"last day" of summer

Owen and I head back to school tomorrow so today
was our unofficial last day of summer. We spent the
morning at CHOP, had a visit with Grandma and Pop (& two adorable foster puppies) and went to the pool in the afternoon. We got home in the late evening, Joe ordered Pizza for the boys and I mowed the lawn!!! Two weeks after knee surgery and I am a half acre closer to 13.2 miles!


Owen had a good day at CHOP. His blood cell counts are strong and he had treatment without any issues. The nurses let him pick out a new pillowcase for himself and one to bring home for Joey. This woman, Cindy Kerr, comes into CHOP every few months with her sewing machine and sews pillowcases (with the kids help) to give out to all the patients. Owen loves his tractor pillowcase. Lovely how these small details we find so often at CHOP make sure an impact. Owen will always remember where that pillowcase came from.






We met Joey and Joe at the auto body shop after CHOP.
The window on my truck, after being rolled half way down was refusing to go back up. Owen was thrilled at getting the chance to ride "Dadda's taxi" to Grandma and Pop's to pick up the jeep.




Chloe was once this small and adorable too...after finding my favorite sandals shredded this morning I think the cuteness only lasts for so long.

end of summer tradition

We made it to Eagles training camp. It was the last day, rainy and muddy, the only Kids Zone activities were a football toss and mini golf, practice was held on 2 out of 4 fields with everyone packed into the same muddy standing area and wet stands, I think I saw 2 plays before the boys wanted to wander around and find the kids zone, and Joe said he didn't see much more than that....but watching the boys dance around and laugh in the rain as they tried to play mini golf, running into Swoop! and keeping up the yearly tradition made it all worth it. We have gone every year since Joey was born and with the NFL "strike', Joe's crazy work schedule and me still hobbling around I didn't think we would get there this year....I am so glad we did.

one of those days

It was a five hour day at CHOP.
Owen's counts were good, he was very patient and dealt with triage, port access, doctor exam and chemo treatment with humor and ease. He even helped to calm a one-year-old friend, showing this little boy how he had a port too. He told him, "It's just one pinch." Moments like these helped me to deal with the day that followed...Owen didn't want to leave CHOP after 5 hours, he still wanted to play and screamed at me loudly in a crowded waiting room to "LEAVE ME ALONE! DON'T TOUCH ME!" So we got over that hurdle by swooping him to the elevators only to deal with...
2 accidents including one poopy bathroom nightmare---Owen.
2 accidents-including poop in the basement---Chloe. A shredded front screen door---Chloe. A spilled cup of milk---Owen. One shattered Winnie the Pooh snowglobe---Owen. That last one hurt...this is the second of three snowglobes Owen has broken. Not that Winnie the Pooh goes with my decor anymore or that I would ever buy anything Winnie Pooh again...but in college I was really into the classic stuff. Joe bought me these three snowglobes and looking at them always made me think back to our dating days...so in love, carefree, light-hearted..a time when Winnie the Pooh was endearing. When it dropped from Owen's hands and shattered all over the livingroom rug and hardwood floor...I just had to sigh...Oh Bother. The last of the snowglobes is now carefully placed up high where I am pretty sure Owen will not be able to get it. Pretty sure....because I have been stunned by what the boy manages to get himself into.

on the brightside??

This weekend last summer...my first triathalon.














This weekend...recovering from knee arthroscopy.

Hard to put into words how frustrating/depressing it has been not to have been able to run, bike and swim all summer. One up side...it was probably the most relaxing and quiet weekend I have had all summer. Lovely mom had the boys, wonderful mom-in-law had the puppy and I had vicodin... I am actually feeling better now that the surgery is done...hoping to start slowly training soon with the goal of walking the NF Philly Endurance Run and bike at least part of the MS 150 City to Shore. Tricky part is they are back to back weekends in September. Hopefully when I meet the surgeon for post-op we'll figure out a plan for physical therapy and get me where I need to be in time to at least cross the finish lines.

Well, the relaxing weekend is officially over...the boys are back...Owen is eating frozen waffles, trying to figure out how to make them himself and Joey's friend is pounding on the door to see if he can come out and play for the last 30 minutes of daylight. At least Joe is out picking up sushi for dinner and I have one more night before Chloe is jumping all over me...

so proud

After much persuading, Joey agreed to go on his first upside-down roller coaster... HYDRA...one of my most favorite upside down thrill rides.

I knew he would love it... but secretly I was second guessing myself as I downplayed his fears while we waited in line. I LOVE amusement rides...I love that completely nervous excitement and exhilarating rush. But often with things that bring these feelings...I find myself scared and I really need to push myself the first time. Joey is like me in so many ways. If not pushed, he often backs down. The tricky part is figuring out how hard to push...this goes with most life lessons...not just amusement rides. I have taken Joey on rides before that have scared him...but afterwards he wants to go on them again and again. On the Pirate Ship at the Grange Fair last summer Joey screamed "We're going to die" in such a dire-high-pitched scream that people actually stopped to ask if he was okay after we got off the ride. Still...he asked to go on it again after his breathing returned to normal. So when we were at Dorney the other day I saw a perfect opportunity to indoctrinate him into my love of roller coasters...especially coasters that twist and turn you upside down...and gently push him to do something that he didn't think he could do. That is the best part actually---going through with it, afterwards being amazed that you did it. As we got onto the ride I grabbed his hand and told him how proud I was of him, told him to hold onto to the metal bars and warned the two young girls sitting next to him of potential loud screams to come. Best ride ever-hearing Joey scream in delight, loving every loop and terrifying drop.

Thrilled with his reaction I snapped this lovely photo...you can tell he was still getting over some of those loops. Looking at this pic---I know it won't be long until he is completely embarrassed to be doing these things with his mom. Gotta soak in every moment while he still lets me.

last two days

Last two days of the boys' visit...I will miss them terribly. Wednesday- Ralph Stover Park...lunch on the cliffs, hike to creek...later some disc gold at Tinicum Park.

We hiked from the top of the cliffs down to the creek. Chris took Joey, Patrick and Finn down a more challenging route. Owen and I went down the gradually sloping, winding path. At one point, Owen yelled at me, "You need to carry me in the forest!" Holding hands the two of us made it down with minimal stumbling. Owen's reward for all that hard work--- throwing rocks in the creek and on the hike back looking for fallen trees and collecting rocks. Collecting rocks seemed like a good idea until half way up the trail---my hoodie was filled with them--- I ended up carrying Owen, the rock-filled sweatshirt and my camera.

Yesterday we went to Dorney. Missing mom and Joe...both were stuck at work. The boys loved Planet Snoopy and especially the Water Park. I was so proud of Joey for going on one of my favorite coasters with me...I'll post more about that later.

Great -Dad!...super good about going with the flow of the day...shame I couldn't get him to go on any coasters now that I am not a kid anymore and can ride them by myself - or with my own kids :)

So Chris and the boys are off to New York for a few days before heading back to Canada. As always whenever I see him my heart aches for him to be closer. He is one of the people in my life that I can be completely myself with...talking about everything and anything...completely effortless, wonderfully loving. Funny to think back to when we were kids...repeatedly locking him out of the house...running from him swinging some pain-inducing object when I finally opened the door. I thought I would never get rid of him...now I want him back.

the honeymoon is over

We LOVE our local Borders...sadly everything is being liquidated so yesterday morning we went looking for some deals. Owen has been obsessed with Star Wars lately and he was thrilled to find a Star Wars sticker book at Borders. After leaving it on the coffee table last night we woke to find that Chloe also likes Star Wars books.

A little tape and everything is fine...Owen can't wait to show his cousins the bite marks.

When we first got Chloe she was an angel....calm, house trained (hah!), quiet and a good listener. Days passed and she had her first accident in the house...a week passed and she started barking...and just recently she is now tearing into stuff. "No, no Chloe!" Gets you puppy dog eyes and tucked ears but later today I know I will still find her gnawing on one of the boys action figures. I think the honeymoon is over...

the BOYS are here

For weeks Owen has been telling Ms. Kathy at the pool that his cousins are coming from Canada. Patrick, Finn and Uncle Chris are finally here!!! Fun days at the pool...only two days left all together before everyone leaves to visit the "Trubenbach-Marsigliano-Bosworth crew" on Long Island. Whenever Chris and the boys are in town it is a flurry of fun and excitement...it just always goes by too quickly.

Patrick passed the band test!

Monday is CHOP day

Owen had his chemo today and everything went smoothly. Last week his blood counts were too low so they withheld treatment. His ANC went from 340 to 2200 this week...a strong jump. His doctors decided to give him 80% of his normal dosage since he has been neutropenic (low white blood cell count-increased risk of infection) a number of times. If his levels stay high he will return to full dose next Monday.

Owen has been recieving chemo again since February. After a MRI showed growth of the same optic glioma (tumor) that he was treated for when he was about a year old. He goes to CHOP every Monday and it has become again part of our weekly routine.