19/11 and back to the Glow Farm

Today is Scott's and my 19th Wedding Anniversary. Today also marks 11 years since he and I stood in a Russian Court and legally adopted Andrei and Aruna. It's our Family Day. Our very first family meal together was in Moscow at McDonalds. Aruna, just 7 months old was happy with a bottle. Andrei, 4 years old, had his very first happy meal. I remember his huge smile as he showed us every single french fry before he ate it. 11 years later, Aruna eats the hamburgers and fries and Andrei eats a minimum two big macs and a quarter pounder with cheese. Every year on Family Day we go out for dinner to celebrate. For many years we would go to McDonalds. Now we like to go to other restaurants. I guess we are growing up and the Golden Arches aren't our first choice any more - at least not for Scott and I. Last night the kids voted to go to McD's and we said no!

I am spending my day at the hospital. When I had my last chemo on September 25th, I spoke with Nurse Mary and told her about my back pain - it just won't go away. My left elbow really hurts too. Dr. W came to visit me while I was getting my treatment and she ordered x-rays on my pelvic area and lumbar. She must have seen some cause for concern because today I have a bone scan.

I started at 8:30 at the Glow Farm, better known as Nuclear Medicine, for the radioactive tracer to be injected. (And to think I thought I was never going to visit them again!) It takes 4 hours for the tracer to find it's way to my skeletal system so I am just sitting around, blogging, and looking out the window at the rain. When you think about it, how cool is it to get your skeletal system all glow-in-the-dark just in time for Halloween?! Too bad I will lose all the radioactive substance in the next 2-3 days. Bummer. It would have been a great costume!

I have started substituting for the school district again. I haven't worked since last year. Right now I am helping out every day at an elementary school for 1-1/2 hours (I never said I worked full time!). Usually I will work either a half or full day whenever I am needed. Most of my positions are in Special Education in the Middle Schools but I like to be flexible and help out wherever I can. Substituting is great since I can pick and choose my assignments!

The kids are doing great. Andrei is the star football player - scores the most touchdowns and runs the most yardage. Homecoming is this week and it is fun to watch the excitement. Aruna has joined Art Club at school and is really excited about it. Tomorrow, we all start LOGOS which is basically church school every Wednesday night. The kids always grumble but once they get there and see their friends they forget how much they hate it!

All in all, I am surviving. I'm still really tired and I try to get as much sleep as I can. The weather is changing fast and all of us are doing our best to get both houses ready for snow. Before you know it, the holidays will be here :)