Not very creative today so....no title!

Just stuck on a couple pictures taken on a really nice day this fall. I've not had time to download any recent ones. The past three weeks have been simply unbelieveable, and is the major reason I haven't updated for awhile. Hmmmm.... let me see if I can even remember....

I had my yearly appointment with my hematologist. I always look forward to it. Partly, because we really my doctor, and he gave me quite a bit of advice on raising 3 boys. Thanks!!! Also, since I've never really been quite normal since my transplant ( especially on paper : ) ) it is a good reminder for me to really live every day and not worry about the details.

Then, Travis went out of town and left me with the boys for 6 days. He returned home the Tuesday before last, and we were so very glad to see him. The next day we found out the my sister-in-laws two nephews had been in a serious car accident leaving one dead and the other in very critical condition. This particular family lived in a nearby town and we had known them through my sister-in-law. Her nephew is now in Rochester for surgery and trauma care.

My parents came for a visit on the Thursday before Thanksgiving. The boys had a great time and talked Grampa into taking them to the grocery store. This is a tradition for them and they always come home with special treats. They told me before Mom and Dad got here....'Grampa really likes kids, and Gramma really likes kisses.' My parents visit got cut short when they were called in the middle of Friday night (early Saturday morning) that my dad's brother passed away. They left for home that morning so they could help with funeral plans. My uncle and his wife had moved to Colorado a few years ago, but the funeral would be in our home town where my uncle had grown up. My cousins and aunt arrived at my parents on Sunday and Monday. Andrew and I flew to ND on Tuesday morning for the funeral. Of course, all funerals are sad but this one included a lot of laughter as well. My cousins asked people in the congregation to share memories and stories. My uncle always managed to get into some crazy scrapes which, of course, leads to some really great stories. Uncle Allie was like a second dad to us. He and my dad were close in age and they lived near each other until their move to Colorado. My cousins were close in age to us and we spent quite a lot of time together. They were more like brothers. I even have a twin cousin!! They were all boys which is probably why having 3 boys has never really seemed so scary to me. I was well schooled on 'cops and robbers,' sword-fighting, and could make roads in the garden for matchbox cars with the best of them. My 'twin' and I had the most fun riding the ponies through the woods and playing cowboys and Indians. Not so appropriate these days, but quite acceptable when I was 8. Andrew and I got to stay for Thanksgiving dinner which my sister had at her house. And we flew home on Friday.

Andrew is having a horrible time resettling into a regular routine and is needing a lot of comfort at night. It doesn't help that he's getting another tooth. He picked up a few new words while we were gone which include the oh-so-approrpiate words for a baby; pop and chip. Thankfully, he's also saying 'wa-wa' and 'eat.' We're not sure what happened with him since he's seldom read to. It must be the brothers who never stop talking. He's also loving to play 'chase' with the big brothers. This has the brothers crawling around pretending to chase Andrew while he tries to 'run' away. Yes, he is trying to run....and jump which usually ends in him sitting. He'll be 14 months old on Friday. We had a nice visit with my great-uncle and his wife this evening. She is here for diagnostic tests and treatment. Now it is time to return to the real world and start preparing for the holidays.