#Survivor

Just a quick blurb that Nana Karen is "officially" cancer-free!

She had a biopsy that proved positive for breast cancer.  It was diagnosed as HER2+ cancer, which is the type that grows in response to hormones.  It typically has a very high survival rate (around 97% for 7 years, when caught in early stages).

In early February, she had a lumpectomy to remove the cancer.  She also had lymph nodes removed to test for lymphatic spread.  Luckily, there was no cancer detected in the nodes!

She just started radiation therapy which she will continue to undergo 5 days per week for the next month or so (they are able to give her longer daily treatments for a shorter length of time!) to eradicate any stray cells that could pose issues later.  Thereafter, she will take a hormone-blocking pill (as an "anti-cancer" treatment) for the next five years.

...another reason we are so #Blessed.  #Survivor 
Love you, Mom!

Open Water!

Usually, the ice is off our lake no later than March 31st.   And, typically, there is a whacko (er adrenaline junkie? Lake-lover with cabin fever?) or two knee-boarding or something in their wet suit the first day after the ice is gone.

With the overabundance of snow and frigid temps this year, I honestly thought it might take til the end of April for the ice to be gone.

Knowing it was going to be in the 60's today, Eric foresaw the future and proclaimed "The ice is going to be gone from the lake today."   "Naw!" I thought, "Perhaps by the end of the week."

After the lake had a small opening (I first thought it was ice that had melted from the surface), the ice had moved off almost completely in three hours!

The view from my office window mid-afternoon:

 By 5PM:

The bad thing is... we're supposed to get a big blizzard later this week.  UGH!!!

Finally! A Nice Spring Day!

It reached 60 (or nearly 60) on Sunday, so we took full advantage of the sunshine and beautiful temps!  After we got home from church, we played outside on the deck and had both patio doors open all day, letting fresh air and happiness inside!   Connor had to work in the afternoon, so he was not amidst our afternoon lollygagging.

 Ramsey played in his sandbox (had to have a little chit chat about "keeping the sand IN the sandbox"), scooted around on his trike (I had to raise the seat and the handles - he's grown so much!), blew bubbles, and chased Riggsy with the Little Tykes lawn mower.

After so much playing, Ramsey announced that we must have a picnic.  Snack time was on the deck; chocolate chunk cookies.  Yum!

Riggsy happily chilled out on the deck (when he wasn't being pursued by crazy lawnmower man).

 And ya... we've got some staining to do.  Bleh!!!

Junior Prom

Connor's first prom.  Wowser!  ...truly unbelievable how time flies and how many milestones we've passed with Connor.

He and Em chose elegant attire.  Here's Connor at his tux fitting:

Handsome guy!

On the day of the prom, pics were taken at Emily's house.

I'm biased, but I think they really looked like a handsome chic couple.

 Yes, there's still snow on the ground!  Brrr!

We attended the Grand March.  There were about 120 couples.  

Ramsey insisted on wearing a bowtie.  Earlier that day, he said he was going to steal Connor's car and take Emily to the Grand March [himself]!

Amazingly, the kid sat really well through the entire march.

He got a little upset when it became very noisy when parts of the crowd whooped and hollered for some of the couples.  

After the march, we raced down to the gym floor to meet up with Connor and Emily... and to meet Emily's mom.

Connor is such a great big brother; he is Ramsey's hero.  He got lots of kisses that night from his baby bro before we left.

We had to snap a pic of Emily and her twin sister Hannah (and her boyfriend).

"Starstruck" was the the theme of Central's prom this year.

Three Amigos

We had a guest for supper on Friday night; Connor's long-time girlfriend (geez, been about a year?!?!), Emily. 

We knew that morning that she'd be coming over.  When I informed Ramsey, he exclaimed, "This is going to be the BEST... DAY.... EVERRRRRRRRR!!!!"  I knew why, but I still asked.  He replied, "Cuz Emily is coming... and Connor is coming!  I am so excited!!!"

Needless to say, when Emily arrived, she got a very enthusiastic greeting, with lots of hugs and shrieks.  😃

Preschool Fun

Every week, Ramsey's preschool posts pics (on Facebook) of the kids doing fun activities either in a group or by themselves.   These were on the page this week. 

Ramsey loves his teachers and his preschool class!

The Rollover

At 7:00 AM on Wednesday, March 27th, I answered the phone hesitantly (I didn't recognize the cell number).   It was Connor.  I heard some scary words.  He said, "It's me.  I rolled my car."   Eyes wide, I ran and gave Eric the news.  He bolted right over to the accident site.  Connor was only a few miles away and someone stopped for him and let him use their phone (his was nowhere to be found).

It was a very foggy morning.  Connor had over-corrected when he came upon a set of curves before the spillway.  Thank goodness it hadn't thawed much, as the water he landed in could have been much deeper.   SCARY STUFF!!

We are so very thankful and blessed that Connor's only injuries were some relatively minor cuts and scrapes on his face and arms.

By the weekend, he had a different set of wheels.  Eric facetiously gave him a sticker noting "This End Up".

#Blessed     #CouldHaveBeenSoMuchWorse