Oh where to start .....

So much to write about and for some strange reason I hardly feel the energy to do this but since you know me you will find I will have a hard time stopping once I start to write ... so

.... I owe it to my dumplings to brag about their huge success at our latest Ski and Snowboarding outing this past Monday. Ron and I wanted to see how a family outing to Monarch would play out and according to the boys and I it was one of the best days we ever spend together as a family playing together.

Ron was truly taken, seeing how well the boys did on their snowboards and after a few warmups on the Snowball Run with the Caterpillar lift we all headed over to the first lift. This part went well at the bottom but not very well at the top. All four of us fell off the lift due to the attendance not watching the lift and not slowing it down. The boys are still to short to get a fast jump off and by Ron and I trying to help them off but also being on skis was not the best combination. Ron went to talk to the attendant afterwards and it was interesting to find out he was smoking weed while on the job. We had one more hiccup on another lift but after that it went smoothly for Ron and the boys, thanks to Ron getting the Manager involved and him being very courteous and attentive to the problem. I admit I did not feel comfortable enough to take the boys up again but got a few runs in by myself and Ron even got some skiing in on the Black Diamonds.

However, the amazing part of this day is that we skied and snowboarder for 6 Hours!!! And the boys raced down the green hills and finished with a blue in the end. They got better the longer the day went on instead of tiring and Ron was confident in their ability that he took them one at a time on the Blue. We felt so proud and I love seeing that they have a gift for this as a true Colorado Native should :):):)

Now this was our highlight for the beginning of this week but here were our worries. 

On Monday our Niece Tammy went in for a serious Back Surgery. The surgery went well but she is still in the hospital recovering and might have to stay longer then planned.

On Monday my nephew Sebastian also went in for surgery on his knee. The surgeon took out a Tennis Ball sized knot and as of now he is also recovering well.

On Monday a very dear friend went into surgery as well. Monica is also recovering well and was released from the hospital last night.

On Tuesday I found out that another two of my nephews were brutally assaulted and both are recovering from numerous injuries.

We also found out that my Dad is still battling health issues that are scary and my brother is also due for a checkup for his foot.

There was a highlight on Tuesday afternoon and that came in the form of a phone call. I had a friend during my years in TX who was more like a sister then a friend. It was sad that five years ago life threw us a curve ball that had us loose touch. Thanks to Facebook we reconnected again and finally talked on the phone and hear each others voice again. I am very grateful to this as it was a missing part to my life.

Last night I sat down to do my part about filing taxes and that includes anything medical for our family and of course Connors medicals, treatments, millages, travel expenses etc etc.

Now before I write more there will never every be a price tag on my dumplings medical treatments and I said it in the beginning of this blog, and I say it now, that we gladly give all we have in order to save our boys life. I also know that there will never be enough money in this world to replace one of my babies.

All this however does not change the fact that I still get sad and a bit sick to my stomach when I sit down each year for the past two and look at the mountain of money we had to come up with to get Connor the treatments he needs and deserves and also still trying to give the boys the most 'normal' life and expectancies that other children have and take for granted. We never had any help when it came to paying medical bills or getting any donations. We know it is our family, and our responsibility to take care of our kids! The part that gets to me and makes me want to cry is the knowledge that not only is my son penalized with a disease that has no cure and had him in horrid pain in the past, on top of that he and his brother are robbed of the opportunity so many families around us do take for granted. The amount of money we use to pay medical related bills are huge even with Insurance. So yes we would take the same steps again and we do not regret any choices we made in regards to Connors care but does this mean I can not be sad and heat broken at the cost that comes with it???

I am ending with some pictures of the happy memories we made on Monday :)

Hugs,

R A C A