New Addition

BJ picked up his Rottie today. Here's a picture of him a couple of weeks ago. I will post more later when I get a cord to transfer them.

Kris

Kris made PFC this weekend. YAY! Next month is his last drill weekend before he leaves for bootcamp because in May his weekend for drills is when he graduates from High school and Hannah graduates from Pre-school. I can't believe he's old enough to start his own life now. Time has gone way to fast!

Broke Down

I just broke down and bought Hannah this new carseat...

Josh Update

We went to St Louis on Wed for a follow up appt. He had another MRI done and we seen the neurosurgeon's PA. The PA thinks there's a more perdominate area seen on his scan--hopefully its just the image. I also asked the PA if the area in his brain was really that big (as seen on the MRI) and she said yes its 6 in x 2 in. and hasn't grown any---so that good. We still don't know exactly what we are dealing with. We do know its not cancer, not an auto immune disease and the only thing is to keep an eye on it to see if it changes any or his symptoms worsen. Children's is rated in the top for the neuro dept so that gives me a little comfort as I know some things happen and you can't explain every medical issue that arises but it does get frustrating at times still not knowing. Josh is dealing with it OK now and he was with me the whole time I was asking questions so he know we aren't lying to him about anything. (He doesn't understand why they don't know what it is and he thought it was cancer and we weren't telling him) The neurosurgeon won't be back in the office until Mon and we will see what he thinks about the scan.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers that its nothing to worry about.


The roads down there was pretty wicked in the morning and we could only travel 20 mph. We were only about 25 miles from home when we hit a patch of ice and started a pretty good slide to the right with a huge ditch, then we were headed to the left and we ended up doing a 180 on I-74 facing oncoming traffic. It was pretty scary but I was proud of not putting us in either ditch. My 2 older boys who are driving age was pretty impressed with me. Hannah wanted to do it again! Yep my fearless girl! We get close to Effingham when we about rear ended some lady who decides she wants to stop in the middle of the road to back up and get on her exit. I looked in the rear view mirror and all I could see was a semi 3 cars back with his trailer fish tailing and it was even with his cab. I would have felt so bad if he went into the ditch. We seen many cars and semi's in the ditch. Thank God DH's load was cancelled at the last minute (not in time to go with us tho) so I didn't have to worry about him being out in this with that big of a truck. On the way back the roads were clear and you could actually go the speed limit.

Josh's 6 month follow up

We will be heading down to St Louis on 28th Jan for another MRI and to meet with the Neurosurgeon. This is a 6 month follow up from his brain biopsy. Hopefully we will continue to have good news and we see no new lesions on his brain.

Please keep him in your thoughts & prayers!

Hannah Update

Hannah had surgery to have her tonsils and adnoids removed on Jan 9th. She's doing much better and almost to her old self. She will be back in school on Friday barring no set backs. In the meantime she has enjoyed staying home with me and also riding in the semi with her daddy.

I love my brother, my brother loves me. My friend, my hero, he always will be.

Wish us luck!

Our high school football team won the Sweet Sixteen playoffs last Saturday so that puts us in the Elite 8 today. We are heading approx 2 hours south of here to play a team we have beat 3 years in a row however all the strong players were Seniors last year on our team and we are playing on their turf this year.

I would just like to see these Seniors go to state this year and play at the Memorial Stadium (where the Fighting Illini play) for their Senior year. It would mean so much to them.


Keep us in your thoughts today for a win and safe travels to the team and all parents/families who will make this trip.

I will update when we return tonight. Thanks!

Some Senior Pix

Proud older kid moment.......

Just wanted to share that Kris got his first award this past weekend at drills. This is what it says....

Illinois National Guard
First Sergeant Award
presented to Kristofer ------- the professionalism you
displayed reflects great credit upon your unit the
non commissioned offers corps
ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD

He was excited. He wasn't able to go down to receive it and salute the First Sgt tho because he was helping with the "Grog" ceremony for the newbies. I told him this will be the first of many he will receive and it will go for points in his next promotion.

Sept 1st High School football

Pictures

Kris, Josh, Hunter & Hannah's 1st day of school

Hannah & Hunter

Hannah's soccer picture

Hunter's football picture

Kris & Josh

Kid Rock

Last night we went to the Kid Rock/Lynard Skynard concert in Noblesville, IN. It was a very awesome concert. He sure can rock the house! Sheryl Crow came out to sing Picture with him also :) No cameras were allowed and I was just a little too far back to get pictures on my phone (which sucks!) We had a nice kid free night out with Dh's boss and his wife. Dh and his boss was feeling pretty good by the time we got there.

Kris swearing in for the National Guard 7/10/08

LOL--Knee pads

I was reading some blogs when Hannah came up to me and said...

When I'm a mommy I'm going to wear knee pads in my underwear. I was only half listening and asked to her to repeat that again because I wasn't sure I heard her right because before that she was talking about soccer. Yep I did hear right she's going to wear knee pads in her underwear when she's a mommy! The conversation was sparked by her playing in the bathroom with my panty liners. Please god don't let her grow up too soon!

That's my girl!

Joshua Update From Wed

We took Josh back down to St Louis for another MRI since he was having some issues. The good news is that the area hasn't gotten any bigger and that their isn't any new spots and we can repeat the MRI in 6 months. YAY! We have to go back down their again this Thurs to see the Neurologist because the Neurosurgeon thinks the episodes that Joshua was having were focal seizures. The neurologist wants to do an EEG and go from there to see if he needs to be put on any seizure meds at this time.

Tomorrow

I just bought Brickyard tickets on the spur of the moment this morning. So tomorrow DH & I are having a date and we are going to the race. WooHoo!

Canoeing

BUSY

We have been ubber busy with many activities this month.

Hannah had her party at school on the 3rd July and her family party at home on the 9th of July. We had a low key party this year.

Kris went to MEPS on 10 July and was sworn in and signed papers for the next 6 yrs with the Army National Guard. I'm so proud and scared at the same time for him. He will be leaving for basic at Ft Jackson, SC next June after he graduates from high school and then onto Ft Leonardwood, MO for AIT. He now participates with the guard for his weekends and gets paid for them so when he goes to basic he will have almost a year in already.

On the 12 July BJ found his brother that he hasn't seen since his dad passed away 24 years ago. It was weird because we had just started looking really hard on the internet the Thursday before and he takes a load down to where he grew up when he was little and living with his dad and Aaron was there. When I talked to BJ I found out we all have been around the same place around the same time but never connected.
Aaron and his wife Trish came up that Sunday to meet me and the kids and we all had a great visit with them. They are really nice people and we plan on staying in touch!

Josh's appointment with Children's has been moved up from the 20 Aug to the 30 July due to him having seizure like activities. We are hoping that the tests show no changes in his brain.

Veterns...It's about time!

Veterans Now Permitted to
Salute the Flag


We reported some months ago that U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) had praised the passage by unanimous consent of his bill (S.1877) clarifying U.S. law to allow veterans and servicemen not in uniform to salute the flag. Previous law (US Code Title 4, Chapter 1) states that veterans and servicemen not in uniform should place their hand over their heart without clarifying whether they can or should salute the flag.

The new legislation removes the confusion and makes it clear that veterans and service members not in uniform may render the military salute.

"The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one’s military service," Senator Inhofe said. "Veterans and service members continue representing the military services even when not in uniform.

"I look forward to seeing those who have served saluting proudly at baseball games, parades, and formal events. I believe this is an appropriate way to honor and recognize the 25 million veterans in the United States who have served in the military and remain as role models to other citizens. Those who are currently serving or have served in the military have earned this right, and their recognition will be an inspiration to others."

We're pleased to report that provision was included in the Defense Authorization Act of 2008, signed by President Bush in January. Here is the language, taken directly from the Act:

"SEC. 594. CONDUCT BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS OUT OF UNIFORM DURING HOISTING, LOWERING, OR PASSING OF UNITED STATES FLAG.

Section 9 of title 4, United States Code, is amended by striking 'all persons present' and all that follows through the end of the section and inserting the following: 'all persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.'."

So there you have it. To many veterans and service members not in uniform, it "feels" disrespectful to not render the salute they are accustomed to when the flag is presented. The new legislation explicitly gives them the option to do so.

Now, when you are in a public place, such as a parade or ball game, and you see civilians saluting the flag, at the appropriate time, take a moment to thank them for their service.