G: Hi, I’m back from the wedding!

Me: Oh, that’s nice. Whose wedding was it?

G: Mine, actually.

Me: Oh really? Who did you get married to?

G: Oh, I just married myself.

(With arm stuck down the side of the couch)

Help! The couch is eating my arm!! Somebody call the police!

A typical exchange between Gav and Daddy when Gavin is “fixing” something with his tools:

G: Thank you, I need the measuring tape! I’m going to measure it.

I have spent a lot of time over the last year or so contemplating brains. There is something very circular in using the organ that creates thoughts to have thoughts about brains. Just think: these command centres of ours are in our heads, getting feedback from and sending messages to all the trillions of cells that make up our bodies. Moment to moment, our brains are processing information, making sense of our world, making judgements about everything we see, hear, smell, taste and touch. This is malodorous, this is beautiful, this taste is gag-worthy, this song thrills the very essence of me. The judgements we make are completely different from those that someone else makes. Our brains are all incredible, and incredibly unique.

Bad Schwarzenegger jokes aside, the good news is that my MRI came back clear. Apparently, my brain looks normal. My spine looks alright too, except for a bulging disc in my back which is causing me absolutely no pain. I see a visit to a chiropractor somewhere in my future. Just glad that it’s not a neurosurgeon.

So. Big sigh of relief, no news is good news, and on we go.

Newborn Bean

A huge milestone last weekend. On Saturday, September 3rd, Gavin celebrated his champagne birthday and turned 3. To say that we are happy is somewhat of an understatement. I am, as always joyful and grateful for the presence of my little boy in this life.

The celebration was quiet and low-key, with just the five of us at the cottage, Bean, Craig and I, Bubby and Da. I spent a large part of the day sweating over a “construction site cake” that I’d decided to bake in a moment of delusional insanity. Baking and cooking are not amongst my natural skill set. I almost lost it when my whipped cream icing refused to whip and started oozing liquid for some mysterious reason, but eventually triumphed and produced an edible result.

You would too if you had been for two MRIs in one week. My faithful readers may remember that I’ve got a wee genetic mutation that apparently disposes one to pediatric malignant CNS tumours. Take note, though, of the word pediatric. No one can tell me for sure if a brain tumour is going to pop up somewhere in my future, but I’ve been told it’s very, very doubtful. There does exist a possibility, however, of developing benign nerve sheath tumours called schwannomas. The possibility is also quite small, but is there.

Hanging on

Ah, Camping. Waking up to a brilliant sunrise. Finding the perfect marshmallow stick. Swimming in a waterfall. Kicking around fashionably in sandals with socks. Not to mention, reeking of campfire, eating foods which may or may not contain dead bugs, and having to deal with rowdy neighbours who want to part-ay like they were you fifteen years ago. Like everything in life, highs and lows.

Sauble Falls, Ontario

Our long-overdue holiday has finally arrived! We leave today for a six-night camping trip in the Georgian Bay area of Ontario. Camping to be followed by visiting with friends and five days at the cottage.

Bean is ready to roast marshmallows and wander through the woods. His concept of camping is mostly based on Curious George Goes Camping so I think he also expects to get sprayed by a skunk and help put out a forest fire, but we are hoping to avoid those if possible.

Summer is slipping through my fingers as it always does in Canada. Winter is eternal and the short weeks of summer fly past before you’ve got a chance to breathe. I have not been blogging much of late because we’ve been out enjoying the ridiculously hot weather we’ve been having, and spending a lot of time at Bubby and Da’s cottage in Muskoka.

There have been a few changes of late in Gavin’s medical status, which those who follow his story or are going through treatment with their little ones would be interested to know.

Craig came into this world, approximately 15,562 kilometers from our current location. Happy Birthday Craig! Happy Birthday Daddy! We love you and can’t wait to help you blow out the candles on your birthday cake.

With all the love in our hearts,

Erica and Beanie

xoxo

Baby Craig

Just flying by to let you all know that our appointment with neurosurgery today went well. Dr. Dirks said the scan looked “great.” There are currently no areas of concern so we watch, wait and pray for no infections in the shunt. Relieved, happy, and ready to enjoy my sister’s wedding and the rest of summer! We will see neurosurgery again in 6 months time. It seems an eternity.

Ah, life is sweet.