New member of the club

Michael Sessions, the 19-year old mayor(!) of Hillsdale, Michigan (who apparently has to balance work and school), announced last week that he was diagnosed with TC and had an orchiectomy in late July. He's scheduled to have an RPLND next week.

Again, early detection was the key! Good luck, Michael - sorry you had to join our club.

Catalog "Reading"

Zane has discovered a use for those many catalogs that clog our mail box.





Have a great day.

Mini Vinny, One Year Later

A year ago at this time, we were scrambling like mad to pack up for a trip to Virginia to adopt a baby that was a day old. It was the start of an adventure that had stratospheric highs and then horrid, painful lows. Yesterday was Mini Vinny's first birthday.

I'd be lying if I said I thought about him every day. With the arrival of Zane our life has changed radically and I'm lucky if I remember my own name some nights. Still, I wonder sometimes how he's doing, what he looks like, whether he's walking, whether he's talking. I sometimes look at the pictures of him from the few precious days we spent with him. What a long, strange trip it's been.

And yet, in hindsight I wouldn't change a single thing. Had Mini Vinny stayed in our lives, we probably never would have welcomed Zane into our world. Life continues to confound and surprise us, and that's OK.

Happy Birthday, Mini Vinny! We'll never forget you.

A Cancer Related Post?

It's been a while, I know. That's good news! Boring is ok when it comes to medical issues. The Cancer Box has moved to a new location, so I'll be stepping into a brand new building when I go for my next CT in October. But I saw this cartoon in my New Yorker the other day, and I just had to share it.

Zane Simpson

From the land of wasted, but fun, time:

Here's Zane's picture:























Here's Zane Simpsonized:

























Here's where you can get the same treatment:

Simpsonize Me

highs and lows

Frank's dad snapped this shot on Saturday during the worship service. It is of our friend Daniel pouring the water into the font for Zane's baptism.

Daniel's preaching and pastoring showered our family and all present with God's grace and love. (Plus, he got to say "poop" from the pulpit!)

Our friend Alex's lullaby in Portuguese was stunning and beautiful.

Thanks to all who were there in body and spirit. We are truly blessed with Z in our life.

In other news, Z began day care this week.
He started it like this:



















Momma started it like this:

I hear it gets better.

He won't use up all his smiles on the cute girls watching him, will he?






The Rev.

Just so darn cute!

This weekend is Zane's baptism. We have family coming in from all over. It will be a wonderful zoo! Then, Monday, after agonizing over the choices, FT day care begins. It is in home w/ 8 kids total. He will join two other little boys who are the same age and a month older. Look out world.

Here's the cutie sitting in his bumbo seat and finally enjoying tummy time!