Wow, it has been a while. =0)

Sorry about that - no worries, though. =0) Things have been going well around here, I've just been busy.

So, what has been going on??? Well, a few weeks ago (yeah, I know, I should have posted sooner), I finally finished my master's degree - an M. Ed. in TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language). I was so excited to go back to school, and I am equally as excited to be finished! ;0) If my mom has her wish, I will be a life-long student somewhere. ;0) I was also asked to be part of Kappa Delta Pi, an international honors society. God is awesome, isn't He?

Last week, we also had a few days where Isaiah could actually go out and play . . . really play. He could stay out for longer than 5 minutes and really enjoy himself. Of course, he is still recovering from the cold I passed on to him 2 weeks ago, but he still enjoyed the time outside. Poor guy - I think he was starting to get a bit of cabin fever because he also hasn't been able to go to church either (because he has been sick and because of the whole 5 months of steroids thing . . . with the flu season and swine flu issues going around, we've had to be extra careful). Hopefully, soon, Isaiah can return to church to be with his friends. I feel so bad for him, yet he really can't get sick either. It's bad enough that he caught my cold and his body is still fighting it off. Grrrrrr, steroids. =0) I think they may have even stunted his growth a little, but he has been in the 98th/99th percentile for so long, that I don't think that's too bad of a thing. =0)

Apart from that, Isaiah is doing well - no huge reactions since the last one almost 3 weeks ago (that was the 6th anaphylaxis episode this year). He has gained weight (yay!), and his appetite still seems rather ravenous - though it waned a bit because of the cold. He does have that annoying rash around his mouth (really, all over his face), again, along with eczema flair ups on his legs and arms . . . with a little bit of rash on his back. He's not sleeping well because he is itching at night, but you wouldn't be able to tell based on his energy level during the day! =0) His feet, thankfully, haven't gotten nearly as bad as they were a couple of years ago - the rough patches still remain, but he hasn't had any blisters on the bottoms of his feet. Flushing . . . well, that still comes and goes on a daily basis - I think that's just something we'll have to deal with regularly. As long as the flushing doesn't turn into swelling, rashes, and bone pain, it doesn't seem to be a horrible thing to deal with.

My dad had one appointment for his blood test results. His results weren't too bad, but the doctor still wants him to see his hematologist/oncologist - which will be in the next couple of weeks. He has been irritable, tired, and in pain . . . but he at least has been sleeping well (I haven't heard him up late at night anyway). He has also had times where he just feels awful, but that usually comes and goes. Thank you for your continued prayers for him. I know that he usually tries to hide all of this from people, and he can do a good job of that, but it's when you catch him when he's unaware that you find he really hasn't been feeling well . . . if that even makes sense. Cancer stinks!

I think I have caught you up on just about everything . . . I think. =0)