A bowl full of lemons.: Home Organization 101 Week #2: The Garage

I have to say we are VERY slowly starting this organizational challenge. I LOVE how organized her garage is and have HIGH hopes ours will look this amazing very soon!! The before and after pictures will be spectacular :)
Here's the example from ABFL!
A bowl full of lemons.: Home Organization 101 Week #2: The Garage: HOME ORGANIZATION 101 HOW TO SIGN UP: If you would like to join our organizing challenge, sign up ( here ) on the event pag...

Our Recent St Jude Check-Up

Occasionally I allow myself to think and reflect on August 26th, 2011. By no means for a pity party but as a reminder of all the blessings God has given us throughout Dillan's journey. That date, as some great friends who've been on the other side of a similar date twice now, is when EVERYTHING stopped working the way we thought it always would and our new normal began.
One of the many blessings we've received is God putting such amazing people at St Jude. We love everyone we've had any contact with when there and over the phone. It is truly an amazing place of HOPE!

I meant to take a picture of Dillan and Dr Wright but I forgot :( She is, along with all of Dillan's medical army, amazing and kind. The nitty gritty of his check-up is the following:

Speech: He did great with his language abilities and vocabulary recognition. His voice continues to get stronger and his swallowing is much better (hard to believe 10 months ago he was adjusting to eating again after being on a feeding tube for a month). He still has difficulty with his soft palette but Kelly thinks we should monitor it and make a decision on any future treatment in 6 months to a year :)

Physical Therapy: Dillan received his shoe inserts and when he saw them I think he finally realized no one will know :). He still has a lot of balance issues and in time these will hopefully correct them or at least make them better.

Eyes: The doctor wanted to check his peripheral vision for a follow-up with this machine ( I had to snap a picture).

After he took the test we waited for his results and I told Tim I thought he might have been trying to "beat" the test. Surprise! I was correct! His doctor said his results were quite bad and showed him having a huge decline in his peripheral vision. We all explained to him the point of this test is to show how he's doing and make sure he's improving.

MRI Results: The biggest news is the tumor left behind is still not growing! He still has the area of concern but it seems to be a bit better. There is a contusion which will hopefully heal over time. We found out he has some nerve damage as well but in light of everything we've been blessed with we can happily except a small amount of brain damage. Since he's doing really good and it has been almost a year Dr. Wright has moved him to come every four months!

While we were there we tried to grab a few fun moments:

Like taking a minute to drive a very excited Dillan to Arkansas! It literally was just a few minutes from St Jude. Funny thing it took us driving across twice for me to snap a picture of this sign LOL

We celebrated good MRI results with some yummy dinner!

I wish I could take his place and so does Tim. His nerves are getting the best of him when we went for his blood work and IV for his MRI. Then Nurse Kelli and her sweet husband came by to visit! they brought him treats and she made him another blanket to keep warm with during his MRIs. They brought a huge smile back to him!

His eye doctor let Tim and I check our 3D vision. Dillan's is getting better!

Memphis looks beautiful from the bridge :-)

Crossing the state line AGAIN!

This pyramid is just down the street from the hospital. It was a sports arena but now Bass Pro Shop has a sign out front. 

Out for a little drive

We had no idea Memphis was the

Dillan wanted to go for a walk and see the St Jude statue.

Our home away from home, Memphis Grizzles House.

Our evening view

My morning stroll across campus is very peaceful and beautiful.

During our recent visit there was a heat wave so I thought about jumping in but I do not think the firemen checking the hose would have appreciated it.

Memphis has some really neat stuff to see...like Giant Catfish on Mud Island!

All Aboard the River Boat!

Mississippi River

Dillan finally made it to Mud Island! He has always loved maps so the Mississippi Riverwalk was right up his alley.

As we traveled home a beautiful rainbow appeared!

Are you up for the challenge?!?

I am very excited to attempt this organizational challenge! At times with four children and working as a teacher I feel overwhelmed with our disorganized home and wonder if I should call TLC to schedule a Hoaders episode. I've always been sentimental but over the last year my priorities have changed because of Dillan's diagnosis with brain cancer. Our home needs this challenge!! It always makes me very happy to have things organized and tidy. The challenge is from the same blog that posted the 21 Day Challenge last year (thanks again Ashley). I have high expectations for myself and I know Tim would be ecstatic to clear out some of our (ok, MY) stuff!

Check out Home Organization 101 on A bowl full of lemons!

Some days I feel like I just got sucker punched

While I was waiting during Dillan's MRI I typed some random thoughts. I have been told my strength has been amazing throughout all of this journey and while I am a strong person even strong people have their moments...

Dillan is getting his MRI and he wanted Tim with him. I've sat with him for all but two. I walked to patient services for something and started filling up with tears...what in the world?!? Sometimes it hits me like a ton of bricks that I have a child with brain cancer. Yes, it's the best kind of brain cancer you can have BUT it's still brain cancer! I'll never not be the mom of a child who had brain cancer. Then I feel ashamed and guilt sets in because we know so many others whose children have endured so much more and they have been through so much more than we have...how can I have a pity party knowing their battles?!? I wonder if it's like survivors guilt. I know our cancer friends are extremely happy Dillan has done so well and has the diagnosis he has but I think if I were in their shoes I might wonder why Lord couldn't my child be in that situation, too. It leaves me brokenhearted for them and wondering why... My God accomplishes amazing things so I do not understand why cancer even exists! I believe with all my heart He has a reason for EVERYTHING in this world and one day I hope He sheds light on why cancer exists.

August is a Blue Moon Month

I teach word puzzles to my Gifted students and one refers to the cliche' "Once in a Blue Moon" :) This month there will be a rare blue moon!

August is a Blue Moon Month

 Enjoy the first Blue Moon today and the second this month on the 31st!

Maho Beach, St Maarten

 This was amazing to see...

I could have stayed all day watching the planes land!

Sherwin Williams GC Giveaway!

I would love to win a Sherwin Williams gift card and makeover our kitchen, laundry room, guest bathroom, and garage! Here's a great garage makeover with a potting shed from Becky at Organizing Made Fun!

http://organizingmadefun.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-most-beautiful-potting-shed-ever.html

St. Jude check-up time again

We went for Dillan's second check-up in April. He and I drove up on a Sunday, April 22nd and he had his 8th MRI very early Monday morning. His results were good with nothing really changing. The pocket of fluid is still there so we will make a decision about it soon (my understanding is surgery is the only option since it hasn't healed properly). We will see how things look when we return Sunday, July 22nd for his next check-up. The week or so before we head back up is a little difficult on me...can not sleep, my stomach is in knots, et cetera because of scanxiety (Thanks Hope for giving me a name for my problem). He will have his 9th MRI in less than a year EARLY Monday morning and then a full day of appointments to check his progress in rehab services (Speech, PT, OT). Maybe after his long day we can do something fun in Memphis. In April we made our way to...

        

Graceland! 

 Dillan really enjoyed getting to see where Elvis lived! 

He was REALLY excited to see the TWO airplanes Elvis owned.  

I took pictures per Dillan's request inside the Lisa Marie!

Who has a dining table in their airplane? Elvis did!

The seat belts were gold plated!

Of course he had a Blue Suede Bed!

AND SOLID GOLD SINKS! 

I try to make the most of every minute with Dillan and all of our children since we were shown how quickly things can change from what you think and plan and...

Please keep us in your prayers as we continue on this journey.