Frozen Pipes and other things....

We have frozen pipes. This is especially concerning because some of the bedrooms are heated by a hot water system that does not seem to be working. We have no water running in the kitchen but it is still running in the bathrooms. I'm taking any advice on what to do about this problem. Pray for a thaw soon!

Elijah went to the hematologist today and we increased his GCSF shots. They increase his body's ability to make neutrophils (part of the red blood cells.) His next bone marrow biopsy will be in early May and that will tell us if things on a chromosomal level are changing. Despite the fact that Elijah's bloodwork has been unstable, he has really stayed relatively healthy. He has had a cold all winter but has not had to be hospitalized. That is our definition of relatively healthy for Elijah. The down side of increasing GCSF is that it increases his chances of developing AML leukemia. But he can't live without the injections and so the risk must be taken. But, for right now, we are just thankful that nothing more needs to be done right now. The more time we can give Elijah to get bigger, stronger and healthier, the better his chances of survival. All of this makes frozen pipes not seem like that big of a deal...

Jordan and Elijah are playing carpetball in this picture. It is pretty fun to be the mom of sons--lots of sons. These two are wild, loud and messy most of the time--but the quickest to give a hug and say "I love you." What a joy they are to me and I am so thankful for them.

"Snow Days"

No School!

As a child, I remember turning on the TV in the morning to wait for the "Public and Parochial" school closing announcements. If our school was ever closed, it was for snow, not for cold weather. We were always so excited when our school showed up on the list. We immediately called our friends to give them the news. We knew we could play out in the snow and get in a game of  monopoly. So here we are, now as the parent, with everyone home.

Snow Days (or "cold" days) always bring me back to my childhood. Life from the perspective of the parent is so different then how the kids perceive it. When I was growing up, all of the families in our neighborhood collectively watched out for all the kids in the neighborhood all throughout the year. If we were doing something unsafe (like walking over the hood of the neighbors car or putting snow in the big mailbox on the street corner), any of the moms would step in to correct us. The moms in our neighborhood got together for coffee. They went to Munsingware together to buy tricot to make our underwear and  they formed a sewing club. Smart moms. We didn't understand why they wanted to do that back then--now we get it!

On the first day of school in the fall, the moms in our neighborhood always got together to celebrate. I remember asking my mom why they didn't have this "party" when all of the kids could get together along with them. This makes me laugh every "first day of school" around here as I rush off after getting everyone out the door on the first morning. Right after I snap the last picture, I am in my car heading to Caribou to meet the other Moms...for coffee and to celebrate surviving another summer vacation.

I really had a great time growing up on my "dead end" street in Anoka. There were more than 20 kids that we could play with at anytime...and they were good kids. We played kick the can almost every night in the summer. We camped out in the backyard, sled down the hill at my best friend's house, we organized plays, clubs and "invention" contests. I never remember watching TV with my friends. We played. We layed on our backs  in the grass and imagined all of the amazing things we could see in the cloud formations.

Some of us had really tough things going on in our childhoods--things we didn't understand and things we didn't dare talk about..alcoholism, depression, financial difficulties in our families. But, we always had our Cross street friends...we had something incredibly special. We had a big family that extended beyond our own front door. I think that is what saved me through my childhood. 

On "snow days", I find myself very nostalgic. I think I will make some hot chocolate, gather the kids and get out the monopoly.. Hope you are inside, staying warm...