Tuesday, September 13

What a beautiful day! There were lots of visitors at the zoo today and they were treated to quite a show in Polar Frontier. The polar girls were very active, especially Aurora who delights in jumping against the glass with the children on the other side. I think she loves to hear them squeal when she dives in the water and then pops out right in front of them. Anana was content just swimming or sunning on the rock. The brown bears were pretty sleepy by the time I got over to them but they did pose in their den so the public could get a good look at how very big they are. The moose calves have grown even more in the week since I last saw them.

Fall is nearly here and I love the wild flowers this time of the year. Molly and I have been walking in the woods in the evening and I think it is one of my favorite times of the year.

I need to start getting into winterizing mode pretty soon. I have a lengthy list of things that will need to be done and I don't want to wait until it gets cold to do it. Today we tried to level the dirt from the well we had dug. It is a pretty big job, even with Mr. B on the tractor manning the loader. Of course that left me doing the manual labor and handling the shovel. It looks a little better but it still isn't finished. Lesson #1 never pay the full amount until everything is finished. Lesson #2 follow lesson #1.

Luke and Grandma Go Camping

Click here to view this photo book larger

This is something new that I tried. I took pictures from our camping trip and made them into a book. I had the option to share so I gave it a try. When I signed on, here it was!

In other more important news today. Lily had her appointment with her oncologist and the cancer is gone!! No signs of any neuroblastoma cells any where, not even around the surgery site where the tumor was removed from. She will have to have another MRI in 3 months but if that scan is clear then she will only have to get the MRIs done every 6 months. No doubt we are all elated at this wonderful news. Trish and Chad had planned to participate in the Family Fun Walk in Philadelphia this month and I think I may drive out to participate as well. It is a fund raiser at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for childhood cancer awareness so it is a very worthy cause. And I would really love to see the hospital that saved our little Lily. Enjoy your day! I am so happy, happy, happy. Thanks for all those prayers and keep them coming for the next scan to be clear as well.

Sunday, September 11

GOD BLESS AMERICA! As we reflect on the tragic events of 10 years ago my hope is that we always remember that day but at the same time move our lives forward in a meaningful way. When I think of what the terrorists hoped to steal from us on that day, I believe it was our sense of security. The security of living in a country of freedoms that many cannot even imagine. It is not that we don't experience a loss of security as individuals, every time someone is the victim of a home invasion, an assault or a kidnapping they feel violated. The difference is the magnitude of the attack. 9/11 like Pearl Harbor affected so many people at one time that we collectively felt a loss of safety in our own country. I remember how the climate of our country changed after that day ten years ago, we were more vigilant. I am somewhat saddened that our children are growing up in an atmosphere where an abandoned backpack could contain a bomb instead of a peanut butter sandwich. We did became a more patriotic country following the attacks and it was very refreshing. I also remember it didn't seem to take very long before it was life as usual for most Americans. At the time I was a little disappointed but as I ponder those feelings today, I think it may be a testament to the American spirit. The same spirit that made this country what it is today. If we live in fear then the terrorists have won. So we must show that spirit of resiliency and determination that we will not let a few steal that freedom. "Americans do not live in fear, Americans live in freedom". (a quote from 9/11 Remembered) God bless the families of those who lost their lives on that day and those who have died since in the continued fight against terrorism.

May your days be a little brighter, may you smile more often and may you hold those you love a little tighter as we learn to live in this ever changing world. Love makes all things possible.

Saturday, September 10

Andy with our good friend Larry. Not sure who was more excited about the opening, Larry or his son, Scott.

Today I had the opportunity to go to the Ohio State vs Toledo game. I was a little nervous as I was the guest of an alumni nut...I mean Buckeye fan. We left at 8 am and Mr. Bichler was quick to point out that the game didn't kick off until noon. But we had traditions and rituals that had to be followed and far be it that I be the one to jinx the Ohio State football team. I mean, really, the Bucks have enough problems without me adding to them! So we parked in the usual place, walked the same route to the stadium, checked out some vendors for freebies, went to the Skull Session, left at the appropriate time, bought a hot dog and arrived at our seats 30 minutes before kick off. Oh, and did I mention that we had to bite into a candy buckeye at the precise moment that the kicker was kicking the ball?! All kidding aside, I had a wonderful time and the Buckeyes did come away with a victory, even though the thought did cross my mind that I should go wait in the parking lot when Toledo took the lead early in the 1st quarter. Hopefully the team got their "bad" game out of the way and will be ready to play next week. The weather was perfect for the game and I had a really good time.

When I arrived back home, Mr. B informed me that we had been invited to the private seating at Rothwell's Family Restaurant in London. This new restaurant is where the London Perkins once was. Larry Rothwell's son, Scott, is the owner/manager. This was a dress rehearsal for their public opening next week. Overall it was a good experience and their signature appetizer of kraut balls was really good, and I don't even like sauerkraut, but Larry insisted that I try them.

Thursday, September 8

My, oh, my time does fly!!  Hug those babies, they grow up so fast.

Have not been able to get caught up on mowing the yard.  Guess I should have tried to get it done on Tuesday like my neighbor.  Oh, well....guess it isn't going any where.  Mr. B has been asked if he would agree to be interviewed by the re-certification board for Dodd Hall.  Seems as though each day he gets another phone call about something.  Must be nice to be famous.  He is getting excited to use his Father's day gift from Sara next week.  He has tickets to the Cubs vs Reds in Cincinnati next Thursday.  I am hoping it warms up a little and the rain will be gone by them.  No matter what the weather, I am sure we will have a good time at the Great American Ball Park.

Wednesday, September 7

I'm not going to spend too much time on the blog tonight or should I say this morning, as it really is Thursday 1 a.m.  I did want to include the website URL for Mr. Bichler's profile on the OSU Rehabilitation Services website.  As I may have mentioned before, he is extremely proud of the fact that he has been featured and of all the hard work he has put into his recovery.  Enjoy and I will continue this post later.
http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/rehabilitation/stories/pages/andy-bichler.aspx
http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/rehabilitation/support/pages/index.aspx

Friday, September 2

Good news from Lily's oncologist.

The 2 girls are laying in the grass. The little boy plopped down in the mud under the mister.

Not much happening this week. Getting caught up from my trip and trying to keep cool in these past 90 degree days. Tuesday I did a moose watch at the zoo for the 3 new little orphan moose. I spent 4 hours talking to visitors about Alaskan moose, their weights, how big they will get, what they eat and many others. I also wrote down each time they ate, peed (are there 3 e's in the plural of pee?) and pooped. They're pretty cute, but if you want to see them as babies, you better hurry, they are gaining 3-4 pounds each day so they won't be small for long.

Good news from the vacationing oncologist. This is the text that he sent to Trish and Chad. "Sorry for the delay, I am out of the hospital for the next week. I saw the preliminary read which looked good (no MIBG avid lesions) but will have to check on the final read when I get back. I will let you know early next week." Lily has a scheduled appointment with Dr. Rupon on September 12 and I'm sure they will find out much more about the results of both the MRI and the MIBG scan. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month so I am including a link to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for additional information and ways you can support cancer research.

http://www.chop.edu/service/oncology/childhood-cancer-awareness/childhood-cancer-awareness-month.html