Dream, Pray, Love Anyway

One Year Ago Today....

 

He was called home.  It was a bittersweet moment, truly.

A NASCAR race was running on the television with the speaker in his earshot - the sound relaxed him those last few days.  My mom, my three sisters and I, my Uncle Don (Dad's brother) and my aunt Brenda, had just finished watching DVD we had made for the services - pictures of Dad's life.  My Uncle Don was telling us stories of him and Dad and our Uncle Connie when they were kids.  And then he was gone.  And our lives here on earth were forever changed.

 

This past year had been the longest, hardest year.  Particularly for my mom.  You lose someone so special in your life, your world feels like it's been put in a downward spiral, and you reach out clinging for help to make it through - THATS when you find out who your friends are.  My mom has some amazing friends and family.  I have some amazing friends.

 

Thank You, from the bottom of my heart, Thank You.

 

We miss you and we love you Dad.

 

 

 

Unforgetable...

That's my Dad.  If you every need to know what it is to be a good husband, a good father, a good friend...just look at my Dad. 

I don't know how many times, no matter how ridiculous the situation, that my dad dropped everything to come to my rescue.  Even to take a fish hook out of my little cats paw...and he didn't like cats very much.  Flat tires, alternators going out for no good reason during rush hour on Manchester Rd, putting together Haley's bedroom before she was born, going to all our silly fishing tournaments when I don't think he really liked fishing all that much.  (But he loved the 'Damn Tour' and I loved taking him on it.) He taught us the importance of family and we have heard time and time again from my parents friends these past few weeks what a great family we have, how much we are there for each other, that's because of my Dad. (and my Mom probably had a bit to do with that too:) )

He taught me some really fantastic life skills that at the time I thought was ridiculous but now I see that it was important.  Like making me go to school everyday no matter what...even after I'd just gotten sick in the bathroom he'd say 'are you done, you ready to go to school now'.  Now I have a really good work ethic, I go to work, period.  I don't miss a day unless I absolutely have to, and even then I feel guilty - crazy I know. 

He had a passion for racing like no one I'd ever met before.  My earliest memories are of my Dad in his garage working on some car.  Being at the race track playing with my little Disney golf set out behind the rows of trailers of cars on any given weekend.  And following Chris and Sara to every race when they were Junior Dragsters - he was there if for no other reason than to be there.  If he wasn't in the house, he was in the garage.  And that smell, oh how I love that smell.  Race fuel.  Alcohol.  Grease.  Just stand on pit road, close your eyes, and take a deep breath...THAT smell.  That is my Dad. 

He was no more at home than on the race track.  My sister Nicole and I were given Richard Petty Driving Experience tickets from our employer several years ago and we took our Dad of course...and our husbands:)  Our husbands did the full experience, I did the ride along, Nicole couldn't participate - I think she was pregnant, so Dad did...or so we thought he would.  After practically harassing an official on the track because he swore he knew this guy, kept asking him questions about where he could possibly know this guy from (I was starting to feel sorry for the guy)Dad just stood and took it all in.  He had on a sweatshirt and jeans - and it was HOT out there - and he just stood on pit road with his foot up on the wall, elbow on knee, chin in hand, and watched EVERYTHING.  He just took it all in.  And he looked perfectly at home.

And do not, even for one second, change the channel on the TV if a race was on - rather it be NASCAR or NHRA - his eyes would pop open and he'd know what lap they where on or who was qualifying.  All my life, you just didn't touch that remote during a race.  And growing up, I hated all things racing.  Not sure why I just did.  And I thank God now and have everyday for the past 3 years for making me pay attention to that red #8 flying around the track back in his rookie year, for if it hadn't been for that car and that driver I don't think I ever would have found that connection with my Dad.  Sitting during chemo treatments were some of the best conversations I've ever had with my Dad - and it was all about racing, or Haley.  Dale Jr (NASCAR) and the Force family (NHRA) brought me so much closer to him and I'd hug every one of them if I could - because as sad as the situation was - those are the moments I'll cherish - just me and my Dad talking about what he loved so much and I was able to keep up and he listened to me.

How he loved his grandchildren - all 9 of them.  He always wanted to know where they were, what they were doing, who had them, everything.  If he asked me once about Haley he asked me a hundred times.  And in the days before he passed, he pulled me close and made sure I knew he loved me...and Haley.  I had to promise to tell Haley he loved her.  And I have, and I will, everyday.

My Dad loved his wife (oh how he loved his wife), loved his kids, loved his family, and loved his race cars.  That is my Dad. 

 

 

 

So..here's the situation...

and by 'the situation' I do not mean that guy who's full of himself on Jersey Shore.  I'm talking about my dad.  And it's taken me a full week to sit down and write this out.  It's not the easiest thing to talk about.

Last Wednesday Dad went in for his regularly scheduled chemo appointment.  Mom and Dad were gone for a pretty long time that day and by 5:30 I was a bit worried after not hearing anything so I made the call.  She was on her way home...alone.  Barnes kept Dad for a few nights for observation and testing.

The verdict:  no more chemo.  The cancerous tumors in his lungs are pretty big and the chemo is just not helping him.  They drained more fluid on Thursday.  And by Friday they inserted a catheter for Mom to drain daily from home.  He's still on oxygen...he's wearing it full time now.

Friday night Dad slept in the living room on a bed the guys had moved from upstairs (and by guys I mean Tim and Richie with LOTS of supervision by Sheri).  Saturday morning he agreed he needed a hospital bed.  That was delivered Saturday morning in the snow.  Good ole' Richie had used his snow blower on the driveway so the delivery co could get in.  (snow blower...his own personal hot air...what ever worked:) )  

The doctors have decided to try some radiation - but just a little at a time, enough to keep Dad comfortable without doing more harm to other organs.

What does all this mean?  In a few short words that are so much bigger to rest of us....there really is nothing else they can do for Dad.  Their only goal now is to keep him comfortable.  There could still be a miracle in God's plan for our Dad but in all reality if you've seen the xrays as we've seen the xrays - that miracle feels so far away...

That is our reality right now.  All 4 of us girls and his two adopted sons (and by adopted I mean bullied their way into our family and we finally said..fine:) ) are doing everything we can for Mom and Dad so Mom can still work as much as possible (Cancer is some expensive crap - if only we did have the same healthcare as our leaders it wouldn't be so painful on the pocketbook). 

Keep us in your prayers, particularly my Dad and my Mom. 

*Disclaimer - anything said in parentheses about my pain in the butt adopted brothers is all said with Love.

Update on my Dad...

This morning at 9:27am I rec'd a call from my Mom - she was heading home and taking Dad to the emergency room at St Johns in Washington - he's having trouble breathing.  He called his doctor and his doctor told him to go straight to the ER.  I told her I'd meet her there and she hung up.

After making my required phone tree calls - I was off and all I could think about on the way there was 'Not today.  Not today.  Not today.  We still need him.'  Because we all know what anyone's first thoughts would be when someone can't breathe.

This is my Dad - he's the kind of dad that drops everything if you need him.  Flat tires in 6 inches of snow, Flat tires on the way to work when he's already at work, being stranded on the side of the road when the alternator goes out in your car, having a hurt cat with a fish hook through it's paw, driving through 4 feet of water to get to your house when you've already made it out and he doesn't know it till he gets there because your cell phone died, staying at the hospital till your mom gets there while you are in labor so he can go home and sleep only to return before heading to work the next morning so he can be the very first family member to hold your new baby's tiny little hands.  (illegally by the way - through the door while the nurses were still cleaning her off she clung to his finger then he went to work...late...but that's okay the secretary clocked him in on time....shhhhh)

That's my Dad - if you need him he is there...period...and yes all of these things have happened to me with my husband sitting next to me or out of town working.  

When they got to the hospital Dad was having a hard time breathing, as they asked him questions he could only say a few words then get very winded, cough, and even get a bit choked up.  They put him on oxygen and you could see a big difference with in a few minutes.

After 5 hours of sitting the ER - he was sort of diagnosed with pneumonia.  Sort of being the ER doctor telling us that is what he had to the on staff doctor telling us that is what it appears to be but it could also be the fluid (side effect sort of from the cancer and the chemo) on his lungs or it could be the tumor itself.  There is no clear cut answer for them.  His white cell counts were 11 last wednesday and were 53 today - that's high, even after his after the chemo shot which increases this count...that's high.  

In short - he's on 3 anti-biotic being given twice a day.  He's been admitted to the hospital for a couple of days and if the meds don't do the trick, they will do a procedure to lesson the fluid on his lungs but really that will only be a temporary solution as the chemo/cancer will in reality create the fluid to build up again - and during chemo hope that the treatment shrinks the tumors in his lungs.

Which are scary to see.  I've seen an xray a few months ago and Dad had to point out the tumors to me.  His xray today - very clear to see his left lung full of tumor/fluid - almost more than half.

By the time I left the second time (I tried to get a hold of someone to pick up Haley for me so I could stay at the hospital till the doctor came in - but alas no one answered so I had to leave, pick up Haley, and return.  I really have got to expand my emergency call list.) which was about 6pm - he was feeling much better, talking with Richie, ate his dinner like he hadn't ate in days (just hours) and breathing pretty good and a bit less emotional as well which was good.  It's always hard to see your own dad cry.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers - and Mom as well.  He's onto her to eat so she doesn't get sick cause he needs her - she's onto him to drink fluids and eat to stay as healthy as possible.  

Since we are family that can create/cause/find humor in any situation - here are todays:

The ER doctor went through the normal questions with Dad then asked how long he's been married.  Dad replied 44 years.  He congratulated Dad and then that was it, he left the room.  I turned to Mom and asked if that was going to be part of the diagnosis?  She said it could be because Dad would answer, Mom would correct him and on a few questions I piped in to correct them both - I quess there was no question I was the kid in the equation.

A kind secretary makes it her duty to offer snacks to the patients and their families in the ER.  She had been in the room and took an order for soda from myself and my mom.  Nicole was in the room when she returned and she was shocked telling Nicole we (Nicole looked the same).  Nicole told her she was way wrong - to which she slid off her glasses, agreed with Nicole, and said they were'nt her glasses anyway.  She got Nicole a chair and Nicole kept it across the room from me telling the nice lady that I was stinky.  As the nice lady left the room I promptly took Nicole's soda out of her purse (which Nicole left by my chair) and shook it and returned.  Apparently karma exists because the nice lady accidentally dropped my soda upon her return...

As Dad was getting settled into his new room on the 5th floor - the nurse asked him what brought him to the hospital today?  His answer?  A suburban.  My mom replied - for the record it's a Tahoe and that wasn't what she was asking...

 

It's been awhile and I have more than 160 characters to say....

So, it's been...oh I don't know...3 months since I posted on my blog.  That's quite a long time.  Lots of exciting things have gone on, a few sad ones.  Although I've posted several updates on Facebook, from time to time I have a few more than 160 characters to type.  Like today.

Let's start with My Dad...

On the 7th my Dad had a doctor's appointment that we thought was just another check up and would lead to 3 more months of no chemo.  Just like that last two appointments.  This one was not like the last.  The cells in his lungs had grown since the previous scans.  Mom told us girls it was a substantial growth and that he would need to go back on chemo right away.

The bonus of taking your Dad to his treatments or to get his shot he gets the day after his treatments is that he talks to you and as it turns out the cells doubled in size.  He also has lots of fluid on one of his lungs causing him to cough a lot, loose his breath, etc etc etc.  He has to wear a mask when out in the cold weather as well.

Okay, the bad crap out of the way, lets get to the brighter side of chemo.  That would be the time I get to spend with my Dad.  Time I probably would not have had otherwise.  And I say that with love.  My dad has always been a very hard worker and when he wasn't working he was out in the garage with his race cars and if you weren't into race cars...well, there was a bit of a disconnect for years.  And as I've stated before on this very blog, through this evil cancer, we have re-connected and that is a blessing. 

Because the appointment for his shot was not until 12:40 I decided since we were traveling in that general direction anyway, why not stop by the Girl Scout Shop and pick up some patches for my girls on the way.  We left Labadie at 9:30.  It takes approximately 45 min from my parents house to the GS Shop.  I think we miscalculated our departure times.  I was done at the GS Shop and pulling out of the parking lot by 10:40.  2 hours ahead of the appointment.  By the way, my Dad was very impressed that there is absolutely no mistaking where the Girl Scouts are located - nice big large signs on 2 sides of the building.  Puts a smile on my face the moment I see these signs.  The boy scout store that is actually visible on Page...not such a big sign.

Dad decides since we are going right past Suntrup Ford on Page Ave to just turn right on in so he can visit with this one guy he knows from the parts department.  I'm all for it, I need to use the restroom.  We go in and the guy he wants to visit has retired...2 years prior.  So Dad being Dad goes on with a conversation with the poor guy behind the counter who does remember Dad.  I use the restroom and come back to Dad discussing his idea for UPS to make COD payments an easier process on everyone.  I went to the car.  The car happens to be a Chevy Tahoe parked in the handicapped space (legally) at a Ford dealership.  And yes, I got looks from every salesman who happened to see me outside the window.  And it wasn't my good looks either (because those just exist in my own mind).  I could see their minds working on how they were going to convince this girl to switch to Ford.  Little did they know that my Dad's Ford paycheck paid for that Chevy Tahoe no thanks to a Texas vacation that required my mom to rent a vehicle in her name because my drivers license had expired 30 days prior to the vacation and it sort or slipped my mind.  So my mom had to drive the Chevy Tahoe all around Texas for 5 days and within 6 months of our return she was driving one of her own.  :)  I think I was called an asshole that day....lovingly of course.

I truly cherish my time with my Dad on these days, especially on days when he's feeling good and wanting to talk.  About everything from that fishing trip that resulting in said Tahoe to the mystery as to why there was all these asphalt haulers lined up at the plant out on 44 - mystery solved on the way home, Six Flags was actually paving the parking lot.  And using several smaller hauling companies.  We had a discussion about that as well, mostly about how nice and good it was that those boys were working, especially before Christmas.

 

Although I have lots more to share it is late and with Jason and Haley spending the night in Hermann...I am going to enjoy my alone time with the remote control.  I'll leave you with this:

Believe in the mystery, the miracle, and the magic.

Believe in angels and the natural wonders and the beauty inside people.

Believe in a bright-and-shining new year ahead.

Very fitting card I rec'd today and loved it so much I wanted to share. 

 

and I totally promise to post more...and with pictures....

Bowfishing Tournament...Warsaw MO

Friday morning we woke very early and met Tim and Sheri in town, Haley and I jumped in Sheri's car and rode with her to Warsaw MO - where Truman Lake is located and Truman Dam.  The guys had a bowfishing tournament Saturday and the kids on Sunday all organized by MBH - MO Bow Hunters Association. 

The trip down was pretty uneventful.  We had to stop in Gerald to meet Tommy and Dan.  We left Gerald at 7:30 and arrived at our hotel - the Grand River Resort - by 11:30.  After a stop at Wal-Mart, our home away from home, for very important much needed survival items - a pair of solar glasses so Jason could see under the water, a sandwich for Jasons lunch the next day, and yummy almost sinful Wal-Mart Bakery made cinnamon sweet rolls. 

When we arrived at the hotel, we had reserved an A-frame cabin.  In my mind that is an actual cabin shaped like and A separated from other A-Frame cabins.  No no no my friends.  It's one building and the only A-frames on this building are the porch shapes above the doors.  There were about 8 doors and each room had a main level with a hide-a-way bed, kitchen, bath and an upstairs with two queen size beds.  Good news kids, there was an issue with the construction crew staying the weekend so we got an upgrade....to individual cabins (more like little houses, please don't envision log cabins here)...that smelled musty...and we had number 14, Sheri and Tim had number 15....you would think these were right next door....no no no.  The first cabin in the row of little houses was number 15, then 11, 12, 13, and then 14.  We were each on the ends of the row.  Silly.  Sheri and Tim had each even passed up theirs not seeing the number on their actual cabin and had to go turn around and come back.  OH and the cabins are 1 mile from the office. 

Friday night Jason, Tommy, Dan, and I (along with Haley) stayed at our cabin and fixed brats and hot dogs.  Tim took Sheri across the lake to the Lake of the Ozarks to Wobbly Boots (I thought Sheri told me Wobbly BOOBS - where was my mind!).  Late late Jimmy, Kathy, and Justin showed up and stayed in our cabin.  If you are keeping count, that's 3 in Sheri's Cabin (Tim, Sheri & Harley) and 8 in mine.  Jason volunteered us to sleep in the pull out couch in the living room.  Fine by me till we pulled it out and there was no sheet and no blanket and no pillows.  Good thing I brought an extra big blanket for Haley.  Jimmy and Kathy brought their blow up mattress and Justin slept on the floor beside them.  Needless to say for one night it wasn't that bad is you don't mind freezing....because the air was on high...and it was like 100 degrees outside....I was actually going outside to warm up!

The next morning Sheri, Harley, Haley, and I rode over the boat dock to see the guys off on their day.  We left a few minutes before them to go to this really cool walking bridge that was actually a toll bridge years and years and years ago - very cool history in Warsaw and it was really fun having someone with me who wanted to check it all out - to take pictures of the guys from the bridge.

Here's the bridge

 

Oh, and a really cute girl too!  And then the guys started buzzing by.  In the tournament, when you register you get a white chip and a red chip.  One gets put in a bucket to be pulled for the start, and the other you turn back in by a designated time.  They draw chips and call your number, you run to your boat where your partner is already waiting for the take off.

Tim and Justin K. (who really showed up about 3 in the morning but found a parking lot to watch the lightning show till 6 then called and came to our cabin) were first.

 

Next flying by us was Jimmy and Kathy.  Notice the matching shirts.  Kathy told Jimmy she was going to wear hers and kind of giggled about it and Jimmy's response was Why.  Men.

 

Then Jason and Justin B.

 

And finally Tommy and Dan.

 

Enough of that.  We had Dam things to see.  We drove around and located all 4 Dam sights while waiting for Mom and Dad to arrive for the day.  We found the Dam hatchery, the Dam Visitors center where we saw some really cool cabins, and the school house - my favorite - completely decked out as if school just let out for the day complete with bonnets still on the hooks.  Haley and Harley had to use their compasses to navigate the 1/4 mile clearly marked practically paved trail.  Here are several pics of the cabins and school house.

 

 

 

 

Needless to say, I loved the school house.  That's it for today - more about our Dam good time on our Dam tour sometime Tuesday.

Update on Dad...

I (safely, and without any wrong turns or lanes or exits) took Dad to his doctor/chemo appointments today.  And the news was good.

First, she said that the tumor in his leg is stable and the cells in his lungs are stable.  He asked if he could take a break and she said it was up to him BUT know that we don't know what will happen during the break.  He is not in remission...yet...and they don't know if the tumor and cells are going to start growing again or not without chemo.  Everyone's body reacts differently to chemo.  

They have a patient that is taking the same chemo as Dad and he is able to work full time and does not get as fatigues as Dad but at the same time she explained that this same patient has been on this treatment for two years and she doesn't know if he had the same reaction as Dad in the beginning or not.  

Dad is welcome to take an 8 week break but not to stop all together.  He asked me what I thought and the thought of the possibility of the tumor growing again scared me a bit and I suggested to Dad to continue.  If he was going to take a break, it should this summer when Mom is off at the same time.  

OH - and Dad's favorite park.....he's gotten the all clear to RACE AGAIN!  BUT, he can not do it the week of his chemo or the week after.  He has to be aware of his own abilities and listen to his body.  He knows he can do it the week right before his chemo (his treatments are every 3 weeks now).  Right now he gets pretty tired the week of from over exerting himself...like working in the garage all day for four hours straight.  

She also asked if that his first run he drives 20 MPH like Ricky Bobby did his first trip in the car after a wreck.  He just laughed.  You can't ask a race car driver to slow down!  Then when she left the room he asked me who Ricky Bobby was.  I've got to get that movie to him pronto.  I know he's seen it, we just need to kick up his memory a bit.  

Oh, one more thing - he's still flirting with the nurses.  Today is was 'Mr Parrish, are you in any pain?' to which he responded, 'Yeah I'm a pain, OH you mean am I in pain...no.'  To which he giggled then when that nurse left repeated the whole exchange to me to which I replied 'I saw the whole thing Dad'.

I have to tell you, it was nice spending the time with Dad.  We talked about racing....Nascar, NHRA, you name it, we discussed it.  And apparently, according to Dad, the Force family is my team while he likes someone I can't remember who.  What ever.  It was just nice to carry on a conversation with my Dad.  One I understood and one he actually wanted to continue, not roll his eyes and say 'AMY JO' and pretend to go to sleep.

Anyway, GREAT news for Dad today!   

First 'Official' Haircut.

Yes, I realize my daughter is almost 6 years old and should not be experiencing her very first haircut....it's not her very first haircut, it's her first haircut in a real hair salon (or barber shop as she lovingly called it)

A few weeks ago Mom asked if I wanted to travel to Melissa's with them.  Dad and Mom both needed hair cuts and they were going out to dinner with Melissa, Mark, and the kids.  Well, actually, Haley needs one too.  Sure.  Then I heard 'You're driving, right?' as to which I replied 'Your car, right.'  :)

So.  All the way there Haley went on and on about going to the sisters house (that's what she calls Jessica and Donal - the sisters) and kept asking me if we were going to the barber shop to get our hair cut.  No Haley, we are going to Melissa's salon to get our hair cuts. 

'But it's a Barber shop, right.'  My only choice was to argue back and forth with her or let her say it was a barber shop.  Soon enough all three passengers were asleep and I was traveling in sweet silence.  I could say that I knew they were all asleep as I talked to them but I would be lying.

Mom and Dad woke up a few miles from the turnoff.  We were going straight to Melissa's shop so I wasn't 100% sure which one to take.  When I started to get off one exit and realized it was the incorrect one, I slid back onto the highway getting yelled at by my father in the process 'Why are you taking this exit - get back on the highway.'  Don't get me wrong, I love my dad and everything about my dad and if you love my dad and everything about my dad.....this is part of it.  He has no patience for bad driving and I was sort of driving a bit badly.  You're not exactly supposed to veer off the highway and then hop back on.  Ask the cop that was behind me when I got off the highway at the wrong exit, then was ahead of me when I hopped back on the highway, and then he promptly sat on the side of the highway till I passed then he got back on the highway behind me....directly behind me.

Dad directs me off the correct exit and it's an exit that to make the exit you have to MERGE into oncoming traffic and with my dad next to me asking me what I'm waiting for and a cop who happened to exit with me no doubt watching my every move....that's a bit of stressful situation.

I knew that once I merged with traffic one of the lanes ended just a quarter of a mile ahead of us.  I chose the wrong lane then had to switch lanes once again....with the cop behind me...and my Dad with a few chosen words for me sitting beside me.  And where was my mom during all this?  Behind me telling me to ignore my Dad.  Thanks mom.

FINALLY we get to Melissa's and I ask BEFORE I turn in exactly where Dad wanted me to park.  Following directions rather than guessing apparently is the way to go.  Once inside we just have to wait a bit for Melissa to finish up with her final customer for the day and it's Haley's turn.  Melissa takes her in the back to pic which smock she wants to wear.  Surprise surprise, it's the penguins.

 

Looks like the same face she gave me at Disney World when getting her Princess transformation.

Really, I think she's saying, 'You had to bring the camera.'

Pre-cut here hair was about 4 or 5 inches past her shoulder.  Post cut her hair is just a smidgen past her shoulders.

Just after her cut, all smiles, very happy with her cut.

 

Here's a few days later at her Valentine's Party at her school (which I did not forget about nor was I late thank you very much).  Love this cut on her!  And she loves it too.

 

And how did we make it home?  Dad told me he'd drive home.  Yeah, he fell asleep just before we left so no, Amy drove home.  And yet again was the only one awake in the vehicle and yes, only realized this when no one was answering her.

Dad and I are driving to Melissa's again this weekend for Jessica's 15th birthday....FIFTEEN....and Mom asked me tonight how the driving was going to go.  Something like this...

'Which exit would you like me to take?'

'What lane do want me in?'

Good....very good.

**I tease my Dad but it's all in love**

 

 

Halloween Fun

What a handsome guy my dad is.  Look at all that hair.  He looks really good and this was taken on Friday just 4 days after his chemo treatment.  He wasn't as tired this week as he expected and with Richie's car out of his garage Dad is pretty bored.  So bored he's been seen driving up and down highway 100 'checking on the progress'.  He just grinned when we all called him out for checking on Jason.  Jason told him he sees him drive by everyday (EVERYDAY!) and where to pull off and watch a shot or just talk to Jason. 

Such a nice picture - much better than the first one he gave me:


Haley looked incredibly cute.  She wanted to be a Unicorn.  Then she found a skirt that lights up and wanted to where that as well.  So we decided she would be a princess riding a unicorn and in our search for a princess cone hat she chose the crown below instead.  Still such a cutie-pie.

That face!  So Haley Jo!

While waiting for Jason to get home from work Haley and I went to Union High School where they had a Trick or Treat Street in one of the halls will trick or treating and Halloween games where you win, what else, candy.  The hall was dark with the only light from the class rooms you go to and then there was the haunted classroom Haley and I both walked about 10 feet around with Haley saying 'I DON'T want to do THAT!'  I'm right there with ya girl! 

She did enjoy knocking the frog in the box, making a spider with her hand prints, and making a ghost out of a sucker. All free - Thank you Union High School.  It was a nice safe environment and all the kids seemed to really be having a good time.

 

We went back home and met Jason who was sitting on the couch, talking on the phone as usual, cooler waiting by the door.  I grabbed a few things and out the door we went, Labadie bound.  We did our usual, mom and dads, then Bobs house.  If you ever get to Labadie for dinner or whatever, step inside the Labadie store.  There are pictures of  the Labadie 'celebrities' (the group of older men who sit there every morning for coffee together) and Bob is one of them and he also has tons of pictures of himself and his big fish or big deer on the bulletin board near the door.  And if you are lucky enough one of those guys will be in there and you can hear some of their wonderful stories.  I could listen to Bob and his fish stories for hours.

After Bob's we headed to the winner of the Six Flags Trick or Treat.  She happens to be the sister of one of Jason's good friends.  It wasn't what I was thinking it was.  It was just decorations and some ghouls there which Haley walked right by like they weren't even there.   I was envisioning an experience similar to my own when I worked at Six Flags and got to be one of the ghouls (yes,  all made up by the make up artist - they did not use my natural features although on some days could scare anyone)  made up with my hair teased out to there and a wonderful vintage gown all distressed - we went to the Governor's mansion in Jeff City for their annual Halloween party for the neighborhood kids.  It was amazing.  I got to each lunch in the mansion, the Governor and his wife had costumes made for them by Six Flags as well and we all done up along beside us ghouls.  Stage props were brought along as decoration from the Palace spooky show - something along the lines of Rocky Horror Picture Show.  It was a really fun night.  I guy I was partnered with was actually someone I had gone to school with and didn't know very well but we had a good time anyway - his name was Craig and I think his girlfriend in high school was Regina but I can't remember last names for the life of me. 

I had all this in my mind when we stopped at her house and was  slightly disappointed but we got our candy and went on our way.  There were huge lights on the house that drowned out being able to actually see the ghouls so I wasn't able to get a picture - I couldn't SEE who was a ghoul and who wasn't.  There was a big bunch of people standing at the end of the driveway and I knew there were ghouls in there I just couldn't see them.  That was a bigger disappointment. 

We did, however, scoot over next door to the guy that always has the huge Christmas lights along hwy 100 - he was getting a bit overshadowed by the Six Flags house - he was trying to give Haley as much candy as she could handle and she just picked a few pieces and he kept saying take more and she would pick just one more.  It was so funny. 

We ended our night at our good friends house Bonnie and Ralph sitting at their basement bar talking shop and catching up on gossip.  I walked in with Haley's Girl Scout order behind my back (Shannon, their daughter, was our go to girl for Girl Scouts for up till Haley's membership this year) and the first words out of my mouth was 'Are you still Girl Scouts?' and when she said No the order form came from behind my back and the excitement was just too much to handle.  If you know Bonnie and Shannon you'd understand.  They are such fun and very expressive and really make the important things to you really important to them as well.  Very supportive family - we love them very much.  Ralph's parents hug us each new years eve as if we are one of their own.  His mom has actually started chemo again as well, same schedule as Dad and Bob's grandson (who is just a little guy) - lots of prayers for both of them.   I love visited with them so we purposefully made them our last stop.

It was a nice Halloween - much nicer than last year when I had to take Haley up and down the big hill in Labadie and her bowl broke in front of a house I just wanted to get away from.  Because things like that follow me where ever I go. 
I'm done rambling on and on for today - Have a great Tuesday!  VOTE VOTE VOTE. 

Update on Dad...

Mom and Dad went to see all the doctors today.  Test results showed that his leg was doing great - they were very happy with the results.  There is one small tiny big problem.  If you remember, when Dad first had his MRIs and Cat scans all those months ago, not only was there a tumor in his leg but there were tiny ones in his lungs.  The one in his leg being the parent tumor and the smaller ones being offspring if you will.  One of the offspring in his lungs has grown.  They had originally thought that all the chemo would take care of the ones in his lungs they were so small.  Not the case with one of them.

SOOOOO, he is going to have four sessions of chemo to start with.  Much different than the last bit with chemo.  These will be on 4 separate Mondays - starting this Monday the 27th.  The first session will be for 2 hrs, the second for 4, the third for 2 and so on.  The first two sessions are on consecutive Mondays, then there will be a week skipped then the next session.   I may have the details with the hours wrong but this is the gist of it.  This chemo won't be so rough on Dad, he won't get as tired. 

One small strange interesting thing going on with Dad right now....he's going back to his youth.  First with his hair growing back baby soft....oh so soft.  And oddly enough growing right back in the style he's always combed it all by itself.   All these years we just laughed how you could find a picture of dad as a toddler and his hair was EXACTLY the same as his high school picture, as his wedding picture, as MY wedding picture.  I learned just yesterday that you get your hair from your mother's father.  So Haley whose hair naturally parts the same way has gotten her hair from my dad.  I'll make sure she stays away from the brural (spelling?) cream. 

He's also re-joining Boy Scouts.  Harley has asked him to help out with setting up the Christmas tree lot with him - Mom has given Dad strict instructions to let the boys do the work.  Each boy scout has to have an adult at the tree lot with them and Harley's parents work, so Dad is glad to help out.  He was, after all, a boy scout himself.

I have a theory about suddenly the men in our family joining Boy Scouts again.  I am a Daisy Girl Scout Leader for Haley's troop.  I've dived right in the deep end, going to classes, earning adult patches, joining an adult member group.  SUDDENLY and quite coincidently soon after I've became a Girl Scout again, Harley has asked his dad to be a troop leader and he said sure.  My own pesky brother in law Tim made sure Sheri called me to let me know he had earned his first patch before me....by one day.  NOW my Dad has become a Boy Scout again too. Hmmm...

I KNEW I was the coolest and they just HAD to be like me.  I KNEW IT!!!!!

I wonder how long it will take Dad to be a Daisy too.....