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Dinosaurs and Gandhi
By Margot | February 26, 2009
Sam and Andy in front of a bearskin
Boys listening to the paleontologist discuss unearthing a mammoth (mammoth tooth in front of Sam)
The two goofballs in the pictures are ours
We are having a relatively calm and normal week. Sam finished his tenth day of radiation yesterday morning. He’s gone in every morning at 6am for the past ten days. He stays asleep for the car ride and on the table and then is finished, dressed and ready for school.  We hit four spots, two on his leg, one on his upper arm and one on the sternum. He is taking oral irrino/temodar this week with cloroquine. He is feeling fine and in a great mood, happy and funny and full of energy. Cross our fingers, knock on wood.  I don’t have numbers back yet from Monday but will post as soon as I do. His urine seems to be clearing. His last urinalysis was clear but he still has some visible blood now and then.Â
He played his last basketball game on Saturday. It was a playoff game and they lost by three. It was a one point game at one point and we thought we might pull it off. We will have a banquet, Andy’s last game tomorrow night, his banquet and then we move on to soccer. Neil has signed up to coach both boys teams, slighty crazy idea but he figures since he’ll be at both games anyway, it’ll just be one extra practice a week. Yesterday, thanks to Susie Meyers, we got the most awesome behind the scenes tour of The Natural History Museum. She invited Sam and a friend or two (Joe and Tanner) and his brothers to come to the museum and meet some of the scientists and see all the back offices and specimens. The scientists were wonderful and the kids got to see and hold a mammoth tooth fossil, see how the birds are stuffed, studied and stored, all the cool bugs in the entomology department, complete with glow in the dark scorpions and enormous beeetles, and all of the stored snakes and lizards - they all touched the king cobra and the rattlesnakes floating in some kind of preservatory liquid. Susie, thank you so much. I know five boys was a lot to show up with. They all loved it, though Charlie was more interested in the moving cabinets than what was being said. They got to take home 3 million year-old sand dollar fossils. Trying to get them all to stay quiet through the offices and hallways where people were working was a bit of a challenge but they did well.
Sam’s class has to do an oral presentation of a famous person who changed the world somehow. They have to dress up as the person and speak in first person and do the whole biography. Sam/Mom ;-) is working on Gandhi. We’ve been watching the movie in parts to get a sense of context and it’s been funny the past few days because when the boys are fighting I say something like, “Try to be like Gandhi and be peaceful.” It works for a while and then I hear, “Sam is not Gandhi, he just hit me.” I’ll take some pictures when “Gandhi” gives his presentation.
Holding steady for now.
Margot
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Topics: Progress Reports | 10 Comments »
February 27th, 2009 at 12:54 am
Will Sam dress like Gandhi for his report? If not, perhaps Neil can go as a visual aid.
Seriously, I love that Sam is learning about Gandhi and peaceful conflict. We could all learn more about it.
February 27th, 2009 at 5:25 am
Margot,
Great update. Sams new bald head 🙂 will be a great accessory for his overall Ghandi look. I wonder though if he will be feeling Ghandi and not start chanting Toga,Toga,Toga:) haha So happy to hear that you had a good week and the museum pictures were priceless. As always praying here in Washington.
With Hope
Abra
February 28th, 2009 at 4:49 am
Keep holding steady… Ghandi would like that !
Prayers for all of you !!!
xo, Colleen
February 28th, 2009 at 5:52 am
I’ve been reading (lurking) for awhile… imagine my surprise today though when I saw these pictures! I’m the girl behind the desk.
I’m really glad you all enjoyed the museum and your behind-the-scenes tour!! Was the mammoth tooth from the mammoth found downtown?
My prayers continue to be with your family…
February 28th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
I always enjoy your updates and read every word with the empathetic heart of an NB mom. Your kids are a delight and are blessed with wonderful parents!
Becky
February 28th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Crossing my fingers, knocking on wood, and anything else I can think of to bring good news for Sam.
Best, Jan
February 28th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Good luck Ghandi!
March 1st, 2009 at 3:12 pm
My favorite Gandhi quote… “BE the change you want to see in the world.” Looks like you guys have that one covered!
March 1st, 2009 at 8:54 pm
I wanted to mention to you that we are doing a fundraiser lemonade stand at Madison’s church in 2 weeks. Our goal is $200 for a lemonade stand- we will see. They are withholding after church cookies so everyone will buy ours! 🙂 We will be selling fancy pink lemonade with real strawberries, candy bars and cookies. We might also sell homemade greeting cards if we can get it together. Of course all the proceeds will go to you guys. I hope it is ok but I used a picture from the website to make flyers. One of the boys at church said Sam is in his baseball team- I think his name is Max. I will keep you posted on our success! Angela (Madison’s Mom)
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I can’t wait to Sam’s Ghandi pictures, we had so much fun when Alina was Amelia Earhart. Also praying for some good news to go with those photos.