Fishing, Year 27 and Mothers Day

Dave and I took Emmy fishing at Alton Baker Park the last Friday in April. Kyla bought her a cute fishing pole just her size and she practiced casting in her back yard. Much to our surprise, she can really cast that hook and line out to the middle of the water. She patiently fished for a while before we had to move to a different spot. We did get to see some really cute ducklings with their mama swimming as she fished which helped with the boredom and lack of bites. A little ice cream helped in the end since we didn't catch anything.

Happy birthday to Kyla. We had her birthday dinner on Sunday the 1st since she wanted Dave's famous seafood chowder. GG and Grandad Max came to help her celebrate as well as Jill, Wade and Kelli. On the 3rd (her actual birthday) she went home after picking up Emmy from preschool and was trying to fix herself some lunch. She had a grand mal seizure in the kitchen and Emma did so great. She was scared but managed to get help from the neighbor. Kyla had just weaned herself off of Keppra a couple of days before so they put her back on it. She had another smaller seizure on Saturday while down town. After being monitored she went home with an increase in dosage. The nurse said that in the last trimester of pregnancy it is not unusual for this to happen to someone who is prone to seizures. We all pray that she can get through this last four weeks of her pregnancy and have a healthy baby and heal.

On a mothers note (me) I am so sad to see her so heart broken by all that has transpired from Jed. He will never fully understand how much he is/was  loved by her. I can't help but think that this stress along with the pregnancy might be causing the seizures. 

The kids took Dave and I to a brunch at Ambrosia on Sunday for Mothers Day where the food was pretty great. Then Dave took me to buy a couple of hanging plants. A special happy Mothers Day to my mom, my mother-in-law, and a very special Happy Mothers Day to Kyla who is such a terrific mom and to Jill who will be a first time mom soon.

Emmy and Grandad fishing

Four little ducklings with their mommy

Happy 27th birthday to Kyla......We love you!

Emma modeling the new dress from GG and Grandad Max

It's a Boy for Jill and Wade, Weekend and Birthdays

Jill and Wade invited Dave and I to come to her ultrasound today. It's a boy! One of each this summer will be lots of fun. Jill is pretty excited and they plan on naming him Byron David.

We kept pretty busy this weekend. Dave finished a section of our deck in front and it looks great. Plus a great benefit is that we don't worry about falling through now. I worked on our master bathroom and finished painting. Now I move on to the bedroom. It looks so much better to get all the old wallpaper off and a fresh coat of paint.

Kyla, Jill and Wade came and had dinner with us on Sunday and Kelli came late that night to do laundry. Emmy was being kind of naughty so stayed home with her dad. It rained all weekend but it is supposed to be nice all week. I hope it lasts in to the weekend because those monster weeds are screaming my name.

Happy birthday to my brother-in-law Mike, my nephew Jason and my dad....all born on April 17th.

Easter, Seizure, Another MRI and a 5-Year-Old Birthday Jump

On Easter we had a nice brunch with Barb and her family. Em and Joey had fun hunting eggs and playing together. Barb outdid herself as usual.....so much food and all so delicious. Dave, Kelli and I went home and that evening we received a call that Kyla had had a seizure outside a bookstore after eating dinner. So the evening was spent in the emergency room and then we kept Emmy for a few nights until Kyla's medication was on board. It seems to be non-tumor related but they can't be sure. Since Jed decided to come out and they are working through some things she is under an incredible amount of stress and sadness. She also had a glucose tolerance test earlier in the week which may be a major factor. She went to San Francisco for a scan just to be sure and everything looks fine still.

While Kyla and Jed were in San Francisco we kept Emmy again and she woke up on her 5th birthday demonstrating how she is sure she can jump higher now. She is such a hoot! I fixed her a birthday breakfast and then her mom and dad took her to lunch. Tonight (Friday) she is having a couple of friends over for a sleepover and then a family dinner on Sunday at our house.

Special Easter brunch at Aunt Barbs

Emmy and her birthday cupcake

Preparing for the birthday jump

The great five year old birthday jump!!

Happy Birthday to Kelli

A belated Happy St. Patricks Day to all! Today is Kelli's birthday and we will be having a Napoleon Dynamite birthday for her. She loves that movie so we are doing kind of a theme for her. Kyla and Jill are kidnapping her and taking her to see an improv downtown after dinner with all of us and GG and Grandad Max. It will be good for all three girls to get out together. They have a lot of fun when they do.

Kyla had a doctors appointment on Wednesday as did Jill. Both are doing well and we are excited to have some new little ones in a few months. I kept Emmy at my office while Kyla was at her appointment and we printed out many Easter coloring pages as well as put together puzzles and drew on the chalk board. Saw our 20 turkeys strutting through the driveway this morning. The four males with their tails all fanned out were so comical.....they gobble at us whenever they hear any noises.

My niece, Kalli....isn't she just adorable?

Kelli bugging Napoleon......Gosh!!

MRI Results

Kyla's MRI scan was clear. It is such good news considering she hasn't had a scan for a while. Emma and I spent the past couple of days at home collecting eggs, having a teddy bear picnic, feeding our neighbors goats apple slices and carrots, coloring, putting together puzzles and baking. A fun few days.

Babies, Babies, Emma's Visit, Fender Bender and World Traveler

Kyla will be going to San Francisco this Thursday for another scan. I will post the results as soon as we hear back. They have decided on a name for little Miss Nagel......Lucy Maye. At least that is the talk now so if it changes we will be sure to let everyone know.

Kyla and Jed went to see a play last weekend and so we kept Emmy overnight on Saturday. It was such a beautiful weekend and she kept Grandad Dave on his toes most of the time outdoors. However, she and I colored probably a zillion pictures and made peanut butter cookies as well as reading Amelia Bedelia a couple of times. We have one white hen that is pretty tame and will come up to us. Emmy decided she not only wanted to pet the hen but she picked her up. That was great until the hen wiggled and Emma dropped her. The hen went head over tail and ran off. Pretty funny to watch Em and all her escapades.

We just found out that Dave's aunt has cancer and is in treatment now. Dave and I did manage to drive to Weiser, Idaho to attend her birthday party. It was so nice to see all the cousins and have a chance to catch up as well as see how Evelyn is. Cancer of any kind is such a wicked disease but Evelyn is her usual smiling, good natured self. A little bit of history about Weiser.....I was born there as were all my siblings except one. My brother, John was born in the car outside of Huntington on the way to the hospital so he technically was born in Oregon instead of Idaho. We lived in Durkee, OR and mom's doctor was in Weiser. Can you imagine having a baby in the car?

Jill had her first doctor appointment and an ultrasound. Everything looks good so far although she was disappointed that it was too early to know the gender. We will find out April 18th! She and Wade invited Dave and I to go to the ultrasound with them so we are looking forward to that.

Kelli was in a little fender bender while on the job delivering pizza. Someone didn't yield right of way and so now she is in the process of taking care of the insurance business. She is looking for another job so she won't have to put so many miles on her car. Talked with Brian this morning and he is doing well. He now is teaching English to employees at a car rental business at the airport in Granada. Last weekend he and Charo went to Sevilla where he managed to see real Flamenco dancing as well as the largest Cathedral in the world. They also got to see the tower in which the conquistadors stored their gold on their return trips from America. I guess it's a pretty amazing city. A couple of weeks ago they went to Portugal and next weekend they are going to Madrid, and then two weeks later Holy week starts. He is really enjoying all the different things that he has seen and the Spanish culture. We love the pictures so keep them coming Brian.

Weekend and Article in Associated Press

This past weekend was uneventful. Sunday Jill, Wade, Kelli, Kyla and Emmy came to have Dave's famous clam chowder. Poor Jed was again working all weekend at the library to prepare his two presentations at school and other homework. But Kyla took him some dinner and a brownie so at least he didn't starve. Kyla is suffering from a sinus infection but each day is feeling a little better. Because she is pregnant she is unable to take much to relieve some of the symptoms. Jill feels well and finally has health insurance so she can go to the doctor. Her first appointment is on Valentines Day.

Kyla was interviewed by the Chicago Associated Press for an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association by her neuro oncologist, Dr. Chang. The article talks about the variety of brain cancer treatments and the need for more research.