It has begun

With the start of football the clock has begun to click down the minutes of summer. Both Joey and I find the start to the football season a little shocking!

Owen's MRI results show that the tumors have remained stable. I am waiting for a call back to schedule the removal of his port. All very exciting but nerve-wracking at the same time.

Almost have all the fundraising info. sent out for NF run and MS ride...I really have a hard time with that aspect of participating in these events...I much rather train than raise money. It has been hanging over my head though so I am glad to have everything basically set up.

Got to get the boys ready for practice...funny thing is that Owen is the one that wants to be on the field..

Successful MRI

I'm counting down the hours until I can call for Owen's MRI results...

Owen was amazing as usual, taking everything in stride. This was his second time having an MRI w/ general anesthesia and everything went smoothly except that he needed a

breathing tube since he had labored breathing. When I was brought

back to sit with him in recovery he still had the tube inserted, in which the nurse told me he would cough out when started to wake up. He did and as I was unwrapping the tubes from around his ears to help to remove the tube he groggily says, "Done Mama." He then holds up his arm with the IV and says "Off." Shortly after he is sitting up on the stretcher eating graham crackers with a sippy cup of milk blowing the nurse kisses and saying "Bye Bye." Listening to the many other kids being tested that day, the crying and complaining... I think I would be a wreck going through all of this...but Owen is just his normal self on these days. He doesn't really cry or fuss, he plays during the 2 1/2 hr. wait before the test giggling and flirting with the nurses and wakes up ready to roll...leaving me no time to even be weepy. He is amazing...

Mama, Train!

Today Owen had his first train ride. Owen loves trains, cars, trucks, busses, airplanes...anything that moves and he was thrilled to take Joey to his Comic book writing class @ the Michner Art Museum today. Joey thought it would have been more fun if we didn't have to run to catch the train this morning to make it to his class on time. Tomorrow Owen has the MRI that should determine whether or not he will be able to have his port removed. Going to general anesthesia is always a hard day, but Owen does amazingly well. The hardest part with him is keeping the hungry boy distracted. We should have the results early next week...I'll keep you posted.

"No Nos"

My little monkey...with Joey's rainboots on, watering can in hand, turning the water on full force during a rain storm...all while repeating "No Nos"

Two days ago I told him we only put the water on when we are going to water the flowers with the watering can, so both yesterday and today he has found the watering can and turned the water on, both times while I was busy doing something, moments later finding him outside the library door playing in the water. Today I started locking the door.

In other news...Joey got his first stitch at an ER last night and still does not want to come home from Aunt Amy's.

I think he could live there forever!

I mailed my graduate paper today!! Finally done...summer can officially begin...4 weeks left!

Bright Idea

In an effort to keep Owen busy while I am on page 16 of my 10 page graduate paper due in the mail by tomorrow at noon, I decided it would be fun for Owen to "finger paint" with chocolate pudding. Oh...he had fun but after chucking his spoon at my computer screen we called it quits and he screamed as he was put into his second bath of the morning. Fun times are over...he's down for a nap and I am determined to finish this paper!

Recent Pics...

Grandma and Grandpa's 60th
Anniversary...didn't post my favorite shot of the two of them...thought Grandma might not love it but it caught her in a hysterical laugh, grandpa still standing very much the same as in this photo

My best photo of the wedding was of the bride, (my second cousin), Linda and my cousin, Liam, breakin' a move on the dance floor

My funny boys....

Happy Birthday Great Dad!

Such a great fourth of July...so exciting to see "Uncle" Dave ontop of the fire truck and watch the parade with the Porco family and Uncle Chris!

Football camp super successful...can't believe the season starts in 2 weeks!

Summer is flying...

Sitting in a silent hotel room in Connecticut, the boys still sleeping after a wild wedding reception, I finally have some free time to catch up. It is amazing how fast the summer has gone! Joey and I were both groaning after we saw our first Back to School commercial yesterday! August 25th is coming way too quickly. It is hard to believe I was still in school when I last posted. Since then we have been busy... went to the shore for a few days visiting Grandma and Pop, ended a great soccer season, swimming at the pool almost everyday, spending time with Uncle Chris...never enough!, Wizard World, cleaning the house, Joey in football camp, super fun Fourth of July thanks to the Porco family, completed a graduate course in one hellish but enlightening week, painted (still needing to finish) the basement, rode my first 40 mile bike ride with Team Ox...getting ready for the MS city to shore, also trying to fit in running to train for the NF half marathon, celebrating my Grandparents 60th wedding Anniversary and attending my second cousin, Linda's beautiful wedding. I think that is about it! My 10 page paper for my graduate class needs to be mailed to my professor by Wednesday, so I am looking forward to turning it in so that I can start to really relax!
Well Owen is up, holding his Bear Bear in one arm, banging his sippy cup with the other against the side of the pack and play demanding, "Juice, MaMa!" so I better go. Will post more recent pictures soon...really