How Things Are Going

We went to the park this afternoon. Angus was a big of stinky, whiny pants and I was at the end of my rope, and Rod is a saint. So, we plopped the baby in the Radio Flyer and power walked (it was the only way to keep him from standing up in the wagon) to the park in our neighborhood.

We had a good time...
 

(I left out an important detail here didn't I. On Thursday we got the results of the original CT. Rod has a collection of cells on his lower thoracic spine. They could be related to an infection, or they could be malignent. An MRI is the next step. Allright, carry on.) Rod's MRI is scheduled for Thursday. The results of this MRI will ONLY show us whether or not there are more masses and if there are, where they are. After the MRI he will need a CTScan guided biopsy to test the cells they find to see if they are related to an infection or a malignancy.

Rod has been doing a lot of research. We all know how counterproductive that can be, especially at this early stage in the game... but... here is what he has found. The symptoms of a bone infection vs. bone cancer are virtually identical (pain, fever, chills, fatigue, malaise) the one difference seems to be night sweats (which is associated with the cancer, not the infection). If it is NOT an infection, there is a chance that the tumor will be benign... the treatment seems to be the same however, surgery, followed by radiation (chemo is ineffective). Tumors in the spine are treated as malignant because of their proximity to vital organs and the potentially debilitating effects of growth and recurrence. There are a million different types of spine tumor, all with different statistics... we will not even begin to guess which one it might be. Oh, and by the way, the treatment for infection seems to be removal as well.

So, he reported the other day that he feels like he is focusing less on his symptoms. I guess with his mind on the bigger picture, they seem unimportant. He is keeping himself pretty well doped up on the Vicodin, but it just lessens the pain, it doesn't knock him out or anything. He is making a concious choice to be active and be very involved with everything we do... this results in needing a lot of breaks (which is terrifying, by the way... nothing is scarier than your 33 year old husband needing a break after a lap around Wal Mart) but he really wants to be out and about and not stuck in bed.

Angus seems to be picking up on the underlying anxiety. This is my biggest fear... that he will learn to live anxious and he will end of just like me. I am keeping calm for him as best I can. I am also talking to him about it pretty openly, just in case he is really listening to me. He has been sleeping like SHIT. No more than 30 minutes in the crib alone at night without a whimper. Naps are okay, but it is a fight to get him down. I guess he needs me. Thank god I am a working mother, I get an escape a few days a week.

We're doing okay. Just waiting. So, whatever it is that you do: pray, meditate, think, send positive energy, vibe, incantate. Do it, please. Do it loud, and do it now...

MacKenney Farms: June

Bring your own bag and come on over to our place... We got produce!
We also have some cute boys, but you can't take them off the property.
 
We got corn. Yum!
 
We got lettuce & peppers too!
 
We also have tomatoes, cucumbers, crookneck squash and lettuce seed (it appears that after a week of neglect an overgrown lettuce will grow seed stalks and then topple over... what can you do?)

Anguys wears a helmet now

You can never be too careful, right?
 
Well, it's for safety of course!
 
We got Tata this bike trailer for father's day. He had been asking for one. (we got it off freecycle, don't tell him!) Angus doesn't like it as much as Tata. :(
 
I am not at liberty to discuss why Rod is wearing the helmet
 

Good Morning... and Welcome!

We're so glad that you came!
It's so nice to see you,
Will you please say your name?

Angus! (that's me... not him, saying)

We're so glad to see our friends
Joy and laughter never ends
First we Clap! Clap!
Then we Tap! Tap!

Here at Sunshine Music!

Angus has been taking a music class at Sunshine music studios for the past 8 weeks. On an average Saturday morning he has a BLAST! I figured I should bring the camera to the last class to show everyone how much he loves it.

Well... he spent most of the class with this sourpuss look on his face.
 

Hey girls, this class is the pits... Wanna get out of here?
 

Okay, so this is mildly interesting but no, no I will not turn to you and I most certainly will not smile.
 

Strum Strum... Ho Hum...
 

I swear he usually likes it... a lot.

A Hat of a Different Color

Our son does not particularly care for hats (for proof, see previous post). He does, however, have a great love for tambourines...
 
and bowls...
 
Goofball.

He Hearts Hats

Here are a few photos of Angus attempting to remove hats from his head. This will all make more sense when you see the next post. Go on, go there now...
 
 
 
I said GO!

Everything's the same...

thanks for asking. Rod attempted a mind over matter strategy, "I'm feeling better," he said to himself over and over yesterday. He attempted to go golfing today, left about 7 am (shortly after Angus woke up from Sleeping Through the NIGHT! WHOOT!) and around 11... withdrew from the tournament and came home.

He's pretty dissappointed, I'm pretty terrified... and all in all everything is the same.

He's had a whole new round of tests and we expect to see the doctor again early next week. Stay tuned...

Surrender the booby!

 

The Cake!

 
 
 
 

Sand Kings & their kingdom

  We have such a wonderful, generous family. Cristian, Brittainie, Ethan, Jacob & Veronica came early and cleaned, and cooked, and built and made our party a complete success! We are so grateful for them!

Fun with Sand & Water

Very important pouring and scooping work is happening in this photo
 
getting the hang of it...
 
getting brave (or trying to escape!)
 
and the birthday suit is revealed!
 

So many inflatable stacking ring starfish...

So little time...
 
aka, Starfish, three ways (a local delicacy)
 
and, well... I can't think of a third.
 

Our one year old is cuter than your one year old!

Here are some shots from Angus' actual first birthday (June 12, 2008). Isn't he just a doll?!
 
 
Two new tricks: Hooray!
 
and... High Five!
 

FUO: Fever of Unknown Origin

Rod's unofficial official diagnosis is: Fever of Unknown Origin

Basically, this is medicine's way of saying "we don't know why you don't feel good." 1/3 of FUOs resolve on their own without recurrence, 1/3 are caused by a difficult to find/identify infection, and 1/3 are malignancy (cancer). We are currently having more tests (blood & ctscan to rule out a bone infection in his spine) to rule out the second option. If those don't indicate anything and he isn't better yet... we will have to start the tests to rule out the third option.

Is this the way you keep up with us?

If so... you may be wanting to know:

Rod is sick. We are in our third week of fevers 101 and above. Chills, Sweats, Headaches, Dizziness, Fatigue, Stiff Neck, and some excrutiating back and side pains accompany the fevers. He is unable to drive, work, eat much more than soup & crackers, and is generally miserable.

He has been tested for kidney, liver, & spleen problems and meningitis and it is none of those. We are going to an Infectious Disease Specialist on Wednesday morning for the next round of poking and prodding (and hopefully some answers).

We don't really know how serious it is or isn't... it just sucks. We appreciate your prayers. xoxo

Happy Birthday Angus!

it seems like it was only yesterday that you were a teeny tiny thing...

and then one week later when you started to chunk up!!

We all love you so very much. You are our best thing!

Vote For Angus!

http://ocregister.upickem.net/engine/Details.aspx?PageType=APPROVED&ContestID=1838&SubmissionID=43851&IncrementNumber=1

Do it now, do it again later... don't delay!!!

I just had to share more... he really did have a good time!
 
(and so did alton)