Birthday Sunday

 In case you can't quite make it out, Parker's outfit up there says "Grandma is simply the best".  I didn't even buy it for him!  : )  It was quite nice of him to wear it for my mom and I, though.

Then, since Parker is a baby and Aunt Amy isn't used to changing a lot of diapers, Parker had to change clothes.  Can you guess who got into the diaper bag and picked out the 2nd outfit of the day??  Yup!  That would be this Iowa Hawkeye Grandma!  Of course, there was already talk to Eric taking Parker to his first Iowa game.  I can tell that I've taught my children well about who to be a fan of in the college football world!  : )

 Parker still looks so tiny to me!  He was one day shy of being a month old in these pictures.  The only one of my children that he weighs more than they did at birth is Amber.  He isn't as large as the other 4 at their birth weights yet.  He is darn stinkin' cute and sweet and awesome, though. 

 The real reason for the gathering last Sunday was that it was Candice's birthday.  GreatMa and Jonah fixed up the cake.  And all of the candles got lit before the lighter gave out!

Parker wasn't really much help while his mom was trying to blow out the candles.  He was wide awake, though, and his Mom wanted him there with her!  (Did I mention that he is darn stinkin' cute?!)

 Look at this wide awake fella.  His hair isn't quite brown or red, more of a brownish-reddish.  He's rockin' that Iowa outfit and hanging out with us all.  He certainly is more alert now than he was even a week ago.  Let the good times roll!

After the birthday gathering the week got a whole lot more complicated.    Sunday night Bruce ended up in the hospital, getting blood transfusions.  They determined on Monday that he had several peptic ulcers and that they had been bleeding.  They did a GI scope and a couple of biopsies Monday afternoon.  He was able to get out of the Keokuk hospital on Tues. evening.  Thursday we were at the VA clinic and hospital in Iowa City, where we learned absolutely nothing.  Except that dealing with the VA is frustrating.

Bruce does have to be back at the VA Hospital this coming Tuesday.  They are going to scope him again and most likely take their own biopsies.  I doubt if we will learn anything new at all then, but at least it's something hopefully headed in the right direction for an answer and healing.  (We are looking for answers about what caused the ulcers and clarifying the biopsies that were done in Keokuk).

As it looks to be another crazy, busy week, consider that no news is good news!  Thankfully, school hasn't started yet, though Jordan is involved in marching band activities already.  I'm pretty sure we can handle that schedule!  I hope!






Thats about it from me today.  It truly has been a very long week and I'm tired.  Not as tired as Bruce is, but I am tired.  I may not leave the house today, except for when the doggies need to visit the great outdoors, aka the back yard.


I would greatly appreciate keeping Bruce in your prayers, especially on Tues.  Thanks so much.


Dawn