Half Hawk or Back Hawk?

There's a trend among little boys (and adult boys too I suppose)... the Faux Hawk.  While I know Dad isn't sporting a Faux Hawk, I do believe he's sporting some sort of 'Hawk'.  A Half Hawk? A Back Hawk?  I'm not sure.  If it grew longer I might call it a mullet.  What should we name it?

It seemed really sudden when Dad lost his hair.  I think mostly because he still has his "Downy feathers" as I like to say. He's only kept his "contour feathers" on this patch in the back.  I didn't notice until one day riding in the back seat of the car on the way home from work. The radiation gun shoots on the left side of his head and then exits on the right side, leaving the very back virtually untouched.   We keep saying we'll take him in to get his head shaved, but I think he's starting a new hair trend! 

I guess this means progress??

Amy left today to go home to Renton, Washington. I guess that means progress right? David is able to do pretty much anything he wants to now (except drive), Abbie gets her car back tomorrow, the last radiation/chemo treatment is next Thursday and every one's schedules are pretty much back to normal. So I guess its time for Amy to go back home, but boy, will we miss her. Let me list some of the things she has done while she has been home helping us through David's surgery:

My basement was painted (with Abbie, Andy and Mike's help)

We have 2 new flat screen TVs

My house has been set up for wireless Internet

We have cable TV now with ON DEMAND - which is the best!!

My garage floor is empty and most of the junk in my garage is gone (great garage sale $700+)

My downstairs bathrooms is completely renovated (with Abbie's design and hard work)

She organized a family BBQ when Melody was here!!! ALL OF THE FAMILY TOGETHER!!! It was the best! She did the cooking, had matching table cloths, napkins, bubbles for the little boys and delicious hamburgers for the rest of us. That day was very special to me.

The toys are organized

The books shelves are organized

The DVDs/CDs/video tapes are organized

Not to mention her numerous trips to take David to the doctors and wait hours and hours with him

She has cooked for us several times a week - which is so helpful to me

She has comforted me and helped me not to cry and to carry on

She has patiently helped David with his physical therapy - when he wanted to do it

Because of Amy and Abbie, I have been able to keep my job. Without them and their assistance, I would have had to quit working to take care of David.

She walks into the house looks around and just knows what to do - whether to pick up, whether to start dinner or whether to just sit down and relax.

And her faith, her happy disposition, her determination and her love for her family have kept us all in good spirits and given us the courage to keep going.

She now goes back to work and the next 4 months will be the busiest for her at her job, so she's not even going home to rest!! Melody will be coming for the summer when she is out of school up there, which will be good for us because Abbie will be living off and on up in Eden while she directs an outdoor school program/camp for children during the summer.

My mother always told me that daughters turn out to be mothers' best friends and she is right. My girls are my best friends. I love them all very much and Amy will leave a BIG hole here at home. Thank you, Amy, for all you have done for us. I don't know what I can do to show you how much I appreciate your love and support. We will ALL miss you! Come home again soon, okay?

Family Time

This past weekend Mel flew in for a quick weekend visit, so we decided to have a Family BBQ.  Amy really wanted a BBQ, so this was her excuse to buy one.  And we're glad she did!  The wind tried to deter us, but we ate outside anyways.  Dad's favorite dish is hamburgers with beans, so that's what we ate (plus some yummy grilled squash and Rob's amazing rainbow jello salad).  The grand kids played for hours (I'm not sure they even stopped to eat) and the rest of us talked and laughed.  Family Time is the best kind of time!

Dad is pretty tough.  He's just now starting to loose some hair and feel some tenderness on the left side of his head.  He's been putting in full days at work for three weeks now.  I'm amazed at how much he continues to do.  On Saturday he did some mowing, helped Mom and I plant the rest of the garden, plus started a full blown war against the wasps that have been hanging around.  He is feeling fatigued by the time he gets home each day, but continues to get up the next morning and continue on.  We are thankful that he is able to do many of the things he wants to do.

Half Way

Today marked half way through dad's radiation treatment.  I'm amazed how much well he's holding up.  His scar is almost completely healed, and his balance is getting better everyday.  He's been going to work daily for almost two weeks and is keeping up with things around the house.  He mowed the lawn last week, though it completely wiped him out.  Tomorrow we meet with all of dad's doctors and he also starts his second research study. 

We thank you for all of your continued thoughts and prayers.  We appreciate it more than you know. 

My Mom

Mom Reading to Daniel

Today is my mom's birthday.  And so I beg your indulgence as I write a post about my mom on the blog devoted to my dad.

My mom is the most amazing woman I know and I learned many amazing things from her.  Little known facts about my mom:
1.  She won several awards for her creative writing in middle and high school.  I won an award for a story she helped me write in grade school.  She did all the story telling... I just wrote it down.

2.  She is an amazing cook, even though when asked, she will say she hates cooking.  She always told me people think she's a good cook because she doesn't waste her time with recipes that aren't amazingly delicious.

3.  My mom knows more music than I ever will.  All of us (her children) gained a love and appreciate of a variety of music from her.  I can still picture sitting in the back seat seat of the van as a child and watching my mom sing every word of "Rock of Ages" by Def Leppard.  "You Betcha!"

4.  Mom is extremely talented with fabric.  She makes the most amazing quilts I have ever seen.  She also does some of the most beautiful hand applique work I have ever seen.  She was invited to be a member of a prestigious applique guild here in Salt Lake.

5.  Driving is one my mom's favorite things to do. 

6.  Mom was the first in our family to battle cancer.  This year marks her 3rd year after breast cancer.  I asked her today what one of her best accomplishments has been.  She responded "I'm still alive."  Many of you know she has her own set of health issues to deal with, as she said today, "My body keeps trying to kill itself off but I just won't let it."  My dad's fight with cancer has been made less scary because of my mom's past experiences. 

7.  Mom's favorite TV show is Law & Order: Criminal Intent.  She was SO glad when Vincent D'Onofrio returned. 

8.  Mom has more faith than anyone I know of.  Anyone.  She admits to not knowing or understanding everything.  She admits to struggling.  Yet, she is devoted to the Lord and will always do whatever is asked of her.  Robert summed it up best once.  When my dad and brothers were moving Melody and I to Seattle, we drove a WAY overpacked trailer with tire problems from Southern California to Seattle, WA avoiding what could have been some serious problems.  Rob said after arriving, "You know we only made it because mom was praying every minute for our safety, right?"  Exactly right. 

9.  Mom played guitar and organ in a band in high school.  She since taught most of us to play guitar and both Mike and Rob played in bands in high school. 

10.  She is devoted to her grandsons and would do anything for them. 

I love the picture above of my mom reading to Daniel.  I love it because of the way Daniel stares at her, not at the book.  Those around her know of her goodness and stare in awe.  As I get older, I come to appreciate more and more the things my mom taught me and did for me growing up.  She truly is my best friend.  I love you, mom.

Amy