What We've Been Up To....

Jamison had a progressive birthday....

One day he got presents....a few days later we had cake.

Some weeks are just like that.

We had Den and Machelle and their partners, Terry and Renee for supper.

We hear so much about Terry and Renee that it was fun to meet them in person again and get to know them a little better.

The big kids came home from choral camp.  Jamison is half hidden behind the cutie with pigtails and Davis is right above the big head.

Megan is under the armpit.

The big kids had a good time at camp.  Davis was disgusted.  Megan and Jamison reported that Lucky Charms were to be had for breakfast and cotton candy at the fair.  Apparently this was the year they didn't have Lucky Charms or cotton candy.  Davis IS NOT going back!  But Kevin promised that he would tell the director that they needed to reinstate these.  Davis MIGHT consider gracing them with his presence after all.

We have a guest from Ecuador.  Melissa Molina is visiting us for the week.  Her mom was a foreign exchange student of my parents years ago.

The black and white show was this week.

Jamison, Megan, and Davis all did well in showing.  Dad was so pleased!

Melissa pitched in with washing cows and showed this one.  The cow won several ribbons.

Davis and another boy weren't technically old enough to show in the "showing" class so they did a special class just for them.

Megan had her delayed birthday party.  She wanted to wait until Brooke could be there.

The girls did sharpie tie-dye t-shirts.

Carl combined the last of the barley.

Melissa rode along.

The old free-stall barn is getting extended.

The white wall will be torn down and the new barn will be 100 x 85 (I think).  Since we began milking in the parlor the herd has grown faster than expected.  We desperately need more room.

That's all folks.

Published

Molecular Characterization of Tick Salivary Gland Glutaminyl Cyclase

Steve got another article published.  

I haven't read it yet.

Like the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz....

"if I only had a brain..."

Genetic Testing

I guess it's been awhile since I posted. 

And this one falls into the category of family diary rather than a post. 

Sorry.

Emily's pediatric cardiologist called today.  The genetic testing they did for the Long QT came back.  There is no sign of it in the 12 genes they checked.  There is still a 35% chance that it was a false negative...but the cardiologist (and  we agree) suspects she doesn't have it.  They are still treating her for it anyway.   The words "variant of undetermined - or was it unknown - origin" were used and somewhere in this house is the piece of paper with the explanation of that.  Ten years down the road they may recheck everything to see if anything has popped up but for now we'll keep proceeding on the same path.  

Emily has been vomit-free for 80 days!

The three originals are at choral camp this week.  It's Davis' first time.  I was a little nervous and he was, too.  Since he hasn't called I'm assuming that no news is good news.  There were tons of kids from here who went out-and half appeared to be cousins which should help-I'm hoping he has a wonderful time.  Jamison is rooming with cousin Dawson and "...Jamie...or Josiah...or James....yeah, I think it's James."  (Boys!  Ya gotta love 'em. )  Megan is with cousins Krista and Kristen and friend Emma.  

Here Davis is with his roommates, cousins Gregory and Joel, and a couple of counselors. 

  

That leaves us alone with the Chinese contingent.  It will be interesting to see how this week goes.  It WAS a MUCH quieter house than we're used to having but Emily is doing her best to make up for the decibel level of the other three.   The little girls have also decided that we shouldn't wait until 7:00 to get up...6:15-6:30 is much better.  I'm thinking that muzzles should be part of their bedtime routine.