Trooper!!

 

Etic wasn't keen today so Lili took his place.  

They didn't disappoint.

It was super duper loud.

Which made singing at the top of my lungs the whole time possible :)

I had a fabulous time aside from the sitting part.  

Lili wasn't enamored.  Haha.  Apparently I didn't play enough of my music when they were young.  I focused too much on kid music.

Thankful for time spent with my kids.

Here I am grabbing all the fun I can, wearing a diaper full time, hoping for the best while singing and dancing with 500 other old folks reliving our youth for a couple hours.

A day out with Kai.

 

North Cowichan, RCMP, Transit and the school district vision teacher teamed up to show vision students and parents all the ways the kids can learn to navigate and ride public transit on their own.

It was a cool event.  I learned a lot more than I was expecting to.  It was clear some of the kids will use the information learned.  Kai didn't pay attention.  Wasn't interested.  He did jump forward when bananas were offered so he heard that.  He didn't answer any questions.  Stared blankly off into space like he does when he's bored.  He had zero clue how to cross a road.  Made zero attempt to follow instructions.  They saved handi dart for last.  It's clear to us that Kai is quite unlikely to head off across the street onto a public bus and manage getting to the right spot.  Never say never but handi dart is way more likely for him with some one else arranging it and getting him on it.

He got to keep the vest.

This is an area of cars where first responders practice using the jaws of life.  That was cool to see.

Four learning stations were set up.

He won traffic sign bingo. The prize was a wee stuffed shark.  There was a survey later, the first question asked was 'what was your child's favorite part?"  I said, a banana snack and winning a shark.

Eric left to meet a friend for coffee.  Kai and I went to McDonald's to see Jia and eat lunch.  He helped me shop.  We brought the groceries home.  Eric and Malcom were back.  They came to unload Onyx.  To my horror, Malcolm grabbed a giant package of ladies diapers to carry in.  Sigh.  This is my life now. I escaped pretty quickly with Kai after that embarrassing moment.  We were way too early to get Luk so we parked at the dog park for a bit.  

Luk and I dropped Kai at playgroup and went to the court house to support a friend with an unpleasant wee battle.  It was adjourned for another month. Then back to pick up Kai.

Phew.  It was a long day.  

Today was another long day.  Speech with Kai.  Dump run and lawn cutting for Eric.  Pet chores, emails, texts, messages, paperwork, banking and dishes for me.  Then Eric and I picked up Jia, had lunch out and hit Superstore and the pharmacy before getting the boys.  A visit with Eric's oldest sister.  Dinner, a nap and  finally Trooper.

How much are ya'll loving the warm weather?

We have Sat and Sun free.  Wild.

There is a funeral for a school friend on Saturday but I really despise funerals.  The odds of me actually making it are slim.  She had cancer and choose holistic because chemo will kill you.  

I do really want to see the Mandelorian and Grogu movie with Luk. Kai isn't sure he wants to see it.  He would probably go just for the popcorn though.  Eric has a long list of projects.

I'm trying to get us on trails for Sunday.  Squirrel is still on blocks so just Oscar this weekend. Unless Eric works miracles.

I'm pretty excited about getting to my first trail day with Squirrel.

The Rest of Jeepapaloosa.

 

All out of order.

Three days.  Bit of a blur.

We were with people that had issues.  People they don't like, don't want to see, politics.  So we had to navigate that a bit.  We were there to have fun.

My Eric ditched our usual peeps and volunteered to be middle for a different run/group.

He had a good time.  They're not our people.  Way too much drug use from some.  Vehicles not up to the trails.  Young guys doing stupid stuff.  At the end of day two Eric figured 90% of the people there are just not our people.

Eric has always wanted a flex shot.  Finally got one.  A part of the Show and Grime.

The moguls.  Oscar zipped over them. Show off.

Awe.  Oscar and Onyx holding hands.

Muddy after day three.  Eric knew the area and took off on his own for a bit of fun.

Venders in the background setting up for the Show and Grime.

Our group.

Kai and I had Saturday at camp on our own.  It was supposed to be relaxing.  It wasn't.  We drove into town and got poutine at A&W for lunch.  Then when we got back we were locked out!  Both gates locked.  No one around.  We waited half an hour and I needed a bathroom so we went home.  I had a hot tub.  Kai had a bath.  Eric got my text and joined us.  He showered and made dinner for Luk and us.  Then we headed back.

This guy mowed lawn the whole time.  In the rain.  No direction.  Just constant random driving.  It was extremely loud.  So annoying.  Definitely the loudest camp ground experience of all time.

And this dip wad.  Generator on at 7am until 11am.  In the morning I was supposed to be sleeping in.  Yeesh.  Right by us.  When will they be banned?!

Our solar allowed us to run everything with no restrictions.  The furnace was on the whole time.

Too close!  They were loud, up late and the "f" bomb in every sentence.  Then vomiting in the morning.  Such fabulous neighbors.  Their Jeep wouldn't start in the morning.  They had to switch runs.  Haha.  

Erik and Jen had a huge awning for night time gathering.  

Food truck dinner.  Suvlaki wrap.  They were good. Kai devoured.  Eric had to keep the paper down before he ate it too.  There were people watching him and enjoying his level of bliss.  Eyes closed. Giant mouthfuls. Sauce dripping and all over his face. Moaning in pleasure.  

A rootbeer cupcake before dinner.

Getting to ride in the golf cart box.  He didn't mind this weekend at all.

Line ups of Jeeps ready to register.

Eric ready for duty.

He put in a full day at the gate.

Jen and Erik have broken away from Epic and started Intrepid.  Sister groups.  Connected but not.  Eric is still running an Epic banner and Squirrel will have the Intrepid banner.  Does that make us a family divided?  

Our Jeepapaloosa leader Belinda, got a surprise marriage proposal on night one :)

It was fun to be there for that.

Pizza on night one.  All volunteers for the first night.

We were a good distance away from head quarters.

We both would go back next year.  We both would volunteer again.  I ended up doing a couple hours at the gate after the big rush was through.  I would camp there again but would need to be way more strategic in where we are.  I don't know where would be better though.

Home to my temu order of squirrel things.  How perfect is this blanket?!  

I'm ready for trails in Squirrel.

Squirrel isn't quite ready though.

Eric broke a spark plug in her.  He ordered a spark plug puller tool from Amazon.  It arrived Saturday.  He's out there today with it and he's now broken the tool.  Now he's devised a replacement tool and soaked the stuck one with something. He's off to town now for a new spark plug.  Squirrel has an appointment with our mechanic but she can't get there yet.

I've caught Luk's sickness.  My throat feels like it's all sliced up.  Eric had it too but he bounced back, no cough.  Fingers crossed I follow Eric's path and not Luk's!  

Jeepapaloosa

 

We're here.  Setting up early as volunteers.  

It was a lot of work to get us here.  In the end I got tired of trying to figure out kid logistics and we just brought Kai with us.  He likes a lot of trailer time and I need to factor rest in so I think it will work out ok.

All done at the spa.  She's clean and shiny and smells so good.

Name applied.

Eric and I took a minute to visit our thrift store.  This is Squishy, I got to dog sit because her Mom wasn't allowed to take her in.  You have to love Chemainus.  Where a total stranger trusts you to watch their pup.  

Ah.  Back at it.

His old tractor gave up.  We bought it used 20 plus years ago.  He couldn't get parts for it anymore so we bought another used one and he's run out of parts between the two.  It was time.

Jia got to visit the old stone church with Robert.  

ALL GOOD NEWS!

 

All good news today!!!!!

Celebrating!

The aggressive cancer is gone.  Margins are clear.

The surgery worked.

No chemo or radiation necessary.

Proctectomy and stoma/bag not necessary at this time.

Fistulas likely closed, could have  pre-cancer cells in them but he feels it's quite unlikely.

I am free to take any recommended meds re: Chrones or Diabetes.

No restrictions going forward.

I do have hpv pre-cancer cells in the anus.  It is not a big concern but will be monitored closely.

I have been referred to the Anal Dysplasia Clinic and the Anal Manometry Clinic at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver.  The hpv cancer is slow growing and the clinic will be able to burn off anything during the screening exams.

Fun fact.  80% of adults have hpv cells.

The Dr. told us today that most adults have hpv pre-cancer cells in their anus that may or may not turn into cancer.

I am at a higher risk with having a history of cervical and anal cancer, hence the extra screening.

So, we can't exactly say I'm cancer free.  However, the wait and watch is a heck of a lot better than actual cancer.

For now, I'm still recovering from a fairly brutal surgery.  

Eric and I ran a couple errands and we came home early because I had a wee accident.  This might be my new normal.  Sucks but it's better than dying.

Mothers Day

 

Duck races from yesterday.

I won one :)

Jia with Robert.

I was allowed to post this one.

I go away and Eric works like crazy to get projects done.  The new ac/heat pump is installed in our room.  Not hooked up and working yet but it's close.  Seeing how many trips back and forth and up and down he did on the Ring camera was mind boggling.  Also funny.  He needs way more hero cookies than he gets.

When he is away, I read, nap and resort to girl dinners.  We are not the same.

It was a lazy day at the campsite today.  I needed more resting after over doing it Saturday.  I got a second squirrel stitched.  I have no clue what I'm doing with them yet. 

Tomorrow we're meeting early morning with the surgeon.  

We just have zero clue what we'll hear.  I'm definitely feeling extremely anxious about this appointment.  Still no stage, no plan of attack, no idea what next steps are.  So far treatment has NOT been to protocol.  We still haven't even heard what the oncologist panel thinks.  I can see on the gateway that there have been meetings.  

Oh, and the lawn tractor finally died.  Eric was hoping to get the lawn cut before picking up the trailer today.  Instead he was shopping.  He did find one on clearance and has it on hold.  They wouldn't let him take it today.  Canadian Tire was insisting they need a tech to go over it before he takes it. There wasn't a tech there today.  Ya'll know how annoying Eric would find that.