Luceline Apple Orchard
My SIL organized a trip to the apple orchard today. So much fun with cousins and friends!
Tag: Shecklet #4
California consult #1
I spoke with the first California surgeon (Dr. Friedman) yesterday afternoon (10/4.) His experience, coupled with a balance of confidence and empathy, helped calm the anxiousness I was feeling from last week’s appointments. He recommended the translab approach and put me at ease regarding the anatomy “challenges” that were brought up at Mayo. He also has a care coordinator (who had an AN tumor removed 7 years ago) who guides you through the entire treatment if you choose to work with them – I’ve spoken with her twice and she followed up with me via email today just to see how I’m doing with processing everything. Now I need to get the same documentation mailed to the 2nd doctor and wait for his call. If he has a similar recommendation to Dr. Friedman, I will feel much more confident in making my surgical choice and can move on to figuring out a timeline for treatment.
We shared the news of my diagnosis with the kids two nights ago. Their reactions were unique to each of them and I know they’re all processing things in their own way. I continue to have good days and sad/mad/frustrated days – there’s no way around it, tumors suck. I have a feeling that once I pick a doctor, location and set a date, things will really start to get “real.” I’m bracing myself for another wave of anxiety, but continuing to pray I navigate it with ease. I still need to be present as a wife and mom to five people who mean the world to me!
Sunday party
Shecklets #3 and 4 were invited to a birthday party today. The weather was unseasonably warm so swimsuits and water play were part of the fun. There were inflatable pools, a bounce house and a blow up obstacle course! Aunt Larissa was also there, which made it even more fun!
Sunday in Duluth
We took a day trip to Duluth to visit my Aunt Deb and Uncle Steve. We stopped at their townhouse and got a tour of their new place before heading the Bulldog Pizza for lunch. After filling up, we headed to the aquarium. We also took a walk down the pier – it was a beautiful blue-skied day!
When we returned to Deb and Steve’s house, we were treated to cookies and milk before heading for home. We were also loaded up with pasties and beef burgundy – dinner for the week!
Head in the chair
I went to hang up the laundry and came back to this:
No idea what she was thinking or how this happened, but it required my intervention to set her free.
Park and backyard in MG
We met one of the Shecklets’ cousins and aunt at the park this morning.
From the park, we grabbed lunch and went to the office for a bit so I could catch up on work. Then we stopped over at Nana and Papa’s house where he kids helped Papa wash the Kubota and then got to drive it, played in the backyard, and had a picnic dinner on the front yard. Perfect summer day!
SD Vacation 2017 – Day 8
Part two of the drive home. We left Mitchell and went to Sioux Falls to check out the Butterfly Gardens and Aquarium.
We grabbed a quick lunch and then drove to Marion to visit some of my extended family. It had been four years since our last trip to see them – Shecklet #4 was only a few months old and my cousin Josh was getting ready for his deployment. It was really good to spend time catching up with family. Hopefully it won’t be another four years until we can do it again.
Gassed up in Sioux Falls and heading home!
SD Vacation 2017 – Day 7
Loaded up and ready to make the two day trip back home!
Since we weren’t rushing to get to Mitchell, we drove back through the Badlands. This time we stopped and hiked on a different trail. Shecklets 1, 2, & 3 went with me on over half of the Notch Trail. We went as far as climbing the ladder before turning around. They’re not joking when they recommend hiking boots, which is part of the reason we turned back after reaching the top of the ladder.
On to Mitchell where we had dinner at The Depot, checked in to our hotel, watched the last half of Shrek, and went to bed.
SD Vacation- Day 6
Bear County was the first stop of many today. As we drove through the park we saw elk, mountain goats, bison, bobcats, wolves, and of course, bears.
After driving through the park, we walked the 1/4 mile trail and got to see badgers, a porcupine, lynx, skunk, groundhog, beavers and bear cubs. The cubs were my favorite – so mischievous and playful.
Lunch was at the Firehouse Brewery in downtown Rapid City.
We picked up a few bottles of Mythical Beast wine at the Firehouse Winery nextdoor before heading to our next tourist stop…Dinosaur Park.
And then a longer stop at Storybook Island. The Shecklets enjoyed running around and checking out all of the character statues and posing for pictures with many of them.
The rest of the day was spent at the water park connected to our hotel. Four and a half + hours of running around, climbing steps and flying down water slides makes for one tired bunch of Shecklets. (Each of then went down the red and blue toilet bowl at least one time with Jake – it was pretty amusing to watch!) Goodnight!
SD Vacation 2017 – Day 5
Two stops were on today’s itinerary- Reptile Gardens and Fort Hays (for a chuckwagon dinner and show.)
Reptile Gardens was full of so many animals we were busy for hours. We took in the three shows they offer- the bird, alligator, and snake shows. Each one had engaging presenters who informed and entertained the audiences. In between the shows, we toured the grounds to see the world’s largest collection of reptiles (according to the Guinness Book of World Records a few years ago.)
After leaving Reptile Gardens, we headed up the hill to Fort Hays.
There we found old town shops including one where they make rope and another where they make tin plates (like the ones we used for dinner.) The Shecklets were able to help make a three-strand rope that is strong enough to hold 2 tons before giving way.
Watching the tin plates being made.
For the second day in a row, we took shelter from the rain/hail – this time in our suburban. It didn’t last long and thankfully the hail was only pea-sized. When the storm passed, we saw a full rainbow.
At 6:15 pm the doors to the chuckwagon dinner room opened and we found our seats.
The 400 in attendance were all served dinner in 22 minutes! The meal was eaten from a tin plate (made in the tin shop.) We each received a baked potato (semi-flattened so it didn’t roll around,) baked beans, meat (chicken or BBQ brisket), applesauce, and then on top of a sheet of wax paper, a biscuit and spice cake. Lemonade was served in a tin cup as well. The food was tasty and the musical entertainment by The Wranglers was great!
