Update on the update



After visiting Artist Point in Arkansas, I decided to create my own little haven for hummingbirds. Rick placed this feeder right outside the living room window and we had visitors almost immediately.
Update on Katie: She is now under the care of Dr. Carlson at the Duke Eye Clinic at Duke University. He prescribed her some awesome pain pills so she can sleep and eat. Mike has been making her good, home cooked dinners and she is able to rest. thank you Beth, you have really helped out your sister tremendously. I decided that I want to see my girls in this week that I have before returning to work at the high school. Today was my last class teaching at the university and I have to report on Wednesday morning at the high school, so i am leaving tomorrow morning for a 20 hour road trip...BY MYSELF! I guess my dear British friend, Donna, was correct, I do have a Gypsy soul.
love to all,
mommy

Katie Update

Just a quick update on Katie's eye. The doctors at U. Chicago have determined that the infection has not spread to her retina. That is very good news! The bad part is that the psuedonoma that she has is a penicillin resistant bacteria that will take a month to clear up. She is still blind in that eye and the cornea has scarring. She is flying out Sunday so her big sis and favorite brother -in-law can take her to the Duke Eye Center to see Dr. Alan Carlson. Even her doctors in Chicago were thrilled that she was going there. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.

Kat's Eye


I think I have told most of you, but for those who did not hear, Katie has a severe cornea infection. It is a bacteria and she has been going to a doctor at the U. Chicago medical center. As of now, she is blind in that eye and has suffered scarring on the cornea. She will see a specialist tomorrow. In the mean time, her wonderful sis and bro-in-law have offered to have her come to Durham for medical care. Beth is going to contact a specialist at Duke University tomorrow. Gosh Kate, you have some of the best medical care in the world available to you! Katie is in a lot of pain, so please send her good energy and healing thoughts. Perhaps light a candle and keep her in your prayers.
love,
mommy

Weekly Update


I knew that regular readers of my blog would crave updated pics of Keiko, so here they are! The intense heat wave that were experiencing here has finally broken. Instead of temps hovering around 110 degrees, they are now where they should be for this time of year in the low 90's. I went for a 14 mile long bike ride this morning and it was 70 degrees outside! What luxury. I have been busy with the class I am teaching at OSU. It is so much fun and I am learning quite a bit about teaching a grad level class. I even have a spiffy little office up there. I will post pictures of it next week. I hope you all are well.
love,
mommy

THE cutest kitten in the Universe


This is Bruce! He is Katie's new kitten.

Artist Point



After our wonderful breakfast at Rick's Iron Skillet Cafe in Fayetteville, we took a tour around the university of Arkansas. It is so pretty here! The entire town is on the side of a mountain. It reminds me of Ithaca. We took the scenic drive back to Oklahoma through the Boston Mountain Trail and stopped at a lookout called Artist Point. They have a dozen hummingbird feeders lined up by the observation glass and it was so very relaxing to watch these little wonders come flying by for food. Hope you are all well,
mommy

The 4th with the Devil!




Happy Fourth of July to all! We decided this morning to go to Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas. It was so beautiful! It's north of the state by Fayetteville and quite mountainous. Yesterday at home, the temp was 104 degrees. Today it was cooler, but it was raining when we started out so by the time it stopped, it was quite muggy and humid. The scenery more than made up for the heat though. We also found some caches here. Beth and Mike, you would have liked this place as they had a large and full horse camping area. We are camping at Rick's favorite rough site...The Best Western of Fayetteville... complete with a jacuzzi tub. I was getting out the tent and sleeping bags, but he said "NO!"
Hope you are all well,
love,
mommy

Photo Album

I am trying to get better at this thing! I found a photo album that I could post here so if you click on the pic that says "Chicago" to the left of this post, it will take you to the photo album.

Chicago!



As you can see, we are back from Chicago! We really had a wonderful time there. It was so awesome that all of my children and my mom could all be together. I will post more pics later on today. I have to scoop litter you know!