Cale's Confirmation

Cale was confirmed at Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames on May 6, 2012.  I am always proud of him, but I was beyond proud that day.  Every time I looked at him during church that morning I got a lump in my throat and I would have to bite my lip.  Seemed like just the day before I was holding him at the baptismal fount at the church in Eldora!  He just looked so handsome and grown up!

 His confirmation class:  Pastor Dave and Pastor Mark....Justin,

Andy and Tanner....Ross, Emily and Cale

 All of the Jensen's and the Honold's.  (minus Maddie)

 Me and My Guys! 

They clean up pretty well! 

Keith and I with Cale and his Godparents

Kurt and Teri

Back at the house: Cale with the banner that his Grandma Jensen made especially

for him for his baptism in 1997.  (He just looks so handsome!) 

There is a man at church that volunteers to take pictures for confirmation,and got some really good shots from the balcony.  This is probably my favorite pictures from that day.  It is actually one of my favorite pictures...ever.  It is just so serene,and I just thinks that it says so many things. 

My heart is full every time I see this!

God Bless You,

Cale August Jensen

"Therefore, submit yourself to God.

Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

James 4:7

Trevor+Football+Lamp=TROUBLE!!

But seriously....we have 3 boys!

We should just be thankful that

we hadn't lost any lamps before this!

Some more of the story....

Todd had his surgery on Thursday.  He was suppose to be at the hospital at 9:00 that morning, but his time kept getting pushed back.  He was impatient, nervous and hungry by the time he went into the O.R. at 2:00.  I got texts from my cousin, Julie, and he was out of surgery at 4:30 and back to his room around 6.  They felt like the surgery went well, but he was tired.  They walked him in the halls a couple of times and he went to bed.  A good day to have behind him! 

Friday morning I got a call from Julie, and she said that although they had him resting comfortably, he was feeling pretty crappy.  She said that he essentially felt like he had a really, really bad case of the flu and a headache.  She said that they thought that was a good sign because it indicated that without that tumor, the source of the cortisol was gone so his hormone level had dropped.  He had "crashed."  The surgeon came in and said that Todd looked just liked someone that had been cured of Cushing's Disease.  Music to everyone's ears!!

Once they got his blood work back that day, they could give him some meds to regulate that level until his own body could regulate it on it's own.  This is a process, and it will take some time.  The surgery wasn't an instant cure.  The ideal level of the cortisol is 7-10. His had been running around 20.  Friday morning it was at 1.  They were surprised that it had dropped so low.  I was told it is not dangerous to have it that low, but it would just make him feel so crappy.  About 45 minutes after they gave him some meds he felt better.

So...the healing begins!  He got to come home Friday night.  We are so thankful that he is own the road to feeling like his old self again! We know that this is a process and a journey that will take some time, but it is such a great feeling to know that we are on the way! 

God is Good.  All the Time.

Abby's Graduation

Sunday we went to Grinnell for Abby's commencement.  Her party was the weekend before, so we were told that we didn't have to come back since they would be busy afterwards going to other parties.  I told them that I just couldn't skip it.  It's just a little over an hour to get there, and I couldn't stand the thought of sitting in my house thinking about her walking across that stage without me there!  I just HAD to be there, and a few pictures with her would be a bonus!

 Mom, Dad, Keith and I got to the school and found our places to sit.  I then struck out with my camera to find her.  Funny, how the graduates were hanging out in the same place my friends and I hung out at before my graduation in the same building!  I found her, and

we had her friend take our picture. 

There she is....right in the middle.  You just can't miss that bright, beautiful smile!  I was so proud of her at that moment!

Here she is getting her diploma from the President of the School Board. 

 Abby with my parents. 

 Keith and I, Abby and Todd, Grandma and Papa. (No clue why we didn't put Luke in this picture!)

Luke and his sister. 

Aunt Heidi and Luke....he is always more willing to have his picture taken with me then my own kids are!

3 Generations of Honold men....Todd, Luke and my Dad. 

Abigail Kay Honold

Grinnell Senior High School

Class of 2012

Abby, words can't express how very proud I am of you...not just as you graduate, but always.  I have loved watching you dance, cheer, play volleyball and softball and grow into the woman that you are. You have grown up in the blink of an eye!  I remember coming to be a guest reader in your kindergarten class.  I read "Is Your Mama a Llama" and I could hardly get through it because I was just so thrilled to be there with you! There is a big world out there just waiting for you!  You have so much to offer and you will succeed at whatever you do...I have no doubt.  The world will never be the same because of you.  Believe in yourself and don't ever forget that so many people believe in you, too.  We are eager to see where your future takes you.  We are always here for you rooting you on!  The Jensen's will ALWAYS be some of your biggest fans!! We love you and are praying for God's richest blessings on you. 

Love You, Aunt Heidi

His Story Continues....

Todd got his test results back just a couple of days after his procedure at Mayo.  The hormone was indeed coming from his pituitary gland.  It seems weird to say, but that was good news!  We have an answer and we can start moving forward.

He is scheduled for surgery at Mayo this Thursday, May 31st.  This surgery will go through his nose and remove the tumor.  The actual procedure will last about 2 hours. When we were up in Rochester a couple of weeks ago, we met with his surgeon.  This counted as his consult so he won't need to do that again this week.  This doctor said that Mayo does more of these surgeries then any where else in the country.  I have always said that I wanted them to be very comfortable with this procedure, but not so comfortable that they aren't thinking about what they were doing! He had done 2 of these surgeries the day before we met with him, so we were comforted by experience!

I will not be going with him for this surgery, but I will be thinking about him and prayer about him non-stop.  I ask you to please do the same. He is one of my best friends and I wish that I was going!  I have been promised text message updates and if I don't I may have to come unleashed on someone! 

Thanks so much!  I hope that I will have some good news at the end of the week!
Love, Heidi

Everyone Has a Story

I am writing this blog entry from St. Mary's Hospital which is part of the Mayo Clinic.  I know that I have been really bad about checking in with everyone, and this seems like a real doosey to pick up with! 

I am here with my brother, Todd.  He is in right now having a procededure (they never call it a surgery, but that is sure what it sounds like!)  We got here Monday night, and had consultations yesterday.  We spent a lot of time walking around the Mayo area here in Rochester.  If you haven't been here before, it is like it's own little city.  All of the different buildings and hotels are bustling with people, which I assume are here for some sort of medical reason.  There are also a lot of people in either scrubs, or suits, all with the familiar white Mayo name tag. 

Everyone has a story.  Every where there were people carrying papers that told them where their next appointments were.  Some times I would wonder which one in the group would be the one to get poked and prodded and scanned.  Sometimes it would be easy to tell because someone would have a bandage on their arm where there had been a blood draw. 

Everyone has a story.  Why are they there?  Is this their day to get a diagnosis?  Is this the day before a major procedure?  Is this the day that they were told that there wasn't anything else that could be done for them or a loved one?  My mind really wandered.  Some people were quite elderly, and I wondered why they hadn't brought any kids or grand kids to help them.  Some were kids.  Some had  masks.  Some had no hair. There were people of all shapes, sizes, economic status, colors and religious beliefs.

Everyone has a story.

My brother has a story. For several years now, he has complained about muscle weakness in his legs, fatigue and some balance issues.  He came to Mayo 4 years ago when the doctor's in Des Moines thought that he had the beginning of MS.  After a week here, they decided that wasn't it.  He has had some back surgery in the past and they thought it might be scar tissue.  He was starting to wonder if it was in his head!  He went for a second opinion in Iowa City and between there and Des Moines, 2 years ago they thought he had Lyme's Disease.  (I don't remember which place decided that.) Well, they decided against that.  There was mention of Cushing's Disease. 

In March, his doctor in Des Moines sent him up here to Mayo for a weeks worth of testing.  My cousin, Julie, came with him, and they decided that he did indeed have Cushing's Disease. He has a mild form of it.  He noticed that his weigh never changed but his stomach was getting larger, but his legs were getting skinnier.  (With Cushing's it redistributes his weight.) They have also noticed that he was getting a "moon face".....a round face. 

I am sure that none of you have heard of Cushing's before.  Here is what it is, as far as I'm understanding and I feel like I've heard this information a lot in the last couple of days.  There is a tumor somewhere in the body that is releasing too much of a hormone (Cortisol).  His body is compensating for that hormone and it takes away from some other functions in your body.  Like...his balance and his fatigue. Most of these nodules, or tumors, are in the pituitary gland (his brain) or in his lungs.  MRI's and PET scans show nothing in his lungs, but a 5mm tumor in his pituitary gland. (Let me say it again...his brain!) They are about 99% sure that the extra hormone is coming from that tumor, but there is a higher rate of "hidden tumors" in men.  Some good news yesterday was that they are almost certain that there is no cancer.  (Only 16 cancerous tumors in the last 4,000 cases.  They also don't think it looked cancerous from his MRIs)

So, before they do any surgery, they want to  make sure that the hormone is definitely coming from the pituitary gland.  So, as we speak, he is having a Petrosal Sinus Sampling.  They are going into veins in each leg and going up to his pituitary gland (remember...his BRAIN!) and are taking samples from around the tumor to make sure that the extra hormone is coming from there.

Frankly, we are hoping that it is, because then we can move ahead with surgery in the next few weeks.  If it isn't we are back to square one.  If it is, he will come back here and they will remove that tumor through a surgery that goes through is nose.  It should take care of it. 

They have said that another hard part is getting his body used to the different hormone level since he has had such high levels, and then they will crash.  It is a balancing act to get it under control.

So, I am waiting for them to bring him back to me and then we'll head back to my place tonight and he an go back to Grinnell tomorrow.  After 4 years, I am happy that things seem to be getting under control and we are getting to the bottom of things.  I hope and pray that the hormone is coming from there so he can get on with things. 

That's his story.  I am wondering if his hormones go up and down if he'll be like a menopausal woman?!  This could create a whole new story!

Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers.  And thanks for putting up with this really long post.

Love,  Heidi

Abby's Senior Dance Recital

Last Friday night, Abby had her senior dance recital in Grinnell. She has been dancing for 12 years, and I have only missed one recital--and that was the year that they lived in Michigan. I could always find her right away because she always had the biggest smile and she danced with such confidence. She was in a total of 9 dances this year, including her senior solo to the song "Express." She did GREAT! I was so proud of her all night long! 



Barb, Abby and Todd
The seniors and their parents are introduced at intermission.  This year there were 11 seniors.




Every year I would go the recital with my parents.  I always said that when she was a senior, I was taking my whole family with me.  This was the year!  This year the 3 boys, plus Keith, came and sat with me for the whole 3 hour recital.  They all said that they did enjoy it.  I think that it helped that this year's theme was "Rock the Stage" so there were songs that they recognized by performers like Adele and Lady Gaga.  I could even hear Trevor singing along quietly.  I made sure that they each had flowers to give her at the end.  Some friends of mine asked Jared how he liked it and he gave it raving reviews.  He kept telling them how awesome his cousin was!  I loved that he thought that much of his evening!

 



I had a big hug and flowers for her, too! 



Grandma and Papa Honold with Abby.  They haven't missed a recital, either.





Abby and her brother, Luke. 









I absolutely LOVE this picture of Abby and my brother.  He had not seen any of her dances before this night, and this is the first moment that they had together after it was over.  This is a picture of pure pride and pure love between a father and his daughter.
I LOVE IT! 





Todd and Abby.....2 of my favorite people! 


Abby, I have to admit that I am a bit sad that this is your last dance recital.  I have looked forward
to each and every one of them.  Nothing could keep me from coming! You always had the biggest
and brightest smile on the stage.  You danced with such confidence and always looked like you were having so much fun. I was always so proud of your performances.  I can't believe that it has
come to the end! What am I going to do next year?!  I am certainly going to be a little lost
without a recital to go to. 

I love you so very much!
Aunt Heidi
   



Guess Who?? I'm BAAAACK!!

 OK, so I think that doing something every day in

November must have done me in!  I stopped blogging

and forgot to start again! So, here are the last few

months in a nutshell.  Thank goodness for collages! 



We had our church Christmas program.
(Trevor is the shepherd on the right.)





Just a few from Christmas!



Putting cookies out for Santa and apples for the reindeer!



It was nice enough to play baseball while we were in Coon Rapids on Christmas Day! 
(I told the boys to always remember that day because it wasn't going to be like that
very often!)   



Trevor turned 8 in January!



We have a shaver in the house!



We celebrated Keith's Mom and Dad's 50th. Anniversary in February.  We had a
nice family dinner at Aunt Maude's in Ames.



Valentine's Day with the traditional cookies that they
get every year.



In March we celebrated my Dad's 80th. Birthday. 
We gave him this planter with 80 suckers in it. ("80 Sucks!")
We had a family dinner in Grinnell at the Steakhouse. 
They also surprised him at work with a pizza party. The sign says MERV
even though his name is MARV.  It's been a standing joke
for years!



We fell in LOVE with Amelia Anderson!  The boys are all smitten with her
and can't get enough of her!  She is pretty sweet and adds a nice
splash of pink to our house.





Jared turned 11 in March!

I really am hoping to do better with this blogging business, but we seem to be crazy busy these days.  I really hate to even say that out loud because everyone else is busy, too, and they seem to get all of their blogging done!   



Day #24--Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is Thanksgiving, and I am thankful that the weather is going to be fabulous the next couple of days which allows not only us, but all of our friends and family, to travel and spend time with loved ones. Be safe and enjoy your time together, no matter where that might be!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Day #23--My In-Laws

Today I am thankful for Keith's family. I have them to thank for the man that Keith was raised to be. They are responsible for the Dad that he is. Keith's brother and his family live just several blocks from us, and are always ready, willing and able to help with the kids if necessary. I am very lucky to have married into the family that I did!

Day #22--Kids Night!

Tonight I am thankful for a free night on the calendar, and kids night at Valentino's. Valentino's is pizza and pasta buffet restaurant in Ames. Whenever Tuesday rolls around, the kids are always hoping that we are heading there. We went tonight and filled ourselves way too full, as usual. We were even fortunate to be able to meet some friends there. We ended up with a table of 13 people. What a great night!

Day #21--Field Trips

I am thankful that I am able to go on field trips with the boys. Cale doesn't have any any more, and Jared still just has a few but Trevor still gets to go on field trips! This morning I met the bus at the Ames Public Library and went on a tour with the 2nd graders. It was my 4th. time to go on this tour...once with each of my boys and once with our niece, Maddie. After the tour, the kids were able to check out 2 books.

The boys know that I don't do the "outside field trips." Like....to parks to hike and climb. I'm on the docket to go on 2 more field trips with Trevor this year. One is to CY Stephens to see the play "Fancy Nancy" in February, and the other one is to the Science Center in May.

I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to go on these field trips with all of the kids.

Day #20-Early Birthday and Christmas Presents

Today I am thankful for early birthday and Christmas gifts......

My iPhone has been ordered!! It should arrived just in time for my birthday! I was DONE with my old phone and how buttons always stuck. And for the record....Keith is benefiting from an early Christmas gift, too....he's got a black iPhone on it's way!

Day #19--Saturday night church

Today, (Saturday...even though I am late posting this and it is already Sunday!) I am thankful for Sunday night church services. We don't have Sunday School this week because of Thanksgiving, so that means it makes perfect sense to go to Saturday church. We don't have any reason to get up early in the morning. No alarm clock, and since I am posting this shortly after mid-night, I think our decision to go to church on Saturday night was brilliant!!

Good Night.....

Day #18--My Crock Pot

I am thankful for this......

MY CROCK POT!!

I love being able to just throw things in my crock pot before I go to work at noon and then have it ready whenever we are. Since we have 3 boys playing in 3 different basketball leagues we never know when we will be eating. And if we are all eating at the same time is anyone's guess!! I'm always looking for new things for the crock pot so if you have any simple ideas that 3 semi-picky boys will eat let me know! I tried something new in it last night!

Day #17-7 weeks!

Trevor is home sick today. I brought him home yesterday after I went to volunteer in his classroom and he looked at me with some sad eyes and was holding his head sort of funny. I've seen that look many times. Keith doesn't recognize it, but a Mommy knows her child. "You don't feel good, do you?".....No. "Do you want to come home?"......Yes. I took him down to the nurse and sure enough....he had "the fever." So, I packed him up and brought him home.

Last year he had "the fever" a lot. Every 2 weeks to be exact and it lasted 3-5 days. He missed A LOT of school. I was ready for the truancy officer at my door but they never did show up. He never had anything else with "the fever." No runny nose. No cough. No upset stomach. And nobody else ever got it. It was the weirdest thing! Towards spring he stretched out his time to 3 weeks, then 4 weeks, but I still didn't feel right about it all so I took him to the doctor during one of his fevers over the summer. He didn't think that there was anything to worry about but they tested him for something called "frequent fever syndrome." It's just what it sounds like...frequent fevers, and no other symptoms. Well, that came back negative and we were told "you are just this lucky." Right. Lucky.

This is his second fever of the school year. The last one was 7 weeks ago.

So, as odd as it may sound....today, even though he is sick, I am thankful for Trevor making it 7 weeks between fevers! It's always good to be thankful for little victories! (Lisa and Renee....he has over taken my Kindle! Even if it is just to do a word search!)

Day #16--A great group of friends

I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am for the boys' great group of friends. They have each fallen into a crowd of friends that are kind, polite, and respectful. I am especially pleased with Cale's friends as he nears high school. They have always been so kind to Jared and Trevor and will include them when they are here, or let them play with them at the pool, or sit with them at McDonald's after a football game. Their friends are good kids who are also good people. I guess that I should also be thankful for their parents. Good kids don't just happen.

Day #15--A quiet night

I am thankful that we had a quiet night last night and I was in my jammies by 5:30, and in bed early.

Day #14-Our School District

I can't even begin to tell you how thankful I am for our school district!! We are very lucky to have such a perfect blend of teachers and administrators. They all know how to bring out the very best in my children and prepare them for what the world will bring their way! We are truly blessed!

Day #13-My Church Friends

Today I am thankful for my church and the friends I have met there. We drive into Ames to go to church and Sunday School. Because we live in a different town then our church is in there are people there that I would not have otherwise met. I am thankful for God bringing me, not just to new people, but to good friends. Really good friends. Friends that like to have lunch with us after Sunday School! Even if they do things like this......