Here's an update on Todd:  We think he now has pleurisy which is an inflammation of the parietal pleura of the lungs (med. dictionary definition - got that?)  This can occur following an illness like pneumonia, which he has recovered from.  He was able to work two nights this past weekend but wisely stayed home when his pain worsened.  The doc doesn't want to see him until his echocardiogram results return and since he just had this test today, it could be next week.  Until then, he is hoping he doesn't get hiccups because that REALLY causes him pain.  Sneezing is difficult, too.  As long as he doesn't take a really deep breath, he's o.k. (he says).  (No problem - just don't breathe, Todd.)  Thanks again for your prayers for him.  I am having difficulty being upbeat and, therefore, our home has not been full of shiny, happy people this week.  I keep forgetting what day of the week it is.  There have been some extended family issues this week as well and being so far away from my mom makes it had for me to help comfort her.  

On a happier note, my 6 yo Carmen lost one of her big front teeth today!  Pulled it out herself, brave little thing.  We took a photo of her tooth-less grin and I realized that she'll never look the same again.  Sigh.  I hope we don't forget to play tooth fairy tonight - she'll remind us if we don't visit.  She knows it's Daddy and a few months ago, she asked if Daddy wore wings when he played tooth fairy.  Can you picture that?

Son, Alec, has been trying to convince me that we could build our own space plane, all we need is enough money to do it.  He's volunteered to fly it for us.  Chad has immersed himself in his current interest, airplanes of all kinds, and every conversation begins with "Mom, did you know that (insert name of a specific airplane here) was (insert assorted information and facts that I didn't know here) on (insert a date here) ....."   Another favorite is, "Mom, do you know the armament of the (insert war plane here)?"  It's beginning to wear on me!  Carmen, bless her, has fallen in love with Miquon Math and is enjoying her Orange book thoroughly.  I don't dare stop for the summer!  We also are reading "By The Shores of Silver Lake" (Laura Ingalls Wilder) after dinner, which I thoroughly look forward to.  The whole house seems to quiet down and listen as I'm reading. 

And, finally, I've begun reading "Three Cups Of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.  Greg is a trauma nurse but really prefers mountain climbing and to make a long story short, this book is about his life as he works to get a school built high up in a village in the mountains of Pakistan.  It's truly amazing.  A local library is having a book discussion on this book later this month and I just happened to have purchased it for Todd last Christmas.  This gave me incentive to read it and I'm so glad I am.  There are difficult paragraphs but for the most part, his story is incredible.  It's good to get lost in the pages for awhile.  I love books like that.  I haven't even peeked at the ending (a really bad habit I have.)  I also want a new hairstyle but then, don't we all?