Welcome Fall! Why is it still hot?!

I am having an incredible amount of trouble with the idea that autumn begins tomorrow. We are stuck in the 90’s through next week and my feng shui is totally off. Not a complaint, really, but I do not get this state. We simply have lost track of time and it feels so wild. We hope everybody back home takes time to enjoy ArtPrize! At least take a stroll for us.

For anyone who is going crazy for an update; the past ten days seem to have been…busy. At least for Chelsea, who is working her tail off and doing a crazy sweet job. I am bias, for what that is worth, but she is indeed the best student at ISU and certainly my favorite. HIPPA doesn’t want us to get too involved, but I do know that she is really doing well with both of her clients. Chelsea has stepped out of generic teaching guides from her books and planned activities custom to each client and their individual interests. Chelsea also had an opportunity to lead her group study this week and managed to have a really good time. I am really proud of the way she lead the group with ease and the approach she took. It was the first time she came home from school with all good stories. That sounds really bad. Chelsea, the sweet girl, seems to come home with another student’s paper with poor remarks on it or yogurt spilled everywhere. I don’t know why she’s so unlucky, but this week was good, except for the raspberry juice in her purse. We could have done without that.

I’m sure a majority of people know this, but a week and a half ago Chelsea found a lump on her throat accompanied by pain. We went to the med center and they referred us to the ENT where we found out about thyro-glossal duct cysts. Chelsea and I were worried about what the lump was and what our next move would be, but luckily the science of it all intrigued Chelsea enough to distract from what was going on. Chelsea gave me the full recap of what the doctor was doing with the camera down her nose, and every bone and tissue it passed. If anyone needs info on the nose and throat, I can field questions now. I really was grateful for something to take her mind off of other concerns. We scheduled an appointment for an ultrasound at the big hospital and were told that they would be able to discern what the lump was, as we hadn’t received a definitive answer at that point. But the visit produced no information and all worry as the weekend arrived. Monday morning we were finally able to reach the office to find out if they had the results before her Wednesday follow-up appointment. On the phone the lady told Chelsea that the problem was simply an inner ear infection and to just keep taking meds and to forget the Wednesday appointment. This news made absolutely zero sense and really threw us for a loop. Why would the lump in her throat be caused by an inner ear infection? It wasn’t. The lady gave her the wrong patient’s information. Nice! Seriously, bad luck, all the time. We found out at the appointment that the original prognosis is 90% certain and that she will need surgery to get the lump removed. We are still praying that they don’t find something else and that we are able to figure out the best route now. We appreciate every prayer for the process and that there is no more bad news. So as of now… they are saying it is a thyro-glossal duct cyst.

I don’t like having Chelsea go through this stuff right now…ugh, this is life, right? I don’t know why, but I was hoping to lift Chelsea’s spirits after her appointment by going to the pet store to look at the cats. I don’t know why I think that is a good idea. But while we were there we saw a tiny gray and white female kitten in a litter of six and Chelsea loved her. Chelsea told me that she had always wanted a cat exactly that description. What was I suppose to do? Yup, we got the cat. I blame Ruby Stacy for this. If we didn’t miss her, I swear…

Thank goodness she is used to sleeping all day because it seems too difficult to share space with her sometimes. Her tiny body is easy to miss and I don't know how many times we have kicked her.

I’m really hoping we don’t regret this little pistol. She is 8 weeks old and a little nugget of trials. She has a lot of trouble finding her litter box and this brings Chelsea great joy. No sarcasm there. Chelsea loves watching me clean up the pee…and the poop…three times. She loves her. What have I done? We struggled picking the right name and had great suggestions from Annalie (Grayfur- yes that is one word), MackenzieTaylor after Taylor Swift) and Brayden (Meow), but wanted to find something with significance to Idaho. My vote for Hemmingway after Ernest Hemmingway, who lived in Ketchum until he committed suicide, was (Chelsea’s words here) shot down. Granted, the story is morbid, but I really like his literature, and seriously, ‘shot down’… choose different words. We reached consensus on Payette after the Payette River, a branch of the Snake River in southwest Idaho.

We really didn't want to give her a bath on the first day and scare her to death, but she really smelled. Drowned rat.

Payette is such a heavy dreamer. She kicks like crazy and does this sucking/ licking thing while she sleeps and it is definitely entertaining.

As promised I included a picture of the painting we completed. Chelsea and I collaborated on the painting. The painting was inspired by the Grand Tetons at sunset and of course some pictures of Payette Grayfur-Taylor-Meow  Bruinsma.  

Did you see that Michigan game! (Derek does blogging)

We are so happy to have made it through this past week! What a crazy time. Since our last post Chelsea has met with her first client who is 71 years old, with aphasia and apraxia. Despite her attempts to freak out and be overwhelmed, the first meeting went well, and he seems to be an awesome guy. We were both stoked to hear Chelsea only had one client because it would be easier for her to slip in to... so then she received another client the next day. Forget that easily slipping into thing. Her second client also has aphasia and is a real gnarly 72 year old guy. There are stories about some of the other clients going around and it really sounds like Chelsea lucked out and is feeling a lot better about clinic. The homework, well, that's another story. Now that she is in clinic and things are rolling, Chelsea is adapting to planning her sessions (each client she see's twice a week plus they have group therapy for an hour each day which totals on tuesdays and thursdays to a good 11 hour straight day for her), filling out her reports, preparing for class, reading, and random assignments. I really think the work won't be so bad once she finds the routine. At least that's what we'll stick with.

This is what our Saturday night was like. We are so excited to have a second bedroom equipped with a door, so it is quiet, a desk to study on, great lighting, and plenty of room. But, our living room was apparently the best spot to set up shop. I'm becoming a tip-toe pro thanks to my strong desire for Arnold Palmer and m&m's. I called this the kitchen blockade.

 Chelsea was not thrilled with the workload and the need for every notebook and resource. In all actuality, I wanted Chelsea to be with me during the Michigan game because she was predicting every touchdown. My clairvoyant good luck charm. The thumbs down was for both the homework and first half score.

These are stress zits...'do you see these? I'm freaking out!'

I feel the need to point out these three books are still wrapped. I'm not sure I even want to know how much money is wrapped up in these things. Please read the books, even if it is only to make me happy. I guess I would just make the argument for what should be 'required reading'

I am very happy that Chelsea's embarrassing picture of the week isn't another close up of my face. Great, right? Chelsea still thinks I look like 'a turd'. Allegedly that's her term of endearment. The painting should be done by the next post. I really hope it won't be deemed the embarrassing picture of the week.

 This is a little random, but it was my new discovery this week. This is our local library and I thought it was pretty sweet. LEED certified and it is hard to miss, declaring 'Library!' on every elevation. I even parked in the economical parking spaces next to a prius and a ... dodge neon? Well, at least they had segregated parking to make people feel bad about their vehicle choices.

I started painting houses last week. Wait, let me clarify; I started taping off every inch of a new house last week. I love being the new guy! I have had five job interviews and I am still waiting to hear back from them, but the job hunt continues.

All things considered the week was pretty chaotic with school and job search. The stress was at a high and we were freaking out like pro's. It was awesome to be reminded how God has gifted us and to not get too comfortable and lose sight of what's good. Especially given the significance of 9/11 we are just so incredibly blessed to have family, friends and each other.

Chelsea is working on school work, so thank you for enduring my post. She did want me to include a note to tell everyone about her flowers. Although she did say 'I don't think my flowers are going to grow' this week, she finally saw the fruits of her labor today. We forgot to take a picture of her little green sprout, but I'm sure (with Chelsea's enthusiasm) that you will see one at some point.

Oh, and that Michigan game was awesome! Go Blue!