LOOOOONG weekend

Today is day one of a long weekend. We all managed to sleep in and get some much needed extra rest. We delivered pastor appreciation certificates to our pastors and their wives, before picking up some lunch and some Autumn decorations at Michael's.
If all goes well, we will be visiting an apple orchard on Tuesday and hopefully picking up some pumpkins while we are out.

Syracuse here we come!

We are on our way to Syracuse in June. Jon is there right now looking for housing. He also paid his school deposit. Now to see how God continues to work out all the details.

The girls are doing OAT testing this week. They were dreading the standardized tests, but are enjoying the "no homework allowed" that both their school have in effect this week.

Sam decided that it was time-time to remove the training wheels from his bike and put on a kick stand. But, I had to be the one to make the change. I learned later that vice-grips were not the best choice, but they did the job.

I have lost the garage floor once again. This time, it is to half packed boxes that are littered across the floor. Oh, the cycle of packing/moving/packing/moving...mixed liberally with throwing away and giving away.

One test done, one to go AND CONCERTS

Adrian had her CT scan yesterday. After drinking what seemed like two obnoxiously huge bland milk shakes, she was called back for the scan. The technician tried three times to get the IV in-finally did in her left hand. She has bruises and is a little swollen from the needles, but otherwise she is fine. She goes on the 17th for her colonoscopy.
Tomorrow night is Michal's 5th grade music concert. She and Jake will be singing an assortment of "non-offensive reflections on the current weather". Should be fun.
Thursday night, is the band's winter concert. Adrian hasn't showed us her music, but we know that she has been practicing. (I suspect several neighbors and dog walkers know as well)
We managed to get the first batch of Christmas cards completed today. As always, we each signed every card. This is the first year that Sam has done more than scribble. Seems he has taught himself how to write the letters in his name. Now to get them in the right order.
Those of you familiar with the Sunday at 4:00 game of basketball in Africa, will be happy to know that Jon found a 6-8 PM game on Sunday evenings-indoors. The men at the church we are attending play every other Sunday night during the winter. This is full court ball guys-no easy task for someone who spends most of his time sitting.
The GI doctor will have Adrian's results tomorrow. If you don't hear anything from us, it's because we haven't heard anything from the doctor--and that is probably a really good thing.

Carcinoid

We increased our vocabulary by a word yesterday. Carcinoid. The tumour inside Adrian's appendix was carcinoid. I figure if you are going to get cancer, this is the best way to do it. The best treatment is removal-which ironically happened during the appendectomy. This morning we will book her for further testing (including the ominous colonoscopy) to rule out any further tumours/findings. Once that is done, she is in the all clear.
Weird though, it occurred to me this morning that the next time I fill out a health form for Adrian, I have to mark cancer: yes.

19th

the 19th is the day---Adrian will see the surgeon for follow up, and he will refer her for all additional testing.
YIKES!!

a WHAT?

Adrian's surgeon phoned yesterday to tell us that Adrian's appendix had a tumour in it. He said it is not uncommon, but not rare. (if you figure that one out, please let us know) He said that our GP would be the one to help us organize follow up care with a pediatric gastrointerologist (no, I have no idea how to spell that one) and to expect that more tests would be done, including a colonoscopy.
Jon phoned our GP straight away, and was told that our doctor had left for the day, but they would gather the records and he would call us back today.
This morning, the GP's office called to tell us that the surgeon should assist with the follow up.

Soooo...we will wait until Monday, then call the surgeon and set up the additional tests.

The unpacking is going well. MOPS ladies are showing up by the mini-van and hauling away our dirty laundry. YEAH!!!

Jon has officially hung the first of our paintings. Now to the gazillion more :)