A Doctor... A Friend

I try not to fill this blog with tales of Abby's battle with cancer. You can see her caringbridge page for that. But there were may special people that assisted us along our journey and one of them lost their own battle yesterday. Ginger Sensman was the girl's pediatrician from the time she arrived in Salina. The girls were little. Ginger and I became friends. I was a labor and delivery nurse, we knew many of the same people and we had similar personalities. My girls loved her and I trusted her.

When Abby first got sick, I took her to the emergency room. When we were dismissed, I left the emergency room and took her to Ginger's house. I did not do that sort of thing, even when my doctors are my friends, I go through proper channels, but something was wrong. Ginger was out of town on vacation, and I did not know it. I did however know that if I showed up at her house with my sick kid on a Saturday afternoon, it would have been ok.

When she got back into town, I was never so relieved to see anyone. She watched over Abby, and finally said, 'I don't know what is wrong with her'. I respected that. I respected that she worked with my pediatrician friend in Omaha to transfer her care.

Ginger called me in the hospital once Abby was diagnosed. She always made it easy to be home in Salina, and coordinated our care so easily.

We were devastated when Ginger was diagnosed with breast cancer. Abby sent her chemo fairies she made especially for her, and Ginger insisted on paying for them.... That is who she was.

I will remember her laugher, her bravery, her hugs, her smile, and her friendship. I will remember that she was a fabulous doctor and that she truly cared! God Speed, Ginger!!!

The Recipe Box

I was looking for a recipe today. You know, that recipe for Christmas cookies. The one your Grandma baked, then your Mom baked once she was gone. It is one of my Daddy's favorites. Where was my darn RECIPE! Then I pulled it out. The sacred recipe box. The one I asked one day when I was at my Grandpa's house, YEARS after my Grandma died when I was 13. I had two babies and a husband of my own now, and I wanted a piece of her to have forever. Something I could make a part of my girls lives that they will take down to their daughters someday. When I pulled that recipe for the Refrigerator Cookies out, it had the stains of her baking. It looked like maybe she set the recipe down in some coffee she spilled on the counter as she mixed the butter with the brown sugar. I look at recipe box and see the many recipes she typed and the few that she wrote by hand, and I am grateful that I had the presence of mind to ask for that treasure. A recipe box... it links me back to the little girl that I once was eating those paper thin cookies at my grandma's table and brings me to the future of how to make them just like her.

What's new...

Well, you would think from my last post that there would be a lot new. But, really, not so much. The girls continue to be really busy at school. First semester is finishing up for Emma, and she has taken the test to get into a private Catholic School here in Denver. We are praying hard that she gets in... Want to join us? Emma is doing well in school, especially in those subjects that she loves!! (english, spanish, science, and journalism.)

Abby is doing so much better in school. I think it is numerous factors helping us here. She is such a hard worker. That is the one thing her teacher says over and over. She is in tutoring at Huntington Learning Center 3 nights a week. She is really getting caught up on much of those concepts she missed and teaching her concepts that will help her be a better student. Everyone is just shocked at really how well she is progressing.

Chris and I continue to just work away.... We make a great team and make it all work!

We are VERY excited for Christmas and for my parents coming!!! Have you ever had that NEED to see your parents? I had that need, and like all parents do, they are going to meet that need for me!!! It will be the best Christmas present I will get, that is for sure!!!!!

The Christmas Tree is all set up! We even have some wrapped presents under it this year!

We hope that your holiday season is going well! We are thinking of you!!!

Why the Royal Gorge Bridge is so scary....

Looking between the slats of the wood Royal Gorge Bridge.....

It is scary and LOUD as you drive across and the wood slats move....
It is forever down to your falling death if you walk across, especially if you don't like heights.

Funny Vacation Story from the Royal Gorge...

Sunset over the mountains at the Royal Gorge. Taken at center of bridge.

The Royal Gorge was beautiful as the sun was setting over the mountains. We were so excited to be there! The girls in the car were a little apprehensive about driving over the bridge, however, that is where the better stuff was. On we went. Chris was a good pilot. We made it across safely. Abby and I decided we were all over the bridge. We wanted to see animals, so off we trotted. I told the stories of feeding the deer pringles and Lay's chips when I was a girl and they LOVED them. Abby saw quite a few wild dear but wanted nothing to do with them. This would be a major understatement. She wanted them to trot on my quickly. We saw mountain goats, mountain rams and we saw Abby's all time favorite BUFFALOES!!!

Emma and Chris were busy having an adventure of their own. An older couple were fighting over whether or not HE was going to go over the bridge 1/2 way on foot. He was not, Period.

She was and she thought him an ass for not going. He was more than happy not to drive off and leave her. On her way back from the bridge she stopped and told Chris, "Don't ever be married for forty years.... All you get is Heartbreak". Chris said some nice soft things to her and she settled down. Poor lady. We all met a lovely couple from Alabama who were out on their honeymoon! I just loved them!!!!! Tells me that God has a plan!!!

Staycation

Chris and girls at Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Random roadside stop. Just a good picture op..
Sunset at the Royal Gorge. When you show up 2 hours prior to closing you get in 1/2 price!
We had the Royal Gorge pretty much to ourselves except for the lovely newlyweds from Florida, originally from Mississippi, and the Crabby old Couple. Yes there is a story.

The Bridgewater's are on Staycation this week. What is Staycation you ask? Well, it is when you don't have work, and you don't have school, and you don't plan a big trip, but you throw your stuff in the car and DRIVE! It is so fun! We live in a state that most people FLOCK to for vacation! Well, the Bridgewater's are taking advantage this year with a Staycation. We are staying in Colorado. Our Staycation has taken us to southwest Colorado, which is now my favorite part of our state. What is very unfortunate is that most people tend to stick with the I-70 corridor. You know, Dillon, Aspen, or Vail. If the get off of I-70 they go to Estes Park. Don't get me wrong, all very beautiful, however, after coming to this part of the state, I don't think that they even touch how beautiful it is here!!! Durango, Silverton, Euray, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison... I have traveled quite a bit and I think this is some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen. We have had a great time as a family, traveling the countryside without a plan, without a goal, without a time table. I highly recommend it. I have a lot of photos to share, a lot of stories to share, but here is something to get you started!!!

Parked in October now

Ok, I have been "Parked on Labor Day" for just a bit. I have been a little frustrated with this new blog format. It is difficult, for me, to get it to do what I want. I need a class, or a tutor, or SOMETHING! However, why should my updating suffer just because my photos are not where I want them, right?

We are doing well! Busy as always! We have enjoyed the fall here in Colorado taking a little time to take in the wonderful fall colors! They really were stunning! We had a great family day winding through the highways in the Rockies! We ended up in Estes Park where we enjoyed the elk in rut, a noise that is like no other, saltwater taffy and a cheese burger at Penelope's.

The girls are doing well! Abby continues to love her new school. She is really thriving, and we think we made an excellent decision in moving her. She LOVES driving to school with Mom every day, and has made many new friends. She is able to get some extra help, and we are really seeing her make some strides with all of that and the tutoring she is doing 3 times a week.

Emma is doing great in 8th grade. Parent/teacher conferences were wonderful. Her teachers really like her and she is on a team that expects a lot out of their students, which is excellent for Emma. Emma is busy applying for private high school and is excited about the prospects that brings for her.

We have several appointments coming up in the next month for Abby. She is going to see a Orthopedic Surgeon to check out her feet and ankles. Her feet are a long standing problem, her ankles are, well I don't know. I guess that is why we are going.

We have our last every 2 month oncology appointment. It was stretched out to 3 months, due to Abby's other doctors appointment, but she is doing well. We are ready to stretch things out a bit more.

We are watching the Rockies in post season. All of the Bridgewater's are pretty excited about that. We would like to see them move on along to the next level of the play offs!

We are excited to get through this next week. After that BOTH the girls are on fall break, Abby started her 2 week fall break last friday, and Chris and I are on VACATION! I think we are going to do a 'staycation' here in Colorado, enjoying our lovely state! We are pretty excited!!

We hope you are enjoying your fall! Drop us a line and let us know what you are doing!