I woke up this morning to the phone this morning at 5:30 am followed shortly by Kevins's exclamations of joy. School was canceled!  Freezing rain!  UAF was, of course, still open so we made an attempt to drive in to town. The windshield freezing up as we drove along was incentive to turn around and come home within 2 miles.  Slowly, confirmation emails have arrived that Emily and Erika's classes have been canceled as well.  The only problem now is that we are out of Cheetoes...

Seems hard to believe that it has been about 2 years since I've posted on the blog site.  I bit off more than I could handle at work and was overly busy. Life is finally slowing down.  So, here is a short update on our current situation with hopes that I can keep this blog up-to-date!

How are we doing?  We are all in a positive mood today with an unexpected "holiday", just like I remember growing up.  How exciting was it to get a day off of school and go sledding?  Well, we can't go sledding here but it sure was nice to not have to go to work or school. Too bad we had to get up anyway.

Otherwise, we are on the upswing.  Leila continues to work at school, Emily and Erika are at UAF, Kevin is doing well in High School, and I'm working hard as well.  More importantly, having mold out of our house has resulted in slow improvements over time in our strength and ability to function.  We are still hindered by our health challenges but we are improving.  For example, Kevin's allergies are changing!  He has been able to eat some wheat and other items he has long avoided.  Cake, ice cream, other treats...  he has enjoyed a number of these recently.  We praise God that his stomach is healing.

Off to make a sandwich and maybe listen to Adventure in Odyssey's "Snow Day"!

A new year, new month, and new progress!

We have a lot to be thankful for this month.  Let's not talk about the birthday I just had, we'll let that pass, but overall, March has been a great month for us.

First, I have been so busy at work that I just couldn't keep up.  I asked God for help and to guide me to someone who has the skills I need.  God directed me to an employee whose contract with our department had ended.  She should start next week!  She will be helping with writing to start and will move into project management as the year rolls along.

Second, Leila, Emily, and I are all doing substantially better!  That is a REAL praise to God.  Last week, Leila was asked to work at the school to fill in during a period a person was absent.  She was part way through the week when she noticed that instead of getting exhausted, she was GAINING strength and feeling better.  Her mind was also clear! That is truly healing from the mold toxicity. Emily has been helping with the North Pole Yearbook.  She has been stressed with deadlines and work completion and has had plenty of moments when she crashed.  However, she has been able to tolerate much more mental stress than she could at this time last year.  She was even able to stay very late to contribute to finishing the yearbook under the final deadline and came home with strength! I also have had a clearing of my mind.  My mind clearing has been in progress for about a month, since February.  As with Leila, I too have a clearer mind and more strength.  I've been able to stay a couple of nights late to get things done at work and have been less exhausted.  Wow!  A remarkable improvement for all of us!!

Third, God has opened a door to help us with financial concerns through work. A door for an internal UAF process called an overload that has been closed has been opened and we are grateful for the timing.

Thank you to Curtis Wright for getting the mold out of our house, to Dr. Gray for giving us medical help, thanks to all who have helped us, and thank you God for getting us through this and lining up the help we needed last year!

We received our invoices from Arizona

Praise the Lord! We received our invoices from Dr. Gray's office in Arizona.  We are submitting the invoices  directly to Blue Cross tomorrow.  We paid upfront and we should see some of the money coming back to us.  So please pray for us that we would get a substantial portion returned. 

I'm finding out how hard it is to maintain a blog!  Thanks for your patience with me as I figure this out. 

Emily is having her ups and downs.  She was doing better for awhile but is falling back.  I've got her room mostly done, just need to get her a bed. 

Leila has been feeling good enough to work a little every day at Barnette School.  A few hours a day and some days, she fills in for others.  It is great that she can do this.

Kevin and I went to Phoenix to see a pediatric endocrinologist (diabetes doctor) and a diabetes educator.  It was VERY helpful.  The temp was around 50 degrees but we had a great time.  We should see Kevin's blood sugars under better control.  Kevin does a great job and visits like we made increase his skills.

January Update

It has been too long since I posted in the blog.  Too much going on around here.  We had a great Christmas with Mom and Dad coming to visit.  It was of course, the one year with a very cold Christmas.  Dad left his insulated boots with us because he wasn't going to come back in winter again....

Not too much to report here.  I've been way too busy.  We are having some slight health improvements. Leila has been able to work at Barnette Magnet school where Karilyn goes to school.  She couldn't have done that last year.  Emily has also been improving slightly.  She has been able to tolerate a little extra stress although this week has been tough.  She has been working on her application for college.  Hopefully, she can get to feeling better over the next year.

Emily's room has been painted but now we need to put a bed together for her.  Working on that.  And a dresser and all.  Hope to get her in her room soon!

The Awana Grand Prix was this weekend.  Kevin won the adult division!  A challenge was raised - "Tell Kevin that I put the numbers on the back of my car because that's all he's going to see...".  He met the challenge and toasted the competition! We enjoy helping with the Grand Prix.  Emily was the MC, Kevin ran the start gate, Erika worked at the finish line, Leila helped with check-in and then made sure the right cars got in the lanes and I ran the computer/timer.  Karilyn raced with her age group but her car broke and I couldn't get the axle right so she placed 8th this year.  Lots of fun!

Update 21 11 2010

Well, I didn't get a whole lot done this week.  Last weekend, I was able to get the sheetrock up in Emily's room and one wall fairly smooth.  Hoping get the rest of the finish work done this weekend so we can paint next week. Got the paint ready, just need to get too it.  Then we need to furnish Emily's room and get her moved back in!

Leila has had a rough few weeks.  She tried a new medicine and had a bad reaction.  She got some relief but had insomnia last week.  She had a better night's rest last night. She has had an exhausting week.  She was able to work some at school which helps here as she gets to be around people. 


I have a number of tests done including a CAT scan of my lungs and a couple of diagnostic tests for asthma.  So far, no evidence of asthma in the usual means but some of the tests last week were strange.  After being given the drug that stimulates an asthma attack, airflow was fine but my peak flow was down about 48%.  Not sure what that means yet.  I continue to have fewer headaches than I have in the last few years.  Looks like the stuff behind our wall in the bathroom was irritating my sinuses leading to headaches.  Which is good.  About two years ago, I was diagnosed with migraine syndrome updating the diagnosis of vasomotor rhinitis given me around 1990.  Turns out, all the years that I struggled with headaches, they really were migraines. 

Emily seems to be having more good days and she is at least, able to get to school and function.  She still has her bad days and very bad days but I think there may be some improvement.  Of course, her good days would be a very, very bad day for someone not affected by mold. 

I keep meaning to discuss our trip to Arizona and the results.  Hopefully, I'll get a chance during winter break. We are doing everything we can to follow the doctor's instructions but so far, at least for Leila and I, there hasn't been too much improvement.  We haven't yet been able to fully get the kids onboard the treatment plan but should be able to here soon. 

Update 11 29 2010

Good evening!  It is finally getting cold here again (-20) and I still have plenty to do outside and under the trailer.  Classic Alaskan project timeline of course! I finally got the sheetrock up in Emily's room.  Now to do the finish work. 

We are hanging in there.  My lungs aren't improving much but I have an appointment tomorrow for some tests.  Still have lots to do around the house so I am hoping that my lungs decide to heal. If that's the problem.  Leila isn't showing any real improvement yet and is having nausea in the mornings.  The kids are doing okay.  The great news is that Emily had a couple of really good days!  For a few days last week, the real, bright and shining Emily came out and it was fun for everyone! 

I may have mentioned earlier that people with chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia are subject to having flare-ups and increased symptoms when under stress.  Given the stress we are under, it is a miracle that Leila is able to function at all!  Financial stress is great right now.  Also, the loss of friends over the years due to health issues and the lack of meaningful relationships weighs heavily on Leila.  The losses our kids have experienced, especially Emily and Kevin, are also great. 

In terms of financial stress, we have no idea how we are going to make it through the winter and keep our house except that God promises to be with us.  A few sources of expected money (promised paperwork for reimbursements, etc.) have not materialized or the door has been closed.  Our credit card debt which was already high due to special needs, has doubled and is an unbelievable burden.  Dave Ramsey and others preach elimination of debt and restricted use of credit cards.  Clearly, the Bible teaches use of credit is a bondage and that is exactly what we feel right now but what does one do?  If you don't buy the special foods, someone goes without or eats a toxin.  If we don't buy fuel. our house freezes.  This situation appears to be very common for families with serious health issues, a group to which we have belonged for a long time.  With gas over $3.50 a gallon and heating oil following suit, we are needing to really stretch our dollars!

Leila and I are working to give all this to God and let Him take over.  Unlike promises made by humans that are subject to change, God's promises are always kept!  More importantly, Leila and Emily are particularly susceptible to stress so we need to let things go to help them avoid the negative affects of stress.  I suspect that the stress I've experienced over the years (much related to health stuff) has probably stripped 10 or more years off my life.  I'm sure that we will make it just fine but things will need to be very tight. In light of how specific situations have worked out, we believe that God is truly wanting us to depend fully on Him and that He will provide.  We look forward to what He is going to do. The Bible says our God is a big God.  Well, we get to see Him at work for us this year.

Thanksgiving

For those who aren't in Fairbanks, we have enjoyed a WHOLE week off from school due to an ice storm.  Warm weather plus moisture has created a lot of rain, icy roads, and closed schools.  All of us are enjoying the week off! 

We have a lot to be thankful for!  As I've posted, our biggest relief was for tests to show our air was within normal boundaries. I can't say that we are noticing any real improvements yet but that will take time.  However, we are noticing that a few direct symptoms have been reduced.  For example, since I cleared the mildewed closet shelf out of our bedroom, my headaches have been minor.  I normally get a few headaches with weather changes but I haven't been getting any headaches other than that!  The indirect symptoms of mold toxicity will take time but at least we are on the path to healing. 

We are thankful for Andrea Fabry's website that has been so helpful for Leila.  Leila was just this morning watching a video on healthy cooking related to mold recovery.  There is so much there.

We are thankful for all the people who assisted us in various ways this summer. Thanks to those who helped with our house and in other ways!  Your support has been appreciated.

We are thankful for Arny's job at the University. The position has the flexibility for Arny to be availability to help Leila when she isn't feeling good and when Arny isn't doing well.

We are thankful for our family!  This week has been fun so far and it is a reminder of the blessing of a family.

We are thankful to God for providing for our needs and getting us through this year.  There are many challenges facing us next year and we look forward to how God will deliver us.

Mr. Smiley, the melting snowman.  He was quite cheery but now he is less pleased with the warm weather and rain.  A vacation in Antarctica may be just the thing he needs!