Progress

Travis is making great progress. He isn't limping noticeably and seems to be feeling much better. I hate peppering him with questions so I just observe him to make sure he's feeling okay. He does come in the house and lay down which is a sign that he isn't 100% but that is to be expected. Overall, he has had a great recovery since being at home. Cole has an Yamaha 80 four-wheeler and he uses a lot. I love that he has it and can start it by himself because he is always willing to run errands for me to Vickie's house. He had a basket on it but this week him and his dad built a box for the back of it. It's the right size for Carly to ride on the back and for him to haul things such as generators:)(I just saw him take one over to Vickie's house why I mentioned it.) Carly has a battery powered four-wheeler but those things are just not the same. She has been driving Cole's around a lot more and I am getting more comfortable with her on it. She also rode her cousin Clint's 50 motorcycle that has training wheels and she loved that. I think she is ready for her own set of wheels.... I would rather get her a 50 four-wheeler because I think it would be more practical for our family but she did love the motorcycle. We'll see what Santa can bring in his big red bag. Since Christmas is coming and I love to buy gifts I can't wait. I am worse then the kids.

It always amazes me at how many people don't believe in Christ or think that those who go to church are hypocrites but at the same time celebrate Christmas, Easter, and many other religious holidays, who's the hypocrite? I think that society has secularized so many holidays that they feel like it's okay to not celebrate Jesus but one time of year. I respect those that don't participate in Christmas because if you have a bad attitude don't bring everyone else into your drama... If your asking yourself "is that me?" Maybe it is :)

Christmas Ideas for the kids:

Cole and Carly
New Playset
New Playhouse/fort
New Cowboy boots, muck boots(rain boots)
College fund contributions with American Funds
Coloring Books
Motorcycle or four-wheeler for Carly. Cole got one for his birthday and I believe in equality.
Some type of animal :0 For grandma to take care of..Love ya Vickie

This is just some thoughts I am having. No they won't get everything on this list but I am just brainstorming. I am not one of those people who don't know what to buy. I am also not going to buy them a bunch of toys, videos, pajamas, and misc. knick knacks. They get so much of that stuff all year. They are also not that into it. No clothes except boots and maybe some camo stuff but who knows and who really cares. Back to reason for the season is it all about gifts? What gift are we as a family going to give to Jesus? Can we afford time? Here I am blogging out loud again. Till Next time.

Family Photos

I just checked our photographers website and they had uploaded our family photo to their main page.

Deja Vu'

The title of this post is Deja Vu' because that summarizes Travis' latest stint at U.C.S.F. We drove down to the city on Wednesday and arrived in time to unpack our luggage, and then catch a cab to one of our favorite restaurants in the city, Scomas. I wanted to eat somewhere that Travis enjoys because he couldn't eat before his surgery at 9:30 Thursday morning so his last meal needed to be a good one. Needless to say he was extremely edging all day and he didn't sleep very well Wednesday night...

Thursday morning we trudged up to the hospital and we weren't exactly sure on the time so we had to wait about an hour and a half which is a long time when you are really nervous. To make a long story short Travis' embolization of a benign tumor on his kidney was "sucessful." In January during his first embolization his tumor was 10cm wide and prior to this recent embolization the tumor was 4cm wide. The doctors are perplexed to why the tumor causes Travis so much pain so the plan is to try and shrink the tumor to 1cm. He has a follow-up CAT scan in 2months to assess the tumor. I pray that the CAT scan shows that God has completely removed the tumor.... Keep us in your prayers. I don't know if Travis could handle another embolization.

After the surgery we were admitted into the hospital which is unusual but due to our last embolization they knew that he needed to be observed and his pain needed to be managed. We spent three nights and four days at the hospital and we made the long drive home, yesterday. Travis also had the hiccups for approximately 40 hours. Yes, 40 hours of hiccups that were gut wrenching and the doctors were mystified. They finally decided to try treating the hiccups and they became less frequent. It was very weird and also hard to see him hiccup so hard and then have them keep coming. The hiccups were a large part of his pain because of where his pain is located, the right flank. Enough about Travis' pain because I am starting to hurt:)

I know that I often use the blog as an avenue to vent my frustration but this post is dedicated to Vickie, John, Dena, Macky, Rachelle, Clay, Janelle, Mikey, Heidi, Chuck and Mary. Each one of them helped take care of our family during a stressful situation by loving our children. While Travis, Vickie and I were in S.F. Cole and Carly were in a wedding...I know crazy huh! My sisters and my brother-in-laws helped take and pick up the kids from school, feed them and gave them lots of love and attention while we were gone. John took the kids to Redding for the wedding that they were in and Heidi drove 4hours to make sure the kids were taken to all the wedding appts. and spent quality time. My parents attended the wedding and then brought Carly home with them because she isn't feeling well. Chuck and Mary opened their home to my children just as they would their own grandchildren and Travis and I are very thankful. As a parent it is hard to take care of yourself when you worry so much about your kids but everyone who helped are people who I know not only care about Cole and Carly but love them, and I thank God that we have each any everyone of you in our lives.

For everyone who has left us messages, and sent us cards, THANK YOU. I am always amazed at how you know who your "real" friends and FAMILY are when you are having a difficult time. The people who call because the care.

Thank you.

Mommy Weekend

This past weekend Travis took Cole and Carly hunting in Trinity Center. They went with some family and stayed at a family friends cabin for two nights. I decided to stay home and have some time to myself. On Saturday my mom and I went to Personal Choice for a Spa day. I had a facial, massage, and hydotherapy tub.... It was amazing. We went and had lunch afterward at Mazzoti's, which is the worst Italian restaurant ever, but the only thing open right before dinner time. Their food is very blah, and doesn't have any invigorating Italian flavor. I often think that I should be a Spa Critic. I have been to Spas in Healdsburg, Calistoga, Napa, St.Helena, Eureka, Fortuna, Redding, Mexico, and other various places. I know what I like and Personal choice is lacking some spa essentials such as a relaxation room, lockers where you change into robes, slippers, drink lemon water, tea, showers, and so on. Anyway I don't mean to be a Spa snob but maybe I am...

After I came home and watered my plants, fed our dog, and read for a little bit, I took a shower, got dressed, and was ready for an evening with a few of my favorite people. My sisters, Lyndsey, and I went to dinner at the Sea Grill and had a very good time. We visited, laughed, and had some delicous cocktails. We were all stuffed as we headed off to watch Body of Lies/Movie. It was GREAT. I love politics, history, and hot actors and this film had it all. It would also be a great film to use in my future film classes. A must have. Rachelle and Clay ended up spending the night with me.

Sunday, I slept in, drank coffee, internet shopped, cleaned my office, went to church, lunch, and worked in the office. I am only going to be at work on Monday and Tuesday so I have a lot to take care before Travis's Surgery on Thursday. After work I did my grocery shopping, went home, relaxed, read, and went to bed early.

Today I have to work, pack the kids clothes, run errands, and so on. On another note I am working on a post that is going to address gossip, and the issue that comes up all the time is people who are always talking about others and jealousy....(just an irritating observation). On Sunday our pastor said that the second most important thing that Jesus said was to love your neighbor as yourself and I am really trying to take that to heart....hum? neighbors, people, how do I show, act, live like I care about others as much as I care about myself? The hardest part is doing those things when there are those who I feel don't deserve it, don't love themselves, have diarrhea of the mouth, are jealous, and so on. WELL IT ISN'T MY JOB TO JUDGE....... I guess that is where prayer comes into play... Keep my family in your prayers this week as Travis has surgery on Thursday morning.

Random Moments

Janelle and Mikey were over at my house on Friday and Tasha and Craig's kids came over to play. Needless to say Cole and Carly love the White kids and were excited they came over.... The previous Friday consisted of Jake, Lex, Cole, and Carly all outside in the field trying to rope, ride and wrestle the kids' sheep, Eddie. It was comical. This Friday night consisted of a rodeo in the house with a bucking bull, and a 4ft horse. It's amazing what a little imagination can create. Makynna and Carly took a bath and then traveled to the "movie theatre" to watch a princess movie. They were entranced and very adorable. Bailee was wanting to nurse on my mom:) so we had her in Cole's baby basket and she was BEAUTIFUL.

And it begins....

Vickie has been wanting to sign Carly up for Dance class for awhile and today was her first class. Yesterday, when I had her try on her leotard, tights, and ballet shoes she didn't look too thrilled but today when I spied on her during class she was concentrating and doing fabulous. I took a couple pictures to document her first day. Today is just the beginning of practices, games, rehearsals, pick ups, and drop offs. I knew this day would come soon enough but I guess I am a little nostalgic.....