Saturday, March 17, 2007
Short, but sweet...The new site
Today Brittany had solo and ensemble competition. She had three events scheduled, a triple trio, a solo and a duet, but was only able to do two of them as the second portion of her duet, had been sick and had no voice to sing with. Tomorrow, the boys and I have the basketball banquet to attend and Trevor has baseball try outs.
I have the new site up, but haven't placed a posting out there as of yet. If you'd like to look, here is the address: http://vinceslifesong.blogspot.com/ My plan right now is to write about twice a week and I will talk about the kids, life and whatever strikes me as needing to be said. I have appreciated all of you, your prayers, thoughts, words of encouragement and support. I welcome you to continue this 'walk' with me and From This Point Forward, I'll be writing at the new site. On one hand, it's almost like I'm leaving a part of me behind, but on the other, I know that's not true as that is such a part of me that I am quite sure that times and portions will be revisited.
Thank you, everyone of you...
For the love of Amy - V
I have the new site up, but haven't placed a posting out there as of yet. If you'd like to look, here is the address: http://vinceslifesong.blogspot.com/ My plan right now is to write about twice a week and I will talk about the kids, life and whatever strikes me as needing to be said. I have appreciated all of you, your prayers, thoughts, words of encouragement and support. I welcome you to continue this 'walk' with me and From This Point Forward, I'll be writing at the new site. On one hand, it's almost like I'm leaving a part of me behind, but on the other, I know that's not true as that is such a part of me that I am quite sure that times and portions will be revisited.
Thank you, everyone of you...
For the love of Amy - V
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Basketball and the Sunday Surprise
This past Saturday Vinny had his home basketball tournament. His team lost one game and won two…they took 5th place. The second game was very close all the way down to the wire and actually went past a first overtime to a ‘Shootout’ where Baraboo won! Very exciting! It’s really quite funny to watch these little boys…young athletes play this sport! Obviously, they want to win the game, but to look at them, they’re just happy to be on the court running up the court and back. Except for the banquet next Sunday, basketball is finished for another year. Brittany took Trevor, Vinny and Hope to the high school musical/play, Suessical the Musical on Sunday afternoon…Hope LOVED it!
Sunday morning we attended church (as usual) and we normally attend the 8:00 service, go to Sunday school afterwards and then head home. However, because of the daylight savings time adjustment, I decided to let the kids sleep in and we’d go to Sunday school and then attend the 11:00 service. So, as we get to church, several ladies greet me and tell me; ‘That was such a nice song Joni did!’ and not really thinking about it, and not having heard it, I just sort of nodded my head and let it be. After Sunday school, I rounded up the kids and we went and sat down for church. I noticed immediately that the choir was going to sing as the microphones were setup, and after the normal praise set (which the choir helped by singing the back up vocals), Joni Cross (one of our resident concert pianists and a composer in her own right) came to the podium and said that 2 days before Amy’s passing, God gave her the words to a song that she composed. She wrote each choral part, each part for the instruments and has dedicated the song to the memory of Amy S. Howard. Neither the kids, nor I was prepared for this. I remember in the fog of the days that followed Amy’s death, Joni had sent the words to me and said that it was her intent to dedicate the song to Amy’s memory. I had long since forgotten this, but all of it came rushing back as I sat and listened to the rich harmonies of the choir. Vinny and Hope were watching me for my reaction and I saw Brittany, tears streaming down her face, her head held low and Trevor, sitting next to me, obviously stirred, but holding his emotions in check. We were sitting in the second row, so I was close enough to the choir to see several ladies with tears in their eyes. They sounded SO beautiful. Thank you Joni so very much and praise to God for the gift and the words He revealed to you.
For the love of Amy – V
P.S. - I am slowly, but surely constructing the new blog and I would anticipate that I should be finished with it by next Monday…stay tuned.
Sunday morning we attended church (as usual) and we normally attend the 8:00 service, go to Sunday school afterwards and then head home. However, because of the daylight savings time adjustment, I decided to let the kids sleep in and we’d go to Sunday school and then attend the 11:00 service. So, as we get to church, several ladies greet me and tell me; ‘That was such a nice song Joni did!’ and not really thinking about it, and not having heard it, I just sort of nodded my head and let it be. After Sunday school, I rounded up the kids and we went and sat down for church. I noticed immediately that the choir was going to sing as the microphones were setup, and after the normal praise set (which the choir helped by singing the back up vocals), Joni Cross (one of our resident concert pianists and a composer in her own right) came to the podium and said that 2 days before Amy’s passing, God gave her the words to a song that she composed. She wrote each choral part, each part for the instruments and has dedicated the song to the memory of Amy S. Howard. Neither the kids, nor I was prepared for this. I remember in the fog of the days that followed Amy’s death, Joni had sent the words to me and said that it was her intent to dedicate the song to Amy’s memory. I had long since forgotten this, but all of it came rushing back as I sat and listened to the rich harmonies of the choir. Vinny and Hope were watching me for my reaction and I saw Brittany, tears streaming down her face, her head held low and Trevor, sitting next to me, obviously stirred, but holding his emotions in check. We were sitting in the second row, so I was close enough to the choir to see several ladies with tears in their eyes. They sounded SO beautiful. Thank you Joni so very much and praise to God for the gift and the words He revealed to you.
For the love of Amy – V
P.S. - I am slowly, but surely constructing the new blog and I would anticipate that I should be finished with it by next Monday…stay tuned.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Leading from here - EndocraWHAT?
OK, it appears that the majority of you would like me to continue to BLOG. What that entails and where I go from here, I have yet to determine. Many of you were concerned with the BLOGGING becoming a burden to me and I guess it's not SO much a burden as coming to terms with myself that there just will be some days that I either do not have the time or perhaps the thoughts to record and that will just have to be the way it is. Secondly, I feel VERY strongly that moving forward would also mean moving to a new BLOG in and of itself. This site will be left up for a period of time with a link to the new BLOG and after awhile, this site will be removed. Many people have suggested that I look into publishing some or all of the entries into a inspirational book of some kind. I would like to pursue that, but really have no contacts other than 'Self-publication'. If any of you have any suggestions, please share them with me. I have ALWAYS thought if it was ever published, and saw any type of success, it would be nice to use the profits to put the kids through college. I know Amy would be very happy with that. With that said, I have no drop date as of yet for when the new site will be up or even what it will be called. I will however, continue much in the same light with transparently sharing our lives, our thoughts, our fears and triumphs and as memories meet application, stories of Amy and our life together, will continue to be included. I will continue to write here (on and off) until I am ready with the other site. SO...continue to check back here for updates and news.
Many of you are aware that about a month before Amy passed away, I was diagnosed with type II diabetes. Since then, they started me on one medication (pill) and when that didn't put a sizable dent in my blood sugar, they put me on a second medication (pill). That helped better, but I still couldn't get it below 145. So, they added insulin injection. This has helped, but with the three together, I do have some 'comfort' issues. ANYWAY...today, I went in to see the Endocrinologist and I found out a couple things:
1) My Cholesteral has dropped from 210 to 118
2) I have lost 13 lbs in the last month (yay!)
3) She is putting me on a new medication (Byetta) taking one away and cutting the dose on the other one in half. Over all, it was a good visit.
For the love of Amy - V
Many of you are aware that about a month before Amy passed away, I was diagnosed with type II diabetes. Since then, they started me on one medication (pill) and when that didn't put a sizable dent in my blood sugar, they put me on a second medication (pill). That helped better, but I still couldn't get it below 145. So, they added insulin injection. This has helped, but with the three together, I do have some 'comfort' issues. ANYWAY...today, I went in to see the Endocrinologist and I found out a couple things:
1) My Cholesteral has dropped from 210 to 118
2) I have lost 13 lbs in the last month (yay!)
3) She is putting me on a new medication (Byetta) taking one away and cutting the dose on the other one in half. Over all, it was a good visit.
For the love of Amy - V
Monday, March 05, 2007
At a cross in the road - A dilemma
Just a quick one tonight. A question really, for all of you out there from Clinton, Iowa to Monroe, Louisiana and the world over who have come and visited the site and read some...possibly all of the journey. Do I continue with the BLOG? or should I retire it? And if I continue, what should I write about? This is no longer Amy's Momentary Trouble and I definately haven't been as faithful in writting as I once was. So, I turn to you, those who just drop by as well as those who have faithfully checked the site on a daily basis, what is your opinion...your thoughts?
V
V
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
A year in the life
One year ago tomorrow, late in the afternoon, I sat in a small recovery room waiting for Amy to come out of the anesthetic. Two weeks earlier, we had made the decision and switched doctors/hospitals. We were unhappy with the path the other surgeon wanted to take and ultimately lost confidence in him. So, after meeting earlier in the week with the new doctor/surgeon, he wanted Amy to have yet another ERCP (where they put a tube with a camera down her throat to look in her stomach and beyond). She had one previously at the other hospital, but I’m sure the new doctor wanted updated pictures and to have their specialist take a look for himself. So, here I was, sitting quietly in this rather small room with three walls and a curtain. To keep the noise down and let Amy sleep, I kept the T.V. off and alternated from reading the paper to playing an electronic version of Yahtzee. The doctor poked his head in several times to check on Amy, but as she was still sleeping, he left. Eventually Amy started coming around and she drifted in and out for about the next 30 minutes or so. Once she was more fully awake, she asked for some water, but the nurse only gave her ice chips until the doctor could ok anything more. We may have waited for another 30 to 45 minutes until the doctor came back around. He proceeded to tell us about the procedure, and that he did see some obstruction of the bile duct, rather that it looked like the opening was being pulled or stretched to the side. He proceeded to tell us that he was able to extract a cell sample from the tumor and that preliminary results looks to him that the tumor was cancerous. And so on February 28th 2006, began Amy’s 8 month and 16 day journey with Pancreatic Cancer.
Please, if you can remember, take a moment today and think of a time when Amy made you laugh! I guarantee you won’t be able to do it without smiling!
And Amy will be smiling down as well.
For the love of Amy - V
Please, if you can remember, take a moment today and think of a time when Amy made you laugh! I guarantee you won’t be able to do it without smiling!
And Amy will be smiling down as well.
For the love of Amy - V
Monday, February 26, 2007
A snow day
School was cancelled today, the kids were excited! When as was said and done, we've gotten close to 18...maybe 20 inches of snow since this past Friday. Poor Trevor did most of the shoveling (I did take a short turn on Sunday). The older two and I sat around and played Scrabble yesterday afternoon. Vinny was playing a video game and Hope went between watching a TV show and watching us play. We spent a lot of time together this weekend, what with everything cancelled and all. It was nice...just us.
So, today, Brittany and her friends got together and went sledding. When she finished, she came home and then Trevor went out with his friends to snowboard, etc. I really appreciate that they both respect each other enough that they will come home and let the other have their time too.
Wednesday is a significant day. I'm not going to go into it tonight, but I will on Wednesday.
For the love of Amy - V
So, today, Brittany and her friends got together and went sledding. When she finished, she came home and then Trevor went out with his friends to snowboard, etc. I really appreciate that they both respect each other enough that they will come home and let the other have their time too.
Wednesday is a significant day. I'm not going to go into it tonight, but I will on Wednesday.
For the love of Amy - V
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Snow and rest
Brittany was supposed to compete in our regional Solo and Ensemble competition today, but because of the snow, it was cancelled. I’m curious as to what will be done about it because the kids with high scores would have gone on to compete at the state level. The other 8th grade boy’s team (not Trevor’s team) traveled 3 hours to a tournament in Minnesota. They got there and the tournament was cancelled. We got about 8 or perhaps 10 inches of snow here and we’re supposed to get another 4 to 6 tonight and tomorrow.
Rest on this Earth is a false rest. Be careful of people who urge you to find happiness here; you wont find it. There are those who think they find it, but it usually never holds their attention for long. Guard against those who promise that joy is only a diet…a marriage…a job…a million dollars away. Try this, imagine a perfect world. Whatever that personally means to you, imagine it. If that means peace, then imagine complete tranquility. Does your perfect world imply joy? Then create your highest happiness in your mind. How about love? If your perfect world has it, ponder a place where love knows no bounds. Now, let your imagination run absolutely wild and try to imagine what heaven is like. Take a moment and get it firmly in your mind…and then smile as the Father reminds all of us in 1 Corinthians 2:9 - No one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him. When it comes to describing heaven, even letting our imaginations run wild thinking about it, we are all happy failures!
For the love of Amy - V
Rest on this Earth is a false rest. Be careful of people who urge you to find happiness here; you wont find it. There are those who think they find it, but it usually never holds their attention for long. Guard against those who promise that joy is only a diet…a marriage…a job…a million dollars away. Try this, imagine a perfect world. Whatever that personally means to you, imagine it. If that means peace, then imagine complete tranquility. Does your perfect world imply joy? Then create your highest happiness in your mind. How about love? If your perfect world has it, ponder a place where love knows no bounds. Now, let your imagination run absolutely wild and try to imagine what heaven is like. Take a moment and get it firmly in your mind…and then smile as the Father reminds all of us in 1 Corinthians 2:9 - No one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him. When it comes to describing heaven, even letting our imaginations run wild thinking about it, we are all happy failures!
For the love of Amy - V
