First Day of School Jitters

It's the first day of third grade, and I had the jitters worse than Morgan. I was okay until I sensed that she was a little apprehensive. We took Syd to day care, then I went to Burger King and got Morgan some breakfast (I know--not the healthiest, but at least she ate) and we went to the school. Kory met us there and had breakfast in the van with us. Well we didn't sit in the van for long. It was 7:25 and Morgan said, "I'm done" (school starts at 8) so in we went to meet her new teacher. She seemed very very nice. We put Morgan's stuff on her desk, found her locker, told Kory goodbye, and proceeded to the playground --not much of a playground at this point. Since they built a new middle school, the 3rd and 5th graders moved into the old middle school. As a result, they are on a playground with lines painted for some sort of games I suppose. They had basketballs and hula-hoops out for the kids, but no equipment until the principal can get some installed. No biggie to Morgan I guess. Anyway, Morgan stayed very close to me the entire time we were waiting for the whistle to blow so she could get her day started (more jitters for me). The kids were loud! Mostly the 5th graders were loud--both boys and girls. And there were hardly any parents there. I was kind of surprised. So the whistle blew and we made our way back around to the front of the building to stand in line. We said the pledge of allegiance and then the classes started heading inside. We had Morgan and her best friend separated this year--too many squabbles and 'girl' issues with competition and fighting--too much time spent together--let's hope this year is better. I kissed Morgan and she went inside--happy. Phew!

As I walked away, all I could think of is, "Please God let her have a good day and a good year." Not that last year was bad, but the teacher and I just never 'clicked' and the issues with the girls really got to me--probably more-so than Morgan. I left the school kinda sad--maybe more with a sense of meloncholy--wondering why the time has to go so fast. I had a hard time working today--hoping Morgan had a good day and that Syd wasn't too lonely without her big sister at day care. I was so happy when 2:20 rolled around and I could leave to go pick up Morgan.

I got to the school and waited for her class to be dismissed. She came out so happy--she said she had a wonderful day and it is going to be a great year. She made a new friend. She is excited to go to orientation tonight at the boys and girls club. Tomorrow will be her first day at the after school program there. So many changes. Mrs. Yasenak (Morgan's teacher) said "change is good" this morning while we were waiting in line. I agreed--yes change is good. But in my head I said, "is it really?" I'm not convinced. Maybe SOME change is good, I thought to myself.

I still have concerns about the girl thing--it is only the first day after all. One of Morgan's friends is in her class, but she is pretty influential, and another girl is already monopolizing her--so, we'll see. Jeremiah, the stalker boy from 1st grade is also in her class along with Madison--the bully from 1st grade. I am expecting challenges ahead so that I'm not disappointed, but hoping they don't happen. It's amazing how I can already see the 'cliques' at school--in 3rd grade. But I guess when you think about it, all our lives there are 'cliques' of some sort. It's who you are comfortable being around and who you have as friends. The good thing about Morgan is that she usually has friends wherever she goes--maybe to different degrees--but friends nonetheless.

Here's hoping we have a great year, just like Morgan said.

On another note, Sydney starts preschool on Tuesday. This year she has Miss Callie who we all love. Miss Callie was Morgan's first preschool teacher, and I attribute so much of Morgan's strengths in school to Miss Callie. We are so lucky. It IS going to be a good year.

The Genetic Counselor Appointment

Mom had her appointment with the genetic testing counselor (I think that's what she's called). Anyway, sounds like good news, but we'll know more for sure later. Apparently they do a family history analysis first, then if Mom chooses, she can do the blood test. A friend of mine that had breast cancer did the genetic testing, as her biological mother (she was adopted) and the male twin of her biological mother both had breast cancer. Her results based on the family history were something like an 86% chance that her daughter would get breast cancer. Then when they did the blood test, it turned out that she did not carry the gene. She is certain that the replacement hormone therapy caused her breast cancer, and that's what I asked the doctor about Mom's cancer, but he quickly skirted that issue. Anyway, my sister went with Mom to the appointment, and here was her e-mail to me yesterday. . .

First I have to say that the genetic counselor lady was very nice and explained everything very well. After reviewing family history in depth and lots of discussion, she thought she would come out with a number of mom having the Breast Cancer gene to about 5% (she will have the final number later in a letter to mom). Cousins (like Anita) would probably be very likely to have it, especially if they had cancer. The number are that the general population normally has a 7% change of having breast cancer. If you have the gene (which can come from your father, as well as your mother), then you have up to a 66% chance. The fact that mom had it later in life and that none of her siblings or children have had any cancer is promising. Another fact is that the gene can affect Brad/Rob or our sons if they have it because they can be more likely to have prostrate cancer (and more aggressive).

The lady will put the information into a computer model, send a copy of the statistics to mom, and then they can have a follow-up discussion on it.

Mom did not feel worried about it. The lady said one course of action (if she were to have the gene), is that she would have aggressive testing (MRI’s and mammograms) and then the ovaries removed. An interesting fact on ovaries being removed is that they can do it lapriscoprically in most cases. (I have no idea how to spell that) That would make it less invasive if a person had to do that.

Any question…call me. I will see what I can remember. I got the booklet and DVD if anyone is interested in learning more about the testing.

Oh yeah..if you have the testing, you may not get dropped from health insurance, but buying life insurance may be more difficult. Just an FYI.

Interesting, huh? It seems the insurance companies get the last laugh anymore. . .

And still more pictures from vacation. . .

This picture was taken at a sapphire mine. We bought each of the girls a bag of rocks for $10 and sifted through them to find sapphires and garnets. It was fun, but Syd was not very fond of it! And her bag had the most gems!!!
Tired Syd. . .
Ahhhhh--I miss this. . .

Can you tell I want to go back?

More pictures from vacation

This was the coolest Carousel I have ever seen!! The girls loved it. We went into Helena twice, and we had to go to it both times!!
This was taken at Cemetery Island--Sydney loved it. It's an island at Canyon Ferry reservoir with a really really old cemetery on it. I believe the earliest grave was someone who died in the 1890's, but I can't remember for sure. It was really interesting to walk around and see the old headstones. There were even some headstones with people who died in the last 10 years. Must be family burial plots. This was the cemetery from the town that was named Canyon Ferry, and when they built the dam and filled the reservoir, this hilltop became an island.

Pictures from Vacation

I was just messing around with the settings on my camera when I took this one. . . I think I'll get it enlarged and frame it!
The capital building in Helena. . .
This was taken right outside the place with the carousel. . . very cool.
Morgan and her bus driver's granddaughter (they were camping there too) playing on our pyramid that Kory battled trying to patch.
Syd playing in the water. . .

Thought I would post a few cool pictures from camping. . . hope you enjoy! Morgan starts school again on Thursday. I can't believe another summer has come and gone. . .

Back to Reality

We had a wonderful week at Canyon Ferry Reservoir with our friends. The weather was great--it actually got kinda cold at night! We weren't hot at all--maybe a little bit on Saturday, but that was it. It was windy off and on, but that was okay--we just relaxed and went into Helena a few times. The girls had fun at the Great Northern Carousel (I'll post some pix later!), and we learned how to sift through rocks for garnets and sapphires. I think we all needed it. Now it's back to work and day care! School starts on the 28th and I am so not ready!!!

The Speech Heard 'Round the Town

Maybe someday it will be heard "'Round the world", but for now, it was heard around town, and an article was written about it in the Billings Gazette-with a picture of my now famous sister Marlene. This was the speech she was asked to give at the VIP luncheon at the 2-day conference on autism at Montana State University-Billings. You can check the speech out on her blog. The link is on the right side of my blog--"Jared's Journey".

Battles

My whole family is battling something these days. My mom's battling cancer, my sister and her family are battling autism, Kory is battling the big yellow blow-up pyramid thingy that floats on the lake so we can take it on vacation, and I am battling battles between my girls. Needless to say, when I talk about my personal battles, they seem very small compared to what my mom and my sister are dealing with on a daily basis.

Mom will be starting 5 weeks of radiation in a few weeks, and she will have an extra week just for good measure--a boost I believe is what they called it, but don't quote me on that. She goes in to have a mold made first and gets tattoed. She seems okay--she doesn't really know how it will affect her, but she seems to be going into this with a lot of dignity, maybe almost stoic like my grandmother was. At least that's the side I see. I think she shows different sides to all of us kids.

Marlene has her big speech to give at the 2 day conference on autism. I am so proud of her--I think it is so cool. She and John will be sitting on the parents panel, and Marlene is giving a speech at the VIP luncheon. I really wish I could go. I hope somebody video-tapes it. I believe some people from my work are going, so hopefully I will hear all about it from them. The whole conference was planned because of a speech she gave at an Easter Seals fundraiser. One of the professors at the University heard it and said to his wife that we needed to have a conference on autism, so from what I understand he got it going. That amazes me. She is making a difference.

And now for my battle. I really am at my wits end about my girls--today the fight was BAD. I bought them each a new toy for when we go on vacation, and they were playing with them in the camper. I came inside, and Kory was outside battling the yellow thingy I referred to earlier. I guess there was yelling and screaming and shoving, and they're just lucky that I did not witness it. Kory takes it pretty easy on them. Not me. I hate fighting. So, they both came in and had to be on separate floors of the house, while the new toys got grounded for a week until we go on vacation--they are in the camper in a bag to be left alone until we are at our destination. Errrrr.

I most definitely will take this piddly little battle (even though at the time it seems so huge) over the others I see around me. Now there's this pile of clean clothes downstairs calling my name. . . bleh.