Marching Swine

Surely I will die for posting this picture, so enjoy it while you can, LOL! It's been a crazy few weeks with Chris traveling all over the Pacific Northwest as a member of the award-winning Kamiak Show Band and Sam playing host to swine flu/H1N1. Above, you see her curled up on the loveseat sleeping, but notice that her cell phone is firmly clutched in her hand. Heaven forbid she miss a text message!

I think Chris is enjoying the marching season, but I also think he's tired and ready for it to be over. He's got some tough classes this year, so between those and band, he doesn't get much "down" time.

Sam's case of H1N1 ended up being particularly stubborn. She's missed nearly two weeks of school under doctor's orders, has had a chest xray to evaluate wheezing, and now uses an inhaler periodically to help her through temporary breathing difficulties caused by H1N1. We're watching her closely to make sure it doesn't turn into pneumonia. I think her body's simply wiped out from trying to heal the knee injury AND chase away the virus. Yuck.

Chris and Wayne had something a couple weeks ago, but seemed to fight it off well. I'm hoping that's all they have to deal with this H1N1 stuff. I have a lot of coughing and crud left, so will probably get myself to the doctor in time. No fever though, so chances are they couldn't do anything for me yet anyway.

We hope all of you are surviving this tough flu season. Stay healthy!

In Loving Memory of Grandma 'Rie

Today we lost a mom, friend, and grandmother. Marie Elizabeth Freeze always considered me her "third daughter". She was an amazing woman who gave me my best friend and husband, and made me feel loved by a second family. I am lucky to have called her mom...

Wayne wrote the following tribute that I'd like to share with you:

I miss my Mommy.

Earlier today, my mother passed quietly away at age 83. She stayed with us for another five years after I lost my father to colon cancer. Even though there was an entire country separating us, it always felt like she was just down the street. We were always on the phone talking about what was going on with my family or what was happening with my sisters. When we realized she didn't have a lot of time left, my daughter Samantha and myself flew home and spent a couple of days with her. Though she was heavily medicated, she knew we were there. She referred to Sammy as her "sweet girl" and she called me "her boy" just before I had to leave for the airport. Now that she's gone, I feel there's a big hole in my life and I'm not sure what's going to happen in the days to come. However mother did everything she wanted to do and left knowing that all of her children and grandchildren were in a good place.

Good bye, Mom. Give Dad a hug for me. I miss you both.