A Little Update

I realize I haven't posted any blog updates lately, so I'm adding just a quick one now.

Rachelle gave us quite a scare a couple of weeks ago. She developed some worrisome symptoms upon her return from Nashville--weakness/numbness all down her left side, blurry vision in her left eye, memory problems, fatigue, headaches, etc. Of course, we were very concerned but, because of her Uncle Cary's recent multiple sclerosis diagnosis and his similar symptoms, we were even more troubled. We feared the worst.

Over the course of the past few weeks, Rachelle has been examined by 4 doctors, had blood work done (and is continuing to undergo blood tests), 1 CT scan and 3 MRIs. The CT scan showed that she had had a possible stroke, but the MRI ruled that out. The first MRI revealed that she has 3 benign "masses" in her brain--one of which measures 4x6x9 mm and is pushing on her pituitary gland. The "masses" appear to be "non-specific" in nature; the neurologist thinks they could be a result of migraine headaches, though Rachelle doesn't have "typical" migraines. Her blood sugar levels are also low, and more blood tests are scheduled to shed more light on that. Meanwhile, Rachelle continues to be symptomatic, but she is eating more frequently and healthfully and has more energy.

The bottom line is that we still don't really know what is causing her symptoms, but we are much less concerned that we were when she first developed them. We appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers in her behalf. Through it all, Rachelle has been very optimistic.

Tribute to Annica!

I became a mother 23 years ago with the birth of my precious daughter, Annica. This daughter has brought much joy to her parents. In keeping with my tradition of posting fun facts on my childrens' birthdays, here is a list about Annica.

1. She walked and talked at a very young age and was a very precocious child.
2. Her pediatrician accurately predicted that Annica would be a very persistent girl.
3. Annica never drew "stick" figures. She demonstrated her artistic talent very early in her life. Once she drew a picture of a girl getting a haircut--the girl had a mini pair of scissors on each hair strand.
4. Annica was very obsessive-compulsive about her clothing--especially her pants, underwear and socks. The pants and underwear had to be skin-tight, and when they'd become a little loose during the day, she would change them. The seam of her socks had to run across the top of her toes.
5. We enrolled Annica in 3 book clubs when she was a tiny baby. She would sit mesmerized for hours while we read book after book to her. She memorized many books cover-to-cover.
6. Vegetables and fruit were her foods of choice. She didn't much care for meat.
7. Eczema has plagued her much of her life. We thought she had many food allergies, and for months we eliminated corn, milk and wheat from her diet. Her skin showed no improvement, and allergy testing revealed no food allergies.
8. We nicknamed her "Annie BooBah" because she always said "boobah" when she was a baby.
9. She loved to watch the salmon swim in Issaquah Creek. We'd walk to the creek every day during spawning season.
10. Annica loved to make up lesson plans. She planned to run a summer school at our house when she was 8 years old.
11. The only team sports she played as a child were baseball and softball. She also had dance lessons.
12. She awoke every 2 hours during the night from the time she was born until she was 18 months old.
13. Annica was a master of pulling funny faces.
14. One of her favorite childhood activities was feeding ducks.
15. A goal she set for herself was to "not go through labor giving birth." So far, she hasn't given birth, so we'll see if she accomplishes that goal.
16. Disneyland is one of her favorite vacation spots.
17. She knows how to install a toilet.
18. She excelled in Physics in high school.
19. She is very employable and has been hired for almost every job she's applied for.
20. The medical field is where she works and wants to continue working.
21. She would rather make messes than clean them up.
22. She had an emergency tonsillectomy when she was 20.
23. She is married to a great guy and they have a happy marriage!

I love my Annica and am very grateful to be her mother!!!

Back-handed Compliment

Last evening as Mark was helping Lance stretch, Mark said, "Dad, you're really flexible for a 50-year-old!" Lance sputtered and Mark continued, "You're supposed to take that as a compliment."

Ugh, I've Been Tagged. . .

. . . by my sister, Melanie.

What’s my alias?
1. My rock star name (first pet and current car): Whitey Sienna
2. My gangsta name (favorite ice cream flavor and favorite cookie): Rocky Road Chocolate Chip
3. My "fly girl" name (first initial of first name and first 3 letters of last name): NDel
4. My detective name (favorite color and favorite animal): Pink Tiger
5. My soap opera name (middle name and city where you were born): Hawkes Preston
6. My Star Wars name (first 3 letters of your last name and first 2 letters of your first name): Delna
7. My superhero name (2nd favorite color and favorite drink with "the" in between): Blue the Water
8. My Nascar name (first names of your grandfathers): William Perry
9. My lounge singer name (name of your favorite perfume/cologne and your favorite candy): Citrus Lindor Balls
10. My witness-protection name (mother's and father's middle names): LaPreal Howard

Big Boy is Almost 15!

My loving son, Zachary, turns 15 on Mother's Day. To honor my sweet son, here are 15 "fun facts" about Zach:

1. Zachary is one of the most polite boys I've ever known. He always remembers to express his gratitude to others.
2. He used to be quite naive. For example, one day I arrived a bit early to pick him up from preschool. I heard his teacher inform his classmate John's father that John had wet his pants during class. After Zach got in the car I asked, "Did John tinkle his pants at school?" Zach answered, "John didn't tinkle his pants; he just got water in his shoes."
3. Hanging out with his friends is one of his favorite activities. They love to play video games and watch movies.
4. Zachary never complains when I ask him to take out the trash.
5. He is a bottomless pit and could eat us out of house and home.
6. He has a luxurious head of curly, thick hair.
7. Zachary loves to read and is a great reader.
8. He had a fetish with his Lance's back, and loved to put his hands on Lance's bare back and say, "I love you back, Daddy!"
9. He would love to own lots of guns and be a hunter. Maybe when he leaves home and doesn't need his parents' permission, he will be able to realize his dreams.
10. He used to think he had two homes--ours and our next-door neighbor's. He'd show up at their house and announce, "I'm home!"
11. He has a silver streak "birthmark" in his hair.
12. He has never had a dental filling.
13. His feet are longer than his dad's.
14. He sleeps with a fan blowing on him all night.
15. Zach has completed all of the merit badges needed to earn his Eagle Scout award.

Happy Birthday, my big boy!

My Baby is Eleven!!!

The "Exclamation Mark" at the end of our family is eleven years old today, and what an 11 years it has been! Smiles, tears, tantrums, laughter, and I'm just referring to how I've reacted to the boy's shenanigans. In honor of our angel/devil, I've compiled a list of "fun facts" about Mark.

1. Sausages, hot dogs, spaghetti, salmon, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, pizza (cheese or pepperoni), taquitos and chicken burgers are some of his favorite foods.
2. Sadie, our dog, is his favorite "toy." He used to fear dogs but now is fearless around them thanks to Sadie.
3. He can't use the bathroom or take a shower without singing. He used to sing opera, but any old song will do now.
4. Mark loves to climb trees and collect rocks.
5. Water play is his favorite activity. Often he'll dip his head in a sink full of water and create unusual hair styles.
6. The sound of pencils and crayons snapping in two greatly amuses him. He doesn't like to write or color, but he loves breaking writing implements.
7. He is a pro at cleaning the bathroom and actually likes to clean the toilet.
8. Baseball is his least favorite sport to play. It's also my least favorite sport to watch Mark play. (Just ask Aunt Melanie.)
9. Mark is a baby lover, just like his Dad. He will hold and cuddle anyone's baby.
10. One of his dislikes is talking on the telephone. He has to be bribed to have a phone conversation most of the time.
11. When he was a baby and toddler, he couldn't be near Lance or me without putting his hand on our faces or necks or both.

I love my Mark!!!

The General Rules

Little did I know when I gave birth to Mark that I would have to be extremely specific when it came to making rules. Rules like "be kind to others," "put away your toys," "use kind words," "keep your hands to yourself," etc., just don't cut it when you are dealing with a creative child such as Mark. I should have had more foresight and I would have saved myself a lot of trouble. Only in theory, of course. In random order, here are a FEW of the rules I should have established long before Mark came on the scene:

*Don't flush and flush the toilets at school to make them overflow just to make yourself laugh.
*Don't stop up the classroom drinking fountain and make it shoot water straight in the air.
*Don't throw your homework in the bushes.
*Don't hide your homework in the school recycling bin.
*Don't stab other people's apples with your pencil.
*Don't break new pencils in half just to hear them snap. The same goes for crayons.
*Don't cut the levelor blind slats with scissors or anything else.
*Don't call someone a "winged feathered rat."
*Don't shoot the heads off Mom's flowers with an air soft gun.
*Don't carve up potatoes or any other vegetable or fruit Mom is planning to use.
*Don't write stories on your pillowcase.
*Don't carve mean words into the wood on your bunkbed.
*Don't cut the skin off your brand new $75 remote-control dragon you received for your birthday.
*Don't inhale helium at a friend's birthday party.
*Don't throw crayons in church.
*Don't tear your pant leg off during school (or at any other time or place).
*Don't put little pieces of paper in the flame of a candle without permission.
*Don't chew holes in your clothes.
*Don't smear deodorant on the bathroom mirror. Or the countertops. Or the walls.
*Don't pour bottles of shampoo down the bathtub drain.
*Don't spray water on the computer.

One general rule could cover almost every specific rule: Resist every negative and inappropriate impulse!!!!