We are Going on a Tumor Hunt

OK So here we go again. STUPID CUSHINGS! I can not believe I am at this place again! But the hunt is on- to see if they can find a STUPID tumor. My ACTH is high so the ASSUMPTION is that the Cushings is coming out of remission. As I toasted my Yummy drink with a friend last night (She had something far tastier that I!) I thought CRAP here we go again. Today was DAY 1 in the tumor hunt. CT Scan of the Adrenal glands. Since cortisol production by the adrenal glands is normally under the control of the pituitary, overproduction can be caused by a tumor in the pituitary or within the adrenal glands themselves. Place #1 to look in the hunt. Now, if drinking this horrid junk was not enough. I got there and they told me I would also have IV Contrast. This was bad for 3 reasons. 1. I HATE IV's - you would think I would be tough after having a previous tumor yanked out through my nose, but no- I still fidget, complain and whine. The poor man was so nervous- he blew out my vein for which I promptly fired him and asked for reinforcements. 2. I have had dye contrast before but always for the brain. Today the dye went in- I thought I peed my pants so I yelled, "I think I just peed!" They ignored me-I guess they were laughing too hard in their glass castle. 3. Whatever they did,it has given me a whopper of a headache! So waiting for results. Monday the hunt continues...MRI of the pituitary. Another IV with contrast- Hopefully I have a ripe vein.

Just Dance

What a great game!!! I do not know what made me laugh harder- Gabe dancing to Cotton Eye Joe or Kevin dancing to Can't touch this by MC Hammer(He made me PROMISE I would not include pictures of him!) Yeah- I think Kevin as MC Hammer wins!!!!

STUPID

Anyone who knows me knows I do not like the word stupid. My kids know not to say it and actually inform me of other "offenders" Unfortunately, last week it was ME. Me who dealt with the stupid, acted stupid and yes at times, even said the word out loud (actually VERY loudly) in front of the kids and whoever else was within earshot. I am not proud but let me tell you-last week was STUPID.
Kevin Left Monday morning for Washington DC for business-Stupid out of town business!
Tuesday- morning the nurse from my endocrinologists office called- my blood work in- it is pretty high (71-it was 86 the day of my surgery in 2008) Stupid Cushings Disease. More than likely it is out of remission. Repeat blood work on Monday- Stupid needles. If high again- look for tumor- stupid tumor. Depending on IF or WHERE they find it hiding- Back to the Mayo I go- Stupid Mayo!
Wednesday-miserable, feeling sorry for myself, toilet overflows, stupid toilet! Can't find plunger! Consider other options- too gross to repeat- stupid septic system. Found the plunger- it the garage- stupid place for it.
The Biggest stupid day of all- FRIDAY-
Ben was set to go to a camp starting Monday. Registered in April, sent the paperwork in noted the dreaded peanut allergy- Stupid allergies! Never heard from them- called and called and called-stupid phone system.
Finally spoke to a human. No idea of Ben's allergy. Stupid human on the other end of the phone.
Local director called. Informed me of the "recycling" project. Please bring left over food containers from home.
My response: Are you stupid?(NO I DID NOT SAY IT) I thought you told me there would be nothing hindering Ben's camp experience.
Now you are telling me people will be bringing in food containers, do you mean stupid peanut butter jars, stupid Honey Nut cheerio boxes. Stupid people.
Went to the pool, to forget about the crisis with camp.
Gabe fell- hit his lip- stupid pool. Apparently lips bleed a lot- stupid lip.
Ben broke another bracket on his braces- stupid braces!
Stupid man from stupid camp called. Ben can't attend. Not safe. Stupid allergy.
Left the pool- go to orthodontist- nearly hit by Stupid driver, texting on his stupid phone.. Went home crawled into my stupid bed (Really I love my bed). Mad at the whole Stupid week
There you have it! I no longer need to say the word- it has served its purpose for now!
Stupid word!

YIKES

I made a formal announcement in our house this morning. It was right after I stepped on that scary K Nex piece. Yielding the piece like a lunatic I raised it above my head and screeched, "The next time I step on a Lego, a K Nex or any Bionnicle they will be thrown into the trash. As the boys stared wide eyed, at their ranting mother the littlest Kahl of all had the nerve to look at me with all of the innocence he could muster and reply, "But that was YOUR creation Mommy!" OK then-conversation OVER!

We Are Sooo Cool

The search is over. I FINALLY found a medical bracelet for Ben. Kevin and I have completely ignored the fact that Ben really should wear a medic alert bracelet. We knew Ben would not like the "traditional" medic bracelet. I even had by neighbor make mine look pretty with beads. (I wear one for my Cushings Disease -Right now my body is at risk of not producing enough cortisol in times of stress like a car accident so my bracelet tells EMT's I need a stress dose of cortisol.) BUT getting back to Ben. We never thought he needed one or would actually keep one on. Ben is very verbal about keeping himself safe. I think it was my sister who said we should get one just in case Ben was unable to speak. It is piece of mind and really cool. The bracelet is from Allerbling.com I was happy to give them by business because they are dedicated to research and donate proceeds to great causes!!! So now we BOTH look really cool!!!!!

CAMPING AT THE "COVE"

Kevin took the boys to a great Cub Scout event last night. The went to watch the Silverhawks- which is our minor league team) play baseball, they watched fireworks and then camped overnight ON THE FIELD!!!! They also watched a movie on the screen (Angels in the Outfield) I love these times they get to have. Not because I got to sit at the computer and watch the whole first season of GLEE (GREAT show!) but because these are memories that they will have forever. Now, they are all showered and recovering. I heard bedtime was around 2 AM.

HOT! HOT! HOT

It is HOT here. It is really HOT. Really, really HOT. Do you see that temperature 120 degrees(in full sun) The other one is actually MY VAN which now has a broken air conditioner. It is HOT. We all are sweating. We all stink. We are all short tempered (Well maybe just me). We all played in the sprinklers and with squirt guns tonight (Oops. I guess that wasn't me) As you can see, the boys are all happy. When someone looks at me with a serious face and says, "I do not mind the heat" I look at them like they are an alien. How could you like this? Ben, Gabe and I stayed in the basement until this evening. It feels like a cave down there. Ben amazed me by painting this canvas. He mixed all of the "custom colors" He worked all afternoon which was good, because did I mention it is HOT here? BUT I am thankful today. Thankful that we have air, that we can afford to run the air, that my husband braved the heat to let the kids out of the cave, that I am not in Africa (Where our friend is)- it REALLY IS hot 124 degrees today! That my kids had great fun anyway, that tomorrow is suppose to be a little cooler.

Backyard Art Class

Ben's very talented art instructor agreed to hold an outdoor art class for some of the neighborhood kids. The goal: For every child to complete a canvas. He accomplished this, which was really quite amazing considering the very wide range of ages and abilities. Although it was VERY HOT (I complained to the adults at every opportunity) it was a great class. I do not understand how- but all of the children were able to DRAW a monkey and transfer the monkey onto a canvas and paint. Gabe's monkey is camouflaged into the pink and purple background and there was one Super Mario (Hey- he is older and I found out older children do not "do" monkeys) I get that! But other than that- monkeys all around. Art instructors amaze me!

Swimming at the"almost in our yard" Pool

Oh the pure joy the children have while swimming very close to their house. Can you imagine what it would be like if the pool were actually in OUR yard? All THREE of the boys could be heard from our house. They were laughing BIG laughs, screeching with happiness, splashing around. Please Kevin(Daddy), Please!!!!!!!!!

4th Of July 2010

We are having a great 4th of July at our house. We hope everyone is having a great day as well! We began our celebration yesterday with a neighborhood parade, followed by popsicles and play. In the evening we had our 5th Annual Kahl Backyard Camp Out. For Mary it was a "camp in"(Don't tell me you all would have passed on air conditioning, a king sized bed and quiet over a tent in the humid night air with two very dirty, very stinky children.). We ate, shot off the parachute guys (always a highlight), ate some more, watched A LOT of fireworks, ate some more, ran around in the dark playing flashlight tag. The key to this game as an adult is to NOT have a flashlight and remain very still so no children can actually find you- get it? We are recovering today. Kevin and Gabe are asleep Ben and a friend are playing upstairs. We might venture to the pool because it is 1000 degrees today, but maybe we will just stay put. Happy 4th of July everyone!!!