Last Rochester appointment????

Oooooo. I'm feeling the excitement. OK, maybe it's a bit premature; but I can't help it. Tomorrow Sumana has her follow-up back appointment with Dr. Sanders. As of today, tomorrow is the last scheduled appointment in Rochester til February! As you may remember, I crammed every conceivable appointment in BEFORE Sumana's VEPTR surgery so that we could plan to stay home and recuperate. Well, so far the 'staying home' hasn't materialized. With her pneumonia, she has been going to Rochester almost weekly since the middle of September. So, we're looking forward to staying home more.

Sumana has a bunch of questions for Dr. Sanders. 'Will my expansions really be 'in and out'?" (outpatient) 'How do the rods make my back straight?' 'When will my lungs get stronger?' Etc., etc.!

So, we see Miss Kristina at 9 to check Sumana's braces. Then, we head over to the Strong Museum to meet some homeschooling friends. The teenage boys are already planning to get lost in the new comic section of the museum. Sumana is hoping the Berenstain Bears are still there. Me? I could sit and watch the fish all morning! We'll leave Andrew at the museum with our friends and Sumana and I will head back to see Dr. Sanders. Time permitting, we'll get to spend another hour at the museum before heading to PT.

Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention that we're dropping off the van to get some repairs done BEFORE we head to Rochester. So, at least this time, we'll be putting miles on a loaner instead of our vehicle.

No new van

Well, it's pretty final now. We're not only not getting the Entourage, we're not getting ANY vehicle. Here we were approved to buy a 2009 van in July, now we can't get approved to buy a 2007 van!! We thought the original approval was still in effect, but alas, the 60 window has closed (even though a bank rep called us 2 weeks ago to check our status on the loan . . .???) Anyway, we had to reapply today and were rejected because we refinanced our house in September. It's kind of a bummer to be penalized for making wise choices. Oh, well! It's better to have our house paid off in 10 years with no van, than to pay longer on a mortgage AND make a van payment. My mom made a wise comment, "Pay yourself, instead of the bank." So, that's what I'm going to do. Save up Sumana's SSI and next year, we can try again.

Meanwhile, Andrew and I headed out and cleaned the Astro van interior. Tomorrow I'm getting it washed and waxed. Monday we'll have it in the shop to get some repairs done, then we should be good to go, (well, I suppose we should check the tires out . . .) I'm convinced that God is behind this whole matter and even though it's disappointing, we're ok with it. We love our big, green van!

As I've mentioned, Monday is Sumana's last scheduled appointment in Rochester til February. We're trying to make plans to meet some friends at the Strong Museum of Play. I can't wait!! We go at least once a year and it doesn't matter the age of the child, they ALL have fun! (Last year we took Andrew and Shantell . . . then 12 . . . they had such a blast checking out the collectible toys and grossology exhibit).

Please continue to pray for Sumana's health. There is soooo much 'yuck' out there, I almost hate to take her out of the house. I also am fighting with our teens about them getting flu and H1N1 shots. Though the flu is rampant at a nearby college and not at their's yet, it'll come. We can't afford to have it in our house. It's another lesson of 'it's not about you'. I'll keep you posted on our progress!

Love 'em, hate 'em

Well, you haven't heard a lot from us lately: 1) There hasn't been much to report about Sumana. She has been healthy (praise God!) and getting into her routine of school and PT/OT. 2) I've been having major computer issues lately. Even as I started typing this entry, our antivirus program shut me down.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate having a computer. How much it helps with schooling, researching medical stuff and cars, banking, how it keeps me connected with my friends and family . . . . But, as much as a love it for these reasons, I hate it more (I think). It sucks time away from our teenagers (therein lies a daily battle to reign them in). It subjects us to all kinds of garbage that we don't even ask for! This has been my battle lately. I can't google something, click on a site and expect to go there. NO! I get taken some random place, from health and beauty to sports to morally questionable sites, AND (get this) I got taken to a Jesus Loves you site. Everyone has their hand in the pie. And, I don't even ask for the stuff! It just pops up when I'm trying to do something else! UGH!!!

Anyway, enough griping. Just wanted you to know we're still here, doing well. Our last Rochester appointment is on Monday! I can hardly stand it! To have a week without a trip to Rochester???? I'm hoping to get used to that! BTW, we'll be driving a new-to-us van to the appointment next week. If all goes well, we'll be the proud owners of a 2007 Hyundai Entourage tomorrow. I'll try to post pictures . . . if my computer will let me! LOL!

Sumana-isms

'We've got to get those muscles cookin'!' (by Miss Kristen at PT) Sumana: Huh? (What's for dinner?)

Sumana to Dr. Voter regarding the cough assist machine: 'You know how you said the machine would force air in and then suck it out? It kinda makes me want to cough.' (Thus, 'cough assist') Dr. Voter told her to go with it!

Sumana doing her Explode the Code: 'Mom, look. Church starts with a ch and ends with a ch.' Mom says, 'What's missing?' Sumana, ' U-R' . . . pause . . . giggles . . . oh, YOU ARE!! Followed by hysterical laughter. Boy, is she easily amused! ( just like her mom, huh?)

I know there are more treasures to record, but those are the ones that come to mind. Today we actually stayed home all day! I got caught up on some cleaning and laundry and Sumana and Andrew got a TON of school work done. Tomorrow is pretty quiet, too, just PT and guitar for Andrew in the afternoon.

Wedding Re-Cap Part 2

Well, after the wedding and pictures we headed out to the reception. Sumana was a dancing maniac! I could tell she wanted to join in but didn't know how. So, I took her hands and took her out on the dance floor. What a riot! She had soooo much fun! Her cousins Josh and Kylie helped her a lot on the dance floor, too! (check out the pictures!)

We had a wonderful time celebrating Jon and Charlotte and visiting with family. Greig has such a wonderful extended family; it was nice to catch up with them. We had a fun time at breakfast with them on Sunday.

After packing up, we headed to the big town of Tatamy! What a riot as we turned on to Main Street and saw nothing but cornfields on either side of the 'street'!!!! Our special college friends Phil and Jennie Tielmann have lived there for 6 years, but this was our first trip to their home. (We usually meet them for a weekend of camping half way between our homes!)

We had a yummy lunch with them (including their 7 kids). Our kids have established a unique bond with their kids over the years of camping and facebooking! Sumana really hit it off with Leah.

We had a rather uneventful trip home (thank goodness!!). Monday had us back into the school, PT/OT and AWANA routine. However, today had us out of our routine with a trip to Rochester. Sumana finally got her new braces adjusted (we had to cancel her last appointment because she had pneumonia). We then tried out a new Indian restaurant: Mysore Woodlands. It was REAL south Indian food like I haven't had since India! WOW! Did that take us back! We had our fill of Masala dosa, idli and sambhar, and lots of other wonderful goodies. Yum!! We're going back in 2 weeks after we see Dr. Sanders! (It's only 5 minutes from the hospital!)

Sumana also saw Dr. Voter today (pulmonology). It was VERY disappointing news. Sumana is basically back to where she was BEFORE we started the cough assist. So, we're going to continue the daily albuterol and cough assist until further notice. Hopefully, when she returns in February we will see lots of improvement. Our big goal is to keep her healthy thru the Fall and Winter. (BTW, on the way home, she got her seasonal flu shot at her primary doctor's office. She goes back in a couple of weeks for the H1N1).

There you have it! You're up-to-date! (I think!) Sorry this was such a LONG post. Here's one final picture of Sumana with her Grampy and Uncle Richard:

Wedding Re-cap!

Wow! How time flies when you're having fun! There's soooo much to catch you up on, it may take me a few entries to get thru it all! Friday's travelling went pretty well. There wasn't as much construction in NY as I expected. However, PA didn't disappoint. There were a few spots merging into one lane that slowed us waaayyy down. Then, when we arrived at the hotel and tried to find our way to the church we hit rush hour . . . in corn/wine country . . . . go figure! (BTW, Sumana traveled well and didn't need any Motrin til we were almost 'there'--Allentown).

Anyway, the rehearsal was still going on when we got there. Afterward, we headed in to nice restaurant for the rehearsal dinner. There were probably 30-40 people there, but it was mainly Charlotte and Jon's family, so it was a nice setting to visit and relax. AND, of course eat great food! Sumana got a children's meal as soon as we got there. She ate a hamburger, applesauce and fries before we finished our salad course! So, of course she had to sample our food, too!

She slept great at the hotel and when we got up, she had to get right to her morning exercises. It was a little frustrating knowing that a yummy breakfast was WAITING for us downstairs, but she hung in there and got her work done first. Then, she was rewarded with french toast and yogurt. Yummm!! AND, of course, lots of family to visit with!

We managed to squeeze in a trip to the Goodwill store and Ross (our favorite discount clothing store . . . why can't they make a store in NY????) Gretchen made out well finding jeans and shirts. Then, we grabbed a quick BK lunch and headed back to the hotel to get dressed for the wedding. After all my fretting about cool rainy weather, it was a BEAUTIFUL day . . . sunny and around 70!

Greig was the photographer, so we had almost 1 1/2 hours to 'kill' before the ceremony started. Jeffrey was occupied as video guy and Gretchen wanted to be 'in' on all the action, so Andrew, Sumana and I headed off to a local farmer's market. It was like a mini-Windmill (for those of you from OUR area). We were all dressed up and stood out like crazy (especially me with my dressy clothes and clunker brown shoes!!) But, we found lots of fresh veggies CHEAP! I treated the kids to fresh Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels. Andrew's was a steak and cheese pretzel(???!!!)

When we got back to the church we grabbed a few quick photos and then were seated. What a beautiful ceremony! It was held in a small stone chapel . . . GORGEOUS! Jeffrey and Greig were 'working' and Sumana 'had' to sit with Grampy and Grammy, so Andrew and Gretchen and I ended up together. It was fun to watch their excitement as their cousins participated in the ceremony!

Mom's Day Out

Well, Sumana and I have been getting up earlier than usual in order to get all of her breathing and PT/OT exercises in before school. She's not lovin' it, but at least she's pretty cooperative. Today we had to finish school early because I had an appointment in Rochester. Gretchen and Andrew helped 'hold down the fort.' Gretchen even did the transporting for PT and guitar lessons today. Yee-hawww!! It's nice to have another driver in the house!

So, since all the home bases were covered, I was able to run errands and generally just goof off for the afternoon. It was WAY too much fun! I happened to take a dress back to a store for an exchange and it was so quiet that I had the undivided attention of 3 saleswomen! It was fun trying on things I might not have thought of on my own. I actually exchanged the dress for a really sparkly, trendy top that one of the saleswomen found for me. Woo-hoo!

One real bummer today is that I had to say goodbye to another friend. First, one of my best friends moves to Alaska, now another one leaves for Virginia on Saturday. We were able to visit Gina and her family last year in Oklahoma as part of our college road trip. Her family rather unexpectedly moved 'home' in August. So, really the past 2 months have been a 'bonus'. Nevertheless, it stinks to have to say goodbye. At least Virginia is a whole lot closer than Oklahoma!!

Tomorrow we pack up and head to Allentown, PA for Greig's nephew's wedding. Packing the clothes is no big deal. Packing all of Sumana's respiratory stuff . . . that's another story. I really need to take everything she needs NOW and anything she might need if she starts to get a cold. UGHHHHH!!!!

I'll try to get lots of new pictures of Sumana all dressed up with her family. She really looks so much different since her surgery. It's fun to show it off in pictures. (If I can just remember to pack the camera!)