Spring!

The calendar says spring and they are forecasting a few inches of snow tonight into tomorrow.  It can't be too far away though, because baby kitties!

We have a bazillion cats, but only a handful of tame ones.  Peanut had 4 babies a couple of weeks ago.  She lost one when her box tipped over, but still has 3 healthy babies.  Our housecat, Cingrilla, also had a litter a few days later.  She had a total of 6 babies, lost 1 right away, but still has 5 babies in a box in our basement.  I am not sure how I am going to get all of these cats out of my house.  If anyone wants a kitten...I'll even throw in free replacement if it doesn't make it :)  We have a few we can spare.  

Peanut's newborns

Shelby with a Cingrilla baby

Things have been running fairly smoothly.  Pat's parents took a 10 day trip to Hawaii which left Pat and I in charge.  My sister and dad came to help get the kids ready for school so I could milk in the mornings.  Upon his parent's return, we headed to Sioux Falls for a night without kids.  Pat's dad is having knee surgery again, today, so we wanted to get away before we won't be able to for a while.  We didn't have anything specific in mind, just a little shopping.  We came home with a new car.  That was not the plan, but I'm weak and wasn't about to say "no, don't buy me that nice shiny new car!"  We traded in our Expedition for a Yukon.  I didn't realize how much Pat hated the Expedition, but he really likes the Yukon.  I really like all the fancy buttons and gadgets!  

The boys took swimming lessons and finished up last week.  They were both in the same level this year.  Tate moved up last year and Cole didn't move on.  I wasn't sure how it would go.  Tate is just generally a bit more daring and athletic than Cole is.  Cole also tends to sink like a rock.  They both managed to pass, which was exciting.  

I am so ready for warmer weather so I can send my kids outside!  Tate and Shelby have been at each other more than usual lately.  They are like oil and water most days.  The other night Shelby went to Pat's sister's with his parents.  We didn't let the boys go since it was a Sunday night and would be late getting home.  All evening Tate moped around asking when she'd be home.  Monday morning, while he was getting ready for school, and she was still sleeping (which is the norm), he kept asking when she'd be up.  They can't stand to be around each other and they can't stand to be apart.  

Cole is not the most outgoing kid.  He doesn't need a lot of friends.  He tends to be more of a loaner.  He's not and never has been very empathetic.  He made a great friend last year in second grade and they are still getting along great this year, despite different teachers.  He was invited to a slumber party this week to the house of a new student in his class.  I asked him who else was invited and he listed his best buddy, another boy, and another boy who is special needs (I think he's on the autism spectrum, but am not positive what his diagnosis is).  He explained that they were thinking that Z~ probably didn't get invited to a lot of parties, so they thought they would invite him.  I was floored.  I couldn't ask for better friends for him than that.  I hope they keep that attitude through high school.

Tonight I am heading to Mayo to get my memory tested and brain scanned over the next couple of days.  My sister and I have been participating in a research study for the last couple of years.  I hate it.  I'd love to pull the plug and say "I"m out!", but I know that's not an option.  I love spending time with my sisters without kids, but I'd rather do it on a warm beach than while getting injected with radioactive dye.  Adulting is hard.

Research

Oops, so it's been almost 5 months since my last post.  I may update you before the next 5 months, but today is something I need to blog about.  I know I've mentioned before that my mom has FTD, frontal temporal dementia.  My Dad has been taking her to research appointments at Large Hospital and has even consented to donate her brain when she is gone.  The problem is that they can do all the research they want after a person has been diagnosed, but it does them little good if they don't know what causes it or how it starts.  Large Hospital has been hoping to start a study on those with a family history, but haven't had the funding.  Enter my sister and me.  Today the call came in.  They have funding.

I am scared to death.

Of course, I consented and have appointments set.  It's nothing difficult on my part.  Memory tests, scans, blood draw.  The scary part is that I don't want to know.  Being in research means they will run tests every year and if we have it, it could lead to an earlier diagnosis.  I don't want to know.  I do not want to know which road I will travel down until I am traveling it.  It's scary seeing my mom and wondering if that will become me.  I'm not sure I can handle actually knowing.

So I do this for my kids and my grandkids.  If they can learn something from me.  If they can find a way to stop it, stall it, or treat it because of this research, then it is worth knowing.  I pray the data they collect from me and my sister will be worthless, because I pray this disease ends with my mom.  If it doesn't, then I pray this research gives my kids a better future.

But, I'm still scared to death.