What's shakin this week...

Well, the babe is sick again. He started with a cold on Sunday and today it is full on. He is coughing so bad and his nose is rung, run, running. Tonight I went to MOPS after work and then came home to tend to the little one. MOPS is hit or miss with me. Most of the time I don't want to go since I work all day I want to get home as fast as possible. However, once I am there I enjoy myself and most of the people there. However, there is one lady that just complains about something every meeting. Hey-here is an idea...if you aren't cut out to be a stay at home mom-Don't be. I know it is a crazy idea, but I don't get it. If all you do is complain about how terrible it is and how stressed you are then why do you do it? I know a lot of people that would give up a whole lot to be in those shoes each day. Like my friend Emily says-we make choices. She is a stay at home mom and loves it. She is totally made for it and is thankful she has the opportunity, yet so aware of the sacrificies she has had to make. I know that I need to work-I wish it was less hours, but this is my reality! Argh! She also complains about her husband and tonight as she was categorizing all men again I finally said, "Not all husbands are like that, mine isn't" . I really wanted to follow it up with a 5 letter word, but I refrained in the name of The Lord! Praise the fact that I have more patience that I used to and pray that I get even more. I finally asked our leader to say something to this lady becasue I am tired of her man bashing and her cussing at MOPS. Enough about that!

Please pray for Ashley and her Mommy-they are going through a difficult time and need your prayers for strength and courage.

I guess our trip home is now in question-all depends on the little man!

I am watching the debate, I am so confused this year about who to vote for. I was a big Huckabee fan but I don't think he is going to be an option. I will be doing my research over the next few months. Make sure you vote-it is your choice. If you don't vote, don't complain about it!

I hope Aaron sleeps beter tonight. I have learned that when he is sick he needs sleep more than anything-but Grape Kroger brand Pedialyte runs a close 2nd. Tonight he wanted Daddy.

I hope you are all well, safe and warm. Be thankful that you have all that you have each and every day. Have you ever taken the time to be thankful for the fact that you have warm food, cold drinks, blankets, socks, love, tv, sight, hearing, health, friends, family? If not, you should.

Going home...

This coming week we are going home. By home I mean Wintersville, Ohio. I haven't lived there since August of 1996, but it is still home to me and probably always will be. I still can remember pulling away from my Grandma's that day I left and how horrible it was. Every time I go home I go past my Grandma's house and it makes me so sad. Of course because they are gone, but also because it hurts so much that it isn't home anymore. The years I lived with them were some of the best of my life. I miss my Grandparents so much every single day. Gosh, they were so amazing and important to my life. My Grandpa was so funny he called my friends Missy and Colleen funny names-Missy Pissy and Colleen who ya callin? He would always ask me, "Why are you so pretty"? And when I would smoke with him he would say "Why do you smoke those sissy cigarettes" Ahhh-just one more day. He would always take me and Krissy to Macs when my Grandma worked at the shop and in the summer he would get so mad when we all ran in and out of the house. He was a character. One time at a graduation party he told my sister's friends family that he had just gotten out of prison for raping women-OK maybe not so funny, but really it was.

So me and the boys are going home Thursday night for a long weekend. I cannot wait to spend time with Missy and Colleen and their kids. Bill is having his pig roast so Alex will finally get to go. I can only imagine who he will meet there! I am so excited.

Well, I am off. I have to get ready and head to church and then we are going to Sam's. Tonight we are going to Mom's for dinner-but we have to cook! Everyone is getting ready to leave-we had waffles here this morning.

See ya!

A typical Friday

Friday night Alex has darts at church so it is just me and "the babe". Gosh he is growing so fast that it sometimes makes me short of breath. I am not one of those who loved the baby stage or misses it at all. I love this age where is hangs out with me and can keep me company. When I think about how much I love him I cannot help but feel that he will never understand. The entire feeling is just so overwhelming. When the boys are getting home from the day, I just feel as if I will burst with love. I am truly blessed with my life.

On Sunday a dear friend of mine is speaking to my Sunday School class. His name is Danny and I worked with him at Progressive. Some people come into your life with such purpose and he is one of those people. He is such a strong Christian and amazing guy. I am really excited to hear him speak to my class. I sure hope they take it easy oh him. I have started to really enjoy my class. The kids are truly amazing and inspirational to me.

My Mom came home from a week of travel today. She has to travel for work from time to time and lately it has been often. She really doesn 't like it, but thinkgs like that happen when you make the big bucks right? She misses Aaron so much, it makes me so happy and sad at the same time. She just gets so excited to see him when she gets home. He is so funny with her. It is like he knows how much he means to her so he will not love on her just to be a stink pot. Every time my phone rings or the doorbell rings he says, "Grandmas" because he thinks it is her. Today she brought him a new Elmo movie and a computer game-that should be interesting.

Updates

1. Billy is "good to go". As always he has to be watched and it is a fact that at some point he will have to have another surgery, it just isn't now. Yee haw! Thank you for praying for him

2. All is well here is the Rodriguez household. We had a great weekend-we went to Chuck E Cheese with all 3 boys and had a blast. Thank goodness my Mom decided to go, it was nice to haev one adult for each child. We also went to PetSmart so that her and Alex could get the rest of the stuff for HIS fish tank. So it is finished and all set up. I have to admit that it is really cool and Aaron and Abbie LOVE it. I am not sure if I worry more about Aaron or Abbie somehow getting into it or tipping it over. Poor Bert and Ernie are being neglected now that there are other fish in the house.

3. Aaron is just amazing. He is so stinkin funny, cute and wonderful.

4. Krissy and Tish put a bid on a house so we should know tomorrow..

5. Prayers for my friend Emily who is pregnant-she needs some love sent her way right now.

6. Peace and love to all of you that read this

I need to get better

So I am great at this for a bit and then I am gone for weeks, I will try. There are a lot of updates and happenings here...

1. Nina is cancer free-they found out yesterday! Thank you for praying.

2. Valentine's Day sucked-we have never celebrated and the tradition didn't change this year. The day started out great with Alex giving Aaron and me a card-totally amazed me. At one time I was a big card person, but for some reason I have become the person that just doesn't think about it anymore-note to self I need to revert back to my old ways. We were suppose to renew our vows, but to some unforseen delays at Denise's Alex was late and I was upset. It turned into an argument and I went to bed at 9pm-enough said.

3. The job is still great. I really like it and am challenged-which is great!

4. The van-on my way home tonight the check engine light came on-are you stinkin kidding me?

5. Krissy and Tish are here-they brought Aaron's V-day gift and money-he got an Elmo movie, TONKA trucks. He is really into them-the presents and the company.

6. We got another fish so we now have Bert and Ernie. Alex found a cool Beta house that you keep two fish in but they are separated-totally cool. We transport them from room to room for the babe.

7. I have lost 12 pounds-woo hoo! 20 to go before August

8. I love my husband even though I have turned into a wench the last 2 days. I owe him an apology of some sort for letting my words be mean and angry.

9. My son is the best kid that ever lived-sorry for the rest of you with children.

10. Tomorrow we are taking Aaron, Ben and Will to Chuck E Cheese.

11. Last but most important...please pray for my friend Missy, her family and her son Billy. Bille has a shunt and Monday he has to have it checked. There is a very great chance that he will have to have another surgery to have it reset. This little guy is amazing and Missy is an incredible Mommy. She loves her son more than I thought she could ever love anyone. He has changed her more in more ways than I ever thought possible. Please pray for them.

Good news on Nina

Thank you so much for praying for this little angel and her family. There is definitely something to be said for the power of prayer and Faith. Please continue your prayers as they go through this time.

Nina is home!!!
Nina was discharged from the hospital at 8:00pm. The girls are sleeping together tonight in Lindsey's bed. It is so good to be home!
The testing began today. Nina was awakened this morning by a man from the transportation team. He was there to take her downstairs for her bone scan. She had to be sedated for this one. I was told that they were going to take pictures of every bone in her body. This took nearly two hours. Nina slept the rest of the day.
At 4:30, she was suppose to start drinking these contrasting fluids for her CT scans. She had to drink 4oz every 45 minutes. Then the scans were to begin at 6:30 this evening. She was so conked out from the earlier sedation, that it was a fight to get her to drink the liquid, but we managed. The evening scans were quick, and Nina was finally allowed to eat real food. She had mac and cheese, sweet corn, and french fries. She went to town!
We have to be back at the hospital on Thursday for a meeting with the Oncologist. Hopefully we won't hear anything before then. No news is good news. Then, next Tuesday she will have the test that involves nuclear medicine. We are so glad that we are doing all this outpatient. Did we mention how great it is to be home?
We treasure the emails that you all have sent. I think I am going to print them out and save them for Nina to read some day. It is neat to hear from some of you that we haven't seen in years. Again, they are all treasures. Thank you so much for your continued support and prayer. Nina is thriving, and your prayers have helped in this.
We have attached some pictures from Nina's stay at the hospital.
Love, Mike & Tonia

Nina Update

For all of those interested in the little girl from my church here is the latest update. Please continue to pray for her and her family.


The latest and the greatest on Nina….
We are all doing well despite the circumstances. Your support remains amazing. We are hearing stories each day about how churches all over the country have been asked to pray for Nina. You have told your neighbors and family members about her. People who you work with are praying and asking about Nina. We have truly felt like God has been carrying us during this past week, and we thank you once again for your part in this.
Nina's catheter was removed yesterday afternoon, and she is able to get up and use the potty. Her spunk is back. She was quite spirited today walking down the hall with her hiney peaking out the back of her gown, yelling "No, No, No, I can't walk." She screams this as she makes her way all the way down to the fish tank by the elevators. This was quite a little walk as her room is the last one at the end of her hall. Then every time she went to climb back into bed, she would allow no help from anyone. She'd creep slowly onto the bed like a 95 year old woman, making lots of noise the whole time, "Ow, Ow, Ow! I can do it! I can do it!" If anyone tried to help at all she would yell, "I can do it," even louder. It stinks to watch her in pain, but we are glad to see her independence coming back. Getting up and out of bed is the best thing for her recovery, so we need to force lots of walks.
She still has everything else hooked up, and hasn't had a bite to eat or drink of water since Wednesday. They think her bowels are starting to wake up from the anesthesia, and she may get to lose the nose tube tomorrow. This would mean clear liquids. Yay!
We weren't left hanging through the weekend. Both biopsies were completed by yesterday afternoon. Here is what we know. There were three things the tumor could be
Ganglioneuroma- Benign tumor (we knew after surgery that we weren’t getting this diagnosis)
Ganglioneuroblastoma- Intermediate tumor with both cancerous and non-cancerous cells present
Neuroblastoma- most aggressive.
Nina has been diagnosed with #2 a Ganglioneuroblastoma. We are thrilled it wasn't #3!!! What a blessing that this was discovered early. It is amazing this tumor was ever found in the first place. For those who may not know, Nina was sent in for an ultra sound after having 3 urinary tract infections in less than 6 months. Her pediatrician thought she might have a condition called kidney reflux. This is not a fun condition either, but we would have gladly taken it over cancer. So, she had the ultra sound a week ago Thursday, and praise God for the amazing technician, Jenny, who found the tumor. Jenny has already come to our room at the hospital to visit us. She said she has been thinking about Nina and praying for her ever since the ultra sound. I gave her the biggest hug. Jenny is one of our heroes.
Several doctors have said that it is unlikely that the urinary tract infections had anything to do with the ganglioneuroblastoma. They have said this tumor may have been found by chance. We are so thankful for the UTIs.
More good news…The bone marrow biopsy has come back and both samples taken were negative. This is so promising to us. Nina will start many more tests in the coming week. She will need CT scans on her chest and pelvic region, a bone density scan, and some tests involving nuclear medicine. They are looking for more cancer/tumors. God has heard and answered all the Nina prayers so far. We ask for prayers now that all her scans and tests come back clean. We hope that once they have all the information, Nina’s cancer will be staged low.
Yesterday started off rough, Mike needed to go in to work for a few hours. Southwestern schools were closed because of ice, so Lindsey came to the hospital with Grandma. The girls hadn’t seen each other since the night before surgery. When Nina and Lindsey saw each other, they both started crying. Nina was crying first because she wanted to go home, so Lindsey started crying because she was so sad to see her sister this way. Seeing both my children hurting, hurt me so bad. Soon we were all three in tears. We miss our old life, but we are doing our best to keep smiling and laughing.
We wanted to include one of the pictures we took of our "Sleeping Beauty" at the hospital, but we don't have the cord to download pictures. Maybe we'll get a picture sent out tomorrow.
Love, Mike & Tonia