Happy Halloween!

Halloween is becoming like other holidays in that it becomes spread out over several days. This past Sunday night, our church held its annual "Trunk or Treat" where members decorate their cars and give out candy to kids. We decorated the Highlander like a pirate ship, since Seth was a pirate for Halloween. We had our candy in a "treasure chest" and we had skull and cross bone car flags on the windows. Seth walked around carrying a car flag and his "feathersword" saying "Argh!" Rob and I wore our "Arrrggghhh!!" T-shirts and purple and gold bandanas. On Halloween night, we took Seth trick or treating and he seems to have the hang of collecting goodies in his pumpkin. He did think that part of the trick or treating meant going into other people's houses, since we went in at the Thorns' and the Jetts'. Our neighborhood was full of costumed revelers this year--we had great weather for it as well. Happy Halloween and enjoy the pictures!

Fall Allergy Season and Flu Shots

CONGRATULATIONS TO BRANDON AND JULIE!
CONGRATULATIONS TO MATT AND PATRICE!
GET READY FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE!

Fall allergy season is upon us, and what can we say, except to break out the inhaler! Yes, I have made the seasonal trip to the pharmacy to purchase my in-between-season staples, Claritin, Advil Cold and Sinus, and Tylenol Nighttime Sinus. We have also obtained new containers of Albuterol and Clarinex for Seth. It seems his "aggravated airway" has already been aggravated this year. It started with a runny nose and has now developed into a cough. I have gone from not knowing a lot about a child with asthma to actually knowing alot. Seth has not actually been diagnosed, but we continue to take preventative measures with his condition.

Seth and I both got flu shots today. Rob got his last week. I am fortunate in that our school system offers them free to employees. Unfortunately for Seth, he and I had to go and stand in line at the pediatric flu clinic. This is not fun for an almost 2 year old who weighs in excess of 30 pounds. We had to wait in a line of about 50-75 people (inlcuding other toddlers and school age kids) for about 30 minutes. I realize that this is not a terrible amount of time to wait, but it feels like 3 hours when you have a toddler. Seth does not like to hold our hands--we continue to work on that--so I had to hold him most of the time. Needless to say, I will probably not be able to move my arms tomorrow considering I got the flu shot and I had to hold him for so long. In the end, Seth was a trooper and hardly cried when he got the shot. He wouldn't have anything to do with the band-aid either. Hopefully our measures to keep us from getting sick will prove successful.

In Loving Memory of Lacey

Upon returning from being out of town this weekend, I received notification that Lacey Jones passed away Saturday, October 13 around 6:30 a.m. Our school held "Love for Lacey" week last week, when we raised money for her family through hat day, ribbon day, lollipops for Lacey day, and a weeklong penny war. It will be a tough day tomorrow at school. Our sixth graders have been with Lacey since Kindergarten. I am sorry that I never got to know Lacey--to hear people speak of her let me know she was a good person. She cared for others despite the fact she was sick. Rest in peace, Lacey--you are no longer a sick little girl.

Eye Update

I had another eye appointment today. After three weeks, my left eye has improved from 20/40 to 20/25. My right eye is still 20/20. Before my surgery, my right eye was 20/250 and my left eye was 20/counting fingers (meaning I could not see beyond my fingers). Needless to say, I am very pleased with the healing thus far and the doctor seems to think I will continue to improve. It is still very weird to wake up in the morning and not reach for my glasses--sometimes I still do out of habit! I have to return to the doctor in three weeks for another check.



I want to ask a favor of anyone who reads this blog. Please pray for Lacey Jones. Lacey is a 6th grader at my school. She has not been to school this year because she has been so sick with cancer. She has been stricken with cancer for a while, and has been through some really tough times during the past year and a half. Recently, her brain tumor reemerged and her doctors at Duke stopped her chemo. They don't paint a pretty picture for her future. She is confined to a wheel chair, does not have very much use of her arms, and is scared to go to sleep at night because she is scared she won't wake up. Please pray for this little girl. Some relatives have done a website for her, you can read her story here: http://www.prayforlacey.org/.

Pirate Nation

Seth is really big into pirates and Sesame Street's the Count. He greets us in the morning with "Argh!" and "Ah, Ah, Ah!" We went out to eat at Outback last week and Rob and I were struggling with Seth--picking up crayons off the floor, trying to appease him so he doesn't cry and make us have to leave the establishment. Terry Holland, ECU's athletic director, and former University of Virginia's basketball coach walks in with his wife and another couple. Of course, they have to step over Seth's crayons that he has thrown on the floor for the fifteenth time. Coach Holland gets up to go to the restroom and stops at our table, saying, "You've got yourself a little pirate there, huh?" Rob seizes this opportunity to show Seth off. He says, "Actually, Coach, Seth, what does the pirate say?" We fully expected Seth to clam up and play shy, but he lets out this very loud "Argh!!!!" and the whole side of the restaurant just starts laughing. Coach Holland says, "Hey, you are raising him right!"

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