Now you see it, now you don't.

Well, it was an interesting appointment today. We went to see Dr. B. about the results from the follow-up CAT and PET scans and blood work. Here is the simplest way to explain the appointment:

The blood work for tumour markers came back normal this time. :D
One of the scans for bone lesions was clear. (The one that was supposed to light up any lesions.)
The second scan showed a non-lit-up lesion on her scull on the left parietal section.
Dr. B. (oncologist/hematologist) decided to consult on the spot with a neuro-surgeon regarding a possible biopsy of the lesion to determine whether or not the lesion was LCH (langerhans cell histiocytosis) which is what they were looking for with the scans. He told us that if the neurosurgeon said it would be too invasive, then he had the option of doing a 6 week course of treatment. (There is no other way to diagnose LCH as it does not show up in the blood or anywhere else...so we would be treating on an educated "guess" without the biopsy.)
We waited for the neurosurgeon to weigh in.
He arrived, felt her scalp, looked at the scans and asked if she had complained of any pains.
We said no.
He said that he could not see any lesions on the scan that had supposedly shown a lesion, that he couldn't feel a lesion on Sadie's scalp and that since she is presenting with no other symptoms besides DI, he would not recommend a biopsy.
He then ordered some good old fashioned X-rays to confirm whether or not there was a lesion where the other scan seemed to suggest.
He doubts it.
I do too at this point.
Dr. B. gave us the paperwork and told us he would call us with the results later on today and we went downstairs and got the x-rays done.
Now again...we wait.
It won't feel like this leg of the journey is over until Dr. B. says we don't have to ever see him again. So i'm holding myself back from going crazy with glee... and at the same time.
:D
This sure feels like a fantastic answer to prayer.
grateful.

provision

I was reading my sister's blog the other day and the following quote from the story of Jonah was included with her entry.

"But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights."

I suppose being swallowed by a huge fish (and living) is an improvement on drowning...but still. It probably wouldn't have been too pleasant either. When i read it, my heart snagged on the word "provided".
It wasn't that the Lord "allowed" a great fish to swallow Jonah. The Lord "provided" a great fish to swallow Jonah.
Instead of launching into a lengthy diatribe on the whole story, I'm going to leave it at a thought that has been sticking with me this week.
Sometimes God's provision looks weird.
Sometimes it's uncomfortable, frightening or even painful.
Sometimes we forget what the alternative to his provision might have been.
Sometimes we need to thankful for the weird and the uncomfortable because they may just be the things that give us the perspective we need for the road ahead.

Jespersen Lexicon

The kids:
"Mibbles" ---translation--- pimples
"Boff"--------translation---barf
"Ti-gar"-----translation----guitar
"un-racer"---translation---eraser
"wetter"---translation---washing machine
"Low-grit"--translation----yogurt
"Mom, come look at the toilet"---translation---The toilet is overflowing.
"I don't have any socks."---translation---I'd really rather steal your socks mom.
"I didn't get any sugar on my cereal."---translation---I only got a cup of sugar.
"That makes me Boff."---translation---I don't like what we're having for dinner.
"Darren DON'T!!"---translation---Darren DON'T (difficult saying to understand even though the translation is very similar... that is to say, it is one and the same.)
"I don't feel good."---translation---I don't want to do what you are asking of me.
"Thanks mom, thanks mom, i love you mom...etc..."---translation---I love dinner tonight.
"Mom. mom. mom. mom. mom. mom"---translation---Everyone is talking at once and I want to have something to say too, even if I don't have anything to say. (*note* These short word bursts are often followed by "I forgot what i wanted to tell you.")



The adults:
"She needs you"--translation---The baby pooped her pants.
"That's discouraging."---translation---That's too bad.
"Bounder"---translation---trickster, jerk
"LOOKS were never YOUR problem."---translation---Your attitude always WAS.
"What do ya figure?"--translation---Let's talk.
"And?"---translation--- Let's talk.
"What did you find?"---translation---Are you okay? (after a child falls down to the ground)
"Good eye!"---translation---The response given when a child has told you he/she has seen something in the landscape.
"I'm so discouraged."---translation--- Tell me you love me and everything will be okay...again.
"Good idea."---translation---This is a commonly practiced response to be given to a child who has any suggestion or idea such as "Let's snuggle." or "Will you read to me?" or "Let's play flashlight tag." or "Can we make popcorn?"

The little archer

Here is Wes (almost 2) and his new trick. He's been watching the other kids shoot bows and arrows quite a bit lately and it's contagious. He started practicing with my hair elastics, hangars and sticks. Even his thumb makes a good pretending bow and arrow for him. I got him a pack of headbands which are a huge hit. His fancy new swimming suit Curt bought him is priceless.

Two great minds of Science

During the part of the day that Wesley settles down for a nap, I read aloud to the kids. Some history, some science, some fun reading and some health. For the past week, we've been reading the life story of Marie Curie for science. Sadie (4) sometimes listens while hanging upside down on the couch silently or sits doing her writing and illustrating in her journal. I'm never quite sure how much or how little is being absorbed. Today was a "hanging upside down" kind of day. Suddenly there was a BOOM. I quit reading and looked up to see Sadie flopped unceremoniously on her bum, blond hair flipped into her face, mouth wide open in shock. Everyone had a good laugh as she got herself sitting prim on the couch as if nothing had happened and i resumed reading. At the end of the chapter i called her over to look at the picture of Marie Curie and Albert Einstein out for a walk together. She pointed to them and commented, "Now which one is Murray and which one is Curry?"

A Walk to Remember

Today I met my sisters at the legislature buildings for the "Walk to Remember" - honouring little lives lost to miscarriage, still birth & early infant loss.

Driving home Sadie brought up the balloons that had been released by the mothers as their babies' names were called out from the platform.

"I think i know where all those balloons went mom."
"Where?"
"Up into Heaven."
"And then what happened to them."
"And then Jesus gave them out to everyone."
"To who?"
"To all the little babies who died...because Jesus is a good Jesus. He takes care of us."

A common problem at our house.

Ellie came up to get me to proof-read her note to the "tooth fairy" tonight. It reads:

"I lost my tooth.
But I don't want to give it to you.
But I still want money."