Friday night JJ and I went out with our friends.  The Navarro's were in town for a wedding, and it was fun to have all the "sand snakes" together.  We took Lucy over to the Munsons to babysit their boys and then we rode with the Munsons.  We started at the Foundry for dinner.  JJ and I got a taco pizza which was good, just not my favorite.  I kind wish we would have picked something else.  We also got some loaded fries which we had the last time we went there and really liked them.  They closed at 9 and we all wanted some dessert.  We decided to head to donut drive in for some donuts.  I love donuts, especially from there.  We got a dozen and knew the kids would be so excited to have donuts in the morning.  JJ and I ate one that night after we bought them.  We should have bought more, they are delicious.  We then headed to Ted Drews.  The line was long but moved fast.  JJ and I split a concrete, which was delicious but melted super fast.  We had such a fun night with everyone.  It was so good to catch up with the Navarro's and hear how life for them in TX is going.  They are such a nice couple and I am glad they made time to see us all while they were in town.  We had so much fun laughing with everyone.  I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.  It was the best.  We sure are grateful for our wonderful friends.  We got home late but the fun evening and great company was totally worth it.      

 

Hematology

Lucy's pediatrician has been watching Lucy's blook work and called us several months ago concerned about her iron levels.  We started her on some iron supplements and when we did her next blook work the rheumatologist called and said they looked good.  Just a few weeks ago the pediatrician called me again and was still concerned.  She said that she reviewed her last few labs and the iron levels have never increased, they have remained the same or gone down slightly.  She wanted Lucy to see a hematologist and make sure everything was ok.  I made the appointment, and we were able to get in fairly quickly.  Lucy got the reminder email through her my chart and saw she was seeing the hematologist, which is connected to the oncology.  Lucy texted me from school and told me she got the email and asked why she was going.  She was worried seeing oncology that she might have cancer.  She was upset and told me she couldn't handle anything else.  I assured her it was just her iron level, and she shouldn't be concerned.  JJ happened to have an early out day at Regional the day of her appointment, so we were all able to go together.  That was a nice surprise, especially since we had to go down to the children's hospital.  Lucy was nervous at the appointment.  We could tell pretty easily and early.  Her blood pressure was high, and the nurse had her take some deep breaths and try to calm down.  They drew her blood and put us in a room.  The fellow doctor came in and asked us lots of questions and went over lots of things with us.  She told us that since Lucy's levels are the same over several months, she felt her body didn't need to extra iron.  Her levels were the way there were because of her weekly injections.  When the rheumatologist looks as her lab numbers he isn't concerned because it is in a good range considering the medicine.  He is expecting them to be lower and her pediatrician is not.  She applauded the pediatrician because for anyone else it is alarming, she was on the ball which was so nice!  The fellow told Lucy to stop taking the iron supplements, if anything they might be causing some stomach problems.  She really felt that when she comes off her medicine the levels will look better.  The doctor came in after the fellow and was very quick.  He was so nice and right away said Lucy is healthy and we don't have anything to worry about.  He agreed with what the fellow said and nicely told us the same things.  We don't need to follow up and hopefully that is the last time we will be in that office.  It was a hard day for Lucy.  Several times I saw her tear up and her eyes got very watery.  I think just adding another doctor and the possibility of something else being wrong was a lot for her to handle.  Being in the waiting room with kids who were clearly there for chemotherapy at the infusion center was sad to see.  As we left and headed to the elevator, we could hear a kid ringing the bell in the infusion center.  We felt so lucky and happy to be leaving the office with a healthy child.  Lucy certainly has her trials but it is so comforting to know she is healthy.  We decided Lucy needed a little pick me up.  We played hooky from school for the rest of the day and decided to take her out to lunch.  We were close to the loop so Lucy picked Fitz's.  The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed sitting outside on the patio.  We enjoyed good burgers and good soda.  Lucy loves soda!  It was a very enjoyable time and I am glad we went out.          

 

Track Banquet

Lucy had her track banquet and ice cream social.  We are proud of Lucy and her hard work during track season.  She had a rough start and wasn't sure she wanted to continue.  We are glad she stuck it out and had a good experience.  She really got to know the other hurdler on varsity and enjoyed her friendship.  That made a big difference.  She also really liked all her coaches and they taught her so much.  She got an award for being ranked #4 for JV girls.      

 

Becca turned 40 and Amy had a get together to celebrate her.  I was excited to join them after I got off work.  I hurried home to get my suit on and head over.  Amy was so awesome and had some snacks and treats for us.  We enjoyed talking, laughing, eating snacks and floating around the pool together.  I am so glad for all these ladies and their friendship.  I am glad I was invited and able to celebrate Becca on her birthday.  

 

Lucy is almost done with her weekly injections.  She has been struggling with them a lot lately.  It has been hard mentally and physically.  We have already discussed being done with them in a month or so.  Seeing how hard this has been for her mentally, we are even more sure that we need to stop.  We told her to finish strong.  We talked with her and counted out how many weeks she has left.  We are down to the hardest part, the end.  We are trying hard to be her cheerleaders and keep her going and motivated to finish.  Keeping the end goal in sight.  I know that I can't be the only one doing that for her.  I reached out to her seminary teachers and YW leaders, letting them know we are in the final stretch.  I asked them to also help us cheer her on and send her positive thoughts, quotes and scriptures to help her stay positive.  They have been so awesome doing that for her.  I know that has been so helpful for her and for me.  I know I am not always going to be able to be everything for my kids.  One of her YW leaders thanked me for giving her this opportunity to be involved in this for Lucy.  It has helped her so much to know this trial.  Supporting Lucy has helped her fulfill her baptism covenants and calling better.  I told Lucy she can do anything she wants to help her get through these final weeks.  She has slept through church and given her body the rest she needs after her injections, and that is ok with us.  I have tried to have snacks in the home for her that she will want to eat.  Sunday after sleeping almost all day I know she was going to need a little pick me up.  I made homemade pretzels for her, and she was so excited.  I am trying to think of little things like that, I want her to know we are here for her and want to support her.  I know this is a hard trial for Lucy.  It is also hard on our family.  We miss the old Lucy, and wish she felt better.  I especially miss the family time on Sunday, Lucy spends much of Sundays not feeling well.      

 

End of Basketball

Lucy finished her spring session of basketball.  She is sad to have it end.  Basketball really does bring her so much happiness.  She will continue to play with girls from high school at open gyms and summer practices as they start.  She played a great last game and had several really good baskets.  I have enjoyed watching her play this season.  She has learned and grown a lot.  I hope that her high school coaches will recognize that, and this will lead to a better basketball season her sophomore year. 

 

Prados

 My gym friends got together for dinner and drinks Friday evening.  Mostly drinks for happy hour.  They know I don't drink but I told them I was happy to come drink my soda and socialize with them all.  It was fun to hang out in normal clothes outside of gym class.  They are such a fun group of ladies and I enjoyed getting together with them.  They really are some of my best friends.  I am not sure if they know I think of them that way, but I spend the most time with them.  They see me every morning and have been there for me through some really hard times.  They push me to work my hardest, pick up the heavier weights and always have a listening ear and shoulder to cry on.  Hopefully we can get together again soon, I am glad I joined them.  The company was good and so was the food.  I have never been to Prados, and I got their nachos which were really good. 

Happy Mothers Day

I had a very nice Mother's Day.  JJ didn't have any meetings that morning, so we were able to be home together and drive to church together.  It was nice to have help with getting everyone ready and out the door.  We had a nice church meeting and it's always so nice to enjoy a brunch during the second hour with all the women in the ward.  It was nice to be able to sit and visit with a few sisters who are normally in primary.  JJ worked with the kids to get some homemade cards and things for me.  I had specifically asked each kid to make me a card or write me a note.  Homemade thoughtful things from the kids are my favorite and all I really need.  I was so glad they all fulfilled my wish.  They each filled out a questionnaire about me and the things they like about me.  I learned that my kids actually know me pretty well.  They know my favorite drink is Dr. Pepper and water, my favorite show is "This is us" and I like to eat pizza.  I found it interesting that the kids were all impressed that I could waterski.  One of the questions was my mom smells like and Nolan said a popsicle.  We had a little chuckle about that, and he said it is because I smelled sweet.  JJ awarded me a trophy for "World's best mom 2022".  He is so cheesy but cute at the same time.  I had made a comment at Lucy's track meet when she got a medal that I thought that was so cool because I had never won a medal or an award before.  JJ was excited to be able to present me with my first award.  He didn't know that fact when he had ordered the trophy for me and thought it was perfect timing.  We had a relaxing day at home.  I enjoyed watching a movie and Lucy offered to take me for a drive in her car with the top down.  It was such a beautiful day and so fun to have her take me for a drive.  We enjoyed a nice dinner and some treats and then spent the evening playing some croquette in the yard.  It was a very nice day, and it was nice to feel celebrated.  I was thankful for so many friends reaching out and checking on me during the day.  They were so sweet to be sensitive to my first Mother's Day without my mom.  I really was ok all day.  I felt sad many weeks ago when I noticed Mother's Day things in the store.  It hit me that I would not need to purchase a Mother's Day card or gift this year.  It was strange to not go to my parents' house and celebrate together.  In a selfish way that was kind of nice, I had the day all to myself.  I didn't want to grieve on Mother's Day.  I almost didn't allow myself to go there.  I of course thought of my mom and love her so much.  My sister Lauren gave me a Mother's Day gift, a wooden tulip like the one my mom had sitting in her kitchen for as many years as I can remember.  It was the perfect gift.  Something to remind me of mom.  I still don't have anything of my mom's, but I have found that I can have things in my home that remind me of her and that can also be special.  This tulip is special, and I am so thankful that Lauren gave it to me.  She said she had the thought while in the temple and knew it would be the perfect thing to make for all of us.  I am jealous of Laurens spiritual gift of being able to communicate with my mom in the temple but thankful for things she shares with me.  She went to the temple before our walk yesterday.  She said mom visited her in the temple but not for very long.  She said mom was sad and wanted to be with us.  Lauren felt sad for mom but had the thought of the scripture that says, "Jesus wept".  Even Jesus gets sad.  Mom wanted to be with us and wanted to spend her Mother's Day with her children.  I also had the thought that on the flip side for the first time in many years that she was able to spend Mother's Day with her mom.  I hope mom knows how much we love her.  She should feel so proud of the wonderful mother she was to us.  I think of my siblings and where we all are in our lives.  She has a lot to be proud of, she did a great job.  I hope someday I can look at all my kids when they are grown and feel that something I did was right.                

 

As we were leaving mom's grave my dad kind mentioned that he was just going to go home.  I know it was a hard weekend for him.  It is hard for him to sit at home, it is when he feels the loneliest.  We told him that Lucy had a basketball game, and we were going to get Culvers for dinner after.  We invited him to come with us and he accepted.  I am glad he decided to join us.  We went home to drop Jack off.  We knew he would love to go on a walk with us and being home the whole time would be too long in his create.  It worked good to just run him home really quick after our walk and before the game.  Lucy got changed quickly and we headed to her game.  She played a great game.  The referees were being really strict on their calls.  They were making some calls that were driving the girls nuts.  Lucy got the whistle blown on her and we all thought the call was going to be on the other girl guarding her.  The call ended up being on Lucy for traveling.  We couldn't figure the call out and Lucy got really mad at the poor call.  She threw the ball down really hard and mad a very angry and frustrated face.  The referee called a technical on Lucy.  That didn't make things any better for her.  She marched over to the bench and looked so upset.  I thought for a minute that she might cry.  My dad said to me "Oh Lucy has a little hot head!"  Lucy told us later that she didn't even know why she did it, it just happened.  She then was so upset and thought she would be out for the rest of the game.  Her coach did too but she asked, and Lucy was able to continue playing.  We all kind of laughed at Lucy getting a technical because it is so unlike her.  My dad said he was so glad he was able to witness it and wishes he would have gotten a picture of Lucy's face.  He said he will always remember it!  The girls ended up with a win and had a great finish to the game.  We then went to culvers for burger and ice cream.  It wasn't our best experience at Culvers, but it was still enjoyable.  I am glad my dad came and spent time with us, and Lucy was able to give him a fun memory of her first technical foul in basketball.  Lucy is always sad to have her Saturday's end with her injection.  It kind of puts a sour mood on such a fun day.  We hope they will be over for her soon.  We are going to talk to her doctor about it at her appointment in June.  We think it will be best for her to stop at that time.  She will only be 1 month shy of 2 years which has been the goal.  Which only leave a few more injections.              

Mom's Walk

We were trying to think of something to do to honor mom and celebrate her on Mother's Day.  We were talking about it over easter and had the idea to go for a walk.  This was something everyone could participate in anywhere.  We thought it could be done anytime over the weekend.  Mom loved walks and loved to be outside.  We thought it was the perfect idea.  I was looking forward to our walk on Saturday.  I was thankful everyone liked the idea because I didn't want to be sad celebrating mom.  I didn't want to gather at her grave and release balloons or tell memories.  I wanted to be happy as I thought of her for Mother's Day.  I really think mom wants us to be happy, especially as we think of her.  Lauren came in town and went to the temple and then joined us.  We meet at Rockwood Reservations, a place where we have walked so many times.  Jordan and his family came, us, Dad and Lauren.  I am so glad the weather was perfect.  It has been so cool and rainy lately.  We walked and talked.  Dad pointed out the rocks he placed over a stream for mom.  They are still there.  We got to the overlook and stopped to take a photo.  We took a few photos and then noticed a cardinal bird sitting up in the tree singing a beautiful song.  I mentioned that seeing a cardinal means someone who has passed it there with you.  No one had heard that, so I googled it.  "The most common interpretation of a cardinal is a message from a departed loved one.  Whenever you see on, it signifies that they are visiting you.  They generally appear when you need or miss them the most."   It was such a sweet thought to think Mom was there with us singing us that pretty song.  I know she isn't really a cardinal bird, but I do believe she is still with us and watching over us.  I know that she would have loved to be there with us going on the walk.  It is a walk we haven't done with her in many years because the hills were to hard for her to physically walk.  We sat down and had a snack when we finished and then parted ways.  We briefly stopped at her grave with dad and then headed home.  I didn't really want to sit and feel emotional at her grave, we only stayed a few minutes.  It was such a lovely day, I hope we can continue this tradition.  I really enjoyed it and loved thinking of mom.               

 

Last Track Meet

Lucy had her last track meet on Friday.  We are so proud of Lucy and her hard work with track this year.  It would have been so easy for her to give up so many times.  I know it was hard and she felt pushed, exhausted, sore and worn out almost every day.  Lucy has been struggling this week.  Mentally she is worn out with not feeling well and being on all of her medicine.  I picked her up from practice Thursday and she told me she had such a good practice.  She has been working really hard with her coach to 4 step between hurdles vs. 5 step.  She was doing well but also struggling.  She was about to give it another run and her coach said "You can do it! You are so strong and you have been through so much.  You've got this!"  Lucy said it was exactly what she needed to hear.  Not only for hurdles but for the trials she is facing in her life right now.  She came home with many bruises on her legs and had to sit in an ice bath when she got home for 8 minutes.  Lucy had a great meet Friday.  JJ and I went up to watch her do the 100 M hurdles and the high jump.  She came in 4th in hurdles, it was so close it was to hard to tell.  We had to wait for the official times to come in to know for sure.  Lucy got over the bar for starting height for high jump but not after that.  We went home and then ate dinner.  We went back later and the Elmore's joined us.  They wanted to come cheer on Lucy and they love track meets.  It was fun to visit with them.  We all watched Lucy do the 300 M hurdles.  She had a great clean run.  I girl fell towards the end opening up an opportunity for Lucy to place.  Lucy knew there were medals and she wanted one.  You could see her fight and give it her all at the end to earn third place.  She was so happy with her run and excited to have her first high school track medal.  I think at the beginning we were pushing her to stick with track.  At the end we were happy to see her working hard and also enjoying it.  She made some great new friends and also saw how it helped her on the basketball court.  She is faster and has great endurance.  What a great track season.