August Adventures

Since David's chemo is every 4 weeks, we've been starting our month off with trips to NYC for treatment. Unfortunately they haven't been able to schedule the MRI the same day as the treatment lately, so it's been two trips...which is annoying. Oh well, no snags this time at least...and we haven't had to leave crazy early...lol :) Everything went fine and he was able to get his treatment...which as he says, is the only reason he makes the trip!

Takes about an hour and a half to do all the different IV drips for his current chemo.

starving!

One of the movies all my mom friends had been wanting to check out was Bad Moms...so a group of us got together, went for dinner and then the movie. Oh my goodness, I haven't laughed that hard in a while! It was hysterical! and so relatable...a bit raunchy, but we got a kick out of it overall! And I was totally surprised my favorite NFL player, JJ Watt, made an appearance!!! I had no idea he was in it. It was seriously hilarious...you should have heard all the moms in the theater laughing and cheering! haha

Texas Roadhouse! Great food, better company!

Buddy lost his first tooth! on the bottom, which is a little odd, it's usually the top front. It was hurting him so much at dinner...probably didn't help that we were having corn on the cob...lol...but after dinner he just popped it right out and gave it to me! lol

Mumsie and I and the girls got a kick out of watching the Olympics...mainly the women's gymnastics! Those girls were phenomenal!!! Something about watching someone at the peak of their talent just killing it! It was incredible! The whole team was so strong, but Simone Biles was just on another level...I couldn't believe her!

via GIPHY
hahaha...but seriously!

And then Buddy lost a second tooth! Bankrupting me kid! lol

My dad had his side of the family reunion coming up in New Jersey, so he flew out to our neck of the woods and picked up my mom so she could go with him. The kids managed to get some fun playtime with him in though.

Glitter was invited by Clever Bell and her mentor to a day at the lake! They had so much fun!!! These two are just so cute! and they have so much fun together!

August brought back one of my favorite times of the year...when I get to be mostly kid-free for almost a week! lol...no, but seriously, it was time for Camp Kesem!!! And Buddy was finally old enough to go too! So I was REALLY kid-free! The camp ran from Tues-Sun...I have to admit, I was a tad concerned with how Buddy would do. 6 is pretty young for overnight camp (and he still wakes up and climbs in our bed sometimes)...but I had asked the counselors the year before how the young ones really did...and they were so positive...so I took the plunge and let him go. He was actually excited about it until he realized it was overnight...but we talked about it and made it sound really fun, and then he started getting excited about it.

Daddy came for drop-off! (but it was only because he wanted some fish and chips! lol)

and he's totally fine, not caring that I'm leaving! lol

He picked out his camp name all by himself...and came up with Samurai! It's a pretty awesome camp name! lol...he was showing off to all the counselors at his cabin...and was excited when he saw Sarah's boys...was showing off to them too! lol

Here's what I posted on FB...and it's so true! Today we dropped off all FOUR of our kids at camp until Sunday. Thanks to the completely incredible students at Yale (Camp Kesem at Yale) who fundraise and work all year long preparing, my kids are able to attend a week long free camp for children of past and present cancer patients. This is their third year attending (Buddy's first time!) and they've loved the experience every time! I am so grateful for these young people who dedicate so much effort so that kids like mine can spend a week getting away from the stress and daily life...and can just be kids. Camp Kesem is an amazing organization and I can't express how much I appreciate these students who sacrifice part of their summer and much of their free time throughout the year to make my kids (and hundreds like them...all over the country) feel so special.

After drop off, we met up with Sarah for dinner at a seafood joint down on the shoreline. Like I said, that's why David came with us...lol...he was just in it for the grub! It was pretty good though.

While the kids were gone I was able to get a few things done around the house. Earlier my mom and Buddy had both gotten stung while bringing the trash outside. Oh my, when Buddy came upstairs screaming and holding his arm, David and I just knew he had broken it again or something! But thankfully, it was just a couple of stings...which is awful, but not serious...lol...anyways, I was looking for the wasp nest, I knew they were in the recycling bin, but couldn't find the nest. I finally found it way up the overhang of it. Man, there is just something primally terrifying about those suckers. I could hear the buzzing in the can, but couldn't find it at first, but that sound right by my ear made me want to run and hide as fast as I could! lol...I think it took like 4 cans of wasp spray, but I think I finally got all of them plus the nests. lol...the queen was buzzing around for a couple of days...but I finally downed her too! My driveway was littered with bodies...made me feel a bit proud! lol

I've been missing a good part of my fence for probably like two years now...ever since David thought it would be a great idea to knock down the admittedly rotten wooden fence before actually having a replacement for it. And then getting sticker shock looking at prices and not doing anything. yeah...so the dog loves to run outside the yard...run around the neighborhood, then if she sees you coming, she runs back in super fast...what a stinker! My mom was going to be watching Freckles while we went away, and the dog doesn't like to listen to her that much, so I knew I needed to do something. Light bulb moment! I was like, chicken wire! or whatever similar thing Lowe's has...so I went there, grabbed a bundle of some sort of wire fence for like thirty bucks and put it up! I mean, it ain't perfect...and now the silly thing has figured out how to wriggle out underneath it (that reminds me, I need to fasten it down at the bottom...) but it works pretty well...and doesn't look too bad. WAY better than nothing, that's for sure! Yay me!

Here's another of my posts from FB with some big news...August 17 · 

Nothing like waking up to a paycheck (well, pension check, and the smallest, still waiting on disability which is next month! but you know, yay!) after having zero income for six months!!! (february!) I feel like I can relax a little bit. Certainly makes you appreciate it so much more! If I'm being honest, not having any income and having to rely totally on God's provision was super tough! It was for me anyways, almost harder than all the other stuff going on (which was still a lot! lol)...I was really struggling with what's going to happen to us, how long can we survive. Will God actually provide money, you know, that's so concrete, it's easier to believe in healing than cold hard cash, for me...But let me tell you, He has never failed!!! We are here, we still have our house, my kids were fed and clothed...bills got paid somehow...and I know that he knocked down the doubt in my heart a good bit. Not that it isn't still hard to totally surrender and trust...but, making progress ;) I want to say thank you to all of you wonderful people who were so generous with love, gifts, money, support...walking with us on this difficult journey...we never would have made it without all of you! Thank you for being God's hands to us. <3 span="">

It's hard to express what a feeling that is, after months of stress to get that relief from knowing, we made it! I mean, it's still stressful, who am I kidding...but we're almost out of the financial woods...so I'm just totally thrilled about that! 

I was also finally able to get together with my ladies group from church again...we took most of the summer off...but we started back up. It's always nice to have the support and just get out of the house! lol...not to mention delicious food and lots of chatting, encouragement, and prayer.

So Miss Fluffernutter (who decided to change her camp name this year to Castiel from Supernatural...but I told her, I'm not changing it on the blog!) was freaking out because her rock band,  The Royals, had a gig while she was at camp...they're depending on me, I can't miss it...etc, etc, etc...so I wound up picking her up a day early from Camp Kesem so she could make it to her gig! I'm very proud of her work ethic...even if it did make more work for me! lol...they did great...sounded awesome! She's been improving so much!

Todd came over that night to fly his copter drone in our backyard...it was pretty cool! It has a camera so we got a video of the flight! Kim and her family stopped by...and my parents were back in town. It was pretty fun to watch! I'm trying to upload the video, but it's taking forever...so y'all might not get to see it.

Welp...that didn't work...you'll just have to take my word for it...it was cool.

Then Sunday I picked the rest of the kids back up! The counselors were so great! They were posting pictures on the FB page all week long, showing all the fun the kids were having.

Buddy's costume hoodie

Buddy breakdancing! Apparently, he breakdanced for the talent show...and everybody was raving about how good he was. All the counselors were coming up to me and telling me about it...and he won't show me! I've been asking him ever since he came home, and nope. :(

I was looking for pics of Shift, but there are hundreds and I got tired of looking...not to mention, she's usually hiding...lol

Yay, there she is!

Castiel aka Fluffernutter and Acorn

Samurai and Sparky

Samurai and Jadu

Froggy and Samurai

Buddy loved his counselors! They made him feel so comfortable (and kept him busy! lol) so he didn't get too homesick...plus it helped having his sisters there too. Fluffernutter said she never got so many hugs from him as she did that week at camp! hahaha! The kids all had such a wonderful time...and I am so grateful for these awesome young people who dedicate so much time and effort to give our kids a break from the real world!  

Then it was off to bring Grandpa to the airport for his flight back to Colorado. Got a nice shot of them with the grandkids.

 

I'll leave you with this masterpiece Buddy made that he wanted me to take a picture of. I believe there's butter, pepperoni, maybe cheese, on bread...I dunno...but he ate it all! lol

My Favorite Month!!! 

Why is July my favorite month? It's my birthday! lol But we'll get to that later...it's at the end, there was a lot that happened before. We started off with a bang...not. David had an MRI scheduled on the first, so off we went to NYC. Yay, my favorite drive. We left 3 hours early like always, which gives us about 45 min leeway...but we didn't count on Friday before a long holiday weekend traffic. Needless to say, we didn't make it...we got as far as the Bronx and we were late, stuck in hellacious traffic, so they rescheduled us. Ugh...that's the worst! I was not a happy camper! lol...it was just so upsetting! All that wasted time driving...and nothing to show for it!

So to make myself feel better, it was obviously time for mimosas with breakfast the next day ;)

Yum!

Our town held their fireworks show that night, so the kids and I went off to watch them.

Panda girl was ready!

I always love fireworks! I think the kids get bored before I do! It was actually a bit chilly that night, so maybe that's why they couldn't wait to leave...lol

The actual 4th of July was ok...kinda weird to be celebrating any holiday by ourselves. I don't like it, if I'm honest. We always used to go to our in-laws for any little holiday, cook out, etc...but now that we're the only ones here in CT, it's different. But whatever, the food was good! ;) We even got Daddy to eat outside with us!

The next day it was back to NYC for a long day of appointments! First up was a lumbar puncture with x-ray guidance (the last time they tried, they couldn't get a sample and it's such a painful procedure, so they wanted to make sure they could get a sample of his spinal fluid). We had to go to the main Sloan hospital for that. Thankfully it went smoothly. Then we took the shuttle to the regular office building for his checkup and chemo.

Gray selfie!

We were starving afterwards, so McD's actually tasted delicious! lol I'm not a huge fan, other than their breakfast and fries, but that chicken sandwich tasted heavenly!

Our friends live right next to the park where the fireworks show in the next town over is held, so we went over their house to watch. The kids were having fun running around...David and I were sitting visiting...then the fireworks started. We had to move to watch them, and David doesn't really care for fireworks, so he stayed put. Bear in mind it's dark...so all of a sudden, I hear this huge crash! So we all turn around, and there's someone on the ground!!! That someone was David...scared the crap out of me! Apparently Buddy asked him to come watch, so he got up, didn't have his cane or anything, tried to walk around the tiki torches etc...plus after sitting for a couple hours, his balance was just off. He was so lucky he didn't hit anything big...he said it was like a twenty foot stumble that just finally ended on the ground. I'm so thankful he didn't get hurt at all, other than a little bump on his head. He was so aggravated though...one of the other guests was an EMT, so she was trying to ask him questions, checking for concussion, and he was like, leave me alone! lol...I was like, she's just trying to make sure you're ok. I mean, he didn't say it out loud, but I could tell what he was thinking. Anyways, he was fine, just a bit bruised...but needless to say, I was shook up a bit...and so was he.

July is usually VBS season for us...lol...first up was Trinity's VBS. My kids always go even though we don't attend that church, but it is where I went to MOPS for years and years. They have an awesome VBS every year...this time the theme was Star Wars! Buddy was so excited! It was so cool, they did a great job! The kids put on their annual lemonade stand for charity...it was such a shame, they didn't get many customers this year like they usually do...but it was so sweet! I love their giving hearts!

too bright! 

Buddy loved looking for "customers"

While they were at VBS I did some maintenance on my toilet. It wouldn't fill, the valve was messed up, so I had to replace all the innards. Only took me a couple trips to Lowes...lol...but it works! yay me!

Then it was time to head back to NYC for David's rescheduled MRI. We left the normal time, and even with some traffic and accidents we still got there early! You never know how it's gonna go. Thankfully it was just an MRI, so we were able to head back home right away afterward.

This day powered by Starbucks! lol

The following week our church had their VBS. The older two girls volunteered all week...and the younger two attended...so I had a blissfully empty home in the mornings...lol. They had a great week...all of them! The last day of VBS, Musa, one of the ladies who was helping out invited us, along with a bunch of other people who were working, over to her house, on the lake! Oh my goodness, it was so much fun! We went out on the boat, and the kids were kayaking and paddle boating and fishing. Her husband Scott was showing Buddy how to kayak, and Fluffernutter how to paddle-board. He was so encouraging and they caught right on! We had the best time. It was lovely! There's something about the water that I love...it's just so relaxing!

Buddy in a kayak for the first time!

her first time paddleboarding!

One of our good friends has a pool, so we've been camping out at his place a lot! lol...and he always makes me the best iced coffees! Todd is a school dad...his daughter Clever Bell is one of Glitter's best friends! and his son Snowball is a year younger...Buddy likes to bug him, I mean, play with him. They have just been so good to her all this last year. They are constantly picking her up, taking her out to eat or for sleepovers or to swim. They love to spoil her! Which makes me love them! lol Even better, David and Todd get along really well, so that's a fun plus! We are so happy that we've become friends! Not to mention extremely grateful for all his help with the kids during appointments, etc. He's always happy to pick up the kids from school if necessary...and that one week David was in the hospital unexpectedly, Todd took all four of the kids for a couple nights! Needless to say, he's one of our favorite people!

One weekend Kim and her family and all of us went to Todd's for a swim party! The kids had such a good time, until Kim's eldest somehow managed to bust her nose with her knee...but she was kinda proud of the black eye she got...lol!!! And Kim dove for the first time!!! We had such a fun day! Clever Bell even had a bunch of birthday presents for Glitter! Some cool anime swag, plus these very fun donut socks! She was super happy. And I got a TARDIS mug!!! yay!

Like I mentioned last post, our computer died last month. It was the worst! I might be a little addicted, so not being able to check out my Pinterest or FB, etc on the big screen, or not be able to listen to my music playlist was just so not fun! Thankfully I could use my phone, but it isn't the same to me! It just wouldn't turn on one day. I think it might have been my leaky fridge that killed it. Turns out it was the power button, so we got a new case. Todd came over to help David move all the parts to the new computer.

and I thought the old case was big! this thing is HUGE! 

Caught him smiling...he's usually camera shy :P haha, gotcha!

My mom finally came out to visit for the first time in six months. Everyone was excited to see her. She was gonna make it right in time for Glitter's birthday! She got here the day before...just in time for all the prepping madness! lol...at least this year Glitter didn't have a friend birthday...just a family party.

beautiful skies to greet Mumsie

Since Glitter was turning 10!!! She got her ears pierced. She was so cute...super nervous, but such a trooper! First Daddy, Mumsie, and I took her out to eat (sushi), then we headed to the mall to get her pierced.

cutie

mmmm, sushi!

nervous!

ow!!!

another one?!?!?!

relief!

Yay!!!

Glitter decided to have meatballs, Asiago cheese gnocchi, and sauteed mushrooms! That's my girl!!! What a great menu! The meatballs were super delicious...I didn't love the cheese sauce, it was a bit rich for me, but still great overall.

Daddy and the birthday girl!

Mumsie's birthday present...fluffy chair!!!

This donut pillow is just the biggest hit!

She doesn't like cake or frosting (what kind of child is that???) So she got a smores flavor pudding cool whip layer thingie...she was happy

Got a one day break, then it was my birthday. Mom and I went out for lunch at Maggie McFly's...our food was SO good! I had coconut shrimp and garlic mashed potatoes, she got salmon and rice I think...delicious! We walked around the mall for a little bit, but then I had to get home to take David to the doctor, his physiologist. Unfortunately, he wants David to start up with more physical therapy...so not loving that, but oh well...hasn't started back up yet. Speaking of, I should probably call them and find out what's up....lol

Shift wanted to make everything, so I came up with a menu that I hoped wouldn't be too much for her. Broiled salmon with bourbon brown sugar glaze, steaks for the grown ups, roasted sweet potatoes, and parmesan zucchini corn (sounds harder than it actually is). Plus the tweed cake (it's a yellow cake with flecks of chocolate, so it looks like tweed) She did such a good job!!! Everything came out delicious!

It's hard to see, but I found this adorable rockabilly style dress at...wait for it...Savers!!! my favorite place! lol

YUM!

my sweet girl!

It was a very happy birthday!

Even though it wasn't Glitter's year for a friend party, she got taken out by her best friend Pinkie Pie and her mom for a fun day out celebrating! They did so many great things! First stop was a French bakery for macarons (Glitter's favorite!) and croissants...followed by a pottery painting place. Then they topped it off with a stop at a cupcake shop! That was a perfect day for my sweet (not so) little girl!

wow!

goobers!

David and I snuck out for a date day to celebrate my birthday as well! We really wanted to check out the new Jason Bourne movie, so out we went for dinner, I mean, lunch and a movie! David was sad I'd been to Maggie McFly's a few times without him, and he'd never been, so we went there again...lol

Avocado fries...I loved them!

blurry, but he's still cute

The new Bourne movie was OK...definitely not as good as the first three...but way better than the Renner one...lol. The thing that annoyed me the most was the shaky cam! It was so shaky that the fight scenes, that are usually awesome, were so blurry you couldn't even tell what was happening! And it never stopped, it was shaky the WHOLE movie! so annoying! But it was decent...worth going to if you're a fan of the series.

Then later that night, Sarah took me out to dinner at a great Italian joint for my birthday! We had a nice time visiting. And the food was scrumptious! As always, we love getting together and just hanging out! I could hang out with her for forever...lol...and that's how you know you're best friends!

Which brings July to a delicious close...lol...I feel like all I talked about this post was food...but there was a lot of good food that month! haha