad to lose the cute little baby bunny. I compromised with her and told her we would shop for just the right baby bunny for her. Who is the big softy now? Sigh. Anyhow, we finally located the perfect baby for her and picked it up today. Sugar is the newest addition. She is half English Lop, half Champagne. She looks a lot like Star, but sports some really crazy ears and is incredibly mellow. While she is only 8 weeks old, she appears to be full grown. I anticipate this will be quite a large bunny before all is said and done!

So, enjoy the pictures and teasing me about being the softer parent! It all ends well....Julia is one delighted girl.

Reflection

The last couple of weeks are hard to sum up. Sometimes it's easier to process the present when I reflect on the past. I think back to mid June and July when we were frustrated and upset. It seemed like nothing was going our way and everything seemed so bleak. There was also the post, "Uncle," from April when I shared some tough emotions, too. We have had quite of few of those times in the last seven months. I'm thinking of the times when things have been so bad that they don't seem like they could get any worse, but then somehow they do.

I like reflecting back on those times. I become more aware of the good times and our abundant blessings. We are in one of those seasons right now. We have enjoyed a truly amazing couple of weeks. Counting blessings this month doesn't seem to take the hard effort that it has in recent months. Life has been fun and pleasant -- a welcome change in our world.

I'll summarize some of the best parts of the last couple of weeks. I'll try to keep it brief....

• OHSU continues to be a wonderful place. We are grateful to be there. The care is thorough and they truly make the patient experience as positive as possible.
• Marc is doing great with this chemo regimen. While it's never a cake walk, this treatment seems much more tolerable.
• In addition to the treatment being easier on his system, it appears that he is getting initial benefit from it. He said last week that he was pain free and feeling as good as he has in over a year!
• Marc and I enjoyed a work retreat in Vancouver, B.C. this past weekend. We enjoyed the time being just "us" and having a break from the kids. The last time we had that much time alone was when Marc was in the hospital in February. Granted, those accommodations were expensive and he did have room service, but we much preferred the lovely accommodations and activities that his employer provided in beautiful B.C.! It was a refreshing time away.
• Marc's work is going well. He is enjoying being back in the game again. I'm happy having my house and routine back :) Life is pretty normal (whatever that is) these days.
• The kids returned to school this week. Please picture me right now doing an exuberant dance of joy! Can I just say...Woo-hoo!!!!
• The most memorable experience, though, has been Marc connecting with his father and sister. Marc has never had the opportunity to meet his dad or his family until two weeks ago. We have tried unsuccessfully for years to locate him, but we always ran into dead ends. This time was different! A couple of pieces of the puzzle came together and we were able to contact him. This has been a very positive experience for Marc and he is enjoying learning about his father, sisters, and a very rich family heritage.

So, all in all, we don't have much to complain about. Life is good and we are enjoying the abundant blessings in our lives right now. It's humbling looking back on the sadder and gloomier posts. I wish I had known then about how good things were going to be a few short weeks away when I was in those darker places. I guess that's why I'm reflecting now. The next time the darkness closes in, I will do my best to remember this season. He takes away...and He gives. For all those prayers I cried out for relief and comfort....I am now offering back in prayers of thanksgiving. I am grateful for this time and the good things in it!

I just want to say thanks to all of you for caring about us so much. We are grateful to our friends and loved ones. This continues to be a game of endurance. Thank you for staying with us during the really rough times. Your encouragement and prayers have meant so very much to us. Because of that it's always so much fun to post something positive and good. Thanks for letting us share our good news!

With love and gratitude....

So Far So Good...

I have waited to update everyone on how Marc's treatment went this week. We wanted to see how he did after he was disconnected from the pump. Typically disconnect day and the day following are the worst.

We are happy to report that this round went great! The experience at OHSU continues to be positive and (almost) pleasant. This new chemo drug seems to be a little easier on his body, too. He didn't have any of the side effects they predicted and the nausea and fatigue have been minimal. We are really grateful for the arsenal of anti-nausea drugs they sent home with him. Some are scheduled doses, but others are to be taken "as needed." He has been able to stay ahead of the queasy stomach for the most part. Hooray! In addition he has been able to sleep -- something that can be difficult with the steroids he has to take. So, all in all it was a tolerable experience. He is pain free, eating, and rested. We hope that they all go like this :)

We would appreciate continued prayer regarding the chemo regimen. We really need this tumor to shrink. The last medication was somewhat effective in that the tumor didn't grow, but we would like to gain on it and actually have it shrink. Surgery is an option ONLY if the tumor gets smaller. Marc has always wanted surgery, but to achieve that the cancer has to shrink. He will have a CT scan in another three treatments to see where we stand.

His CT scan from a couple of weeks ago shows that the cancer is still limited to his omental lining. His organs continue to look great and it hasn't spread. They still can't find the original source of his tumor. After 6 CT scans in six months, they have yet to determine where it came from. This is very rare. We pray that this continues to be the case. His doctors continue to be baffled by this. Knowing how odd this is, we are grateful to be at a university hospital that is interested in figuring it out!

As always, we are so grateful for all of your prayers and support. You have all been so kind in inquiring how we are doing. That is a huge comfort to us. Thanks for remembering us and lifting us up!

With love and gratitude....

On the Subject of Teachers

It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken
joy in creative expression and knowledge.

- Albert Einstein

As a college freshman, I struggled to succeed in my classes. What I had excelled at in high school was now a challenge. I was especially discouraged by my grades on writing assignments. Class after class, paper after paper, I received mediocre or poor grades. The entire first term I was frustrated with myself and with school. I felt woefully ill-prepared for college. I muddled on and eventually found myself in Intro to Microeconomics with an infamous Professor Azzi. His reputation had preceded him -- between the Azzi legends and the syllabus, I was overwhelmed. Economics had always intrigued me, but by this time I knew intrigue wasn't enough. I was going to have to prove myself and that meant writing some decent papers.

When my first paper was returned, I was horrified. I had earned a C-. Worse was the fact that my paper looked like Jack-the-Ripper had graded it. Red lines through entire sentences, grammatical corrections, and notes in the corners, made my paper look like a ritual blood letting. Worse was the No! No! No! written in response to the conclusion I had drawn. Ugh. As hard as it was to read the comments and accept the grade, I was determined to get through the class. I loved the subject and I was beginning to enjoy this bear of a professor that seemed to intimidate so many.

I turned in my second paper. I received a C and no fewer bleeding comments. I mustered up the courage while writing my third paper and dropped into his office. I thought, perhaps, that he would spend a few minutes and help me refine my rough draft. I was wrong. A few minutes turned into an hour, lots of chalk and legal paper, more red pen on my paper, and a few good laughs. I left his office determined to do better. And I did.

Over the next three years, I continued to shadow Azzi's door. He was always available. I often struggled with concepts, but he was always encouraging and insisted that I could comprehend even the most difficult ideas. I slowly gained confidence in what was now my major and the ability to put together thoughts on paper. My papers bled less over time and I knew that the Yes! scribbled in the margin was well earned. To this day I am grateful for all that he did to help me. He was a great teacher and advisor. I am privileged to know him as a friend, as well as his wife, Jane. They both continue to be a great encouragement to me, even in this current season of uncertainty.

My days of being a student are gone. I now get to enjoy watching my kids forge relationships with their teachers. We have been so blessed by all the teachers the kids have had. I love watching my kids delight in what they learn, curiosity fed by teachers that love to teach.

The boys had the opportunity to be in Mrs. Fosters third grade class last year. In hindsight, it was God's perfect timing. Not only did she engage the boys and direct their curiosity, she dealt with their sorrow and concern over their dad. She consistently prayed with them and for us. She kept the boys focused and engaged on what needed to be done in school, but did it with compassion and understanding for what they were experiencing personally. She helped Adam and Ben navigate a very difficult time in their lives.

Over the months, I had the opportunity to talk at length with Mrs. Foster. Sometimes about the boys, but often about Marc and our family. I have found her wisdom and faith a comfort and encouragement. As the school year ended and summer began, we invited her to help us with our garden. We spent weekend days planting and weeding, picking, and enjoying each other's company. She and her husband, Steve, have become wonderful friends. They have watched the kids so Marc and I could get away, we have enjoyed meals together...just visiting and laughing. I love watching all my kids delight in the activities they come up with and the neat ways that they engage the kids in learning. What a gift!

Today Mrs. Foster watched the boys for the day so that I could go to chemo with Marc. When we picked them up this afternoon they were so excited to tell us all they had done. She had spent the day delighting them -- movies, hamburgers, walks to the park, board games. This evening as I tucked Adam in he said quietly, "Mom, I didn't want to leave today. I had so much fun. It felt like I was leaving family."

I know that Mrs. Foster will leave a lasting impression on my children, just as Professor Azzi left a lasting impression on me. It is not understanding the Giffin paradox or aggregate supply and demand that I associate with my professor. And, it is not nouns or the multiplication tables that have most impressed my boys. I have no doubt we will retain what we learned in their classrooms; however, I would wager that these teachers have left a more important legacy with their students: One of friendship, encouragement, and inspiration.

Thank you, Professor Azzi. Thank you, Mrs. Foster.
With love and gratitude...

P.S. My friend, Liz, sent a link to this story about her dad. Another story of how a student was profoundly impacted by a teacher. Enjoy.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-stroke-teacher-student-31-aug31,0,5182203.story?page=1&track=rss