A Few Things That We Did In 2010 (up to July)

Amy had a major surgery on February 8th. A colectomy. WOW!!!! What a way to start the year. The Doctor did some pathology report on 104 Lymph Nodes. One came back Stage 3 cancer. So surgery #2 on February 13th, which involved a permanent ostomy. Amy spent six weeks of recovery at her parents house to be close to the Wound Care Clinic and her Doctor. It was a slow recovery process but very successful. Ricky brought Erik & Mikayla EVERY weekend to visit. That was always something nice to look forward too. She returned back to work part-time in April then full-time the first week of May. Chemotherapy began in April and will continue through October. A few treatments have been postponed due to blood count numbers being too low and two being critically high. We have added alot of helpful foods and vitamins, and as of today, Wednesday, July 28th, she is "half-way done". YAY!!!! Due to the health issues she put in her notice at work. Her last day is Friday, August 13th. This will allow for full focus on her health and resting to keep these numbers looking good. :o) As a family we have also decided to homeschool our children this year. We are all looking forward to the new routine and Christ-based curriculum. (Especially Erik)
Well, that is a brief explanation of the huge event that started our year off.

The week of June 13-19 we traveled to Vail, CO. It was gorgeous. The mountains, the temperature, and the animals. It snowed on Monday. Snow and June do not fit in the same sentence in Missouri. It didn't snow a lot, but just the fact that it snowed was cool. (no pun intended) :o) Ricky and the kids went hiking, we all four went horseback riding. The kids swam alot and played racketball to their hearts content, and we just enjoyed some R&R for a whole week. We played cards almost every night and taught the kids how to play Hearts and Spades. It was a blast. Below are a few pictures. More will be posted soon. Hopefully, I can get a little more regular on posting to this Blog. Sorry for the delay.

Erik & Mikayla riding a horse (an iron horse)

Ricky & Erik before the horse ride

Erik & Mikayla on the Chipmunk Rock

Chipmunks at one of our stopping points

A view from our back door

Recap of 2009

It has been a very long while since the last update. Erik and Mikayla are growing faster than ever. Won't be too much longer and they will be as tall, if not taller, than their parents. Mikayla turned 9 in January. She had a blast with some of her friends at the gymnastic center. Erik recently had his crossover from Cub Scout to Boy Scout; his first Boy Scout activity is a week long camp out this summer. He is super excited.

Ricky has been busy keeping the kids on task. Amy had two major surgeries in February and has been spending the last several weeks recovering. Cancer was discovered, so she will be facing chemotherapy soon.
I have included a few pictures of the past year since it has been that long since I posted anything.

Ricky, Amy, Mikayla & Erik ~ 1st day at Disney World

Nana, Papa, Mikayla, Maggie, Jozie, Erik & Lainie at Epcot.

Mikayla chose "Wishes" for her face.

Erik as Genie at Disney World

We spent the week of Thanksgiving 2009 in Orlando, FL. Amy's parents took the whole family. It was a surprise!! Everyone had a BLAST!!

Summer 2009 ~ we took the kids to Williamsburg, VA. We visited Yorktown, Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, and so much more.
I will try to keep up with this a little better. Sorry it has been so long.

Erik & Mikayla at Monticello

Mikayla, Ricky & Erik at Colonial Williamsburg

Amy, Erik & Mikayla @ Jamestown

Mikayla at Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Erik @ Chesapeake Bay Bridge