Just a very short hello to every friend who’s keeping up on our lives!   Nathaniel is back!   Hurray!   We’re in the midst of almost two lovely weeks together, and it has been super.   He was rested and strengthened by his time away, as well as able to accomplish a LOT in Nome.  

I’m doing okay, good days mix with bad, but I think I’m getting a little stronger.   The itching is gone, hip Hip HURRAY!   My radiation wounds are still painful, the burning has continued.   Just today I think I see a bit of progress.

My heart and mind turns often towards home in Nome, but I know I’m not strong enough for the trip let alone tackling life and caring for wee ones on our own.   Mom’s been giving Caleb almost all of his care the last two weeks as this right arm of mine has been so weakened and  painful.   I don’t know what I’d do without her.  

Nathan returns to Nome on Tuesday, and we hope that sometime by the middle of May we’ll be well enough to head back.   Trusting that one to become clear in time.   Thanks for keeping up with us!

Just a funny note... we tried school outside yesterday...stressing the TRIED aspect.   It was too fun, distracting, bright, distracting, windy, distracting, etc.   So we came in and were learning about rainforest.   We’re looking intently at this picture, discussing all of the bugs, monkeys, birds, and other wildlife.   I was throwing in a few details of my own, and said, “The rainforest is so amazing, it’s actually where so much of our medicines comes from, and that keeps scientists busy as they are exploring and learning about the wonderful world God made!”  

After a while, Shaina looks up at me from her peering intently at the picture.   “Mommy, I just don’t see any little bottles there.   How do the scientists find the medicine, are they under the leaves?”   I haven’t stopped smiling... it was a good question!   I knew what I meant, but she surely didn’t.   “Honey, I’ll be back... I’m off to the rainforest for some infant tylenol and maybe an ibuprofen or two!”

I’ve been having some recurrence of “chemo brain.”   Just foggy inability to say what I’m trying to do.   It’s not nearly as sever as before, but enough that I’ve gotten some quizzical looks from the children.   (Like when I told Kate to put her french fries on... the mix of trying to get her shoes on while plotting what I was going to get the children at our little McDonald’s outing!)  

At Mom’s suggestion (I’m blaming this on her!) I told the children about it, laughingly so they wouldn’t be concerned, but also so they would understand my word mix ups.   Now Noah regularly nods knowingly and points to his head.   “It’s your brain, Mommy.”   Talk about humbling!  The problem is, he’s doing it when what I’m saying is just fine!   Help!   Maybe I’ll just see if they have any brain pills under that rainforest leaf!   :)