ITS GOING TO BE A GOOD YEAR FOR EVERYONE…
Archive for 'Andrea'
ALMOST DECEMBER 2010
Categories: Andrea | November 27th, 2010 | by diane | no comments
Gosh where is the time going – Last time I posted we were to return to Ann Arbor on 10/13. We did not have to go, Andi’s blood work was all ok and the appt has been rescheduled for March 11, 2011. Andi has been doing very well and keeping us very busy. I tried to load some pics, but as usual it is not working. Her class at MACC is the highlight of her daily routine. She continues to want to add more and more activities to her weekly schedule, more than she has hours for – so I know she is herself again. She is very driven. Other than the occasional down day that she sleeps away, nothing we don’t all need now and then. Youmacon was a blast for the kids, Veterans concert was very well done, Team penning has been ongoing and Andi plans to continue through the winter. CMACB Christmas concert in December. Had Grinnell Family Thanksgiving and Christmas last Saturday. Hoping we all have a good/healthy winter. Looking forward to spring and the beginning of a very busy summer. Andrew graduating and beginning college, Andi working at the vet clinic, doing trail comps and one fair – she will not have time to do two this summer. Then she will begin her senior year and if its like this year, it will go fast. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year – stay warm this winter. Will post if any exciting news and/or after her next appt in March 2011. Oh and as always, I will try and get pics loaded too.
Homecoming 2010
Categories: Andrea | October 11th, 2010 | by diane | no comments
Everyone had a great time at homecoming game Friday and dance Saturday. ANDI is in the pink dress, yes she can be girly when she wants and still NO makeup.
NOTE: some photos are cropped, so you must double click on them to UN-crop them, sorry.
SEPTEMBER
Categories: Andrea | September 29th, 2010 | by diane | no comments
Gee almost October, where did August and September go. Guess life must be getting back to normal and we are busy, busy, busy. I will begin with the most current news and work my way back to August. Yesterday was a long day in Ann Arbor – but came with good news. Now hoping the Ann Arbor trip on Oct 13 goes that well. She sees the endocrinologist and finds the results to her blood panel from yesterday. So yesterday consisted of a 6:30 am MRI, so yes we woke at 3:30 am and left by 4:30 am. Grandma went with us, good thing – cause she was the only one awake on the way home. Pretty bad when Grandma out lasts us. After MRI we run right up to lab, Andi had not eaten since 10:00 pm the day before and was hungry. After lab sat for a while so Andi could eat McDonald cookies that Andrew had brought home the night before and drink some juice. Went from thereto the Oncologist appt and he could already see the MRI on his computer and said he thought things looked real good and we did not have to return for one year. Now off to Neuro Surgeon appt, 1.5 hours early. But they got us in and we were out of there by the time our real appt time was. The Dr. said MRI looked good and we did not have to return for one year unless we had any issues. YAH!!! From there we headed for the cafeteria, we were all ready for lunch as we had been up for over 7 hours. Then Andi paged “the bedside musician/Betsy” and we met her in the courtyard so Andi and her could have the photo shoot. Betsy had asked Andi a couple weeks ago if she wanted to be represented on the brochures and web site for the UofM bedside musician. After photos they went over to the cancer center atrium and played for about an hour. Now we could go home? Oh no, Andi had to visit Karlene and Jerry. Quite a social network at UofM. I said yes to stopping by and saying HI to Karlene on our way to the parking garage, but she would have to see Jerry next month. Karlene switched jobs and is now on the 3rd floor – but we did find her and had a wonderful visit. Enough of the doc/appt/uofm talk. September 7 school began and Andi is bouncing right out of bed. Mostly because of her Animal Science Program she is in at MACC for the first half of the day. She is loving it and can’t get enough. She finished E-Team the weekend of 9/11 and 9/12. She had a great time competing this year. There were approx 78 riders from all different schools, at least 25 in each of her classes – so she didn’t place. But hopes with this years learning experience she will have a chance next year. She took a hard fall in bareback class, but brushed off and get right back on and finished the class. Then on monday needed an adjustment to put her ribs and hip back into place. No wonder she said she was sore and hurting. She met alot a great kids from Alma, Shepherd and Breckenridge and had a wonderful time. We spent a weekend at the Clevengers beautiful cabin in Clare and attended the Amish Auction – found a great pair of chaps with tons of silver on them. We had such a great time there and did not want it to end. The guys caught a ton of fish too. Wishing Andrew could have been with us, but he had to work. Andrea stayed at Shanes for a weekend and made big bucks dog sitting for Blaze. She also had a very successful meeting with the Vet Science Dept Counselor at MSU last week. She is right on track for admittance and should have no problems. Found out she will need to apply next fall and that she most likely will stay in the dorms because of the course schedule. Guess that is all for September. Now August, if I can remember. E-Team of course, all very fun. Two concert performances with her CMACB. One at the Clare Airport and one at the Ithaca Fun Festival. They sounded great and those every Monday nite practices do pay off. She cheered some of the kids from her 4-H club on at State Finals one weekend and other than that just kinda rested up from June and July’s fast pase and prepared for Septembers fast pase. So will post again after 10-13 appt and hope all remains good. Homecoming is Oct 8, Andi was nominated for court – but did not get it. Will post about homecoming then. This weekend we will go camping with a group of horse friends and they will trail ride and guys will fish. The colors should be peak, I am hoping to get some good pics. Thanks for checking in on Andi – she knows you are supporting her and appreciates it very much. I promised pictures – tried it, cannot get them to upload. Will see if Todd will be able to help out tonight.
Team Penning July 2010
Categories: Andrea | August 1st, 2010 | by diane | one comments
Well, I know Andi is feeling more herself everyday – she keeps busy all the time. Thursday night she met some friends over the Skips Ranch for some Team Penning. Her and Razzi did it last winter once or twice in the indoor arena. Now they would try it in the outdoor arena – what fun, and they did real good. Razzi enjoys pushing the cattle around, sometimes a little too much and tries biting them – need to figure out how to break her of that. Pictures to follow.
VACATION 2010
Categories: Andrea | August 1st, 2010 | by diane | no comments
A vacation long overdue (6 years from the last vacation) and a week to remember – and it went so fast. We had a quick safe trip out to Maryland and arrived in Ocean City by 3:00 Sunday. Picked up our key and address for the townhouse we would call home at Fenwick Island, just 15 minutes from the Believe In Tomorrow Beach House in Ocean City. We got a good nights sleep and hit the ground running Monday morning with a 10:00 briefing from Believe in Tomorrow Beach House and then spent the day on the beach. Dinner was a Admirals Feast compliments of HOOPERS for everyone with Believe In Tomorrow, met some great families and had some wonderful food. Tuesday we got an early start and went back to HOOPERS for some SeaDooing in the Bay. We each had our own seadoo and boy is Andi crazy on a SeaDoo – upon returning the SeaDoos to Hoopers, the guy said Andi is a speed deaman. We then headed for Baja Amusements and the kids rode 5 different tracks and one bumper water boat ride – alot of fun. After having a picnic lunch we returned to the town house to enjoy some relaxation time and the pool. Our town house on Fenwick Island was in a complex with other townhouses with half and year around residences. I needed Andi rested, she did not know it yet but that evening I had arranged a horse ride on the beach for Andi (a long time dream of hers) with a private stable in Lewis. Winnswept stables invited us to there stable where we met the owner, her hired hand/friend and the hired hands friend. We then loaded up 4 of there horses and went to Fenwick Beach where Todd and Andi were able to ride several miles down the beach, Andi was in awh and speechless. The stable and people were so great, they were headed for Baltimore the next morning for two of there kids to receive additional schooling on eventing. They have made it to nationals and would be competing in KY in less than a month. Wednesday we slept in and relaxed in the pool until our 2:00 tour and ride on the US Coast guard boat, we learned alot about the coast guard, had a great ride on the boat and the kids even got to drive it – we also saw several dolphins. After we toured the lifesaving museum and then had a complementary dinner at LaHasendas, before returning to the Beach house for some time with the other families, the beach and a professional portrait. Thursday already, we are loosing steam but have so much more to do while here. Todd and Andrew were invited on a 10:00 fishing trip in the Bay, so Andi and I stayed at the town house and relaxed in the pool. They caught: flounders, crabs and crookers and had a great time. At 4:00 we met up at a country club and Todd and Andi had a golf lesson while Andrew and I enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres in the lounge. Then did a little shopping in Ocean City and some indoor putt putt golf. Friday was an early morning, Andi would take surf lessons with Mcdreamy (Austin) at Malibu Beach. She did really well for her first time, I didn’t realize real surf boards were so big. Then we walked the board walk, did some shopping and enjoyed a boat ride on the OC ROCKET – also got a little wet. Then joined the other families at the beach house for a cook out. What a great time. Saturday is here and is the day Andi has been waiting for all week. We took the entire day, beginning very early and went to Assateaque Island to see the wild horses. WOW, we were so lucky. We saw 36 horses in various bands and all 3 foals born this summer. I think it was a good move for us to rent kayaks and go along the bay side and marsh lands – that is where we saw the most and no other people. It was something, even Andrew enjoyed the horses. Now Sunday and we got up early just to enjoy the pool one last time and then hit the road for home. We only made it 266 miles that day, traffic and accidents on every route up the coast we traveled. But ended the day in Lamer PA and saw info on Penn Cave, it looked very cool. So we decided to head for Penn Cave in the morning. So glad we did – what a cool place and you tour it for 1 1/2 hours by boat. Then back to hitting the road again and all going well until loosing power as we entered OH turnpike – long boring story,but we ended up breaking down again in Ann Arbor and making it home a day later with a new battery and new alternator. Should have known some bad luck had to happen. All in all a very great family vacation, long over due and very much needed by all of us. Many thanks to Believe in Tomorrow Children’s Foundation for terminally ill children.
2010 FAIRS!!!!!!!!!!!
Categories: Andrea | July 12th, 2010 | by diane | no comments
Well, where to begin. Just finished Greenville Fair last nite, so will tell about it first – it was a long HOT week, with one day rain. Andrea and Razzi did very well. She started the week learning that she took Outstanding honors on her Horse Record Book, she made it threw three stages of cuts – against over 75 others. She did real well with her 5 exhibits and took 4 firsts and one second and two honors. Then onto premium class 1st, showmanship 6th out of 25 and 3rds, 4ths and 6ths with her classes for the rest of the week/western, English and dressage. It was a very hot week and Razzi was a trooper. We ended the week with a costume contest that she placed 4th in – but her good friend took first and she was happy about that. I still have not learned how to load pics on blog or face book but will be sure they get on somehow real soon. Heard she is in the Greenville Daily News Special Addition – haven’t seen it yet.
Ithaca Fair was also very successful and her competition was tough. The age groups are not broken down so her classes were open for anyone 14 and over. She took 3rd in English against two adults who are very accomplished. Learned in western that her saddle does not fit her horse and now needs to somehow get a different one. Will borrow one for Greenville Fair. She placed 1st in her 4 exhibits and purchased a baby rabbit with plans of showing in 2011. It was a fun week, met lots of new friends and learned some great tips from the two adult riders she competed against. I wish it was broken down to 14-19 and then 20 and over, but Andrea doesn’t care and said before we even left the fair she was returning next year. She had sooooo much fun.
Now we will unpack and clean up so we can leave for vacation in 5 days. Can’t wait. Hoping to take more pics than we did for these past two fairs. Our camera is toast and so we are using Andreas and it is a nice camera – but I cannot get used to taking pictures without a viewfinder.
With all the above said, Andrea is feeling great and I would say is 93 percent herself again. She kept up with everyone at both fairs, even in that heat. Tonite she will perform in a concert with her CMACB in Shepherd. While at G-ville Fair she was contacted and asked to be the only flutist with an orchestra at CMU for the Sweeney Todd performance – but it will be during our vacation.
Will post again after vacation.
June 2010
Categories: Andrea | June 20th, 2010 | by diane | no comments
HAPPY SUMMER – lets soak it up while it lasts.
Fridays appt went well and we not longer have to go to the sleep clinic or physco doc.They reduced her sleep med to half the dose and said her 6 month appt can be done over the phone, yah! So no trips to Ann Arbor, no tests, no appts until September. Now we can concentrate on enjoying the summer. Today Andrea, Razzi and I leave for fair number one. We will make two trips. First one for Andrea to be the commissioner of kids creations dept in the exhibit building, this will be the 4th year they have asked Andrea to do this. Hoping to be done by 5:00 so we can come home load razzi and be back to fair in time for load in between 4-8:00. Her first class with razzi will not be until wed, but she will practice mon and tues. Her good friend Kim will be there showing her cows and rabbits mon and tues, so she will prob help her out. The only horse friend that she knows will be there is the neighbor girl Andrea has been helping ride. They are going to make some good memories. School has been out for a week now, Andrea ended with 3 A’s and 1 A- and looking forward to being a junior and starting the duel enrollment Animal Science program at MACC, homecoming, E-Team and her first Prom. Guess that is all for now, may post again after fair and WILL know how to load pictures myself by then. Thanks for continuing to check in on Andrea.
MAY 2010
Categories: Andrea | May 28th, 2010 | by diane | no comments
Wow, where did the month go – really seemed nice not to make any trips to Ann Arbor after May 2. Instead had to make trips to Ovid with Andreas horse Razzi. But now that is all done and we are appt and doc free until June 18 – yah! So I’ll make this a brag about Andrea post and have Todd upload a few pics this weekend. Andrea has been busy this month of May and I am sure I won’t remember to tell everything. But first and most important is she really has improved in the past 3 weeks. She says she does not feel any different about her sleeping, that she still feels conscious, but I see her fatigue being alot less and her smile and ability to stay focused and alert alot more. A big difference, so the meds are working. This has made it so she can participate and remember the days experiences. She is also loosing her Steroid weight and has went down one pant size. Glad I kept her pre tumor/steroid cloths – because she can now wear them again. She is looking very, very gooooood. Last night she went to RJ’s with friends for Karaoke and I don’t even want to know how many guys were checking her out. We will stay around home for Memorial Weekend – too much traffic – campgrounds too full, and Andrew, as always, will march with Boy Scouts in the Highland Parade on sat and memorial parade on mon. Andrea will march in the Highland Parade this year as well, with the Strollers band (a fun bunch from her CMACB band) – she is looking forward to that. Both awards banquets are over and she scored her varsity letter and a medal/certificate in Band and she scored her varsity letter, 2 medals/certificates in academics – not as much of a haul as she usually makes, but darn good for every thing she has been through this school year. We are very proud of her, as usual. She has made some great memories with friends this month – English riding lessons and figuring out Razzi’s issues with Ian. Also, Ian (who cares more about Andreas happy experiences on horses than his own) found her a gelding and is currently giving him a refresher course and putting a little weight on him for Andrea. She will use one horse for English/shows, etc. and the gelding for team penning/trails and pleasure shows – we think. She also spent a long weekend at Dakotas and they rode horses for many miles and got a little sun burnt as well. Well, there is tons more – but this format has a limit on the amount of characters, so before I surpass that I will close and tell you to read her face book page for her other memories she made in the month of May – she usually posts everyday and with pictures. Can’t wait to be able to write about more happy memories, than about doc appts and tests.
April Appts…..
Categories: Andrea | May 5th, 2010 | by diane | no comments
Last Wednesdays appt went very well, shows hope for some more information/answers to Andreas extreme fatigue problem. The computer took lots of data and will take 3 weeks to compile a report so will return June 16 for that information. They did not draw a blood panel and unless other symptoms show up Andrea will not need another blood panel until her return appt on 9-27-10. Sat and Sundays sleep study went well and now we wait for that report and return to get the findings June 18. Hoping they will allow us to combine those appts. to save a trip. Other than that everything is progressing well and Andrea is looking forward to school being over so fairs , horse shows and summer will begin. In the past she would have not wanted school to end. Band concert went well last nite, Andrea played her sax in jazz performance then her flute and pic in concert performance with a duet on flute. Next week will be band banquet (she will receive another letter and medal) and the week following is the academic awards assembly and she will receive her letter and who knows what else. She has earned it all and more this year. She is loving her Monday nite community band in Shepherd and they had their first concert at the Maple Syrup Festival, WOW! and now are incorporating new songs for their summer performances. A gentleman came to this past Mondays practice and was choosing members to perform in a Orchestra for a Wizard of Oz production on June 19, 20, 21 – Andrea wants to do it so bad, but Ithaca Fair begins on the 19th and I don’t know how she would do both. So – no appts for May and only 2 in June, feels like we are finally winding down. Will post again in may. Thank you for your continued support and caring.
HAPPY EASTER & HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Categories: Andrea | April 4th, 2010 | by diane | no comments
Happy Easter to everyone and happy birthday to Andrea. Last year we celebrated easter at Mott Children’s Hospital, it was the 12th – just 5 days after her 16 1/2 hour surgery. She has came a long way. This past Thursday went as well as Mondays appts went. She has to wear a event monitor/computer until the 28th of April. This will record many, many things (blood pressure, heart rate, brain events, movements, etc) and hope it will give some answers regarding her fatigue. Although they said if they had to guess it was *********brain syndrome, the words are long and difficult. But it is common in people who have had brain surgery/tumors and will be forever. But will wait and see what the final tests tell us in April. Her Neurosurgeon wants to see her back in 6 months with a MRI prior – so hoping to schedule the MRI, neuro, oncology and otolaryngology all on the same day in sept – to save the car that now has over 314,000 miles on it. Other than that Andrea is keeping busy with school work, both bands and now ramping up for fair/show season and is very excited to be attending both fairs this summer for the first time. Guess that is all for now, will post again after the appts on April 28th. Celebrating Andreas 16th birthday (April 4) today and Andrews 18th birthday on the 14th. WOW, where did the years go?
MONDAY APPTS
Categories: Andrea | March 30th, 2010 | by diane | no comments
all went extremely fast and well on Monday. The otolaryngologist said unless Andreas ringing in her ear gets unbearable or her hearing decreases alot more – that Andrea does not have to come back for 2 years, YAH!! The oncologist said the MRI looks good and everything is progressing as it should now. He would like Andrea to continue keeping her stress at a minimum until he sees her again in September and that she will continue being monitored by him 2 to 3 times a year with MRI’s prior to the appt. He also said Andrea must always remember to tell her parents when she is not feeling herself, having any new side effects and continue her followup appts with her Neuro Opthamologist/Endocrinologist/Otolaryngologist/Oncologist and the sleep clinic. Now hoping this Thursdays appts go as well.
Tuesday 3-23-10
Categories: Andrea | March 23rd, 2010 | by diane | no comments
It has been a month since last post – but nothing new to tell. Same old daily grind and Andrea trying to make the best of every day. She still struggles with fatigue and we are hoping to get to the bottom of it soon (may 1 and 2 will be that test). Over spring break Sunday 3/28 will be a MRI, Monday 3/29 will be Otolaryngologist appt and Oncologist app – Thursday 4/1 will be Neuro Surgeon appt and Audiologist appt and 30 day monitor hook up. Still have to reschedule the Endocrinologist appt and all set on Neuro Opthamologist for another 5 months. Will fit in dental (needs a sideways molar surgically up-righted or removed and regular eye appt/glasses during those months. Andrea is sick of appts and tests, but keeps on pushing to maintain her schedule and A’s. She was able to ride Razzi over the winter and they are both doing really well – so both fairs and her shows should be successful this summer, she is really looking forward to the summer. Will post again after appts. Pictures/titles still a work in progress and I hope to learn how to do it myself soon and take the pressure off Todd.
Left Eye Results/Audio, Physo, Sleep Study Appt.
Categories: Andrea | February 22nd, 2010 | by diane | no comments
Monday 2-22-10: A snow day for the kids and I so will take this time to catch up on all that has transpired for the past two weeks. Where to begin, Sundays 2-14-10 MRI’s cleared Andrea for blood clot, bleeds and seizures – so relieved. The Neuro Opthamologist told us over the phone on 2-17-10 he suspected her blurred vision was Micro Migraines. A call was made to Ann Arbor and it was decided we would seek a second opinion with them. So 2-18-10 Andrea repeated the exam again and between two Neuro Opthamologist one said micro migraines and the other said it was the cause of her blind eye trying to focus/see – we will go with that answer. So for now, we are in the clear and her optical island in the right eye is seeing clearer. Imagine looking through the top half of a straw – that is what Andrea now sees in her right eye. Should be better than nothing, but really it is just messing up with her left eye – but maybe it will stop her right eye from tracking outward. So being we were in Ann Arbor for overnight so we could attend fridays two regular scheduled appts. Andrea requested to attend the 8th floor thursday night cafe’ and music. What perfect timing. She was able to see Bob the guitarist and Karlene. She was also lucky enough to meet some U of M athletics, get a U of M hat with the football and basketball teams autographs and meet a Olympic gold metalist and have her pic taken.(todd will post pic soon) Oh and speaking of pics, they are still a work in progress – I find them, title them but somewhere from there to todd posting them they get all messed up and the titles do not match – so please keep checking them. I have about 50 more ready to post. Andrea screens them first and has pulled the two pics we had of her in her head bandage/when really swelled. So on to fridays appts. Audiology went well, but does show some hearing loss of the right ear. Also concerned about the High Audible so she will need to see a Otolaryngologist. The physo and sleep appt also went well and they feel she has insomnia that has been heightened by the radiation. They have ordered a monitor she will wear for a month and they will give them more info and she will also have a overnight sleep study. Other than that they say she is doing very well for what she has been through. I am in the process of rescheduling her 4-19 appts (1 MRI and 4 appts) because she has an important CMACB practice that night for the concert on sat. This past saturday she did her solo ensemble and received two 2’s and one 4. Not bad being she had not really practiced. Sunday she tried to get caught up on homework. That is probably enough for this post.
Ithaca Horse Show 2009
Categories: Andrea | February 21st, 2010 | by todd | no comments