Summer is drawing to a close.  Our work vacation is over, classes have started once again.  School will be starting next week (Bekah's on line class started last week ).  I was able to get Joshy into 1 day respite care 1x this week only.  Add it all together... we headed to Echigo Hillside Park where we met friends for a play day.   I dropped Joshy off at the hospital for respite a play day with like minded friends @ 9am.  When Bekah's on-line class finished @9:30 we headed out! 

Started off playing in the water fountains...

Then after a picnic lunch, the kids, with Bekah in charge, headed to the play area while the adults headed out on a hike to the observatory.  The observitory that is WAY up there on the hill.

This was the very 1st time I have hiked this trail.  I enjoyed it!  Jerry said it also is not that much different from the bottom part of Mt. Fuji - just Fuji is M~U~C~H longer...hmmmm 

Once we made the whole circle & met up with the kids, we finished off our time together with rose ice cream, the same ice cream I had when Joshy & I went tot the lighted fountains 2 weeks ago. 

 Great way to spend the end of summer break!

I love a good bargain!

Today I am feeling very loved 

The recent rain did not stop the neighborhood festival.  It's a small festival, but fun nonetheless.  Jerry. Kei & I ventured down mid morning to check things out.  I found a new, boxed, set of towels for (roughly) $1, as well as, 2 dresses for me at $1 each   Then, at 1 of the handful of booths, there were several things for the girls all at $1 each - shorts for Bekah & 6 tops for Kei.  This booth also had a dryer (actually a picture of a dryer that was sitting in her garage).  

Dryers in Japan are tiny little things.  They won't dry much at one time.  They tend to be costly to run, as well.  However, from time to time, especially during rainy season, on bad Josh accident days. AND bad accident days during rainy season, I think about getting one, but usually common sense wins when I look at the price tags.   We chatted...  the dryer she had, was newish, about 10yos old, seldom used, & looked to be in perfect shape.  I returned later and we walked down to her house to take a look - NICE dryer!    Her asking price $5   **she even delivered it and threw in a jacket, another shirt, & a cute little heart pillow 

Ideally, we will get a stand so that it can be put over the washer, but for now it has a home in the laundry room.

AND...best thing yet...

This may seem weird, but I feel like this dryer might have opened up another door.  We chit chatted quite a lot.  I am looking forward to chatting with her again.  Sometimes the LORD opens door in unexpected places.  Sometimes they might even be disguised as dryer doors 

As I mentioned before, I think, I took Bekah to the doctor on Tuesday with a painful swollen lymph node.  They did labs and said they would call if test results indicated anything abnormal.  They also said to come back if anything further developed.  This morning Bekah had 4 large, swollen, painful lumps on her neck.  No fever, but more swelling, for sure, so off we went.  We saw a different doctor, nice enough, but not overly helpful.  "It is likely a virus."  "It will likely get worse before it gets better."  "The other doctor will call if the test results show anything."  OH you have an immune suppressed child in your home...hmmm... "wash your hands well"    

Joshy also decided to throw me for a loop - Tue evening, he had a VERY runny nose & was congested.  His runny nose came out of nowhere.  No preamble, nothing, just full blown nasty!   Josh has always gone from simple to serious at the drop of a hat, being immune suppressed just adds to the danger element.  We started cold meds.  Applied LOTS of Vick's.  Prayed.  He woke up FULL of vim & vinegar  with a clear nose & no noticeable congestion - thank you LORD!  He has had a few coughs now and again, but no more congestion or runny nose.  Praying hard that he is not / will not pick up whatever Bekah has!

Other than running round and round with medical stuff.  I also found myself walking round in circles during my morning walk.  Wednesday morning I did 2 loops inside my main loop - I was trying to still get my distance in while avoiding rain slick trails.  I really didn't wish to fall and possibly need to take ME to the hospital    It was a really nice walk!

This morning, I got brave and did a different loop.  I took a deep breath and ventured the opposite direction along the river.  The path is not as tame.  I am pretty sure it is inhabited by things that slither... I have NO desire to meet any slithery creatures, so I usually avoid this part of the river walk.  However, it WAS beautiful and I am glad I went that way.  I am also very thankful, I didn't see any reptiles.  As I meandered back, I even passed a couple of small rice fields that have already been harvested 

The last few mornings I have been going round and round with my thoughts... "You need to go walk." "But I don't want to."  "You'll feel better if you do!"  Yada, yada, ya...  Truth be told, morning walks do make me feel better.  They give me the energy to make it through the merry go round of hospital stuff, too.

How about you?  What helps you cope with going round & round? 

Yes, it is vacation - if I tell myself that enough, maybe I will believe it

Yesterday we worked on the puzzle consistently   We also talked with a contractor about the gate.  He will be getting back with us soon.  Then we had the chairlift repair guy here.  This time it was more than not having the key in the right position   I think it even had him perplexed for a bit.  In the end - the chair had not gotten connected to the charger correctly   Good that it wasn't a mechanical problem, bad that we didn't stop it correctly.  Lesson #2 learned   AND - one of my preschool students showed up for class.  Took so doing, but I was able to reach his mom (grandma had dropped him off) and she came and picked him up.

Today, I needed to take Bekah to the doctor.  Last night she mentioned a lump on her neck, that was both visible & painful.  Long story short, she has a swollen lymph gland.  Doctor doesn't think it is a problem, The initial tests came back fine.  Two or Three more tests should be back in a week or so.  If there is a problem they will call.  If it gets worse, or remains painful, come back.  The interesting thing came when, we went to the pediatric department ~ the nurse decided to sent us next door to internal medicine.  Bekah has been promoted out of pediatrics!

The last couple days have had some vacation-esk moments.

The puzzle is DONE, except we are missing 1 piece, which we should be able to get from the puzzle company.

We have also watched some Voyager and some Full House ~ fun times!!

Tomorrow, Jerry has a class in the morning & I have 2 classes in the afternoon ~ now so fun, but necessary.

Our vacation is half over, but it actually feels like it is just beginning.  Last week between the Fuji trip, camp, all 3 kiddos having dental appointments, an unscheduled check up for Joshy, as well as, OT + house guests, it just didn't feel very vacation-y - at least not for me. 

I hope this week will be more vacation-esk   To help Kei & I picked out a puzzle.

Both girls have worked right along side me.  I enjoy doing puzzles, but we haven't done one in years.  It is proving to be a lot of fun   Once it is completed, it will be framed and hung on Kei's side of the girl's room.  Kei can't wait!!

Joshua has been acting odd all day.  Nothing major, but a lot of little quirks that often indicate something is brewing:  Lots of messies, not so many wets.  Awake, fretful in the night.  Sleeping till noon.  Low-ish morning temp.  LOTS of seizure activity, but happy when not seizing.  After an hour of near back to back seizures, I called the hospital and took him in for a checkup.  Of course, he was as happy as could be for the doctor   Then at dinner he proceeds to have a seizure that plants his face into the table - 2nd or is that the 3rd today?  Son - you have low platelets... STOP this face dive stuff before I need to call an ambulance!!!!

Jerry messaged me at 1pm yesterday... then nothing the rest of the day, evening, and night.  I was getting worried!!   He did finally call this morning, they were at the top.  They even made it by sunrise    Another message about 1p - they were headed toward home & should be home by dinner.  OOPS - another message ~ flat tire.  At this moment, the thought is, they should be home by Joshy's med/bed time.

My men have driven me to DRINK!

If anything else happens I might need to make it a DOUBLE!!  However, before I resort to a double, I am going for a walk...

Every summer Echigo Hillside Park has a summer lights festival.  Last evening, Joshy & I meet friends there.

On the way to the meeting point, we strolled through the rose garden.

Enjoyed the lighted fountains.

And for @saintvi there was YELLOW rose ice cream.

Lights, music, cool breezes - summer at it's best!     

Two years ago we talked with a builder about building a gate across the hall to keep Joshua from getting into / falling into the entry.  A real gate, made of wood, not a plastic baby gate that a growing boy could pull down.  Early September 2011 we received the estimate.  It was more than we expected, so we were thinking it over.  A month later, Joshy got sick and all thoughts of a gate went out the window.

Today, those thoughts came flying back in.

I ran upstairs to hang a load of laundry.  An unscheduled load that had to be done due to a code brown.  (Joshy's floor also got steam mopped and we both got showers - it was an exciting morning )  I left Joshy happily playing in his room.  Even after hanging the laundry as quickly as possible - 5min maybe - I came down to this...

He had scooted from his room, down the hall, & then down 2 steps to get into the entry!  I am surprised his shorts weren't smoking    Thankful he was happy to play with the door and didn't go outside where he could have fallen down the concrete steps!!    

I think he is afraid that I will get bored without Jerry & the girls being home

**This is a holiday week for many companies, but I will be calling ASAP to see about the gate!!

Let the vacation adventures begin...

Jerry, along with a couple friends headed to Mt. Fuji Monday morning.  The plan: drive down Mon.. spend the night in hotel then start the climb AT THE BOTTOM early Tue morning.  Spend the night on the Fuji, then finish the climb arriving at the top in time to see the sunrise Wed morning.  Then back down to station 5 where they will catch a bus back to the station.  They should arrive home sometime Wed. night.

The girls camp started Mon afternoon.  This is Kei's first time to the older (junior/senior high) camp.  She was not thrilled, but I am sure she will have a good time.  The girls will get home Thur.

Josh & I are hanging at home.  This morning I had a walking partner for my morning walk.  Taking a walk with Josh adds a few additional steps: Getting him to the garage & loaded into the WIKE.  Pushing the WIKE isn't hard, but it IS extra work ~ BUT ~ it did give me the excuse to stop & take come pics while I caught my breath   The hardest part is returning home hot & sweaty but not being able to sit down until Josh has been unloaded & settled.  Oh well, it was worth it to get out!

What's on your vacation agenda?

I didn't sleep the best last night, BUT I feel much more refreshed.

It is still hot & humid, But I feel cooler.

See the introvert in me woke up early, before anyone else was stirring    This meant that I was able to have a cup of coffee in peace!  A cup of coffee without chatter in the fore or back ground ~ heavenly!!

I also went for a walk after my coffee, heading out the door at 6am.  The humidity was nasty, but the temps were "cool" enough to help balance things out.  I only did a 2k instead of a 3k this morning.  I also took a couple breaks to capture some of God's wonderful creation.

Wonderful Refreshment!!

The introvert in me has been busy pondering some things, but that is a whole other post.  Maybe that post will make it from my head onto "paper" this week while most of the family is away... When I will have more opportunity to sit and ponder over a quiet cuppa, provided the boy doesn't take it upon himself to make up for the quiet void left by those who are at camp & mountain climbing