Stem Cell Transplant

This was a big week back in July because Mom had her stem cell transplant.  The procedure took place in Tampa and everything went very smoothly.  It was quite the difficult experience, and Mom was amazing, handling it all like a champ.  Dad was an awesome caregiver for Mom, too.  We are so grateful that the transplant went well and now (in October) we can say that she is totally in remission!!  Woo hoo!!!  Let's keep it that way!

We also had a ton of rain this week in July and the flooding it caused was crazy!  Thank goodness we had no water in our basement this time.  Phew.

We also had a little get together with my Kellogg girlfriends and their families.  This string of pool parties has been awesome.  Sunday night we went to Ravinia with friends to hear the 1812 Overture, complete with cannon fire at the end.  

The rock star patient!

Love this.  Mom brought it with her from home to the facility they are staying at during the transplant process.  I'm big into self-talking.  It was a gift from Sue Mullarkey:)

Underpass right by our house on Deerpath

Golf course

Ahwahnee Road

This was a picture from the news of Mundelein, the town where Isolene lives.  Her house wasn't where this picture was taken though, hers was fine.

Underpass in Lake Bluff up the road from us

Lake Bluff

Lake Bluff

Dudley salon time

Matt saw the guy fro m the Wildlife Center where Luke goes to summer camp at the grocery store and he had a baby sloth in a baby carrier on his chest!  How cute (and random!) is that?

We attended a birthday party for an iguana named Flora at the Wildlife Discovery Center

That's Flora behind Luke

Claire has built some really neat things were the magnatiles lately.  

Dog walks every day to Jack & Mikey's house down the street, followed by 10-15 minutes of playing outside with them, and then walking home.  

Watching TV together

Snoozing together.  Dudley really just snuggled his way into our family during his time with us.

Luke is reading full books now.  He is a voracious reader!  Here he is at the library with Isolene and Claire one day.

Garden continues to grow huge!

Pool play date mid-week.  Claire has no fear jumping in anymore.

Riding our bikes to the Thursday night concert in the square and to the park

Happy Birthday to Paige Jane!  Kristin sent these pics.  PJ and her doll Saige dressed in the same shirt was too cute not to include.

Birthday dinner out for Paige

Kellogg business school friends party

Sat night summer dinner on the porch at Donna & Emil's

Sunday birthday party at Elawa Farm

Anne was very pleased with the chocolate cupcake frosting on her pretty alligator outfit.

Ravinia is no easy task, what with all the supplies needed, but fun to do at least once a year.

Open Lands morning runs are the best

Haircut

Wildflowers are pretty, we see these on our walks at night.

Matt sent me this pic he had on his phone of Luke from earlier this summer and I liked it.