Sam's First Chamber Orchestra Concert

Sam worked so hard to audition and get into Chamber Orchestra.  These videos are actually of the regular 8th grade orchestra because I was too enthralled to tape the smaller orchestra.  Wonderful concert.  We are so lucky to have these opportunities in our district.  After my small town school experience, this just amazes me. 

The first piece is the Theme from Schindler's List.  The solos are pretty impressive!  The orchestra played this for a Holocaust Rememberance Program.  Also impressive is the fact that it is self directed.  The second is Eleanor Rigby, a Beatles classic. 

Listen for the bass.  Love it!

Their next tour is at Christmastime at Hennepin County Government Center.  Looking forward to it!

Headache Update or Would Somebody Please Remove the Axe that is Stuck in the Top of My Head

I haven't been good about updating our blog. Mostly because I just haven't been up to it.

Last Spring, a medication that had been working to treat my pseudotumor was discontinued by the manufacturer. It just wasn't profitable enough for them to continue making it despite the fact that many people had found success in it's use. Yes, big business and health care are terrible partners.

Since then, I have had almost a continuous spinal headache. This is not a migraine. I've appreciated hearing from people who have had a spinal headache because they are so empathetic. Thankfully, Darren has had one, so he knows the level of pain that I live with. Yep, it's pretty bad and it does not end.

Things have changed with my headaches as well. Panic attacks, which I am told are normal when in anticipation of great pain and cabin fever have been the worst. It feels very familiar to when I was first diagnosed and had no answers. This has significantly changed my life and to be quite honest, I'm pretty sick of it.

As well, I have been experiencing abdominal pain, which I also had when I was first diagnosed, so perhaps it's related. Anyhoo, I've had every test under the sun and all have been negative, which is positive. It's better than it was in the Spring, but still annoying.

Everything I've accomplished in the last few months has been in spite of pain, which is pretty remarkable when I look at it in hindsight, but pretty unbearable when I'm actually doing it. Please know that if I haven't been able to attend something or visit you that it's not because I haven't wanted to, but because I physically haven't been able to. I'll be updating our blog with recent events, but not many of them have been very easy for me. Living with an invisible chronic illness can be pretty rough on it's own, but by far the worst part is feeling like life is marching on by without you. As well, people seem to think your just fine or cured if you're "caught" experiencing life. Please remember as you read our updates that I've done all of these things in spite of great pain and that I'm always wishing I could do more.

Prayers are appreciated if that's your thing. If it's not, do it anyway. I need them.

Thanks!
Betsi

A Hunting We Will Go

Sam got his first deer this year.  It was a yearling buck.  Darren got a nice 8 pointer.  Our freezer is full. 

Sam shot a box of shells the night before, using the giant banana as a target.  He and his friend both won a giant banana at Dave and Busters.  The minute we got them in the car, they were plotting unique ideas for banana destruction. 

Mom and I enjoyed bumming around while the guys were out of town.  It was a really fun weekend.  

MEA Getaway

We had made plans to head out of town for MEA weekend.  A quick trip down to Amish country.  I wasn't feeling very well, so we cut the trip short and came back on Saturday.  I'm starting to sound like a broken record!  I think that's one of the hardest things about chronic illness.  It's very hard to make plans.  Darren and Sam are so good to me and so very understanding.  I felt bad for disappointing them yet again, but I did see a gleam of a smile when Sam realized he could get back home to his friends. 

I did enjoy Beaver Creek Valley State Park.  We love the Southern Minnesota state parks.  They're not as crowded as the big headliners like Itasca, St. Croix, or the North Shore ones and they are every bit as beautiful.  Sam and Darren love to trout fish.  This stream was crystal clear and it was filled with wild watercress.  So, you can have salad with or instead of trout depending on your luck.  This was some of the clearest water I have ever seen.  I just loved the sound of it gurgling over the rocks.  If you want to hear for yourself, watch the video below.  We scouted several great campsites right on the creek, so we'd like to come back.  There were lots of campers enjoying the park which was fun to see!

After we left the park, we stopped in Harmony for lunch and a little shopping.  Then on to Lanesboro, pictures below.  Our last stop before heading back to the hotel was the Aroma Pie Shop.  Right on the bike trail, this little gem is worth a stop.

That night Darren and Sam went to the movies to see Real Steel while I rested in the hotel room.  And we headed out the next day, following the Mississippi up the Minnesota side, stopping for a great lunch at Chickadee Cottage Cafe.  We absolutely adore this area and have been three times now.  The bluffs are incredible.  You see Eagles everywhere and the little towns on both sides of the river and Lake Pepin are really fun.         

 The camping cabin was adorable and right on the creek. 

Flymageddon

Houseflies have invaded the hunting cabin.  It may be a result of the big blowdown that happened during a storm or it might be a fluke.  Doesn't really matter why, I guess.  Mom and Tom and Andi had been up to clean once before.  We all went up to do it again in preparation for hunting.  There were literally drifts of dead flies on the furniture, the floor, the beds.  Two shop vacs working hard got them cleaned up, but then we noticed flies gathering in the upper windows.  Very discouraging. 

Tom bug bombed again when we left.  Yuck.      

Sam got a new gun for hunting. 



 The landscape looks very different now that so many trees are gone.  It will be fun to see what grows up and how much it will change in the next few years. 

A flycatcher, not fly catching.  Actually, I think the poor bird was overwhelmed. 

Happy Birthday Sam! 14!!!!

First Day of School Obligatory Photo

He hates this, but I'm happy that he obliges!  8th grade already.  Congratulations Sam!