Due to the broken Air Conditioner, we have started our vacation early and have gone up to my parent's house in St. Louis.
The trip was pretty uneventful. We love the built-in DVD player in the minivan as it makes the trip so much easier with the kids. It was also great to have a lot of room. This is the first trip we have taken in years where we didn't feel cramped.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
HOT! HOT! HOT!
Man, I am hot. It is sweltering right now. Our central air conditioner is broken and I am hot.
It started last night when Erin and I begin to smell a stench of burnt plastic. We checked the dishwasher, but it was not the source. We checked every outlet, every lamp, every electrical appliance in the house and could not find a source of the smell. I climbed up in the attic and checked outside. We got out the ladder and investigated every ceiling fan, still...no source.
After spending several hours searching for the source of the burning smell we decided to ask the fire department to come and investigate. They were very nice and came out and checked around. They too smelled the burnt plastic and checked around. The determined that the smell was coming from our air conditioner.
We called a local company to come out and take a look. He told us that our fan motor in the air-handling unit was toast. He could replace that right now, except...he noticed a lot of corrosion and damage in our air handler. He showed it to me and sure enough, it was bad. He recommended replacing the entire air handler unit. We agreed.
His engineer came out this morning to spec out the job and give us a quote. He noted that our air handling unit (the inside part) was a 2.5 ton system while our condensing unit (the outside part) was a 3.0 ton system. Supposedly, both systems should be identical for the most efficiency. He gave us three quotes, one to just replace the air handling unit, but advised against that because the condensing unit has been being damaged over the past 7 years by overheating because the air handling unit was not cooling down the freon appropriately before returning the freon to the condenser. The condenser can "go" at any time. He gave us a quote to replace both systems and make them 3.0 ton units. Finally, he gave us a quote for replacing both units with 3.5 ton units and duct work to the playroom (the room formerly known as garage).
We are leaning toward last option. There is only $800 separating the price of doing it right (the middle option) and doing it right and getting the playroom done too. The biggest problem is that they can't do the work until Monday. So we are out of air until then. It will take one and half days to complete.
So, we sit in the Alabama heat on the precept of July without air conditioning. Did I mention that is hot?
It started last night when Erin and I begin to smell a stench of burnt plastic. We checked the dishwasher, but it was not the source. We checked every outlet, every lamp, every electrical appliance in the house and could not find a source of the smell. I climbed up in the attic and checked outside. We got out the ladder and investigated every ceiling fan, still...no source.
After spending several hours searching for the source of the burning smell we decided to ask the fire department to come and investigate. They were very nice and came out and checked around. They too smelled the burnt plastic and checked around. The determined that the smell was coming from our air conditioner.
We called a local company to come out and take a look. He told us that our fan motor in the air-handling unit was toast. He could replace that right now, except...he noticed a lot of corrosion and damage in our air handler. He showed it to me and sure enough, it was bad. He recommended replacing the entire air handler unit. We agreed.
His engineer came out this morning to spec out the job and give us a quote. He noted that our air handling unit (the inside part) was a 2.5 ton system while our condensing unit (the outside part) was a 3.0 ton system. Supposedly, both systems should be identical for the most efficiency. He gave us three quotes, one to just replace the air handling unit, but advised against that because the condensing unit has been being damaged over the past 7 years by overheating because the air handling unit was not cooling down the freon appropriately before returning the freon to the condenser. The condenser can "go" at any time. He gave us a quote to replace both systems and make them 3.0 ton units. Finally, he gave us a quote for replacing both units with 3.5 ton units and duct work to the playroom (the room formerly known as garage).
We are leaning toward last option. There is only $800 separating the price of doing it right (the middle option) and doing it right and getting the playroom done too. The biggest problem is that they can't do the work until Monday. So we are out of air until then. It will take one and half days to complete.
So, we sit in the Alabama heat on the precept of July without air conditioning. Did I mention that is hot?
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Children's Chores
Mihaela was playing on the computer while Erin and I cleaned the kitchen.
"What are you and mommy doin' daddy?", she inquires.
I respond, "We are cleaning the kitchen, baby doll?"
"Why?" she continues her inquiry.
"Because you're not old enough to do it, yet." I reply.
"What are you and mommy doin' daddy?", she inquires.
I respond, "We are cleaning the kitchen, baby doll?"
"Why?" she continues her inquiry.
"Because you're not old enough to do it, yet." I reply.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Happy Birthday PowerPoint
PowerPoint turns twenty years old.
One of the greatest tools ever created for the computer. Also, one of the greatest curses.
One of the greatest tools ever created for the computer. Also, one of the greatest curses.
Monday, June 18, 2007
I wonder why the Vikings called it Greenland?
When I was young my Dad was stationed in Greenland on a remote assignment for a year. Like every family we have a big box of pictures and nestled in there one can find snapshots of my dad's life while he was away. One thing you won't find in any of those pictures is green. Everything is covered in snow and ice.
Now, Greenland is Greenland is melting.
It makes one wonder if this is man-made global warming or is Greenland merely returning to the state it was found in by Vikings 1,000 years ago?
Now, Greenland is Greenland is melting.
It makes one wonder if this is man-made global warming or is Greenland merely returning to the state it was found in by Vikings 1,000 years ago?
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Noah's First X-ray
Noah is 100% boy. There is nothing that he fears. He climbs. He jumps. He somersaults. He wrestles. He seeks out adrenaline rushes and he is two. He is also a bit clumsy. He gets so excited, that he forgets to pay attention to what he is doing and ends up falling. He runs so fast that he trips himself.
We've known for a long time that we would become good friends with the radiologist. We just didn't think it would happen so fast. Tuesday night last week Noah kept us up. He was whining in his bed and would not go to sleep. Erin noticed that every so often he would jerk. She also explained that his whine was not a stubborn, "I don't want to go to sleep whine," rather it was a "I am hurting whine." That coupled with the jerking concerned her, so she packed him in the van and headed to our local emergency room.
En route she called the pediatric "on call" doctor for the practice our children go to. The "on call" doctor advised her to not go directly to the ER but to see if the car ride put him to sleep. She also advised that, if we did decide to take him to the ER, then to take him to a different hospital because it is the only one in town that has a pediatric ER unit. That hospital, though, is on a rough side of town...not a place to drive to at 2:30 AM. So we decided to wait.
When "we got up" (how do you get up when you were never really asleep?) the next morning, in the light of day Noah's problem became clear. His big toe on his right foot was black and blue and curled up and swollen. We thought he had broken his toe.
We were able to get him seen at the pediatrician and she confirmed that he had a "serious injury," most likely caused by something heavy falling on his foot. She sent Erin and Noah to the imaging center to have an x-ray. It came back negative for breakage.
We still don't know what fell on his foot. His foot was fine at bath time. He never screamed out between bath and bed when he and Mihaela were playing. We found nothing heavy out of place that could have fallen him. We will never know what caused it.
After spending a few days icing and elevating his foot (when we could...it is very hard to ice and elevate the foot of two-year old, active boy), he was feeling much better and back to his normal self.
We've known for a long time that we would become good friends with the radiologist. We just didn't think it would happen so fast. Tuesday night last week Noah kept us up. He was whining in his bed and would not go to sleep. Erin noticed that every so often he would jerk. She also explained that his whine was not a stubborn, "I don't want to go to sleep whine," rather it was a "I am hurting whine." That coupled with the jerking concerned her, so she packed him in the van and headed to our local emergency room.
En route she called the pediatric "on call" doctor for the practice our children go to. The "on call" doctor advised her to not go directly to the ER but to see if the car ride put him to sleep. She also advised that, if we did decide to take him to the ER, then to take him to a different hospital because it is the only one in town that has a pediatric ER unit. That hospital, though, is on a rough side of town...not a place to drive to at 2:30 AM. So we decided to wait.
When "we got up" (how do you get up when you were never really asleep?) the next morning, in the light of day Noah's problem became clear. His big toe on his right foot was black and blue and curled up and swollen. We thought he had broken his toe.
We were able to get him seen at the pediatrician and she confirmed that he had a "serious injury," most likely caused by something heavy falling on his foot. She sent Erin and Noah to the imaging center to have an x-ray. It came back negative for breakage.
We still don't know what fell on his foot. His foot was fine at bath time. He never screamed out between bath and bed when he and Mihaela were playing. We found nothing heavy out of place that could have fallen him. We will never know what caused it.
After spending a few days icing and elevating his foot (when we could...it is very hard to ice and elevate the foot of two-year old, active boy), he was feeling much better and back to his normal self.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Cable tries to shed bad-service reputation
Cable tries to shed bad-service reputation
My own cable company, BrightHouse, has done nothing to shed this reputation. They still have not apologized for losing all of my saved shows on my DVR when they did their software upgrade.
That was awful customer service. We still don't really like the new software. But, an apology would be nice.
My own cable company, BrightHouse, has done nothing to shed this reputation. They still have not apologized for losing all of my saved shows on my DVR when they did their software upgrade.
That was awful customer service. We still don't really like the new software. But, an apology would be nice.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Neptune Gets Warmer
According to the World Climate Report, Neptune is getting warmer. Obviously Humans driving SUVs are to blame as Neptune experiences global warming. Those darn capitalist destroying yet another planet in pursuit of the almighty dollar.
Whoa? What do you mean there are no humans on Neptune? I only thought Global Warming could be caused by man.
Are you serious? Some planets in our solar system are warming up because the Sun is burning brighter.
Well...good thing that is not what is affecting us. We certainly couldn't fix the Global Warming problem if the Earth was getting hotter because the Sun is burning brighter. So, all the other planets are warming up due to increased solar activity but we are warming up due to man-caused activities . Yeah. That makes sense. Can I have my Kool Aid now?
Whoa? What do you mean there are no humans on Neptune? I only thought Global Warming could be caused by man.
Are you serious? Some planets in our solar system are warming up because the Sun is burning brighter.
Well...good thing that is not what is affecting us. We certainly couldn't fix the Global Warming problem if the Earth was getting hotter because the Sun is burning brighter. So, all the other planets are warming up due to increased solar activity but we are warming up due to man-caused activities . Yeah. That makes sense. Can I have my Kool Aid now?
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Kilimanjaro not a victim of climate change
In his political indoctrination "documentary," Al Gore uses the example of the reduction of the glacier on Mt. Kilimanjaro as part of his proof of global warming. However, according to a University of Washington scientist explains that "Kilimanjaro is a grossly overused mis-example of the effects of climate change."
Now, what makes this interesting is that these scientist do drink from the cup of the Global Warming epidemic, but are clear to say that the changes on this particular mountain are not caused by Global warming. The article speaks directly to the cause of the Kilimanjaro's changes.
I wanted to point this out to show why we should at least question and be skeptical of the rantings of those who practice the religion of ecodeism. Like most fanatics they will exaggerate their claims and abuse any fact to push their agenda.
Now, what makes this interesting is that these scientist do drink from the cup of the Global Warming epidemic, but are clear to say that the changes on this particular mountain are not caused by Global warming. The article speaks directly to the cause of the Kilimanjaro's changes.
I wanted to point this out to show why we should at least question and be skeptical of the rantings of those who practice the religion of ecodeism. Like most fanatics they will exaggerate their claims and abuse any fact to push their agenda.
Monday, June 11, 2007
I Love the Internet
During my drive to Nashville, I begin to wonder what those four digit numbers on the placards on the side of trucks mean?
It would seem that when carrying unsafe materials, the companies place the placard on the truck so as to inform first-responders on how to deal with the product in case of an emergency. The first responder just looks up the code in a book, and then knows what product he is dealing with and what precautions he needs to make.
It would seem that when carrying unsafe materials, the companies place the placard on the truck so as to inform first-responders on how to deal with the product in case of an emergency. The first responder just looks up the code in a book, and then knows what product he is dealing with and what precautions he needs to make.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Check out Gary's Blog
I set up a blog for Gary (my father-in-law) to post updates about his recovery. If you are interested in what is going on with him, you can check it out.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Avenue for Doubt
We've had a wild weekend. Through a series of circumstances I ended up in the emergency room with Gary, my father-in-law, on Friday night. Gary has battled cancer for quite sometime. In 2001 he had his prostate removed because of cancer. In 2006 he was diagnosed with lung cancer, despite the fact that he has never been a smoker. He was treated with chemotherapy and had one lobe of his right lung removed.
Earlier this year a PET scan revealed that cancer was once again in his right lung. He had surgery and the doctor removed his entire right lung and the biopsy showed it to be a different type of lung cancer than the kind he had dealt with last year.
On Friday night, the ugly beast of cancer reared its head once more as a CT-Scan revealed that he had a tumor the size of a peach on his brain. His wife was up visiting his other daughter in TN and Erin was at home with the kids when the news came. I called them all to inform them that the the doctors had made it clear that we were seeing Gary's last days.
They moved him from the ER to the ICU. Hope had her other son-in-law drive her down from Tennessee throughout the night to arrive at the hospital at 4:30. Erin and I spent all night at the hospital. Brooke left Sat. Morn and arrived by noon on Saturday.
On Saturday, Gary's good friend and local neurologist, Dr. Epperson came by and visited and looked at the CT-Scan and agreed that the tumor was fatal and lethal and that he had only a little time left. We spent all day Saturday at the hospital. My parents drove into Montgomery on Saturday. They took the kids up to St. Louis on Sunday AM.
On Sunday AM before church Dr. Epperson came by the hospital to counsel Gary to spend his last days with dignity. Immediately after that conversation the results of the MRI became available and showed that the tumor was not nearly as large as was being displayed on the CT Scan. It was the size of a golf ball and the swelling associated with it had reduced by over half.
The doctors tried to explain the disparity between the results of the CT-Scan and the results of the MRI as being technical in nature. The CT-Scan technology does not allow for clear delineation between the tumor and the swelling caused by the tumor. Basically, saying that they had just mis-read the results of the CT Scan.
I have a problem with this though, because I heard the ER doctor say that the tumor on the CT Scan was 8 cm and then there was additional swelling. The hospitalist I talked to on Friday explained what the CT Scan was showing to Erin and me on Friday night and she too talked about the tumor as being the size of a tangerine and then there being swelling, speaking of the two as different entities. On Saturday when Dr. Epperson took us aside to make us aware of what he saw, he never mentioned swelling as part of the size of the tumor, but only spoke of the tumor in the size of 8 cm. Radiologists, oncologists, and neurosurgeons all also looked at the CT scan and they all reported the same thing, an 8 cm tumor. There were too many expert eyes viewing the scan for me to accept the "misread" theory.
Erin and I are convinced that God shrunk the tumor between the two tests. See, the 8 cm tumor was inoperable and no cure was available. There were treatments that were possible, but the side effects of those compared to the benefit (i.e., they might extend his life a couple months) made them almost insane to try. However, a 2.9 cm tumor is treatable and curable.
Gary had been praying the entire time he was in ICU for 10 more years. Every pastor that came to see him (and there were many) he reiterated his request. While we the family had given up, Gary sought solace in the power of faithful men lifting him before God. I believe that God granted his request. God's mind was changed. God shrunk the tumor.
You might ask, "Why not just take it away completely?" You might say, "The situation was never that bad, the CT Scan had just been read." I think this is because God wants us to choose to have faith, therefor, He gives us avenues of doubt. We each have a choice to make when confronted with the story of Gary. We can either choose to walk down the path of doubt and accept the "experts'" opinions of technical difficulties, or we can choose to walk down the path of faith and glorify God his for answer to prayer.
It is not just semantics. It is child-like faith vs. adult disbelief in the power of God. As a matter of fact, some people think that Erin and I are simple for acceptance of this miracle. We just don't understand how God works, they say. God caused the misread is their avenue for giving God control. I think that if God can cause a misread, He can certainly reduce a tumor in 48 hours.
I am reminded of a story when Jesus tells his disciples that unless they have childlike faith, they will never enter the kingdom of heaven. My wife has an amazing ability to always have a childlike faith. I struggle there and want to rationalize God's working too. However, I think of these passages and then ignore my rational and accept that God is powerful and in control.
Gary's recovery is enough of a miracle that you can choose to believe that God's hand directly intervened and give Him glory, if you choose. But not so much of a miracle that there is no room for doubt. If you want to choose to believe in human hands and human error, you can. God always leaves an avenue open for doubt.
Now that the tumor is small, it can be treated. Gary is heading up to UAB this morning to have a procedure called Gamme Knife Radiation surgery. I am convinced that it will work and Gary will be healed and I believe whole-heartedly that the healing has nothing to do with the power or technology of man. I refuse to walk down the Avenue of Doubt.
Earlier this year a PET scan revealed that cancer was once again in his right lung. He had surgery and the doctor removed his entire right lung and the biopsy showed it to be a different type of lung cancer than the kind he had dealt with last year.
On Friday night, the ugly beast of cancer reared its head once more as a CT-Scan revealed that he had a tumor the size of a peach on his brain. His wife was up visiting his other daughter in TN and Erin was at home with the kids when the news came. I called them all to inform them that the the doctors had made it clear that we were seeing Gary's last days.
They moved him from the ER to the ICU. Hope had her other son-in-law drive her down from Tennessee throughout the night to arrive at the hospital at 4:30. Erin and I spent all night at the hospital. Brooke left Sat. Morn and arrived by noon on Saturday.
On Saturday, Gary's good friend and local neurologist, Dr. Epperson came by and visited and looked at the CT-Scan and agreed that the tumor was fatal and lethal and that he had only a little time left. We spent all day Saturday at the hospital. My parents drove into Montgomery on Saturday. They took the kids up to St. Louis on Sunday AM.
On Sunday AM before church Dr. Epperson came by the hospital to counsel Gary to spend his last days with dignity. Immediately after that conversation the results of the MRI became available and showed that the tumor was not nearly as large as was being displayed on the CT Scan. It was the size of a golf ball and the swelling associated with it had reduced by over half.
The doctors tried to explain the disparity between the results of the CT-Scan and the results of the MRI as being technical in nature. The CT-Scan technology does not allow for clear delineation between the tumor and the swelling caused by the tumor. Basically, saying that they had just mis-read the results of the CT Scan.
I have a problem with this though, because I heard the ER doctor say that the tumor on the CT Scan was 8 cm and then there was additional swelling. The hospitalist I talked to on Friday explained what the CT Scan was showing to Erin and me on Friday night and she too talked about the tumor as being the size of a tangerine and then there being swelling, speaking of the two as different entities. On Saturday when Dr. Epperson took us aside to make us aware of what he saw, he never mentioned swelling as part of the size of the tumor, but only spoke of the tumor in the size of 8 cm. Radiologists, oncologists, and neurosurgeons all also looked at the CT scan and they all reported the same thing, an 8 cm tumor. There were too many expert eyes viewing the scan for me to accept the "misread" theory.
Erin and I are convinced that God shrunk the tumor between the two tests. See, the 8 cm tumor was inoperable and no cure was available. There were treatments that were possible, but the side effects of those compared to the benefit (i.e., they might extend his life a couple months) made them almost insane to try. However, a 2.9 cm tumor is treatable and curable.
Gary had been praying the entire time he was in ICU for 10 more years. Every pastor that came to see him (and there were many) he reiterated his request. While we the family had given up, Gary sought solace in the power of faithful men lifting him before God. I believe that God granted his request. God's mind was changed. God shrunk the tumor.
You might ask, "Why not just take it away completely?" You might say, "The situation was never that bad, the CT Scan had just been read." I think this is because God wants us to choose to have faith, therefor, He gives us avenues of doubt. We each have a choice to make when confronted with the story of Gary. We can either choose to walk down the path of doubt and accept the "experts'" opinions of technical difficulties, or we can choose to walk down the path of faith and glorify God his for answer to prayer.
It is not just semantics. It is child-like faith vs. adult disbelief in the power of God. As a matter of fact, some people think that Erin and I are simple for acceptance of this miracle. We just don't understand how God works, they say. God caused the misread is their avenue for giving God control. I think that if God can cause a misread, He can certainly reduce a tumor in 48 hours.
I am reminded of a story when Jesus tells his disciples that unless they have childlike faith, they will never enter the kingdom of heaven. My wife has an amazing ability to always have a childlike faith. I struggle there and want to rationalize God's working too. However, I think of these passages and then ignore my rational and accept that God is powerful and in control.
Gary's recovery is enough of a miracle that you can choose to believe that God's hand directly intervened and give Him glory, if you choose. But not so much of a miracle that there is no room for doubt. If you want to choose to believe in human hands and human error, you can. God always leaves an avenue open for doubt.
Now that the tumor is small, it can be treated. Gary is heading up to UAB this morning to have a procedure called Gamme Knife Radiation surgery. I am convinced that it will work and Gary will be healed and I believe whole-heartedly that the healing has nothing to do with the power or technology of man. I refuse to walk down the Avenue of Doubt.
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