thack smack: Hammy

Hammy is the name of Siri's hamster. She adopted him after a neighbor was given a hamster for Christmas but found out he was allergic. I told Siri we had no room, but what do you know, my desk in the kitchen now has room for his cage. It's been (mostly) fun actually, we've only lost him once :) I had a few hamsters growing up and Annie just loves him. He's gone through a few names, but because "Hammy" is what Annie calls him, that's what we all call him. Siri has had the chance to have more responsibility and helps pay for his food and shavings. She has earned money by doing two sessions of the "Pizza Academy". Thank you to those who supported her by sending your kids! She has earned her money for her plane ticket and I am giddy looking forward to bringing Siri with me to visit my sister Jenn in a couple weeks.

Right now Mark and I are on day 3/7 of this detox. I've done it once before, last June, and have wanted to do it again. Between hormone issues and feeling out of control with my temper and food cravings, the timing was really good to do it now. I feel so much better already. The trick is not slipping back into old ways right? When I perfect that I'll let you know ;) I can't say enough how powerful food, or not eating food, can be! I'm still trying to figure out my hormone issues, central (pituitary) hypothyroidism. Mark has never necessarily needed or wanted to do a liver detox like this so I really appreciate him willing to do it with me. True love :)

I've been putting off doing more about making progress on potential surgery for Ruby. Talking to my mom yesterday about when they took the chest tube out last time (when she had a larger tumor near her heart removed for biopsy March 2016) brought me to tears. I've never seen Ruby in so much pain. I am also so thankful that I haven't had to see her suffer continuously. Here and there yes, but nothing compared to other kids that have to be on other drugs. Her oncologist wants to get the last tumor taken out. Last Thursday Ruby and I met with the surgeon, Dr.Barnhart. I didn't think about details we'd talk about, and as Ruby sat their in silence as he talked about how things would go, she just broke down crying, looking down, didn't want to talk to either of us. This is so much harder now that she's older. This will be her 6th surgery, but the last one was when she was 3. She understands (almost) everything now, so although this surgery is minor compared to previous ones, its a much bigger deal to her which means bigger deal to me. She has a dr appt/scan on Tuesday Feb 5 next week and then surgery planned for the 15th. Thank you for your love and support (still after almost 3 years of this...or almost 6 if you count since she was born :)!!

We had an awesome Christmas season. We were given to greatly by Jackie Culley and her army of people.The kids all got sick right after Christmas and we missed some cousin time, but thankful it didn't last any longer. We did end up in the ER one Saturday with Ruby since she has to go if she has a fever (in case there is an infection related to her port), but I'm so glad to know where to go, what they'll do, its just a lot less scary than it used to be.
Jane turned 8 Dec 31st! We had fun playing and dancing and trying to stay up late (Jane and I couldn't make it past 11:15). We went ice skating the next day with family and Jane was baptized the first Saturday in January. A blessed woman named Gayle who volunteers with Icing Smiles baked a cake for Jane. Unfortunately Ruby was throwing up as the baptism was happening but I've got angels in my midst, really, and a friend stayed in a another room with her so I could be with family and friends.

We are still homeschooling and sometimes I can't believe all the things we get to do! We were given a pass to the Aquarium that we've been enjoying, we have lunch with friends, visiting to the Museum of Curiosity, visits to Grandma Carols and a recent trip to St.George. There is balance in all things and we have a lot of growing pains as we continue to get to know each other, what works and what doesn't, and trying compromise and work together. So. Many. Life lessons. I don't know what we'll choose to do next year, but for now I'm going to keep doing my best!