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Hope in a Fortune Cookie

By Margot | February 8, 2008

I’m woefully behind this week at just about everything, work, school stuff,  and of course, posting on the website.  Sorry for the long delay.  The only numbers of import that I have to share this week are LDH: 630 (normal) and IL6 - 33 Normal is below 3.1. It’s way above normal.  The IL6 number was taken back on the day before Sam got his braces.  It’s an inflammatory number as well so I hope like the VegF number, it will go back down again.  It’s a pretty good cancer marker but is not usually a marker for bone disease.  It has to do with tissue somehow, so that is comforting unless we are beginning to get soft tissue disease.  All the speculation will end with the upcoming scan -still no date on that yet but it is being scheduled.

Sam is doing well.  I volunteered in his class for an hour yesterday and they celebrated the Chinese New Year.  Mrs. Gage brought in sticky rice and all of the kids learned how to use chopsticks and they learned the Chinese zodiac. Sam is a dragon which he thinks is really cool. He wanted me to stay for lunch and though I needed to get back to work, I did and I was so glad I did.  He and I had a great time together eating lunch and  I watched him play the hand ball game that the boys play at lunch. 

We had Chinese food last night for Chinese New Year’s and Sam’s fortune cookie said “You will live a long life.”  There it is, in a silly mass produced fortune cookie, but I clung to it anyway.  Sam said, “So mom, when I’m really old, I’ll live a long time, like your grandmother Owie.  I’ll live till I’m 103.” 

We have a basketball game tonight at 5:30.  We lost by a large margin again last week but Matthew made a last second shot (our only basket of the game) and the whole place erupted so the kids went home happy and I think some of them thought we won.  We play a very tall team today and we’ve scrimmaged them in practice a couple of times.  Sam said today, “Mom, I’m ready.  Can I guard the same guy I guarded at practice, the really good shooter?”  I’m ready to win.”   He’s so awesome.

I went with Andy on a field trip this week.  His preschool went to an International Refugee Center in City Heights, San Diego to play with the kids.  They’ve been writing letters to them for the past couple of months.  They are kids from Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia and  many other war torn countries.  I have just finished reading What is the What?  by Dave Eggers, a fantastic book for those of you who can’t sleep at night. It is a narrative by one of The Lost Boys of Sudan and the story is amazing.  It will however give you something else to worry about.  I had grand illusions of the field trip being a life changing experience for Andy but he pretty much hung with his buddies and had a great time but didn’t interact a whole lot. (I know, realistic expectations would be nice, mom).  He loved the bus ride. ;-).  He’s very ready for kindergarten and asks me practically every day when he’s going to get to go.

Charlie is doing well.  He is talking more and more.  He says “No”  all the time now but he says it so nicely, “nooo.”  It’s never a mad no. 

Please say some prayers and think good thoughts for our friend Michael Haley.  He has been in this fight as long as we have and Larry and Neil are very good friends. He is from Orange County and is not doing well. He has an infection that is very serious.  Sam has played with him and his brothers and he’s a wonderful kid.

That’s all for my update today.  More soon and once I catch up on things, I’ll post pictures.

 Margot

 

 

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