One More Month...

is feeling a sense of dread/relief after finally scheduling Elliott's brain MRI and follow-up appt today. If I sound like a crazy basketcase at times over the next month, it's because I am! I can't wait until June, so this will (hopefully) be over for another year!

Preparing the Girls...

I would really like to prepare our girls (ages 2 and 5) for their daddy's surgery through the reading of children's books on the subject.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any children's books dealing with a parent having brain surgery.  Do any of you know of a book like this?  It doesn't necessarily have to be brain surgery.

So far, I've been telling them bedtime stories about children who find out that their daddy has to go to the hospital for surgery.  In the stories I discuss what he'll look like when they see him after surgery and focus on what they can do for him to make him feel better.  O(5) is VERY excited about making and doing LOTS of things to make him happy following surgery.  Tonight she said she wished she didn't have school tomorrow, so she could stay home and make plans for daddy.

E(2) is usually asleep by this time, so I need to tell her some stories during the day.  E has really enjoyed seeing the images of her daddy's brain scans, and one day she patted her head and said "my intestines in here!"  Such a funny girl.  Thanks for any input.

Thank You

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and support.  All of the comments and emails have been wonderfully supportive to our family.

Elliott will have to have surgery to remove the brain tumor.  The surgery needs to be soon.  I have taken up the full-time job of researching to make the decision as to which hospital and surgeon are the best fit for him.  I've been on the phone, computer, or at neurologists appt almost constantly since Monday.  I'm looking forward to tumor free brain for Elliott and a nice vacation for all of us once we get on the other side of this.  I can't wait to breathe that huge sigh of relief.

Prayers for a Healthy Brain and Peaceful Hearts

We have recently received the devastating news that Elliott has a brain tumor.  We are currently in the "not knowing" phase of diagnosis which is extremely difficult.  We have very high hopes that his tumor is benign, and we also pray that it will not require surgery.  Please pray for him to be healthy, and if you don't pray, please send thoughts of peace and healing.  We need all that we can get.  Thank you.

Thank you for all of the wonderfully supportive comments and emails.  Just to be clear...Elliott is the husband and daddy of the family not the baby E(2).  Also, to add to the drama of the week, I fell down the stairs last night and have a sprained or possibly broken ankle.  However, on the bright side, it was  a distraction and a little bit of comic relief...I couldn't stop laughing at my extreme stupidity... *sigh*