Homeschooling Update

I have gotten so many emails asking how the home schooling is going, that I thought I would write a little something on the blog.

If anyone watched the season premiere of SNL, you saw the skit depicting the kids on the home schooled team competing with the kids from the public schooled team. Of course the home schoolers were Amish and didn't know anything about REAL biology (gremlins are what carry O2 throughout the bloodstream), but it sure was funny!! It pretty much sums up how some people in our extended family feel about the whole home schooling thing. I guess I shouldn't take it too personally when someone asks me, in a rather worried tone, if I feel smart enough to educate my 5th grader. I DID pass the 5th grade once before! :)

But, really, I don't take it too seriously. I know that David and Joe are so happy. So much less anxious. I am too. Plus they are able to let their God-given creativity flow through the learning process.

David was really into the events of 9/11, and what had actually happened that terrible morning. So I let him research it, and asked him to use the facts to write a fictional story about that morning. He did an awesome job with character development, and wrote a great 5 page story.

Another great advantage to our new adventure is that we are able to start our day with scripture and some praise music. Making God our first focal point of the day really puts the rest of the day into perspective. It grounds me. I can only hope it is doing the same for the boys.

Thanks for all the encouragement. Keep sending it, okay?

Surgery Date

When things start happening around here, they really start happening!!

The transplant is tentatively scheduled for December 2, 2008. Wow! A real date!! We even got a list of hotels / apartments that I will start checking out next week. It looks like we will be up there at least a week, maybe two. Of course Cedars Sinai is NOT in the low rent district, so the kids and I may be eating happy meals every night~ or cold cereal. Totally worth it, though!! (Besides, I love mini wheats!)

It's really happening....yay!!

THE TRANSPLANT IS ON!!

Dave's and his donor's cases have been officially approved for the transplant at Cedars-Sinai !!

They are talking about doing surgery within the next 5 -8 weeks. We will keep everyone posted...thanks for the prayers!

(I can't stop smiling) :)

Tomorrow's the Day

We have heard from Cedar's Sinai that the board will meet tomorrow to go over Dave's case, and hopefully approve him for transplant. We could use your prayers on this. Hopefully we will hear something tomorrow or Friday~ and then Dave will be sent to the Immunology Dept for treatment!!

I'll keep you posted....

A Favorite Quote

Just something nice with which to start the week. Plus, I just love this quote.....

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. "-Helen Keller

It's a Match

Most of you already know that we now have a matching donor for Dave's kidney transplant. Thrilled is not a big enough word to describe how we both ....no, all four of us feel! Also very, very blessed and humbled at God's compassion toward's our family.

The case goes before the medical board at Cedar's Sinai's transplant department this coming week, and then we should hear back from the case coordinator soon afterwards to set up something for Dave and the surgery team.

From what we remember, it may take anywhere from one to four months on the anti-rejection medication before they will schedule surgery. Dave will be doing special infusions, since his rejection factor is so high. Another way that God's blessing is evident: Cedar's is one of the few places in the nation that handles cases like Dave's. Of course we would never have known it, but had we been at another facility, chances are good that they would have labeled Dave's case as non-transplantable. His life would have been limited and ultimately shortened due to needing ongoing hemo dialysis. God is good, indeed!!

I will keep you all posted through this site....thanks for all the encouraging words you have sent to us. We love you all!!

Palin Rocks!

I have a new hero, and her name is Sarah Palin. Wow! What an incredible speech our soon to be VP just gave! Go, sister, go! Truth be told, I like her a little better than McCain. :)

McCain & Palin 2008 !!!